Jonathon94

How reliable is this store

no1mad 

Something else to consider is the what is the posted speed limit on these roads and how fast is the traffic actually moving? A moped may not be able to keep up and thus pose a traffic hazard to everyone on the road.

If financing a moped or scooter is a viable option, then perhaps consider getting a motorcycle.

Astrozombie

Do Moped riders wave at motorized bicycle riders? I love the idea of a scooter, but i just see them as stuck in purgatory between the cheapness/activity/greenness of a bicycle and the comfort/convenience of a car (NTM motorcycle). I would probably just take the bus until i could afford a car...

krobinson103

Scooters are a lot of fun. Before our kids arrived my ife and I did a lot of day trips on ours. They also make good cheap commuters.

Jonathon94

Well I have no credit nor any co-signers so I don't think a motorcycle is an option.

Smallwheels

The cheap scooter web site link earlier didn't work for me. If it isn't a brand I mentioned then don't buy it. You won't be able to fix it when it breaks and it will break much sooner than a well known brand. SYM isn't a well known brand here but they did manufacture things for Honda in Taiwan.

Used motorcycles and scooters should also be an option with such a low budget. They will require maintenance sooner than a new one but the parts availability is still valid. There is a used Honda Metropolitan scooter in the local Honda shop selling for just $995. It has less than 2500 miles on it. That is a good scooter and a good price. I owned one of those and it didn't need any real expensive work until it had 8000 miles on it. Even then the repair would have cost less than $300. I could do it for under $150.

Riding on the side of the road on a moped is no different than doing the same thing on a bicycle, you just aren't pedaling. In city traffic where the top speed is usually less than thirty miles per hour it doesn't matter. I loved my Metropolitan scooter when I lived in New Orleans. It was just as fast as the city traffic and I could filter through the cars in the French Quarter area and not get stuck.

Roody

Just stay out of the bike lane and off the sidewalk so you don't mess up bicyclists and pedestrians.

but if you think "just as fast as the [New Orleans] city traffic" is good, you have never viewed joeybikes' videos! Actually few bicyclists have trouble matching city traffic speeds anywhere.

Nightshade

Riding ANY motorized vehicle without insurance is a gateway to a nightmare you don't want.

Your entire life could be ruined with just one accident.

rebel1916

This dude is judgement proof

Smallwheels

Joeybikes' videos are sped up just a little bit. He also runs red lights all the time.

Mobile 155

I have no clue I only posted it as one of many. One of the online Moped/scooter stores has a warehouse about 40 miles from me and they looked pretty much the same. We can buy 49cc scooters at PeP Boys an auto parts store in our state. Price is between $500.00 and $1200.00 new. It doesn't require a license here and has all of the rights of a bicycle. The advantage is you can go 20 miles in an hour and not get tired while doing it. I haven't looked up the law in your state I'll leave that to you. I was just pointing you in a direction to look. Sometimes they even sell mopeds in Motorcycle shops. But from what I have been reading mopeds are selling like hotcakes in China now so they are becoming more available at least on the coast. If you have a job that pays little and are living at home with no rent your choices are limited and Moped/scooters are one option. You might also look into a second part time job.

TwoFourOne

Could you elaborate? Just curious.

howeeee

Well not knowing how old you are or if you are in shape or 100 pounds over weight. I am going to assume you are younger than 50 and not fat lol.

I would do the bike thing. I ride old Schwinn paperboy type bikes and do about 20 miles a day 5 days a week year round. I been riding in 15 degree weather the last week and I am 60 years old.

So 48 miles round trip you would probably have to work up to if you are not in good shape. But a good road bike you could find easily for 300 to 400 bucks and doing the trip 3 times a week shouldnt be too tough. That is the way I would go. 48 miles on a road bike should be fun.

Also you could consider doing part of the trip by bus, I live in the Detroit area and we have about the worst mass transit system in the world. But I see you can put your bike on the front of the bus. If it was me I would ride all the way, but going part of the way by bus if you are in a hurry, dont feel well or the weather is rough, you could do the bus bike thing.

Good luck

howie

Roody

Still, many of us, even older guys like me, make as good time as cars in the city. I only mentioned Joey because he happens to ride in the same city as the person I was responding to.

krobinson103

I make better time on my bike than the car all the time. The traffic gets snarled up at 6pm but I all I need to do is jump on the bike path. I usually avoid it as its not nearly as smooth and fast as the road and you need to watch out for pedestrians. But, when the traffic stops and you can just roll serenly past and still get home faster with less pollution and more exercise it has to be good. I usually ride at 25-35kmh on the flat and 40-50kmh descending so it really doesn't slow me down much riding a bike.

Jonathon94

Just to give everyone an example of the route I am taking. I am travelling from
Ruby Rd. Jackson Ga, 30233
to
260 Tift College Dr, Forsyth, GA

Google recommends two routes, one I have traveled on and has some big hills and two big dogs who love to chase me. The other route I have not traveled by bike yet so I have no idea how it is.
Do I think I can make the trip? Yeah, I am just worried about how my condition will be when I get there. I haven't exactly had the time to try the route yet so I have no idea. My longest trip was 16 miles and I was sweating and ready to take a nap after I was done with it.

Nightshade

Insurance is to protect you against any and all financial losses due to an accident.

This is the same for homeowners/renters or car/motorcycle insurance.

alexaschwanden

Practice biking up to 24 miles there and back, I believe you can do it. The wear and tear costs of a bike are about 100$ a year!, mopeds are probably more.

ctg492

I have a Kentic Moped( with pedals) and Honda Metropolitan scooter. If I was going 24 miles daily each way in all weather, I would choose the Honda. Moped goes faster, it can go almost 45mph! Geeze that is way to fast plus it is suppose to be governed at 24, but I ordered it from India. The Honda, is governed at 24mph, but the ride is smooth. I will say I feel safer all around on a bike though.
And yes I wave at every Motorcycle out there when I am riding.
Just thought of maintance cost. Honda, the battery is about $75 and it lasts two years(?) but I have a trickle charger that runs on it in the winter at $100 for the charger. Gas is 100 mpg, oil is very little, tires I have not had to replace. In Mi , no insurance is needed, the registration is $15 every three years. Helmet was $100.