Modern Vespa

Sitting at the donut shop today…
Dad to kid: "It's a moped"
Young woman: "How much for the moped?"
Another kid: "See the moped"

Arrrgh!

I'd sell it too. People keep confusing it for a moped, and that sh*t gets old.

When I had a 650 Burgman, kids (and even some teenagers) would occasionally refer to it as a moped. It made no difference that it weighed 625 pounds, with a wheelbase that compared to a Honda Goldwing...it was still a 'moped' in their eyes.

I used to politely correct their incorrect perception, and explain that a 'moped' had bicycle-like pedals that would start the (tiny) engine by pedaling it.

Of course, it was futile, and something akin to pissing into the winds of the tsunami of misinformation concerning the 'new' definition steamrolling young minds where it concerned these bikes.

Sigh!...modern problems!

"IT'S NOT A MOPED!!!!"....





Last edited by JBacklund on Sun, 17 Sep 2023 16:53:30 +0000; edited 3 times

Why are you selling your BV, Kraig?

I bought a new BV400 after the 350 broke down in Michigan.

It's a bit discouraging when someone shows an interest in the BV350, then walks away when I tell them it's not a moped.

Amateur tip from a guy who sucks at selling things:
Don't ever disagree or correct a potential buyer on anything other than price or how well you cared for it.

Good point! Thanks for the tip.

Yep. If being a moped sells it, it's a moped.

I do always tell them they need a motorcycle license to ride a big scooter on public roads, though (at least in Texas).

I did see a BV350 for sale in Dallas recently that had been titled as a moped (with a moped license plate), apparently to save money. Not sure how the guy got away with that.

Reminds me of this clip. But Bruce Willis was wrong. That's not a chopper. It's a motorcycle. 😂

Just tell them it's a 'no-ped', they probably won't catch the pronunciation difference, and you might even subtly start a more accurate definition movement for our non-pedaling step-through machines.

As a long time moped enthusiast, I can tell you that mopedders are just as offended when you refer to their mopeds as scooters.

As a motorcycle owner I sometimes have called my motorcycles mopeds. It's all good.

Its not a moped, Its a twist and go

As a motorcycle owner, I sometimes call my MC's 'scooters'.

I just searched "Moped" on Amazon. Just about every scooter listed is also listed as a Moped. IDK

Come to think of it, I get all butt-hurt offended when my neighbor, Harlan, calls my Sears riding mower a 'lawn tractor'...but I let it go because every year, he gives me a pile of tomatoes from the mini garden on his deck.

What do you expect when we live in a world where the ignorant masses refer to bicycles without an electric motor as an "acoustic?"

Well, time to pull this one from the archives again...

Do Scooter or scoot next
Bikers, as in colors wearing HD riding may refer to their motorcycles as scooters, partially originating from a Montrose song about "get on your bad motorscooter & ride"

People tend to confuse scooters with mopeds.

It can also work in your benefit.
Here in the neighborhood there are connections between nice roads that you cannot use with a motorcycle, but mopeds are allowed.
On my BV I use these connections, and I behave as a moped.
Never anyone protesting about that.

But if I'm defending myself in court over a speeding violation, I'll be the first to point out to the judge that it's a moped. "Are you sure the radar gun is still calibrated"?

[quote="Mr. Thompson"]
What do you expect when we live in a world where the ignorant masses refer to bicycles without an electric motor as an "acoustic?"
[/quote

Seriously?

I've never heard that one, but then, I live in relative 'Podunk USA', where a lot of the blossoming cultural trends are slow to arrive, if at all.

Sometimes that's a curse, other times a blessing. Mostly the latter.

Last edited by JBacklund on Sun, 17 Sep 2023 20:59:34 +0000; edited 1 time

When people ask "How old are you, Johnny?"

I answer: "I'm SO old...that I know the technical difference between a moped and a scooter!"

The baffled look on their faces is priceless.

If you get a speeding ticket over here the calibration validity date is mentioned.

It's a really nice moped!

There I fixed it for you. I was at a stop sign and some high school kids were walking across the intersection in front of me and one of the kids says "nice moped" and I just said thanks.

Then he asked how much I got it for and I told him I got it cheap from the lady that bought it and couldn't ride it.

Perception is everything and if you don't take it like an insult it's not an insult. It is not your fault they are ignorant of the correct language to accurately describe the vehicle.

You "air pedal" it?

Now since you been gone I been feelin bad...
I'd come out to your place but I'm afraid of you Dad...

