Way behind with bike law but just read this. How safe is limiting a bike to 28MPH on any A road? I had a go on a limited bike and felt decidedly unsafe even at 40 MPH.

And how safe is a cycle at 15 mph on the same? ;-( Yup. For a while I had a Yamaha T80 Townmate that was a 3 speed auto (and shaft drive) and was good for about 45 mph downwind. Often quite uncomfortable in a 40 with everyone doing 45+. I think the rules for a moped used to read something along the lines of a 'two wheeled vehicle with an engine capacity of no more than 49cc, that cannot exceed 30 mph and equipped with pedals as an alternative means of propulsion'. I don't think they even needed a speedo for the MOT (*because* they couldn't exceed the std urban speed limits). I liked the way the Yamaha FS1E got round the pedals thing by having one you could release and then position them both like footpegs (as did others no doubt, like the Fanticmotor 'Cruiser' if I remember correctly). ;-) Cheers, T i m

Mopeds limited to 28MPH?

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T i m 9 years ago

Me too, but I've not ridden one yet. ;-)

Maybe we are more conservative than others? It's like me towing a (camping) trailer behind my bike. Touring people often get it, 'rocket riders' rarely do, but it's they who are weird as like most forms of transport, it was originally designed as just that, 'transport' and then mutated into lots of other things (like racing etc).

Plus I think they can have ABS ...

Staying upright when stopping is rarely an issue for most riders [1] (depending on the terrain and your height and strength ) but parking can be an issue, especially if on soft ground.

We turned up at one 'biker friendly' campsite in the Peak District and the owner came out with some nice wooden pads to put our side stands on when parking on the grass. ;-)

Cheers, T i m

[1] We met another couple on the road beside Loch Ness who were touring Europe on their own BMW that they had flown in with them from America. She (pillion Wife) mentioned that because of the weight in their touring cases they had toppled over (onto said cases) a few times when coming to a halt. ;-)

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Chris Whelan 9 years ago

[...]

I would think it likely that our weather has a lot to do with the low uptake of small-engined two/three wheeled vehicles.

Chris

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Tim+ 9 years ago

Our wet weather should encourage 3 wheelers over two wheelers though.

Tim

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T i m 9 years ago

You would think, but I wonder what the key use of smaller engined bikes is in the UK?

I think it could be mostly split between 'learner legal' and 'commuter' and I'm not sure how many of either would want the cost (I'm guessing the MP3's are more expensive than their 2 wheeled equivalents), plus, I'm not sure they are accepted as 'normal' yet?

Just in the same way disability scooters now are and the Sinclair C5 still isn't.

I'm also not quite sure how much the weather plays on any bikers in the UK. I mean, the commuters will generally use them all year round and the butterfly / fun riders will only use them in the good weather in any case (many only having them road legal for 6 months).

Personally, I don't like riding in the real 'summer' because it's too hot in all the gear. ;-(

Cheers, T i m

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Dave Plowman (News) 9 years ago

There must be lots of disadvantages too - other than the extra cost and weight. The main one being like any bike that they don't protect you from the weather. If that doesn't matter, why go for the extra complication?

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T i m 9 years ago

I think they may be able to protect you a bit from the weather (like a scooter) by adding leg covers (but I've not looked into that) and indirectly (or more directly, depending on your POV ) from the consequences of 'bad weather re front end grip and stability (say on leaves or snow).

I now prefer naked bikes because being tall I inevitably end up with my head in turbulence (and noise = unhappy Tinnitus) from even the tallest screen and because of the lack of cooling in the hotter weather (to me, not the bike).

In a clean airflow it's much quieter and I generally ride for fun than having to get anywhere fast these days so the issues riding an un faired bike don't really apply.

Cheers, T i m

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Dave Plowman (News) 9 years ago

I only know one person with one of those three wheeled bikes, and he dresses like any other bike rider. I'm not sure if being able to stop it without putting you feet down - or being able to park without a stand - makes it worthwhile. And as regards grip, when they start racing them I'll be more convinced. ;-)

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T i m 9 years ago

Agreed, for those facets alone.

Well, there are plenty of things that prove themselves worthwhile that aren't particularly good in a race ... like an electric milk float for example. ;-)

One milkman said they can carry near 3 tonne of produce and milk around xmas and complete that round with the batteries running at less than full capacity (because of the cold).

And many of those were three wheelers as well. ;-)

Cheers, T i m

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Mopeds limited to 28MPH?

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