50cc Motor scooter

Vennwood

We have been using bicycles for ages now however on our last trip my wife found it hard to breath when peddling - even on the flat and this worries me. (now we are back she is off to see the Doc)
Maybe its time to get a motor scooter. Any advice based on experience would be welcome.

I'm thinking of a 50cc capable of carrying both of us but need to be as light as possible.
Also looking through the web I see mention of "restricted or de-restriced" - any experience of what that means would also help - is it a power thing or just a max speed thing?

Pete

aultymer

Hi Vennwood,
We went through the same excercise a couple of years ago and I bought one of the cheap Chinese 50cc scooters to try it out.
With 2 up we managed ok on the flat - any hill and we were down to 10mph.
Also the sight of me at 100Kg and my wife, who is much smaller but no light weight, on a 50cc caused much merriment wherever we went. That we could live with but the speed was an embarrassment.
It was great for me to nick out to the nearest village for the Xsants and baguette each morning but not serious transport for 2 of us.
The ref to 'restricted' and unrestricted refers AFAIK to whether it can be driven on an old car driving licence under 'grandfather' rights, or not.
Best to check DVLA website for dates and classes of licence.

I hope the wife is ok and it is just time catching up, but it is always best to get any shortness of breath checked.

Rapide561

Hello

I too am researching scooters and will share my findings.

1) At 50cc I can drive the moped on my car licence. I do not need L plates and I can carry a passenger. Check your licence or phone the DVLA on 01792 782341. Do not press any buttons when the call is answered by the auto service, instead hold for assistance - much quicker.

2) Restricted - the moped must be restricted to 50 kph - 31 mph in order to quality for condition (1) above.

3) I was told that a Peugeot or a Piaggio are good for 50 cc scooters.

Russell

My pals have returned from Morocco with their 50cc Piaggio - on which I recently had a go - and they found it ok.

You will not zoom about with two on the back, but for nipping to Tesco etc it should be adequate.

I am certainly buying a 50cc rather than a 125.

JQL

Whether a 50cc scooter is suitable depends on your weight.

You may find that 2 up it could be more or less unuseable depending on your combined weight. Check the "manual" for all up weight limits.

Vennwood

Thanks for the replies

Aultymer - was this restricted or not? I understand the license issues and have checked with DVLA but trying to establish if unrestricted will be more powerful with 2 up rather than just a little faster - anyone know about this?

Many years ago we had a Honda City Express and found this very acceptable with 2 up but can't for the life of me remeber anything about restricted etc. back in those days.

Russeel - let's keep in touch and share experiences

Pete

impala666

We are both over 60 and found peddle bikes hard work in hilly country and distances over 30 miles a day. We solved the problem by buying electric bikes from 50 cycles in Loughborough.

They are fantastic and zoom up most hills. With the pedlec system and 7 gears 15 mph is easily possible on the flat.

The battery lasts for about 30 miles and more if we peddle and coast down hills.

Re charging takes about 4 hours via an inverter connected to the 2nd leisure battery fed by an 85 watt solar panel. Or a 240 volt hook up can be used.

The bikes weigh 25 kg and we carry them on a Thule flat Rack fitted onto the tow bar. They are easy to lift on to the carrier.

The electric bikes are preffered as they can be used on all cycle tracks here and abroad. We get more excersise, fresh air, and don’t have to to carry petrol tanks.

The bikes cost £1000 each . Do not consider cheap electric bikes and only go for ones with Lithium batteries.

Keep fit the electric way

Vennwood

Has anyone heard of or experienced the Kymco Agility 50? From a fitting the bill perspective it would seem fine - two seats, low (ish) weight yet sturdy and appears to have a good dealer network in case anything goes wrong.

Pete

chalky9

The Honda "Lead" 100cc is a good compromise between 50cc and the 125's. It isn't too heavy, carries 2 in reasonable comfort and will do 50 on the flat mph if you push it. I bought mine new last year for £1,200.