Between the opening guitar licks sounding like going through the gears to that iconic line in the lyrics such a great song! I wish I could find a live version with the guitar intro. Ronnie Montrose on guitar and Sammy Hagar on vocals early 70's Rock and Roll doesn't get any better than this!

The Beatles rode Twist and Shouts.

That's not a mini garden it's a vertical allotment!

Yep. One of the key benefits of using Vespa as a city mobile over here is that mopeds and bicycles are allowed to park on sidewalks. I just parked my Sprint so that the register plate was against the nearest building as it is the most visible difference to a moped Vespa.

...and yep, here it really is legally 'a moped'. A moped is defined here as '2 or 3 wheeled, motorized vehicle that has top speed max 45 km/h...further restrictions are max. 50 cc ICE or max 4 kW electric motor.

The history of the word moped is obviously similar. As mopeds dropped their pedals for the benefits of an ICE a long time ago and still remained popular, the term remained.

We even have a term 'moped car', referrring to micro cars (ICE/electric) that can be driven with a moped license I assume these have no pedals either

Double whammy..

Mommy! Look at those Mods on their Mopeds!

This is a moped. 1979 Sears Free Spirit, made by Puch/Kromag. I bought it about 2 years ago. I've owned over a dozen actual pedal mopeds in my life, from several brands. This is what it looked like when I bought it, I have since done a complete teardown and rebuild, and cleaned it up quite a bit, and removed a lot of the junk the previous owner hung all over it. Moped meand MOtor+PEDals.


1979 Sears Free Spirit moped

What's your definition of a moped state side? In England, ours used to mean motor+pedal = moped, but now under our licensing laws, anything under 50cc that tops out around 30mph is a moped.

So even the 50cc Primavera / Sprint count as "mopeds" over here.

Mopeds aren't allowed on our motorways (highways), and can be ridden from 16 years old - whereas 125cc and cars are 17 years+

but, but....is it a motorcycle?

See, term motorcycle comes from 'motor'...kind of obvious part, refers to the engine...but the 'cycle' comes from bicycle, which is a two-wheeled vehicle powered by pedals.


I ain't got no pedals in my Triumph

It depends on the state in which you reside, but generally speaking, mopeds are a class of motorized vehicles in legal literature normally defined by limits on engine displacement, speed, power output, transmissions, or the requirement of pedals. In NJ for instance, mopeds have to be no more than 50cc, speed limited to 25 mph and have pedals. Can't be ridden on roads with a speed greater than 50 mph or roads with a center median regardless of speed limit. You must be at least 15 years old and possess a moped license and obtain moped insurance. Helmets are also required. Again, each state regulates what they deem a moped.

Last edited by Mopedlar on Mon, 18 Sep 2023 11:38:43 +0000; edited 2 times

Minnesota moped law:
Mopeds are registered and plated as a moped; have a piston displacement of 50cc or less, a maximum of 2 horse power, and a maximum speed of 30 mph on a flat surface. [Some 50cc machines, including Vespa 50cc scooters, don't meet the 2hp requirement and thus are considered motorcycles. This definition says nothing about having pedals or not.]

Moped operators are required to have a moped permit, moped operators license, or a valid class D drovers license.

Moped operators and passengers under age 18 must wear a helmet. Bicycle helmets meeting ANSI Z90.4-1984 are allowed.

Mopeds are not permitted on controlled-access highways.

Here's an old magazine ad by Vespa that pretty much says it all. I've also attached a pic of my '76 Bianchi Snark moped.

IT LIVES!

Gotta be easier to push than the last time I saw it.

I'd say, related it as a moped. It will sell tomorrow.

So far, no luck selling it. Neighbors (two old guys) were excited about the price but had no interest in buying it. One woman was going to send photos to her nephews, she said.
[Minneapolis, MN] BV350 for sale

That's a solid modern deal o' the day price for that bike.

Perfect for someone who wants to try a maxi scoot on a long term test drive. I cannot remember seeing a running not all beat up BV 350 for less.

Forty one hundred miles a year is not a lot of miles really, just enough with a good maintenance routine to keep it in top shape. That will move as soon as someone in the area wants one of those and sees it.

If you are a tightwad like me you will move it to the motorcycle parts section of craigslist when the listing expires and save 5 bucks a month on listing fees.

I really love bikes like this because it gives a low budget enthusiast a chance to try the bike for a long term test drive and when it's time to move on the depreciation had already happened. Might not be a bad idea to try to plant that seed with similar language in the listing?