‘Bag a biking runaround for £250’

When people start stealing Chinese 125s you know that bike theft is out of control. But it’s a symptom of how commuting on two wheels has changed.

For some, commuting in the city is now simply a case of buying the cheapest used vehicle available, insuring it Third Party Only, and regarding it as disposable if (when?) it gets nicked.

When you think about it, it’s not hard to see why. Amazingly, it’s possible to get basic cheap wheels today for under £250. I’ve spent a long time hunting around the very bottom of the motorcycle gene pool, and if you’re prepared to put up with some dents, scrapes and the odd missing panel, it can be done. Mostly you’ll be looking at scooters, 50cc and (trust me on this) described as ‘spares or repairs’. Ignore those and anything described as a ‘project’ or ‘needs attention’. You want transport, not a mechanical Jenga set. And steer clear of anything that doesn’t have an MoT.

I found a perfectly serviceable Yamaha Teo 125 scooter for £235, MoT’d for a year with 34,000 miles, which at least shows it’s been used and cared for. I also uncovered a Honda SGX50, a model unknown to me, with a new MoT for £250. The best bargain

I found, though, is at the bottom of this column.

One last thing: if your bike is stolen, even if it’s not insured for theft, you must tell your insurer or face possible endless hassle.