Tips on buying a moped?

tompparker

Hi,

I'm living in London and planning to buy a cheap second-hand 50cc moped, and would appreciate any tips (totally new to this). In particular:

a) Where would be the best place to look (i.e. which websites, magazines etc)?

b) Can you recommend a make/model for reliability, fuel economy etc.?

c) What would be a good strong helmet (I'm not going to skimp over safety) and where to get it?

d) Any recommendations for reasonable, reputable insurers?

Thanks in advance.

scheming_gypsy

i'll give you tips... don't bother you'll look like a great big !!!!!!. Buy yourself a 125 motorbike instead,

inmypocketnottheirs

Have you taken your CBT - Compulsory Basic Training?

Wig

inmypocketnottheirs wrote:

Have you taken your CBT - Compulsory Basic Training?

He might not need to.

OP you need to look on the DVLA to see if you need to take your CBT test, if you were driving in 1987 or before (as I was you won't need to).

Where to look? LOOT would be a good place to start.

What helmet? Any, they all meet British Standards. Where from? Motorbike shop.

What make and model? Dunno about todays models sorry, but if you buy the motorcycle equivalent of Parkers used car prices magazine it will tell you all the info in there for the current models.

Insurers? Try Hastings direct and there was one in London I used but can't remember their name too long ago.

I used to have a moped - Honda Camino 30mph max (indicated) 100 mpg
I then got a Honda CB125 65 mph max (indicated) 100 mpg (I think)

Lob_Rockster

I would recommend anyone doing a CBT and in fact, for the traffic light GP, your 50ccs might put you into danger.

CBT and some training enhance your survival chances; honestly.

Before I did my CBT, I was hit by a car - because I put myself into a position that he was not expecting - and because I had not had training, I contributed to the situation.

Thankfully, the car lost. 1 foglight and 1 wingmirror....Yamaha DT -> no damage!

Bob63

I just want to add my weight to those who say don't go for 50cc. They are way to slow and just put you in danger. You want a 125cc moped that will allow you to keep up with the flow of traffic. It makes me cringe when I see scooter riders clinging to the kerb as they ride along because they are that much slower than the other vehicles on the road. It is so dangerous.

I would also give serious consideration to doing other training as well as the CBT.

Helmet & other safety gear - lookup the nearest Hein Gericke store to you. They sell all the main helmet brands as well as a superb range of own-brand jackets, trousers and gloves. All the staff are knowledgeable bikers. As for brand of helmet or what to spend, that's up to you. I always work on the principle of "I don't have a £50 head so I'm not going to wear a £50 helmet!". However, the helmet I wear most frequently is a £140 Caberg Justissimo - a flip front helmet with integral sun visor. The Justissimo is the only flip-front helmet with a ACU Gold approval sticker. Spend time to find one that fits well. Remember that a helmet which is tight in the shop will loosen up a bit so buy one that is very tight rather than just tight if you see what I mean.

Ride safely and welcome to the wonderful world of two wheels.

Mike

Mr_Pink_3

Some good points made about 50cc bikes being potentially dangerous. I agree that a 125cc bike or scooter will be far more useful for London.

I used to ride a 125cc scooter around town and it's a great way of getting around, especially with the summer months coming.

c) What would be a good strong helmet (I'm not going to skimp over safety) and where to get it?

Very wise. It concerns me when I see riders on shiny new bikes or scooters with cheapo crash helmets. I can only assume that they’ve spent all their cash on the bike and been forced to make do with second-rate kit.

What helmet? Any, they all meet British Standards.

B U L L S H I T. A standard, British or otherwise, is just that – a standard. You should buy the very best you can afford.

I always work on the principle of "I don't have a £50 head so I'm not going to wear a £50 helmet!".

Excellent point. Likewise the advice to look for the Gold ACU sticker on your crash helmet. Personally I wouldn’t wear (or crash in) anything other than Arai.

Choice of jacket, gloves and boots is not as important as choice of helmet. I second the Hein Gericke vote, the few times I’ve been in they have been very helpful and although I don’t wear their kit I know it’s well regarded.

As for insurers, I reckon they are all as bad as each other so your best bet would to be to get a copy of MCN or Biketrader and spend an hour ringing around for the best quote.

All the best and have fun.

Bob63

Mr_Pink wrote:

Choice of jacket, gloves and boots is not as important as choice of helmet.

But wearing them all the time is important!

Insurance - check out http://www.ebikeinsurance.co.uk I have no idea what they are like on scooters but for bikes their prices are unbeatable.

Mike

Wig

Mr_Pink wrote:

B U L L S H I T. A standard, British or otherwise, is just that – a standard. You should buy the very best you can afford.

It's not BS, it's a fact, a British Standard helmet is good enough. I for one don't buy into all this gimmicky marketing of helmets. Yes no doubt the expensive ones are slightly better, but the fact remains that any helmet will protect you adequately. It's a standard, yes, it's a British Standard, designed to safely protect your head if you come off a bike.

I lost count of the number of times I came off my moped (probably 1 serious (actually came off) & 2 knocks without really coming off) and my 125 bike (probably 1 - 2 serious & maybe 1 - 2 not so serious. My 50 quid helmets were perfectly good enough.

I suggest spending that extra helmet money on a good pair of gloves, boots & foam padded jacket.

I'll also say BS to this rubbish about not having a moped, it depends how confident you are and what sort of roads you take yourself on. Normal London roads will be fine on a moped, I should know, I did it every day. But depending how clued up and confident you are taking yourself onto the Hammersmith Flyover, North Circular and the Staples Corner flyover or the North Circular/A41 A41/A1, interchanges may not be a good idea, I have, however, done these routes 5 days a week on a moped with no incidents at all. Any other London roads by comparison pale into insignificance.

I rode my moped and my 125 bike between South Wales and London (A4) also with no problems, I actually enjoyed it........can't remember if I had to walk it across the Severn bridge or if I was allowed to ride accross.

millwalll

you can also get 100cc that was fine for me i used to use in london sed to get about 60 to 65mph out of it so its fine for london and very cheep to run most helmets are safe long they got the kite sticker on them there laods pleaces u could get a second hand bike from ebay a start or some shopes have second hand bikes in them for insurance i used to have cia but there so many you could find the cheepest and play them off each other if you aint done a cbt and are young you find u wont get anyone to insure you untill u have completed one my bike was 100cc peugeot speedfighter and this done me the world of good used to take £5 to fill the tank that would last me usalyl about week going from elphant and castle to chelsea hope this helps also a good place to get ya bike fixed mot or anyhtink else is place near black fryers bridge called chase bikes

Mr_Pink_3

Thanks for coming back Wig.

It's not BS, it's a fact, a British Standard helmet is good enough.

Yes you're right a British Standard helmet is good enough in that it meets a standard and a legal requirement. However, in my opinion, it is bad advice to suggest that any helmet will do as long as it meets this standard.

Yes no doubt the expensive ones are slightly better

That's pretty much the point I'm making.

I wonder what helmet you would rather your husband/wife/son/daughter would be wearing if they were out riding right now - a £50 'good enough' British Standard helmet or a £400 'slightly better' British Standard helmet?