Tell me about mopeds

[fractionMan]

Specifically, kids on mopeds.

I need to take lil fraction to school and it's starting to cost a bomb on public transport.

Do you think I could stick him on the back of a moped of some sort (downward dog mentioned the honda c90). I have zero motorbike experience fwiw and his school is at the top of a bloody great hill. I don't want to go fast, these things terrify me tbh.

 

[stuff_it]

I need to take lil fraction to school and it's starting to cost a bomb on public transport.

Do you think I could stick him on the back of a moped of some sort (downward dog mentioned the honda c90). I have zero motorbike experience fwiw and his school is at the top of a bloody great hill. I don't want to go fast, these things terrify me tbh.

Mopeds are harder to steer because of the small wheels, they don't deserve their 'old lady' cachet. Have you got a motorbike licence then? If you don't normally move far and have a few mates round to leave something there when you do then perhaps some small motorbike with a sidecar?

 

[fractionMan]

Mopeds are harder to steer because of the small wheels, they don't deserve their 'old lady' cachet. Have you got a motorbike licence then? If you don't normally move far and have a few mates round to leave something there when you do then perhaps some small motorbike with a sidecar?

I don't have a licence at the mo, I'm wondering how all that works tbh.

Do they still make sidecars ?

 

[stuff_it]

I don't have a licence at the mo, I'm wondering how all that works tbh.

Do they still make sidecars ?

I'm not sure you can take a passenger on a learner's permit.

 

[dessiato]

I'm not sure you can take a passenger on a learner's permit.

IIRC you can only take a fully licensed passenger until you have passed your test.

 

[DownwardDog]

I'm not sure you can take a passenger on a learner's permit.

You can drive a bike/sidecar "combination" on a provisional bike license as long as the power-to-weight ratio is less than 0.16kw/kg.

Perfect solution for la famille Fraction; a C90 with another C90 made into a sidecar.

 

[Brixton Hatter]

You can drive a bike/sidecar "combination" on a provisional bike license as long as the power-to-weight ratio is less than 0.16kw/kg.

Perfect solution for la famille Fraction; a C90 with another C90 made into a sidecar.

Great stuff. Are you also allowed to drink the beer on a provisional licence?

 

[sim667]

You can't carry a pillion unless you have a full license.

Don't forget you will get knocked off and it fucking hurts. It won't be your fault, if lil fraction is on the back he may not be happy about it.

 

[geminisnake]

IIRC you can only take a fully licensed passenger until you have passed your test.

You can't even do that anymore.
Scoots are better than a C90 and are well stable. Not sure it'd save you anything though by the time you buy all the protective gear, the scoot, insurance, pass your test etc!! The only law regarding pillion is(or was last time I looked a couple of years ago) is your feet have to reach the pillion pegs or board.

 

[gentlegreen]

My Honda 50 was the best motorised vehicle I ever owned, but it took skillz to get any speed out of it - the odd wheelie was a side-effect of getting past the limitations of the semi-automatic gearchange.

 

[pogofish]

I have zero motorbike experience fwiw and his school is at the top of a bloody great hill. I don't want to go fast, these things terrify me tbh.

The combination of lack of experience, fear, bloody great hills, mopeds and young children does not fill me with a great deal of confidence for Fraction Jr's longevity.

How about one of these instead:

He would be certain to be the coolest kid in school!

 

[dessiato]

The combination of lack of experience, fear, bloody great hills, mopeds and young children does not fill me with a great deal of confidence for Fraction Jr's longevity.

How about one of these instead:

He would be certain to be the coolest kid in school!

As long as he stood in front of the flame!

 

[craigxcraig]

I think on all full car licence you can ride upto 50cc scooter minus L plates, and you can carry a passenger...

 

[weepiper]

There is absolutely no fucking way I would trust my 6 year old son to remember to hold on properly on the back of a scooter.

 

[discokermit]

i don't think it's a good idea. most motorcyclists have had an accident at one time or another. you can't really take that risk with someone who can't weigh up the dangers/merits themselves in a proper and informed manner.

 

[tombowler]

I think on all full car licence you can ride upto 50cc scooter minus L plates, and you can carry a passenger...

i think the law changed some time ago, my dad was running a 50cc job full car license since late 70s but had to take cbt part one to ride after a year or so and l plates no pillions allowed.

