Commuting Scooter

[adam277]

Hi,

I'm looking for a bike that will be good for daily commuting to London, which is about 30 miles for me.
As I only just passed my CBT and am 20 years old I can't get any bike bigger than a 125cc.


I have a good idea of what I want to get, which is this:
https://www.scenicreflections.com/files/Piaggio_X8_125_HyS_2006_01_1024x768.jpg

It's a Piaggio X8 and has plenty of boot space; which is what I want.
Is there anything similar to this that might be cheaper? The Suzuki UH is pretty much the same in price and appearance.


What I'd like to do is get a full licence and get a BMW tourer, I don't have the time to do that though. I was just going to get one of those street fight mopeds but they lack the storage space and every 16-17 year old seems to be driving them in their hoodies.

I have a budget of £1,500.
Any help will be really appreciated.

[Teflon-Mike]

[adam277]

Thanks for your reply.

[Teflon-Mike]

Scooters were designed by an italian bike hating aeronautical engineer, and he tried to defy as many 'rules' of motorcycle design etiquete as he could, to make THE most unstable vehicle he could possibly convieve..... its sold in huge numbers.... its called the Vespa!

The problem starts with wheels too small to offer decent stability, goes on to a frame concieved for ease of mounting & asthetic over structural rgigidity, and ends with an engine in completely the wrong place.

They are NOT 'stable' vehicles... on ANY bludy road!

Twist and go transmission, is also a waste of time for a learner bike you want to get tests on.

You dont learn gears without having them, and if you test on an auto you get an auto only licence which means you can only ever ride auto's which basically means scooters.

Hence if you want to get the full licence you want to get a geared bike, becouse THAT will get you a licence you can ride geared bikes on, as well as teach you how to use gears.

As for the 'Must have now before September'.....

Learner, MOST at risk riders on the road...... and you want it here and now, so you can get to work on it, battling commuter traffic, in the city.... THE most dangerouse hazard strewn enviroment, at THE most dangerouse time of day......

NOT a great idea to increase your survival odds mate!

Do you want to get to work, or do you want to get to hospital?

THINK about that one?

If you were going to get a car, you would not be asking if you could have a Saxo now 'so I can get to work' and take tests later so I can have an Audi... would you?

If you wanted a car, you would have to WAIT until you had passed the tests before you could drive it, unsupervised....

Bike TWENTY times more likely to hurt you, why do you think its a good idea to just grab the first bike you are allowed to ride and start using it, like you WERE qualified?

You want to learn to ride; you get a bike; you dont put yourself in ANY unnecessary danger; you wait until youget home of an evening, have had your tea, and when the streets are queit you go out and 'potter' practicing junctions and manouvers and stuff, when you have no place to be other than where you are, and you BUILD UP, to longer journeys in higher density traffic, and you DONT, if you have any sense, try battling rush hour traffic until you are near ready to take tests..... and even then, you dont necesserily do it actually trying to get to work... 'just in case'.

To get to work, you get the bus, get a lift, catch the train or whatever you would do if you DIDN'T have a bike....

Like I said its a LEARNER LICENCE so you can LEARN, not a substitute for earning your road-space.

£300 to get restricted test? Again, I have no idea who told you that or what it may be for.

You didn't click the link did you? You haven't checked DSA Web-site, either.

Three Tests to get a licence;
Theory/Hazard £31
Mod 1 Practical £15.50
Mod 2 Practical £75
Total, £121.50, for the full suite.

£300? I suspect is a training course, NOT the tests, and that is entirely optional.

GO LOOK AT THE WEB-SITE

I want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do I start?

How do I get a Licence?

Recommend Me a Learner-Bike!

Scooters
____________________
My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[kernow24]

And once again Mr mike jumps on a newbie and starts being
an ignorant tosser as usual.

You knew full well that he meant by what he said.

Considering you ride around on vintage 125 heaps of junk, which
may I add, you seemed incapable of securing, I don't think you're
in a position to criticise a persons choice of machine.

They quite clearly state they want a scooter, yet you try to belittle
them for their choice.

