Scooters/Mopeds gen

[BlackIce]

Thinking about getting a scooter type thing as my car isnt really getting used anymore. Am I right in thinking my normal car licence lets me drive up to 125cc without a CBT, or is it 50cc?

Also, depending on the answer to that, what are the decent makes to look at? Its never going to be used to cover any distance so I dont really care if it does above 40mph or not, but a quick acceleration would be nice.

[Corsa_LET]

Rules have changed, everybody has to take a cbt now i think. That entitles you to ride upto a 125 for 2 years

[Corsa_LET]

If you want gd speed & reliability get an old nsr125. If youre not fussed about speed then the new cbr125's are good bikes. DO NOT buy 1 of these chinese things cuz although theyre cheap, when they break you cannot get parts! Dont get an aprilia rs125 as theyre quick but very unreliable. Stick to the known names & get a 4stroke for better reliability

[patrikbrunt]

It depends when you passed your test; if you passed before 1st Feb 2001 you can ride a moped without the need for a CBT.

[Paul]

It depends when you passed your test; if you passed before 1st Feb 2001 you can ride a moped without the need for a CBT.

Hmm, intresting. I thought you needed one now regardless.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring...eds/DG_4022430

[BlackIce]

Hmm, intresting. I thought you needed one now regardless.

Compulsory basic training (CBT): when and how to take it : Directgov - Motoring

Says here its recommended but not essential "If you passed your car driving test before 1 February 2001 you don't need to complete a CBT course to ride a moped. However, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) recommends that you do."

Passed mine in '98 so 50cc is a jump on and go it seems

[Paul]

Must have passed mine in April 2001 then, as I have been doing a CBT ever since.

[Violet]

Had a Yamaha Fino, and then had a Honda Wave. Same engine sizes, but the Honda was like a completely different machine - faster and lighter. You'll wonder how you managed without one if you're feeling raped at the petrol station.

[Paul]

This is what I had as a kid

[simonsri]

Taken from the link paul provided, note the bold text part for if you passed your car test before feb 2001

Moped provisional licences
You can only hold a provisional moped licence if you are at least 16 years old. It entitles you to ride a moped on the road as a learner with L-plates (D-plates in Wales) but you must not carry a pillion passenger or go on a motorway.

Your provisional licence is only valid when you have the DL 196 certificate issued on completion of compulsory basic training (CBT) by an approved training body (ATB).

A CBT certificate obtained on a moped is also valid for motorcycles once the rider has reached the age of 17 years and has the necessary licence.

If you want to ride a moped on the road without displaying L-plates you must take and pass a theory and practical driving test.

If you have a car licence...
If you obtained your full car licence before 1 February 2001 you are automatically entitled to ride a moped without L-plates (D-plates in Wales).
If you obtained a full car licence after 1 February 2001 you must first complete a CBT course and obtain a DL 196 certificate to validate your entitlement.

[patrikbrunt]

I passed in '02 so just missed out on being able to ride without the need for a CBT. Is crazy really that there is a black and white cutoff just based on when you passed.

[dewismotorsport]

Mmmmm I passed my test in 1999 and I couldn't ride a 50cc unless I passed a cbt! **** time of year to get one tbh as when the roads are ice'y you will fall off and even at 40mph it still hurts as I tried it a few times and didn't get any less painful tbh

**EDIT** just realised I took my CBT at 16

[rickisgrate]

Ive had a few scooters in my time. Started off with a Peugeot Speedfight 100 which was really good but well known for issues with the CDI unit which cost an arm and a leg to replace and sadly mine packed up and couldnt afford a new one so ended up selling it as spares or repair. Then i went propoer mod style and got a Vespa T5 classic which is a lot different to riding the twist and go's but is much faster and more comfortable to ride but a bit worse in the wet due to the narrow skinny tyres. I bought a car after that so the T5 got left for a while doing nothing so decided to get rid and sold it to a guy who turned uo at my door 3 months later telling me it was a ringer. Moving on, after that i got the Gilera Runner 180 which is an awesome piece of kit, 80mph no problem and looks like a thing developed for Irobot, i sold that as well for a lot more than i paid for it. Lastly i bought a Yamha WHY50 as a run around, it was accident damaged so bought it for £150 paid £20 for the bits to repair and used it for a few months, they look like an old Honda stepthrough and only do about 34mph but decent enough just to get you from A to B in urban enviroments.

