i test drove this 125cc scooter today and am seriously thinking of buying it tomorrow.
do i need a license first? is it hard to get a scooter license? the person selling it to me said he never got a license

it has a plate on it now and he is signing over the title to me

do i need to get new plates at the DMW? will the DMW ask me for my motorcycle license and insurance first? is insurance required?

i don't know the proper order....please help thanks!

6/8/2011 9:19:40 PM

legally, a 125cc scooter is no different than a motorcycle in NC. all the information you need is on the NC DMV's website.

6/8/2011 10:13:22 PM

pretty sure you need a license for anything over 49cc.

6/8/2011 10:31:03 PM

Quote :

"legally, a 125cc scooter is no different than a motorcycle in NC. all the information you need is on the NC DMV's website."

True.
A ton of people scoot around here without license plates or a motorcycle license and the cops seem to let it slide, but if you really want to be legal you need to find a 50cc if you don't want to run a license plate or get a motorcycle license.

6/9/2011 12:50:57 AM

You'll need to get a motorcycle endorsement on your driver's license first thing. You can get the learner's permit, all it requires is a super-easy written test at the DMV and you're done, and the only restriction is you can't have a passenger.

Then, just like a car, once the title is signed over to you you'll need to add the scooter to your insurance. Once it is you go to the DMV with the title and proof of insurance. You'll have to pay the fees and taxes, and they'll give you a new license plate. Then you can drive it legally. All in all expect to pay a good $150-200 total on everything depending on how cheap your insurance is.



But seriously, if you want a scooter just go buy a 50cc one. With those all you need is a helmet and you're good to drive . . . . no insurance, plates, license, anything.

6/9/2011 1:42:07 AM

ok so the order is get learners permit, then get insurance, then go to DMV to get new tags...the title should be signed over to me tomorrow once i pay

yeah i have contemplating the 50cc but they seem underpowered?

6/9/2011 2:17:16 AM

A 50cc will run 30 MPH in stock form as long as you're not a beast of a woman.

6/9/2011 9:31:21 AM

so i just got my learners permit today

i guess next step is getting insurance.....what kind of insurance coverage is typical for 125cc scooters

i'm assuming once i have insurance, i can get my title updated and a new license plate?

can i do all the above with just a learners permit?

how is the road test to get my true motorcycle endorsement? do i test with my own scooter?

thanks!

6/20/2011 4:59:15 PM

You don't need to get your endorsement unless you plan on riding two-up

And if you plan on riding two-up on a 125cc scooter, I hope you live in a town with low speed limits

You test with your own bike, though. If you've never been on a bike before, I'd recommend getting some experience before worrying about the endorsement.

6/20/2011 5:18:53 PM

^ that and maybe all of like 2 insurance companies give you a discount for having the endorsement. state farm didn't really care that i got mine. still i have a hard time believing youd need the help with insurance payments on a scooter

i'd say skip the hassle and keep riding on the permit

6/20/2011 7:34:32 PM

i thought the dmv lady told me the permit expires after 12+6 months, and that i needed an endorsement after that?

if i don't plan on ever riding two up i can just keep riding on the permit? would i still need insurance and tags?

thanks everyone as this has been confusing for me

6/20/2011 9:16:42 PM

you can keep getting the permit over and over. lots of people do it.

once again, you will need insurance and tags to legally drive the 125cc scooter on public roads. it doesn't matter what kind of license you have.

[Edited on June 20, 2011 at 9:23 PM. Reason : all you need is liability insurance]

6/20/2011 9:23:15 PM

If you've never ridden before please at least go to a parking lot and get extremely comfortable on it...panic stops, swerving, leaning in hard turns, etc.

It may go without saying but at least wear jeans, jacket, gloves, shoes. Asphalt hurts just as much at 30mph. You can get cheap, used helmets and other gear in the craigslist motorcycle section, especially if you're a girl. Full face helmets are good, most head impacts are face first, be sure to get one that fits you tight.

All the extra licensing hassle is probably worth it. I think 50cc scooters are death traps because everyone is always passing you. That little bit of extra speed from a 125 is enough to keep up with traffic in the city. If you like this you can easily switch to a small motorcycle.

Call your favorite insurance company and get basic liability insurance. I think mine costs about $90 a year with progressive. Once you have the printout that proves you have insurance, take it and the signed title to the DMV tag office(there's a big one in east raleigh on new bern ave, or a small one in south hills mall in cary). You'll have to pay for the road tax and for the tag, expect it to be $150. Yes, it's a ripoff.

If you've never bought a car or anything before...well the title has to be signed in front of a notary. He signs, you sign, the notary puts a stamp on it and charges you $10. You can find a notary at UPS stores, or at banks, or at used car lots sometimes, or you can just go to the DMV plate office with him and they'll take care of everything.

I guess you don't have to license it, I've ridden 125cc's on the street and got away with it, but if you're stopped by the police it's like driving a car with license/insurance and I suppose they can seize your bike and arrest you. And they can tell...if you're zipping along at 47mph they know it's not a 50cc, but it wouldn't matter anyway because the speed limit for 50cc bikes is 35mph.

