Haggling for a new moped - yes or no?

tvstudent

I had a Yamaha Aerox for about two years, the muffler went after 6 months and had to be replaced, though I think that was under warrenty. We paid 2200 for it and sold it for a grand. Really wouldn't bother, just get a cheap car when she can drive.

Also a mate had a chinese one and it never really started. So.. theres that.

[Deleted User]

When I had my Gilera, it was bought second hand for £795 and sold 3 years later for £250.

cockneyrebel

Well thanks for all the advice, we went ahead and got a Piaggio Fly for £1700 on the road, we're getting a top box at cost price and it'll be fitted free. A bit more than we wanted to spend, but having actually looked closely at the Sym it looked and felt plasticky and cheap, the Piaggio is much better quality. And hopefully will re-sell for a decent price in a couple of years.

Now to find non-extortionate insurance rates for a 16yo. Wish us luck.

Richard53

Wise move. Good make, shopped local. It's good to see someone actually encouraging a child to ride around and get a bit of independance. If you invest in some decent training and a good set of protective gear (and persuade her to wear it!), she will have a great time, have a lot more freedom than her contemporaries, and will hopefully make a much better car driver when the time comes.

Nodding_Donkey

Do Piaggio still run their own insurance scheme? It used to be very competitive and underwritten by Norwich Union.

DigForVictory

Please, as you help fund this, make its usage contingent on wearing the safety gear? (As well as setting good examples yourselves.)

When you think how much time & effort has gone into her so far - learning to walk, talk, use the loo, read, write & spell, count & now ride? That's a lot of hours which could be compromised badly without a proper helmet. Then skin grafts are just so not fun - so leathers (or kevlar) even in the heat & having to change etc. Google the number of bones in an ankle & show her how to pack a nice outfit & shoes into the topbox so she makes the smart choice about boots.

That lot, bought in one session from one vendor, you can haggle a bit with. Although I usually aimed to uprate the helmet, I'd settle for a high vis waterproof!

Sometimes it's easier to coax a lass into leathers if you also fund the thermals (& other undergarments) that go underneath. But this is your daughter, so I'll not go into detail. Teach her to discriminate between other riders on the value they demonstrate as putting on their skin & skeleton!

BillJones

cockneyrebel wrote: »

Well thanks for all the advice, we went ahead and got a Piaggio Fly for £1700 on the road, we're getting a top box at cost price and it'll be fitted free. A bit more than we wanted to spend, but having actually looked closely at the Sym it looked and felt plasticky and cheap, the Piaggio is much better quality. And hopefully will re-sell for a decent price in a couple of years.

Now to find non-extortionate insurance rates for a 16yo. Wish us luck.

Good luck.

Now, please make sure that, at the minimum, they ALWAYS wear gloves, a helmet, and some sensible clothing.I know that a teenager won't want (and probably can't afford) Rukka armoured textiles, but hands and head absolutely need to be protected.

Knees and elbows come next, so no tracksuit bottms and hoodies, if possible...

cockneyrebel

Luckily daughter and I are the same size so we can get away with one set of protective gear between us - yes it will be proper armoured textiles, my husband rides and wouldn't even consider getting us anything less than the "real deal". Obviously we'll each have our own helmet!

We've agreed to compromise - she WILL wear full-face helmet, armoured jacket and gloves, but not armoured trousers or boots. Bare minimum will be jeans and proper shoes/boots, and we're looking into some kind of strap-on knee protection (on the basis that SOME is better than NONE); considering the number of kids I see zipping around in t-shirts and sandals with open-face helmets, she's practically bubble-wrapped.. All riding will be within our town which is mostly a 20mph limit.

DigForVictory

Have a brew with a bike copper - *I* don't think jeans are enough. They shred, they are useless in the wet & they get very heavy when wet. Your & her kneecaps will thank you for all defensive covering!

You may want to experiment with hairstyles that can cooperate with helmets.

Richard53

The issue of protective gear is very contentious. Some people (especially Americans, for some reason) get almost religious about it, and some people don't care that much. I tend to take a practical approach - all the gear most of the time, but I do let myself off the leash once in a while.

My usual kit is an armoured textile suit, bike boots and gloves, and a full-face helmet. My bare minimum is boots over the ankle, jeans, leather or textile jacket, bike gloves, and an open-face helmet on good days*. But if I am dressed like that, I am usually only bimbling somewhere, and I am extra-cautious. I'd agree with posters above and tell her that the bike is conditional upon wearing a reasonable level of gear at all times. She forgets the gear, you repossess the bike.

The main danger in a fall is abrasion. Even heavy denim is like tissue paper when it is between you and the road at 40 mph. Armour can save joints from injury in an impact, but it's no use if it is not in its proper place. Strap-on protection (unless it is covered by a layer of proper abrasion-resistant material, as the MX riders do) is no use at all - it will be knocked out of place as soon as you hit the ground. This isn't skateboarding

If you feel she needs extra reinforcement, point her to this:

http://sportbike.natkd.com/road_rash.htm

(NSFL)

You can get a decent two-piece armoured waterproof suit (with hi-viz bits if you like) for under £100 if you shop around. Basic helmets that pass all the relevant safety tests can be £50. Decent gloves, £30, boots £50. The best gear is no use if you're not wearing it, so you need to look for things she actually likes and sees as good protection, not parental nagging.

* Having said all that, on a very hot day last summer I was out on a ride wearing minimal gear and got so overheated that I rode the last 100 miles in jeans, t-shirt and bare hands. It was fantastic, but I have never ridden so carefully in my life.