Switching from 50cc to 125cc moped recommendations

Luckycharm

I am looking for advice, I have driving a 50cc moped for the last 7/8 years into work and I am thinking of moving up to a 125cc moped. I got my current moped very quickly as my previous died suddenly and I was very stuck.
I know I will have to get a new provisional license (will apply for test later) and I have priced insurance.
I am basically looking for a scooter that has good acceleration just to get me around traffic etc and that is reliable that I am not going to spend half my time down the shop getting fixed. Can anyone give me any recommendations - I don't want a motorbike (would kill myself)?
I saw in the bike shop this morning they are selling new suzuki scooters for €2,000 - thinking about that one or maybe getting a 2nd hand bike- Where is the best place to look in South dublin/city centre?

Hotblack Desiato

Luckycharm wrote: »

Can anyone give me any recommendations - I don't want a motorbike (would kill myself)?

This 'scooters fluffy and safe, motorcycles nasty and dangerous' perception is common, but is complete rubbish. The larger the motorcycle, the safer it is, 50cc mopeds have the worst accident rate!

If you don't want a geared bike then fine, but don't fool yourself that a scooter is a safer choice, safety depends first and foremost on the rider not his or her choice of machine.

kowloon

The speed of a big bike might kill you if you have no self control, but mopeds are dangerous off perfect surfaces and not always stable.
How about a big moped like a bergmann?

Hotblack Desiato

kowloon wrote: »

The speed of a big bike might kill you if you have no self control

The speed of a Honda 50 is more than enough to kill you if you have no self-control - hell, so's a pushbike.

kowloon

ninja900 wrote: »

The speed of a Honda 50 is more than enough to kill you if you have no self-control - hell, so's a pushbike.

I meant it more in the context of a speed addiction, I wouldn't reccommend anyone start out on a Hayabusa for instance, should have clarified it better.

Wossack

ninja900 wrote: »

This 'scooters fluffy and safe, motorcycles nasty and dangerous' perception is common, but is complete rubbish. The larger the motorcycle, the safer it is, 50cc mopeds have the worst accident rate!

yep, was gonna post something similiar yesterday

kinda get the impression (not pointing fingers here) that generally moped riders, as an extension of the fluffy/safe thing, dont worry so much about training or gear.. sure once Ive got my 'M' from passing by 'B' license, Im good to go! Free helmet with this 49cc bike? Awesome! etc

seen alot more folks do crazy stuff on mopeds, then on bikes - probably skewed somewhat as there's alot more 'peds on the roads, but still

Luckycharm

ninja900 wrote: »

This 'scooters fluffy and safe, motorcycles nasty and dangerous' perception is common, but is complete rubbish. The larger the motorcycle, the safer it is, 50cc mopeds have the worst accident rate!

If you don't want a geared bike then fine, but don't fool yourself that a scooter is a safer choice, safety depends first and foremost on the rider not his or her choice of machine.

Now don't get so defensive, I was talking more about my own self control ;)nothing to do with the safety of the motorbike. I know I would have a heavy wrist that would have to test out how quick the bike could go and if it was a big bike that would be very quick :eek: Plus insurance would be very high.

As I said I have been driving Dublins mean streets on my 50cc for 7/8 years with touchwood no accidents so did I should be Ok to handle a 125cc scooter- I am looking at maybe a suzuki access 125 cc anyone know anything about them. So far no recommendations on the thread.

Hotblack Desiato

I didn't mean to sound defensive Luckycharm - it's just that the public perception, reinforced by the media seems to be that mopeds/scooters are fine and dandy and it's only motorcycles that ever crash (perhaps because it's never reported on the news that 'a scooter has crashed' or 'a moped has crashed' - the distinction is not always easy to make so they always say 'motorcycle'. Problem is that that is perceived by the public as 'big f..k off motorbike'.)

Some moped/scooter riders really do seem to think 'I don't need training/test/licence/protective gear/decent lid, ah sure it's only a moped/scooter' which is, of course, daft. The road is just as hard when you are sliding along it no matter what type of machine you fell off. In town, unless you are a total nutter the speeds will be broadly the same whether bike or scooter, and automatics are often quicker away from the lights!

Anyway. Sorry can't offer you any guidance on machine choice, the only 125 scooter I ever rode was a hired Neos in Lanzarote, and the bore was probably well worn as it was no quicker than the Peugeot 50 I'd hired the year before! I later hired a Lifan 400cc which was a good two-up machine, I still prefer geared bikes though (engine braking) and larger wheels for better stability.

As regards whether 'you can handle it' after 7 years on a 50, or whatever, no reason why not, experience is a good thing but it is even better when backed up by training. I went from first bike (100cc, 60mph) to a GS500 (110mph) to a CBR600 (165mph) in exactly three years - but took training and my Class A test along the way. I'd recommend that anyone, full licence or not, on any type of bike, who has been riding for a few years take (or re-take) training, it really pays off.

Woo, a novel.

lord lucan

i switched from an aprilia habana 50 to a yamaha majesty 125 a couple of months ago. the only major difference is surprisingly enough the extra speed,which you'll appreciate if you have any open stretches of road to cover. i use mine to work and go mainly through housing estates and multiple roundabouts and the 50 was actually quicker than the 125 through the estates. i'm changing the majesty soon for a yamaha x-max,another 125 but it has bigger wheels(15" instead of 12"),the majesty has the same size wheels as my old 50 and feels strange under braking in the wet,i actually had a slide on it after a week when i braked hard but hit a painted white line,she was gone from underneath me before i knew it!!!!!!:eek:

Persius

To answer the original question, the Honda Lead looks like a reasonable cheap and cheerful scooter with Honda quality. It's actually a 100cc, so might be even a bit cheaper with insurance.

Luckycharm

lord lucan wrote: »

i switched from an aprilia habana 50 to a yamaha majesty 125 a couple of months ago. the only major difference is surprisingly enough the extra speed,which you'll appreciate if you have any open stretches of road to cover. i use mine to work and go mainly through housing estates and multiple roundabouts and the 50 was actually quicker than the 125 through the estates. i'm changing the majesty soon for a yamaha x-max,another 125 but it has bigger wheels(15" instead of 12"),the majesty has the same size wheels as my old 50 and feels strange under braking in the wet,i actually had a slide on it after a week when i braked hard but hit a painted white line,she was gone from underneath me before i knew it!!!!!!:eek:

The Majesty is the bigger bike- Suzuki AN is about the same size as my current (not the best) Aerox!! Just looking for something a bit nippier and for the very rare open stretches of road I do get. Cannot get a theory test till Middle of may which is annoying as do hold a full license so hopefully know the rules of the road.