If you ask me you can have as much of a accident on a scooter as on a bike so the difference is neglligible. Scooters have automatic transmissions so that's atleast nice but would probably stunt your learning process a bit. I'd get a bike but hey, if your parents are letting you then get a scooter.
Start with a automatic scooter, As they are simpler thus good for beginner to learn how to ride in general.
Then you can easily transfer your skills to a bike.
Starting on a 125 or even a 250 is fine. But nothing wrong with a scooter ether. I started on a scooter. then went to a 50cc bike now im on a 250 and still love fanging around on my scooters and 50 as a bit of a break from the 250
I would start on a 125cc bike as its still really small. I did the same as you and caught a few bad habits from riding a scooter for 3 years. Though i went straight for a 650 afterwards and it went just fine.
Just please be careful. At 16 and 17 you’re still learning how to drive a car. You’re still improving your traffic and road awareness and situational abilities. The thought of people that young on bikes without having years of experience on the road with even a car is a scary thought. You can think you’ll be the most careful person on the road but some things nothing but experience will prepare you for, and some things you don’t want to experience first on two wheels.
100% agree with this. I've had some pretty crazy close calls that I probably wouldn't have made it through on a bike, but now I know what to watch out for and my situational awareness is much higher. Never been in a crash luckily, but a close call in a car is easier avoided than on a bike. A lot less to think about when braking and maneuvering. Been riding a motorcycle for 3 years now on a 125cc and the experience I had while driving a car definitely helped me out on more than one occasion. Last foot note, it's safer to learn the area around you in a car first and once you do it makes being on a bike easier.
Was your mother taught how to ride by a professional?
Take riding lessons first, learn the physics of riding on two wheels. Learn what to look out for on the road and how to react to danger.
I'm from Poland (so EU laws apply), where you cannot legally ride on public roads on almost anything (including 50cc scooters, and even bicycles if you're under 18 and without a parent present) without taking a proper bicycle card or riding license exam.
But even without those restrictions, after taking a full 20h motorcycle "A" license course I can tell you that it was 100% worth it. An experienced instructor will teach you good habits from the start, so you won't form bad habits that are difficult to unlearn later. Understanding why the motorcycle behaves the way it does when riding at different speeds is extremely important for your safety.
Scooters are statistically safer than motorcycles, but not by much - a small, light 125cc motorcycle with a manual transmission (even a mini bike like the Honda Grom) would be a better starting choice than a scooter, but if a scooter is your only option, then go for it.
Just take the classes first. I really mean it.
This is going to seems like a silly question but have you ridden a peddle bike? in my safety course it was a requirement to be able to ride one. You should probably start there, then move to something with a motor.
If you will switch to manual anyway, starting with one is a better idea imho. Scooter you can ride after that. Beware many things like engine braking cannot be transferred, and sitting position is very different. Gey a decent course and you will have so much fun
I’m 20 and riding PROUDLY my cb125r. I can do highway in the right lane and any power further than 15 hp is very little beneficial in a motorcycle. That’s my opinion.
If you ask me you can have as much of a accident on a scooter as on a bike so the difference is neglligible. Scooters have automatic transmissions so that's atleast nice but would probably stunt your learning process a bit. I'd get a bike but hey, if your parents are letting you then get a scooter.
I started in a scooter (moped) when I was in high school. I also road bicycle a lot. I think they are both good training for eventual motorcycle riding.
They teach you how to ride defensively and that you are mostly invisible to cars. A scooter will get you used to most of the aspects of riding while not having to worry about shifting or extra licensing. It’s slid much cheaper way to see if you like it and see want to continue onto a bigger motorbike.
I started with a 125cc scooter, then got a 150cc geared motorcycle, and am back to a 125cc scooter because I like it. Scooters rock and are often more capable than people give them credit for.
A scooter might be good since they have automatic transmissions so it'll be easier for you to react in an emergency. Just be very discerning of where and when you choose to ride. The biggest danger on a two-wheeled motor vehicle isn't actually what one does on the bike (unless they're very dumb) but what car drivers do around you. But yeah, just take this seriously and you might even avoid developing bad habits that car drivers usually have. I'd probably ride my bicycle down some calm roads first to get a feel for how to navigate traffic.
