It’s a vehicle which has become an Italian icon and the primary form of transport for any self-respecting mod. The humble moped has well and truly claimed a spot in pop culture and modern society, with their popularity showing no signs of slowing down.
They’re also the vehicle of choice for those aged 16 and 17 who want to get out on the road but are not legally allowed to do so in a car. Whatever your reasons for wanting to purchase a moped, here a few things you should know before climbing aboard and heading out onto the streets.
Running Costs
One of the great things about a moped is that they are cheap to run. They have small engines, meaning the fuel economy is excellent and they are much cheaper to insure as opposed to a motorbike. Insurers even offer their own moped or scooter policies which you can choose from.
Road tax is a similar story. As with motorbikes, the amount of tax you are required to pay on your moped corresponds to the size of the engine. Due to the small size of the engine, you will have fitted on your moped, across the year you will be paying very little on tax.
If you’re looking for a vehicle which is stylish and very cheap to operate, look no further than a moped.
You will need a CBT to drive one
Whilst the engines may not be powerful, you still can’t just hop on a moped and ride it into the sunset without any prior training. You will be required to take a CBT course; this stands for compulsory basic training and can often be concluded in around 6 to 8 hours.
A CBT course makes sure you are aware of the highway code, have good enough eyesight to drive, can command a vehicle safely and have some independent road experience. Once you have your certificate and a provisional license you will legally be able to ride your moped on the streets of the UK.
How fast can you go?
If you are 16, you are legally allowed to ride a moped which has a 50-cc engine. This is to ensure that you can’t travel any faster than 45km/h. As you get older, however, you can increase the engine size and therefore your speed.
On today’s market, you can find a whole range of scooters which can even give some modern motorbikes a run for their money! One of the fastest models currently available is the Aprilla SR 150 race which is a collaborative project created by two iconic moped brands, Vespa and Piaggio.
This model is fitted with a 150-cc engine has the capacity to make an 11.5Nm of torque and loses none of its effortless style by doing so. Perhaps not one for the beginners, but something to aim for in future!
