One for the young un's on here. have been able for the last couple of months to borrow the inlaws 2nd car during the week for work. this is about to end any day now as there selling there main car and will use the 2nd all the time. I cant afford to buy another car and its a fair old slog from northheath to charlton on the bus. am looking into scooters. can drive one without having to do the cbt but only up to 50cc, is this right? am i not allowed to drive a 125cc without doing the CBT? i have been looking around and a decent bike seems to be the peoguet Speedfight. Any advice on good decent cheapish bikes that A) wont kill me and
will get me up and over shooters hill without a 15 mile tailback behind me, as i am a big guy im gone need some power to get all my ample poundage around without looking like a tool. have seen some scooters for sale brand new online for 600 notes but seem to good to be true. any help much welcomed.
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I've just ordered one, think it cost me not far over £2k.
Have owned four scooters over the years and the Gilera Runner was the best by a mile. Easy to service, cheap to run and cheap spares.
I stopped riding after 3 accidents in 2 years. None of which were my fault. I'd do your CBT whatever size engine you get.
Buy the most expensive helmet you can afford. Having seen the damage to the £300.00 Arai I owned, after my first accident focuses the mind.
I also found that insurance went up every year. If at all possible get fully comp. Some little scrote will try and nick whatever you buy and will often leave a large repair bill if they fail.
If you buy used, dont buy without a service history. These things dont have the most refined engines and have quite short service intervals.
Scooters over 3 years, same as cars.
Be careful about claimed speeds and actual speeds. I swapped the exhaust on my first Gilera and the speedo told me I was doing 80 down the M20. When I got someone to follow me in a car it turned out to be closer to 70.
To be honest on wheels that small 65 feels a bit hairy!
DO NOT TRY TO SAVE MONEY ON A CRASH HELMET - GET THE BEST YOU CAN AFFORD (It's the best advice you'll get).
I had a very serious accident on a motorbike and am so lucky to still be here, I was shocked at the damage to my crash helmet which, thankfully was a very good one, and definately saved my life.
When I was in hospital, for 3 months, my Dad met another Dad who had just said goodbye to his kid when they turned off his life support (serious head injury). Apparently, his kid had been using some old second-hand crappy helmet and it didn't protect him at all.
I don't ride bikes any more, too dangerous (not me, it's the other car drivers that cause a lot of accidents, they just don't see you til it's too late). I've had a few mates in bad scrapes too.
You only get one life mate, be sensible, like I said: get a very good helmet.
Another tip re scooters, get the most powerful one you can afford, the slow ones (50cc and some of the 125s) are dangerous cos they cant get away from the traffic. Bates at West Hill Dartford conduct CBTs on their premises. Buy the best kit, Helmet, gloves decent kevlar jacket etc, you can afford, when you have a lie down in the road (you will) you will be grateful, when you have decided, note the sizes and look online for better prices. I think you will stuggle to get much for £600 though. A decent helmet with the Gold Seal (a must) can be £200+ up to £500, but if you buy the scooter from a shop it gives you some clout on discounted gear.
RE derestricting, no one has ever been nicked for it, it is impossible to police.
Try these links
http://www.hein-gericke.co.uk/1/
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/
I think an old fart like me would just look sad on one of these, and I would be the type that would bugger about with the modifications and that as others have said
would invalidate the insurance. Having had lads that have stuck a set of alloys on a fiesta and the insurance company not prepared to pay up when it was stolen I have learnt that either have a straight car/bike insurance or
not bother!. You really cannot be a little bit 'illegal'. Scooters always seemed a bit 'fragile' as well, but that probably is not so true now-adays . Anyway I need to loose some weight so a bush pike for me I think is more a reality.
Now where is that puncture kit!...
She bought one of those dodgy Chinese machines mentioned above - I can't see the problem - it was good value and there is a guy in Barnhurst who is more than happy to service them - Bens Bikes.
I did my CBT a couple of weeks ago, so I can (in theory) also take the scooter out if needs be.
But believe me, there's nothing better in the summer than breezing past all the traffic with the wind in your face. Lovely feeling, almost as good as when charlton win...
Definitely get a minimum of 125cc, do your CBT, get a full face crash helmet that is the best you can afford and then get scootering... Can't give advice on type of bike as I have only ever ridden Vespa's (T5, PX200 and now back to PX125) - all of which have been/are brilliant.. The T5/PX models are no longer made (or being phased out) as they simply keep going and so no-one was buying the new 'twist and go' Vespa's, which says a lot to me about their reliability...
Cheers
As I mentioned above, I've just done my CBT. You can do it "with gears" or without. I chose to do it with gears and found it tough to do one bit - the powered U-turn - you have to control the speed using the clutch and brake. I wanted to do it with gears in case I decide to take it further, but if you are only ever going to ride a "twist & go scooter", you maybe should just go for the easiest CBT.
It's a tough day and there's a lot to take in, so get a good night's sleep beforehand.