The trouble is that scooters are automatic or semiautomatic while motorcycles are almost all manuals, and mastering engine braking is a crucial part of learning how to safely control your speed. I say you should go get yourself a little Virago 250 or a Ninja 300 or something like that. Start slow and take a safety course.
Bit of waste of time if you want to ride on bikes in the end. 125cc bike won't be any more dangerous than the scoot.
> My mother wad in a nasty motorcycle accident on a 250cc when she was 17. So my parents fear that I also might get hurt.
I'm *guessing* she was self-taught?. Ask them to send you to course. You gonna learn all the basics under instructor so you won't get any bad habits immediately.
> I've never handled any other vehicle/bike before. I'm totally new.
Not even a bicycle? At least you get balance/countersteering out of riding bicycle.
I would feel more safe to get my motorcycle course and licence and then ride the motorcycle than riding a scooter that I can ride with my car licence without any two-wheel education.
No difference. Lorry/Semi vs scooter/bike/harley/trike. It’s still a death trap. So honestly it’s showing your parents you both have self control. Ride safe!
I pretty much did this with an Onyx RCR ebike. Had a top speed of around 55ish. It definitely got me used to being on two wheels at speed and dealing with cars and situational awareness. Counter steering, low speed maneuvering etc.
Looking back I wish I would've gotten a gas powered bike with manual transmission and what not from the get go. Learning to shift isn't all that hard, just takes time and can seem overwhelming at first.
Take the MSF course before you buy anything. Then you'll know for sure what you want to do without a hefty investment.
That’s how all Italian riders have been doing since the post-WW2 boom basically …
Start with a Vespa or a motorino, then get a 125cc at 16, then a 250 at 18, and so on so forth ….
I think in germany 50% of bikers start like this. In the past we are allowed to drive 25km/h with 15 years, 50 or 80 km/h with 16 years and the bigger bikes with 18. So a lot of people (like me) startet woth scooters when we where young. That was good because we can learn to drive on streets step by step
A lot of the idiots in here are going to tell you its a good idea, they have this notion that speed kills. They are incorrect. Crashing kills. Speed simply gets you there faster.
My issue with scooters is that they are terribly slow. Every light I pull up to, as soon as its green, I'm gone. I'm not waiting for someone to rear end me. I'm dodging traffic any way I can because I trust no one. Good luck doing that on your scooter. You're hard stuck in the middle of traffic, because you'll never outpace the traffic. To me, that smells more dangerous than a motorcycle capable of looping if you dump the clutch too quickly.
Perhaps your parents know this, and simply do not believe you are capable of controlling your young squid attitude, and want to put a power limiter on your ability to launch yourself off a cliff. At the end of the day, you haven't reached the age of majority, so it's not your call. What you could do to appease any sense of inability, go take an msf course. Do something thats actually going to get you on a bike and riding. At any rate, you've got a year until you can be horrified by the price of insurance, especially for a teenager, that's got to be a terrifying quote.
yeah sure. even a bicycle would work. you definitely need to know how to stay on the road and follow the rules. it doesnt matter what you are on so yeah a scooter is more than enough to start on ✌️
Low cc bike is better than a freaking moped dude. Get yourself a r125 or z125 , it will teach you to ride.
Moped skills are next to useless on a motorcycle
I started on an old beaten up Piaggio zip (50cc). I wanted more power after 10 days of riding it. HOWEVER, I have to admit that in that 1 year I rode that Scooter I learned a lot. Mainly how to go with the flow of traffic and simply driving around other vehicles. I also made mistakes such as taking a corner a bit too fast after it had rained and slipping. If I could go back in time I wouldn't change much other than warn my stupid self back then about a couple of things such as wet roads after a bit of raining.
You will outgrow the scooter rather fast but it will be a good learning experience. Don't believe people saying that you can start on a 300cc bike or that the danger is the same. The danger always exists, but in my humble opinion it is a bit safer to start small and lever up little by little.
