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Information
for Mum & Dad |
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We have provided
some information to decipher the street talk, it will help in
buying the
moped for your son or daughter. |
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What's a Twist and Go - or 'Ped |
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A Moped to give it's full name is
basically a two wheeled scooter or special motorcycle. The Twist
& Go comes from the operation, twist the throttle (accelerator)
and Go! |
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Two-Stroke Vs Four-Stroke |
Without getting complicated:
two stroke - fast, easier to
de-restrict, expensive, Italian or French, requires Oil & Petrol
four stroke - slower, less to
de-restrict, cheaper |
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Are they dangerous? |
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Nope, it's usually the rider; 16;
testosterone and speed do not mix - on Two or Four Wheels.
However with the quality of the training (see below) accidents
usually result in injuries to pride. Most parents worry, this is
just the latest headache! |
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How fast do they Go? |
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A restricted 'Ped has a basic
restriction which goes with the provisional licence and CBT.
That restriction is 12BHP or Brake Horse Power. Since weight has
an impact on speed (heavy - slow / light - fast) this
means that although most Mopeds should do 30mph, some will do
34mph, and some will do 45mph straight out of the box. |
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My son wants to de-restrict his
'ped ? |
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Most scooters can be 'suped up' or
derestricted, this usually means fitting a sports exhaust, and
removing some of the fittings that slow the bike down. Most is
simple DIY work, like removing exhaust baffles (a restrictor in
the exhaust) or washers in the clutch (makes the bike accelerate
faster), but some do require a mechanic; like re-jetting the
carburettor. We often see kids who do one thing and then
another and negate the entire process. Getting it wrong can be
expensive as the wrong jets can cause the bike to seize because
it runs too hot. You can go to fantastic lengths to make a 'ped
go faster, Malossi Clutches, carbon rollers etc, etc. We have
seen Aprilia SR50's that do 75MPH! - Usually once! Most work
will invalidate the warranty on a new bike. |
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What do I need to get to put my
Son/Daughter on the road? |
- A Moped or Geared Bike
£500 - £2,700
- Provisional Licence
- Insurance £350
- Tax £15
- Clothing and Helmet
(budget around £150)
- CBT (Around £90-140)
When he/she signs for their
provisional they are declaring that they have read and
understood the Highway code. |
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What's a CBT |
NOTE: Everyone needs a CBT |
Compulsory Basic Training, a 1 day
training course, which should be composed of:
- 30 minutes on what is a
CBT and paperwork
- 1 hour on clothing,
helmets and protection
- 1 hour on bike controls
and operation
- 1-2 hours on a CBT pad
(car park or other DSA certified ground)
- a 2 hour road ride (this
is required by law)
Assessing the CBT
If the student cannot answer
the following questions after the CBT, the training (or
listening) didn't work
- What's OSM-PSL ?
- What's a Life Saver - when
do I do one?
- Explain Controlled Braking
(difference between front and rear)
- Explain 5 Point braking
plan for Emergency Stop
- What makes a helmet legal
?
- Where are your blind spots
?
CBT's are carried out by ATB'S
(Authorized Training Bodies) certified by the DSA (Driving
Standards Agency) |
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Two Stroke or Four Stroke ? |
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Without getting too technical:
Two Stroke
- Fast
- Can be heavily
derestricted
- Italian (usually)
- Unreliable
- Expensive - (mainly
because the are prized by the Kids)
Four Stroke
- Slower
- Harder to de-restrict
- Chinese (mostly)
- Reliable
- Cheaper
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Any advice you can give me to
stop me worrying ? |
Nope; But consider these tips:
- Buy a good helmet (about
£100 and FIBRE GLASS, not polycarbonate)
- Buy a good jacket with
protection in Elbows, shoulders AND BACK (Spine)
- Get decent gloves - not
too thick they impede the operation of the controls
- If the bike costs less
than £1500 - get third party, Fire and Theft, the excess
makes it a joke
- Get them to wash it -
easier to spot problems before they are trouble
- Visibility is the Key to
bike safety - lights, viz-vests or belts - Kids won't wear
'em though - sorry!
- Don't' let them wear nylon
clothes (like track suits et al)
- Don't follow them it's too
nerve racking for you and them...
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