Top 10: Learner legal commuter bikes and scooters

One you’ve got your CBT out of the way then you’ll be in a position to choose a bike or scooter. There’s a huge range of choice and prices are more competitive than ever, so there’s quite a lot to think about.

We’ve had a look at the options and picked 10 commuter-friendly bikes to suit most budgets. These bikes are all learner-legal, with capacities up to 125cc and our list is in price order.

1

Lexmoto Arrow - £900

If you’re after a twist-and-go, effortless scooter then this is best avoided, since it has traditional motorbike styling and a five-speed manual transmission. But with a 125cc engine and enough performance to travel on national speed limit roads, it’s an ideal commuter machine and it costs just £900 new.

Lexmoto imports its bikes from China, and they aren’t necessarily as well-made as bikes from Japanese or European brands, but as a simple and cost-effective mode of transport it’s hard to find fault with the Arrow. The engine is generally said to be reliable, but surface rust and electrical gremlins are fairly commonplace.

2

Lexmoto Milano 125 - £1099

Also from Lexmoto, the Milano 125 has retro styling like a Vespa, but for far less money than the Italian bike. Like the Arrow, it’s not quite a well-made as a Japanese machine, but Chinese-made bikes are becoming more and more reliable without huge increases in price.

The Milano is a compact scooter, without a particularly large seat nor any weather protection, but for short urban commutes it’s great, thanks to its small size and light weight. For the style-conscious buyer on a budget it’s hard to do much better. 

3

Kymco Agility 125 - £1499

Taiwanese company Kymco his more well-established than Chinese scooter makers, but its products are still more affordable than those from Japanese or European companies. The Agility 125 is very compact and light, making it effortless to ride and extremely fuel efficient.

However, its size means the seat is small and not particularly comfortable for larger riders. There isn't much storage space, though you should still be able to get a single helmet and a lock in the under-seat storage area. Aside from that, there’s not much to say – the Agility 125 is a simple, honest, good value scooter. 

4

Suzuki Address 110 - £1899

The large wheels on the Address 110 do a better job of dealing with potholes than the smaller wheels on many scooters, which tend to drop into big holes rather than rolling over them. Also, the Address 110 is incredibly economical, achieving close to 150mpg in real-world driving.

It’s not going to win any prizes for style and it’s about as much fun as walking, but as a no-nonsense workhorse with a very solid reputation for reliability, the Address 110 is a terrific choice and it’s not particularly pricey.  

5

Honda Vision 50 - £1999

For the most part we wouldn’t recommend a 50cc scooter – they’re too slow for safe riding anywhere except in 30mph zones. However, if you have a full car licence then you can validate a full, L-plate free scooter entitlement for bikes up to 50cc by completing a CBT. It will then last for as long as your full car licence.

So if you’re not planning on repeating your CBT every couple of years to stay on a 125, or if you’re not planning on gaining a full motorcycle licence, a 50cc is the only choice. And the Vision 50 is probably the best of the lot, with a great record for reliability and incredible fuel economy.