Twist & Go July/August 2014

BIKES & SCOOTERS 349 RATED OR RIDDEN

TOP 10 TIPS TO KEEPING

YOUR MACHINE SAFE

A2

SPECIAL

18

OPTIONSTOCONSIDER

From£2000to£6500

BMW C-EVOLUTION

THE BUYING METROPOLIS

CHALLENGES

THEMP3’s CHARGINGINTO THEFUTURE CROWN

GLOVES

FORUNDER

£150

A NIPPONIA SCOOTERPACKAGE

WORTH £1750

ALSO UP FOR GRABS:

COOLDRYCLOTHINGWORTH£70 ‘ROCKIN’RIDE’ROCKOILPACKAGEWORTH£75

No. 99 July/August 2014 £3.99

LICENCE

NEW&USED

Editor: Mau Spencer, mspencer@mortons.co.uk Publisher: Steve Rose Contributors: Joe Dick, Pete Henshaw, Mau, Steve MacGregor, Carli Ann Smith, Bruce Wilson.

Apologies to anyone we’ve forgotten.

Design: Charlotte Turnbull Reprographics: Simon Duncan Group production editor: Tim Hartley Divisional advertising manager: Sandra Fisher sfisher@mortons.co.uk Advertising: Jo Scarbro jscarbro@mortons.co.uk 01507 524004 Subscription manager: Paul Deacon Circulation manager: Steve O’Hara Marketing manager: Charlotte Park Production manager: Craig Lamb Publishing director: Dan Savage Commercial director: Nigel Hole Associate director: Malc Wheeler Editorial address: Twist & Go magazine, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ www.twistngo.com www.whatscooter.com Editorial call: 01507 529408 General queries and back issues: 01507 529529 (24hr answerphone) Email: help@classicmagazines.co.uk Web: www.classicmagazines.co.uk UK: 6 issues £20 Europe: 6 issues £24 ROW: 6 issues £30 Archivist: Jane Skayman 01507 529423 jskayman@mortons.co.uk Subscription Full subscription rates (but see page 70 for offer): (12 months 12 issues, inc post and packing) – UK £23.10. Export rates are also available – see page 70 for more details.

UK subscriptions are zero-rated for the purposes of Value Added Tax. Distribution: COMAG, Tavistock Road, West Drayton, Middx UB7 7QE. Tel 01895 433600 © Mortons Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage retrieval system without prior permission in writing from the publisher. ISSN No 1471–0501 USA SUBSCRIPTIONS Twist & Go magazine TWIST & GO (ISSN:1471-0501) is published bi-monthly by Mortons Media Group Ltd., PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ UK . USA subscriptions are $36 per year from Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. Periodical Postage is paid at Wisconsin Rapids, WI. Postmaster: Send address changes to TAG, c/o Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. 715-572-4595 chris@classicbikebooks.com Printed by William Gibbons & Son, Wolverhampton.

Some articles within these pages express the opinions of the contributors and are not necessarily those of Twist & Go. E&OE: While we do our best to ensure our information is accurate, all mention of special offers or other deals are subject to alteration by the companies mentioned.

NEXT ISSUE (100): Published on August 20, 2014 EDITORIAL DEADLINE: July 19, 2014

Independent publisher since 1885

Having trouble finding a copy of this magazine?

Why not Just Ask your local newsagent to reserve you a copy each month?

WHO’SWHO? MAU SPENCER

IN DETAIL

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GOSSIP ’N’ GADGETS

Up-to-date news and product information

NEW METAL

What’s on the way to the UK?

PRODUCT REVIEWS

Our overview of the latest products

LEXMOTO VIENNA

An understated Vespa-style 125 from Lexmoto

WK WASP

The new 125cc version of WK’s Wasp 50

SKYTEAM BONGO

The Monkey Bike lives on!

BMW CEVOLUTION

Bruce Wilson goes on the official launch test

A2 LICENCE GROUP TEST

New and used options to consider in our latest group test

WIN A SCOOTER!

Your opportunity to own a Nipponia scooter of your choice

THREEWHEELED WONDERS

Peugeot Metropolis or Piaggio MP3 – which would be your choice?

