Selling 2nd car for moped/small motorbike

ShandyAndy_2

Anyone have any input...........:-{

ShandyAndy_2

RS2000. wrote: »

50cc scooter in the winter won't be fun and about as much use as a pedal cycle for picking up your daughter.

Would be 100cc plus! 45mph is all I realistically need, although 50 would be luxury :cool:

Moto2

I've not ridden a fat tyred vanvan but it'll be OK
Non of the Jap bikes or French/Italian scooters are bad, just keep away from the Chinese stuff.
In the scooters, the Honda PCX125 is a little cracker.

Get the biggest bike you can would be my advice

=rizla=

I've ridden the vanvan, pretty stable, I think they are popular with the learner bike companies.


Your 6 mile commute, is it a main road that's gritted?, I commuted about 20miles each way on a 600 on mainly gritted roads for about 4 years a few years ago and never really had any 'moments', but obviously riding to the conditions.


A mate had a 90cc moped, ran it for years, secondhand it was a cheap buy as I dont think there is a big market for 90/100cc mopeds 16 year olds cant ride them, and 17 year olds want the full 125cc.

ShandyAndy_2

Moto2 wrote: »

I've not ridden a fat tyred vanvan but it'll be OK
Non of the Jap bikes or French/Italian scooters are bad, just keep away from the Chinese stuff.
In the scooters, the Honda PCX125 is a little cracker.

Get the biggest bike you can would be my advice

Was looking at the Loncin lx110 £899 in a crate, self build, they reckon they're ok but they're Chinese!, although the Peugeot VOX I have been looking at is made in china but under regulation from Peugeot so in theory should be OK.

ShandyAndy_2

=rizla= wrote: »

I've ridden the vanvan, pretty stable, I think they are popular with the learner bike companies.


Your 6 mile commute, is it a main road that's gritted?, I commuted about 20miles each way on a 600 on mainly gritted roads for about 4 years a few years ago and never really had any 'moments', but obviously riding to the conditions.


A mate had a 90cc moped, ran it for years, secondhand it was a cheap buy as I dont think there is a big market for 90/100cc mopeds 16 year olds cant ride them, and 17 year olds want the full 125cc.

Theres 2 routes, main roads but busier with big lorries etc or cross country through country lanes and steep hills, we're virtually in the Peak District, its pretty rural, been looking at 110cc brand new Peugeot VOX.

=rizla=

I cant help you with the little ones i'm afraid, I went on the DAS route, a week on a vanvan then straight to 600.

SailorSam

Richard53 wrote: »

I'm really enjoying using it to get back into cycling, and I would recommend it to anyone. A good one isn't cheap, though. I reckon mine cost as much as a decent s/h moped.

Which one did you plump for in the end Richard ?
The one i' fancy is £2k at 50 cycles but i'm not sure i can justify spending so much at the moment.

londonTiger

i guess it comes down to how much exposure you want to give your children to the "real world". Seen plenty of parents cycling with their kids in the pedal bike trailers behind. Kids seem to enjoy it. There was a guy cycling like that and had 2 kids at the back who were both smiling and giggling.

a tandem cart to the motorbike could be usable and risk should be small if school is a short ride away.

Arfa__

I was in a not too dissimilar situation to yourself about 3 years ago. Fed up of tube, just moved job and had a longer commute time (more changes, distance between stations etc), fed up of £2k+/yr season ticket and so on. Also in my 30's, I just did my CBT, theory, DAS mod1/2, passed lot first time over about 6 weeks. Then picked up a 10 year old Yamaha Fazer 600 for £1800. Had to fork out a bit on helmet, gear, security etc. But not looked back since. It's saved me money, halved my commute time allowing me to cover childcare drop off/pick ups more easily, it's more fun and very rarely get delayed.

So first things first, CBT - you'll probably need to do this again regardless, as your previous one will have expired.

Mod1/mod2 booking: the training school I went too, had many tests already block booked and just shuffled students around them depending how they progressed. So didn't have to worry about this at all. Also meant I could take my mod2 a week after my mod1.

I skipped riding a 125 for a bit. Many who don't find themselves hankering for something better after a couple of months (and I bet you will as you've ridden in the past anyway). However the up front cost of a DAS course ain't cheap (~£700). A bigger bike will be better built all round, better brakes, lights, more reliable etc. You won't get loons constantly trying to squeeze past, or get caught in lane merging mayhem as lights turn green. You'll also be able to use motorway and carry pillion.
Ultimately the cost of buying and putting on road a 125 compared to a slightly older but still decent midrange bike is negligible. Insurance can be a spot cheaper with a full bike license too (you'll be a better, safer rider you see).

Do also factor in cost of helmet (£100+), decent protective jacket, trousers, gloves, boots. Sure go 2nd hand for all but lid, but this can still add up to a few hundred quid.
If you're riding year round, factor in GoreTex gear, winter/heated gloves (£100-150), lots of thermal base layers (Aldi/Lidl are good for these).
With you're 6 mile each way journey also factor in a new set of tyres (£150-200) and chain/sprocket (~£100) every 2 years ish.

In my experience, the economics are all in favour of a motorbike, until you drop it and have to repair it. Certainly an issue with any vehicle, but when new on a bike, it's inevitable unfortunately. Though opting for a naked bike can drastically keep repair costs down.