[Joe]

If you passed car test after Feb 2001 then you do a CBT you will never have to do another one ever again. You can also not have L plaes and carry a pillion passenger.

This is 100% true and I have this in writing from the previous Chief Inspector of Merseyside Police as I was ****ed off for getting pulled every 5 mins for driving without L plates and having to explain the law to EVERY copper, including traffic. Used to enjoy getting pulled after that!

[Davey j]

If you passed car test after Feb 2001 then you do a CBT you will never have to do another one ever again. You can also not have L plaes and carry a pillion passenger.

I've just been told by my local test facility that the CBT is valid for 2 years after which time you have to have completed one of two bike tests. After this time you have to take it again.

[Paul]

Mmmmm I passed my test in 1999 and I couldn't ride a 50cc unless I passed a cbt! **** time of year to get one tbh as when the roads are ice'y you will fall off and even at 40mph it still hurts as I tried it a few times and didn't get any less painful tbh

**EDIT** just realised I took my CBT at 16

Yeh, my CBT was when I was 16 as well.

[Paul]

If you passed car test after Feb 2001 then you do a CBT you will never have to do another one ever again. You can also not have L plaes and carry a pillion passenger.

This is 100% true and I have this in writing from the previous Chief Inspector of Merseyside Police as I was ****ed off for getting pulled every 5 mins for driving without L plates and having to explain the law to EVERY copper, including traffic. Used to enjoy getting pulled after that!

It has to be done every 2 years. Have mine stuck on the office wall.

The CBT does not last forever. I have a motorcylce test place 20 seconds from my unit.

[DarrenH]

if you passed before 1997 i believe you have a full (speed restricted) moped entitlement, no cbt, no L plates, just buy one and go.

[Astra Dan]

Sweet, Aug 1996 here.

[Pete_58]

When i did my CBT the first time back in '97, i bought a brand new (i facepalm about it now lmao) Suzuki katana AY50. My dad paid for the race pipe, fly weights and variator upgrade. 30mph got boring after a week. Then before passing my CBT again en route to my full bike test i had a Yamaha Aerox 50. Both were great bikes. I looked into getting another moped for work not long ago, but there seems to be no such thing as a cheap scooter these days. Well not cheap that i want!

As said, avoid the chinese copies. IMO 4 stroke isnt a must for reliability. With the 2 strokes, just keep an eye on the oil level and all will be fine. Niether of mine missed a beat.

[8valve-craig]

1985 Kawasaki AR50......

My first road bike, with an AR80 top end, AR80 carb and micron exhaust.

Wiped the floor with every other similar bike it ever came across

Try finding one now though

[dewismotorsport]

Suzuki cub 50

Had a neutral and 3 manual gears so you could full throttle launch and do good burn outs, tyres were £5 second hand

[Paul]

Nice, got and FZ 50 here in bits i'm restoring

[Ardenblueroy]

As far as I'm aware.....if you have just a cbt and a full car licence you have to display L plates front and rear and no pillions, when 21 you will need to do a direct access course and once passed then onto big boys toys.
First bike Suzuki TS50x
Second bike Suzuki RGV 250 fun...bananna swing arm.
Then Honda Fireblade (urban tiger)....Kawazaki Zx6r f3...then a B1.
Last bike....Yamaha R1....then the wife told me if I had another bike...I would be single.
Sold the R1 four years ago...ain't ridden since.

[Pete_58]

As far as I'm aware.....if you have just a cbt and a full car licence you have to display L plates front and rear and no pillions, when 21 you will need to do a direct access course and once passed then onto big boys toys.
First bike Suzuki TS50x
Second bike Suzuki RGV 250 fun...bananna swing arm.
Then Honda Fireblade (urban tiger)....Kawazaki Zx6r f3...then a B1.
Last bike....Yamaha R1....then the wife told me if I had another bike...I would be single.
Sold the R1 four years ago...ain't ridden since.

Correct.

LOL...i was expecting the next bit to say " i miss her dearly" LOL