Scooter Drivers!

[paulthepilot_5]

Ok, who out there is a regular rider of a scooter? I am looking at getting one so i don't have to drive my series 3 to work every day. I am wondering what sort of rego costs they have in QLD? and how much trouble are they to ride in traffic?

Thanks
Paul

[procrastination inc]

I've ridden a few, quite a giggle :)

If you need to do any work over 60km/h a 50cc machine won't cut it. Then you are looking at needing a bike licence.

The little 50's will stay with normal traffic in built up areas. Drivers tend to be less aggressive to scootoristi than conventional bikers, but you still need to ride like everyone is trying to kill you.

I suggest you try it, see if you like it. If not, sell it. With fuel prices as they are, the market for 50cc scoots is strong.

[procrastination inc]

Oh, and nobody drives scooters, they ride them :P

[Tango51]

Oh, and nobody drives scooters, they ride them :P
This isn't true!
I was horrified to discover almost all Americans 'drive' scooters, motorcycles, boats and even planes!!!
Left me stumped when I learned they 'ride' horses:confused::confused:
:p

[paulthepilot_5]

I've ridden a few, quite a giggle :)

If you need to do any work over 60km/h a 50cc machine won't cut it. Then you are looking at needing a bike licence.

The little 50's will stay with normal traffic in built up areas. Drivers tend to be less aggressive to scootoristi than conventional bikers, but you still need to ride like everyone is trying to kill you.

I suggest you try it, see if you like it. If not, sell it. With fuel prices as they are, the market for 50cc scoots is strong.

Yeah, i am use to that when i ride my push bike. at least a scooter can keep up with the traffic a bit better up hill :)

[Scallops]

.... so i don't have to drive my series 3 to work every day....

Heya Paul - was it you that bought Clarkie's Defender?

[paulthepilot_5]

Heya Paul - was it you that bought Clarkie's Defender?

Nup not me! I still have Yellow Pezza :D not going to get rid of her :cool: just don't want to wear it out commuting to work every day.

Paul

[feraldisco]

just coz it's 'only' a scooter, doesn't mean you have to be any less careful than on a motorbike...in fact, I'd say you need to be more so because scooters have less acceleration and braking to get you out of trouble, less road 'presence' (e.g. no loud exhaust) to make car drivers aware that you're there, and small wheels which mean they're much more subject to bump steer and have less traction in wet and for braking. City riding is more dangerous than country riding, so even 'commuters' should do some training or at least receive some advice from experienced bike riders - e.g. ride in the RHS of lanes so you're out of oil drop zone and so car drivers can see you (assuming they check their side mirrors!), minimise the time you spend riding alongside cars (particularly vans) and establish eye contact with car drivers/cover your brakes at intersections. I see a lot of people jumping onto scooters because they're easy to ride, but they don't possess the 'roadcraft' to handle traffic situations safely.

[V8Ian]

And wear a full face helmet with a tinted visor, so you can't be recognised.:D:wasntme:

[WhiteD3]

and health insurance and income protection is very important. You'll be a statistic waiting to be recorded:D

[feraldisco]

And wear a full face helmet with a tinted visor, so you can't be recognised.:D:wasntme:


How does the joke go...'Riding a scooter is like 'getting intimate' with a 'large person' (being non sex specific here) - it's a lot of fun but you wouldn't tell your mates about it!' ;)

Seriously though, don't be tempted to wear an open face like a lot of scooter riders...most of us need our lower jaws to chew food properly...

[feraldisco]

and health insurance and income protection is very important. You'll be a statistic waiting to be recorded:D


That's a bit grim...it is possible to enjoy bike riding and stay uninjured/alive...just make sure you get the right advice/training/attitude and wear the right safety gear...

[WhiteD3]

That's a bit grim...it is possible to enjoy bike riding and stay uninjured/alive...just make sure you get the right advice/training/attitude and wear the right safety gear...

True, and each to their own. But having run over a bloke on a bike (no fault of his or mine) I'm a bit biased.

IMHO it's not the bike riding that's the issue, it's the cars and trucks, and the lack of protection in a fall.

Oh, IMHO I do think scooters (the smaller one's) are underpowered and have too smaller wheels to be driven safely at any serious speed or over anything that is not smooth bitumen.

Qld motorbike fatalities 'nearly doubled' - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/03/24/2197288.htm)

[45tr0]

Oh, IMHO I do think scooters (the smaller one's) are underpowered and have too smaller wheels to be driven safely at any serious speed or over anything that is not smooth bitumen.


