Hopefully doing my CBT next weekend and looking for a cheap 125 to ride to Uni and back (bout 35 miles).

Problem is there is a distinct lack of decent 125s in this area that are cheap (under £1K). There are a lot of shops selling the Chinese bikes but I have read in multiple places that they really are shite. Same goes for 600’s and small 400’s.

A local bike breakers has a Bajaj 125 2t (possibly a Chetak) in for sale. It needs a speedo cable but aside from that its good to go. Im quite tempted as its dirt cheap (£400). Anyone got any experience of Bajaj bikes?

However Im wondering if anyone knows of any specialist Vespa/Lambretta shops/companies that deal in restored or rideable project bikes? If I can find something under £1K I would be a very happy chap!

I would love to buy an old Lambretta and restore it myself but lack of a decent size shed kinda knocks that idea on the head.

There’s no way you’ll ever get a Lambretta for under a grand. As for specialists just pick up a copy of Scootering magazine.

Based in Bristol

Restored Lambos come in way over 1k, for a good one you could easily look to paying in excess of 3 or 4 k and around 2k is a base line starting point.

Take a look at Fanatic to get a feel. Or Cambridge Lambretta

On the other hand you could pick up a nearly new LML Vespa for around 1 k if you hunt hard enough,

New they start around 1800, again look here

No, I don’t ride one ( yet ) but a restored Lambo is high on my wish list. Something like this if I had a spare 7.5k would be good, however I’d settle for something a little more modest and restrained a bit like this one at a mere ( ? ) 5.7 k

Oh well guess I need to carry on saving the pennies 🙁

You would be lucky to find a good Lammy for under a grand. Great to own if you handy with the tools, as they do take a bit of maintenance. The problem is the lack of workshops that are willing to touch them.
Also remember that if you are leaving it around all day, that they are as desirable as your pushbike. A lot don’t have ignition keys, and the steering lock is hardly duarable, plus those nice panels on the side – they are held on with nothing more than a handle.
Mine was registered as a 125 but actually had a 150 engine block with 175 cylinder head. Got about 80mpg on it.
Remember also, they have no indicators, which can be a pain, especially when you take your CBT.
I’m sorry if this all sounds a bit negative, but they really are for enthusiasts rather than every day use.
Can’t comment on Vespas or Bajas – sorry, not had one.

This was mine….Sold about 4 years ago. Pedal power all the way now.

Hmmm….Lambretta out then.

Vespa or Bajaj it is then 😀

I have no direct experience of the bajaj but from my experience of Enfield indias I would say avoid. You get what you pay for and they enfields are certainly made badly.

How about a twist and go? Speedfight etc from one of the european manufacturers. Easy to ride and maintain and at least as good to commute on.

Listen to TJ. If you want something cheap, reliable, cheap to run, insure etc and last a while then get a twist and go effort.

Definitely avoid the Chinese crap.

Me, I’d get a DT125 or something like that…

Buy the Bajaj it’s basically a Vespa built under licience in India and for £400 you can invest the rest of the money on chrome 8)

Im keeping one eye open for any Twist and Gos that turn up. Again theres not many available in this area, most are either Chinese or under 125cc.

DT125 is out….they’re way too expensive.

A quick tip….If you do your CBT on a twist and go, you won’t be able to ride anything else – geared motorbike or scooter.

Thanks for that Chase. Im hoping to do the CBT on one of the bikes offered by the training center.

Although I was thinking about what would happen if you took the test on a Vespa/Lambretta which has clutch and gears..would you only end up with a scooter license?

With a CBT you can only ride with L plates and taking it on an auto twist and go still allows you to ride a geared bike as a learner.

What kind of roads is your commute? With that kind of money I’d be looking at a 125 geared bike like a CB125 or a 4 stroke scooter. With that much mileage I’d be avoiding 2 stroke, they’re more effort to run and cost of the oil to mix with fuel, not to mention alot less efficient.

When I started uni (6 yrs ago) I bought a new 100cc Honda 4 stroke scooter and commuted 22ish miles each way in London – urban commute. It did the job well and very low hassle until I upgraded to a proper bike.

There are 3 choices for the route I can take into town. One is a long, fast A road followed by dual carriageway. Another is a short town route followed by a very long stretch of fast dual carriageway used mostly by trucks. The third is pretty much majority town riding with A road blasts of a few miles in between, followed by a dual carriageway.

I would seriously look into a geared 125. Bigger wheels will give you far more comfort and control on faster roads and you’ll be able to squeeze more out of the engine with gears.

Personally I would never use a scooter for an A road commute.

when I started riding bikes my first was a Honda H100 – a geared 2 stroke ugly as sin but was wheels man. Then I used a CG125 for a while. Pretty ugly but no one would steal it! Cheap as chips, not as good as the 2 stroke as it was slower and didn’t really like to rev much but hey – it was transport!

I did my CBT many years ago on a Vespa T5 (original with square type headlight). When I did my full test I hired a bike from the local dealer. The bigger wheels and engine being in the middle makes the bike more stable, plus everything worked on the hired bike, unlike my scooters.

If I was you I’d be looking for a cheap used Vespa or a twsit n go. The Vespa will break down on a regular basis however they are easy enough to work on.