advice about getting first motorbike/moped/scooter

[nogoodboyo]

Riding a scooter is dead easy. Twist to go. Brake levers like a bicycle. Plus they tend to be light - you can lift it up (just about) if you have to.

Proper bike riding is a bit more like hard work imo, but proper bikers say it's much easier when you're used to it. It's not easy to pick up though, just cos clutch control takes a while to get going.

 

[djbombscare]

miss direct, I cant help with the license bit. i didnt need to take both parts of mine in as I had the old style pink one. So sorry I cant help there.

I understand what you mean about buying second hand. It is a bit of a minefield but dont let that put you off. Yes they are bit more expensive to buy from a dealer, but you will have some sort of warranty on it. if its less than 3 years old you wont have to MOT it for while. Mostly its peace of mind that yoru paying more for. There some comeback on your purchase. Like a few have said if you do get one from a dealer, you never know you may be able to score some kit which means that your saving a bit of cash that would be extra on a second hand purchase. If you do want to go down the 2nd route from free ads etc take someone who knows a bit about them. Or get some mags check out the Pitfalls etc. MCN and Ride do good guides on the bike stuff as to what to look for etc. So I would assume that there is probably one out there for scooters. Maybe there is something on-line that can help. Try this one Motorcyle guide

Be cheeky walk in have a look and when you see one you like ask what kit will they throw in with it if you buy it. Cheekiness gets you a loooooooong way, try it and see what happens.

This time of year it aint exactly biking weather so the deals are more likely to be there.

Liberty, Bike vs scooter. . . Its going to be down to personal prefference. I could sit here and say that scooters are a peace of piss to ride. But that gonna make you feel like a muppet if you cant get to grips with it.

The main differences are this.

Scooters - usually automatic gears no cluthces etc, A bit more portection from the elements, nippy easier-ish to balance due to low centres of gravity smaller wheels etc. Hand operated braking, its literally twist and go you just sit on it and point it. Its pretty similar to riding a push bike but without the effort. Because yoru feet are in fornt of you it feels a bit odd to me ( as I'm used to riding bikes) and its sort feel like its a bit more effort to lean it over. It always felt easier to steer it round initially. But that probably cos I'm used to bikes. I think the road presence of scooters is a bit better as well. therse sort of more to see at the front. If you know what I mean

Bikes - usually geared, left foot operates gears up and down, theres more to do, left hand operates clutch, (dont go trying to brake with it) Right hand does front brake and throttle. Right foot operates rear brake. You sit astride it there is less protection form the elements and if you do go down theres not the reletive protection offered by a scooter round your legs. Mind you IMO as you are sitting astride it feels a lot easier to lean it over. They ride to a degree like bigger bikes. So if you feel that this is something you would like to do then go down the bike route.

Er I dunno really I can think of any real major differences. Hoenstly it got to be down to yoru personal prefference. I find scooters feel a bit odd to ride although thats only at the start. Yoru best bet will be on yoru CBT ask if you can try both and see which one feels better.

Hope that helps

 

[nogoodboyo]

^^ more balanced view!

 

[miss direct]

Well I found my counterpart driving licence and did the CBT on Saturday and passed. Nearly froze to death though!

Riding a scooter was a lot easier than the bike.

Been looking up insurance, looks like it won't be any more than 200. Going to buy a helmet and gloves today.

Question: does a helmet fit into the space under the seat? Or am I supposed to carry it round with me?

Just been looking up info: did u know that sikhs who wear turbans don't have to wear helmets?

To any girls who ride (or guys with long hair for that matter), what do you do with your hair? Also, can you wear earrings or do they get squashed by the helmet?

 

[nogoodboyo]

Question: does a helmet fit into the space under the seat? Or am I supposed to carry it round with me?

Most scoots will take a full face helmet, but some of the new lean & funky types don't.

It's not hard for thieves to get into that space, though. Personally, I'll leave it there if I have to or if it's convenient, but take it out where possible - certainly if it's parked at work or home.

 

[djbombscare]

Fizzer ties her hair back in a pony tail then puts it up on top of her head when she puts her lid on.


Congratulations on passing your CBT

 

[miss direct]

Well have been down the local shop and have been bombarded with information, guy was very helpful though. I'm looking at getting a peugeot, one is a very basic 50 cc for £800, the next one up is £1500 for a 100CC .. the one I really like is £2000 but I think that's too much. He's gonna throw in a helmet. Gonna go back later this week and sort it out once I've decided but I think it's going to be the peugeot vivacity. As it's new I don't have to pay MOT or road tax, insurance is going to be around £150. Still a bit scared though, it's the biggest thing I've ever bought (in size as well as price).

 

[djbombscare]

Well done and a free lid to boot.

