advice on ladies scooters/mopeds

Albert_the_teddy_bear

The main manufacturers are under the Piaggio company; (Gilera and Vespa)
If you can find a dealership near to you, go and sit on the bikes. Some dealers offer a free CBT course with the bike. The course is a few hours through a day when you are trained to ride the bike. Many car drivers have no concept of what 2 wheel transport is like. It is not like driving a car. But it is a damn sight more fun.
A magazine to buy would be T&G which used to be called Twist and Go, (which refers to the throttle control of a scooter and motorbike) It carries reviews of scooters they have tested and it also has a large section showing all the bikes on offer, from electric, to 50cc, to 800cc scooters. Each bike has the basic facts and a short sentence about what it is like, complete with a photograph.
Also, some dealers offer discounted prices for scooter/motorbike clothing with the bike you buy. If you go ahead and buy a scooter, you must try different 'makes' of helmet. We all have different shaped heads. Some people have an 'Arai' head, some a 'Shoei' head, some a 'Nolan' head etc. Safe clothing is essential. You'll have a great time trying on jackets, gloves, boots, trousers etc.
Good makes of scooter are Piaggio, Suzuki, Yamaha, Sym, and Kymco (as already suggested) Having a dealership nearby (with mechanics for servicing your scooter) is probably one of the most important factors when buying your first scooter. Some dealers offer a free courtesy scooter when yours is in for a service.
Stay away from Chinese imports. They are cheap and serve a purpose, but the companies who supply them are still growing their dealership networks. There are some excellent companies, but as a first time buyer, stick with one of the top brands.
I think I've said enough for now.:)

samms41

I ride an Aprilia Habana which I bought out of the paper - it's immaculate, easy to ride, just press the button and off you go and looks fabulous - £8 per week petrol which in the car costs £25!!! it's a must, go for it!

NafUk

Have you thought about a bicycle?
Loads cheaper, health benefits etc, no insurance etc. etc.

By the time you take off the time taken to insure, tax, service, repair, time to pay for the scooter, pay for the clothing, pay for the insuring, taxing, servicing, filling up etc. your commute time may be shorter on a bike! If you consider gym time as well then your commute time will be even less!

carolthecatsmum

Hiya.
Agree with some of the other postings about not getting a chinese moped but and heartily agree with getting a Vespa!

I would however consider maybe doing your CBT before you look into buying a moped as bike and scooter riding really isn't for everybody. I don't mean to be negative because I love biking but one of my friends thought she did and having spent a (not even that) cold day in a car park doing CBT she said never again. Saved her a few hundred quid on kit and bike and insurance anyroad. And at least she tried.

Also if you're going to use it for commuting or shopping purposes try and get one that already has a top box as these can be expensive.
And good luck!

lisyloo

NafUk wrote: »

Have you thought about a bicycle?
Loads cheaper, health benefits etc, no insurance etc. etc.

By the time you take off the time taken to insure, tax, service, repair, time to pay for the scooter, pay for the clothing, pay for the insuring, taxing, servicing, filling up etc. your commute time may be shorter on a bike! If you consider gym time as well then your commute time will be even less!

Depends on how far you have to go.
My commute is 15 miles each way.
Time, weather and fitness would be issues.

I have done it before but it takes quite a while to cycle 15 miles if you aren't in the peak of physical fitness.

Albert_the_teddy_bear

Just another thought, quite a few models have good storage space under the seat. Usually to keep a helmet in there, but also to carry shopping or work related items. As well as that a couple of the Piaggio scooters have a hook beneath the handlebars. We call it a 'curry hook' because it is ideal for hanging a bag of fish & chips or a carton of curry. Or, a shopping bag. If the scooter has a flat floor for your feet, that is also an extra place to keep a shopping bag between your feet.
I have also considered getting an electric bike, but they can be quite heavy if the battery is used up quicker than expected. Also, push-bikes tend to be used as target practice by some motorists. I had to sell my push-bike after the third 'graze' by cars whose drivers wanted to force their way past me. The gutter is not a nice place to be. So if you do try and then buy a scooter, make sure you get a jacket that has bright flourescent yellow reflective panels on it. The campaign to THINK BIKE is there for a reason.

lisyloo

The campaign to THINK BIKE is there for a reason.

Actually I believe it's for motocyclists that's why there's sometimes a picture of a motorbike

http://www.srpwestmercia.org.uk/Portals/0/Think%20Bike%20Look%20Twice.jpg

but if it's chelps cyclists then so much the better.

Jampit

The Piaiggio MP3 (not for listening to music ) has three wheels ( 2 at the front) which can be easier to control!

Number_three

I have had a Honda motor scooter for over 5 years now with absolutly nothing going wrong on it. I only have it serviced once a year and apart from washing it and topping up the oil about every 6 months I do no other maintanance on it. It is a 125cc which I find very good for use in traffic but not on Motorways as it has a top speed of about 55 to 60. (apart from Motorways and some Bypasses, where do you need to go that fast anyway). I use it every day to go about 16 miles (round trip) and £6.00 worth of petrol lasts me about 10 days. One tip though, dont take it to a Honda dealer to have it serviced, they charge a fortune.

DaveMacD

Albert_the_teddy_bear wrote: »

So if you do try and then buy a scooter, make sure you get a jacket that has bright flourescent yellow reflective panels on it.

For those in the know.... Poundland do yellow safety jackets. Also, Aldi or Lidl have some of their bike stuff back in stock, including jackets, trousers, gloves, boots, helmets and waterproof suits. It won't be the most trendy stuff in the world, but the stuff I've seen has been pretty good, especially at the prices they're charging.