I'm looking to buy a moped...
Caboose
title = name(self, handle) Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13597Members, Constellation
title = name(self, handle) Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13597Members, Constellation
in Off-Topic
Ok, I'm 20, I have no car, I take the bus everywhere, it's done me good for a long time. But now, I feel like having something that doesn't run on any schedule other than mine, and doesn't consume half of my pay with things like gas...
So I thought to myself, why not a moped? I see them around, I hear they get insanely good gas mileage. (roughly 100mpg depending on the make/model)
However, I do live in Colorado, and it tends to get cold. I intend to use said moped to go to and from work, maybe to and from school, depending on what I have to carry, which sometimes is quite a bit. Work is only about a 10 minute car ride away, however, my school's campus is located in downtown Denver, which is substantially further away.
There is a 30mph limit in CO for mopeds, which sucks, but I'd rather not buy an expensive car and pay for its gas. I'll most likely continue to take the bus to school, it works well enough for me, I can do homework and such during the ride. But for running little errands or going places that would take multiple bus transfers with large layover time...
Anyway, does anyone here have any experience with mopeds? Good or bad... Any suggestions as to a make/model? I'm currently looking at the Honda Metropolitan, used of course.
So I thought to myself, why not a moped? I see them around, I hear they get insanely good gas mileage. (roughly 100mpg depending on the make/model)
However, I do live in Colorado, and it tends to get cold. I intend to use said moped to go to and from work, maybe to and from school, depending on what I have to carry, which sometimes is quite a bit. Work is only about a 10 minute car ride away, however, my school's campus is located in downtown Denver, which is substantially further away.
There is a 30mph limit in CO for mopeds, which sucks, but I'd rather not buy an expensive car and pay for its gas. I'll most likely continue to take the bus to school, it works well enough for me, I can do homework and such during the ride. But for running little errands or going places that would take multiple bus transfers with large layover time...
Anyway, does anyone here have any experience with mopeds? Good or bad... Any suggestions as to a make/model? I'm currently looking at the Honda Metropolitan, used of course.
Comments
<a href="http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/2005models/2005models-Suzuki-GSX750FKatana.htm" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/2005models/2005-Suzuki-GSX750FKatana.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" /></a>
Suzuki Katana = 750cc = not a moped, but that does not subtract from its bad arseness.
:edit:
moped =
<img src="http://www.bikez.com/pictures/honda/2004/21024_0_1_2_metropolitan%20ii_Image%20credits%20-%20Honda.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
not the coolest looking vehicles, but they go from point A to point B on very little gas.
Suzuki Katana = 750cc = not a moped<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm sure you could just scratch off the 7 and nobody would be the wiser.
<img src="http://www.razor-scooters.com/razor-scooters/razor-ms-130a3/razor-scooter-ms130-a3-blue.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
I think <a href="http://web.mit.edu/scz/www/metro-v-vino.shtml" target="_blank">THIS</a> will help. I'm partial to the Honda Metropolitan.
Remember, you'll need a Ricky to go along with it:
<img src="http://www.milezero.org/images/i_am_waiting_to_buy_a_bass.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
However it's a very old model now. And i don't even know if it was sold in America. Sold mine a long time ago when i bought a car, but i may rebuy one someday. Those things can do a good 55 mph with some modifications while still being reliable. I'm not into scooters (small wheels thingies), but as you say its cold where you live, it's your best bet i guess. Honda engines are rock solid.
<img src="http://www.bikexprt.com/bikepol/facil/sidepath/paris/images/8907N06B20French%20Moped%20rider3.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
Now, whether you choose to navigate a scooter or a moped through traffic makes little difference - neither offers any protection in an accident and YOU will lose.<b> <u>Always</u></b> wear a helmet and allow extra following distance etc.
Mopeds don't allow for additional storing space. So why not simply use a bike?
Depending on the kind of area you are living in (metropilitan,urban,ural etc) and the distance you need to travel it is often faster to go by bike than to go by motorcycle or car.
Seriously, you get people leaning over on them like they're going 400mph, revving the throttle to pretend they actually have gears, and they're doing about 30mph down the road with the engine screaming like a huge mosquito giving birth.
