Jeremy Bowdler gives his tips on how to commute on a scooter Visit Scootersales.com.au, Australia's number one website news, reviews and classified scooter website.
My current scooter goes the speed limit on most of the streets in my area however all other traffic likes to go faster so I tend to hug the side of the road to make it easier for vehicles behind me to pass me if they need to. Originally my scooter came with standard side-view mirrors which worked okay but I replaced them with convexed mirrors like the standard ones on a car which gives a wider rear view but then you do have to take into consideration that whole "objects are closer" warning.
you are risking your life riding the shoulder, many drivers can't judge distance and will clip you trying to squeeze by , hold your lane , they will pass when it's clear
almost died filtering last week thank God I was just cruising at about 30km I think filtering speed should be no more than 20kmh just incase someone desides to do something mindless safe journey y'all
What a great video, thank you very much. If I had seen this before I would have made a much more informed decision. Instead I went straight on to buy a Yamaha BWS 100 c.c. just to find that it's got a good motor but it's too small a scooter for me, AND my girl's legs and feet stick out a lot (dangerous!). Great work, here, hope it helps other people.
For the extra 2 or 3 minutes that filtering might give you for your whole ride, it simply is not worth the risk. Ride safe. It's not like you're a first responder who must get through ASAP.
Just like to add a little bit about high visibility helmet and clothing. Light bright colors are easier to see than dark colors. It doesn't always mean dressing up like a neon sign. It can also be stylish. It may just prevent a driver from putting his car in front of you where you cant avoid it, no matter how good you can ride.
I own and ride both scooters and motorcycles. But for recreational purposes only. In the U.S., a car is 20 times more convenient for commuting. There is no gear, helmet, and special clothes involved to change in and out of. No need to worry about rain, heat, or cold. I live in Arizona, a state where summer temperatures reach close to 120 degreesF. No way am I going out in that without A/C. A car has a roof, it has room for several people or a whole lot of stuff, a huge trunk compared to a scooter, lane splitting or filtering is illegal here, you are far more likely to be seen in a car, you have a LOT more protection if you are in an accident, there is plenty of free parking here, if you have a white collar job (I'm an auto mechanic) you arrive at work without being all messed up from a scooter ride (your hair is not all messed up, you don't need a shower, no changing clothes, etc.) and on and on. For a quick run to the store, you just hop in the car and go, you don't have to spend several minutes gearing up for a 10 minute ride, then ungearing up when you get back. What would be a major hassle on a bike is a non event in a car. I put up with all that for recreational riding, it's part of the hobby. But most of my recreational rides last an entire day or more. I have on occasion ridden a bike to work, they let me park it inside, I wore a helmet, my work coveralls, steel toed work boots, and light gloves. Everything but the helmet and gloves were work clothes. And that only works on nice days when you don't have to go somewhere after work. Even on all day rides, I don't wear an Apollo moon suit. That just goes too far. It takes the fun out of riding. There is a great deal more risk involved in riding than there is in driving, it's up to you whether to accept that risk or not.
A car is not practical at all to commute into places like Central London. It would take hours to get anywhere and it's not worth the stress to be honest. Public transport gets old quick... with regards to clothing you really should say to newbies buy the damn moon suit but wear what you feel and suits your needs once you're a little more experienced (you may even save a life)... If you physically ever saw an accident you'd be a full kit enthusiast pretty sharpish in my opinion!
Great tips. I'm very conscious of being seen from behind - morning commuters also tend to check their phones alot so there's always a danger of being hit from behind. I bought a roadsack (backpack) it's bright and has a large reflective material panel which is helpful in dark, rainy weather.
Great idea! I bought a bright red workers vest with large reflective bars and yellow hi-vis stripes front and back so the cagers can see me. Mesh zip up, very light weight and non-wing restrictive.