KEEPING YOUR MACHINE SAFE

Our top 10 tips to help keep your machine safe and sound

Heading up the T&G team, editor Mau has been riding bikes since he was 16. He’s also the founding editor of Classic Scooterist magazine often leading to him being ribbed by his classic scooter riding buddies – he gives as good as he gets.

CARLI ANN SMITH

Staff writer, Carli, has been riding bikes for more than a decade. She loves all things two-wheeled and started her riding career on a DT125.

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BRUCE WILSON

Bruce has worked on Motorcycle Racer, MCM, Classic Motorcycle Mechanics plus other publications. He is currently the deputy editor of our sibling publication, Motorcycle Sport & Leisure (MSL).

PETE HENSHAW

Pete doesn’t own a car and is happy to rely on two wheels to get around. His specialism is riding small, slow bikes for long distances.

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GLOVE BUYING GUIDE

Our advice for buying a new pair of gloves

BRUSH UP ON YOUR RIDING SKILLS

Learning to ride, or brushing up on your skills. See if our advice helps

72

URBAN SURVIVAL SKILLS

Do you corner without thinking about it? There’s some technique to keeping you safe

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THE MOTORCYCLE DIARY

Why ride a bike?

RIDING IN VIETNAM

Vietnam is a wonderful place to tour. But there are a few things you’ll need to be aware of

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READERS’ LETTERS

Have your say and voice your opinions on the topics you choose

READERS’ RIDES

Share your two-wheel world with us

WHICH BIKE?

Our guide to new scooters and motorcycles

SALES AND WANTS

Find what you’re looking for in our classified section

ARE YOU A SUBSCRIBER? Get a copy of your favourite magazine before others! See page 70 for details

SHORT‘N’SWEET There’s been lots happening in the motorcycle commuting world of late and in an effort to bring you more exciting features we’ve had to squeeze our contents index down to one page for this issue. So apologies for keeping my normal intro comment short ’n’ sweet, but I’m sure you’d rather read about bikes than listen to my waffling.

In association with

RidetoWorkDay RiejuUKmoves headquarters Scooter and motorcycle importer, Rieju UK, has transferred its headquarters from their former Ruskington base and are now operating from new premises in Lincoln. The new business address is: Rieju UK Ltd, Monarch House, Unit 1, Albion Works, Long Leys Road, Lincoln LN1 1DT. Please also note that its new phone number is 01522 589121.

The fax number remains the same 02085 885408.

This year’s Ride to Work Day on June 16 will kick start Ride to Work Week, which takes place until June 22. The campaign promotes the benefits of motorcycling to non-riders, government and local transport bodies – demonstrating that life would be better if more people rode motorcycles and scooters every day, saving time, money and reducing congestion.

A European study showed that if 10% of car drivers switched to a motorcycle or

Free electric charge points Our article entitled‘Light of the Charge Brigade’published in the last issue generated quite a response from people wanting contact details. As we stated in the article, this is basically a Government-backed scheme, which has been widely advertised via local press, radio and the internet. There are no central phone numbers for contact. The scheme is accessed in a similar way to the widely publicised ‘cavity wall insulation’ promotional adverts – i.e. via a local/national provider who covers your area (certainly, in our locality, the scheme is being widely advertised by providers).

Another access option would be via the internet, simply by typing‘free electric charging unit’ into a search engine. This should produce a substantial number of results for you to choose from, but if you are still struggling to find a local option, here are a few contact examples that might help: www.britishgas.co.uk/productsand-services/energy-saving/ electric-vehicles.html www.chargeatmyhouse.com/ www.chargemasterplc.com

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scooter, then congestion would be reduced for ALL road users by 40%, and if the number who switched increased to 25%, congestion would be eliminated altogether.

Throughout Ride to Work week, dealers, cafes and workplaces around the country will be holding events and offering special bike-related promotions. Go to the Ride to Work Day website to find events happening in your area: http://ridetoworkday.co.uk/events/

SpilsbyBikeNight From AJS to Zundapp, motorcycles of all shapes and sizes descended on Spilsby town centre on Tuesday, May 20 for the annual Spilsby Bike Night.

