https://www.green-mopeds.com/super-soco-tsx-1500w-279-p.asp
£3k for an electric motorbike, what a rip off, you could get a mid range mountain bike for that 🙂
Let’s return to how great an idea it is to ride on a possibly lapsed cbt forever.
Should we be handing out 2 year driving licences to anyone who can identify what the controls do and has driven around an empty car park without crashing?
No we shouldn't in the same way that those who swerved round a few cones and then did 4 laps of a street 30 years ago should also have their licenses revoked (raises hand). Where do over 50 bikers stand? They passed a piss easy test on a 125 which needed ne
]t to no training at all. I had zero lessons same as most of my mates. The whole test system was an utter joke and has only recently been improved. The advanced test should be mandatory for both bikers and car drivers. A mate of mine was forced to take it by his biking mates as they refused to have him on their runs till he did. I don't have the answer but I do know that there are those able to learn roadcraft and the vast majority of the rest of the population. Like it or not my wife is a great driver, cautious cyclist and I'm confident that she'd be safe on a motorbike. I'm not sure I can say that of the ****ts with full licenses I see riding round here in Devon at full pelt in towns and tiny roads.
I’ll add my weight to the get a 125 brigade
I was going to get a 50 because I got my car license before 2001, but decided to get a 125 after I did my CBT, I’m glad I did, even the 125 is piss poor. When I first got it I was riding at 30 in a built up area and getting overtaken by cars who thought they could squeeze by anyway. Now I keep with the traffic flow.
Mine is an older Yamaha Vity, it’s got about 8hp, will do mid 50s(mph) a full chat with a good run up and about 100mpg.
I’ve changed jobs and now I’m going across Cannock chase which has a reccomended speed limit of 40mph, which means me riding at 50 and being overtaken by cars doing 70ish. It’s horrible.
Once my house move is sorted I’m doing my DAS and getting a 400 or similar so I’m not flat out on tiny wheels all the time.
Don’t underestimate how horrible it feels to be going absolute max speed all the time, which on a 50 you always will be.
DavidB
Subscriber
Let’s return to how great an idea it is to ride on a possibly lapsed cbt forever.Should we be handing out 2 year driving licences to anyone who can identify what the controls do and has driven around an empty car park without crashing?
No we shouldn’t in the same way that those who swerved round a few cones and then did 4 laps of a street 30 years ago should also have their licenses revoked (raises hand). Where do over 50 bikers stand? They passed a piss easy test on a 125 which needed ne
]t to no training at all. I had zero lessons same as most of my mates. The whole test system was an utter joke and has only recently been improved. The advanced test should be mandatory for both bikers and car drivers. A mate of mine was forced to take it by his biking mates as they refused to have him on their runs till he did. I don’t have the answer but I do know that there are those able to learn roadcraft and the vast majority of the rest of the population. Like it or not my wife is a great driver, cautious cyclist and I’m confident that she’d be safe on a motorbike. I’m not sure I can say that of the ****ts with full licenses I see riding round here in Devon at full pelt in towns and tiny roads.
This licence stuff is interesting isn't it? I'm 51, I passed my car test in '86 when I was 17. I took my bike test in 2000 when I was 30. Getting my car licence when I did means that I've got all sorts of crazy stuff on my licence, 7.5t vans, trailers, 50cc mopeds without L plates etc.
When I did my bike test I had to do a theory and accompanied riding test. Was fairly stringent I thought but I'd agree that the current bike test is more intense as it's in 2 parts.
Problem is, it doesn't matter when you pass your test - you're still able to ride or drive like an utter bastard if that's the sort of person you are. I've been out on the motorbikes with some great riders that passed the 'ride around the block' test and some right numpties that have done the latest 2 part test. And vice versa.
Anyway, if the OP fancies a 50cc bike for their other half - and they've had experience of 50cc peds - then there's no problem getting another one. I'd be interested in electric if it was me, but they seem a bit pricey at the moment.
I’ll add to the ‘get a 125’ brigade.
Mainly because 30/40mph on a 125 isn’t flat out.
Riding any type of machine constantly flat out is bad for longevity imo.
A 125 otoh, id happily ride up and down the country.
And i have done.
I had zero lessons same as most of my mates.
Well, that's symptomatic of a bigger problem isn't it.
We've discussed many times before the notion of compulsory retests, but I think there's definitely a need for periodic refresher courses. Things change. Even if 30 years ago you took the world's most comprehensive test, it was 30 years ago.
Back when I learned mini-roundabouts were a relatively new phenomenon, to this day I still routinely see drivers older than me who demonstrably don't have a clue what to do on them. They were never taught and lack the gorm to try and find out.
a 50cc is designed to ride flat out all day and will do so quite happily as they are very understressed engines. Thats not the issue. the issue is being able to keep up with traffic in 30 mph limits. ON a 50cc you can get bullied by car drivers wanting to do 35 mph. which can be very dangerous.
There is a european 80cc class which makes for a good commuter bike.
It takes ten minutes to make a 50 do 45mph
If the OP wants a 50 then he should get a 50.
The 28mph limit is horrible to experience, but it’s not as bad as the small prayer you have to say each time you pull out of a junction/roundabout.
They accelerate like glaciers.
I understand all the reasons why a 50cc looks perfect on paper for the OPs circumstances, but I’d suggest trying to borrow one for a few hours before accepting a 125cc is a safer place to be.
I borrowed a Honda Vision 50cc a couple of years back to pop into town and it struggled to get up a modest incline, and that’s not exaggeration.
Is that not like saying cycling in traffic is dangerous?
Cycling in traffic is dangerous.
I'm looking for a moped at the moment and quite happy with a 50cc. I have a full motorbike licence from my younger days. For nipping around Bristol, which is all 30 or 20 speed limits.
My son turns 16 later in the year and he could then use it to get to football training etc. I see it as safer than a road bike (bicycle).
Years ago I had a Piaggio Sfera 80cc that I bought cheap stolen and recovered. I used to do a bit of MX/2strokes so tuned it quite a bit. Used to wheelie from the lights was brilliant fun but I binned it a few times as the chassis couldn't live with the engine.
Have toyed with buying a Honda Ruckus/Zoomer/NPS50 for scooting about on as they are cool enough for mid life grey haired blokes to be seen on. Possibly...
Cycling in traffic is dangerous.
No its not.
Not absolutely dangerous tj, but it can be on occasion, if you have a ****wit driving in proximity.