*Is a scooter cheaper than walking ? So u would have to calculate the food energy u use when u walk and the cost of the food e.g. did u eat expensive steak or just baked beans on toast the day before.*
A lot of this I already employ as a commuter bicyclist in the city. I'm getting my first scooter, a 50cc Ice Bear, in a couple of days, and I'm nervous about operating it, so I'll continue to be a defensive cyclist in that regard. This was a very helpful video. Thank you for posting it. :)
Don't filter until you have some time on the road. Seriously, the first season on a motorcycle or scooter is more about survival and technique than getting to places quickly. When you can predict a potential hazard like a car changing lanes without using an indicator and react safely to it without giving it a second thought, you're probably ready to start filtering.
I mostly ride with shorts flipflops and glasses and open face helmet like the cops use that way anytime I want I can drive to the beach and hop in the water to cool down but when its summer and rideing time is usly between 70 and 100 degree farenhight
open face helmet, even a 20 mile per hour wreck, sliding can rip your jaw of your face, it's happened many times, shorts and flip flops? research road rash, and flip flops? your toes can be torn of in seconds, it's identical to riding a motorcycle, when you fall off, or some idiot hits you, the injuries are identical
I wish I could fit my helmet under my seat. My Vespa branded helmet doesn’t fit under the seat of my Vespa, despite clearly being shaped like it should fit a helmet.
In many states (US), only eye protection is required because it's the only protection that protects other drivers (ie you blinded by a bee and hitting cars). But I still like a helmet on anything with 2 wheel because it saves time when you crash. With helmet = get back up and ride No helmet = trip to the ER some states (US) also allow lane splitting for all bikes, or air cooled only. last tip... scooters are not sport bikes, don't try to knee drag.
you can, but it requires you to be able to match speeds. thats the limitation. The 50cc(smalles engine) only hits about 40mph, which it does well, but its a top speed. you can get a bigger enginethough like a 125 that can go as fast as 80mph. the difference is price and that in some states the 50cc does not need a motorcycle licence but the 125 does.
The one thing that dissappoints me in the USA is the magnetic street light sensors on the road. Even on my full sized motorcycle I still sometimes have to put the kickstand down, walk over and push the crosswalk button to get a green light. I usually hope for a full sized car to pull behind me while I pull in front of the crosswalk.
they don't really work it's a myth, I've asked traffic engineers who design and install those loops, there are videos of set up loops hooked to a scope, which show the magnet has no effect, they are closed loop oscillators not magnetic detectors, conductive material changes the frequency of the oscillator, which the detector "hears" both iron and aluminum affect the loop, a flat plate of thin aluminum sheeting inside your fairing in plane with the detector loops, will trigger better then a magnet
They are not required where I live (in Vermont) on my 50cc. However, I don't care if I'm going 50 miles or 50 feet, I always have one on my head. I too cannot understand why people hate them so much. I think that I would hate a cracked skull more than I would hate whatever reason they have for not liking them (bad hair day, don't look "cool"...etc).
A full face helmet is better for safety, In addition to helmet, I would also encourage riders to wear U-shape air pillow around your neck to protect whip-lash injury to the neck. I have seen quite a few riders become totally paralyzed due to neck spine injury. Actually, I hope that helmet manufacturers can develop helmets with air pillow attached as airbag to the neck.
Here in Arkansas it is not a requirement to wear a helmet unless you are younger than 21. I always do, however because a helmet can be protective if you are 40 mph or less. And since when on my 50 cc machine I spend a lot more time at 40 or below, it is a valid safety measure. My 2 cents.
p.s. - I have no association with them - it's just a good idea. Also bought helmet stickers from streetglo(.net). Not recommended to put stickers on poly or plastic helmets; only fibreglass as it can react adversely.