Organised by the local bike shop, A E Wildman & Son Motorcycles – and assisted by many other willing volunteers – the festivities ran from 5pm onwards. The crowds were kept entertained all

evening with live music, an off-road demonstration, plus various motorcycle-related stalls; local shops also stayed open late.

The atmosphere was electric with everyone appearing to have a good time, and although the final figure isn’t known yet, a substantial amount of money was raised for a number of charities.

A1 SPEC: ENGINE

Single-cylinder, air-cooled, four-stroke 124.6cc POWER

WKWasp125 Float like a butterfly and sting like a…wasp; we took out the newWasp 125 from WK Bikes.

8.4bhp (6.3kW) BRAKES

Front: Disc Rear: Disc TYRES

Front: 130/80 x 12 Rear: 130/70 x 12 SUSPENSION

Front: Telescopic fork Rear: Twin rear shock SEAT HEIGHT

W

K Bikes has added the sporty looking Wasp to its scooter stable with a price of £1299.

ENGINE

750mm

WEIGHT

103kg

TANK CAPACITY

6 litres

CONTACT

www.wkbikes.com PROS

Two-year warranty Sporty looks CONS

No room for helmet storage Low top speed

PRICE £1299 (OTR)

The progressive single-cylinder four-stroke engine is nippy in town.

Filtering through traffic was a breeze and the Wasp made light work of beating cars from the lights.

On country roads the scooter got up to around 50mph. Our test bike was brand-new with not many miles on the clock, therefore it would be expected that once run-in, the top speed may be more.

HANDLING There’s plenty of legroom and the seat is well-padded, which comes in handy when you’re racking up the miles. It’s a comfortable ride and the suspension does its job.

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With disc brakes front and rear, the stopping power is strong and direct. The well-sized mirrors show you clearly what’s happening behind. There’s capacity for a pillion and they can place their feet on the indents near the footboards and hold on to the handy luggage rack on the rear.

LOOKS Sporty touches are all over – including the exhaust, luggage rack, angular vents and shape of the indicators. I was impressed by this attention to detail – especially given the price. The dash is informative and uncluttered; it features a clock, odometer and trip gauge, fuel indicator and speedo. An orange light flashes to tell you to fill up the six-litre tank, accessed under the seat. Colour options include red and blue.

STORAGE As well as the rear luggage rack, there is underseat storage and a carry hook. While there isn’t room for a full-face helmet under the seat, there is room for waterproofs and anything else you’d like to store under there. There’s a steering lock and it has a centre and sidestand as standard. Its light weight and narrow shape means you can squeeze it into tight parking spaces Words: Carli Photos: Joe Dick

WE SAY: Nippy, sporty looking scooter for a great price.

★★★★★

A1

SkyteamBongo125 The immortal monkey bike lives on.

SPEC: ENGINE

Air-cooled 124cc single, four-speed gearbox POWER

Claimed 10bhp BRAKES

Front: 15mm disc Rear: drum TYRES

Front: 3.50 x 10 Rear: 3.50 x 10 SUSPENSION

Front: telescopic fork Rear: twin shocks SEAT HEIGHT

700mm

WEIGHT

Claimed 70kg (dry) FUEL CAPACITY

8.5 litres

COLOURS

Black, red

CONTACT www.skyteammotorcycles.com

PRICE £1199

(PLUS OTR)

S

kyteam’s range of Chinesemade bikes ranges from the tiny 50cc SkyMini to the range-topping Le Mans Pro. The Bongo is in the middle. Now go on, try saying ‘My bike’s a Bongo,’ without smirking.

ENGINE The Bongo’s secret weapon is that instead of the 50cc motor you’d expect in such a tiny machine, there’s a full-size four-stroke 125.

Of course, at this price it’s not especially sophisticated, being aircooled with two valves and fed by a carburettor, producing 10bhp. Mind you, the Bongo weighs just a claimed 70kg...

STYLING Well, it’s a monkey bike, isn’t it, which you’ll either love... or not.

The Bongo does come with extra bling, in the form of a high-level exhaust, alloy wheels and chrome mudguards. Whatever, it’ll certainly get you noticed.

