Can I ride a 50cc moped ?

Sorry but that mental image was funny!!!

 

If you think that's funny, add this to the mental image.

It was a red hot sunny afternoon, and the young lady I really fancied at the time was sat on a wall over the road sunbathing, and watching me show off, when the crash occurred. The lesson I learned that day was this: Don't attempt to do a wheelie on a Thomas moped.

 

What can I ride?
At age 16 you are entitled to ride a bike or scooter with an engine no larger than 49cc and restricted to no more than 30mph.
If you are aged 17 years and older, you can ride a bike or scooter with an engine no larger than 125cc and which has a power output restricted to no more than 14.6bhp. As a learner rider, you must always display L-Plates on your bike, and you may not carry passengers or ride on motorways.


Hunts Motorcycles, Manchester : Taking up motorcycling?-Some information for learners


Jack McH

 

Clueless and Jack,

Sorry, I forgot that things are different here on the island. Our learners can ride up to a 125cc. Learners on both bikes and in cars can take their test at sixteen. But are restricted by 'R' plates (newly registered) for a year after. Their top speed cannot exceed 50mph in that time. Having said that it's the vehicles that are restricted, so if they are driven by somebody fully qualified displaying these plates, they too will be restricted to the same speed.

The test is split into two parts.......Part one, on computer for highway code and vehicle knowledge. Part two, on the road. The test here is harder than on the mainland, but surprisingly the standard of driving is atrocious. I put that down to lack of major road experience. We don't have any motorways and the only dual carriageway (if you can call it that) is about 200yards long.

I passed my test many moons ago in Essex which makes driving on the island for me a 'piece of cake'.

 

Ahhhh John, that's really sweet of you.