Page 1 of Any moped/scooter drivers out there

I have started the quest of finding a job after 10 months of pure lazy bliss and one of the things I have noticed is the amount of time I will spend get to and coming back from work if I get a job in or around Birmingham city centre (upto1h30m each way). Any way last night (around 11.30pm I might say) 3 chavs come passed my house beeping their squeaky horns (what made me laugh was 40 seconds later another chav on a smaller back coming past by himself struggling to keep up) and I thought to myself "if they can use the bikes to weave in and out of traffic to avoid the cops (only joking) I could do the same with the traffic which could half the time to get to work. Does any one here own/use a moped/scooter and could you recommend any or how I would get started getting a licence (if needed)

**Sorry to all the pc people for generalising that chavs are annoying and steal stuff

I commute on a scoot, started of on 100cc peugeot speedfight,not bad for short journeys, lasted five years before i replaced it with Honda pantheon 125cc, heavy and bulky but great engine.

You can ride a bike upto 125cc with a full car license, but i think you have to do a cbt course to prove you are competant to ride on the road.

50cc scoots sound like hair dryers, but ok for a few miles commute.

This item was edited on Thursday, 13th January 2005, 16:17

same as yabba dabba...peugeot speedfight 100cc.
my cbt and helmet were included in the price of the bike
£1795 otr.

i have approx 30mile round trip from wolverhampton to great bridge.

does over 75 to the gallon:-D

Ste.

...hey, who nicked me hat and JD??

This item was edited on Thursday, 13th January 2005, 17:32

if you have had a drivers for at least 6? years or one of the old style licenses then you can ride up to 50cc without taking the cbt. however a de-restricted 50cc or above you need to take the cbt.

I used to sit in my 20mpg people mover crawling to work through Oxford traffic, bought a 50cc honda scooter I can drive on my car licence, get there quicker, and I worked out if it lasts 3 years it will have paid for itself in the fuel savings...
`Nuff said
Dave
PS It`s limited to 30mph, but I only commute on 30mph roads so that`s not a problem

You can ride up to a 125cc moped/scooter on a provisional licence +CBT. But you would have to re-sit CBT every 2 years (or take full test).
There are some lovely 125cc machines out, I have just sold my Piaggio X9 (as scrap, thanks to a tw*t in an Astra), and I am now looking at either an Aprilia Atlantic 125cc or a Suzuki Burgman 125cc.

It really is a blast riding a scooter, but ride defensive, and assume that everybody driving a car is a complete and utter w*nker.

Quote:
I am now looking at either an Aprilia Atlantic 125cc or a Suzuki Burgman 125cc.

I got a Honda Pantheon 125cc with hi tech fuel injection and dual brakes ( one brake lever operates both front and rear brakes) linked to 3 piston calliper, well built too.

Is it expensive or cheap to insure a scooter I am 23 hold no licences at the mo and live in Birmingham

Quote:
Is it expensive or cheap to insure a scooter
Depends on a number of things
Where you live, high or low crime rate
Where scooter is kept overnight, street, drive, or garage,
Any no claims bonus, any experience
Value of bike
Use of bike, for pleasure or commuting, or both.

You might think that 50cc is plenty,but in my opinion they are dangerous.
Having 30-35mph as your absolute top speed (and taking a while to get there) just doesn`t leave you anything to get you out of trouble.
I remember riding my 50cc all those years ago (they were quicker back then too).
You`d be overtaking a stationery bus,they`d pull away,you couldn`t get past. :/

My point is that if you are able to ride something bigger (anything 70cc+ is MUCH faster then a 50cc) then I would recommend you do.
They are barely any dearer to buy,run or insure but are a damned sight better able to cope with traffic flow.

50cc in itself isn`t slow. It`s our restriction laws.
50cc on the continent will do 50-60mph no problem.