Any of you guys have them, or used to have them?

A group of my friends, and myself, have recently acquired a few, and we go on rides with about 8 of us. I know the idea of a moped sounds pretty dumb, i mean 50cc, pedals and a 35-40 top speed, but they really are pretty fun. Its quite an adventure not knowing if you are going to make it, going places where cars can't, and just messing around.

I know they were pretty big in the 70s during the gas shortage, and it seems like a good mix of owners, both young and old.

Truthfully, you cannot complain about a $100-500 bike which reliably gets 80-100 miles to the gallon and gets you around town quicker than a car. No insurance, one time $18 registration and no special liscence. Why aren't these more popular?

Am I the only guy on here with one?

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-Zack K.

http://www.maj.com/gallery/Boardmong...-Drive/si2.jpg


1983 300d Turbo (Daily Drive) -- 243,000 miles
1979 280ce AMG (Beginning extreme restoration) -- 141,410 miles
1979 Yamaha Chappy LB50 (Awating new points) -- 1411.6 miles

1981 300d Euro 4 speed -- 188,421 km -- SOLD
1979 300d Euro 4 speed (Sold to Brother) -- 257,000 miles

A Collection of w123 AMG Cars and Parts

I keep hearing rumors that there are moped/scooter "gangs" springing up in Cincinnati. No gang violence, I think they just "roll 30 deep" to be safer on the road...


...I secretly would like to join...seriously...I have already done a SS1000 on my Katana, it seems that a scooter gang would be a nice group to join if I could sell the Kat.


-John

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2009 Kia Sedona
2009 Honda Odyssey EX-L
12006 Jetta Pumpe Duse
(insert Mercedes here)

Husband, Father, sometimes friend =)

Mopeds and scooters are a lot lick fat chicks, they're a lot of fun until someone sees you riding one

I have actually considered buying one to bomb around town with. A guy down the street buys retired Block Island rentals (which admittedly have been beaten) whenever they buy new ones, refurbs them and sells them. He'd sell me one real cheap. I've just had too much other stuff going on to get around to it.

My days of vanity and cool are long gone.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

No mopeds, but I often ride my 1971 Honda CT70 around the neighborhood. Same rules - no insurance, no license, no plates, not really legal actually, but my local police don't seem to mind as long as I'm not an idiot. Here's a stock photo of one:

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- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

That's pretty cool, POS! The beefier tires would be great for dirt road riding, too, which would make it good for my Sunday morning drive instead of my Wrangler. At 70cc it would technically have to be registered in CT, but like you said, unless you're driving like an @$$ no officer is going to bother you. I might have to see if I can find one of those.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

No insurance sounds good. I never heard that before. I'd feel like a dork riding around on one, but 80 miles to the gallon is sounding pretty good after seeing my last Exxon bill!

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

In CT, anything under 50cc (or appearing close to it ) doesn't require insurance, registration or a motorcycle license, just a regular driver's license to ride. They probably figure any damage done is going to be to yourself!

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

Got a Puch. Haven't ridden it much the last couple of years.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

- after my Corvair broke a crankshaft, I went to the bike shop and bought a brand new one. Best 350 bucks I ever spent on transportation. I got the extended seat and elephant ear leg guards and put 8500 miles on it before I set it aside in 1984 and the engine seized from lack of use.

Boardmonger, try this- since you live in Cupertino, you'll know- I grew up in Saratoga, I took it up Big Basin way to the summit on a cold November night, hung a right on Summit and dropped down Page Mill road to the El Camino, followed it back to the house- Got so cold it took both hands to hold the key so I could unlock the front door.

Another time, I went out Blossom Hill to Kennedy to Almaden Valley, back along Uvas road to Bailey and up Blood Alley to Morgan Hill, where a cop tried to ticket me- took him 1/2 hour, one backup unit and 3 calls to the station that it was legal for me to be in his town on a 49.9cc bike with pedals, no license and no registration. I actually got an apology.

They're great for transportation, and you can beat city traffic almost any time if local laws permit you to go in the bike lanes. I got 80 mpg on mine, never had any mechanical problems, just the usual brakes and tires. No wonder they got Europe back on wheels after the war!

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Nate Stanley
(Currently Benzless)
1985 F-250 6.9l 170K
2009 SCION XB 36.5K
2003 LS430 78K
2012 Kubota B 2320

I had a Vespa Grande moped, and still have my grandpa's old Hercules moped in the garage. Which reminds me, I need to round up ignition points for it.

Check out the Moped Army (http://www.mopedarmy.com/): swarm and destroy!

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1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)

I'd buy a bike before a moped. But after playing with a 996 no thanks, I don't like having a JATO between my legs.

A moped would be great to ride, with a bag over my head!

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Mopeds are like fatchicks.. fun when alone with.. and not when seen with by friends..

If I had to ride one.. I'd totally go for a vintage vespa


but where I live is right off a 3 lane road.... 65 mph... not fun for a moped.. If I lived in the city I'd use one... or even a Go-Ped

I hear this all the time (or the classic: "What do fat girls and mopeds have in common? They're both fun 'til your friends see you on them."), but I don't get it. I have had three mopeds and, oh, 5 or 6 old scooters (Vespas and Lambrettas), and 99% of the comments I've gotten when riding them were positive. The other 1% came from loud-mouthed college GUYS. The girls, on the other hand, loved them!

At any rate, I'm not worried about what other folks think about my moped. They get hellaciously good mileage and are loads of fun to ride. Good enough for me!

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1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)

I had a black Puch moped with gold cast wheels that I commuted with. It got stolen - twice - never recovered the second time. The thieves went so far as to cut the bike rack that it was chained to with a torch. Apparently they are a hot commodity.

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

With matching handbag?

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)