To anyone who rides a moped or motorbike...?

Question

I'm thinking of getting a moped and I'm just wondering what it is like to be on the road.. do you feel nervous of the traffic, or do you feel safe? I've never driven anything before (I'm 23 - never quite got round to driving tests!) and I'm a bit nervous!

xx Emmie

Answer 1

When you're young and stupid no you're not, as you get older though and realise how much life is worth you get nervous. I've never ridden either but have cycled a lot on main roads, and dual carriageways.

Answer 2

I have a vespa, and it's perfectly fine on the road with traffic.  I have found that I am more aware of traffic, and my surroundings when I am on my scooter than when I am in my car.  

It's kind of hard to feel completely safe when every other vehicle on the road is much bigger than you are.  The best thing to do is get your normal driving routes down, and stick to them.  The more you drive them, the more comfortable you'll be.

Always wear a helmet.

Answer 3

In most states, you will still need a license to ride a moped and, probably, a motorcycle endorsement, as well.

My first wife's first license was a California motorcycle license.  She didn't drive a car until about a year later.

Answer 4

riding in traffic can be scary and stressful to say the least and you get use to it very quickly ,but when you ride into a canyon or thru the mountains with no traffic and just miles of curves ahead to open the bike up and enjoy the ride it is an awesome feeling ,if your serious about rideing take a motorcycle safety course and always wear your safety gear that means blue jeans or rideing pants ,gloves,,jacket or long-sleeved shirt , boots that cover the ankle, and always wear a helmet never know when you might go down on it .

I ride daily and went down in the canyon back in Augest walked away with a fractured ankle after having the bike high-side and come down an top of me in a corner ,didn't get any road rash do to the fact I was wearing all the saftey gear ! not much you can do about the impact you sustain when you lay it down just try and relax like a rag doll ,if you stiffen up you'll have worst injurys

I ride a H-D sportster

Answer 5

mopeds are slow, and have modest brakes.  if you keep to the side of the road to let the cars past, they will not give you any room to dodge potholes, and will knock you off your bike without caring.  Mopeds have short wheelbases, which makes them turn very quickly with a small amount of lean.  In bumpy corners, this can make the bike chop around, and throw you off.  They usually have small wheels, and thus don't handle bumps/potholes well, and are thus somewhat dangerous.  mopeds are not allowed on freeways?  something a little larger is my recommendation for a beginner.

Answer 6

As long as you don't get one with pedals as I remember nearly breaking my foot which jammed under one when I was going uphill

Answer 7

i ride a motorbike - i see many moped riders wearing normal clothes and girls wearing skirts on mopeds. Please get protective clothing, and always wear it. That way you will be as safe as you can. If you come off the injuries will be horrific if you are not protected.

Buy the newest moped you can, although I would recommend a small bike like a 500cc instead. See so many idiots on mopeds (and bikes, and cars) but especially mopeds. Do more than a CBT - the B is for Basic. You need some more training especially if you ride in a busy city. Good luck, and be safe.

Answer 8

My son got a moped when he was 16.  He said it felt like a bike.  he really loved it.  he put on 3000 mi on it in a month, just riding country roads all day long.(he went to town to town to visit his friends)

Answer 9

I drive a moped, but I live in Cyprus so its a bit different, but I love it, and wou;d love a big bike someday soon.

I dont feel nervous but you do have to be careful of other drivers not seeing u so I supose in Uk u should wear something colourful so u can be seen.

Go for it and good luck im sure u will be just fine

Answer 10

it used to be fun years ago

too much traffic now

too many deaths also

buy a cheap car

Answer 11

I feel safe.

However, I also make good use of the motorcyclist's paranioa: "everyone is out to get you".

I used to, and now will not, ride a moped.

Things have gotten worse over the years.

Drivers do not have the respect for other vehicles they used to. Even thought the law still requires them to give it, they don't.

The maximum speed of a moped is restricted to 35 mph on a level surface. I live in an area where we have higher speed limits, 40 and 50 mph. While a moped would still be legal on these roads, it would also be dangerous.

Answer 12

The last story I read about mopeds went like this.................

Three weeks in intensive care.

Eleven weeks at Rehabilitation Hospital.

More than $300,000 in outstanding medical bills.

Nine separate prescriptions for drugs to treat complications from the brain injury.

Three hours a day spent on stretching and exercising muscles.

Answer 13

you feel fairly safe, it all depends on how you drive.

i have had 2 mopeds, if you want to just go locally i recommend the piaggio nrg power dt or dd models, shop around especially ebay. de restricted they go between 45 and 55 mph, with sports exhaust.

but for longer journeys, I'd recommend a car, cheap end scooters and motorcycles can be bloody uncomfortable.

for practicality stick to scooters and get a op box as well.

you will need to do a cbt this should cost £75 ish

insurance is cheap anyway for me its £160 for the year and I'm 18 thats through mce - just visit their website.

tax is £15.

you should be sound with a piaggio nrg power.

its a bit sporty, built well, not like the peugeots!!!

not too badly priced. and is by far the most stable 50cc scooter out there. my last bike was a peugeot and that was c**p.

any questions just email me, im your guy too talk too

cheers

ignore the guy above me, de  - restricted scooters are fine i always drive in the centre of my lane and cars leave me plenty of room when they overtake which is only on dual carriageways.

they do not throw you off, i was once doing 35mph slammed the front brake, due to guy in front, and the back end went upand back down, i did not get thrown off!!! my bike does 0-10 in around 2 secs, 10 - 20 in about 4 secs, 20 -30 in about 4 secs 30 - 40 in about 4/5 secs, and 40 - 50 in 7 secs.

thats good going for a 50cc aircooled machine with just a derestriction and a piaggio sport series nrg dd exhaust!

it has power as well, manage any hill climb!

for got to mention its also supercharged as standard to the manufacturers specification!

Answer 14

what is the moped,  sorry for this stupid question, i am from Chinese/usually we rides bicycles in past, now more and more people are driving cars or motorbikes. traffic almost is jammed.

Answer 15

Get as much training as you can to build your confidence.

It can be scary but it is good fun too

Answer 16

From my personal motorbiking experiences I would not allow any of my kids to ride mopeds in the day and age.  I rode small bikes from 125cc up to big 750cc ones. The smaller the bike the more vulnerable you are.  There is not enough power to get you out of trouble,  road sense (as your speed stops you riding in the middle of the road) deems you ride on the left side near the gutter/pavement some times too near if there are drain covers etc.  You are affected by the wind every time a large vehicle passes you.  Unless you wear bright or light coloured clothing and keep your lights on you nearly invisible.  We live on a hill and the lad who has a 50cc moped struggles to get 30mph out of his going up.  He causes tail backs 'cause the road is too narrow for overtaking.  I have on many occasions seen cars right up on his rear wheal intimidating him to pull over so they can pass. Try riding a push bike through town on a Saturday, that will give you some idea.  I know there are agencies out there who  teach you how to ride and the highway code, and give you confidence, but that doesn't teach other road users to drive any better so I believe you will be putting yourself at risk. You will still have to take some sort of test even for a bike so what's the difference ?