In the Netherlands you can start motorcycling at the age of 18. With a permit A1 you may drive a bike not exceeding 11 kW AND not more then 125cc. Then, when you are 20 years old you have to pas another exam: A2 to be able to drive a 35 kW bike, and finally, when you are 22 years, pass exam A and you think your pre-frontal cortex has sufficiently ripened the sky is the limit, no restrictions anymore, and you can ride a Hyabusa 1300cc with turbo and JATO.
The problem is the start at age 18, if you want to ride a classic, such as an M20; the power is ridiculous low, some 9 kW but that 500cc ...
Now my question: what 1939 - 1945 military bike with less than 11 kW AND 125cc can a youngster use? (Sorry Lex, no Welbike, not road-legal...)
And how much that youngster has to have in his kitty to find a restorable one...

email (option): viaconsu{#}planet[dot]nl

A Royal Enfield WD/RE Flying Flea?... (126CC though..)

Production 1939–1941
Engine 126 cc air-cooled two stroke single
Top speed 45 mph
Power 3.5 (2.61 kilowatts) hp @ 4,500

I think you can call them 125cc along with the James ML. Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Hello Hans,

The Welbikes are perfectly road legal in Holland, when papers have been obtained, but you won't like the price of the thing. Even the repro's have been given papers here, with a 1944 date of manufacture on them, now that is very illegal!!

But to get back to your question, best is a DKW RT100 as they were never made after the war, so no chances of repro's, and the price is 2000 euro's for a running one, plus there are many in Holland!

The Flea is really a worthless piece of you know what, and also very expensive, and many many (bad) repro's on the market, so then there is the James, well try to find one of those......

Another thing that is very cheap, and british, is an Autocycle, used by nurses etc. etc. before and during the war.

Many types and makes, know of 2 for sale right now.

Hope this helps,

Lex

email (option): welbike@welbXXX.net (think about this!)

Quite frankly, if he lad is so keen and you want to encourage him, any period-ish 125cc bike painted green in a military style would do him? Its something I see done here now and again just for style sakes.
And really, is a 125 Rigid Bantam so very different to a DKW to those who are not in the know?
A bit of field grey, a different silencer, some made up numbers and insignia...., he'll have plenty of time to rivet count when he's as old as the rest of us.

Face it, Steve Mcqueen got away with a 1960s Triumph and almost every so called BMW outfit started out as a Ural

I have seen a classic type WK (white knuckle) 125cc only a couple of years old looked hand paint army green though a crude paint job didn't look half bad

email (option): roger.beck@node6.com

Thanks guys, excellent suggestions, a BSA rigid Bantam in green seems to be a suitable solution, and at least it's British (kind of...)

email (option): viaconsu{#}planet[dot]nl