See what happens when you don't shoulder check...

[mister]

In Aust we have categories of Scooters. The Moped type - 50cc - can be bought and ridden withOut a motorcycle license or doing a motorcycle safety course. Just lob into the moped dealer and ride out on your car license.

Not completely true. Just cut this straight from the RTA website.
What about scooter and automatic only licences?
Riders of automatic motorcycles under 160ml are exempt from the pre-provisional course. However, they are required to attend and pass the pre-learner course and the MOST.  Riders of automatic motorcycles larger than 160ml will have their licence endorsed with a condition: "May only ride automatic motorcycles". This condition will be valid until an unrestricted licence is issued.

But that aside. I have seen maybe two scooter riders in Newcastle that wear more then a helmet, they are completely suited. The rest are like that idoit in the film. Wear a helmet and what ever happens to be fashionable for that day.

Not everyone is under the RTA. In Queensland a car license lets you ride a moped of no more than 50ccs http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Licensing/Getting-a-licence/Classes-and-codes.aspx so... walk in with your car license and ride out on the moped. No training. Nothing. That's why the Moped Hire businesses flourish on The Gold Coast. So all the tourists can have fun in the sun.  

Sorry. I should have made the distinction it was in my state, not all across Aust (my bad)...

The states that allow 50cc mopeds to be ridden on car licenses are: QLD, SA, NT & WA
The states that require training and passing a test to ride a 50cc moped are: ACT, NSW, TAS & VIC

Michael

[fraze11]

More scooter fun...

http://www.break.com/index/key-west-female-moped-driver-crash.html

[ver4]

More scooter fun...

http://www.break.com/index/key-west-female-moped-driver-crash.html

Scooter Power!!!!!! 

[Firewalker]

More scooter fun...

http://www.break.com/index/key-west-female-moped-driver-crash.html

WTF???  haha

[mister]

More scooter fun...

http://www.break.com/index/key-west-female-moped-driver-crash.html

Ah... ATGATT I see.

And the story told at office water coolers all across the country will be... so this chick on a BRAND NEW yadda yadda yadda.

Brazillian Girl Crashes Scooter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvSBGSfTg9M

Man Meets Wall HA HA.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8Pmx105_tk

Michael

[Firewalker]

OMG!!!  haha

[mister]

This one... woman goes over the handle bars! Sorry, but just replaying that bit (10 - 12 secs) is funny stuff... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1klJsRyos_M

Michael

[tt_four]

Here's one of my rides...



70cc of fury. I always wear a full face helmet, but the biggest reason for that is so no one can tell it's me riding a moped 

I haven't ridden it enough to really say how much I'd wear on a regular basis, but gloves are 50/50 depending on the weather. I think I usually wore pants but not always. I don't ride it like a motorcycle though. If I was actually leaning into corners and everything else I'd wear more but I'm pretty cool with a t shirt and tennis shoes when I have an average speed of 20mph. I ride in shorts and a t shirt on my bicycle all the time so I don't really feel the need to go full gear just for an extra 10mph. I do live in the city though, so I spend more time sitting at red lights and going in a straight line than the average person may.

[makenzie71]

Anyone ever watch these vids and wonder why that guy had a camera running in his car?

[tt_four]

I thought it might've been a cop, which would also explain the speeding and general reckless driving for no apparent reason, but when the guy got out of the car he just looked like a normal guy so who knows.

He might just have it because he drives like a nut, just like a lot of guys with sportbikes record themselves riding in traffic.

[A Non eMouse]

[Shaddow]

Sorry. I should have made the distinction it was in my state, not all across Aust (my bad)...

The states that allow 50cc mopeds to be ridden on car licenses are: QLD, SA, NT & WA
The states that require training and passing a test to ride a 50cc moped are: ACT, NSW, TAS & VIC

Michael

Sorry man I sound like an arse. Hey I wrote it at 1am after evening shift. That's my excuse and I'm stick... oh yes ice cream yummy.

I didn't realise our countries other states let you ride at all without a license. From what I know of NSW laws you legally can't even have a powered bicycle if it uses a petrol or diesel engine. Electric is okay up to 200watts power from memory (but don't quote me on that) and it must be pedal assist.

[tt_four]

In Pennsylvania, and a lot of other states in the US you only have to have a car license to ride a moped. The limits on that being that it's smaller than 50cc, has pedals, max of 1.5hp, and does not go faster than 25. Granted 98% of the people I've met with hopes have them set up somewhere between 65-80cc, have them ported with new carbs, exhaust, and whatever else and have them going almost 50mph, but it's pretty hard for a cop to tell what the inside of your motor looks like, so as long as you don't ride like a jerk no one really cares. You've gotta do something pretty stupid to get pulled over in the city anyway. The one nice thing is that they don't have to be inspected, and since Ohio lets you register them without a title, it's not too hard to get a new title for one if you can get a bill of sale from Ohio.

