Need help with buying...

[tallpete]

Hello,

I want a Vespa to commute to work, about 10 miles. preferably an older one.

I have a 1980 vw golf so I know about old(ish) vehicles but not much about vespas.

So,
1) I don't have a bike licence, now if I read the DVLA website correctly that means because I passed my test 800 years ago I can still ride a 50cc with no L plates. That right?

2)What Vespa is for me? Where's a good place to look.

Thanks in advance

Peter.

[Spence]

Hi Peter.

If you're over 21 and hold a full driving license you can ride a 50cc without L plates, but if you haven't ridden on 2 wheels in the UK before I'd recommend doing a CBT too. It's not like being on your holidays and jumping on a twist and go with no helmet on and razzing round a sunny resort. A CBT will show you straight away if you've got the aptitude to ride a bike, teach you some valuable safety tips and give you confidence on the road.

If you do a CBT you can then ride anything up to a 125cc with L plates. If you want an older scooter you're probably looking at a geared one, and 125s are much easier to come by than 50s. If you don't mind a more modern, auto scooter then the choice is bigger.

The answer to your second question, well, again I'd say try doing a CBT first. You can borrow an auto scooter from the centre and, if you find that a piece of p*sh, you can think about riding a geared scooter. The most popular choice for beginners is probably the PX125. Popular auto Vespas at the moment are the ET and the LX, which both come with 50 and 125cc engines.

[tallpete]

The one and only time I have been on a scooter was on the back of a young girls scooter in Sorrento. ha ha.

CBT it is then

Thanks

Peter

[siggy63]

Hello Mate
Like you I use a scoot to get to and from work - found the best so far to be the current PX125, gives you lots of reliability, easy to use and you will find that after the CBT you can annoy the traffic with the best of them.

I found after a long break from riding that the CBT was a gentle way of getting back on two wheels, a beginner would find it helpful to be shown what knobbers road users can be.

Come the day of the revolution brothers/sisters then all 4x4 drivers, caravan owners will be put up against the wall!

Have fun

Danny