Any moped or scooter drivers around, please?

[MirandaGreenwood]

I'm thinking of getting a moped or a scooter.

Are there any MNers who drive one who'd be willing to answer some really naive and dumb questions about it, please?

Used to ride a moped but progressed to bigger bikes when I got my full license.

A couple of tips.
Don't ride in the gutter, you have paid your road tax so make use of the road and don't be intimidated into riding close to the pavement.
All other drivers ARE morons and ARE trying to kill you so ride defensively.

Enjoy the freedom it gives you. 👍😁

Please can I ask - did you have any lessons or anything for riding a moped?

These are such useful insights, thank you.

Agree with pp, my hubs started out riding a scooter graduated to bike is now in 60th year and he says’ remember, everyone is out to get you’ if you remember this and act accordingly you won’t go wrong. Don’t ride in the gutter use the road.

Thank you @Teaandbiscuits60

I live in a really cycling-friendly city so car-users are used to sharing the road with non-cars but I absolutely take your point

Used to ride one years ago - you can get lessons from the same people you will need your CBT from, I think you can even get your scooter delivered there if brand new. (You can here anyway)

As others have said , keep away from the gutter, the only accident I had was when I was riding close to the pavement and a stupid pillock wanting to cross the road with his push bike shoved his front wheel out in front of me. I went over the front of my moped.

Thank you, I didn't realise there was a course.

This actually makes me feel a lot better. I was imagining just heading out on the open road 😅

Don’t ride in the gutter it encourages drivers to overtake when they shouldn’t
buy the best safety gear you can afford and wear it, you can do a lot f damage to yourself even at slow speeds
act as if no one can see you they probably won’t
the throttle works both ways

I know I could just Google but what is the difference between a moped and a scooter?

I believe a moped is generally a maximum of 50cc and, at one time, often had bicycle pedals as well. Scooters have a platform to put your feet on and go to bigger engine sizes.
OP - all great advice here. Whether moped or scooter, you'll need to do Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) before you hit the road.

A moped usually has an engine size of 49cc, anything over this is classed as a motorcycle.
A scooter can be a moped or motorcycle but the point is that it is a step-through with nothing between your legs.

In later life my late father had a 650cc scooter as he was no-longer able to throw his leg over the seat of his motorcycle. Fully automatic, you opened the throttle and it accelerated up to beyond 100mph. Had a go on it once, very strange sensation but great fun and of course the underseat storage area was vast.

Having been a scooter rider, I'd recommend working on your peripheral vision and reaction times, they'll come in handy. Saying that, I loved my scooters!

@Cotswoldbee & @Justlovedogs thank you for the explanation.

My neighbour has just bought a scooter and it looks like a tempting short journey travel option.

As Justlovedogs says, you must do a CBT course. They give loads of life saving information, as well as teaching basic control of them. If you cycle, that should certainly help with your situational awareness.

I've been riding motorbikes for about 30 years and far prefer them to scooters! If you only want to do short trips and want carrying space, scooters are fine. For longer trips on fast roads, I'd advise a bike.

Scooters are easy for novices, because they are "twist and go," without gears.

You'll have to do road training, after the CBT and the trainer will let you try a bike, if you feel like it. Scooters are a good way of getting used to being on two wheels and in traffic, if you feel like "trading up," to something meatier.

@SinnerBoy Thank you for that explanation.

I used to cycle years ago but haven't used my bike for ages. It absolutely gave me really good situational awareness, I should probably get it back out and cleaned up.

I think that's what I'm after - to try one out and see if I can get on with it before I take the plunge to actually buy one!

Well, I hope I've been useful and fill your boots!

Check your licence categories
If you have a full car licence dating back to 2001 then you could have the moped category which would make you road legal
If not then you need to do the CBT

I had my moped then motorbike shortly before CBTs were introduced, when you just needed to apply for a motorbike learner licence, but my neighbour was an instructor at a training scheme which meant that I took their course which was the equivalent to CBT

Not riding in the gutter is not just taking your full space on the road and ensuring that overtaking cars give you adequate space, but that all the debris on the road ends up in the gutter, drains etc are there and you are right next to pedestrians etc
When I began riding the expectation of drivers was that cyclists and motorbikes should ride in the gutter to keep out of the way, and it was drilled into us to own your lane.
(In a similar manner to drivers complaining about cyclists riding properly 2 or 3 abreast as per the Highway Code)

I used to own a moped, great fun, didn't need to do CBT as my car licence is from 1993. They are piss easy to ride, literally twist and go. Very convenient in traffic and they sip petrol. If I still lived in London I would get another one in a heartbeat.

A few tips - stick to 30mph roads, wear gloves, always assume that person waiting to pull out of a side road head WON'T see you.

Like others have said you will likely need to do a CBT course. My friend's son did his a few months ago. It was a one day course from 8am-4pm and by all accounts is impossible to fail!
The course is about £160ish and the certificate is valid for 2 years. You still have to display L plates unless you go for a full bike lisence (I think that last part is correct?)

I’d do a CBT whether legally essential or not, just for the confidence boost. Agree with PPs; wear all the safety gear, and assume no one will spot you on the road. I (town centre rider) found pedestrians the worst of all - they stand patiently and watch the cars go by, then step out in front of you. So economical, and convenient (apart from carrying the helmet around all day). Have fun!