If scooters aren't stable, then why isn't every fecker that rides one
falling off every 2 seconds? Why are they the transport of choice
in many of the world's most densely populated cities? You really
do come out with some crap, and I really do feel for the newbies
who take your word for what it is, because of your length of time on
this forum.

You know what they say, if you haven't got anything nice to say, then
keep your pie hole

The whole daily 'get your licence' rant, change the record, when you get
a CBT you have as much right to be on the road as any other person, i
not as you put it, your first lesson, it's the only 'licence' you need to legally
ride on the road. The fact you don't think this is right is neither here nor
there. It's your opinion, but it really doesn't count for anything when the
facts blow that opinion out of the water.

The fact you claim only having a CBT is somehow unsafe, really is a load
of old cobblers, there is pretty much nothing you need to do to gain a
'full' licence, that will make you a better rider. The fact you state you can
obtain one without ant further training about sums it up, that is pretty much
admitting that a CBT gives you all the 'skills' needed to gain a licence. Yet
using all those skills which you use to pass your tests, under a CBT is unsafe,
it makes absolutely no sense.

On a side note, can you stop spamming the forum with links to your
site, we all know your an egotistical little man, who thinks your advice
is the be all and end all, but feck me, it's getting tedious.
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[numpty2]

I've never owned a scooter but I can see the attraction.

It is true that scooters suffer in terms of handling compared to conventional bikes. They also tend to give worse economy due to extra weight & the CVT system. But in city traffic they can be ideal. They have also improved dramatically over the years, and are much more controllable than the iconic Vespas.

One thing to look for is wheel size. Generally speaking the larger wheeled scooters will be more stable. Less pretty, but more stable.

Respectable brands are Piaggio, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, and also maybe Sym & Peugeot. I have no idea of models, but you should be able to find something in your price range. The Motorcycle News website has got reviews of many scooter models. There are also magazines with reviews & price guides. Autotrader will have lots of dealer adverts.

You might want to buy from a dealer for the warranty since scooters aren't particularly easy for DIY maintenance. Also bear in mind the different levels of depreciation. A cheaper purchase might cost more in the long run if it depreciates more.

I think that if you do the test with a CVT gearbox, your full licence will only be for a CVT gearbox. No problem if you want to stick to scooters, but it would limit you if you wanted to ride bikes as well.

[kotachi]

To be honest if you go on gumtree you can find very new scooters of the reliable brands and models listed above (10-12 plates) for less than 200 quid.
____________________
CBT done - 24/03/2012, theory test done - 03/04/2012.. Mod 1 done -26/06/2012, Mod 2 done - 29/06/2012. Current steed: Cage.
Suntan Sid said: "Look at it this way, your employer wants to pay you the minimum amount, it thinks it can get away with, and extract from you the maximum amount of graft. Ergo it's your responsibility to ensure that karma is restored and you do as little work as you think you can get away with, for the maximum amount of money."

[parv1]

[waffles]

Im going to leap in and defend Mike here, mostly because I haven't a scooby when it comes to scooters!

adam - you have your CBT now and are 20, correct? The new licencing laws come into effect in January which means that if you leave doing your tests etc until after that it becomes a little more long-winded (and much more confusing) to get a bike licence for your BMW tourer. If that is your ultimate goal it would be advisable to do it sooner rather than later!

I appreciate that your working schedule limits your opportunities to do tests, I was in a similar position myself when I did mine. I had to wait 8 weeks before I could do my mod 2 and only had one shot at doing it as I am not entitled to holidays off work.

So although Mike's post comes across as being a little blunt and in your face (sorry Mike, it is!) he is giving some good advice in there. If commuting by scoot is all you want to do then I hope you find something that you like and can afford soon. If getting something bigger and faster then see if you can do your tests fairly sharpish.

