More Moped Driving Tips

In a scooter online forum, a lady inquired about how to drive a moped for the first time. She bought an electric moped because she had seen a lot of people in her town driving one, and the idea of saving money on gas was very appealing. But she was very frustrated, because when the time to ride her moped came, she did not know what to do with it. She asked, "Is there a guide available online that will teach me how to operate a moped?"

In my opinion, this is not an isolated cry for help. A lot of people are buying mopeds and electric bicycles out of necessity, because they are cheaper to buy and operate. Some of them might not have a previous experience with motorized scooters and eventually will be facing the same problem. This article is an attempt to help first time moped drivers to get it rolling. So, what do I do when I don't know what to do with my moped scooter?

Firstly, you need to know the physics of riding any two-wheeled vehicle. We know that a bike stays upright when it is steered to keep its center of mass over its wheels. This steering is usually supplied by a rider, or in the case of a motorized scooter, by the bike itself. Basically, the challenge is to keep your body in balance. A good training for moped riding would be, to learn how to keep your balance while riding in a regular bike. If you know how to drive a bicycle, you won't have problems driving a moped. There is one difference though, that you have to keep in mind: in driving motorized bikes, mopeds and motorcycles, speed is your friend. By this, I mean that when you drive your moped, you have to keep the inertia, so that it won't fall over. While it is an everyday occurrence to see a bike rider keeping balance in a very slowly pace, or even in a motionless state, with motorized bikes, mopeds and motorcycles, the slower you go, the less stable and balanced you will be.

Secondly, you need to get familiar with the process of starting the engine. There are a few key components located on the front part of your moped that are vital to its safe operation. Here is what you need to do: take the time to locate and get acquainted with all those components. Keep in mind that there can not be a universal set of instructions to operate all mopeds, because they vary according to the brand, model, size and source of power.

You must locate the ignition switch. Once you find it, turn it on with a key, much the same way you would in a car.
Then, find the start switch. Most mopeds come with a start switch, which must be in the "on" position. If it has a kill switch, it must also be in the "run" position.
Depending on the brand, you might need to quickly kick one of the pedals in order to start the moped's motor.
Situate the throttle grip, which is the bar where the hands usually go to maneuver. If the motor is on, you control speed by twisting this grip. If you twist it forward, the machine gets decelerated; if you twist it backwards the speed increases. It behooves you then, to learn how to use this speed control. In order for the moped to roll forward, slowly twist the grip backwards. As you gain confidence, you will increase the speed.
Before you start rolling, make sure you know where the brake levers are. You can't miss them. They are located at the two extremes of the moped handlebar. They serve to slow down or stop the vehicle. It is very important to learn how to balance the two. The right lever serves to apply the front brake, and the left lever is for the rear. To avoid unnecessary accidents, make sure you apply steadily increasing pressure to both brake levers simultaneously.
Before you take off, make sure the mirrors are positioned correctly, that you know where the switch to activate the headlight beams is.
Once the moped is moving, put you feet off the ground and into the footrest platform, or in other cases, on the pedals.

Thirdly, make sure you implement these steps for the first time in an isolated area, where traffic would not be a factor that add to the stress of the new experience, or put in danger your physical integrity, or that of others.

Lastly, when you finish your ride, take these steps in reverse. Decelerate, stop the vehicle, put your feet on the ground, turn off all switches, get your keys, lower the kickstand to settle the moped and make sure you leave it in a secure place, with the safety devise locked.

If you follow these tips, you will surely enjoy your first ride on your new moped scooter. I can assure you it will be a thrilling experience. But first you need to know the physics involved in riding a moped. It's all about balance. The faster it goes, the easier to keep balance; the slower we go, it becomes a lot more difficult to keep balance. Also, you need get familiar with the different components your moped has on the front part. Don't be afraid to test them. It will not be difficult to learn how to use them properly. It would be ideal for an experienced driver to teach you how to operate your moped, but the next best thing you could do is to heed the tips given in this article. Have a safe ride!

Jose A. Castillo, Jr. is a writer and a motor sports enthusiast who lives in Miami, Florida. He has researched extensively on scooters, and enjoys writing to educate people on the subject. He is the owner of JCastle Enterprises, LLC., from which he manages different internet businesses, including http://www.motorizedscootersite.com/, his scooter store.

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Moped Bikes: Perfect For Campuses And City Life

Everyone now a days hates walking place to place. Although it is a sad thing, at the same time, it is nice to be able to get in a car and cruise to your destination. But with the economy the way it is, and gas prices all over the place, who wants to waste gas in their car? When I need to simply drive to the corner store to grab some milk, or go across campus for my calculus class, driving a car is terrible. It's the short, stop and go traffic that kills gas in cars. Driving your car through cities, and campuses can be very wasteful. I finally had enough of it and decided to look into some alternatives. I came across a special type of moped, called the moped bike.

This vehicle is essentially what it sounds like, a moped, and a bike. I got a moped bike about two weeks ago and my transportation has never been the same. With my bike moped I get upwards of 100 miles to the gallon, and pay way less for gas then I ever did in my car. I use my 50cc moped to get from class to class, to friends appartments, or simply to run to the store and grab a bag of chips.