I'll second that! As a small matter of physics, the larger the wheel size, the easier a bike is to keep upright (centrifugal force and that sort of business). Scooters are fairly unstable things.

The other thing to consider is how big a bloke you are - i'm 100kg and on a 50cc scooter i'd be lucky to break 40km/h.

I ride a postie bike as my daily driver - so far 15,000km in two years including two round trips Brisbane to Bundaberg. 110cc, so you need a bike licence, but it goes places that scooters will never, they are faster (90km top speed), the motors are virtually bulletproof and parts are dirt cheap

[paulthepilot_5]

I'll second that! As a small matter of physics, the larger the wheel size, the easier a bike is to keep upright (centrifugal force and that sort of business). Scooters are fairly unstable things.

The other thing to consider is how big a bloke you are - i'm 100kg and on a 50cc scooter i'd be lucky to break 40km/h.

I ride a postie bike as my daily driver - so far 15,000km in two years including two round trips Brisbane to Bundaberg. 110cc, so you need a bike licence, but it goes places that scooters will never, they are faster (90km top speed), the motors are virtually bulletproof and parts are dirt cheap

The weight side of things is not a problem as i only weigh 65kg. I have been wanting to get a CT-110 but they seem a little difficult to find :( plus i have not gotten a motorcycle licence yet.

[Bigbjorn]

How old are you? Healing is a lot slower at 60 than it is at 26!!!!!

Bike hits car, car is dented, bike is a write-off, bike rider somwhere between repairable and written off, car hits bike, bike and rider written off.

Gave up motor cycles when I realised that car drivers are no more considerate forty years on, and there are now not only lots more of them, but they now have air conditioning, tinted windows, loud stereo systems, and mobile 'phones to occupy their attention. "Bike? What bike? Oh, is that what that noise was".

[Disco Steve]

I have riden scooters before. they are great if you dont wont to go over 60km/h. As you REALY have to push them to get them above that.

[disco2hse]

Bike hits car, car is dented, bike is a write-off, bike rider somwhere between repairable and written off, ...

Ayup, been there, done that. More than once. :(

Some drivers are amazingly blind spotted.

[disco2hse]

Left me stumped when I learned they 'ride' horses:confused::confused:
:p

Yeah well I wouldn't get to close to that one if I were you :p :D

[procrastination inc]

I think there is a cultural thing happening.

In Italy, every body rides. No licencing required. So every one you know, you kids your mum, your grandma, rides. You are aware of riders because it is personal.

I'd like to see legislation that made riding compulsory before driving. It'd make for more careful drivers I think.

[45tr0]

I have been wanting to get a CT-110 but they seem a little difficult to find :( plus i have not gotten a motorcycle licence yet.
check out oneten motorcycles at Caboolture. Specialist ct110 mechanic and reseller. One Ten Mototcycles - CT110 (http://www.onetenmotorcycles.com.au)




I'd like to see legislation that made riding compulsory before driving. It'd make for more careful drivers I think.
Yep, you go to holland, where you can drive a moped from 14 and a car from 18. very few accidents between cars and bikes, because everyone started out on one.
Unfortunately, our legislation is taking the opposite view! My girlfriend can't get her motorbike learners until she's held a car licence for 12 months!

[Xavie]

Don't get the smallest CC bike you can just because it will save fuel. There have been plenty of times when I have needed power to get out of situations like when cars are not looking and they go to ram you at lights. And for the extra half a litre or a litre you might save having a small engine, it's just not worth it.

One that I used to ride which was a mates was a Honda spacey 250cc. Used about 2.5 liters per 100 and went well enough for most. There are some good scooters out there but finding one which fits I found rather difficult.

Xavier

[paulthepilot_5]

check out oneten motorcycles at Caboolture. Specialist ct110 mechanic and reseller. One Ten Mototcycles - CT110 (http://www.onetenmotorcycles.com.au)



Yep, you go to holland, where you can drive a moped from 14 and a car from 18. very few accidents between cars and bikes, because everyone started out on one.
Unfortunately, our legislation is taking the opposite view! My girlfriend can't get her motorbike learners until she's held a car licence for 12 months!
Thanks for that link :D
I am starting to lean towards the idea of getting CT 110 again. I think asking a scooter to go 52km a day is a bit of an ask. I will go in and get my motorbike learners tomorrow i think. :D I like the idea of a CT 110 over a scooter because of its simplicity and longevity, none of the plastic crap like on scooters. It is sort of a Land Rover of the bike world :p

Paul

[graceysdad]

In light of Rons recent loss can we maybe hold of on the usual bike rider jokes like temporary citizen bit for a while,

[paulthepilot_5]

In light of Rons recent loss can we maybe hold of on the usual bike rider jokes like temporary citizen bit for a while,
I second that!

