What cc bike can I ride at 16?
Turning 16 means you can finally be allowed on the roads. While this is an incredibly exciting time, it can be helpful to know the limits for your age when it comes to motorbikes and scooters. This article has all the information you need for getting on the road at the age of 16.
What can I ride?
At 16, you're quite limited in terms of engine size. The maximum engine size a 16 year old can ride is 50cc. What does this mean in real terms? 50cc is the smallest engine size legally allowed on public roads, and 50cc scooters can reach a top speed of around 28mph. This might not seem like much, but when it's your first time on the road, it's actually plenty.
Why are 16 year olds restricted to small engines?
The logic behind this restriction is actually quite sound. Simply put, as a 16 year old, it's very unlikely that you have any experience being in control of a vehicle, and you won't have any legal experience of driving on a public road. For this reason, young riders are seen as a greater risk when it comes to accidents, and so this is minimalized by only allowing them to ride smaller vehicles.
This isn't as bad as it sounds though, because after only a year you can move on to bigger engine sizes. Once you turn 17, you have access to 125cc scooters and motorbikes, and once you pass your test you have much more freedom over the engine size you choose. A 50cc moped is a great place to start when it comes to gaining experience on the road.
What do I need to get started?
In order to be legally allowed on a road, you'll need a provisional driving licence (which also covers you for scooters and motorbikes), insurance, road tax, and a CBT. The CBT gives you all the information and practice you need to get on the road, but it means you can't carry passengers and have to display L-plates on your scooter at all times. But once you turn 17 you can take your full motorbike test.
Here at Direct Bikes, we offer a wide range of 50cc scooters. They're inexpensive, cheap to insure, and even cheaper to run. A 50cc scooter is ideal for making small journeys, such as travelling to school or college, or just making general trips around town. At 16 it's unlikely you'll need to make longer journeys regularly, and so a scooter is perfect for a young rider's needs. Plus we have a great range of different models to suit all tastes.
Being 16 does mean you're quite limited in terms of the power of the scooter you can ride, but 50cc scooters are great for gaining experience on the road, and for preparing you for riding bigger motorbikes. Also, it's likely to be a new level of freedom for most young riders.