It is a biggy so yeah it best to have that little bit of peace of mind that you can get from a dealer rather than the what if form out the paper

 

[I'm Simes]

Please do a CBT, and maybe looking into getting something bigger than a 50, anything else maybe painful even with the restriction removed. Again do the CBT you'll learn a lot, maybe do the full licence - it's amazing how more knowledge you'll gain from this.

I've had 2-stokers bored out to 172cc which have been great fun, but now I ride a 4T 200cc Gilera Runner which is very economical. It's a good size and very comfortable...I've even been up the motorway on it - well it maxes out at 85mph so is quite capable.

May I reccomend either Piaggio or Gilera (same parent company) as they make the better bikes. Brand new is best with the two year warranty.

I ride with an Arai full face lid, Dainese paddock jacket and normally wear jeans and boots. Wet weather trousers are now on to stop the cold.
Good gore-tex gloves are well worth it.

Slow down for winter and watch out for idiots in cars that confess 'they didn't see you', you'll gain a 6th sense.


Get a decent lock or fit 3 like I've been doing now since my 2nd bike got nicked.

I've been commutting now for 5 years by scooter from Croydon into WC1 and can't fault it, I get a seat everyday.

Good luck and remember your 'life saver' manouvere.

 

[AnnaKarpik]

.....

To any girls who ride (or guys with long hair for that matter), what do you do with your hair? Also, can you wear earrings or do they get squashed by the helmet?

Wouldn't recommend getting any new piercings for ears or eyebrows if you're going to be wearing a helmet. Ouch!

 

[miss direct]

I have ordered my scooter, it's a peugeot vivacity.

 

[miss direct]

Going to pick up scooter tomorrow, but it's snowed about 5 inches here yesterday. The roads are near enough clear but I'm not sure if I can ride in these conditions??

 

[pogofish]

If the roads are clear & it isn't icing-up, you will be fine but take it very easy for the first few weeks. New riders & ice/gritty roads don't mix very well.

 

[miss direct]

Ok, I have had my scooter for about a month now, and am loving it. Have so much more freedom, go round all the queues of traffic, no more waiting at the bus stop for ages in the dark.

However, I am so paranoid about it being stolen. It has an immobiliser fitted, I always lock it (although there is not always anything to lock it to) and put the steering lock on, but I'm just so nervous about it being stolen.

Also, am I allowed to listen to music on it? I've heard different things from different people, it would be nice to have something to listen to.

 

[Pingu]

first off welcome to the wonderful world of two wheeled motorised transport - in summer you cant beat it.

i ride a bike rather than a scooter and dont really ride in twons much but dont listen to music when i ride

this may have something to do with the speeds I ride at which would make it very hard to listen to music anyhow but i would find it too distracting tbh.

 

[pogofish]

Also, am I allowed to listen to music on it? I've heard different things from different people, it would be nice to have something to listen to.

IIRC, that is a grey area again. Not strictly legal unless you have a properly modified & BS approved sound system in your lid, or bar-mounted speakers (!) but in reality, they might only take an interest if you were actually involved in an accident where it could be seen as a contributory/negligent factor by insurers or at worst, driving without due care by the police. I can only think of ever hearing about one prosecution for this in many years tho.

Personally, I wouldn't go around with music in an urban environment, as you need to keep your wits about you constantly but I have done in the past on longer/rural runs, partly because the lid-noise at higher speeds makes the sense of hearing less important on a bike. You still need to be able to stay aware tho.

 

[detective-boy]

IIRC, that is a grey area again.

Not aware of any direct legislation.

Anything fitted to the bike itself would need to comply with Construction and Use Regulations. Any adaption to a helmet would have to comply with British Standards (it is an offence to not have a BS-compliant helmet).

But as for iPod/MP3/Walkman type stuff I am not aware of any controls at all.

General offences would include not being in proper control of vehicle, driving without reasonable consideration and driving without due care and attention. Cannot see listening to music per se amounting to any of them (especially as it is no different from having radio on loud in a car). On a self-preservation angle though would make sure you can still hear what is going on around you (someone shouting from a coupple of yards away) and be aware that if you are "listening" to the music you are using some concentration whcih may be better spent on the dickheads on 4 wheels!

As for paranoia about getting it nicked ... that never goes away! All you can do is think about where you leave it - private / locked if possible, well-lit, not dark alleys, corners and back streets, locked to lamppost, etc if possible, avoid it always being in exactly the same place ... Could think about an alarm to go with the immobiliser but may not be worth the cost (and people ignore them anyway, though they are something of a deterrent).

Sadly though, if they decide they want it, they'll probably have it... :-(

 

[tobyjug]

Could think about an alarm to go with the immobiliser but may not be worth the cost (and people ignore them anyway, though they are something of a deterrent).