For highway riding, a powerful one of 300 c.c. or bigger is preferably better for keeping up with fast traffic, meanwhile, looking for those models with low ride seat height for lower center of gravity to improve stability from tip-over or roll-over. ABS is strongly recommended for emergency brake in fast traffic. Tall windshield is highly recommended to keep debris thrown up by tires of frontal cars at riders. Glue more reflective stripes or tie bicycle blinkers to your scooter to increase chances of being seen day or night. Choose a scooter of bright color for better safety.
i agree about the comment about the entersection lights sensor they're sensor wont pick up motor vehicles i was on my second week to wrk while ot was raining i fell off my scooter tryna ease on breaks and front tire fail i walked away left mirror broke ,key bent inside ignition. scraped side frame riders this my first bike take caution use bck breaks first watch out for gravel on road &blk tar in middle road i love my dayton 150cc never drove a motorcycle. and im ready but need clutch lessons first
Ever notice how 90% of motorcycle/scooter safety advice is about not getting hit by cars? If we all drove bikes/scooters more and cars less they would be a lot less dangerous and we would all be better off.
@rolbiecki "Most people" don't shoot each other if they own guns either so I guess we ought to do away with any and all gun laws too eh? I'm all for that.
Авто/Мото
Thanks for sharing, I just purchased my first scooter and this video was helpful
My current scooter goes the speed limit on most of the streets in my area however all other traffic likes to go faster so I tend to hug the side of the road to make it easier for vehicles behind me to pass me if they need to. Originally my scooter came with standard side-view mirrors which worked okay but I replaced them with convexed mirrors like the standard ones on a car which gives a wider rear view but then you do have to take into consideration that whole "objects are closer" warning.
you are risking your life riding the shoulder, many drivers can't judge distance and will clip you trying to squeeze by , hold your lane , they will pass when it's clear
Informative; thanks for posting!
thanks very much for your advice
almost died filtering last week thank God I was just cruising at about 30km I think filtering speed should be no more than 20kmh just incase someone desides to do something mindless safe journey y'all
I ride 300 miles a week on a 50, if you are used to riding in traffic on a bicycle all the safety aspects are the same,idiot drivers are the same,
What a great video, thank you very much. If I had seen this before I would have made a much more informed decision. Instead I went straight on to buy a Yamaha BWS 100 c.c. just to find that it's got a good motor but it's too small a scooter for me, AND my girl's legs and feet stick out a lot (dangerous!). Great work, here, hope it helps other people.
For the extra 2 or 3 minutes that filtering might give you for your whole ride, it simply is not worth the risk. Ride safe. It's not like you're a first responder who must get through ASAP.
Just like to add a little bit about high visibility helmet and clothing. Light bright colors are easier to see than dark colors. It doesn't always mean dressing up like a neon sign. It can also be stylish. It may just prevent a driver from putting his car in front of you where you cant avoid it, no matter how good you can ride.
great tips thanks
I own and ride both scooters and motorcycles. But for recreational purposes only. In the U.S., a car is 20 times more convenient for commuting. There is no gear, helmet, and special clothes involved to change in and out of. No need to worry about rain, heat, or cold. I live in Arizona, a state where summer temperatures reach close to 120 degreesF. No way am I going out in that without A/C. A car has a roof, it has room for several people or a whole lot of stuff, a huge trunk compared to a scooter, lane splitting or filtering is illegal here, you are far more likely to be seen in a car, you have a LOT more protection if you are in an accident, there is plenty of free parking here, if you have a white collar job (I'm an auto mechanic) you arrive at work without being all messed up from a scooter ride (your hair is not all messed up, you don't need a shower, no changing clothes, etc.) and on and on. For a quick run to the store, you just hop in the car and go, you don't have to spend several minutes gearing up for a 10 minute ride, then ungearing up when you get back. What would be a major hassle on a bike is a non event in a car. I put up with all that for recreational riding, it's part of the hobby. But most of my recreational rides last an entire day or more. I have on occasion ridden a bike to work, they let me park it inside, I wore a helmet, my work coveralls, steel toed work boots, and light gloves. Everything but the helmet and gloves were work clothes. And that only works on nice days when you don't have to go somewhere after work. Even on all day rides, I don't wear an Apollo moon suit. That just goes too far. It takes the fun out of riding. There is a great deal more risk involved in riding than there is in driving, it's up to you whether to accept that risk or not.
