moped?

[Ayrton]

should i get a 50cc moped before i get a 125 bike next june?
i dont really have too much of a need for it, but would it be worth getting some experience on any sort of bike before i go to a 125?

[Roos]

OK - without knowing any other info from you - such as -

have you riden before?

age?

have you done the CBT yet?

do you drive car?

ETc.

YES!

Don't get a 50 - cus they're a menace - restricted to 30mph makes other drivers
annoyed at you
100cc scooter - twist and go will keep up with traffic and help you learn road craft and
how to stay safe without having to worry about gears (guessing the 125 would have them..?)

More info will give better answers.


in the mean time one thing to remember - they're all trying to kill you!

(as my Instructor told me)

Good luck.
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The safest place for ships is in a dock - but thats not what they were made for.

[Derivative]

I don't really think a twist and go is good practice for a geared bike. If you want to practice roadcraft get on the pushbike, a lot cheaper and basically the same.

[Roos]

[Roos]

I wasn't saying a twist and go will teach you anything about gears!

I was saying that it'll give you time to learn about traffic - not sat in the f***ing gutter - but being part of it.
____________________
The safest place for ships is in a dock - but thats not what they were made for.

[Derivative]

The only thing you really need to learn that you won't pick up very quickly is stuff like roundabouts, I went around at night when roads were completely empty and did it.

To be quite honest once you're confident enough you can just take a full lane on your pushbike, you can do the 15-20mph people do around urban roundabouts anyway. On my CBT I was put on a twist n go and I found after it was far more of a 'mindfuck' concentrating on gears at the same time as what was around me, if only for the first few days.

[Roos]

Yeah - how hard can this biking thing be - - I mean I have passed the test!

Most car drivers say that you pass your test and then you spend the next 2 years learning how to drive..

Bikes are so different I don't think you may understand yet.

I can't be bothered to put it in my Sig but:

BTW - Don't be fooled by when I joined the Site:

1986 honda cub 50cc
1987 honda cub 90cc ('Step through' - you'll have to google it)
1988 Yamaha DT125
Lets skip more years than I'd like to remember and say there were about 5 bikes.

2004 Yamaha Diverson 6
2005 Bandit 12
2007 Kawasaki ZZR1200 02
2010 Kawasaki ZZR1200 05 (current)

And I'm still learning!!

Lets not try to kill anyone with our advice - hey.

My advice still stands - if you get the chance and can afford it -
spend 6 months on a twist and go where you'll have a lot less to worry about and get used to being in traffic.

(Edit - and you'll learn about road condition - wet, shiny, man hole covers etc...)

Either way good luck elobire.
____________________
The safest place for ships is in a dock - but thats not what they were made for.

[Ayrton]

sorry, i should have gave more information.

im 16 at the moment, i havnt driven a moped or a bike yet and i havnt done my CBT.

im still considering buying a moped, but i guess il only get one if i find one cheap that is reliable. last thing i want is for it to eat away into the money i saved for a 125.

[Roos]

[Roos]

Oh and elobire,

Regarding my post about 50cc being a menace - - .

My point is - don't push your way through to the front of the traffic lights ...

just to pull away and be stuck at 30mph (if you can get a derestriced one - do!).

doing 30 in front of all that traffic will annoy - and make EVERYONE wanna overtake you!

Which will mean being pushed back into the gutter - like a push bike!
Use your head.


____________________
The safest place for ships is in a dock - but thats not what they were made for.

[Ayrton]

i think il get a cheap moped just to get used to riding.
i dont want to use the money i got saved for a 125, so i doubt it will be untill christmas though.

[Roos]

Smart decision. November or January is a great time to buy a bike - don't buy in december!

Think cheap - < £500 for the moped.

Don't worry about what your mates have - cus in a year they'll be trying to sell and they'll realise how much they'll loose..

Like I said - spend the cash/time getting reasonable gear for the 125 and learning the dangers (thrills/benefits) of two wheels.

Good luck and Stay safe!
____________________
The safest place for ships is in a dock - but thats not what they were made for.

[Ayrton]

[pinkyfloyd]

Dont get a moped. Wait and get a real bike, Mopeds are the devils work.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[Roos]

[pinkyfloyd]

[quote="Roos"
It's a temporary thing [/quote]

Looking at a scooter is temporary. Riding one is a life scarring event from which it takes years of therapy to recover.

( I still get twitches sometimes from riding one for 5 mins)
____________________
illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[Roos]

Have you riden a new one - I have to say they're quite fun!

Now I'm comparing this to a C90 Cub - but hey;

They have proper tyres, swift acceleration and you can put your helmet under the seat!

Pugs even have a pull-out "snake lock" for the back wheel!

Pretty cool

But no - a geared bike is what you want to aim for!
____________________
The safest place for ships is in a dock - but thats not what they were made for.

[pinkyfloyd]

Roos I was on a C90 and when it went above 20mph the handle bar would wobble like mad. The thing would go straight but it would shake your arms out of your shoulders doing so.

Scariest 5 mins of my life.
____________________
illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[chris-red]

I think it will be a waste of money, save your cash for a 125.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[Roos]

Now remember when you were 16 and someone told you "Wait until you're 17".

Yeah right.

You'll learn a lot in that year - more than loosing £150 could teach you.

IMO
____________________
The safest place for ships is in a dock - but thats not what they were made for.

[Derivative]

[Roos]

[Ayrton]

think il still get a moped.
like i said, im not going to spend my 125 money, so hopefully il still be able to get the bike i want when im 17.

[tahrey]

hmm, depends if the riding experience is as different from a fiddy to a 125 "real" bike as it is from a pushbike to a scooter.

just getting road experience i'd be on pedal power, gets you fit and you can get confidence filtering, countersteering, balancing the brakes, dealing with crappy grip in the wet, stuff like that. and it's far far cheaper.

but the whole "feel" of a powered bike is quite different to a pedal pusher, so... hmm.
depends what money you have really. i'd have never been able to afford that at 16 with insurance etc the way it is. if you're more flush, might be worth a go. can always sell it if it's shit, so long as it's not a writeoff.

if you were committed to scooterteering and have the money i'd have started younger, off road... assuming there's anywhere left you can still get away with it. ~10 years old, pratting about in a quarry with an old 50cc shopping hack... good times. That was nearly 20 years ago now tho. different world. you'd probably get a severe telling off for just pedalling it.

[Clanger]