Why I hate riding a moped, from a ped rider.

[JonB]

At 16 I am only allowed to ride a bike with a engine no bigger than 50cc. I thought when I got my bike it would be fine I could live with it, which I did for 3 or so months. It has now got to the point where I don't like my riding experience just because I haven't got near enough power to stay with the moving traffic.

I stay by the law and keep my bike restricted, on a straight flat piece of road I can stay at a steady 45MPH (on the speedo). I have made it up to 50...just.

Today I was riding on a very busy main road the A35 and it was the only choice I had on my ride I had planned, it has a lovely road surface and beautiful scenery all around. Everything was fine until I was holding up a line of probably about 50 cars and I had no where to pull in and let them pass. Now I know a lot of you will say 40MPH is good enough for someone of my age, but it is just frustrating, not only for me but for car drivers and people on bigger bikes likewise.

Once I get to a section of dual carriageway I think everything is fine until I get loads of beeps from people overtaking me with their middle fingers perched up facing me and generally angry faces. I can't help going slow I am not allowed to go any faster.

I want to get a bigger bike next year but this dirty attitude has already put me off riding and I just want to be able to ride a bike that keep up to at least 50MPH on any road.

Even with the glorious sun out today my ride was spitefully ruined by the bad attitudes of impatient and angry drivers. It really gets me down.

There is the possibility I could derestrict the bike, but what if I fell off, I wouldn't be covered by insurance. Anyway thats me said for today.
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[Ste]

[JonB]

Well as far as I am concered my bike is still restricted, thats how I got it, there is no way I can change how the manufacturer restricted my bike is there?
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[synaptyx]

I know how you feel. I started out on a 'ped two years ago and only left the town once. It was horrible. I moved up to a 125 scooter (X9 Evolution) and things improved, although it could only manage 40mph up a steep hill (I'm a big lad), but by then I had decided to do my DAS. Got my GSX600F a few weeks ago and haven't looked back! Hold out mate, you'll get there soon enough.

Doesn't help really, does it? Sorry!

[Davo]

I'd just have given them a cheery little wave as they went past.

I've always found that people (car drivers specifically) seem to drive like complete a***wholes when the sun comes out. I do see what you mean that it can spoil a nice ride out.

Just think in a couple of years time, who will be holding who up.

[JonB]

Thank you for your replies. It's just us ped riders get enough crap from people in general as it is, but I couldn't wait to get mobile at 16 and this is the ONLY way, I just feel really disappointed with my rideout by myself today, I usually really enjoy going through the countryside, but today I was left with no choice but to take a very busy road and now I am put off rifding a main road on my ped for quite a while.
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[badlydamaged]

I know what you mean mate, my ped at 16 would only do 37 ish MPH and as a result any journeys on main roads were very tedious. What I did and what I suggest to you is to find some nice country lanes, 40mph on those is quite exciting (I still oftern find myself bombing down then at 40 in favour of choosing the main roads, which my bike would keep up on with no problems). Other than that, you just have to wait to be honest, and I would think if your bike does 45mph then it is already derestricted. It's boring, its not quick but it's a means to an end when your 16, cheep to run and it is no doubt, teaching you the life skills needed in riding . Just keep telling yourslef, your next bike will be in a whole different league regarding performance and style .
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[JonB]

I know for a fact it is restricted because when I got my bike serviced last month I asked about it, the mechanic just said my speedo is quite a way out. He said it is definately restricted.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Spiral]

I here ya mate the majority of car drivers only show respect because if they hit you or knock you of they'll get star f****d by the cops their insurance company and so on i have seen cars overtaking 50's in the same lane not all drivers are like this some are decent.

I see plenty of young fella's on 50cc's on the larne line which is 60mph i would mostly sit behind them taking up the right side of the lane with them on the left were they normally sit, it's a kinda staggered formation and with the traffic going both ways over taking is a no no for cars so it pisses car owners of big time

If your on a 50 cc you are not required to gutter ride so if a car is tail gateing you i suggest you follow the proper procedure "By lifting your left hand and extending your middle finger to the rear"
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[JonB]

[wisebeuy]

Yeah, its tough at the moment, had an Aprilia AF150cc when i was 16, but that would pull 65mph easy, so wasn't really a problem. It won't be long till ur 17, then u can do ur test and get a bigger bike and really burn some rubber. Don't let this put u off biking, when u get of ur ped and onto a bigger bike, not only will people stop dissing u, they will show u respect.

[JonB]

It hasn't put me off biking, just making the time til I get a bigger bike drag even slower.

Prior to the Main road, I was chatting to a guy on a Triumph and as he went off he pulled a lovely wheelie and it sounded brilliant, thats what makes me so excited to get a new bike!
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Lee_367]

[Spiral]

[1cyl]

It is harsh isn't it. the system sort of works though, it does mean you can get used to the roads before you get out on something quicker, but 30mph is stupid, i know 16 is considered a "mental age group" but it ain't that bad.

If i ran the road system, i'd say 100cc instead of 50, thats only a bit quicker, but still not crazy quick. obviously it makes problems in terms of availability as 100cc bikes are a bit rarer, but i think the whole country might work a bit quicker and more efficiently if they did away with 1/20th of a litre bikes.

Just my opinion.
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[JonB]

Another problem with the restriction is if you get caught up behind a slower moving tractor and there is practically no way of overtaking as there is next to nothing in terms of acceleration and it takes an age to overtake, so I don't bother with the hassle in that respect.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Lee_367]

Simply, restricted 50cc's are dangerous (got told that by a police biker) they do not have the power to pull out of junctions and out of trouble quickly enough.

Just look on the continent, they are allowed 50cc's from the age of 14, and 125's at the age of 16 (at least i think they are)

Why can't we?
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[Reevo8]

when i had my speedfight(well i still have it in the garage unsold!) I had a few troubles on busy roads, and was pissed off at falling into the scooter boy category for no reason. But it manage to keep up with most traffic with the route i used too take to work! i now have a 125 which seems just as bad! However when i got back on the scooter for a quick razz around i realised just how unsafe these things are!!

[shorty]

Wouldn't worry about holding up people on bigger bikes, they'll just think that it's the car drivers being dumb for not going past, it also gives us a nice empty stretch of road when we get to the front of the queue . And remember when you're getting crap off other drivers that you have as much right to be on the road as them - don't let it affect your riding.

[mrchips]

When I had the MT50 which topped to about 37 I had the same problem. Most roads I took to work were 60mph but I always kept well in and just looked forward to getting the 125. Now I'm quickest away from the lights, quickest round the roundabouts, quickest at the traffic jams.... the perks are brilliant. Don't give up mate, a 125 will feel like a 600 when you first get it.

[JonB]

The stuff you guys are telling me is a lot of the same the CBT instructor told me, I try to assert myself on the road, it's just hard when a car more than 4 times the size of you is ganging up behind you.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Maybe they will sort the system out and we will go with most of the rest of Europe (mopeds for 14~15 year olds, 125s for 16~17 year olds, 18+ you can do your test).

All the best

Keith
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[JonB]

I can only hope for the younger people than me. Riding a moped at 16 isn't fun...at all.
____________________
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Frost]

I get it on my 125. I pull away from a roundabout and have people 2 inches fromt he back of me who normally overake within 30 meters of leaving the roundabout just because they are not happy with me not thrashing the crap out of my old bike just so they can get to 40mph a second quicker.

L plates are often like a red rag to a bull, they just encourage people to overtake you, and make them assume 30 is your top speed and that they should overtake you, despite the fact your doing 30 because thats the speed limit!

[badlydamaged]