What’s So Special About Mopeds?
Mopeds are often referred to as the ‘marmite’ of the automotive world – you either love them or you hate them. As a child you laugh when one goes screaming past, then as a car driver you curse as they hold up traffic…but as a moped owner you love them and no amount of laughing or cursing will change that.
So what exactly is a moped?
Mopeds are defined as low powered motorcycles that have a top speed of around 31mph and a maximum engine size of 49cc. Anything bigger than this is classed separately as a scooter. All mopeds registered before September 1977 were obligated to have pedals however advances in technology (otherwise known as a starter motor!) have made these pedals superfluous to requirements.
Mopeds with pedals are now thought of as collector’s items and rare models tend to sell privately for very good prices. These older models didn’t have a restriction on speed and some could reach over 50mph in a straight line…hence their attraction today.
So, to recap mopeds have a top speed of around 30mph and an engine that is more suited to a lawn mower – why on earth would anyone want to buy one?
The benefits of owning a moped
They are the perfect mode of transport for cities.
Mopeds are only slightly bigger than a regular bicycle but they are engine powered, which means you don’t have to use precious energy pedalling. You can still zip in and out of the cars in congestion zones and get to your destination well before an equivalent car driver. Mopeds are the perfect solution for rush hour traffic.
They are incredibly cheap to run.
The biggest moped engine is 49cc which means you can probably fill the tank and keep it running for weeks on £15-20 (obviously depending on how many miles you do each day). The licensing fee is at present £15 per year and if you passed your driving test in a car before 2001 you don’t even have to take an additional moped test.
You can apply for your provisional moped license at 16.
After passing your compulsory basic training (CBT) you can be out on the road with a provisional moped license at the tender age of 16. The provisional status lasts for two years before needing to be renewed – unless the full test is passed before the renewal date and then it is valid for years and years.
Mopeds offer more safety than bicycles.
Going back to rush hour in the big cities, mopeds are considered to be a much safer way to travel than the good old fashioned bicycle. Being bigger than a bicycle they demand their own bit of road space, and providing you wear the recommended fluorescent clothing there is little chance of a car driver not noticing you there.
The models today are generally very stylish.
Until quite recently mopeds did have a small stigma attached to them but in today’s economic climate and with regards to being environmentally friendly this stigma is quickly becoming replaced with adoration. Manufacturers have picked up on this and are now designing and building mopeds that are in no way embarrassing to own.
So, now you know why mopeds are so special maybe it’s time to look at investing in one. They are cheap, economical, and fun to own which is much more than you can say for most other forms of transport.
