Moped Riding in Britain: A Step by Step Guide
Posted by John Vincent on September 20, 2009
1. First things first you need a licence. Without it you can’t even do the basic training in step 2. It’s easy to apply. All you need is 50 and a photograph signed by someone in authority or a current British passport. Take them to a Post Office, fill in a form and Robert’s your father’s uncle.
2. The next step is to do a CBT course. This validates your provisional moped/motorcycle entitlement and gives you a basic understanding of the bike and the road.
3. By law we must protect our delicate little heads from damage whilst riding any form of motorised bicycle. So a helmet comes next. You will by now know what you should and shouldn’t be buying and how the helmet should fit correctly. It was part of the CBT course you just completed. If it wasn’t then go and complain. They missed a bit. It’s probably worth spending a bit of money on a jacket and gloves at the same time, don’t you think?
4. Buying a bike is easy. Choosing the correct one isn’t. It all comes down to personal preference, budget and what you will use it for. At the end of the day the ideal bike for commuting to work in an office may not be the same as one for working a farm. Check out my blog if you’re stuck.
5. Roadworthiness of your vehicle is your responsibility. The annual MOT isn’t a certificate of proof. You must personally ensure your tyres are good, your lights work and your bike isn’t a death-trap for any other reason. You still need a valid MOT though.
6. Insurance is compulsory. The level of cover is not. If your bike cost 50 or so and you can afford to replace it if you make a mistake or it gets stolen (and even 50 ‘wrecks’ get joy-ridden) then third party cover will do. Otherwise it’s worth looking at fire and theft cover too. Comprehensive cover is usually cost-prohibitive to the average 16 year old as it will often be almost as expensive as replacing the bike outright
7. You also need to buy vehicle tax. Mopeds are reasonably environmentally friendly and consequently they are extremely cheap on tax. In 2009 the road tax fund for a motor bicycle is only 15. It is available from most Post Offices and you will need to take the Vehicle Registration Certificate (or the green tear-off slip if it was a recent purchase), a valid MOT for the bike and proof of insurance with you.
8. Last but by no means least, if you are riding on a provisional licence you must display L-Plates at the front and rear of your bike. They must not be cut-down or obscured in any way.
9. The best bit. Fill up with petrol (and oil if it’s 2-stroke), put on your helmet, gloves and jacket and off you go. The world is a much better place on a moped.
Fasttrack Motorcycles, Leicester is the place to go if you’re looking to buy, need advice or want help with used motorbikes in the midlands. It’s also where you’ll find the author, John Vincent, when he’s not writing articles for The Moped Spot.
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