50cc too gutless for me to feel safe

**rocketman1** · 23rd March 2011, 18:25

Was thinking of buying a 50cc scooter to get to work.
After riding one I felt that I didnt feel as safe on it as I do on my larger bikes.
This is probably only as I had not go used to cars and buses passing me in a 50kmhr zone as I couldn't do much more than 50kmhr myself, less going up hill.
I feel much better going at the speed the local traffic goes, irrespective of the fact it may be exceeding the speed limit.
The point I am making is that I think the government should UP the exemptions that 50cc scooters get to about 80cc models, this slightly larger bike would allow most scooter riders to keep up with traffic, and not have to put up with all the dangerous antics the current 50cc brigade have to put up with, ie ducking and diving in and out of parked cars and GETTING PUSHED OUT THE WAY AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS.
Whats your thoughts scooterboys and girls shall I give the Minister of Transport a call.

**FJRider** · 23rd March 2011, 18:43

I had a scooter .... years ago ...

I called it the fungus ... it kinda grows on you ...

Bring on the scooter jokes ...

**argada** · 23rd March 2011, 21:34

I ride around on a 50cc loan scooter when I get my bike serviced and I do feel uneasy

. Very annoying to always have someone right on my tail, it sure adds a lot to the work load.

I find myself riding on the far left of lanes a lot,... seems like the considerate thing to do, fair enough since the scooter is having problem maintaining 50 on a hill. But that does mean at times I'm not in the best position to be seen, so in that sense it increases the danger.

On the plus side, my bike feels like a rocket for the first 10 minutes after getting it back

.

But which exemptions were you referring to? Can be ridden on a car license?
I believe some form of basic handling course is essential though... and if people are prepared to do that then they would have the learner license and can get any size scooters they want.

**rocketman1** · 24th March 2011, 19:38

Originally Posted by argada

I ride around on a 50cc loan scooter when I get my bike serviced and I do feel uneasy

. Very annoying to always have someone right on my tail, it sure adds a lot to the work load.
But which exemptions were you referring to? Can be ridden on a car license?
I believe some form of basic handling course is essential though... and if people are prepared to do that then they would have the learner license and can get any size scooters they want.

I am mainly referring to the ability to use a car license to ride a scooter (moped) 80cc and under.
OK if we need to have some training scheme that is compulsory for scooter riders, that can not be a bad thing, Im not talking motor scooter licence, im talking one saturday morning a mc training school. A level 1 scooter certificate or something, I think this would assist all new scooter riders to be better safer riders and with slightly cheaper licence fees on 70cc -80cc bikes it would be better for all.

**The Everlasting** · 24th March 2011, 20:12

Yeah I agree,I also felt unsafe when I had a scooter..

**FJRider** · 24th March 2011, 21:32

Originally Posted by rocketman1

I am mainly referring to the ability to use a car license to ride a scooter (moped) 80cc and under.
OK if we need to have some training scheme that is compulsory for scooter riders, that can not be a bad thing, Im not talking motor scooter licence, im talking one saturday morning a mc training school. A level 1 scooter certificate or something, I think this would assist all new scooter riders to be better safer riders and with slightly cheaper licence fees on 70cc -80cc bikes it would be better for all.

You have it wrong ... NO ability is needed ...

JUST a car licence .....

and refrain from intelligent suggestions ... this is is KB ..

**Cayman911** · 24th March 2011, 22:07

That's because you didnt have the proper scooter riding gear. which includes a t shirt, short shorts , hairy legs and jandals.

**C.Linnell** · 25th March 2011, 10:33

Originally Posted by Cayman911

That's because you didnt have the proper scooter riding gear. which includes a t shirt, short shorts , hairy legs and jandals.

Or a suit and tie with high-top Chucks and designer stubble.

