Need advice--buying moped or small motorcycle

I live a mile off campus of a seminary, where I work and am completing my M.Div.


Normally I can walk, no problem but the summer heat and potential rain kinda stinks. My wife works 20 miles away so I let her take the car.


Anyhow, I am not wanting to spend the insurance to buy a second vehicle, so I will likely be buying a moped sometime soon, or a small (ie, 750cc or less) motorcycle.


I know next to nothing about motorcyles/mopeds. I need something that I can depend on to start every time like my old Toyota Tacoma did (lol, before the wreck). What is reliable out there when it's 8-10 years old? I cannot afford to dump a lot of cash into one of these.


Thanks!!!

Matt

 

Any interstate driving? I ask because there are laws on min amount of CCs allowed on them.
You dont want to get runover on a underpowered machine.

 

Most states require a motorcycle endorsement on your drivers license- after passing a skills test. You may even need special licensing for a moped. You should also have some basic liability insurance on the vehicle.

 

Thanks guys, I have all those bases covered.

I'm looking for specific info regarding what is a good brand, what to avoid, what to pay, etc.....

 

Personally, I like Honda. I've had three different sizes and all have been basically trouble free. The old "you get what you pay for" is true. Pick your price and let the hunt begin.

 

You need to find out if your state requires insurance (some, including Florida, do not). If your state requires vehicle insurance, call a few agents and ask for rates. You don't say you age, but just to give you an example, insuring a 20 something on a 750cc sportbike can cost in the $9000-$12,000 a year range (and no, that is NOT a typo). A 'cruiser' style bike would be cheaper, but it may not be that much cheaper.

So...

Does your state require vehicle insurance?
Have you ever road a bike before?
Do you have private health insurance? (motorcycle insurance does NOT include medical payments!)
Are you prepared to spend a few hundred dollars on safety gear?

Just about any of the 250cc motorcycles will be faster 0-60 than 99% of the cars on the road. Honda Rebel, Kawasaki Ninja (and all similar bikes) are good choices for first time riders, and are fairly cheap used since they are barely $3k new, and most people 'trade up' in a short time.

 

Thanks Pendragon. I have all those bases covered--- no insurance required if under 50cc, insurance on a rhetorical '95 750cc Honda Shadow would run this 29 yr old under $200 a year. Comp coverage for a 2006 Schwinn Graduate scooter is literally $30 a year, comp and liability is $160 per year.

Any experience with Schwinn? I am looking at a Graduate this weekend, seems to be a nice scooter and has a larger frame than most scoots.

 

Hello, been riding Japanese bikes forever and nothing beats their reliability!! I myself have a 99 Yamaha 650 V Star Classic that I love! I bought it brand new and have put over 24,000 trouble free miles on it! I have NEVER had any problems with it at all! Just tires and gas! I even still have the original battery in it! I've seen them for sale around that year for $2500 or more. I myself would buy a Honda or Yamaha if I was you! Or probably any Japanese bike for that matter! Can't beat the Japanese reliability!! I wish American made machines in general were as reliable! Jack

 

Cute little scoot. 49.5 cc four cycle one cylinder. needs 90 octane gas but should sip it. Max speed on level is just under 30 mph, so pick your roads.

 

Good advice from uncle jack on bikes from Japan. I would look at the Schwinn and if it were made in China or Tiawian I would walk out and go right to the Honda dealer.
I never knew Schwinn made scooters I had a Schwinn stingray in 1964 great bike made in USA back then. Schwinn has fallen to the wayside like many American companys and gone China.

 

Mako,

Depending on how much driving you are doing, you may want to check our the new Honda CBR125. Sure it has a small engine but will get up over 60 mph with a 160 lb rider. Honda introduced the bike this year as a lost leader of sorts. They are trying to get more riders into bikes and have a very nice package offering including 3 yr warranty, roadside assistance and gear.

For a liquid cooled bike with dual disc brakes and top quality styling at a price of about $3K, I have seen nothing close.

 

Hi guy!!!....I'm a pretty hard core motorcyclist. I have three big Hondas I ride back and forth to work daily.......I've covered 45 states on my GoldWing.....and I LOVE Honda.......The require very little maintenance and they just KEEP GOING.........
I don't know where you live or expect to ride. but I would NOT consider a scooter or moped.........Why???........cause society has changed in the past 20 or so years.......A person in a car will hit you and not think twice about leaving the scene. I would NOT consider ANY kind of motorcycle that did NOT have the ponies to outrun the average car. Your only protection out there is the power of the bike and good common sense as to when and how to use it...........(Proper riding attire helps too!!)