An audible alarm on motorcycles and scooter is a complete and utter waste of time. Thieves now steal or borrow a refridgerated or insulated truck. Put the bike in back and after they have shut the doors the noise can't be heard.
The only thing that stops motorcycle and scooter thieves is extreme violence.

 

[Pingu]

Sadly though, if they decide they want it, they'll probably have it... :-(

aye

unless its chained to a ground anchor or similar if they REALLY want it the will just pull up in a van (probably marked "vehicle recovery") pop a couple of poles through the wheels and lift it onto the back. though to be fair i would expect this to be more restriced to the highly desireable types of transport like MVs and their ilk


dont be paranoid though just be sensible and it will signficantly reduce the risk

 

[djbombscare]

I have a dirty great rottwieller with ears that can pick up a sparrows fart at half a mile for my bike security at home

They can try and take it but they loose an arm. . .leg. . .whatever

Seriously though not matter what you do, if they want it they'll have it. All you can do is whatever you can to keep the insurance company happy and thats it. Ground anchors are brilliant as are dirty great battleship anchor chains. But they aren't there when you pop to the shops and have to leave it in car park/road somewhere.

TBH the only thieving I have concerning my bike has been the tax disc when its been parked up somewhere. They usually take the holder and everything. Snap it off or allen key it off.

I now take mine with me when I leave the bike. In fact it permanently lives in my helmet. Its not on display which technically isn't legal, but I will show it when asked by the relevant authorities. And in the tax disc holder I have a sign saying "due to thefts the tax disc for this vehicle is retained by the rider who will display it on request"

I havent had any problems with it yet but it could happen.

 

[miss direct]

Having some fresh problems regarding security. I had been keeping my scooter in the lobby of my flat, which was fine until yesterday, when my landlord came round and said I’m no longer allowed to do so (some cack about the radiator leaking because of my scooter being next to it). I live in a first floor flat on a main road. The only place I can keep it is in this big communal garden place, which is accessible to anybody who wants to walk in off the pavement. Last night I locked it to a wooden fence, which was the only thing I could find. I can’t see it out of my window, and I’m now really paranoid about someone taking it. There is another guy who leaves his motorbike round the back so I guess he’s not bothered but I really can’t cope with just leaving it in the open. What is the best way I can protect it?
I only have third party insurance. I tried to upgrade it but was told I’m not allowed to, until my renewal date (which is not till December!) I had never bought insurance before and was under the impression that I would be able to change it, but apparently not.
I’m going away for the weekend tonight, and as I won’t leave it in the garden for two nights while I’m away, I have to drive for an hour to lock it in my Mum’s shed.
Feeling really unhappy about this. It’s the most money I’ve ever spent on anything and I would be absolutely gutted if it was stolen. Any advice?
I was thinking about putting an ad in the paper asking if anyone in the area had a garage/shed I could rent?

 

[pogofish]

I have never heard of an insurance company refusing to upgrade cover! Maybe you should try asking some others?

As for security, having got it off the road & out of public sight is probably enough, IME most small bike theft is opportunist & those who track-down specific bikes to steal are usually looking for more expensive/exotic stuff.

 

[pogofish]

General offences would include not being in proper control of vehicle, driving without reasonable consideration and driving without due care and attention.

Yup, it was that sort of offence they used. Never heard what the outcome was tho.

 

[nogoodboyo]

A garage would be good, but they're far from cheap and might not be local. Not sure I'd be happier parking in a garage half a mile away than on the road nearby.

A ground anchor might be the best thing.

Are you saying it's not insured against theft? That's a bit of a shocker if so.

I'm surprised you can't change the policy... I'd certainly want to.

 

[miss direct]

A garage would be good, but they're far from cheap and might not be local. Not sure I'd be happier parking in a garage half a mile away than on the road nearby.

A ground anchor might be the best thing.

Are you saying it's not insured against theft? That's a bit of a shocker if so.

I'm surprised you can't change the policy... I'd certainly want to.

I will give them another ring but they were pretty insistent when I asked yesterday.

Ground anchors: do they go on grass/concrete? Will I be able to do it myself? (I'm not very good at that kind of thing)

Will they sell them in my local motorbike shop?

 

[nogoodboyo]

Concrete, I think. I haven't got one myself, mostly cos I can't be arsed and my scooter's pretty tatty.

I think, though, that you can have bolt-in ones for concrete floors, or bigger metal plates that you actually concrete in - obviously that's more bother, more permanent.

I dunno really - most of this stuff just puts of casual tealeaves, so any ground anchor is better than nowt.

Can you cancel your insurance and get a different policy? Clearly you'd want most of your policy premium back if you did, but if they offer - say - 75% back, it might be worth doing. Have a look at the policy terms if you can face it.