The Bluroc X-Bongo 50 pairs neo-retro mini-bike styling with genuinely useful modern kit. Its 49cc air-cooled horizontal single runs electronic fuel injection with electric start and a manual gearbox, producing 3.2bhp at 8,000rpm. A smooth, torquey and ultra-durable little engine that's ideal for urban commuting and short local runs, with an 8-litre tank going a very long way at this capacity.

The licence rules are what make the 50 so appealing. As a moped it can be ridden from 16 on a CBT with a provisional licence and L plates, so it's one of the very few real motorcycles a 16-year-old can legally get on. It also suits car drivers who passed their test before 1 February 2001 — you already hold category P moped entitlement on your licence, so you can ride it with no CBT and no L plates, for as long as your car licence lasts.

It's one of the easiest bikes on the road to manage: 96kg dry with a seat height of just 735-780mm and a tight turning circle, so it threads through city traffic with no effort at all. Inverted front forks and twin oil-spring rear shocks handle rough surfaces well, and sensor-equipped ABS backs up the braking for extra security in the wet.

The tech is better than the retro look suggests — a clear round digital speedo shows gear position and fuel level, there's a waterproof USB port on the dash, and lighting is round LED units front and rear for a classic look with modern visibility.

The angular, motorsport-inspired styling really stands out among ordinary 50s, and it comes with a 2-year manufacturer's warranty as standard.

Free delivery within 99 miles of HX3 0UA — £99 delivery for customers 99-199 miles away, then an additional 99p per mile thereafter. New bikes subject to £82 on-the-road fee. |