Moped/scooter

koneguitarist

My 8 mile each way commute is starting to be a real pain with heavy traffic, lack of parking etc, so thinking of buying a moped or scooter.
Only ridden push bikes before, not interested in speed just economy and reliability.
Any advice on what to get, a 50cc big enough or do I need a 125cc ?

Sambostar

You could...cycle that dude.

koneguitarist

Have done but it's dual carriageway and some bloody steep hills.

exocet

Many years ago I rode a 125cc scooter into London for my daily commute. I wouldn't want to mix it with busy traffic on anything smaller.

octatonic

A full sized motor bike is more stable, easier to ride and cheaper (or at least no more expensive).

Get a CG125 or a YBR125.

EricTheWeary

50cc with a large person hardly moves. There are some in-between ones like the Yamaha D'elight which is 115cc.

jellyroll

I used to commute on a 50 cc. It was fine for 30 mph but on a dual carriageway it couldnt keep up with traffic and was consequently quite scarry. I would recommend a 125 for those roads.

Steffo

50cc on a dual carriageway is dangerous. Far too slow, you are a moving chicane and a lorry overtaking can be interesting to say the least, particularly on a rainy day.

octatonic

TBH I didn't really like riding a 125 on a dual carriageway.

All the weight is up top (i.e. YOU) and in high wind and rain you wobble around like crazy.

strumjoughlamps

When did you pass your car lics.. ? You might find you can jump straight on a 50cc whereas a CBT will be needed for a 125cc.

50cc although not ideal on a 60mph road but it's only 8 miles and still better than being on a pushbike.

Sambostar

What yon need is a leotard bossman.  Streamlining

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILWSp0m9G2U

vasselmeyer

Small moped on that kind of road is a deathtrap. We'll be holding a memorial gig for you in 6 months time.

strumjoughlamps

vasselmeyer;1098772" said:

Small moped on that kind of road is a deathtrap. We'll be holding a memorial gig for you in 6 months time.

What a stupid thing to say... Seriously fking stupid

IvisonGuitars

A 50cc wouldn't pull a greasy man out of bed.

A good commuter scooter would be a Vespa PX. Modern functionality with classic scooter looks, very reliable and economical too. 

I should get off my arse and do my bike test. I rode my Lambretta to and from work for a couple of summers until I let my CBT lapse. Was great fun.

Sambostar

Cannot compiute..cannot compiute..errrrrr.....brain boil.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXpNrMAm_XM

boogieman

A 125 would be best, 50cc are too underpowered for fast roads as they don't go much above 30mph so you cant accelerate out of trouble.

I had a Gilera Runner 125VX four stroke for a couple of years and it was perfect for commuting. Very comfortable, quite nippy and dead easy to ride. It's a twist and go scooter, so no clutch or gears to worry about. They did four stroke or two stroke versions back then, no idea what's on offer now though. The two strokes are slightly quicker on acceleration, if that matters to you, but then you have to buy two stroke oil as well as petrol. They both do about 70mph flat out and get about 80-90 mpg depending if you thrash it away from the lights or not.

Bridgehouse

If you are going to commute all year round then make sure you have cash for good quality kit. It can make the difference between pleasant and thoroughly horrific.

I hate to think how much I have spent on bike kit over the years. Way way more than guitars.

Phil_aka_Pip

Honda CB125

ohc single

reliable, decent performance

Phil_aka_Pip

scooter = NO

small bike = yes

TheBigDipper

strumjoughlamps said:

When did you pass your car lics.. ? You might find you can jump straight on a 50cc whereas a CBT will be needed for a 125cc.

50cc although not ideal on a 60mph road but it's only 8 miles and still better than being on a pushbike.

Just a warning. If it's on the licence, you'll be entitled to ride a 50cc that is restricted to 50Kph top speed (31mph). Any faster (if you derestrict it, or someone did before you bought it) then you're legally riding a motorcycle rather than a moped, which needs the CBT (otherwise you're riding a machine you don't have a licence for) and your insurance probably isn't valid either. Unrestricted 50cc scooters can probably scrape up to 40-45mph if you're small enough. 

I used to run a motorcycle school in East London. I don't think we ever found anyone who wasn't safer and happier after taking a CBT course even if their car licence entitled them to ride a restricted 50cc moped without taking the training. It's not something I'd recommend skipping. 

Take the CBT and get a 125cc - scooter or geared bike (although my personal preference for a commuter machine would be for an automatic scooter). 

koneguitarist

Cheers all some good advice, not sure what songs needed for memorial yet though