Should I buy my daughter a scooter / moped?

Running_Horse

My scooter had no end of problems stemming from the fact they are cheaply thrown together, and difficult to open up for repairs. After a couple of years it was breaking down most months, and I finally got rid of it after three repairs in a fortnight. I miss the freedom it gave me, but would never buy another one. Most people round here never seem to own them for very long.

joeblack066

DS2 had a 125 (still does actually, even tho he now has a car), DS3 had a scooter at 16, and both rode safely, and have also turned into excellent car drivers. DS2's fiancee had a scooter to get to work on as buses were impossible, and only gave it up when she was 4 months pregnant. All have always been fine for them. A good CBT insructor that teaches them road sense makes all the difference.

tbourner

The main thing on a scooter as opposed to a bike is that car drivers will try to get past at all costs, so riding defensively is a MUST for safety, basically you have to be a roadhog and take up as much width of the lane as possible, if cars edge out looking to get past, you have to move over FURTHER to the right to block them, so they basically have to move out as far as they would to overtake a car, this stops them squeezing past (and knocking you off).

old_motters

If I were in your shoes, I'd ask her to wait until she's 17 and buy a car.

pearl123

Moped rider risks. Surely, there are more reasons not to buy her a moped that good reason. At least in a car there is a shell to protect !

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/motorbikes/5077581/Moped-rider-risks.html

pigpen

no never.

My nephew was killed just over a year ago .. he had been riding motorbikes since he was tiny and a moron in a lorry pulled straight out in front of him, he didn't even have time to brake... 21 years old and dead due to some idiot driver who couldn't be bothered to look for bikes. e'd only nipped out for chocolate and crisps.. his mother has had a breakdown, my brother has all but lost his business as he is having to look after her and the other children and the house etc. I'd not wish it on anyone.

It isn't about them knowing what they are doing and being sensible riders there is the issue of the other muppets on the road who don't know how to drive or what their eyes are for!

[Deleted User]

tbourner wrote: »

The main thing on a scooter as opposed to a bike is that car drivers will try to get past at all costs, so riding defensively is a MUST for safety, basically you have to be a roadhog and take up as much width of the lane as possible, if cars edge out looking to get past, you have to move over FURTHER to the right to block them, so they basically have to move out as far as they would to overtake a car, this stops them squeezing past (and knocking you off).

I agree (another biker here). If you do decide to buy a bike of some sort. I would recommend buying a motorbike rather than a scooter or a moped.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Just as easy to get killed in a car - and then you take four mates with you. Or killed as a pedestrian. My class at college lost one girl hit whilst crossing the road and 2 car fulls of teenagers on different occasions. No bikers, as they have a fairly good sense of their own mortality, so don't tend to take so many risks as the invincible car drivers do.

Plus, if the alternative is her walking home alone at midnight through recreation grounds and the like, or waiting for the fabled night bus, it's probably safer on balance to have the moped.

xoxo_2

No, absolutely never ever.

My younger sisters friend has just come out of hospital after 9 months and numerous operations after an accident on a scooter. She still can't walk and probably never will again. She came very close to losing her life. She's only 18.

My uncle, the most sensible driver you could wish to meet, almost lost his leg 10 years ago after coming off his moped when a car hit him. He's not been back on one since, despite spending the majority of his life riding one.

SUESMITH_2

well, we have just got one for our dd for when she turns 16 in a couple of months. we've always had bikes of various types and it would have been hypocritical of us to say no. she already has all the proper gear.

the alternative for her would have been long waits in the cold and dark, and changing buses when she goes to 6th form in a few months. she also wants a proper motorbike when she is older and we're also ok with that.