My Son tells me he wants a moped.

[slartybartfa]

Yes I have and my advice to you would be "don't buy a ped, buy a proper 50cc bike".

Mine was keen on the whole ped thing so I said no, but if you ride a proper bike we'll then move along to a 125 and get your test done when you're 17. He now has car and bike licences and the vehicles to go with each (at 18!) and his driving instructor said he was one of the most competent pupils she'd ever had as he not only had road sense but knew about clutch control and understood gearing as well. Find yourself an old Suzi TS50 or Aprilia/Derbi etc. and go that route.

EDIT: OH, and make sure that they get lots of off-road, pre-CBT running around in as well. Makman's right, it's really valuable.

/agree

[Taipan]

Well i sat down with him to discuss it last night and he said he has changed his mind. When i asked why he said it would take a large chunk out of his savings and he hasn't any income to put it back and its only for a year! He'd rather keep his money for car lessons and spend his money on something that will last him a lot longer. I'm fooked if I know where he gets such sensibilities from? I think i'll ask for a DNA test!

So I think i'll treat him to a ped, cbt and he can buy his insurance. He will start to accrue some NCB this way which will help when he gets his car. So he should understand the value of paying for insurance. Now I do feel as if I'm pushing this on him!

[Gregor]

Well i sat down with him to discuss it last night and he said he has changed his mind. When i asked why he said it would take a large chunk out of his savings and he hasn't any income to put it back and its only for a year! He'd rather keep his money for car lessons and spend his money on something that will last him a lot longer. I'm fooked if I know where he gets such sensibilities from? I think i'll ask for a DNA test!

So I think i'll treat him to a ped, cbt and he can buy his insurance. He will start to accrue some NCB this way which will help when he gets his car. So he should understand the value of paying for insurance. Now I do feel as if I'm pushing this on him!

Maybe he just looked out the window and didn't fancy getting wet all winter.

[Splat]

Now I do feel as if I'm pushing this on him!

Just wait until something happens to him and your wife starts to look for someone to blame!

[DefTrap]

Well i sat down with him to discuss it last night and he said he has changed his mind. When i asked why he said it would take a large chunk out of his savings and he hasn't any income to put it back and its only for a year! He'd rather keep his money for car lessons and spend his money on something that will last him a lot longer. I'm fooked if I know where he gets such sensibilities from? I think i'll ask for a DNA test!

So I think i'll treat him to a ped, cbt and he can buy his insurance. He will start to accrue some NCB this way which will help when he gets his car. So he should understand the value of paying for insurance. Now I do feel as if I'm pushing this on him!

Ha, pushover!

[a_morti]

Well i sat down with him to discuss it last night and he said he has changed his mind. When i asked why he said it would take a large chunk out of his savings and he hasn't any income to put it back and its only for a year! He'd rather keep his money for car lessons and spend his money on something that will last him a lot longer. I'm fooked if I know where he gets such sensibilities from? I think i'll ask for a DNA test!

So I think i'll treat him to a ped, cbt and he can buy his insurance. He will start to accrue some NCB this way which will help when he gets his car. So he should understand the value of paying for insurance. Now I do feel as if I'm pushing this on him!

Umm, but the NCB won't count towards a car for most insurers.

And since he'll be riding on a CBT he won't even gain 1 year experience.

Go ahead, but be sure of what you're buying for your money!

[DefTrap]

Umm, but the NCB won't count towards a car for most insurers.

And since he'll be riding on a CBT he won't even gain 1 year experience.

Go ahead, but be sure of what you're buying for your money!

It's an excuse to get another moped. Sonny jim won't even get to sit on it.

If he was a proper dad he would be buying this

[Taipan]

Just wait until something happens to him and your wife starts to look for someone to blame!

I think the wife does see lots of advantages to him having a ped TBH. My Son is schooled and hangs about in a different town to where we live. So the wife worries about him waiting around for one of us to pick him up if his mates go in. Plus if he goes to the local college it'll be very hard to get him there and back, although i'm sure there are buses or suchlike? He really does need transport and this would give him a lot more freedom and she does know that. She should have a scooter herself really as she works at the school in the same neighbouring town. I wonder if I could get them both on the same CBT thing. Hmmmm

[Taipan]

Umm, but the NCB won't count towards a car for most insurers.

And since he'll be riding on a CBT he won't even gain 1 year experience.

Go ahead, but be sure of what you're buying for your money!

Really? I didn't know that. Thanks for pointing that out.

It's an excuse to get another moped. Sonny jim won't even get to sit on it.

If he was a proper dad he would be buying this

WTF is that!

[RiceBurner]

One thing to bear in mind regarding automatic 50cc scoots.....


because they're so gutless the DO get the rider into the habit of riding flat out at all times. that's how I learnt to ride anyway when I was 16 (Honda Karen... ), and the "flatstick" habit is hard to break....

(Or something....)

[Gregor]

One thing to bear in mind regarding automatic 50cc scoots.....


because they're so gutless the DO get the rider into the habit of riding flat out at all times. that's how I learnt to ride anyway when I was 16 (Honda Karen... ), and the "flatstick" habit is hard to break....

That applies to any scooter for that matter.

[murcan]

So when you get this moped that your son has decided he doesn't want are you going to RACE IT IN THE GREAT TRC MOPED RACE maybe?

[Taipan]

So when you get this moped that your son has decided he doesn't want are you going to RACE IT IN THE GREAT TRC MOPED RACE maybe?

It will be getting a derestricting CDI , Leo Vince can and 21mm carb!

[Helmet]

It will be getting a derestricting CDI , Leo Vince can and 21mm carb!

You'll be wanting to take a dremel to the exhaust port on the head to match the 'can too - will make a lot more difference

[Lostboy]

WRONG on so many points.No need to say any more.

Yes there is, but the fact that you've failed to respond is symptomatic of the sort of shit that you'd have trotted out.

You are a classic "cotton wool" parent end of story.

What's amazing about this thread is that a bunch of supposedly "educated" bikers are so quick to dismiss the abilities and skills of their offspring and as quick to suggest that peer pressure will turn them into chavs on peds.

My eldest did a bit of off-road stuff on his TS50 (which will do 40mph, still not great but better than 30) and then his CBT. His instructor was excellent and told him clearly what he needed to concentrate on. Because it was coming from someone OTHER THAN A PARENT it clearly went in well. He got a XR125 at 17 as well as a car. He passed his car test with two minors (I've already said what his driving instructor said about his roadcraft and clutch contol) and then he did his bike test. A couple of days of instruction beforehand to get familiar with the process and the test courses and he passed with three minors. Again his instructor said that for a 17 year old 6'5" monster this was a great performance.

On his 18th birthday he was hit by a bus. He was on a major road, the bus was pulling out of a Naval station and "didn't see him" (and drove off, but the insurers are still trying to get it to court!). Because he had the right jacket, helmet, gloves, training and ability he'd already assessed the situation and the accident was significantly less than it would have been. Both me and the wife were at work and, having been called to the scene, were worried but delighted to see that he had all his kit on, was calm and able to tell the police exactly what had gone on. It's a crap way of finding out that your "child" can be trusted and listens to the advice that is given to him but it's a moment when the trust between us was strengthened even further.

The hypocritical advice being offered by so many people on this thread will not work with your offspring. As someone has pointed out already, if they want to do it then they'll just get on with it. Far better to support them, advise them and trust them than let them fuck it all up because they're relying on their mates!!

As for stalking them on your own bike...........


EDIT: The poster who talked about NCD not counting for cars is correct BUT if you explain to your insurers that they have a years experience then you should get a discount. Does for bikes though!!