What bike for 17 year old daughter
Discussion
Daughter is keen to have a 125cc bike for 17th Birthday for use of travelling to college (to get stolen)
The price of a 2nd hand scooter seems to be very high so do I get a new one?
PCX125
SH125
Monkey
Grom
I just don’t know what to do, I also fear that she would go off the idea when it’s raining, also, at risk of being knocked off. Plus as above if I get new it could be stolen, especially as it sought after as deliveroo drivers love a PCX125
It is also annoying that it is only a few hundred more for a 300cc and I have a burgman 400 sitting in the garage but she cannot take test for that until she is 19
Or just get a cheap car and spend a couple of grand on insurance
Thanks
The price of a 2nd hand scooter seems to be very high so do I get a new one?
PCX125
SH125
Monkey
Grom
I just don’t know what to do, I also fear that she would go off the idea when it’s raining, also, at risk of being knocked off. Plus as above if I get new it could be stolen, especially as it sought after as deliveroo drivers love a PCX125
It is also annoying that it is only a few hundred more for a 300cc and I have a burgman 400 sitting in the garage but she cannot take test for that until she is 19
Or just get a cheap car and spend a couple of grand on insurance
Thanks
Which one does she like the look of? What are the insurance quotes for each? Does she want geared or twist and go?
Is she happy to wear the appropriate gear? Is there somewhere to store it at college? If she's commuting in all weathers, factor in a decent set of waterproofs (I've heard Scott are good).
Get a decent chain and lock plus a disc lock (Abus?), maybe even a cheap tracker (Monimoto?) - job done, unless you're in a dicey part of the country.
How do the costs weigh up when compared with a Yaris/C1/Aygo/whatever? Is there more appeal to her with this option?
Is she happy to wear the appropriate gear? Is there somewhere to store it at college? If she's commuting in all weathers, factor in a decent set of waterproofs (I've heard Scott are good).
Get a decent chain and lock plus a disc lock (Abus?), maybe even a cheap tracker (Monimoto?) - job done, unless you're in a dicey part of the country.
How do the costs weigh up when compared with a Yaris/C1/Aygo/whatever? Is there more appeal to her with this option?
The electric bike option is not a bad idea!
Think scooter would be easier and also has under seat storage.
But as the wife and I are bikers we would like to get geared. I want to get a monkey bike, but they only do 55, so option of PCX doing 65 is a better option for me as can keep up with traffic.
Being lockdown we are a bit buggered really, also if I show them to her she will then assume she’s getting one. I have looked in the classifieds as there are some knackered 5 year old 125’s with 17k on the clock going for north of 2k
Also need to look into insurance.
Either way it la gonna cost me
Think scooter would be easier and also has under seat storage.
But as the wife and I are bikers we would like to get geared. I want to get a monkey bike, but they only do 55, so option of PCX doing 65 is a better option for me as can keep up with traffic.
Being lockdown we are a bit buggered really, also if I show them to her she will then assume she’s getting one. I have looked in the classifieds as there are some knackered 5 year old 125’s with 17k on the clock going for north of 2k
Also need to look into insurance.
Either way it la gonna cost me
Don't get a Monkey or a Grom. They have zero road presence and are actually quite slow, so more likely to get bullied by traffic. When I was an instructor we had a PCX125 - big enough to have presence, cracking headlight, loads of storage, and real terms 65mph. However very appealing to scrotes as they know this too.
Honda's Vision 110 (we also had these) or SH125 are not that much slower but less appealing to scum. Vespas are also quite tough, and will look nice as a thing to have for a long time.
Honda's Vision 110 (we also had these) or SH125 are not that much slower but less appealing to scum. Vespas are also quite tough, and will look nice as a thing to have for a long time.
Yes sister in law has a Vanvan but that is taken and in use, I had a go in that I struggled to get 55 out of that. Have you seen the money they demand. Around 2k for a 10 year old example. My man maths says go for new SH/PCX125 for 1k more
Or just get a cheap car for her and see what the insurance would be
Or just get a cheap car for her and see what the insurance would be
rat840771 said:
Or just get a cheap car for her and see what the insurance would be
I will just mention as it caught me out.Getting a quote while they are learning £700ish with us as named drivers, wonder what everyone is moaning about.
6 months later having passed her test - they raised it to £3k !
She gave up driving until she came back from Uni 4yrs later.
As you mentioned the monkey / grom. I will fall back on my old faithful Benelli TNT 125 again.
Brilliant things they are. Cheap to buy. Cheap to run. Cheap to repair. Fun to ride and reliable.
I use mine as a 15 mile round trip commuter and general mess around bike.
I'm 6'-2" and ride an S1000R as well, but the Benelli never feels cramped when I jump on it, the ergonomics are spot on.
Brilliant things they are. Cheap to buy. Cheap to run. Cheap to repair. Fun to ride and reliable.
I use mine as a 15 mile round trip commuter and general mess around bike.
I'm 6'-2" and ride an S1000R as well, but the Benelli never feels cramped when I jump on it, the ergonomics are spot on.
does feel wrong that at 17 you can ride a 125 either on a CBT with L plates or an A1 license but that's your lot. Its no wonder most young riders seem to stick to CBT.
