Moped That Doesn't Sound Like A Hairdryer...

[c0tt0n.3y3]

Hi, so I'm brand new to this. I'm investing on a bike cbt etc for a way to get to work which is about 7 miles away, I'm thinking a 125cc should suffice for my cbt and provisional until I get my full one, but I'm wanting something that doesn't scream as it moves aha, I also don't really like the look of normal mopeds (I'm a big dirt bike fan :3) so I'm not sure what my options are, could someone please help?

[Irn-Bru]

Depends on your age.

If 17 just get a geared 125's, scooters are for nerds (I had one at first, am a nerd).

If 16, wait till you're 17 if you can, otherwise I don't think I'd advise a geared 49cc bike, it's a pain to have to change gear constantly. 49cc 4 stroke's are common enough. My brother had an Aprillia RX50 and it was a bloody 6 speed, it sounded like the bike John Connor had in Terminator 2, just to get to 30mph.

The hair dryer sound is older 2 stroke mopeds.
____________________
KTM 990 SMT & Suzuki DR-Z 400 SM

[Rogerborg]

[pja8]

You want cheap and reliable, may be with a certain look. I recommend kymco bikes whether that be scooters or motorbikes.

Plenty of secondhand options, don't hold value so cheap, reason for this is they are not Japanese but build quality is absolutely fine and getting parts no problem.

Fancy the cruiser look go for the zing, the street look then the cbk or pipe.

None will have the hairdryer sound. Then again the usual work the ybr's and the CBF or whatever.
____________________
Current - Triumph America LT Previous - Honda VT750S, Kymco Pulse S 125cc, Suzuki GS500e, Kawasaki KH100ex & Suzuki TS50er

[KnightsFall]

As far as I can tell, the mopeds buzzing round my way sound more like garden strimmers than hairdriers. The 125 scooters possibly sound more like lawn mowers in general, though 125 geared bikes can sound decent.

[mauzo]

You haven't said how old you are, but if you're over 24 it might be worth considering doing DAS (ie. doing your full bike licence in one go), even if you don't intend to get a bike bigger than a 125 right now. You (can) end up spending a whole lot less on tests and training and so on, and it gives you a chance to try out a bigger bike and see if maybe you like it.

As Roger said, though, get your CBT done first, before you spend any other money. That'll give you much more of an idea of what you want to do next.
____________________
'04 CG125, '07 CBF500

[..]

[stevo as b4]

[RhynoCZ]

[stinkwheel]

An electric scoot will cover your seven miles no problem and will make no sound whatsoever.

Depending on the type, you may not even require a licence.

For a 7 mile commute, it is well worth considering. I have a 10 mile commute and I'll be honest, if a) I didn't have to lug a van full of equipment with me and b) I was paying for the fuel. Electric motorbike is where I'd be at.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[MCN]

[mauzo]

[stinkwheel]

[WD Forte]

Most 'screamers' are 50cc 2 stroke scoots being ragged about and they sound like Flymos to me.
Most 4 stroke 125s will be pretty quiet and 'whirry' if unmolested.
I'd live with it if all you want is reliable work transport.
Tuning them is pretty pointless and ripping out baffles to get a throaty/sporty sound can bugger up the mixture unless you know what you're doing.
No1 son hacks to work and back on a cheap Kymco Pulsar 125 and it's been pretty damn reliable so far so we cant really fault it.

I know theres a strong 'if it aint jap it's crap' lobby here but in my opinion and experince the worst thing to happen to a bike is its owner, so I'd have a well maintained older bike over newer neglected abused one any day

Geared bike or scoot is up to you
____________________
bikers smell of wee

[Rogerborg]

[stevo as b4]

I love the idea of how running costs for an EV could pan out, I think the savings are greater with car's than bikes though, especially when your talking 100mpg fuel sipper's.

The purchase price, and depreciation at the age where battery packs are getting close to cactus is the real issue. Range in an EV car for me would 90% of the time never be a problem. For the people doing occasional longer journey's there:

1, Range extenders ( I dislike them due to the extra cost, and complication and that having an I.C engine defeats EV propulsion somewhat too)

2, The chances that councils and government schemes will bang in a lot more fast charge points in cities, towns, park and ride centres, and service stations etc.

3, Inductive through the road charging will be here soon on some new busy major roads.


Mauzo, I do see your point too, but I think (may be wrong?) that it's BCF mass mentality to say if your 24> you should be doing DAS on a big bike only or GTFO?

There's plenty of merit to getting all the tests out of the way so you can ride anything you like even if you don't need a machine that requires such a license. But the real issue here is that:

1, There's nothing inbetween these days, due to the ruined licensing system. Can you even do an A2 test at 24>?

2, They have forced old guys to take and pass tests on big bikes, when they might have say a 100cc and 1100cc bike, and spent 90% of the time on the little bike and have tens/hundreds of thousands of miles of experience on the roads.

My issue with doing DAS is firstly if OP can afford to, will he want a 125 fuel sipper after a 100bhp training and test bike?
And how much extra will he pay to do a course/training than doing an A1 license for the vehicle that suits his needs?

Oh and only live once/must have fireblade now?

I rode one over 10years ago, have never owned one though and I ride silly kids bikes. That must make me very dead inside I guess?

[KnightsFall]

[mauzo]

[ForestRunner]

[Rogerborg]

[stinkwheel]