A car is not practical at all to commute into places like Central London. It would take hours to get anywhere and it's not worth the stress to be honest. Public transport gets old quick... with regards to clothing you really should say to newbies buy the damn moon suit but wear what you feel and suits your needs once you're a little more experienced (you may even save a life)... If you physically ever saw an accident you'd be a full kit enthusiast pretty sharpish in my opinion!
Great tips. I'm very conscious of being seen from behind - morning commuters also tend to check their phones alot so there's always a danger of being hit from behind. I bought a roadsack (backpack) it's bright and has a large reflective material panel which is helpful in dark, rainy weather.
Great idea! I bought a bright red workers vest with large reflective bars and yellow hi-vis stripes front and back so the cagers can see me. Mesh zip up, very light weight and non-wing restrictive.
Well said liked it ❤️ to the point
*Is a scooter cheaper than walking ? So u would have to calculate the food energy u use when u walk and the cost of the food e.g. did u eat expensive steak or just baked beans on toast the day before.*
No helmet = bits of skull and brain on tarmac.
Remember riders, tested and approved helmet will save your life!
A lot of this I already employ as a commuter bicyclist in the city. I'm getting my first scooter, a 50cc Ice Bear, in a couple of days, and I'm nervous about operating it, so I'll continue to be a defensive cyclist in that regard. This was a very helpful video. Thank you for posting it. :)
Does that mean?
" feeling garbage bags tonight"
That was great!!!!!!!!!
Love to commute
Don't filter until you have some time on the road. Seriously, the first season on a motorcycle or scooter is more about survival and technique than getting to places quickly. When you can predict a potential hazard like a car changing lanes without using an indicator and react safely to it without giving it a second thought, you're probably ready to start filtering.
I mostly ride with shorts flipflops and glasses and open face helmet like the cops use that way anytime I want I can drive to the beach and hop in the water to cool down but when its summer and rideing time is usly between 70 and 100 degree farenhight
open face helmet, even a 20 mile per hour wreck, sliding can rip your jaw of your face, it's happened many times, shorts and flip flops? research road rash, and flip flops? your toes can be torn of in seconds, it's identical to riding a motorcycle, when you fall off, or some idiot hits you, the injuries are identical
such good video
I wish I could fit my helmet under my seat. My Vespa branded helmet doesn’t fit under the seat of my Vespa, despite clearly being shaped like it should fit a helmet.
he is great
In many states (US), only eye protection is required because it's the only protection that protects other drivers (ie you blinded by a bee and hitting cars). But I still like a helmet on anything with 2 wheel because it saves time when you crash.
With helmet = get back up and ride
No helmet = trip to the ER
some states (US) also allow lane splitting for all bikes, or air cooled only.
last tip... scooters are not sport bikes, don't try to knee drag.
Remember to create a buffer zone between parked cars when passing as the driver or passengers maybe open their door(s) without seeing you.
you can, but it requires you to be able to match speeds. thats the limitation.
The 50cc(smalles engine) only hits about 40mph, which it does well, but its a top speed.
you can get a bigger enginethough like a 125 that can go as fast as 80mph.
the difference is price and that in some states the 50cc does not need a motorcycle licence but the 125 does.
Been riding a zuma 50cc for 2 years, 7 months of the year. Super cheap and keeps up with city traffic
Wow! I was not prepared for that accent!
300 vespa i like
The one thing that dissappoints me in the USA is the magnetic street light sensors on the road. Even on my full sized motorcycle I still sometimes have to put the kickstand down, walk over and push the crosswalk button to get a green light. I usually hope for a full sized car to pull behind me while I pull in front of the crosswalk.
They have the 2 minute rule. If it doesn't change you can make sure the traffic i clear and go.