Yes please don't get a screacy anoying one they are blooming anoying.
and a scooter isn't a moped. it has no pedals, now does it? call it a moscoot if you want. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
<img src="http://www.bullnet.co.uk/shops/test/images/solex.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
Basically it's a bicycle with some help from the small motor
A moped (this is a "Honda camino" btw):
<img src="http://images.kapaza.be/fotos_shop/logo192915.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
50cc with little body (imo, the best choice)
A scooter:
<img src="http://www.mobcustom.com/IMG/jpg/1-262.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
Same as a moped, but with smaller wheels and some useless body
And he is correct about security. I used to drive a lot of mopeds going REALLY fast (about 95km/h) without a helmet and i guess i can consider being lucky to be still alive.
<img src="http://pgroves.googlepages.com/TomosArrow.jpg/TomosArrow-full.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
WHAM!
Yep, this is my moped... 48.8cc, 2 stroke, oil injected single cylinder, air cooled, automatic two-speed motor, disc/drum brakes... and PEDALS!
You should get the STRANGE looks I get when I start pedaling in the middle of slow traffic. XD
Oh, and look at that speedometer! A top speed of SIXTY KILOMETERS PER HOUR! ...*Cough*GoingDownHill.WithATailWind.DraftingBehindATruck.*Cough*
...That's about 30mph, just so's-you-knows.
LIVE TO RIDE! ...Ride to Work.
Born to be MILD!
-Sid
"Swarm and Destroy!"
I always have sorta pondered gettign one of these things and always turned it down as not really efficent.
Anyways:
Scooters do not equal Mopeds. Mopeds have pedals, scooters do not.
Some people prefer a moped because, for example, I do not need my full license to operate it, and it only costs me $60 a YEAR for insurance.
That and it costs me 72 cents to fill up, and it gets 160KM/gallon. A tank on this lasts me three weeks. They're a blast to ride, and you can actually find a huge load of kits available for them.
Go here and find out everything you need to know:
<a href="http://www.mopedarmy.com/" target="_blank">http://www.mopedarmy.com/</a>
I recommend Tomos or Puch.
<a href="http://www.tomosusa.com/" target="_blank">http://www.tomosusa.com/</a>
<3s,
Sid
Check out the riot, it's a thousand dollars, it's like a few cc under 50, and weights 46 lbs, full suspension with 1/2 the wheel diameter in suspension play, chain driven with a clutch, and for an extra 200 ish you can get another 7-10 mph out of it, it already goes 26, DDM offers a kit that is a expansion chamber, different gearing for sprocket, bigger non stock air filter [I go with 4.5' k&n] and some other randomness that makes the mph add up.
www.davesmotors.com is where the offical go-ped people recommended I buy one, as it's ran by one of the founders of PWM, who makes the offical go ped.
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->To accommodate various rider skills, weights, and preferences, the suspension can be tuned from plush to firm through its elastomer compression adjusters. These adjusters raise and lower its natural damping characteristics as well.
The C.I.D.L.I. suspension system geometry produces very effective anti-dive characteristics under braking from its powerful and race proven Mad Dog twin stainless steel wave rotor disc brakes.
For power, PMW is introducing a new 4 port, 4.5 HP, high compression, high RPM 45.7cc 2 stroke engine. This purpose designed engine becomes PMW's top of the line performer of its production gas powered scooter line-up. Power delivery is through a single reduction pocket bike style chain-drive system with 78mm automatic centrifugal clutch. Though the aftermarket selection is already great, the stock sprocket ratio was chosen to deliver the best bottom end for this combination. This produces absolutely the highest fun factor in trail riding for this scooter. <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
and a link of jumping on the suspension: <a href="http://www.davesmotors.com/files/videos/ripperjump.avi" target="_blank">http://www.davesmotors.com/files/videos/ripperjump.avi</a>
[edit]
it would be that, or a dual sport. No way I would actuall get a 600 cc cycle, as it would be the death of me
[edit2]
added some stuff
[/edit]
Gopeds are cool if you have the cash to buy them. They're pretty good quality, very modifiable... but expensive! And not street legal.
Before I bought my Moped, I was ridding this:
<img src="http://ic1.deviantart.com/fs14/f/2007/087/4/4/Look_what_I_bought____again__by_Gubru.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
Yep, it's a Chinese knockoff, but I bought if for $200. It has more features than a Goped, too. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
<33
I wouldn't even bother with a moped, I would just go dual sport motorcyle... You can take those on the freeway, but barely =D
seat == FAIL
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Ow, my feelings. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" />
But the seat is comfy for my bony arse. :/
<a href="http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2007/6/1/1287/76804" target="_blank">http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2007/6/1/1287/76804</a>
Guy spent $1600 on the whole package.
[youtube]zKKvP9wWrlY[/youtube]