The eldest got his 3A stars and is now at uni in Southampton.
Problem is it takes 3 hours a day to commute on public transport which means up at 6 back at 19:30 before studying cooking etc. He has 30 hours of lectures a week.
I was thinking about getting him a cycle but his books weigh well over a stone and lugging them around in the winter in a bike doesn't sound like a great idea.
The other alternative is a motor scooter, I was thinking along the lines of a Honda vision 50.
Is this madness or a reasonable solution given city traffic nowadays?
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A lot of people get away with it. The important thing is the attitude of the boy. Some mature earlier than others.
There comes a time when you just have to hope for the best. It's good for people to have adult responsibilities, and even better to have individual motorized transport, that great privilege of capitalist lavishness...
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>> Is this madness or a reasonable solution given city traffic nowadays?
>>
No, it's reasonable. First question; is he over 17? If so, he'd do better with a 125. Mopeds, or rather 50cc scooters are restricted to 30mph, and IMO they're more dangerous for that. There's not enough poke to get you OUT of trouble, and you need it.
Back in the day, you could ride a moped without L-plates on a full car licence; this no longer applies. For that reason he'd still have to do CBT even for a moped, and it costs the same as for a provisional motorcycle. He's then got 2 years to pass his test, or he has to do CBT again.
Other advantages; modern scooters have good lights, he'd be cleaner, drier and, assuming he's got at least a 5 mile commute, less sweaty when he gets to college. It might also make him more willing to go if the weather's bad; I do a 2-mile commute on mine in all weathers, something I might not contemplate on a pushbike.
As for which scooter; Honda would be my choice. I've had 3 years out of an SCV100 Lead, cost me virtually nothing. Currently rebuilding a stolen recovered NHX110 which I picked up locally for good money, just needs a front panel.
DO NOT, under any circumstances, be tempted by one of the cheap Chinese ones on e-bay. They are not worth the money and will not outlast their warranties.
One other thing; I'm not sure about Southampton but in many cities, scooters and motorcycles can use bus lanes.
Last edited by: Harleyman on Sun 7 Oct 12 at 02:09
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>> The eldest got his 3A stars and is now at uni in Southampton.
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>> Problem is it takes 3 hours a day to commute on public transport
Why is he living at home?
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>> How far's the commute ?
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If it takes 3 hrs per day commuting he either
1) Chose wrong Uni
or
2) Should be in halls/flat
18 yrs ago my 2 x youngest chose a Uni that was 1.5 hrs by public transport but 20 mins by car......no brainer in 1st year - bought a car.
In 2nd year they wanted to stay in Edinburgh......I said the £6K car was ideal as "rent money" and planned to sell car............they wanted flat + keep the car! At this point reality came into play ....it was either flat or car but not both.
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No he lives in halls. Very expensive for what they are and he is at the end of a triangle for his commuting.
It is about 10 miles a day and I have checked the bus routes which involve several changes and waits.
Also the nearest supermarket is about 5 miles away.
All this wouldn't be a problem if he didn't have so much contact time, but that's the course he is doing.
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I read about the Chinese bikes. They sound dreadful so will be steering clear of these!
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3 hours to travel 10 miles by public transport! I could walk it in less. I guess the scooter is a reasonable option as would a push bike but neither might be too attractive in the depths of winter but life ain't always easy.
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The other thing to consider is "Would he been seen dead on a scooter" in front of his Mates? - I know from when I was a 17 yr old I wouldnt!!!
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Scooter - 125cc - he'll have to do a CBT whichever 2 wheeled route he goes. Mopeds are dangerously slow. Kymco is a good Taiwanese brand. Figure out why they're so popular with resort hire outfits - well regarded by Twist and Go Magazine.
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For the sake of safety I would recommend something with bigger wheels than a scooter, with an engine that will allow you to keep up with other road users.
Many moons ago I would have suggested a BSA Bantam.
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>> Many moons ago I would have suggested a BSA Bantam.