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EQUIPMENT It would be easier to say what equipment the Bongo doesn’t have.

There’s no room for a passenger, no helmet lock and minimal instrumentation... though it does have a tiny rear rack for bijou parcels. And fold-down handlebars for storage, though it’s hard to see how these would help unless you’re planning to park it under the stairs.

ON THE ROAD At the risk of repeating ourselves, the Bongo isn’t the biggest beast on the road, measuring less than 1.4 metres long and 980mm high. So it suits smaller folk, especially as the seat height is just 700mm. Although the power is on the shy side of modest, the bike is very light (half the weight of some 125cc scooters, if you believe the claimed figure).

This gives it surprisingly perky performance, and thanks to the low first gearing and short wheelbase, it is liable to wheelie unless you lean forward a little. Unlike the original

semi-auto monkey bikes, this one has a clutch and four-speed manual box, because, say the importers, that’s what customers want these days. Fourth feels quite high, but the Bongo actually tops out at an indicated 55mph, which may not sound much but certainly feels it when you’re this close to the ground.

The brakes are good enough for the performance and low weight, though the Bongo doesn’t handle as well as a big-wheeled naked 125, a function of its 10in wheels and basic suspension, though the twin rear shocks do have preload adjustment.

Words/images: Pete Henshaw

WE SAY: Not really practical, but a lot of fun.

★★★★★

COMPETITION

SCOOTER

underthespotlight We’ve teamed up with Nipponia to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a brand new scooter... but first, we thought we’d tell you a little bit more about the brand in case you weren’t familiar...

TELL US ABOUT NIPPONIA...

Introduced into the UK market in 2012, it could be argued that Nipponia is a relatively new kid on the UK block; however, the family behind Nipponia has actually been involved in the two-wheeled market since the 1940s.

The founder, Nikos Gorgolis, started manufacturing and selling bicycles in Greece and by 1962 he’d moved on to form Mego, a light vehicle manufacturing business, through which he began to build motorcycles and three-wheelers. His company was the only one to produce bikes of Greek design and his success in the sector continued for 30 years.

In the late 1970s, his two sons, Andreas and Vasilis, joined the company and formed Gorgolis AS. The brand then started to import bikes from Japan to Greece – the Nipponia name derives from the word

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‘Nippon’ which is the native name of Japan.

Gorgolis AS is currently ranked top of the table for registrations over in Greece with a 24.4% market share and currently has distribution rights to Modenas, SYM and Daytona for the Greek market. The company now boasts offices in Japan, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Shanghai and Athens.

MOORE LARGE & CO – I’VE HEARD THAT NAME BEFORE...

Derby-based importer Moore Large & Co, is known among T&G readers as it is also distributor for KSR Moto Austria (formerly Generic). The company came across Nipponia when looking for another brand to complement its existing motorised division portfolio.

Neil Proctor, sales and marketing manager of the motorised division at Moore Large & Co, tells us more: “We are now in our second

year of importing Nipponia and we see the brand going from strength to strength. Both dealers and customers are impressed with the quality of Nipponia. With the introduction of KSR Moto to our portfolio, we now have two brands that offer quality, reliability and most of all fun!”

Even if you aren’t the lucky winner of this competition, we’re offering you the chance to get money off a brand-new machine and with insurance costing no more than £199 for over 25s it’s a great time to buy a Nipponia.

UK DEALERS There are currently 59 dealers across the UK, with most of them stocking the full range of Nipponia scooters.

“We’ve seen sales grow year on year as the brand is growing in the UK. A trend we can see continuing.” commented Neil.

MODEL RANGE SPEC: ENGINE

Single cylinder, twostroke, air-cooled 49.2 POWER

4bhp @ 7000rpm BRAKES

Neon 50 £1299

Miro 125 £1499

The Neon features a two-stroke engine and has disc brakes on the front and rear. There are multi-spoke alloy rims and plenty of storage under the seat.

Elegant and streamlined, the Miro features a practical rear carrier as standard and has an economical four-stroke engine.

“The Miro is by far the best selling model in the range; customers tell us that it offers comfort, speed and reliability and is perfect way to commute to and from work,” says Neil.

