16 year olds and scooters-help please.

ash h

Hi.Im sixteen and im thinking of getting a scooter(50cc)
Do i just have to do a theory test and get insurance then i can drive it?
Also iv heard some people talking about having to get restricted ones-would this apply to me?
Any help and advice appreciated.
Thanks
Ash-h

seamus

ash h wrote:

Hi.Im sixteen and im thinking of getting a scooter(50cc)
Do i just have to do a theory test and get insurance then i can drive it?
Also iv heard some people talking about having to get restricted ones-would this apply to me?
Any help and advice appreciated.
Thanks
Ash-h

YOu'll have to do a theory test first off. When you pass that, you'll have to get a provisional driving licence. You're only eligible for classes "M" or "A1" at 16 and either will cover you for the scooter. Then once you have a licence, you'll need insurance, and you'll be allowed to drive it.

In terms of restriction, afaik most scooters come with some sort of restriction. This simply restricts the top speed of the vehicle, and doesn't affect its ability to accelerate. This is done so that you can insure the vehicle for cheaper. Removing factory-installed restriction tends to make the engine so loud that you sound like a tosser. It also invalidates your insurance - if you're caught, you face a six month ban, €2,000 fine or even the possibility of jail time. At 16, you'll also not be able to afford insurance until you're well into your twenties.

babybundy

my advice is dont get one its not worth the money your going to pay for the insurance you would be better of paying the extra few hundred and get something in group 2 like nsr virago dragstar van van or a varadaro (aslong as your not short as it is a high enough bike)

ash h

Thanks for all the information-much appreciated.Also can you get a bike in group2 insurance if your 16.

babybundy

ya it goes by the engine size at 16 you cant get anymore than a 125 but some 125's are group 7+ can you drivebikes already if not go to an instructor trust me it pays of in the long run

Kinetic^

I'll also advise not to get one. Your insurance for one year alone is going to be the same, if not more than the price of the scooter. I'd hold off for a year and get car driving lessons and maybe insured as a named driver on your parent(s) car.

babybundy

it would be cheaper but you'd be a safer driver if you get bike experiance you will learn to read the road different to someone who starts on a car

Munurty

Have you tried to get a quote for insurance yet? When i was 16(3 years ago) there was only one company that would quote me and that was Hibernian. AFAIK they dont do bikes anymore. It was also about four grand for an NSR 80.

babybundy

Munurty wrote:

Have you tried to get a quote for insurance yet? When i was 16(3 years ago) there was only one company that would quote me and that was Hibernian. AFAIK they dont do bikes anymore. It was also about four grand for an NSR 80.

its aon now and axa are over them and dont say nsr 80 say nsr 75 one is group 2 the other is 3

Munurty

Yea that is what i did and it ended up at 1750. I don't know if you'll be covered properly though because even though it is like 74cc on the tax cert its down as nsr80.

babybundy

no the bike is a nsr 75 the older ones were 80 i think its pre 95

Darando

seamus wrote:

YOu'll have to do a theory test first off. When you pass that, you'll have to get a provisional driving licence. You're only eligible for classes "M" or "A1" at 16 and either will cover you for the scooter. Then once you have a licence, you'll need insurance, and you'll be allowed to drive it.

In terms of restriction, afaik most scooters come with some sort of restriction. This simply restricts the top speed of the vehicle, and doesn't affect its ability to accelerate. This is done so that you can insure the vehicle for cheaper. Removing factory-installed restriction tends to make the engine so loud that you sound like a tosser. It also invalidates your insurance - if you're caught, you face a six month ban, €2,000 fine or even the possibility of jail time. At 16, you'll also not be able to afford insurance until you're well into your twenties.

Since when did removing the restriction (usually in the exhaust or washer in the gearing) make insurance invalid!!! The bike is insured as a 50cc, removing the restrictor will have nothing to do with the insurance. Only thing that will invalidate it is changing the cylinder to a 70cc or something else. or getting more than 11kW out of it- which is highly unlikely.

As for M and A1 licence, its usually a scooter with a max speed of 45kph - which would be the restricted scooter thats for M class - I have yet to hear of anyone with one of these. A1 is for anything upto 125cc and 11kW which is any unrestricted scooter.

Idleater

Darando wrote:

Since when did removing the restriction (usually in the exhaust or washer in the gearing) make insurance invalid!!! ....

Insurance is given on a vehicle as specified. Making alterations to a vehicle may incur loading from an insurers point of view. Failing to inform an insurance company of these changes means that the "new" vehicle is not covered because it has changed from what was originally agreed between the insurer and the vehicle owner.

If as you claim, the restriction is doing "nothing", then either why was it installed by the manufacturer or why would you want to remove it?

The restrictor does restrict the power of the moped, so removing it does alter the agreeed characteristics of the vehicle which does require the insurance company to be informed according to their T&C's.

L.

murphaph

If the restrictor prevents the moped exceeding 45km/h and removing it allows the vehicle to go faster then it's no longer a category M vehicle, it's A1 or whatever so you'd want to make sure you had an A1 licence and of course, any insurance company could refuse to pay a claim on a vehicle assumed to be restricted but which isn't. They generally do just pay up and screw decent people over but there's always a first time......I'd not remove any restriction if I was you.

babybundy

come on you shoul no any excuse for them to not pay

ash h

Thanks for all the advice.I dont think ill get one unless my parents pay for insurance(not likely but worth a try).
Thanks Again
Ash h

seamus

ash h wrote:

Thanks for all the advice.I dont think ill get one unless my parents pay for insurance(not likely but worth a try).
Thanks Again
Ash h

You'll probably find your Mum would rather slit her wrists than allow you on one

babybundy

asking for your 16 or 18 birthday usual works or on exam results