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Noooooooooooooooo!!!!
My mate still has one of those things rusting away in his garage, it last ran back in the mid-seventies. I can remember riding it ten miles from my house to his, an asthmatic old dog that wouldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding. I had a CB175 at the time, same engine size, and the difference between them clearly illustrated why the British motorcycle industry was well and truly on it's way to the wall.
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Funnily enough I saw a 62 registered scooter about a week ago which looked remarkably like the Vespa 125 that had been my first mode of conveyance back in the 60s. I lost count of how many times I came a cropper when trying to take corners too quickly, and it was almost a certainty that I would end up sprawled across the road if an emergency stop was attempted - and that solved the mystery as to why, when I took my test, the examiner stood about a hundred yards away.
Anyway, the afore mentioned scooter had, I thought, amusing and appropriate registration letters that many here would die for - FFS!
No word of a lie.
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Hmm The Vespa. What a PoS. Lambretta every time.
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>> Hmm The Vespa. What a PoS. Lambretta every time.
Agreed. I should have gone for the Lambretta 175.
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>> For the sake of safety I would recommend something with bigger wheels than a scooter,
>> with an engine that will allow you to keep up with other road users.
>>
Which is why I suggested a 125. They're all automatic and as quick off the lights (if not quicker) than most normally-driven cars. If the lad isn't particularly interested in continuing on two wheels after he gets a car licence (as happens to many) then he'll also be saved the need to learn to use a manual box. As for not being seen dead on 'em, they're infra dig at the moment.
Bantams were worse than useless twenty years ago when I last had one on the road; a necessity due to the folly of being done for drink-drive and the Bantam being the only classic bike (for cheap insurance) that I could find at the time I got my licence back. Having said that I ran it for nearly a year in all weathers and the little brute managed several trips of over 200 miles before I sold it on to a chap in Crymych for the £300 I paid for it. But then again I've been riding bikes since 16 and I'm used to it.
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>> It is about 10 miles a day and I have checked the bus routes which
>> involve several changes and waits.
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>> Also the nearest supermarket is about 5 miles away.
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Scooter would be ideal then. Fit a top box for the ready meals and tins of beans, he can carry the two cases of cheap lager on the footboards.
Seriously, you'd be surprised how much shopping they will carry. Most also have a space under the seat to lock a helmet in; though for myself I tend to take the lid with me when in town. No point in leaving it with the bike, it gives opportunist thieves even more opportunity if they get a helmet as well.
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I still have Bantam 175.....most of it's there but in boxes. I got it off a mate who'd sent the wheels away for chroming but forgot where he'd sent them after a few years. I got a front off fleabay...just need a back.
I'm going to list it when I've got time to get it all out for photos. If I feel the urge to do up a bike then I'll tackle the Vulgar Velocette'.
I agree about a bigger engine. I had a Velosolex for a bit of a fun thing and I had to use the pedals to get over the railway bridge here. Mind you, top whack was only 23 mph. Quicker on a pushbike !
Go for a Jap......much the best.
Ted
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>> Many moons ago I would have suggested a BSA Bantam.
>>
>>Noooooooooooooooo!!!!
I suggested the Bantam because a pal of mine had one at the same time as I had the Vespa, and I could never keep up with him. Infact the first time a came off the scooter was when I was trying to keep up while going round a sharp bend on the very day that I bought the wretched thing.
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For less than two grand you can get a state of the art Honda scoot. I had a test-ride on a PCX125 before going for the bigger engined Maj. Not a bad ride, the only thing I found that it was flat out at 60 on a Dual - I need a little bit more. 100+ fuel economy
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Might be a good solution of course. But for what it's worth, from the age of 9, I cycled from the Maybury area of Edinburgh into the old town near the Royal Infirmary to school every day. 5 miles each way in traffic and with a fair few hills and in all the joys of Scottish winters, a canvas messenger type satchel slung over my shoulder and any other kit I needed in saddle bags. Most days I'd also have to go back in for evening activities so that was 20 miles most days and on Tuesdays we had skiing lessons at Hillend which is another 3 miles beyond the city and back with ski boots as an additional load. On two of the other weekday afternoons we had Rugby training down at a satellite sports ground a couple of miles from school too so that added another 4 or so miles those days on top of the training sessions ( oh and more kit to carry ). Saturday mornings is was back to the rugby ground for a match or to another school's ground for an away game.
