Derbi GPR 50 R > Reviews (5)

when I was 16 I was desperate to get on the road like most 16 year olds I sat my CBT a week after my 16th birthday and was thrilled to be "mobile", my first bike was a TS50 which I found slow and loud! so i started shopping about, I came across the Derbi GPR50R which I had to have, It had the full race sticker set and looked the biz.
Stock horsepower is rated at 9HP, and I've heard rumours that the engine can make upwards of 20HP with the addition of an 80cc big bore kit, carb and performance exhaust, but I didnt go for that as it was illegal as I was meant to have a 50cc, and my bike did 70 mph anyway de-restricted. which is fast enough for a 50cc.
Ergonomically, the bike was great. You'd probably have a really hard time convincing people that it was only a 50cc and that it was licensed as a scooter (until they see you leave). Guages and their placement are outstanding, the headlights throws a bright, well focused beam, suspension is nothing short of brilliant, brakes are outstanding, and everything seems extremely well sorted out.
The handling is superb you can really lean them into the corners with confidence.
I had mine for a year trouble free when one day "bang" the engine seizes, because of my then occupation (engine reconditioner), I removed the engine (you can do this in situ though) and took the cylinder head and barrel off to discover I had ran out of two stroke oil, the warning light hadnt come on! because the barrel is alloy it is coated in nikisil which makes problems as you cannot rebore it, because the scratches werent deep I opted for a quick hone to remove them,then I fitted a new piston and rings which solved the problem, after that the engine was fine back to its old self. I would recommend keeping a close eye on the oil tank as exactly the same thing happened to my friends bike, apart from that I had my bike 3 years with nothing more than general maintenance.
For a six speed 50cc that has the looks like a 125 race bike and goes like one, the Derbi GPR50R simply is the best 50cc around.