Front: disc Rear: disc TYRES

Front: 120/70 x 12 tubeless Rear: 120/70 x 12 tubeless

SPEC:

POWER

9.2bhp @ 7500rpm BRAKES

Front: disc Rear: disc Front: 3.50-10 tubeless Rear: 3.50-10 tubeless SUSPENSION

Front: telescopic hydraulic fork Rear: double hydraulic shock absorber

Front: telescopic hydraulic fork Rear: single hydraulic shock absorber

SEAT HEIGHT

SEAT HEIGHT

770mm

670mm

WEIGHT

WEIGHT

86kg

108kg

TANK CAPACITY

TANK CAPACITY

5 litres

5.7 litres

ENGINE

Dion 125 £1499

Brio 125 £1499

POWER

Modern styling and multi-spoke alloy rims, the Dion features disc brakes on the front and rear and has a four-stroke engine.

With eye-catching colour combinations and disc brakes on the front and rear, the Brio is new to the Nipponia range this year and is the only geared option in the range.

Single cylinder, fourstroke, air-cooled 124.6cc

Single cylinder, fourstroke, air-cooled 124.6cc

TYRES

SUSPENSION

SPEC:

ENGINE

9.2bhp @ 7000rpm

SPEC: ENGINE

Single cylinder, fourstroke, air-cooled 119.7cc POWER

8.4bhp @ 7500rpm

BRAKES

BRAKES

TYRES

TYRES

Front: disc Rear: disc

Front: disc Rear: disc

Front: 120/70 x 12 tubeless Rear: 120/70 x 12 tubeless

Front: 2.50 x 17 tubeless Rear: 2.75 x 17 tubeless SUSPENSION:

Front: telescopic hydraulic fork Rear: double hydraulic shock absorbers

SUSPENSION

Front: telescopic hydraulic fork Rear: double hydraulic shock absorbers

SEAT HEIGHT

738mm

SEAT HEIGHT

WEIGHT

780mm

91kg

WEIGHT

TANK CAPACITY

101kg

3.5 litres

TANK CAPACITY

5 litres

TWO YEAR WARRANTY Nipponia offers a two year parts and labour warranty on every model in the range to give you complete peace of mind.

It’s not limited to the first buyer either, so if you sell your Nipponia then the warranty is passed on to the new owner – which could give it a higher resale value.

WANT TO WIN ONE? We’re offering you the chance to get your hands on a brand new scooter – turn the page to find out more!

For more information on the range, visit www.wearemoto.co.uk www.twistngo.com 43

KIT ADVICE

Welcometoour

Credit: Held GmbH; schöffel design

GloveBuyingGuide

Every issue we’ll be focusing on one piece of riding kit and giving you advice so that you can get the most for your money.

We’ll look at features and benefits, safety standards and bring you a few choices from different brands. Last issue we covered jackets, this time we’re talking about gloves.

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With so many styles and materials to choose from, you might not know where to start when faced with buying your first pair or looking for a new pair of gloves.There’s plenty to consider including safety, price point and comfort…

S

urely all gloves are the same?

Unfortunately not. Getting the right pair of gloves is very important.

Finding the best pair for you is all about thinking about the weather you ride in and making sure your hands are comfortable, warm and safe.

You’re not required by law to wear gloves on a bike but it’s highly advisable to get yourself a pair to keep your hands protected – and not just against the elements.

We’ve put together a buying guide to help you find your perfect set of gloves.

TYPE: To begin narrowing down your choices, think about the material you think would be best for you.The two main choices are leather or textile – each have their pros and cons, so consider which suits you, your bike and your budget.

Leather

Gloves made from leather are often more resistant to abrasion than their textile counterparts, meaning should you need to test it out, you can be sure you’ll be protected. A lot of people find them softer and more flexible too. It’s not just cowhide leather that is used either – sometimes goat, kangaroo or even stingray leather sections are used in gloves on the knuckles or palms due to their high levels of abrasion resistance.

Textile

Materials have advanced a lot over the last few years and there are some fantastic alternatives to leather gloves. Often, as with jackets, textile gloves are cheaper to buy than leather. They often contain waterproof membranes too, making them water resistant so that your hands stay dry. They can be cleaned too – often in a washing machine.