Whatever you choose, best of luck!
____________________
Theory test - 19/8/09, CBT - 11/10/09, MOD 1 - 16/8/10, MOD 2 - 27/10/10
Past rides Yamaha XT125X, Triumph TT600, Honda XR250
Current rides Suzuki GSXR 600, Honda MSX125

[numpty2]

For example:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/bikes/piaggio/x8/postcode/cv227sa/radius/1500/body-type/scooter/sort/default/cc-from/125cc/price-from/1000/price-to/2000/cc-to/125cc

Ignore the distance stuff. This is how far the dealers are from my house. Autotrader might be a good place to start. Stick to the good makes, do not buy Chinese, and look in your price range and close to where you live. Did I mention don't buy Chinese. This is no reflection on a noble and inventive nation, but the vehicles they export here are often shocking. You need reliability.

I think the Honda SH 125 is supposed to be good:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/bikes/honda/postcode/cv227sa/radius/1500/cc-to/125cc/body-type/scooter/cc-from/125cc/price-from/1000/price-to/2000/seller-type/trade_adverts/sort/default

So get on Motorcycle News website & read about the models. MCN advice is sometimes a bit biased, but no too bad. Then onto Autotrader looking for the good makes in your price range at a trade dealer near your postcode. Ebay as well, but I would concentrate on dealers rather than private sales, unless you are mechanically competent. I have heard that scooters aren't easy to work on.

[blito]

Try posting on the twist and go forums - they are for scooter users and fans. There is too much predjudice here towards scooting to get a real answer.
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2012 Zontes Monster

[_matt]

[pendulum]

[numpty2]

Piaggio Zip = 10 inch wheels, I think
Honda SH125 = 16 inch wheels
Therein lies the difference.

I'm a bike man myself, and have been for nearly 30 years, but with increasing traffic & regulations & age there may come a time when I find myself owning a 200-250cc scooter. With big wheels of course.
If you go to cities like Paris you can't move for big wheeled scooters. If the UK ends up being nothing more than 40mph & traffic lights, then it will be the way to go.

What I really want is an electric scooter, capable of stupid straight line acceleration, 80mph, 150 mile range, under £3.5k, with a 5 year battery warranty.

[BG5067]

I've riden all types of scooters. UH125. gilera runners (3 of them) Cygnas. Majesty and a few others and i do see the apeal of them. they're good for the city and you don't have to worry about gears or anything.

But the small wheels can be a disadvantage. like harder to turn corners, less MPG, More of a risk of being stolen by yob's.

I've also riden Manual's. YBR Custom, Varadero, GN125 and my cureent YBR. to which i prefer due to the bigger wheels better fuel economy. but the choice is yours.

If you really want a T&G then a UH125 or X8/X9 are great scooters. but the journey you do might not be good on fuel. I do 40 mile round trip to work, 6 days a week and can say i get better MPG on my YBR then any of the T&G's
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Current. Kawasaki ZX9R.

Theory passed 17/01/2014. Mod 1 Passed 03/02/2014 (0 faults) Mod 2 10/02/2014 Passed (0 faults)

[Knightsy]

And I don't like scooters mainly because I think they look ghey
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09' Versys 650 | 07' FJR1300A

[The Shaggy D.A.]

[Teflon-Mike]

[blito]

[Teflon-Mike]

[ThoughtContro...]

[Ayrton]

I agree with mike.
You obviously want your full license at some point. To be able to do that you would have to sell your scooter and get a geared bike for the test, which is a bit pointless.

[ThoughtContro...]

I fully agree with the "get your licence done" (on a 125) spiel. I'd disagree on most of his other dogma regarding CBTs and tests.

The reason to get your test done NOW, is any low cost option to achieve a proper bike bike licence disappears in January.

If you want to ride around forever on a 125 on Ls for years, with a CBT every two years, then great.

The problem is the EU directives are likely to get worse and the "ride a 125 on Ls after doing just a ~£100 CBT" will quite likely disappear at some point. This may FORCE you to do your test, at whatever cost of training, more stringent tests and other new BS that will make it more expensive and difficult for an aspiring 17 year old to get on 2 wheels.

Get it done NOW while it's relatively easy and cheap or regret it later IMO.
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Prize cunt
--
"In a world of universal deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act" - George Orwell

[Teflon-Mike]

[wayne.p]