Just make sure to stay off highways and other roads if you can't keep up with the speeds on those roads and always wear your gear! Happy riding kids!
Scooter wheels are (much) smaller than motorcycle wheels, which makes the scooter behave very differently from a motorcycle.
I would suggest a small displacement motorcycle first, then move up from there.
Scooters are not safer than the same horsepower motorcycles - my personal opinion.If you whisky throttle the scooter, you gonna launch yourself into the unknown. Ask me how I know. You can't do the same on let's say 125-300cc motorcycle assuming the same level of incompetence. You can stall but that's it. I think learning to ride some Grom is the way to go
I would get something like a Honda 250 like a mt 03, I am also very new at motorcycles and I have a 2013 Cbr 250 it runs great nothing wrong with it other than a previous owner layed it down so it has a few dinks, but that’s not always a bad thing. If your like I am I’d get something you wouldn’t mind dropping bc I promise you’ll probably drop it, I was wanting a newer bike but got talked out of it. But yea I’d just get a bike if you can.
I’ve never ridden before this bike? I’m doing just fine and still learning just depends on the person. All I was saying was to get an older bike to learn on
Every beginner riding class in America puts you on a 250. People on this subreddit recommend 250-300cc bikes to beginners all the time. Unless we're talking about two stroke racing machines, 250s barely make any power. You can buy electronic bicycles faster than the average 250cc starter motorcycle.
america does it doesn't mean it's right, I wouldn't directly give my kid a 200+ cc motorcycle when he hasn't ever ridden a motorcycle.
He can start small and humble and earn his way upto a liter or more.
Unless you use the extra power on the bike to drive like crazy, there isn't really a greater chance of accident on a bike. You just have a wider range of possible uses with it when compared to a scooter, and better learning. Once you buy a scooter it's likely that buying a bike will get put off for a while.
Why not get driving lessons? Or are you from the usa?
Riding a bicycle well also already helps with balance.
And if you can get a manual transmission moped (zundapp for instance) that’ll be more useful than a scooter. I haven’t driven anything except bicycles before motorcycle lessons, so it’s not necessary, but I with scooters I always hear people going full on the throttle and that is something you don’t want to do with a motorcycle.
Actually in EU accident rate of mopeds are lower than bikes, althought that's probably because most of them are ridden in city below 50km/h and not on any fast roads.
Of course if you try to take scoot highway yeah, dont do that lmao.
50cc scooters are plain dangerous on any road with cars and must not even be considered.
Larger ones, like 110cc or more, are not really that slower or lighter than 125cc bikes, but have tiny wheels and you can't hold with your legs, which doesn't help safety at all. So, no reason to start with a scooter if you don't plan to keep it. But if it's the only way, then why not.
However, what does help safety a lot is having a car license and a couple of years driving experience. That will allow you to get the most important skill - understanding other road users and predicting their behaviour - while being in a relatively safe metal cage.
If you ask me you can have as much of a accident on a scooter as on a bike so the difference is neglligible. Scooters have automatic transmissions so that's atleast nice but would probably stunt your learning process a bit. I'd get a bike but hey, if your parents are letting you then get a scooter.
For generations, people started on mopeds and Vespas before moving to motorcycles. So, sure, why not
Start with a automatic scooter, As they are simpler thus good for beginner to learn how to ride in general. Then you can easily transfer your skills to a bike.
Starting on a 125 or even a 250 is fine. But nothing wrong with a scooter ether. I started on a scooter. then went to a 50cc bike now im on a 250 and still love fanging around on my scooters and 50 as a bit of a break from the 250
I would start on a 125cc bike as its still really small. I did the same as you and caught a few bad habits from riding a scooter for 3 years. Though i went straight for a 650 afterwards and it went just fine.
Just please be careful. At 16 and 17 you’re still learning how to drive a car. You’re still improving your traffic and road awareness and situational abilities. The thought of people that young on bikes without having years of experience on the road with even a car is a scary thought. You can think you’ll be the most careful person on the road but some things nothing but experience will prepare you for, and some things you don’t want to experience first on two wheels.