Timpala44 put a fridge magnet or two on your frame, all 3 of my bikes have em', I forgot what idling at traffic lights is like ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
they don't really work it's a myth, I've asked traffic engineers who design and install those loops, there are videos of set up loops hooked to a scope, which show the magnet has no effect, they are closed loop oscillators not magnetic detectors, conductive material changes the frequency of the oscillator, which the detector "hears" both iron and aluminum affect the loop, a flat plate of thin aluminum sheeting inside your fairing in plane with the detector loops, will trigger better then a magnet
im a big guy 300lbs so im on a 03 honda sliverwing 600cc that ok
Boy is he good
I personally never filter its just plain dangerous i have seen so many scooters scraping cars, doing this is just pain crazy.
Helmet isn't a legal requirement in Maryland U.S. Of course I'll always wear one, but they aren't required in every state.
What did he say that you didnt know?
They are not required where I live (in Vermont) on my 50cc. However, I don't care if I'm going 50 miles or 50 feet, I always have one on my head. I too cannot understand why people hate them so much. I think that I would hate a cracked skull more than I would hate whatever reason they have for not liking them (bad hair day, don't look "cool"...etc).
A full face helmet is better for safety, In addition to helmet, I would also encourage riders to wear U-shape air pillow around your neck to protect whip-lash injury to the neck. I have seen quite a few riders become totally paralyzed due to neck spine injury. Actually, I hope that helmet manufacturers can develop helmets with air pillow attached as airbag to the neck.
Here in Arkansas it is not a requirement to wear a helmet unless you are younger than 21. I always do, however because a helmet can be protective if you are 40 mph or less. And since when on my 50 cc machine I spend a lot more time at 40 or below, it is a valid safety measure. My 2 cents.
p.s. - I have no association with them - it's just a good idea. Also bought helmet stickers from streetglo(.net). Not recommended to put stickers on poly or plastic helmets; only fibreglass as it can react adversely.
Bicycle blinkers can be used on bikes and helmetsto increase chances of being seen.
do you go on the highway with a scooter? would you recommend it? I'm thinking about buying a scooter or moped if i can go on the high way.
For highway riding, a powerful one of 300 c.c. or bigger is preferably better for keeping up with fast traffic, meanwhile, looking for those models with low ride seat height for lower center of gravity to improve stability from tip-over or roll-over.
ABS is strongly recommended for emergency brake in fast traffic. Tall windshield is highly recommended to keep debris thrown up by tires of frontal cars at riders. Glue more reflective stripes or tie bicycle blinkers to your scooter to increase chances of being seen day or night. Choose a scooter of bright color for better safety.
LOL so typical:-)
"Now there are a wary important ting to remember and that is brrrrrh whhhhhh tsssssss so be aware of that!
5:06
i agree about the comment about the entersection lights sensor they're sensor wont pick up motor vehicles i was on my second week to wrk while ot was raining i fell off my scooter tryna ease on breaks and front tire fail i walked away left mirror broke ,key bent inside ignition. scraped side frame riders this my first bike take caution use bck breaks first watch out for gravel on road &blk tar in middle road i love my dayton 150cc never drove a motorcycle. and im ready but need clutch lessons first
To the gym to Walmart to the beach to cottage
Ever notice how 90% of motorcycle/scooter safety advice is about not getting hit by cars? If we all drove bikes/scooters more and cars less they would be a lot less dangerous and we would all be better off.
So this is in Australia. !. Then there should be a subjection how to avoid kangaroos and alligators. .
No alligators in Australia, champ.
lmao
I hate the style of videography at 3:15.
David HB me too
It made him mysterious 🤭
Jaime Gandarilla , the language is called "English."
@rolbiecki "Most people" don't shoot each other if they own guns either so I guess we ought to do away with any and all gun laws too eh? I'm all for that.
We don't need a helmet in Texas. thanks to George W when he was governed Texas and it's still not needed.
must have hit your head I see
Mark Walters well it’s not necessary as long as you don’t have a brain