[45tr0]

Thanks for that link :D
I am starting to lean towards the idea of getting CT 110 again. I think asking a scooter to go 52km a day is a bit of an ask. I will go in and get my motorbike learners tomorrow i think. :D I like the idea of a CT 110 over a scooter because of its simplicity and longevity, none of the plastic crap like on scooters. It is sort of a Land Rover of the bike world :p

Paul

No worries mate :D

As i said, mine's done 450km in a day (8 hours of riding!) from Bundaberg to Brisbane or back, on four seperate occasions. It's still going strong.

They're awesome little tackers! ;)

Also, My personal theory is that you are much more visible on a postie than a scooter, because everyone is used to seeing them around. You're a lot less likely to be invisible on a postie, because its such a regular icon to see.

[PeterM]

The auctions are a good place to keep an eye out for CT110s too. Manheim-Fowles do the auctions for them here in Melb. There are auctions every month but you won't necessarily have 110s each month.

It's good you're looking at doing some rider training, very wise but it is also well worth your while to spend money on proper safety gear. Wear the full-face helmet, gloves, bike jacket and at least pull-over pants plus some decent shoes. Good gear makes a world of difference.

[Datt]

I'll second the motion re postie bike. My dad had one to run around his block and round up the cows on when I was a kid. I used to give it an absolute flogging when mates came over and it just kept on going. I've got one now that I bought off my brother. I've been riding it for the past 4 years as a commuter and it has been terrific. The larger engine meens you can keep up with traffic. The rack on the back lets me carry stuff, and runs just as cheap as a scooter with no need for 2 stroke oil. Servicing yourself is a piece of cake. The only thing I've had to replace (apart from consumables ie tyres, chain & sprockets etc) is the rear indicator rubber mounts. Picked up 2 entire indicators including lenses, bulbs and bolts in almost new condition from a wrecker for $40.

In Brisbane they occasionally come up for auction at Pickles -
Vehicle Auctions, Car Auctions, Online Auction - Pickles Auctions Australia (http://www.pickles.com.au/)

or you can buy straight away from Manheim Fowles at Eagle Farm -
http://www.manheimfowles.com.au/cms/showcase/Showcase_PostieBikes_TMA_BBN_Oct07%20_2_.pdf
I was there last week and there is dozens of them there. Hope that helps.

Matt.

[DiscoStew]

If you need to do any work over 60km/h a 50cc machine won't cut it. Then you are looking at needing a bike licence.

The little 50's will stay with normal traffic in built up areas.

My experience as a driver regularly caught behind a particular scooter on the way home: as soon as there is a small hill forget getting anywhere near 60km/h. Get the 110 so you don't get cars trying to make a point by sitting on your tail or overtaking you while getting as close to you as possible.

Getting the bike licence was pretty easy when I did it, and I believe even easier now with the Q-ride scheme. And as someone else said, there are lots of little things that you can learn from the instructor to help prevent someone running over you.

Personally I prefer the idea of a 250cc bike than a scooter. You sit higher, people can see you better, better control.

[procrastination inc]

I like the idea of a CT 110 over a scooter because of its simplicity and longevity, none of the plastic crap like on scooters. It is sort of a Land Rover of the bike world....

Get an Ag version with a hi'lo range box, the fattest knobbies you can fit on it, paint her green and stick a little LR oval infront of the 110.

there are little electric turbos that are actually meant to work on these engines :twisted:

[45tr0]

Get an Ag version with a hi'lo range box, the fattest knobbies you can fit on it, paint her green and stick a little LR oval infront of the 110.

there are little electric turbos that are actually meant to work on these engines :twisted:

The ag box models don't have a compliance plate, and can't be road registered. :(

bugger the electric turbo, if you want more power stick in a 150cc pitbike motor for around $500. 16kw versus 9kw stock... guess what i'm building at the moment ;)

[procrastination inc]

this is probably closer to an LR scooter

Scottish built off road vehicle, green, all terrain, bio diesel motorbike built in Scotland, UK (http://www.ecorider.com/)

[paulthepilot_5]

Well today on the way home I dropped into Pro Honda at Rocklea and booked a QRIDE course for next Thursday and Friday. Will spend the rest of this week trying to find a good CT110 :cool:

[procrastination inc]

honda ct110 - postie bikes - eBay Honda, Road Bikes, Motorcycles, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 01-Apr-08 10:25:04 AEST) (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/honda-ct110-postie-bikes_W0QQitemZ290217301106QQihZ019QQcategoryZ1026 85QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

heaps more on fleabay.