Best of both

It’s not uncommon to see gloves made from leather and textile – these are often a popular option as you get the benefits of both materials in one pair of gloves.

STYLE: Once you’ve decided on the material, have a think about the style of gloves you’d like – there are plenty to choose from – a lot of it is down to personal preference:

Long or short

Some people like to tuck their gloves into their jacket sleeves – short gloves are easier to do this with as there is less material to try and squash in around the wrist, plus in summer, shorter gloves allow a cooling draft up your sleeve. Other riders prefer longer gloves so that they can

tuck their jacket cuffs into the top of their gloves to stop the pesky wind getting in. Not only this, but longer gloves offer protection from road rash on your wrists in case of an accident. Some gloves have a zipper at the top to make the cuff wider or thinner so that they can be worn inside and outside your jacket.

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AJS Crazy 50 £1049

AJS Digita 50 £799

AJS Firefox 50 £1049

AJS JSM 50 Motard £1599

AJS Bobber 125 £2929

AJS Daytona 125 £2929

AJS DD125E MK2 £1749

AJS Eco 125 £1299

AJS Eco Custom 125 £1299

AJS EOS 125 MK2 £2929

AJS JSM 125 Motard £1599

AJS NAC12 £1799

AJS Exactly 125 £1049

AJS EOS 350 £3409

AJS SPT 350 £2929

AJS Stellar 350 £2900

APRILIA SR 50 R £2171

APRILIA SR Motard 50 £2071

49cc/2T auto/AM licence/4bhp/4.7 ltrs A very trick looking scooter with MX bars, sports pipe with alloy muffler, digital clocks, double disc brakes, parts and labour warranty.

Tested:T&G Issue N/A Star rating: We say: Budget sporty fifty.

49cc/2T geared/AM licence/5bhp/8.5 ltrs The JSM 50 is a great looking two stroke supermotard. It’s got 38mm forks, alloy wheels, LED lights and wavy discs.

Tested:T&G Issue N/A Star rating: We say: Smart looking supermotard.

124cc/4T geared/A1 licence/10bhp/14 ltrs The DD125E (Regal Raptor) looks quite tasty, or at least it does for a bike costing less than £1800!

Don’t expect Japanese levels of finish on the chrome and you won’t be disappointed.

Tested:T&G Issue N/A Star rating: We say: Custom bike on a budget!

AJS  BENELLI

124cc/4T geared/A1 licence/10bhp/14 ltrs Twin cylinder liquid cooled engine, twin front discs and the kind of styling usually reserved for bigger bikes, it’s an Orange County Shopper!

Tested:T&G Issue N/A Star rating: We say: Proper custom style 125!

125cc/4T auto/A1 licence/6bhp/4.7 ltrs Smart modern style. Easy to ride with smooth torquey 4-stroke engine, comes with a back carrier.

Good fuel economy. 12 month parts & labour warranty.

Tested:T&G Issue N/A Star rating: We say: Basic 125cc scooter from AJS.

320cc/4T geared/A2 licence/20bhp/14 ltrs Sumptuous dual seating, fuel injected, liquid cooled engine, twin front discs and loads of Chinese bargain priced styling.

Tested:T&G Issue N/A Star rating: We say: A2 class 320cc cruiser.

HOW THE NEW Make and model

49cc/4T auto/AM licence/2bhp/4.7 ltrs Scootering for the budget rider, 4-stroke economical engine but only produces 2.1bhp so don’t expect much power!They don’t get much cheaper though.

Tested:T&G Issue N/A Star rating: We say: Basic 50cc budget scoot.

124cc/4T geared/A1 licence/10bhp/8 ltrs Old school design, twin cylinder liquid cooled power, hard tail suspension and a sprung single saddle.The Bobber needs sitting on to appreciate how mad this 125 looks.

Tested:T&G Issue N/A Star rating: We say: How cool does that look?

124cc/4T geared/A1 licence/10bhp/10 ltrs With a claimed 75mpg and £15 a year road tax a bargain priced commuter bike like the Eco 125 makes a lot of sense.