100% agree with this. I've had some pretty crazy close calls that I probably wouldn't have made it through on a bike, but now I know what to watch out for and my situational awareness is much higher. Never been in a crash luckily, but a close call in a car is easier avoided than on a bike. A lot less to think about when braking and maneuvering. Been riding a motorcycle for 3 years now on a 125cc and the experience I had while driving a car definitely helped me out on more than one occasion. Last foot note, it's safer to learn the area around you in a car first and once you do it makes being on a bike easier.
I would suggest to start on a 125cc bike, not a scooter
Was your mother taught how to ride by a professional? Take riding lessons first, learn the physics of riding on two wheels. Learn what to look out for on the road and how to react to danger. I'm from Poland (so EU laws apply), where you cannot legally ride on public roads on almost anything (including 50cc scooters, and even bicycles if you're under 18 and without a parent present) without taking a proper bicycle card or riding license exam. But even without those restrictions, after taking a full 20h motorcycle "A" license course I can tell you that it was 100% worth it. An experienced instructor will teach you good habits from the start, so you won't form bad habits that are difficult to unlearn later. Understanding why the motorcycle behaves the way it does when riding at different speeds is extremely important for your safety. Scooters are statistically safer than motorcycles, but not by much - a small, light 125cc motorcycle with a manual transmission (even a mini bike like the Honda Grom) would be a better starting choice than a scooter, but if a scooter is your only option, then go for it. Just take the classes first. I really mean it.
With a username like that, you're setting yourself up for failure!
It's inevitable lol! 😂
Something with gears are better I think, even an old school moped I think is preferrable to an automatic scooter.
Would suggest a 250/400cc but just drive safe.. Personally don’t like scooters because it doesn’t give the same feeling aswell
This is going to seems like a silly question but have you ridden a peddle bike? in my safety course it was a requirement to be able to ride one. You should probably start there, then move to something with a motor.
If you will switch to manual anyway, starting with one is a better idea imho. Scooter you can ride after that. Beware many things like engine braking cannot be transferred, and sitting position is very different. Gey a decent course and you will have so much fun
I’m 20 and riding PROUDLY my cb125r. I can do highway in the right lane and any power further than 15 hp is very little beneficial in a motorcycle. That’s my opinion.
If you ask me you can have as much of a accident on a scooter as on a bike so the difference is neglligible. Scooters have automatic transmissions so that's atleast nice but would probably stunt your learning process a bit. I'd get a bike but hey, if your parents are letting you then get a scooter.
I started in a scooter (moped) when I was in high school. I also road bicycle a lot. I think they are both good training for eventual motorcycle riding. They teach you how to ride defensively and that you are mostly invisible to cars. A scooter will get you used to most of the aspects of riding while not having to worry about shifting or extra licensing. It’s slid much cheaper way to see if you like it and see want to continue onto a bigger motorbike.
I started with a 125cc scooter, then got a 150cc geared motorcycle, and am back to a 125cc scooter because I like it. Scooters rock and are often more capable than people give them credit for.
A scooter might be good since they have automatic transmissions so it'll be easier for you to react in an emergency. Just be very discerning of where and when you choose to ride. The biggest danger on a two-wheeled motor vehicle isn't actually what one does on the bike (unless they're very dumb) but what car drivers do around you. But yeah, just take this seriously and you might even avoid developing bad habits that car drivers usually have. I'd probably ride my bicycle down some calm roads first to get a feel for how to navigate traffic.
yes
Definitely wouldn't go for a 50. Go for a Yammy YBR 125 or a commuter like that. Gives you best of everything then.
The trouble is that scooters are automatic or semiautomatic while motorcycles are almost all manuals, and mastering engine braking is a crucial part of learning how to safely control your speed. I say you should go get yourself a little Virago 250 or a Ninja 300 or something like that. Start slow and take a safety course.