If you are cashed up then look at this

http://www.motozentrumph.com/images/stories/MADASS_black.jpg

Sachs Madass

[45tr0]

Well today on the way home I dropped into Pro Honda at Rocklea and booked a QRIDE course for next Thursday and Friday. Will spend the rest of this week trying to find a good CT110 :cool:

Are you following me?? Lol!
I can't say enough good things about Pro Honda - that's where i got my Qride ticket too. Really good instructors, had me through the course in a day :D

Re looking for a postie - watch for valve/timing chain noise, smoke, or difficulty/roughness when changing gears. Also look for signs of oil leaks around the clutch housings, like greasy footpegs or bashguards.

I would also suggest swapping the front sprocket up from 14 to 15 teeth - AusPost use a 14 to give more torque in second gear but it limits you to about 70-75km/h. 15 teeth is the standard cog for general riding, and still gives a light bloke like you more than enough acceleration to find the 90km/h speed limiter. Pro Honda have always got postie parts in stock - they service the Auspost fleet for the Southside :p

Oh, and buy a $15 galvanised toolbox from Bunnings, and bolt it on the back. Cheapest and safest lockbox i've found to stow your gear :D

Speaking of gear - Morgan and Wacker at Brekky Creek do a Learner's package - RXT Boss helmet, Jacket, Gloves and Boots for $400. Not exactly Rossi's gear, but it's saved my **** more than once. ;)

[45tr0]

oh, and avoid the madass - they only sell the 50cc here in Aus and they ride like a dog.

[Bigbjorn]

Forget those little step through postie bikes if you are tall and/or heavy. They get very unbalanced if you are long in the leg and have to sit way back, and will actually rear up on a hill and slide you off the back. They don't like going uphill with 115 kilos aboard. Try a Cagiva 125. They are a brilliant little bike with a good riding position, modern frame, suspension, and brakes meant for a much bigger powertrain, and run on a sniff of an oily rag. Being Italian this should be a piece of an Armani suit soaked in best extra virgin olive oil. Seriously, they are a good bit of kit, do somewhere over 60mpg, are good to ride in traffic, and are cheap for what you get.

[45tr0]

Forget those little step through postie bikes if you are tall and/or heavy. They get very unbalanced if you are long in the leg and have to sit way back, and will actually rear up on a hill and slide you off the back. They don't like going uphill with 115 kilos aboard..

Make Believe :D

i'm 100kg (was 115 until recently!) and 6'3".
Sure, they arent quick up a hill, but get down a gear and you're fine.
As for throwing you off, i have to laugh!- they don't have enough torque! Besides, heard of leaning forward? :D

[Bigbjorn]

The bloody thing did not have enough torque to go forward but sufficient to attempt to climb the chain, rear up, and let me slide off the seat on a quite steep hill.
I uised to ride real bikes where one doesn't have to do trick rider stunts leaning over the front wheel to keep it on the ground in a suburban street. Those days we regarded anything less than 500cc as a girl's bike.

[paulthepilot_5]

Forget those little step through postie bikes if you are tall and/or heavy. They get very unbalanced if you are long in the leg and have to sit way back, and will actually rear up on a hill and slide you off the back. They don't like going uphill with 115 kilos aboard. Try a Cagiva 125. They are a brilliant little bike with a good riding position, modern frame, suspension, and brakes meant for a much bigger powertrain, and run on a sniff of an oily rag. Being Italian this should be a piece of an Armani suit soaked in best extra virgin olive oil. Seriously, they are a good bit of kit, do somewhere over 60mpg, are good to ride in traffic, and are cheap for what you get.

Looks like a good bike but unfortunately modern bikes do nothing for me. I like old school and basic vehicles :p

Hence, Driving Series 3 + Flying super cubs + riding CT110 = Me happy as a Pig in s**t :D:banana:

[procrastination inc]

125cc available in Oz now :)

[paulthepilot_5]

Well I finally got my little CT110 :twisted:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ (http://imageshack.us)

It is a great little bike, so much fun and so cheap to ride. I got some dirty looks at the servo when i filled the tank up for $5

Time for some mods i think :D

[foz.in.oz]

Have ridden motorbikes, on and off road, most of my life. Only been put in hospital once. The bastard that did it went by the name of "skippy". Not all enemies drive cars!!!

