Cars & Transportation Scooters

[TheStinger]

I am in the process of getting my bike licence and purchasing a 125cc scooter. Anyone else have one or is a motorcycle rider and can give me some tips. I am pretty much a novice but the skills I have learned from the first day of my Rider Safe course have been invaluable. Any other tips would be appreciated.

 

[The Cranium]

Practice, and I'm not being rude, but get a real bike, scooters were designed for Europe with narrow congested streets or millions of Asians, not for Australia.

It will take you 12 months to learn where to drive - blind spots on cars etc etc....

 

[TheStinger]

Practice, and I'm not being rude, but get a real bike, scooters were designed for Europe with narrow congested streets or millions of Asians, not for Australia.

It will take you 12 months to learn where to drive - blind spots on cars etc etc....

Yeah, watching the DVD they gave us has opened my eyes to just how much is really going on around you and how much you have to concentrate on.

I am getting a scooter more out of convenience and price than anything. I am learning on a proper bike so I will have those skills. But yes I am prepared for the long learning curve.

 

[The Cranium]

Yeah, watching the DVD they gave us has opened my eyes to just how much is really going on around you and how much you have to concentrate on.

I am getting a scooter more out of convenience and price than anything. I am learning on a proper bike so I will have those skills. But yes I am prepared for the long learning curve.

When you get a good road bike you can go into the Adelaide hills for a good ride, but, don't wear thongs, wear a jacket, not a t-shirt, never ride in shorts, imagine your skin dragging along the tarmac at 60+ kms an hour, its not pretty.

You have to be aware of every pebble or pot hole on the road, every clown that doesn't see you, that is 360 degrees....

Its a good learning curve and its difficult to simply drive a car after going on long bike trips....

 

[External Inputs]

A mate at a bike shop we do work for sells quite a few scooters, especially the lower powered ones that, apparently, you don't need a bike license to ride.
Popular with girls, who think they're "cool", and a fashion accessory.

Seems there's been a few incidents in the shop car park or just down the road after purchase. Although it seems obvious that these vehicles won't stay upright when stationary on their own, some new riders seem to forget they're not in a car anymore. Lesson 1. If you don't put a foot down, you'll soon resemble a human side stand that didn't work.

What hope do they have staying alive on the roads if they can't figure that out?

 

[Tormented Tiger]

#1 RULE : Don't gutter crawl.

Position, position, position. (road position)
If you cant see over or thru the vehicle in front, sit far enough back that you are able to see around it (both sides). If you see a vehicle coming out a side street, move to that side of the road so that it see's you. If a ******** doesn't see you and thinks theres a gap, you will feel the pain.

Happy scootering and hopefully you will survive long enough to get a real bike.

 

[MudFlop]

Scooters are great for getting around town.

But in terms of going on a 'road trip', or simply a drive 'just for the hell of it'. Lets not kid ourselves, moterbike riders consider those who ride scooters for any other reason than primary transport, as eunuchs...

So if you ride a scooter, so be it. But just like those of us who drive weather beaten rusty old cars - don't be proud of it - and if you paid 17 grand for the privelege - sucks to be you...

 

[Kram]

As a teenager few of my mates got them as you could get a licence for one a year before getting a car one, this was in a country town with minimal traffic though.

 

[matera_goal]

First time on one was about 6 months ago, me and a mate borrowed another mates scooter (didnt know it wasnt insured..) my mate drove.

Travelling about 50km/h down a suburban road with a small-medium shopping centre on it about 8pm, a car coming the opposite way turns into the shops, right in front of us.

We have no time to stop and score a direct hit on the passenger side door, from what I remember the door was nearly completely caved in.

We came off the bike, the bike was mangled. The ****ers sped off.

Mate had two broken ribs, a broken kneecap and concussion. The scooter was written off. I was lucky to have only a small 3rd degree burn (melted through my trackies - I have a deep purple scar about the size of a 20 cent coin).

My opinion, way too many ****heads driving around to be safe on one. Hopefully the ***** wrapped their car around a tree.

 

[Chief]

Please keep it to questions and answers, not stories and discussion. Thanks.

 

[TheStinger]

Scooters are great for getting around town.

But in terms of going on a 'road trip', or simply a drive 'just for the hell of it'. Lets not kid ourselves, moterbike riders consider those who ride scooters for any other reason than primary transport, as eunuchs...

So if you ride a scooter, so be it. But just like those of us who drive weather beaten rusty old cars - don't be proud of it - and if you paid 17 grand for the privelege - sucks to be you...

Paid $2,500 for a 125cc Agility, brand new with 4 year warranty. Just using it to go to and from work and other short trips. Cars are fine if you ride defensively and anticipate problems before they happen.