scooters from a safety point of view

[tartantaz]

hi all

Ive been reading the messages in the topic about chavs on scooters.

Now at the risk of upsetting people Id like to voice my thoughts on scooters. Feel free to correct me if Im wrong.

Are scooters not just a little slow to be safe on the roads these days? Ive grown up in the 80s Ive always been into bikes but for me the scooter is just like a hairdryer on wheels. Of course by the same token I should be including the 50cc bikes. Im not so sure a 125cc is much better, but I think is a little bit better.

Now I understand the the reasons why scooters are popular with teenagers unable to get a bigger bike. I would also like to point out Im not having a go at anyone who rides them. I just question the safety of something that does not have enough power to get the rider out of trouble. Particularly if its the lack of power that gets them into trouble in the first place.

What does everyone else think?

Taz

[The#Doctor#]

Well the little chavs on scooters are bad but if you ask me the little piaggio ones in central london are crazy they undertake cars just before left hand turns, saw one yesterday go up the inside of a 20 wheeler on a left hand bend granted the truck was only going 5-10 mph but something that big , the guy didnt have the power to quickly shift and only made the gap my inches
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[Whosthedaddy]

Scooters allow young uns to become indpendant and mobile at 16, a whole year before they can borrow mummy and daddies car, so as a teenager that must be cool.

However, they must be underpowered, or top speed limited to protect everyone ese on the ride, but its like most things, its ruined by the twats that ride them
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[akaDAVE]

I wouldn't feel safe on one.
The one comforting thing on a bike is that I have enough power to get away from cars and control my position on the road.

I sometimes think the mopeds that are aggressive are safer. I've seen a lot that are riding like a bicycle1ft from the curb just waiting to get clipped, or hit the white line/debris and end up under a car.
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[divuk83]

[Kirmit]

Mopeds with a top speed under 40 should be banned....

My reasoning, I cringe when I see a kid on a moped doing 30 in the gutter because a cager is trying to read the kite mark on the back of his/her helmet.

We all should ride in the centre of the lane, but so many cars around that you get to feel unsafe, thus move over to the left.

While not exactly the same, I felt similar irritation on dual carriageways when I used to ride my 125.
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[Whosthedaddy]

Road positioning is something that they teach on a CBT (something ALL riders MUST have?)

By riding down the centre of your lane, even in heavy traffic with cars parked in both directions, I managed to make buses stop and wait for me on a little yamaha 125, if you move to the left, they see it as a sign for them to come (forcing you over even further)

Stand your ground
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[Aikman666]

I must say, the restricted to 32mph thing is absoulte gash. I mean....just because you are a year older (and might not necessarily have that years experience at 16) you get to drive a bigger bike? EH?! I think they should do away with the restriction law for 50cc's, as fast as they can physically go is thier restriction. I mean what the hell are you meant to do on a 50mph limit road on something that can only do up to 32mph? I think it causes more problems than what it solves.

Although i havent yet been out on the road, i feel completely comfortable with the speed i can do, if the rider is competant enough im sure he could stay safe even at the severely reduced speed.
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[Kickstart]

Hi

Can see why they are restricted on top speed, but think the restriction is too strict. Limiting a vehicle to 30mph round town seems like a strange idea with the number of 40mph limits. And doing 10mph under the speed limit is hardly likely to make it easy for a novice to avoid being bullied. A 45mph restriction would make more sense if we must have one.

125s are a hell of a lot quicker than 50s. Plenty of cars have lower top speeds (and far worse acceleration) than a full power 125, and even a restricted 125 should be happily able to keep ahead of most cars up to 50~60mph.

All the best

Keith
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[Keen]

[Jack_Cheese]

Restricted 50s are dangerous, very dangerous. You can't keep up with traffic no matter what the limit, and on dual carriageways, they're simply suicidal.

By the same token as the lack of power, how many people crash each year due to too much power? I've just bought a 125, and have so far only had a quick spin, but the power is double what my scooter manages, and it feels VERY alien to me.

There has to be a balance on the restriction, but 3.6 hp and 30 mph is putting people's health at risk.

Jack
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[vincecssd]

Having ridden a 50cc scooter/moped I would agree that they dont have the power to get out of any trouble in a hurry, but then if ridden safely then this wouldnt be a problem. But obviously most 16 year olds wouldnt necessarily ride safely.