**Badjelly** · 25th March 2011, 11:04

Originally Posted by rocketman1

The point I am making is that I think the government should UP the exemptions that 50cc scooters get to about 80cc models, this slightly larger bike would allow most scooter riders to keep up with traffic, and not have to put up with all the dangerous antics the current 50cc brigade have to put up with, ie ducking and diving in and out of parked cars and GETTING PUSHED OUT THE WAY AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS.

Or get rid of the exemption.

What was the justification for it, again?

**steelphoenix** · 25th March 2011, 11:08

Originally Posted by rocketman1

I am mainly referring to the ability to use a car license to ride a scooter (moped) 80cc and under.
OK if we need to have some training scheme that is compulsory for scooter riders, that can not be a bad thing, Im not talking motor scooter licence, im talking one saturday morning a mc training school. A level 1 scooter certificate or something, I think this would assist all new scooter riders to be better safer riders and with slightly cheaper licence fees on 70cc -80cc bikes it would be better for all.

Originally Posted by Badjelly

Or get rid of the exemption.

What was the justification for it, again?

Either of these work, in my opinion. Both would increase scooter safety by friggin' miles - what with the fact that driving a car and riding a scooter/bike/two-wheeled vehicle are totally different skillsets...(Also, srs bzns - what was the justification for the exemption? I'd be interested in knowing the actual reason.)

I'm not sure that upping the scooter exemption to 80cc would make a lot of difference; however, I do see your point with being able to keep up with traffic. I'd certainly ask if the question has been raised before.

**HappyGOriding** · 26th March 2011, 18:29

Originally Posted by rocketman1

Was thinking of buying a 50cc scooter to get to work.
After riding one I felt that I didnt feel as safe on it as I do on my larger bikes.
This is probably only as I had not go used to cars and buses passing me in a 50kmhr zone as I couldn't do much more than 50kmhr myself, less going up hill.
I feel much better going at the speed the local traffic goes, irrespective of the fact it may be exceeding the speed limit.
The point I am making is that I think the government should UP the exemptions that 50cc scooters get to about 80cc models, this slightly larger bike would allow most scooter riders to keep up with traffic, and not have to put up with all the dangerous antics the current 50cc brigade have to put up with, ie ducking and diving in and out of parked cars and GETTING PUSHED OUT THE WAY AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS.
Whats your thoughts scooterboys and girls shall I give the Minister of Transport a call.

First of all if you're gonna buy a scooter make sure its a two stroke ( I suspect it was a four stroke you were on) lots more peep. Brought the missus one a couple of years back and even though the speedo only goes up to 60kmh the needle goes past that.

Secondly it doen't matter what you're on own the road/lane you're on thats the first thing I taught the missus once she was riding round the streets. Scooters have to pay road users charges aka rego too, so why shouldn't you use the entire lane

**Sable** · 26th March 2011, 21:33

Big bore kits are very easy to come by, grasshopper.

**geoffm** · 27th March 2011, 08:47

I ride 50 to work most days, as it is flat and 10km, and the smaller size of the scoot (and cheap cost) isless than running the big bikes in.
First thing is do the illegal thing and turn it into a motorcycle (by law) by de-restricting it. Some are better than others - my Keeway is impossible, the Hyosung I had before involved removing the black wire from the CDI, which let it get to 60-65. a bigger main jet would have helped get it higher.
Generally, get a 2 stroke rather than a 4 stroke
One thing they should do is allow mopeds to have a top speed of 60 rather than 50 (in reality 45) so they can be sold de-restricted.

**specter** · 27th March 2011, 08:49

you have a bike license don't you?
upgrade

**HenryDorsetCase** · 27th March 2011, 21:01

I'm a very late convert to scooters, having bought my first about a month or so ago. Might be two months. Whatever.

I agree entirely: 50cc is too gutless to be safe. And I dont see any need to have an exemption either. My view is that you should have to have a full motorcycle licence, THEN be allowed to ride a scooter.

My AN125 which i bought just as proof of concept, to see if I liked it, is surprisingly nippy, but when I replace it, I will likely get something 150- 200-250cc.

But in terms of practicality, fun, and fitness for purpose, they're fantastic.