What I like best about my bike is the fact that it's not just a moped. Normal mopeds are simply gas powered, two wheeled vehicles. Well my bike moped is a heck of a lot more than that. When I run out of gas on my moped, I'm not waling anywhere! Unlike normal mopeds, my moped bike has pedals hidden in the side that pop out and allow me to pedal like a normal bicycle. Using my moped in campuses and small cities is that much better haveing this type of scooter. If I run out of gas, theres no need to worry. Most of the time I'm within a mile or so of where I'm going or coming from, so having the ability to ride the vehicle as a bicycle as well is an amazing feature.

Having a moped is pretty cool I must say. But for me having a moped bike is just ten times better. Being able to pedal if I run out of gas is just super convenient, and also a good workout. It has good trunk space, very sleek, and very durable. I wouldn't get a normal moped ever again, It's that much better to me! I feel that all college students or people who live in small cities, should all consider getting one of these fantastic vehicles.

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Moped Driving Tips

As the popularity of electric and gas moped scooters continue to soar, there seems to be a greater need to educate prospective and present owners about its use. According to webbikeworld.com, the sales of scooters in the United States had an increase of 49.6% in the first quarter of 2011, when compared to the first quarter of 2010. This means that during that period, 6,246 new moped scooters were sold (an increase of 2,070). Hopefully, as time goes by, the information in this article will be more relevant and useful. If you are new to driving a moped scooter or if you are considering buying one, there are a few things you need to know, ideally, before jumping into this fun and stylish form of transportation.

First, make sure you are informed about local and state laws regarding mopeds. If you do that, you will avoid unnecessary stress. Most scooter dealers have no special provisions in their policies for returns due to local restrictions imposed by the law. It is the buyer's responsibility to research about all laws and regulations to avoid being penalized by law enforcement agents. Since the use of mopeds continues to increase, the laws that govern its operation are also in constant evolution. Prospective moped owners should not rely on information provided by non-official websites, since the advice might be outdated. There are, however, some scooter related websites that provide a list of the official websites of each state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Department of Transportation (DOT) and other city-level agencies. One way to extract good information from those official websites is to write "mopeds" or "moped laws" in their search box feature, and you will be flooded with up-to-date laws and regulations

Second, make sure your moped is properly assembled. If you buy your moped from a store front scooters dealer, it is wise to pay a little extra to have a certified mechanic assemble it. If you buy online, like most people do according to statistics, it is recommended to follow the instructions provided in the owner's manual. Most moped scooters are delivered 70-90% assembled, so the job is not beyond anyone's capabilities. It will take time and a little ingenuity, but it is not difficult to achieve. It is advisable to have a decent set of screwdrivers, sockets and metric wrenches as the tool kit that comes with the scooter sometimes is not good enough. The final step in the assembling process is to make sure every part is properly connected, and the nut and bolts are tight, specially the ones holding the muffler, exhaust and wheels.

Third, make sure you follow basic guidelines for moped safety. Assuming you are planning to use your moped on city streets and highways, besides possessing a motor scooter license, you must consider buying insurance. It doesn't cost much (you can get a policy for less than $150 a year), and it will give you peace of mind, since your moped could be stolen or you could be involved in an accident leaving you with injuries and a total loss of your vehicle. Also, keep in mind that mopeds are not toys; they should not be ridden in a careless way, or by a minor. In addition, wise moped drivers always use protective gear including a jacket made with reflective material and adequate padding , helmet, and appropriate shoes. Moreover, caution should be taken when driving at night. Even though most mopeds are now equipped with frontal and rear lights, the astute driver assumes not everybody can see his moped.

Fourth, make sure you use common sense while driving your moped. There are some common sense rules that apply to all motorized vehicles, and scooters are not the exception. Remember that the stop sign is there to keep the order and to ensure the safety of drivers. Stopping at a stop sign is not only the law, is for your own good. Therefore, always stop at a stop sign; look right and left before proceeding. Also, stop at the end of the driveway. Exercise caution before entering the street. Use proper hand and light signals while you drive. It is a healthy practice to drive defensively.

Finally, make sure you avoid moped destructive practices. Most mopeds are built to last. Therefore, with proper care you will enjoy your motorized scooter for many years, returning your initial investment many times over. For that to happen though, it is necessary to keep good maintenance habits. Do not neglect your moped. Check oil levels and change the motor oil and transmission fluid each 1000 miles, check tire pressure and the tightness of nuts and bolts periodically. Also, avoid jumping off of curves, and putting too much weight on it, since it can bend or break the frame. Do not ride on flat tires because you might easily lose control of the vehicle and it will damage the tire and the wheel.

The instability of gasoline prices and the growing desire of a more "green" way of life, is transforming our car dependent society. Moped scooters are not the perfect solution to our transportation problems and dilemmas, but they certainly are a viable alternative that many are seriously considering. Scooters, particularly mopeds, are here to stay. If the trend that we have seen in past years continues, many more people will buy one of these wonders. The more people acquire a moped scooter, the more information they will need to make sure they are going to be driving it the proper way. Hence, these moped driving tips are presented.

Jose Castillo is a motor sports enthusiast. He has researched extensively on scooters, and enjoys writing to educate people on the subject. Out of his passion he has developed one of his internet businesses: http://motorizedscootersite.com/. You may contact him at: motorizedscootersite@gmail.com

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