geared or twist n go?

[Lengman21]

Hi all,

Recently completed my CBT on a twist and go moped as I was struggling with the gearing but that's probably because I've never rode a bike in my a life.

However I've passed now and really want to get a bike, I've wanted a moped for years haha probably the repressed child within me coming out but I'm trying to decide whether to get a geared 125 or a twist n go 125.

I'm literally getting a bike for a bit of fun on the weekends and for nice days as I use my car to commute across the country weekly.

Would it be a stupid idea for a 22 year old, 6ft3 male to get a 125 scooter and have a laugh? Or shall I just stop caring what people think too much?


Thanks!

[pepperami]

[M.C]

The coordination needed to ride a geared bike can be difficult at first (you're doing something different with each limb). It will come to you, normally you just need a morning in a quiet car park or something.

Honestly geared 125's are a lot of work, if you're not changing gear you're thinking about going for another gear As above if you think you'll want a big(ger) bike in future then it'll be good practice, but if you'll only want a 125, or to stay on lower cc machines (there are some good 250/300cc scoots) then a scooter might be best.

No ones gonna judge you

[Lengman21]

Haha well that's what I was planning on doing just taking a geared 125 into a quiet car park opposite my house and having a blast, as I do know how to ride geared it's just lack of experience.

A scooter would be so much fun too!

Haha I want both

[barrkel]

[Rogerborg]

I'm minded to agree that a 125 scooter makes as much or more sense than a geared bike. You really are constantly banging it up and down the box trying to find an idea gear that probably isn't there. Unless you actively enjoy that, you might as well let the CVT work it out.

There are some decent sized 125 scooters out there that you won't engulf. If it's just for larking around on, sure, why not?
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Lengman21]

[Rogerborg]

Any Japanese branded scooter that you fancy, although condition will be critical on a used one as I'd imagine many scooter owners think maintenance means putting fuel in it.

If it were me, I'd probably go for a low mileage Honda PCX as there are plenty around at reasonable prices. If you want something a bit plusher there's the Honda Silverwing or Suzuki Burgman 125.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[barrkel]

[talkToTheHat]

I had trouble with my clutch control wheni did my cbt. I persisted and itnwas worth it. Are you looking to eventually get something bigger than a 125? If so you'll have less licence hastle if you get your head around gears. If you've got some country roads nearby, a geared 125 will be really engaging and fun to thrash the hell out of. A scooter is less hastle in traffic and an underseat bucket big enough for a helmet is really handy. The engine and transmission moving with the swingarm means the handling is compromised, particularly on bumpy roads.
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Bandit. does. everything.

[Piercee100]

When I did my CBT, my first bike was a Honda H100 100cc 2t. Yes you are wobbly at first and the gears do require work, but it can be so rewarding. 68mph has never been so fun! The advantage of the 2t was that the engine always sounded so sweet when compared with a modern 125 4t engine which tend to sound thrashy and not pleasant at higher revs / speeds.

I borrowed my wife's 125cc scooter a few times. Different experience but still enjoyable. I found ground clearance an issue though as you tend to take corners differently from a motorcycle and scooter. Great for getting about on and better storage options. Found it better for popping into town for a bit of shopping.
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Rides: Honda H100a (Retired), VT500e (Sold), Kawasaki ZX400 (sold), Kawasaki GT550 (Sold), Suzuki Inazuma (Daily), Honda CD185t (Broken), LML Star 2t (Last run edition).

[Val]

[Lengman21]

[someotherguy]

[stevo as b4]

A sensible touring scooter makes some sense if your in a city most of the time, and commuting or doing lots of short on off journeys.

But a geared bike has far more choices and styles of machine, and most have a better spec and are faster.

I'd avoid things like a tuned Gilera runner 125 or similar, as you feel like you have to rag them everywhere, pop up the front wheel, and behave like an anti social twat too. I'd get banned with a machine like that I reckon, it's almost mandatory to be a pedboi twat. Add to that such a machine will get nicked by scrotes the first time you leave it in town.

[Lord Percy]

Get a scooter.

So much potential.

[stevo as b4]

Fuck me that Vespa has to be 30bhp+, pulls bloody well indeed!

You won't get power anything like that without either a bike engine or a bike cylinder conversion on a modified bottom end.

[Shaft]

Knowing what I know now, if I was stuck with a 125, I'm not sure I could be arsed with anything other than a scooter.

We've got a Piaggio B125 as a work hack and I took it from one side of London to the other and back last week, where it did everything I wanted it to do, I didn't miss gearboxes and clutches once.

It outdrags cars away from lights, it's light and nimble through traffic, it did 70mph up the A41 and I sat on it for three hours without feeling like I needed to stop and stretch my legs.

The only value I can see in getting a 'proper' bike, is it sets you up for when you want something bigger, but I would get a scoot for 18 months, then swap it for a manual box nearer the time you're planning on moving up; that way, all the roadcraft stuff will be second nature, so you can concentrate on learning how to change gear.

Oh, and if you get a scoot, find one with the biggest diameter wheels you can, the tiny things they put on most of them don't like potholes and they aren't very good at holding a line through fast sweepers.
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Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[Commuter_Tim]

[Lengman21]

Well I bought a 2012 Vespa S 125 and couldn't love it more!

So much fun had 60 out of it with ease today and it's totally stock.

2500 miles

Can't wait for a bit of sunshine tomorrow (fingers crossed) to go take it on a big ride out.

Some light hearted fun for the summer at least and to get me into biking!

[andyscooter]

was going to confuse you more and suggest a geared scooter

the vespa will do you well
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[Tamsin]

If its for larking about on get something with gears. Twist and go is stupidly boring...