 

[craigxcraig]

i think the law changed some time ago, my dad was running a 50cc job full car license since late 70s but had to take cbt part one to ride after a year or so and l plates no pillions allowed.

Not sure how old this is, but:

I have a full car licence, what can I ride?

If your licence was issued before 1st February 2001, then you can ride a 50cc moped, capable of not more than 30mph. Even though you may have little or no experience the law states that you will not need to display L plates, and you can carry a passenger if the motorcycle has a passenger seat and rear footrests. However, riding without any form of training is not to be advised - and a CBT offers a level of training which will include an assessment of your on road skills as well as teaching you control on an off road area... it is highly recommended that you take at least a CBT course before taking to the road. If you want to ride a motorcycle over 50cc, no larger than 125cc, you must take Compulsory Basic Training (CBT), you must display L plates, and you must not carry passengers until you have passed both parts of your motorcycle test.. The CBT certificate is valid for 2 years.

Here: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/bikes/motorbike-learning/age-21-plus/motorcycle-faqs

 

[craigxcraig]

There is absolutely no fucking way I would trust my 6 year old son to remember to hold on properly on the back of a scooter.

These might 'help' though not fool-proof.

http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/1820

 

[geminisnake]

My daughter used to go on the back of hubby's bike and only once did he have to stop to tell her off for trying to see the back wheel going round.

 

[fractionMan]

On reflection this might not be the greatest idea but it's still worth considering. I'd be looking to get the slowest, safest thing possible and avoid anything remotely difficult on the way like roundabouts etc. I've no problem taking the thing the long way around to school if needs be.

lil fractions mum would probably go apeshit at the thought though.

Is there such a thing as a "back seat", like you can get for panier racks on pushbikes?

 

[Tobermory53]

I'd be looking to get the slowest, safest thing possible and avoid anything remotely difficult on the way like roundabouts etc.

Seriously, don't even consider a moped - if it's truly slug like then it won't even be able to keep up with traffic and will simply become a self propelled hazard.

If you have any sense of responsibility, transport your child surrounded by metal - what about a nice old Volvo - slow and unbreakable.

 

[pogofish]

Is there such a thing as a "back seat", like you can get for panier racks on pushbikes?

There is indeed - The Givi S650 seat:

http://www.giviluggage.co/givi-product-focus/the-givi-s650-child-seat-for-scooters/

Also this thing by a firm called Stamatakis, which appears to be fully CE-approved, so should be legal in the UK, although it may be a challenge to fit securely to mopeds and smaller scooters - The advice of a competent mechanic may be invaluable here. Both designs use a form of stirrup to take care of the footrest issue for smaller kids.

 

[Tobermory53]

There is indeed - The Givi S650 seat:

http://www.giviluggage.co/givi-product-focus/the-givi-s650-child-seat-for-scooters/

Also this thing by a firm called Stamatakis, which appears to be fully CE-approved, so should be legal in the UK, although it may be a challenge to fit securely to mopeds and smaller scooters - The advice of a competent mechanic may be invaluable here. Both designs use a form of stirrup to take care of the footrest issue for smaller kids.

Great - add a bit more weight high up to raise the centre of gravity even further, also, not much side protection in case a spilled diesel/manhole cover double whammy spits the bike and its passengers up the road horizontally.

 

[mattie]

You could also tow the old canal boat with it, and carve up nearby farmers' fields. In fact, as far as I understand, you have to demonstrate that its predominately used off-road and only occasionally on-road, so you'd be duty-bound to take the cross-country route to Bath.

You simply can't not get one.

 

[fractionMan]

I could get this lol
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-SECM...ps=63&clkid=7781438523827526350#ht_500wt_1072

 

[fractionMan]

Brand new piaggio apes for 4.5k!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2011-PIAG...ial_Trucks&hash=item3f0fd25d01#ht_1073wt_1057

 

[geminisnake]

They are cute, then I started looking for something with a bigger engine. I really DON'T need a VW transporter!! A Caddy would probably be fine though!!

 

[fractionMan]

There's a really cool one on ebay for 2k at the mo

 

[geminisnake]

Piaggio or VW Caddy?? You still need a full bike(piaggio) or car licence to drive one with the wee man in it though.

 

[fractionMan]

I think I can do the full bike licence