Scooter advice....
Discussion
I have a full licence - my last bike being a Z1100 a squillion years ago.
I have recently moved house and my nearest rail station is 3 miles away - but there's never any car parking available. Tiny car park. But a bike could park there.
So I am thinking of buying a scooter. I would not use it for anything else other than the station run.
Some of the considerations...
2nd hand or new?
Tiny engine? Electric? Bigger engine?
Weather proofing myself? Jacket, trousers, gloves and helmet all go in a top box?
Which one?! I wouldn't have a clue what to buy.
Anyone else done something similar?
I have recently moved house and my nearest rail station is 3 miles away - but there's never any car parking available. Tiny car park. But a bike could park there.
So I am thinking of buying a scooter. I would not use it for anything else other than the station run.
Some of the considerations...
2nd hand or new?
Tiny engine? Electric? Bigger engine?
Weather proofing myself? Jacket, trousers, gloves and helmet all go in a top box?
Which one?! I wouldn't have a clue what to buy.
Anyone else done something similar?
Pica-Pica said:
For a three mile trip, why not a bicycle, with or without electric motor?
I thought about that - but I abhor any form of exercise. Not least of which because I was not designed for it. I am designed for lunch. So an electric bike probably wouldn't really work.I need petrol to be honest.
Now I love a new bike of any description but you should file this in the "bad" idea drawer. Surely any petrol scooter left in a station car park anywhere except the remotest of Scottish stations wouldn't last 5 minutes, it wouldn't round my way. Plus why would you want to go through all the pain and expense of helmets, gear, insurance etc for a 3 mile journey each way. You would be better off investing the money in a Brompton and taking it on the train. Or if you are a fat git like me and even that seems like to much hard work get one of those stupid folding electric scooters I frequently see about London now-days.
boyse7en said:
An oldish Honda scooter with a top box.
One piece waterproofs to go over commuting clothing. Boots, helmet and waterproofs go in the box at the station. Shoes and coat come out for the commute on the train.
I'm not sure boots are that necessary for 5 min journey. Personally, never bother with waterproofs or a change of clothes at all. But I like to live dangerously....One piece waterproofs to go over commuting clothing. Boots, helmet and waterproofs go in the box at the station. Shoes and coat come out for the commute on the train.
125 is plenty quick enough to keep up with traffic and win the traffic light GP around town. I had a secondhand SH125 for a few years for station commute. Helmet went in top box, light weight waterproofs under seat. Weather protection is such I rarely bothered with waterproof trousers unless it was absolutely hammering it down. Most scooters will be the same.
I couldn't afford to buy new when I got it. Did quite fancy upgrading to a Xmax 400 more recently but couldn't really justify the cost, and was slightly worried it would get nicked. The beauty of the SH125 was it was a bit rough around the edges and I never worried about leaving it anywhere (had a cheap disc lock just in case).
I couldn't afford to buy new when I got it. Did quite fancy upgrading to a Xmax 400 more recently but couldn't really justify the cost, and was slightly worried it would get nicked. The beauty of the SH125 was it was a bit rough around the edges and I never worried about leaving it anywhere (had a cheap disc lock just in case).
Zarco said:
125 is plenty quick enough to keep up with traffic and win the traffic light GP around town.
True, but you do pay CBT tax, possibly worth seeking something in the 125->250ish range though. Agree you don't need more power mind.NDA said:
Pica-Pica said:
For a three mile trip, why not a bicycle, with or without electric motor?
I thought about that - but I abhor any form of exercise. Not least of which because I was not designed for it. I am designed for lunch. So an electric bike probably wouldn't really work.I need petrol to be honest.
"I am designed for lunch" A man after my own heart.Luke. said:
boyse7en said:
If its pissing down then boots are needed unless you want to spend the day wading around in soggy footwear.
Maybe I've just been lucky, but in 28 years of riding bikes never spent the day sloshing around in soggy shoes.Krikkit said:
True, but you do pay CBT tax, possibly worth seeking something in the 125->250ish range though. Agree you don't need more power mind.
Good point. Wish I'd thought of that but fairly sure most 200s' I looked at where a fair bit more than I paid. I was scraping the barrel with my budget however! Was actually quite difficult to find a secondhand 125 in Reading at the time. Ended up buying from London. There are ways of getting an electric pushbike which is "push button to go" rather than "pedal assist", so assuming you (a) don't have too many big hills between you and the station and (b) don't weigh 30 stone, you would just be able to sit on it and not do anything more abhorrent than steer & brake (which you're going to have to exert yourself with on a scooter anyway 
) so this is probably your best bet.
) so this is probably your best bet.For 3 miles it's a 125 scoot with one of those skirt things for the legs and a big screen. Water proof jacket, helmet and gloves. All goes in a top box at the station. Oh, and a decent lock.
Scoot wise, nothing desirable as it'll get nicked. Something second hand Honda so it just works. Preferable with a few battle scars so that it's nice and cheap but still reliable. I wouldn't bother with regular servicing. Just ride it till it breaks. At less than 30 miles a week it'll take 4-5 years to get up to the 6k service interval. £1k should set you up with the lot.
Scoot wise, nothing desirable as it'll get nicked. Something second hand Honda so it just works. Preferable with a few battle scars so that it's nice and cheap but still reliable. I wouldn't bother with regular servicing. Just ride it till it breaks. At less than 30 miles a week it'll take 4-5 years to get up to the 6k service interval. £1k should set you up with the lot.
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