Slow mopeds, just too dangerous!

[Clutchy]

I use my 50cc moped every day, it can handle around 43mph on a straight, up a slight incline 32-35mph. (According to the clock) Due to this one breaking im now using another moped for the time being, it does around 33 on a straight and 25 up a relatively small incline, since riding this slower one for the past 2 days ive been close to being side swiped or rammed off the road by cars and trucks. Cars 90% of the time don't do a full over take when your on a small moped and just decide to half go on the other lane and half in my lane! One car did the most risky over take and in doing so nearly pushed me into a ditch to avoid a head on crash!

All i'm saying is that when i had the ability to go 40-45 I never had one close call over the 7 months ive been riding, when going 32mph (the legal speed for mopeds) ive had more than 7 close calls and 1 shit your pants moment in 2 days! Does anyone else think this is just dangerously slow for mopeds to go considering they are allowed on roads that have speed limits up to 60mph. When I had 45 mph in my arsenal I didn't go 45 mph every where I went, I, like other motorists felt the need to abide by speed limits. Anyone else agree?
____________________
Malaguti F12 Phantom-Dead, Suzuki AY50- Dead, NRG power DD LQ, CBR125.
*33 BHP restriction up on 10/12/14* Current bikes/car: SV 650 S/ MKIV GOLF
Guide to pass your test with no lessons!

[Paulington]

Unfortunately, the vast majority of 16 year olds who get a 50cc moped do it's top speed EVERYWHERE, even if you don't.

You were committing an offence by riding that moped at 45mph or anything above 31mph if you are sixteen as sixteen year olds can only ride mopeds of 50cc or less with a design speed of no more than 31mph.

Yes, I totally agree with you, the current speed restriction of 50cc mopeds is silly, it's too slow and is very dangerous and this is why almost all 16 year olds circumvent it. Unfortunately there are no plans that I know of to change it, even including the 3rd DLD coming in next year.

Just put up with it, it's only until you're 17 then you can ride a 125cc which is much better and you can pass your test which is MUCH better. It's not long. Just plod on and look forward to the next stage. .

When you pass your test you'll look back on 16 year olds and feel sorry for them too, but you'll have funny memories of it too. !
____________________
"Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul."
Current Vehicles: '89 Kawasaki KDX200, '99 Yamaha XV535, '00 Honda ST1100 Pan-European, '08 Suzuki GSX-R1000, '08 Mitsubishi Lancer GS4 2.0 TDCi, '15 BMW 1 Series 116d Sport Turbo.
CBT: 27/08/08. Theory: 04/09/09. Module 1: 16/09/09. Module 2: 01/10/09.

[Clutchy]

I mean its better than walking but they have reduced new mopeds down to 28 mph I honestly think its mad. Ohwell, not too long until 125 time, get used to the gears and on with the test :p Then I can feel sorry for all the 16 year olds. However i'd want to see the minister of transport or who ever does the legislation for speed limits to ride a moped and see how he/she feels!
____________________
Malaguti F12 Phantom-Dead, Suzuki AY50- Dead, NRG power DD LQ, CBR125.
*33 BHP restriction up on 10/12/14* Current bikes/car: SV 650 S/ MKIV GOLF
Guide to pass your test with no lessons!

[Ericck]

Yep a sixteen year old with no road experience on a hair dryer that has no power to get the rider out of trouble.

Still most of us did it and lived to tell the tale.
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Current Bike: 2004 Suzuki Bandit 600S
Previous Bikes: Yamaha FS1E, Mobylette Moped Thingy, Suzuki GS125, Kawasaki Zephyr 550, Kawasaki Zephyr 750, Kawasaki ER500, Suzuki Bandit 600, Honda CBR600F, Triumph Street Triple 675, Suzuki V Strom 650, Suzuki Bandit 1200, Suzuki SV650N, Honda CB500F.

[Mikey3]

I think perhaps considering they're only restricting riding on motorways, perhaps they should consider making further restrictions. Obviously they'll claim that the 31mph limit is 'safety' related or whatever, but ironically it's also producing a hazard on roads of 40+.

IMO they should up the speed to 50 or something, to at least help with traffic flow, or further restrict the roads 16 year olds can ride on (which could be extremely inconvenient and impractical)

Mike
____________________
'04 Yamaha WR450F
'99 SV650 Streetfighter Project - mid build
'Motorcycling is about what you do; not about what you own, or how much you spend on it'

[Clutchy]

I feel sorry for the long string of traffic behind me haha, however on very long stretches of 60mph roads i do pull over and let traffic past, but this is a big inconvenience .
____________________
Malaguti F12 Phantom-Dead, Suzuki AY50- Dead, NRG power DD LQ, CBR125.
*33 BHP restriction up on 10/12/14* Current bikes/car: SV 650 S/ MKIV GOLF
Guide to pass your test with no lessons!

[Alex_B]

Just another stupid made up rule. Don't let em ride until 17-18 and let em have a 125.

Jobs a good un.
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My Lane Position is always AWESOME!!

