Moped/Scooter

Bitsy_Beans

My H is looking into getting a 50cc scooter to get to and from work. He currently rides a bicycle so the lack of speed isn't really an issue :rotfl: All the roads are pretty much 30mph so not needing to go any faster than that.
Now cars we are familiar with but got no idea about scooters/mopeds.

Can anyone recommend a particular make and model? I can see from searching this board that the chinese ones are not to be touched with a bargepole so was wondering which ones you would suggest instead?

Cheers :beer:

MrsE_2

My DH is doing the London Knowledge (slowly).

Hondas are considered the best mopeds/small bikes by black taxi trainees & I guess they would know.

DH bought his online from Luton & had it delivered to London.

gdard

Bitsy_Beans wrote: »

My H is looking into getting a 50cc scooter to get to and from work. He currently rides a bicycle so the lack of speed isn't really an issue :rotfl: All the roads are pretty much 30mph so not needing to go any faster than that.
Now cars we are familiar with but got no idea about scooters/mopeds.

Can anyone recommend a particular make and model? I can see from searching this board that the chinese ones are not to be touched with a bargepole so was wondering which ones you would suggest instead?

Cheers :beer:

Any Japanese scooter should do, if the purpose is to ride from home to work. Hondas are really good.

elfen

Yamahas are good as well. Had one for three years and it was pretty much indestructible (slid on ice - no damage, knocked over by a car twice - no damage, someone tried to steal it by messing the starter - spring out of place but easily fixed) Got free insurance and RAC cover (for a year) with mine cos I got it new so you may want to look at that.

Best thing to buy (in regards to protection) is a good pair of boots to keep your feet warm and protected (no steel toe-caps, my instructor told me of a guy whose toes got cut off when his went into his foot) good thick jacket (preferably with padding in spine and coccyx area) decent crash helmet and decent gloves (get two pairs - one winter, one summer, and you'll know the difference) with kevlar or similar across the fingers and top of hand.

Billy-no-Money

Did your husband pass his car test before February 2001?
If he did, then yes he can ride a 50cc without L-plates.

But having gone from car driving to motorcycling I would strongly advise against going down that route. If he's never ridden any kind of motorcycle before then it's worth doing a CBT whether he needs one or not.

Personally I would go for a 125cc, as it'll have performance in town which is on a par with most cars. A 50 will do 30mph maximum, but it'll take an age to get there and might never get there if the rider's not a skinny teenager. A 125cc will reach 50 with ease and should cruise around 60mph.

The difference in costs (including fuel) is negligible, and a 125 is more likely to stand up to abuse than a 50 (remember most secondhand 50s will have been ridden at full throttle by a 16-year-old for their whole life).

I ride a big bike (1300) but some of the best fun I've had has been on 125 bikes and scooters.

Whichever way you go - any of the big Jap names (e.g. Yamaha, Honda) will do the job just fine. For a bit less there's Kymco, a Taiwanese brand that's a level above the shoddy Chinese kit and OK for parts etc.

MrsE_2

Sorry should have said, DHs Honda is a 125.

Thats the pop one for the "knowledge boys"

Radsteral

If your husband ha got a car licence, it still is compolsory to do the 1 day course CBT.
He need to brush up hi road skills and should allow a budget of at least 300 quid for ome decent clothing .
15 years riding, i have always had hondas, and i wish honda would make vans too, ....
for years honda has been voted the most reliable car...and as much as bikers know, its same for 2 wheels

Markyt

Hondas are pretty bulletproof, and tend to be cheaper and easier to service than the Italian makes. Have a serious look at 125cc scooters too - he might not intend to go quicker than 30 mph, but he needs to get up there at a reasonable pace, and the extra power of a 125 is useful if going up hills or getting out of the way of someone trying to push him into the gutter.

pompeyrich

Radsteral wrote: »

If your husband ha got a car licence, it still is compolsory to do the 1 day course CBT.

Only if he passed after 1st Feb 2001, before that CBT is recommended but NOT compulsory.

I bought my lad a Peugeot Speedfight 50, new it was £1500 back in 2005, now 4 years and 25,000 kms later it is still good for nipping to the shops, free parking etc.

A GOOD lock is essential as I read somewhere that more mopeds/scooters are stolen than have been made not sure if that's true but they are desirable to the young thieving types.

sickparrot

The Gadget Show did a mini group test of 50cc scooters last week, maybe worth checking out their web site.

Bitsy_Beans

Thank you all for the replies.

As for the cc - I don't really want a higher cc for him as TBH I don't trust him! He's not always one to pootle (in a car) and I've had enough of bicycle accidents so not keen to see any more accidents with him going even faster!

Anyway I guess we have some homework to do. Thank you for all being so helpful