Tested:T&G Issue N/A Star rating: We say: Economical 4-stroke commuter

124cc/4T geared/A1 licence/10bhp/8.5 ltrs USD forks, Pro-shock rear suspension, anodised alloy rims, wavy discs, LED lights, gear position indicator and plenty of style.

Tested:T&G Issue N/A Star rating: We say: Good looking 125 motard.

320cc/4T geared/A2 licence/20bhp/14 ltrs If you’re looking for a budget custom bike then AJS is the place to go, they’ve got plenty in their range.

Tested:T&G Issue N/A Star rating: We say: More custom styling from AJS!

49cc/2T /AM licence/bhp/7 ltrs Aprilia’s SR 50 R is an out and out sports scoot with a good pedigree. It’s liquid cooled two stroke Minarelli engine gives good acceleration and a decent de-restricted speed, plus scope for tuning.

Tested:T&G Issue 35 Star rating: HHHHI We say: Great Italian 50.

49cc/2T auto/AM licence/3bhp/4.7 ltrs This nippy little Firefox was new in 2012, it’s a 50cc two stroke with LED lights, rear rack and quite nice styling. Just £1049 on the road so it’s worth a look.

Tested:T&G Issue N/A Star rating: We say: Good looking 2 stroke fifty.

124cc/4T geared/A1 licence/10bhp/14 ltrs The Daytona 125 forms part of an impressive looking line up of out of the ordinary learner legal and A2 bikes from AJS. Liquid cooled, twin cylinder engine as well!

Tested:T&G Issue N/A Star rating: We say: Tasty looking learner legal custom bike.

124cc/4T geared/A1 licence/10bhp/10 ltrs Sit up and beg riding position, economical 75mpg (claimed) engine and an attractive price make this Eco Custom worth a look.

Tested:T&G Issue N/A Star rating: We say: Budget naked AJS.

124cc/4T geared/A1 licence/10bhp/18 ltrs You don’t get many liquid cooled twin cylinder 125’s and this one looks quite cool too with it’s rear exit exhausts.We’ve not ridden it but it should be quite torquey.

Tested:T&G Issue N/A Star rating: We say: Twin cylinder naked 125.

320cc/4T geared/A2 licence/20bhp/10 ltrs A2 licence friendly bike from AJS, twin cylinder fuel injected, liquid cooled motor, twin front discs and a comfortable riding position.

Tested:T&G Issue N/A Star rating: We say: Naked 320cc bike from AJS.

49cc/2T auto/AM licence/4bhp/7 ltrs The SR Motard is inspired by super motard styling, it’s powered by a two stroke engine so there’s tuning potential...

Tested:T&G Issue N/A Star rating: We say: Nice looking two stroke.

GUIDE WORKS Recommended price

Short summary

Spec details

Last review in T&G What it looks like

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Our verdict/rating

APRILIA Mojito Custom 50 £2320

APRILIA RS4 50 £3271

APRILIA Sportcity Cube 125 £2820

APRILIA SR Motard 125 £2271

APRILIA RS4 125 £4471

APRILIA SRV 850 £8391

BAOTIAN Eagle £1099

BAOTIAN Apollo 10 £899

BAOTIAN Apollo 12 £999

BAOTIAN Eagle 50 GT £1149

BAOTIAN Falcon 50 R £1299

BAOTIAN Monza 50 £1299

BAOTIAN Monza 125 £1399

BAOTIAN Citibike 125 £1399

BAOTIAN Evolution 125 £1229

BENELLI 49 X £1599

50cc/2T /A1 licence/4bhp/7.5 ltrs The Mojito certainly stands out from the crowd with it’s retro features. Dropped from the Aprilia range but still a few new ones in dealers, be quick though...

Tested:T&G Issue N/A Star rating: We say: Funky looking custom 125

124cc/4T auto/A1 licence/15bhp/9 ltrs Another good scooter deleted from the Aprilia range but still available new if you shop around.

Tested:T&G Issue 63 Star rating: HHHHI We say: Good dependable 125.

125cc/4T geared/A1 licence/15bhp/14.5 ltrs The RS 125 was always the two stroke to own, it looks even sexier now but comes with a slightly less exciting but less hassle 4-stroke engine. Still a great bike.

