Shall I get a bike for travelling in central london

cwah · Derestricted Danger Joined: 26 Apr 2015 Karma :

Hello all,

I've been cycling (on an electric bike) for a while. It gives me the advantage to be very cheap, quite fast (easily 25mph when pedalling good) and I can park about anywhere.

But now, I live much further (close to barking) and commuting is about 13 miles and meeting friends in central london also about 10 miles and so.

I'm considering getting maybe a moped, scooter or 125c to replace my bike, so that it can be more comfortable.

But I have few consideration:
- What's the average yearly cost I should expect, with maintenance, petrol, parking fee, etc?
- Is it easy to park in central london? And shall I pay? I usually go to very crowded place such as oxford circus, trafalgar square, covent garden, etc. With a bicycle, no problems at all. Anywhere, anytime.
But on a, let say, a moped, would that be harder and more expensive?

Thank you

ps: currently, I live in a shared flat, and it doesn't seem to have anywhere to park on the road... or even in the house. What's the best practice for that?
Again, with a bicycle, it's very simple: Chain it to any lamp and no one with ever both about that. But a moped would be much bigger and bulkier and may not work

Tungtvann · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 Dec 2012 Karma :

You're going to have to pay for a CBT in order to be able to ride a 125cc on L plates and have to retake it every 2 years. You're going to have to buy the bike, insurance and all the safety gear to go with it. Your age will affect the insurance costs, but probably not as much as living where you do. You'd need to buy decent bike security like an Almax chain to stop it going walk about, and that'll add even more money to your initial outlay. Add to that parking (although I'm sure some bike parking is free in London) servicing, general upkeep and it's probably going to be a lot more expensive than you think.

Is that cost worth not having to pedal? You decide.

c_dug · Super Spammer Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Karma :

You live in Barking. You don't have a garage. Your bike will be stolen within a year.
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

wr6133 · World Chat Champion Joined: 31 Dec 2013 Karma :

Can't comment on London specific costs but I run a ped (Vclic with a 80cc bbk) as a cheap hack that rarely goes more than about 10 mile from my font door.

Tax is £17 a year
Insurance no point stating as yours will be different.
MPG as a 50cc was about 90-95 as an 80cc (with a few other things done) I'm seeing about 85 MPG.

General running costs are low. Continental Scooty back tyre just cost me £20. Belts are under a tenner. Cheap supermarket 10w40 oil changed every 1k miles is a few quid (and you could go longer between changes). Spark plug changed yearly is about £3. I don't have an airfilter but if you changed that yearly it's around £4.

Even if you break bits parts in general are dirt cheap.

Downsides of a 50cc 4 stroke moped is they are bloody slow. Even "derestricted" as a 50cc mine would struggle to pull my 16 stone arse up to about 33MPH. Slight hills would drop that to 20-ish and steep hills would see it dip under 15. I sorted that with an 80cc bore kit, it now can touch 40 and won't drop under 30 on hills.

125cc geared bike would probably be a much better option for you, quicker than a ped and a lot more versatile.

cwah · Derestricted Danger Joined: 26 Apr 2015 Karma :

Can anyone help me on the total cost per year all included once bike has been purchased?

I mean:
- maintenance including the big maintenance. Not just the small servicing. And I can't do it myself as I don't have tooling or space
- insurance average for 125c
- petrol for maybe 200 miles/week.
- parking cost especially in central london.
- part wear and tear
- loss of value once I need to resale....

Would that be close to £500/year? £2000/year?

And how easy it is to park in central london? It's my biggest fear in central london.

Thanks

cwah · Derestricted Danger Joined: 26 Apr 2015 Karma :

wr6133 · World Chat Champion Joined: 31 Dec 2013 Karma :

Hefty · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 25 Jun 2013 Karma :

c_dug · Super Spammer Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Karma :

It's all free except for Westminster which charges 1 pound a day, or a cheaper price by week.

I don't know about the other locations but China Town has a Q park which is reasonably secure and free.

If cheap is the only aim of the game then look for something along the lines of a Honda Innova, I've heard of people getting around the 150mpg mark.

I wouldn't want to park a bike on the street unsecured overnight anywhere west of Dagenham.

Edited because I'm an idiot.
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

cwah · Derestricted Danger Joined: 26 Apr 2015 Karma :

Cheap is an important part but not the only part of course.