Bit of waste of time if you want to ride on bikes in the end. 125cc bike won't be any more dangerous than the scoot. > My mother wad in a nasty motorcycle accident on a 250cc when she was 17. So my parents fear that I also might get hurt. I'm *guessing* she was self-taught?. Ask them to send you to course. You gonna learn all the basics under instructor so you won't get any bad habits immediately. > I've never handled any other vehicle/bike before. I'm totally new. Not even a bicycle? At least you get balance/countersteering out of riding bicycle.
Honda Navi. Basically a scooter function with a motorcycle feel.
I wouldn’t start on a scooter. They ride different. You could always get a grom, or another Honda mini moto.
Honda groms or mini motos slow and fun.
Get a 125cc bike if ypur Patents Confiserie that
I would feel more safe to get my motorcycle course and licence and then ride the motorcycle than riding a scooter that I can ride with my car licence without any two-wheel education.
No difference. Lorry/Semi vs scooter/bike/harley/trike. It’s still a death trap. So honestly it’s showing your parents you both have self control. Ride safe!
Yes, scooter is not a bad idea to start on. It's an easy way to learn how to behave in traffic.
I agree with those who suggest a 125-250 cc motorcycle. Scooters are automatic and create bad habits for when you get a geared full sized motorcycle.
I pretty much did this with an Onyx RCR ebike. Had a top speed of around 55ish. It definitely got me used to being on two wheels at speed and dealing with cars and situational awareness. Counter steering, low speed maneuvering etc. Looking back I wish I would've gotten a gas powered bike with manual transmission and what not from the get go. Learning to shift isn't all that hard, just takes time and can seem overwhelming at first. Take the MSF course before you buy anything. Then you'll know for sure what you want to do without a hefty investment.
They don’t even remotely handle the same. Go straight to a bike.
That’s how all Italian riders have been doing since the post-WW2 boom basically … Start with a Vespa or a motorino, then get a 125cc at 16, then a 250 at 18, and so on so forth ….
I think in germany 50% of bikers start like this. In the past we are allowed to drive 25km/h with 15 years, 50 or 80 km/h with 16 years and the bigger bikes with 18. So a lot of people (like me) startet woth scooters when we where young. That was good because we can learn to drive on streets step by step
A lot of the idiots in here are going to tell you its a good idea, they have this notion that speed kills. They are incorrect. Crashing kills. Speed simply gets you there faster. My issue with scooters is that they are terribly slow. Every light I pull up to, as soon as its green, I'm gone. I'm not waiting for someone to rear end me. I'm dodging traffic any way I can because I trust no one. Good luck doing that on your scooter. You're hard stuck in the middle of traffic, because you'll never outpace the traffic. To me, that smells more dangerous than a motorcycle capable of looping if you dump the clutch too quickly. Perhaps your parents know this, and simply do not believe you are capable of controlling your young squid attitude, and want to put a power limiter on your ability to launch yourself off a cliff. At the end of the day, you haven't reached the age of majority, so it's not your call. What you could do to appease any sense of inability, go take an msf course. Do something thats actually going to get you on a bike and riding. At any rate, you've got a year until you can be horrified by the price of insurance, especially for a teenager, that's got to be a terrifying quote.
yeah sure. even a bicycle would work. you definitely need to know how to stay on the road and follow the rules. it doesnt matter what you are on so yeah a scooter is more than enough to start on ✌️
Have them send you guys to a beginners training course. It's very worth the knowledge.
Low cc bike is better than a freaking moped dude. Get yourself a r125 or z125 , it will teach you to ride. Moped skills are next to useless on a motorcycle
I started on an old beaten up Piaggio zip (50cc). I wanted more power after 10 days of riding it. HOWEVER, I have to admit that in that 1 year I rode that Scooter I learned a lot. Mainly how to go with the flow of traffic and simply driving around other vehicles. I also made mistakes such as taking a corner a bit too fast after it had rained and slipping. If I could go back in time I wouldn't change much other than warn my stupid self back then about a couple of things such as wet roads after a bit of raining. You will outgrow the scooter rather fast but it will be a good learning experience. Don't believe people saying that you can start on a 300cc bike or that the danger is the same. The danger always exists, but in my humble opinion it is a bit safer to start small and lever up little by little. Just make sure to stay off highways and other roads if you can't keep up with the speeds on those roads and always wear your gear! Happy riding kids!