17 - CBT / A1 test
19 - A2 test
21 - A test
Ok the tests are cheap and I'd hope an insurance reduction would cover that cost but that's a pretty restrictive route to riding. The driving test can be taken at 17 and then allows you to drive anything with 4 wheels up to 3.5t regardless of power.
what sort of roads will she be riding? as smart as an assisted bicycle or a slow bike/scooter might seem a good idea its not ideal if shes regularly riding 60+mph roads and holding up traffic and tempting dangerous overtakes. Twist and go can be particularly bad when setting off on higher speed roads as they just dont get going.
Unless shes 90% urban I'd be getting a clutch and gears bike.
17 - CBT / A1 test
19 - A2 test
21 - A test
Ok the tests are cheap and I'd hope an insurance reduction would cover that cost but that's a pretty restrictive route to riding. The driving test can be taken at 17 and then allows you to drive anything with 4 wheels up to 3.5t regardless of power.
what sort of roads will she be riding? as smart as an assisted bicycle or a slow bike/scooter might seem a good idea its not ideal if shes regularly riding 60+mph roads and holding up traffic and tempting dangerous overtakes. Twist and go can be particularly bad when setting off on higher speed roads as they just dont get going.
Unless shes 90% urban I'd be getting a clutch and gears bike.
rat840771 said:
The electric bike option is not a bad idea!
Think scooter would be easier and also has under seat storage.
But as the wife and I are bikers we would like to get geared. I want to get a monkey bike, but they only do 55, so option of PCX doing 65 is a better option for me as can keep up with traffic.
Being lockdown we are a bit buggered really, also if I show them to her she will then assume she’s getting one . I have looked in the classifieds as there are some knackered 5 year old 125’s with 17k on the clock going for north of 2k
Also need to look into insurance.
Either way it la gonna cost me
Could you get her a keyring on the day and a card saying "pick one" with photos of the prospective bikes printed out? She still gets the surprise of getting bike for her birthday and it gets to be one she wants. OK, you miss out on the "big reveal" but it might be an idea.Think scooter would be easier and also has under seat storage.
But as the wife and I are bikers we would like to get geared. I want to get a monkey bike, but they only do 55, so option of PCX doing 65 is a better option for me as can keep up with traffic.
Being lockdown we are a bit buggered really, also if I show them to her she will then assume she’s getting one . I have looked in the classifieds as there are some knackered 5 year old 125’s with 17k on the clock going for north of 2k
Also need to look into insurance.
Either way it la gonna cost me
crofty1984 said:
Could you get her a keyring on the day and a card saying "pick one" with photos of the prospective bikes printed out? She still gets the surprise of getting bike for her birthday and it gets to be one she wants. OK, you miss out on the "big reveal" but it might be an idea.
Yep that'd probably be the easiest way - if she doesn't like it, she won't ride it.Maybe get her some gear for her birthday if she hasn't got any?
rat840771 said:
Yes sister in law has a Vanvan but that is taken and in use, I had a go in that I struggled to get 55 out of that. Have you seen the money they demand. Around 2k for a 10 year old example. My man maths says go for new SH/PCX125 for 1k more
Or just get a cheap car for her and see what the insurance would be
Yep, nice though they are, RV125s are rather slow.Or just get a cheap car for her and see what the insurance would be
When my elder daughter turned 16, I bought her a Yamaha Neos moped for the college run. It was one of the very last 2 strokes.
Obviously dangerously slow with the standard exhaust. But with the spacer removed from the transmission and a proper exhaust it would wind the speedo right off the clock. I don't think there it was much slower than my wife's Van Van.
As your daughter is 17, she could lawfully ride a de-restricted moped and not be much behind the 125s.
Maybe worth considering.
andburg said:
slow bike/scooter might seem a good idea its not ideal if shes regularly riding 60+mph roads and holding up traffic and tempting dangerous overtakes. Twist and go can be particularly bad when setting off on higher speed roads as they just dont get going.
Unless shes 90% urban I'd be getting a clutch and gears bike.
I assume you don't ride small bikes, or weigh about the same as a Transit van.Unless shes 90% urban I'd be getting a clutch and gears bike.
YBR/CBF are a popular option. Cheap, reliable and ubiquitous.
They will happily cruise along at 60, but overtaking slower traffic on fast roads can be a challenge.
Edit. Should have re-read.
If you are talking 50cc stuff. Then yeah, you will piss people off.
Edited by Donbot on Tuesday 12th January 16:29
Donbot said:
I assume you don't ride small bikes, or weigh about the same as a Transit van.
YBR/CBF are a popular option. Cheap, reliable and ubiquitous.
They will happily cruise along at 60, but overtaking slower traffic on fast roads can be a challenge.
No I have no transit sized issues.YBR/CBF are a popular option. Cheap, reliable and ubiquitous.
They will happily cruise along at 60, but overtaking slower traffic on fast roads can be a challenge.
There are just some slow 125cc bikes and while they will cruise at or near 60 they aren’t really made for sustained periods. 10bhp vs 12bhp is a big old difference.
For information my first bike was a Kawasaki el125, 10bhp and 145kg plus rider. While it did do 60mph, 55 was so much smoother and happier. While learning the school had a cg125 and a gn125, the gn was woeful compared!
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