All in all, if you then build in a couple of evening trips a week down to Cramond to let the dogs run on the beach, having run beside the bikes to get there ( 5 mile round trip ) we covered a fair few miles each week under pedal power.
On Saturday or Sunday afternoons we'd quite often drag the dogs out again for a bike ride down to North Berwick down the coast road. ( 50 mile round trip )
So, to be fair, your lad's 5 miles each way on the sunny south coast doesn't seem too much of a trial for a young fit bloke !
However, if he wants a motor scooter, can't blame him. I'd have ruddy loved one some nights !
:-)
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Oh Humph, where did it all go wrong?
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Moving to England mainly.
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Humph, :-)
When I were a lad I used to cycle 8 miles each way to college. In the winter I took the train!
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Fair enough, and please don't think I was scoffing, I totally see where you and he are coming from. Just reflecting that only a generation ago we didn't think it was much trouble to get on a push bike. He might enjoy a scooter or small motorbike. Bound to teach him some road sense too I'd have thought. The experienced bikers here will no doubt have a view on the safety requirements both in terms of equipment and conduct.
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All he needs proper boots (try the pull on rigger boots for around £15.00 from Building Suppliers) - decent set of textiles (around £150.00) - make sure it has built in back protector. Chinese helmets are less than 50.00 and pass the top certification.
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Let him go on one zippy.At sixteen I used to travel everyday on a Puch moped nippy little bike.Then start 12 hr shifts on harbour tugs.Used to come home knackered as they say.
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>>and please don't think I was scoffing
Not at all!
The reason he can't cycle is that he has a fractured knee.
But I was tempted to recite a well known Monty Python sketch!
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Just a quick thanks to everyone for your replies.
Much appreciated.
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>> Might be a good solution of course. But for what it's worth, from the age
>> of 9, I cycled from the Maybury area of Edinburgh into the old town near
>> the Royal Infirmary to school every day. 5 miles each way in traffic and with
>> a fair few hills and in all the joys of Scottish winters, a canvas messenger
>> type satchel slung over my shoulder and any other kit I needed in saddle bags.
>> Most days I'd also have to go back in for evening activities so that was
>> 20 miles most days and on Tuesdays we had skiing lessons at Hillend which is
>> another 3 miles beyond the city and back with ski boots as an additional load.
>> On two of the other weekday afternoons we had Rugby training down at a satellite
>> sports ground a couple of miles from school too so that added another 4 or
>> so miles those days on top of the training sessions ( oh and more kit
>> to carry ). Saturday mornings is was back to the rugby ground for a match
>> or to another school's ground for an away game.
Just think, all those years ago you would have been dreaming of the day you could retire on a fat pension......
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Of course you're right but on reflection perhaps I've had a lucky escape after all. I mean, I might by now be feeling my days were fulfilled by going on train spotting trips in rough old jap cars. I may not ever have that option but somehow that's not majorly bothering me.
:-)
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Thats true, still at 75 you'll have real credibility when you are out flogging orthopaedic shoes in the old folks homes.
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>> Thats true, still at 75 you'll have real credibility when you are out flogging orthopaedic
>> shoes in the old folks homes.
>>
No substitute for a salesman with relevant experience of the brand Z...... ;-)
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That Piaggio scooter type thing with the two wheels on the front. How's about one of them?
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Ah the MP3 - highly rated by MOTORCYCLE mags - yes Motorcycle mags. Superb, secure handling.
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And if you get the MP3 400, no CBT required can be driven on a car license.
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Honda - Scooters - Armel Coussine
