My Nephew wants a bike, his budget is £500 anything considered preferably a 125 taxed, tested and in fair nick ...

Any suggestions ...

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"With square conduct, level steps, and upright intentions ..”

A brief look on ebay found a 2002 MZ 125 which I reckon looks great for a first bike

and this ... anyone know anything about importing a brand new unregistered bike ... ? LINK

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"With square conduct, level steps, and upright intentions ..”

I'm liking this too - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2007-LIFAN-LF-125 ... 3360ec2d27

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMLOUfpdt7c

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"With square conduct, level steps, and upright intentions ..”

Steer clear of anything Chinese, Ash, it'll end in tears.
Just ask yourself why the things are so cheap and it's not all down to lower wage bills.
Quite a few use first or second generation Jap designs, but the quality can be quite poor.
Go for a good second hand Jap.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pbi5Ggmk ... re=related

Those Chinese things are really shite. A lot of bike shops around here have signs up saying they won't touch them. Parts can be a nightmare and parts from the Jap bikes they're copied from are subtly different and probably don't fit.

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If your dreams don't scare you, they are not big enough.

..

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Spencer Racing... www.spencerracing.co.uk

I will pass on the advice, cheers!

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"With square conduct, level steps, and upright intentions ..”

If he's still a teenager, don't bother with the advice, he'll know everything already.....

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Spencer Racing... www.spencerracing.co.uk

Ditto what everybody says about the Chinese crap. Honda CG is a pretty good thing in his price range
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p
Or he needs to save some more money and get something like this
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p
Derbi Senda's are very popular, but they never seem cheap.

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In a purple fug

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"With square conduct, level steps, and upright intentions ..”

Derbi GPR - no contest, I'd have thought .....

I bought a chinky 125 scooter for running around, took it apart and replaced fixings for stainless, then used a torque wrench all over. £7 number plate, £15 for 12 months tax and £55 to the dvla. 400 miles on it now (100 mpg approx) most teenagers gun the shit out of them from day one so no suprise that it ends in tears. I use it for running around town, would not dream of taking it to a dealer to service, its a piece of piss to do your self.

All my mates laughed there bollocks off, I just giggle at the garage when I fill it up for a fiver....there is a down side however....I think I'm coming out in spots

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xxxx

Has Vic been out on his bike yet Richie?

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I'm a Hornithologist, I get excited by exotic birds.........

Indeed but for a £500 budget

He ended up buying this which, despite the hints, is Chinese. Its only £400 and looks like a great first bike .. parts on Ebay are in abundance and cheep. its a 2007 with a shade over 4k on the clock ... it will do him fine to get a few months road craft under him then he can sell it on for what he paid for it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMLOUfpdt7c

and

http://picasaweb.google.com/paulspix/Li ... fF38ubjwE#

It has a bit of rust here and there but he can do it up if he likes, although it is only to learn on.

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"With square conduct, level steps, and upright intentions ..”

I agree, and the bike he has bought will cost a few quid to put right instead of a bunch of panels and plastics!

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"With square conduct, level steps, and upright intentions ..”