Tested:T&G Issue N/A Star rating: We say: Fantastic looking learner bike.

49cc/4T /AM licence/4bhp/5 ltrs The lightweight Eagle 50 is mounted on 12”alloy wheels with low profile tyres, standard equipment includes rear parcel rack which will accept a top box.

Tested:T&G Issue N/A Star rating: We say: A decent little budget scooter.

50cc/4T auto/AM licence/4bhp/5.5 ltrs This is the larger 12”wheeled Apollo 12, it’s basically the same as the Apollo 10 but with larger wheels for added stability. Not a bad little scooter for less than a grand.

Tested:T&G Issue 91 Star rating: HHHII We say: Less than a grand, you can’t go wrong.

50cc/2T auto/AM licence/5bhp/6 ltrs Designed to turn heads, the Falcon has multispoke alloys, carbon fibre finished mudguard, adjustable rear suspension a two tone seat, LED lamps, halogen headlights and a digital dash.

Tested:T&G Issue 86 Star rating: HHHII We say: Smart looking 2-stroke.

124cc/4T /A1 licence/bhp/6 ltrs Talk about Baotian scooters catching up on the design front!This Monza is gorgeous and comes at a great price. It looks just as good in the flesh and rides well too.

Tested:T&G Issue 80 Star rating: HHHHI We say: Stylish retro 125, not bad at all.

125cc/4T auto/A1 licence/9bhp/6 ltrs The Evolution is a streamlined machine with indicators integrated into the sleek bodywork to compliment the halogen headlamps and set the tone for this versatile scooter.

Tested:T&G Issue N/A Star rating: We say: A well priced commuter machine.

50cc/2T geared/AM licence/bhp/14.5 ltrs A great introduction to the sportsbike world, the RS50 still retains the 2-stroke engine, rides perfectly and looks stunning. RS4 SBK replica is even tastier and costs £100 more.

Tested:T&G Issue N/A Star rating: We say: Perfect but pricey 50.

124cc/4T auto/A1 licence/bhp/7 ltrs The SR Motard 125 is powered by an economical 124cc 4-stroke motor. It features 14”wheels, a powerful 220mm front disc and a sumptuous two-tone seat with white stitching.

Tested:T&G Issue N/A Star rating: We say: Well built Italian 4-stroke 125.

839cc/4T /A licence/76bhp/18.5 ltrs This is the ultimate sports scooter, v-twin engine and 76bhp on tap, superb handling thanks to that twin beam frame, fantastic Brembo Gold Series brakes and super sexy Aprilia RSV styling.

Tested:T&G Issue 86 Star rating: HHHHH We say: The ultimate sports scooter.

50cc/4T auto/AM licence/4bhp/5 ltrs Well priced and stylish looking Baotian for less than £900, a bargain for entry level scootering. It’s based on the best selling BT49QT but has some added style and nicer paintwork.

Tested:T&G Issue 91 Star rating: HHHII We say: Tidy budget priced scooter.

50cc/4T auto/AM licence/4bhp/5 ltrs The GT has smooth lines, sharp headlamps, a profiled seat and angular mirrors, plus a sports style exhaust, wavy front brake disc, red calliper and sports graphics.

Tested:T&G Issue N/A Star rating: HHHII We say: Baotian scooters are great value.

50cc/4T auto/AM licence/3bhp/5 ltrs The Baotian Monza is a comfortable and practical retro scooter, Italian styling at Chinese prices!Well worth a look if you’re on a budget.

Tested:T&G Issue N/A Star rating: We say: Tasty retro 50.

125cc/4T /A1 licence/9bhp/6 ltrs This‘big-wheeled’, full-size commuter is packaged with a learner-legal engine and fully automatic ‘twist-n-go’transmission.

Tested:T&G Issue 85 Star rating: HHHII We say: Quite a tasty little commuter.

49cc/2T /AM licence/bhp/6.2 ltrs The 49X or in Italian‘Quattro Nove’, is an aggressive and agile street savvy scooter. A very nice 50cc scoot.

Tested:T&G Issue 65 Star rating: HHHHI We say: A fantastic looking scooter.

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