I think I'm going to buy a scooter :-0
Discussion
And it might even be a 3-wheeler!!!!!
Hear me out.
I live with Mrs MOBB who works from home 4 days per week, in the office 1 day per week, I work 17 miles away 4 days per week. No kids.
We currently have a Polestar 2 as our main car, and a dreadful E-2008 leased car which thankfully goes back in a few months.
So I've been pondering the next "second" car and am now thinking we dont really need one, other than in emergencies.
March-October (ie daylight hours) - if its dry I either e-bike in or ride my Superduke in.
Seeing as I am finding my interest in cars is rapidly declining (cost, dullness) I much prefer riding in on some kind of bike, so my latest thinking is I add a commuting scooter to my fleet - dirt cheap, even when brand new, and that way the car stays at home with the wife most of the time.
So I had pretty much decided that a 300/350 Scooter was what I needed, but then - these 3 wheeler 300/350 jobbies seem to get decent reviews, seem like fun and also, can be ridden without a bike licence (though a CBT makes sense) - so I envisage me out on the Superduke, Mrs MOBB out on the 3 wheeler. She sounded interested, which is rare when it comes to bikes.
Am I mad? I'm fine with riding something like this in the rain (definitely not the Superduke or e-bike), would probably nick the car if weather was awful.
Piaggio MP3 300 and Yamaha Tricity 300 leading candidates.
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-reviews/piaggi...
Hear me out.
I live with Mrs MOBB who works from home 4 days per week, in the office 1 day per week, I work 17 miles away 4 days per week. No kids.
We currently have a Polestar 2 as our main car, and a dreadful E-2008 leased car which thankfully goes back in a few months.
So I've been pondering the next "second" car and am now thinking we dont really need one, other than in emergencies.
March-October (ie daylight hours) - if its dry I either e-bike in or ride my Superduke in.
Seeing as I am finding my interest in cars is rapidly declining (cost, dullness) I much prefer riding in on some kind of bike, so my latest thinking is I add a commuting scooter to my fleet - dirt cheap, even when brand new, and that way the car stays at home with the wife most of the time.
So I had pretty much decided that a 300/350 Scooter was what I needed, but then - these 3 wheeler 300/350 jobbies seem to get decent reviews, seem like fun and also, can be ridden without a bike licence (though a CBT makes sense) - so I envisage me out on the Superduke, Mrs MOBB out on the 3 wheeler. She sounded interested, which is rare when it comes to bikes.
Am I mad? I'm fine with riding something like this in the rain (definitely not the Superduke or e-bike), would probably nick the car if weather was awful.
Piaggio MP3 300 and Yamaha Tricity 300 leading candidates.
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-reviews/piaggi...
Edited by MOBB on Tuesday 9th May 14:49
spareparts said:
I think the best thing Mrs MOBB could do is do her DAS first before deciding on which bike/scooter to buy. Then decide if biking is really for her.
She has no interest in taking any big bike test, riding proper bikes etc.In all honesty the 3 wheel thing would be there in case she wanted to have a go.
The downsides seem to be weight of the thing, and the premium of about £1k in list price.
MOBB said:
spareparts said:
I think the best thing Mrs MOBB could do is do her DAS first before deciding on which bike/scooter to buy. Then decide if biking is really for her.
She has no interest in taking any big bike test, riding proper bikes etc.In all honesty the 3 wheel thing would be there in case she wanted to have a go.
The downsides seem to be weight of the thing, and the premium of about £1k in list price.
MOBB said:
So I had pretty much decided that a 300/350 Scooter was what I needed, but then - these 3 wheeler 300/350 jobbies seem to get decent reviews, seem like fun and also, can be ridden without a bike licence (though a CBT makes sense) - so I envisage me out on the Superduke, Mrs MOBB out on the 3 wheeler. She sounded interested, which is rare when it comes to bikes.
But if that's not the case, then just buy the bike YOU want. If not the Superduke or the ebike, then being able to ride it without a licence or CBT is a non-issue. I personally wouldn't encourage anyone who hasn't even done a CBT to start riding a 300cc bike on the public road, so buying that for "Mrs MOBB out on the 3 wheeler" seems like a recipe for disaster if the person has no interest in taking a CBT or bike test.All sounds like a great plan to me. I have a few bikes including a 300cc scooter and it is ideal for what you say. They are also ideal for trips to where traffic/parking is crap but you don't want to be carrying around helmets (which can go under the seat or in a top box).
I would echo others who have said it would be ideal for the Mrs to do her CBT first. They are heavy when not on the move, accelerate quite quickly, and despite having three wheels can still be dropped.
I would echo others who have said it would be ideal for the Mrs to do her CBT first. They are heavy when not on the move, accelerate quite quickly, and despite having three wheels can still be dropped.
