Mopeds

[Kinvig]

||rant||

This is one huge, sweeping statement so apologies in advance...

Moped riders never cease to amaze me. The only ones I've seen that aren't dangerous are the girls.

I went into central London with one of the lads from work - he has a 125 honda scooter & a cbt. He's had it longer than I've been riding so I figured he's be a safe rider.

First set of lights he said he'd be slower than me. I told him in no uncertain terms not to be soft & I'd go at his speed.

He rode off & the first thing he did was undertake a WVM!!!!! Then he went thru a bus lane (before 10am), didn't signal or do a life saver check & turned left. Coming to a line of stationary traffic he then drove right next to the kerb passing the cars to get to the front of the queue.

Wasn't sure if he was trying to impressme or not (probably not!) so I just left him to it, I eased right back, made suer I hit the lights on red & waited while he went off in the distance - I figured if I caught him up to say slow down he'd assume we were having a race.

He wants to do his DAS, I may advise against it - he'll just do himself a rather nasty mischief!

Pesky moped riders.

||/end rant||

[TSM]

city riding is mad and scooters are worse

[Sudoxe]

Whats wrong, sounds like a normal commute ?:confused:

Dan

[Jelster]

Maybe he rides like that because he HASN'T done his DAS ?

.

[TSM]

Maybe he rides like that because he HASN'T done his DAS ?

.

Or a big crash

[Davido]

Lifesavers are overrated anyway.

[tricky]

125cc isn't a moped. From the DVLA website: A moped has a maximum design speed not exceeding 50 km/h (approx. 31 mph). It has an engine capacity no greater than 50 cc and can be moved by pedals, if first used before 1 August 1977. I know this adds no value to thread, I just felt like being a pedantic ********.

[Alpinestarhero]

Lifesavers are overrated anyway.

I dunno...

...the only time I didnt do one when i should have (I always do a lifesaver if there is traffic behind and / or I change lanes or something similar) I turned right into a car that was overtaking me on my right hand side (i couldnt believe this and thought I had given a signal to go left; picked up my scooter and saw the signal was correct - it was showing i was turning right). The lady said she was trying to avoid me...

So anyway, lifesavers are a good thing to keep up - maybe not as much as you would do training, but certainly when there are other vehichles about. Just because you never know...

Matt

[21QUEST]

It's not just scooter riders though. Granted, plenty haven't got a clue. Everday I see plenty of bike riders who make me wonder what the heck is going on.

As Mark always says, it's not about how fast you can go but how much you can take in whilst doing X mph.

Without wishing to sound "Holier than thou" etc I save more than a couple of bikers(and cars) from having a nasty every day. Mainly because they are riding/driving outwith various factors.
A lot of folks on the road just seem not to be able to retain the basics they were thought while learning to ride or drive. Also a distinct lack of common sense it would seem.

I think the test for both bikes and cars should be more difficult and also every three years or so, a mandatory(thorough) re-test.


Ben

[21QUEST]

Lifesavers are overrated anyway.

Definitely NOT. Maybe you are just being facetious.


Ben

[amnesia]

OK, this is a very general statement, and it is in no way meant to reflect all...

My opinion of this is that most mopeds and 125's are ridden by younger people with only CBT instruction and no previous road experience. With only a CBT their road knowledge is minimal and this is where the errors in judgement come from. I also think that a lot of 'ped riders treat their machine like a toy - not the respect it deserves.

For instance, the guy in Kinvig's first post undertook WVM. Fine, there was space, and probably space for Kinvig to follow but he didn't. My suspicion is that he didn't follow for the same reasons that I (and most here) wouldn't have followed - instruction to a higher level, past experiences viewed through 'higher trained' eyes, common sense and reading threads on various biker forums made the 'Do I follow?' decision an absolute no brainer.

I think more lessons would do EVERYONE some good if the only instruction they have had is CBT. I find it amazing that people can ride on the road with only CBT instruction... :confused: :smt102

Didn't MCN do an article about the top ten most crashed machines a while back? If memory serves me right - the top two were a pair of peds, followed by the sunday misslies and the most common machines on the road

[Kinvig]

I didn't follow him round the WVM as:

1. Undertaking on a single lane is a bit cheeky.
2. It was on a bend in the road - no idea what he was riding into - around the bend there is a pedestrain crossing.
3. WVM was already at the speed limit.
4. There were parked cars

I felt his behaviour was a tad reckless. With all the red lights etc in London there's no advantage to be gained by riding like you want to die.

[amnesia]

I didn't follow him round the WVM as:

1. Undertaking on a single lane is a bit cheeky.
2. It was on a bend in the road - no idea what he was riding into - around the bend there is a pedestrain crossing.
3. WVM was already at the speed limit.
4. There were parked cars

I felt his behaviour was a tad reckless. With all the red lights etc in London there's no advantage to be gained by riding like you want to die.


My point exactly - and it probably took a lot longer to type that then actually make the decision to let him go.

[weazelz]

WVM ? :confused:

[Davido]

Windows vertical moped.

[wyrdness]

I see scooter riding like this quite commonly in London. I call them 'scooticides' - because they're going to kill themselves sooner or later.

BTW Weazelz, WVM is White Van Man - the scourge of two-wheeled riders everywhere.

[John 675]

Lifesavers are overrated anyway.

is it because they do what it says on the tin? unless your having a laugh, id have to say this is the strangest thing ive ever heard, lol, :plod: :plod: :plod: