Horror thread: Mopeds

[alexthecheese]

Bear with me.

Looking to buy a house next year in my home town and have been looking for houses in the immediate vicinity of the train station, so can commute to London easily by walking to the train station, but there doesn't seem to be many houses in the price range with we want with the right garden, rooms, space etc. etc.

So what I'm thinking is moving to an area about 2/3 miles away from the train station and getting a moped of some sort to get to and from the station, otherwise I'll be walking 30 mins to the station, 35 mins to get to London and then another half an hour on the tube. For example.

I'm thinking of getting something that has a bit of oomph - basically NOT a 50cc P.O.S. that will annoy me and everyone around it with it's nasal cavity exhaust droning away.

Has anybody got any recommendations on what I should be looking at? Apart from riding a 110cc thingy in Thailand a few years back, I haven't a clue about any of this.

Will I need a new license (I passed in '99)? Is it worth getting something as big as 250cc? How much are they for tax, insurance etc.? Maintenance etc.?

Basically any information at all would be cool, so I can start researching properly. cheers.

 

[alexthecheese]

A Moped by definition is 50cc and not capable of any more than 31mph. Anything else is a motorbike.

You will be limited to 125cc maximum and have to do a CBT course.

All details you need are here. Clicky.

DO NOT BUY A CHINESE BIKE!!! Stick to the big names.

Cheers, I'll read that. After I posted I wondered if moped was the right term, so now I know.

Scooters?

But get an old one, the new twist and go look way too chavvy.

How about this?

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/b...ia/SPORT-CITY-250/250IE/2007/_/R-NXGN-2003969

Doesn't look chavvy? 20k miles though, sounds like a lot? Though saying that there are others with twice that.

 

[alexthecheese]

Nah, don't want gears - strictly twist & go. It'll just be a town bike, so stopping and starting without worrying about gears would be better.

Didn't spot there was a bike forum, can a mod please move this to there? Cheers.

 

[alexthecheese]

What about the days when its pouring with rain? You don't want to get to the train station (even in waterproofs) and then sit on train for 35 mins.

Not ideal, but I'm not sure what alternative I have to be honest!

BMW C1

Ick. It's a possibility though.

If you're talking of 35 mins, that's probably around 6-7 miles in a direct line. Do you really need a moped for that? Go get fit and buy a bicycle. Road tax, petrol = zero. Also means that you'll do the equivalent of going to the gym for any hour everyday of the week. Sorted.

I don't think you read my post properly. It would probably be about 3 miles, so your point still stands, but I'd end up sweaty AND wet if I chose to do that, not to mention that it would take longer. It doesn't really appeal tbh, but again, it's a possibility.