125cc scooters are a completely different issue as the one I had was much faster than the SR125 I learnt on to take my full licence. It just comes down to the rider really, most Scooter riders havent taken any training other than a CBT (or none at all if on a moped) where as most geared 125 riders would be more serious about taking their test and getting a full licence.

[GearboxGeezer]

I ride a de-restriced geared 50cc, and I still feel more in danger than say riding a 125 because there simply isnt anything when you twist the throttle. my bike gets up to just over 60mph but I cant stay there for long or ill blow it up so I can cruise at about 50mph which is alright, but when im in traffic and im in some1s blind spot I simply cant accelerate to show them im there, I have to either slow down and piss the idiot behind me tailgateing me, or risk the driver turning in on me.

And Ive also noticed that the few of my m8s who have there scooters still restricted have had bigger accidents than the guys who run them de-restricted because the restricted scooters usally get involed in crashes from contact of cars

[tartantaz]

My point is though, is it possible to ride something that slow safely.

How many of us have been in a car stuck behind a cyclist or a tractor and cursed them under our breath. I personally have just stayed at the back of these vehicles crawling along until I can pass them safely. But as we bikers have found out, not every vehicle driver/rider is as curteous.

I take it most have seen the signs that say be a curteous driver, frustration kills?

So my question still remains can it really be possible to be safe on a vehicle so slow?

Taz

[Kickstart]

[stinkwheel]

And yet I presume most people are happy with the concept of people going at 15mph on a push bike? There isn't that much difference, just you don't have to pedal.

The problem I have with scooters is that the wheels are too small and they don't have footpegs. Seriously compromises your control and stability in my oppinion.

I used to ride a pedal and go moped round Edinburgh and never felt particularly intimidated, although I do despair when you see kids riding them in gutters with a bus forcing its way past. In my oppinion, the police should be stopping the drivers who do this for a strict word about consideration for other road users and perhaps the odd fine. Even an advertising campaign might be helpful. The 'give cyclists plenty of room' one seems to have been reasonably effective (well, I remember it and it was shown absolutely YEARS ago)
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[xploitation]

there are loads of 40 and 50 limits where i live nd its not good riding at 30 when you got sum c*nt in a 1.2 nova right on ure ass, hes either waitin for the car cumin the other way to go past or for me to lose concentration due him bein a twat and crash.

all so he can get to the kabab shop or footy ground 5 mins eirlier...either that or the ditch up the road

but nah i dnt feel safe at 30!!
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[palmer]

most cleaver people de-restrict their bikes, and are able to keep up with most traffic.

i personally dont see anything wrong with adding a little bit of oomf to the dangerously slow peds.

[tartantaz]

[SHROPSHIRECRU...]

i have a scooter at the min,,, an yea i agree they r death traps,,, they hav no power whatso ever,, granted mine is now de-restricted so duz 60mph,,but still not got enuf power 2 get outa the way of n e thin, an im not a litle chav hoo rides 1, i use it as its my onli form of transport till i pass my test,

[veeeffarr]

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

[SHROPSHIRECRU...]

we r havin a few problems with th home page,,

try www.shropshirecruise.co.uk/forum

[king756]

I had a ts50 geared bike at 15. Often used to struggle up woodhead pass / snake pass at 10/15mph.

Yes they are dangerous, I had drivers right on top of me, performing dangerous overtakes, wagon drivers shouting abuse and trying to run me off the road, and tailbacks. This is with pulling in whenever possible to let people past.

125's are ok. The ones I have been on eaisly managed to keep up with the flow of traffic on dual carrigways / nsl roads. CBT train people to dominate there road position but on a 50cc riding as you should creates problems with other road useres if your riding in anything other than city traffic.

[spitfire]

When I was a young lad my farther sat me down and said, "son I expect when you are 16 you will want a bike, what ever you do don't get a scooter, they are unstable because you are sat in them and not over them"

These were words that stuck with me, my farther not only being and engineer was also a very advanced driver, so unlike most of the advice given as a teenager, this I took on board.

Once I did try a scooter and it was very un-nerving I must admit, the sensation was not unlike pushing a wheelbarrow that is overloaded with bricks!

I also rode a C90 which seems to be nether scooter or bike, that was a bit better but still no cigar. However most scooters are not powerful enough to get you into real bother...I guess, but I do wonder about the stability of these 125, 250 and larger scooters you get these days ?

cheers