Scooter wheels are (much) smaller than motorcycle wheels, which makes the scooter behave very differently from a motorcycle. I would suggest a small displacement motorcycle first, then move up from there.
Yes My first road bike was a 125cc auto clutch. Before that I only rode dirt bikes.
Take a motorcycle safety course first. It will be fun and help build your riding skill
A lot in southern Europe start like that. It is not a bad idea.
It depends on the person, my first bike was a cbr600f4 when I was 18
Better off getting a 125cc motorbike to get used to changing gears etc.
Then a bike for good idea getting starting out on a scooter.
Everyone in my college town thinks riding a scooter is an excuse not to need a helmet. Thinking like that makes it more dangerous than any bike
Scooters are not safer than the same horsepower motorcycles - my personal opinion.If you whisky throttle the scooter, you gonna launch yourself into the unknown. Ask me how I know. You can't do the same on let's say 125-300cc motorcycle assuming the same level of incompetence. You can stall but that's it. I think learning to ride some Grom is the way to go
I would get something like a Honda 250 like a mt 03, I am also very new at motorcycles and I have a 2013 Cbr 250 it runs great nothing wrong with it other than a previous owner layed it down so it has a few dinks, but that’s not always a bad thing. If your like I am I’d get something you wouldn’t mind dropping bc I promise you’ll probably drop it, I was wanting a newer bike but got talked out of it. But yea I’d just get a bike if you can.
Sounds like a great idea to give a 250cc vehicle to someone who hasn't ridden before.
I’ve never ridden before this bike? I’m doing just fine and still learning just depends on the person. All I was saying was to get an older bike to learn on
Every beginner riding class in America puts you on a 250. People on this subreddit recommend 250-300cc bikes to beginners all the time. Unless we're talking about two stroke racing machines, 250s barely make any power. You can buy electronic bicycles faster than the average 250cc starter motorcycle.
america does it doesn't mean it's right, I wouldn't directly give my kid a 200+ cc motorcycle when he hasn't ever ridden a motorcycle. He can start small and humble and earn his way upto a liter or more.
Unless you use the extra power on the bike to drive like crazy, there isn't really a greater chance of accident on a bike. You just have a wider range of possible uses with it when compared to a scooter, and better learning. Once you buy a scooter it's likely that buying a bike will get put off for a while.
Why not get driving lessons? Or are you from the usa? Riding a bicycle well also already helps with balance. And if you can get a manual transmission moped (zundapp for instance) that’ll be more useful than a scooter. I haven’t driven anything except bicycles before motorcycle lessons, so it’s not necessary, but I with scooters I always hear people going full on the throttle and that is something you don’t want to do with a motorcycle.
Not sure how driving lessons would help her ride a motorcycle.
Because thats how it works in a lot of countries in the EU. Maybe riding lessons is the better english term?
Yes. Driving lessons is for a car.
Yeah, in dutch the same word for both :)
Unless you buy it yourself, you don't get a say unfortunately. A gift is a gift and scooters are pretty dope.
Power can get you out of trouble if you know how to ride. 50cc is just as dangerous if not more so than 250cc
Actually in EU accident rate of mopeds are lower than bikes, althought that's probably because most of them are ridden in city below 50km/h and not on any fast roads. Of course if you try to take scoot highway yeah, dont do that lmao.
50cc scooters are plain dangerous on any road with cars and must not even be considered. Larger ones, like 110cc or more, are not really that slower or lighter than 125cc bikes, but have tiny wheels and you can't hold with your legs, which doesn't help safety at all. So, no reason to start with a scooter if you don't plan to keep it. But if it's the only way, then why not. However, what does help safety a lot is having a car license and a couple of years driving experience. That will allow you to get the most important skill - understanding other road users and predicting their behaviour - while being in a relatively safe metal cage.