[Paulington]

[Mikey3]

Or - give 16 year olds mobility scooters, so the couch comfort can slowly be eased into travel, and they're on the pavement and thus in no-ones way, then at 17, get a 125

Mike
____________________
'04 Yamaha WR450F
'99 SV650 Streetfighter Project - mid build
'Motorcycling is about what you do; not about what you own, or how much you spend on it'

[Llama-Farmer]

I deliberately ride quite a fair bit right-of-centre in order to discourage cars from overtaking me when on the moped. If you stick to left-of-centre then you're giving cars 2/3s of the lane to use if they choose to overtake, that can mean they squeeze you into the gutter if they try to overtake when theres oncoming traffic, giving you no room to avoid hazards and reducing your visibility to other road users.

If they want to overtake me, they'll have to fully cross into the other lane so they'll have to wait until it's clear. Saying that, they'll also have to speed, because I don't use anything less than the full beans its got, which is around 25 up most hills and 30 on the flat and downhill. Very rare that cars will bother to overtake, often because I'm holding my own and keeping up with anything else in front for the most part.

That way I give myself a whole lane to use, and can therefore avoid potholes and slippery drain covers as necessary, rather than having very little room alongside a car to avoid hazards.

[stinkwheel]

Learn to ride.

If people are forcing you into ther gutter, YOU are doing it wrong. NOBODY forces me into the gutter and my last moped had pedals and a shopping basket. Defensive driving like you were taught on your CBT. He who rides in the gutter, dies in the gutter.

My current motorbike does about 50mph and drops to 40mph up steep hills. I ride it on motorways and not a single fuck is given.

Man up, stop whinging and ride the fucking thing. If you can't cope, sell it to someones 16 year old daughter who will appreciate the ability to ride into town to buy some new shoes and take the bus.
____________________
“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.

[Im-a-Ridah]

I wouldn't much fancy going on a motorway on a 50cc moped. Actually, I wouldn't even do it on a 125 with the exception of something like a full power RS125. Fair enough if you feel comfortable though

[Ayrton]

Like other people have said, 16 year olds ride at the top speed everywhere on a moped. At the moment they can only go around 30mph, but if it was raised to say 50 then i would have thought that you would see much more 16 year olds crashing because they have no road sence or common sence not to go the top speed wherever they feel like it.

personally i think mopeds are completely pointless out of a city anyway. Their far too slow to keep up with nsl roads and most people ride them in the gutter.

Personally i wouldnt trust any 16 year old that i know with a moped that could go 50+mph. They all ride like idiots.
If you want to have a bike then wait til your 17 and get a 125 and just stick with public transport for a year. Would save money too....

[Llama-Farmer]

[Clutchy]

No, your'e not quite getting what i mean, i ride in the middle position, its when cars try to overtake poorly they go so close i NEED to move, I wasn't complaining as such, I love riding even if it is just a 50cc I was just stating a higher topspeed like the one I had prior was more safe and that it should be universal. However I agree, just need to get on with it, not long till im 17 anyway.
____________________
Malaguti F12 Phantom-Dead, Suzuki AY50- Dead, NRG power DD LQ, CBR125.
*33 BHP restriction up on 10/12/14* Current bikes/car: SV 650 S/ MKIV GOLF
Guide to pass your test with no lessons!

[ninja_butler]

[chris-red]

If I ever have kids and they want to get a bike, they will be banned till they are old enough for at least a 125, I agree 50's are dangerous.
____________________
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.

[Cheeseybeaner]

Surely no more dangerous than riding a bicycle and arguable safer as you can keep a constant speed more easily?
My Simson S51 'Comfort' was supposedly a learner legal moped but would pull 40ish in fair weather, yes you could tell you were holding people up on it but it didn't put me off using it.
Think the OP needs to work on his positioning, if a driver thinks your road positioning is 'negotiable' he'll happily take advantage and push you towards the gutter. Keeping a steady safe line is best and don't be intimidated. You should be in the centre of the lane on a motorbike and all that space on either side of you is rightfully yours.
I won't ride in the gutter even when I'm cycling. Let them wait until they've got space enough to overtake you.

[mistergixer]

[Rogerborg]

[Kris]

[bLiXeY]

Having a 50 and only riding it since October, I've had a fair few near misses from cars cutting me up. Learning to 'own' my road-space has definitely helped, (and tweaking my 50 has helped a great deal too), if anyone wants to overtake me now they can take on some oncoming traffic.

I have over 20 years of driving experience though, so I feel for teenagers tackling the task of not getting squashed on a 50cc on 40/50 mph roads.

And wtf is it with range rover drivers?? I'd love to RPG some of the twats (metaphorically speaking of course, I don't own any anti-tank weapons, unfortunately).

Just a couple of points on some people's argument that a moped should not be allowed to travel at 40-50mph on the grounds that, "kids will travel at that speed everywhere and therefore it will be dangerous".

1. The problem with this position is that it is stating that, "I think it's ok that a lorry can kill a 50cc rider on a 40 mph road, but I don't think it's ok for that rider to take the risk of killing THEMSELVES at 40 mph". I see no logic in this argument that being killed is fine, but avoiding this danger by adding the possibility of killing yourself by riding 10mph quicker is out of the question!

2. Not all people who ride 50's are teenagers.

[snikks]

[G]

[JoeDougieDoug...]