Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

It's insured now, by the way...

You ought to be able to tax it online if you are insured and it has an MoT.
Use the 12-digit reference number on your New Keeper Supplement (V5C/2)

No idea if this will work - it may take a while for insurance and stuff to appear on the system.

If it doesn't, just ride the thing to the post office and tax it there. I've done this twice with no issues.

I insured the bike on Tuesday, bought it on wednesday (had an MOT from the Tuesday) rode home on it yesterday.
Taxed it in the evening.
Technically i think this was unlegal, but if the feds pulled you over, i imagine it would be fine, especially as you cant tax it without the V5c.

Insurance and MOT are the absolute essentials, tax is just The Man taking more $€£

Even an MoT isn't that essential. You can just book one near your home and then you are legally riding your untaxed un-MoTed bike to and from its MoT test.

Anyone have any clue on what insurance is gunna roughly cost me on average per year for a 200c moped? Looking at this http://www.gumtree.com/p/vespa-motorbikes/vespa-gt-200/1102878233

Anywhere from £150 to uninsurable depending on those question thingys they ask. Comparison websites will give the quickest guesstimate.

Most brokers have an 'instant quote' link on their websites though you'll need details such as registration number and current mileage possibly. I've recently used Peter James Insurance (http://www.peterjamesinsurance.co.uk/) having been thoroughly pissed off by Lexham's couldn't-care-less attitude since they were bought by Ageas.
What impressed me was the on-line quote exactly matched the one over the phone, and the lad who answered the phone was not thrown by odd requirements such as insurance for an unregistered 1950s 'moped' using a bicycle frame number.
Answering the original question, £84 for two mopeds fully comp and unlimited mileage, but then I'm old(ish) and the bikes are older still - no idea for something modern with 'gt' in the name.

@inchpincher Thanks guys, I will get on the comparison websites then. Fingers crossed its not too much.

Picked up the scooter last night. First time on a bike in years, first time riding a geared Vespa (save for a few hundred yards on a mate's) and I have to ride Fitzrovia>Bromley in rush hour. Was a little tense.

All seemed OK but after a few miles it became very hard to change down gears - I had to wrestle it with both hands on a few occasions. Changing up is just fine. Any ideas what it could be?

Picture here: https://mobile.twitter.com/Sparkes/status/576091777519788032

@Sparky

The gear change works using two tensioned cables, if one has a bit of slack it will be hard to change it that direction, this is quite common if they've just been replaced, they stretch or the outer/nipple moves slightly. I'm not overly familiar with PX's but if you get on yer arse with two 8mm spanners you can remove the slack using the adjuster screws (it should be obvious the pair of cables entering a fist sized box on the very lowest part of the engine). I'm sure there's a few online guides if it's confusing.
Or it could just be technique, changing down gear when stationary is hard, the gearbox likes to be spinning to line up. Click into neutral as you roll to a stop, you'll pick it up. Congrats on jumping in at the deep end, if you thought bicycles were a money pit...!

Thanks! I've just got back from a meeting and had my first proper poke around. It's 14 years old and on close inspection it's showing its age here and there! But I didn't want an immaculate machine - just something fun to putter about on.

Annoyingly my other half has lost our gate buzzer so it's going nowhere until a replacement arrives next week. Gutted, as I have a few hours spare now.

Also glad I bought a cover as a cat has pissed on it. Reality sets in...

what inchpincher says is correct suspect cable tension - also can be worn cruciform

Picked up my Versys from tunbridge wells on Thursday night, first time riding in the dark on the motorway.. But felt great!

It's a pleasure to ride.

Also, double horn is awesome!

I've had a try with adjusting cables but I'm not sure what I'm looking for really. Perhaps if I had any experience of riding a sorted one I'd know what I was aiming for.

I've emailed the garage I bought it from and asked if they can sort it. Very much want to learn how to adjust these things, but I feel like they should sort it as I only got a few miles away before the issue cropped up.

I went in to the local motorbike emporium to ask about fitting new wheel bearings to my Buell, and came out having bought this:

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New insurance with commuting cover kicked in this week.

Have taken the bike to/from work twice already.

Nice to have a legal alternative to pedalling - I took it once or twice last year under the pretenses of going to the gym before work or also dropping the Mrs off - I'll just have to be careful it doesn't become too much of a habit!

Haven't used the bike much since the onset of winter so been nice to get out on it. Hope I can get a decent run out soon though.

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Nice!

That's not wheel bearings. Nice choice though. Hows the gearbox? A mate ruined his twice commuting on it. 2nd gear went missing, not sure if it was just his riding style.

BTW for anyone who didn't ride through the winter this year, it wasn't too bad. Probably spring will be wetter.

Both the Beemer and the kawasaki are lush.

A friend's scooter (Piaggio Liberty) was stolen and then miraculously found by plod. Road legal requirements are a replacement ignition block and key, front brake lever and left mirror. While it's being sorted she also wants a front screen and rear box added. i) who would you go to for this and ii) what would you expect it to cost? West London bias preferred, but the thing has wheels so wider afield considered. Thanks in advance!

R Agius? Think they are still a Piaggio dealership

Used to take my motorbike upto a place up Kensal rise sides, repairs were good and didn't cost the earth if memory serves. Will dig out details over the weekend..

If I was guesstimating cost;
Ignition £75-120
Lever £20
Mirror £25
Labour £100 (2 hrs @ 50)

Screen £100
Topbox £100
Labour £30-60

Ignition prices can vary wildly, my triumph cost me £150 to get a replacement.

R Agius are cool, it's pretty standard scooter repair though, might be worth calling a few places for quotes.