Motorcycle Safety & Driveability: moped/motor bike, cosmetic design, mike thanks

Question
Hi William,
I have never ridden a motorbike before and am considering getting into it.
I have read up a  little on mopeds, but I wanted to know is there a basic difference between a low-powered motor bike and a moped, in terms of performance, mechanics, etc. -- as opposed to purely cosmetic design features (eg. it's easier to hop on and off a moped!)

I am considering eventually getting a bike, however my first bike would be a low-powered one, so I need to know if there is a real difference between the two.

hope you can help.
thanks in advance,
Mike.

Answer
Mike,

Thanks for the question.

I typically do not recommend anyone get a moped, you are safer riding a bicycle. They are too small, too underpowered, and the brakes are too weak. They are also hard to see. Please don't get one.

If you wrote "moped" and meant "scooter", that's a bit different. For many people, scooters are a great way to get riding and learn skills. Modern scooters are more robust than  older ones, and have modern brakes and at least decent engines. If you want to get a scooter, I recommend you get an 80cc or bigger model so you have enough power to ride safely in traffic.

Many people equate "small" and "low powered" with "safe" when it comes to scooters and motorbikes, but that's not the reality. You need a bike or scooter that's large enough for you to be comfortable on and has enough power to pass city traffic. Small, underpowered bikes and scooters are dangerous because they are hard to see and don't have enough power to get out of a dangerous situation.

One of the key safety features of a motorbike (cycle or scooter) is the ability to change direction quickly and get away from trouble, since you certainly don't want to hit anything.

So should you get some big, high-powered bike as a first bike? No, of course not. But you should get a bike that fits you well (height/weight) and is easy for you to operate. Do a lot of shopping.

As for mechanical and performance differences, most small motorbikes are going to be much "faster" than small scooters since they use manual gears. Reliability between the two is relative, most any modern bike or scooter you get now is reliable if you take care of it (watch out for cheap Chinese models now coming into the country, though, and avoid them).

It is harder to ride a bike than a scooter since you have to learn shifting technique, but once you learn it, you can ride any kind of motorcycle. A scooter is easier, since they are automatics ("twist and go").

I strongly encourage you to attend an MSF Beginner riding course in your area. You don't need a bike, they will have one for you. It's a weekend class, and you can find out more at www.msf-usa.org. Once you take the class, you'll have a better idea of what you want to ride, and even if you want to ride at all (not everyone ends up liking it, but most do).

Good luck,

Bill Roberson