[paulthepilot_5]

Have ridden motorbikes, on and off road, most of my life. Only been put in hospital once. The bastard that did it went by the name of "skippy". Not all enemies drive cars!!!

Yeah I found that out this arvo when i was riding around a tight narrow corner and a bloody dog jumped out started chasing me :eek: must have thought i was the mail man. i suppose it can be expected riding a postie

Paul

[Fusion]

Congrats on the buy mate ;). Was a postie for bit over 2 years and only ever got hit by a car once and bitten about a dozen times :(. Always keep the services up to them and they will go forever . Just keep an eye on the centrifugal clutch and the brakes and these are always the first to fail . never let the clutch get to bad or it just costs more . Hope you have a heap of fun with it ;):D.

PS: always turn the fuel off when not riding as it can flood the engine and be a pain in the neck for 5 minutes ;)

[paulthepilot_5]

Congrats on the buy mate ;). Was a postie for bit over 2 years and only ever got hit by a car once and bitten about a dozen times :(. Always keep the services up to them and they will go forever . Just keep an eye on the centrifugal clutch and the brakes and these are always the first to fail . never let the clutch get to bad or it just costs more . Hope you have a heap of fun with it ;):D.

PS: always turn the fuel off when not riding as it can flood the engine and be a pain in the neck for 5 minutes ;)

Thanks for the info, i always make sure i do that. I have only forgotten to turn it back on once so far :eek: it is funny how far you can actually get with the fuel turned off. One thing i have found with the particular bike i bought, is that it never seems to needs any choke, even when it is freezing cold it still starts first kick.

[Quarks]

...

Time for some mods i think :D
Canary yellow paint, perhaps??? :twisted:


:angel::wasntme:

[Fusion]

I would go with a staintune pipe and a dynajet kit for the carby ;) . That or put a 125 cc piston and barrel on it :twisted:.

[100I]

That looks tidy, well done.

How much firewood can you fit on the rack?

[p38arover]

How does the joke go...'Riding a scooter is like 'getting intimate' with a 'large person' (being non sex specific here) - it's a lot of fun but you wouldn't tell your mates about it!' ;).

My son (6'4" and 120kg) rode a Vespa PX200E - to drink with the Rebels(?) in Orange. I don't know if this link about his rat Vespa will work: twowheels :: View topic - Bucko's Vespa project. The Rat Black Vespa of Death! (http://www.twowheels.com.au/forums/viewtopic.php't=1246)

I gave the scooter to his best mate a couple of weeks ago.

[UncleHo]

G'day Paul the Pilot :)

That's a nice tidy little CT110 :) where did you get it?? from Caboolture, should do you well, change the sprocket to the higher geared one, as it will give you a little more road speed to keep with the traffic, just take it easy in the wet, until you get used to it, then when it steps out at the rear you will know what to do, ride in the middle to outside of a lane for visability, and be prepared for sideways wind push from trucks & buses;) ALWAYS wear gloves,boots, and leather jacket, I rode for 25 years and slid down the road a couple of times, it is suprising how far you can slide in leathers without any damage to yourself, helmets are your personal choice, open face for suburbs (Pedestrain Education);) full for touring.

cheers

[paulthepilot_5]

Hi UncleHo.

Yep got it from one ten motorcycles. The ratio change is the first thing i had planned for it, along with removing the restrictor and changing the jet in the carby. this should make up for any loss of acceleration due to the ratio change :twisted: i have got all the protective gear already too, including a full face helmet, I like the idea of keeping my jaw bone if my head comes in contact with the black stuff. Still have not ridden in the rain yet, something to look forward to :(

Cheers Paul

[paulthepilot_5]

That looks tidy, well done.

How much firewood can you fit on the rack?

I was thinking more like how many jerry cans :p

could do a lot of riding :eek:

[Bigbjorn]

Well I finally got my little CT110 :twisted:
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/6986/postie1bu0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

It is a great little bike, so much fun and so cheap to ride. I got some dirty looks at the servo when i filled the tank up for $5

:D

Back in the days of full driveway service, a mate had a Golden Fleece servo. I remember his comment whilst sitting in the office one day when a small motor cycle pulled up at the pumps. Along the lines of "Heres another lousy b-, two bob's worth of standard, sneeze in the tyres and wipe his goggles".