I very often go to leicester square, would I be able to park the bike anywhere? For free? And if not how much? £1 every time? I can't use bicycle rack for free?

And I don't have garage or anything.... what should I do? My bicycle can be parked outside overnight no problems. But for scooter it's not an option?

c_dug · Super Spammer Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Karma :

The Q park in china town is pretty close obviously, and as above, free. clicky

The issue you'll have is with bike gear storage. If you find a jacket you like enough to wear off the bike then it's not too much of an issue, you can wear jeans (preferably kevlar if budget allows). Helmet can be clipped to the bike if you want, or looped through a chain. Boots there are so many options you'll find something to suit. Gloves can be stuffed under the seat.

The stolen thing, scooters are a magnet for chavs on the lookout for easy thrills. Best thing you can do is buy a noisy disk lock to give you a heads up if anybody fiddles with it, and a decent chain*. Chain it to something solid if possible. I live not too far from you, but in what is generally considered to be a nicer area and I've woken up to find my bike gone three times in the last 6 years or so.

*This means Almax or Pragmasis.
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

cwah · Derestricted Danger Joined: 26 Apr 2015 Karma :

c_dug · Super Spammer Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Karma :

Two wheels not four Wink

https://www.q-park.co.uk/parking-with-q-park/park-with-q-park/london-parking/motorcycle-parking-
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

cwah · Derestricted Danger Joined: 26 Apr 2015 Karma :

c_dug · Super Spammer Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Karma :

I've not struggled but I've never tried during world work hours or peak time.
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

cwah · Derestricted Danger Joined: 26 Apr 2015 Karma :

So parking sorted... I suppose the biggest fear would be robbery (can I do anything to have a scooter still present parked on the street?) and cost (which should be low?)

KnuckleShot · Scooby Slapper Joined: 11 Dec 2014 Karma :

As others have said get a Almax chain and a disc lock.

cwah · Derestricted Danger Joined: 26 Apr 2015 Karma :

Thanks guys. So you think what I want to do is possible? Parking overnight outside with great chain should save me hassle?

And is it possible to have a 1 week trial on a bike just to see if it can work? I don't have cbt, insurance or whatever but I wonder if I can test to see somehow?

KnuckleShot · Scooby Slapper Joined: 11 Dec 2014 Karma :

It's possible, however the bike is prone to being touched and messed with, maybe an alarm would be at an advantage here however, you would have to look into that.
Without having a CBT or insurance, it won't be legally possible.
Plus you'd need the bike. (just stating the obvious Wink

)

cwah · Derestricted Danger Joined: 26 Apr 2015 Karma :

Yeah... what I mean is that maybe there are some place who would rent the bike for a week? And maybe provide cbt course at the same time? How do I start?

KnuckleShot · Scooby Slapper Joined: 11 Dec 2014 Karma :

Very unlikely that someone would rent a bike out for a week or at least I've never heard anyone do this, maybe someone else on this forum has? Thumbs Up

The start would be get your provisional if not already the get your CBT book to obtain a DL196 (this is so you can ride unsupervised with L plates)
Also on top of this you need gear and the bike itself then the insurence /tax

KnuckleShot · Scooby Slapper Joined: 11 Dec 2014 Karma :

I'm sorry if this doesn't make sense I've not been sleep yet Laughing

cwah · Derestricted Danger Joined: 26 Apr 2015 Karma :

thanks. Do you have some places you would recommend to start?

Alpineandy · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Mar 2015 Karma :

Even with a big chain etc it'll still be a problem. If it's on the road/pavement in a scummy area they'll constantly try to steal it and if they fail then they cause enough damage to cost you and probably make it unusable for a few days or more. Unfortunately it will also be seen as a local storage centre for free replacement parts if it's a popular model (and it's unlikely you'll want an unpopular model as parts can be a pain), so you'll end up walking up to it wondering what's been nicked this time.
Sort some night time storage/safe parking and a bike sounds perfect for your situation but more aggro than it's worth without one.
____________________
The above comment isn't necessarily the truth and anyone that says it is, is only correct if it's the truth or they're bigger than me.

1198 · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Jan 2013 Karma :

Not sure as to your age but if I was in your (cycle) shoes I'd pick a generic type of 125 eg Honda cg, or cbf and spend five minutes on the www finding insurance quotes. From what you say I suspect the figures you'd be looking at may kill the debate stone dead.