Go for it I say.
If riding that gets your Mrs more in to bikes then that can only be a good thing.
I did something similar with my Mrs. I got her a 125 Vespa which she rode for 2 or 3 years and then she moved on to a SV650 after passing her test and now rides a Tuono 660.
We sold the 125 Vespa and now have a 250 Vespa in the garage alongside her 660 and my V4 as well as the SV and I don’t think I’d be without a scooter in the garage now. They are perfect for the short 5 mile commute I have to work and it gets used all the time for those short little trips to the shop, fish quay etc …
If riding that gets your Mrs more in to bikes then that can only be a good thing.
I did something similar with my Mrs. I got her a 125 Vespa which she rode for 2 or 3 years and then she moved on to a SV650 after passing her test and now rides a Tuono 660.
We sold the 125 Vespa and now have a 250 Vespa in the garage alongside her 660 and my V4 as well as the SV and I don’t think I’d be without a scooter in the garage now. They are perfect for the short 5 mile commute I have to work and it gets used all the time for those short little trips to the shop, fish quay etc …
I had an MP3 500 and it was a great scooter, only issue I had was there is a button to lock the two front wheels which I accidentally pressed when going about 5-6 miles an hour... I felt like I was going to drop it cos it locked the wheels in the one position and I couldn't lean & felt very odd.
Other than the above great bike for commuting, not too wide and easy to manoeuvre and had a great "boot"
- Pete
Other than the above great bike for commuting, not too wide and easy to manoeuvre and had a great "boot"
- Pete
airsafari87 said:
Go for it I say.
If riding that gets your Mrs more in to bikes then that can only be a good thing.
...
This is it. If your other half is open to try, grab that opportunity. Worst thing would be that you don't win that bit of flexibility in the fleet while it sounds like you could do also without.If riding that gets your Mrs more in to bikes then that can only be a good thing.
...
I had no time for scooters until a new work colleague arrived and he commuted on a MP500. His plan was always to commute on the scooter across London and then train down to mid-Sussex. He never did and always stayed on the scooter down the M23. Apparently it would sit comfortable at 80mph. He generally moaned it was cold (this was right through winter!) but he didn't even wear proper bike gear, just a light jacket and summer gloves (he didn't have heated grips). I was impressed as he rode that in when I was firmly in the car.
I think I'd go 3 wheel if getting a scooter as I don't really see a reason not to, the extra safety in bad conditions is well worth paying for. Add in the fact your wife is interested and it becomes a no-brainer. The only thing I don't know is how you tell before buying which version it is - aren't there narrower bike licence versions and wider car licence version although not sure both made it to the UK? I believe there was only 4cm difference between the two versions.
I'd go for one but my commute is 30 miles across Sussex, so worth gearing up and using a bike for rather than a scooter.
I think I'd go 3 wheel if getting a scooter as I don't really see a reason not to, the extra safety in bad conditions is well worth paying for. Add in the fact your wife is interested and it becomes a no-brainer. The only thing I don't know is how you tell before buying which version it is - aren't there narrower bike licence versions and wider car licence version although not sure both made it to the UK? I believe there was only 4cm difference between the two versions.
I'd go for one but my commute is 30 miles across Sussex, so worth gearing up and using a bike for rather than a scooter.
I don't know if you've seen this?
Mossy reviews the Niken GT and it sounds like he had a blast
https://youtu.be/ygX0I_9COEc
Mossy reviews the Niken GT and it sounds like he had a blast
https://youtu.be/ygX0I_9COEc
stu67 said:
Only +125 scooters that "lock-off" the front are able to be ridden on car licences I thought? so that will limit your choice to 1, the MP3? I don't know any others but there may be loads?
It is to do with the width between the wheels at the front, this defines the taxation class and therefore the licence requirement. E.g. a later 500cc Gilera Fuocco classified as a tricycle can be ridden on a car licence, an earlier one classified as a scooter can't.May not be an issue, but whether they comply with London Congestion Charge is defined by length, with some being long enough to require payment.
Nothing wrong with scooter, love them, never ride a 3 wheel though
I ride a few before the end of my motorcycle riding life
it is chill, easy to ride, and very nimble in city
just a few things,
-i would avoid the small wheel scooter. I had a GTS 300, it is not very nice ride on poor road condition
-my old scooter use a CVT, it will disengage if I do not give enough throttle. When going downhill i twist a little throttle. I believe newer scooter might be different
I ride a few before the end of my motorcycle riding life
it is chill, easy to ride, and very nimble in city
just a few things,
-i would avoid the small wheel scooter. I had a GTS 300, it is not very nice ride on poor road condition
-my old scooter use a CVT, it will disengage if I do not give enough throttle. When going downhill i twist a little throttle. I believe newer scooter might be different
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