Mopeds/Scooters..?

Herzlos

IndieSinger wrote: »

As mentioned above again - hill is too big for me to cycle up (each way).

It can only be uphill in one direction - or do you crest it?
If so:

1. Can you go around it (it might be further, but quicker)
2. Can you just get off and walk up the hill, then cycle the other 2.9 miles?
3. If you're a teacher and working sociable hours, are there any busses that suit you, or ride-sharing? I'd bet if you're that local, at least one other teacher will drive through your town on the way, and will quite happily pick you up for a fiver a week petrol money.

pappa_golf

AdrianC wrote: »

"Scooter" could mean a 50cc scooter, a 125cc scooter or a bigger scooter.

125cc is the next step up from a 50, licence-wise. CBT is all you need to be out on L-plates, and while it's going to be more expensive, it'll be better value.

But, still, for three miles each way...

How big is this hill, anyway?

indeed , I own a 500cc Yamaha Tmax


changes in UK law several yrs ago (Yamaha fs1e fiasco) removed the true "moped" , which was a bicycle with a engine to assist , and things evolved into what we have now , max of 50cc , non gears , no pedals and a top speed of 50 mph for a 16 yr old




please be careful buying a £500 scooter , those (at that price) are generally china made and coming to the end of useful life , parts (bodywork)are very hard to find second hand or new , and a lot of main stream insurance Cos will not tutce them .


I would suggest you sit your CBT , and look for a "older" but better quality jap built bike in the 125 class

IndieSinger

Herzlos wrote: »

It can only be uphill in one direction - or do you crest it?

I don't know what "crest it" means, but I go up a steep hill and then back down the steep hill (so the same on the way back).

1. No.
2. No, the whole journey is one big hill.
3. Have looked into ride-sharing, not an option. No buses.

Believe me, after a decade working there, I have looked into these options. The only thing I haven't looked into is mopeds/scooters.

AdrianC

pappa_golf wrote: »

changes in UK law several yrs ago (Yamaha fs1e fiasco) removed the true "moped" , which was a bicycle with a engine to assist , and things evolved into what we have now , max of 50cc , non gears , no pedals and a top speed of 50 mph for a 16 yr old

By "several years ago", you mean 39 years ago - it was 1977 when the 30mph cap was introduced for 50cc bikes... It was 1983 (33 years ago) that the next step up was reduced from 250cc to 125cc...

pappa_golf

bigjl wrote: »

There are decent Chinese brand now, Lexmoto for one. With scooters starting at under £1000. With Mopeds from £650.

And parts are not an issue anymore if you stick with the well established brands.

lexmoto and others change the spec every year , and parts for older models are NOT available

pappa_golf

AdrianC wrote: »

By "several years ago", you mean 39 years ago - it was 1977 when the 30mph cap was introduced for 50cc bikes... It was 1983 (33 years ago) that the next step up was reduced from 250cc to 125cc...

yup , after the fiasco of the FS1e , a "quick" 50cc bike with pedals

Herzlos

IndieSinger wrote: »

I don't know what "crest it" means, but I go up a steep hill and then back down the steep hill (so the same on the way back).

I mean you go over the top of the hill and back down, so you've always got a steep up-hill part each direction.

What about one of those battery powered bikes? Would that give you enough grunt to get to the top of the hill?

IndieSinger

Herzlos wrote: »

What about one of those battery powered bikes? Would that give you enough grunt to get to the top of the hill?

Glad you mentioned that, because I had considered it but didn't want to muddy the waters of a discussion about moped/scooters.

Again, I know nothing about this area. Are battery-powered bikes the same as electric bikes? Am I best off going to a big bike shop and asking?

bigjl

pappa_golf wrote: »

indeed , I own a 500cc Yamaha Tmax


changes in UK law several yrs ago (Yamaha fs1e fiasco) removed the true "moped" , which was a bicycle with a engine to assist , and things evolved into what we have now , max of 50cc , non gears , no pedals and a top speed of 50 mph for a 16 yr old




please be careful buying a £500 scooter , those (at that price) are generally china made and coming to the end of useful life , parts (bodywork)are very hard to find second hand or new , and a lot of main stream insurance Cos will not tutce them .


I would suggest you sit your CBT , and look for a "older" but better quality jap built bike in the 125 class

I would suggest that if buying a £650 Lexmoto Scooter you will easily get three or four years out of it.

The problem with Chinese scooters and motorbikes is that some people think they are all the same.

The kind of tat sold via eBay is very different to the stuff you can buy from the more established brands.

If I needed a commuter tool I wouldn't really care where it was made.

I have read lots of reviews of Chinese bikes, several in MCN, and they are more than up to the job.

The non EUbtype approved stuff you see around Africa is more like the stuff that entered the UK 10years ago from a quality point of view and is often rusty after a few months.

I had a good look round the Lexmoto stand at the MCN show, after hours, without sales and marketing staff looking over my shoulder.

And they seem decently put together.

A 125cc bike for commuting can be had for just over a grand.

Is that any worse at the job than a Honda costing nearly three times as much?

Not forgetting that depreciation is a huge cost.

Bigphil1474

An electric bicycle might be just what you need - no different to riding an ordinary bicycle (legally), and the electric bit can be used when you need an extra boost. There's a company advertising one on TV at the moment, but I think it's quite expensive. However, the principle is that the electric motor can be used when you need it, and not when you don't, and the bikes will have a 'range' before needing recharging. The likes of Halfords sell them, (just had a quick look and they start around £600, range of 25 miles, top speed 15mph. Bet there's cheaper ones available.). You just need the same equipment as you would for a normal bike - e.g. a helmet. No insurance, no driving test, no worries? You might want to do some research on batteries and warranties etc. though