I wish mine actually ran...  It was a fun 2-3 rides when it did.

[bill14224]

anyone else agree when i say that scooters of any size shouldnt be allowed on the highways?

No, not at all.  Allow the nanny state to ban scooters and pretty soon they'll be coming after us.  As long as it can do the speed limit we have no right to judge what someone should ride.  I want my rights respected, so I respect yours, even if you're a geek who rides a scooter.

[bill14224]

i've never ridden a scooter so i guess i wouldnt know..

but, do scooters maneuver as well at high speeds as other motorcycles?

i know there are scooters with bigger motors, but it's the overall handling aspect i worry about.

At lower speeds scooters actually handle better than motorcycles due to their smaller size, smaller wheels, and lower center of gravity.  Most scooters aren't capable of high speeds, but in recent years there are scooters up to 650cc and will leave our bike in the dust, believe it or not.  And yes, they handle very well.  I know a guy who has a 650cc Suzuki scooter.  I rib him about it, all in good fun.  He loves it and he's not aware his scooter can outrun my GS.  He bought it because he doesn't want to learn to shift gears and he loves the superior built-in luggage, storage compartments, and weather protection.  After looking at one, other than the geek factor and high price, they're pretty compelling.

[bill14224]

He looked, but too late, and he was going slow.  I assume that was a cop who rear-ended him, judging by the radio sounds in the background.  The cop was speeding.  Notice how he was going faster than the other traffic but was in the right lane.  They both screwed up on this one, but you know how this will go down on paper?  It's the car driver's fault all the way.  The scooter had time to get completely into the right lane.  The car driver should have been traveling at a prudent speed to deal with traffic changing lanes.  He hit him square in the arse.  It's his fault.

[pave_spectre]

The cop was speeding.

Based on what evidence?

Notice how he was going faster than the other traffic but was in the right lane.

So?

What is the posted speed limit on that stretch of road? how fast was the car actually going?
No way to tell. Moving faster than surrounding traffic does not automatically equal speeding.

The car driver should have been travelling at a prudent speed to deal with traffic changing lanes.

And the scooter rider should have looked before moving into the other lane, and should not have braked when he saw the car right behind.

6 of one, half dozen of the other.

[A Non eMouse]

If you get rear ended while you're changing lanes, it's your fault.  Pretty cut-and-dry.

[Shaddow]

I remember watching the scooters while I did provisional license training/test. I keep reading about people saying how well they handle. Umm no. They seem easier "to handle" then a bike at low speeds but they struggled to do the tight weave in and out of witches hats. Both because they had no ground clearance, (no ability/room to turn) and the lack of motor control (ie can only use brake, not a brake and clutch set up) really seemed to hamper them. Other than that I saw no problem with them. Comfort seemed good, power good, brakes so so, wouldn't want to hit any of the potholes I see on the way to work with the little wheels they have. Plus I hate the idea that I've got nothing to grip between my legs to make sure I stay on the bike properly.

[bill14224]

The cop was speeding.

Based on what evidence?

Notice how he was going faster than the other traffic but was in the right lane.

So?

What is the posted speed limit on that stretch of road? how fast was the car actually going?
No way to tell. Moving faster than surrounding traffic does not automatically equal speeding.

The car driver should have been travelling at a prudent speed to deal with traffic changing lanes.

And the scooter rider should have looked before moving into the other lane, and should not have braked when he saw the car right behind.

6 of one, half dozen of the other.

I just used my best judgment, that's all.  The car was going faster than the other traffic and by the looks of the pavement stripes going by it looks like he's speeding compared to the others.  Where I live the traffic averages 5 mph or so over the limit if conditions allow and he was going faster than everyone else.  I've noticed the same thing in the several states I've driven in over the years.  This ain't traffic court, it's a motorcycle forum, and this is all merely supposition.  Laws vary from one place to another but where I live when you rear-end someone it's your fault.  If this accident happened in NY it's the car driver's fault.  I realize that scooter guy was dumb to change lanes while slowing down.  That is a recipe for death, but in this state it doesn't matter as far as who is held responsible.

I can give you another example.  In NY state it is illegal to back out of your driveway. (look it up, it's true)  Why, you ask?  The law is never enforced unless there is an accident while someone is backing out.  The law exists to make sure that any accident that happens that way is the fault of the person who is backing out.