First moped

[samz90]

One of my friends has just turned 16 and is considering buying a moped. Does anyone have any basic information on buying, driving. basically a beginners guide.

Thanks

[Hammer]

They will need to do Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) before they can get their provisional license. This can usually be arranged through bike shops, who are a good source of advice too. Try to find one that's been around for donkey's years with a good reputation as they will be less likely to just try to sell you an expensive bike.

[ursula62]

I'd ask at your local motorbike shop about CBT courses as they will know all the companies offering training in the area and have done business with them. Also, you can get lots of good advice from the mechanics at the shop. The sales guys probably don't know an awful lot about bike maintenance but would be able to help with comparing deals and bike specifications, and many of the young men working in a motorbike shop will have bikes of their own and go to race meets or clubs etc.

Another good thing is if you have a friendly relationship with the shop they will help you a lot - once I dropped my bike parking it when visiting the shop and bent the gear pedal. They mended it for me there and then for nothing as I was a good customer and had my yearly services done there anyway.

[samz90]

do you think my friend should buy a secondhand bike?

[ursula62]

For a beginners guide to biking you can't do much better than the official DSA guide called "Motorcycle Riding - the essential skills".  It covers all the basics including information about CBT and theory/practical riding test, along with advice on choosing a bike or scooter, legislation, how to ride the bike in town and country.

You can get it from most bookshops - mine cost �9.99 2 years ago, so there may be a new edition.

 

Beware of buying a second hand bike, particularly if you have no experience of bikes or scooters. It is best to take someone with you who has been biking for a few years as they will spot things that an unscupulous seller might try to hide.

Probably you're best off buying your first bike from a shop rather than a private individual as the shop will give you a full year's MOT and a service after a year, and the bikes they sell have to be roadworthy. You might also get free insurance or RAC or AA membership added in if you use a large chain dealer.

Although you would pay quite a bit more if you bought second hand from a shop than if you bought from a private seller, there is less potential to get your money back if you use a private seller - you would have to go through the Small Claims Court rather than rely on the Sale of Goods Act and Trading Standards Officers.

P.S. you don't need to have a bike to do a CBT course, you can hire one from the training school. They have scooters and clutch and gear bikes available to train on, so maybe it would be best to leave buying the bike until you have your CBT certificate.