[Edited on June 20, 2011 at 10:11 PM. Reason : .]

6/20/2011 9:51:42 PM

Quote :

"you can keep getting the permit over and over. lots of people do it."

this is no longer the case and you can now only renew once.

6/20/2011 11:34:33 PM

also, don't fuck around with a used helmet. you can get a very nice one brand new for $100

6/21/2011 3:15:46 PM

you can get a perfectly acceptable new helmet for much less than $100

6/21/2011 5:56:51 PM

yeah i bought a new gmax helmet at scooterz the other day.....and i definitely wont be getting my endorsement until i get more practice on the scooter.....zoom zoom !

6/21/2011 11:36:22 PM

what brand/model did you get?

6/22/2011 11:10:12 AM

it's a yamaha zuma 125......i was actually leaning towards the yamaha vino since i like the styling but the deal on the zuma was not bad

6/22/2011 4:01:41 PM

We should ride together i just bought a POS 250CC ninja.

6/22/2011 7:51:17 PM

oh what's the best way to secure these scooters to prevent it from being stolen......i get paranoid parking it outside in public..........i think anyone can just roll it away or roll it up a ramp and into the back of a trailer or truck !!

6/23/2011 12:44:30 AM

I use these 2 together
http://www.harborfreight.com/5-16-inch-x-20-ft-grade-70-truckers-chain-40461.html

6/23/2011 1:33:19 AM

when it comes down to it, there's not much you CAN do...in most cases, there's nothing to U-bolt it to (your best first line of defense) and a couple of guys with a truck can pick it up and haul it away to remove any locks or cables at their leisure

my suggestions would be to:
1.) park it in a highly visible area
2.) use your center stand lock (my met had one, but my click doesn't...i don't know about yours)
3.) use your steering column lock
4.) use a U-bolt and/or cable lock on a wheel to make it more difficult to move for your average thief...the two guys and a truck scenario is still feasible, but it's not that likely

the vast majority of thefts are spur of the moment, when the opportunity presents itself...they can't roll your scooter away due to the column/stand locks, they likely won't bother to cut your bolt/cable

you could also buy fake lojack stickers on fleabay

6/24/2011 8:30:31 AM

hmm i'll have to download the users manual and see if this scooter has the center stand lock and/ steering column lock

[Edited on June 24, 2011 at 10:27 AM. Reason : k]

6/24/2011 10:27:03 AM

if it has a center stand lock, it's most likely a knob in the underseat compartment that you flip after the center stand is down

i can almost guarantee you that it has a column lock, though...you turn your wheel all the way to the left and use your key to turn the ignition all the way to the left after that...when you pull out the key, you shouldn't be able to move the wheel out of that position

granted, the column lock can be made useless by a well-aimed kick, and the center stand isn't much harder...but that, in combination with a U-bolt or cable, should make it nearly impossible for the casual thief to roll away

6/24/2011 10:46:20 AM

or you could just add full coverage insurance since you are gonna need insurance policy for it anyways, and dont sweat about it being stolen as much. That's what I ended up doing for my motorcycle once I moved to a place with no garage. I still lock it with a chain over night, but when I am out riding and have to park it, I only use steering column lock.

6/24/2011 2:21:55 PM

ok i downloaded the manual and it does have the steering lock but not center stand lock....i'll call next week to see how much insurance is...and look into getting cable too if need be

6/25/2011 4:19:18 PM

what is a good typical insurance coverage that i'll need on my zuma 125cc (worth about $1000).

I think liability at a minimum
But what about collision or comprehensive?
Theft?
Am I missing anything else?

6/29/2011 11:28:06 AM

yes, get everything. especially theft, it shouldnt be that expensive. i think i was paying like $35 a month for $250 deductible comprehensive/collision/theft/etc on my gsxr 600. no idea what rates are for a sc00t but i cant imagine them being that bad. you should try to go for a $0 deductible if you can.

6/29/2011 11:41:25 AM

hmm i sure hope it comes in much lower than $35/month.
My car insurance is about that and the scooter is only worth $1000 to me.

6/29/2011 12:17:26 PM

$35/month isn't bad considering it will still take 2 years to break even. The way I figure it, I want to carry full coverage on anything that I couldn't afford to replace tomorrow should it get destroyed or stolen.

6/29/2011 2:38:21 PM

I don't carry anything but liability insurance on bikes. I do carry a cable and padlock in the saddlebag and chain it to a tree or lightpole whenever possible. To each his own.

Have you done much riding yet? I know quagmire has a scooter and my bike is so slow it might as well be a scooter. We should form a gang.

6/29/2011 2:51:26 PM

$35/month for full replacement of a stolen ~$6000 sportbike seemed worth it to me at the time. i have since sold it and gotten out of riding

6/29/2011 2:59:30 PM

i wouldn't carry more than liability and then invest some money in a decent set of cables/chains and/or u-bolt

6/29/2011 4:16:06 PM

hehee if your bike is worth $6000 then of course it was worth it, mine is worth 1/6 that

what is collision and comprehensive anyways? that's like for me to fix my own bike or includes theft too right? yah may not be worth it for me...liability just to protect me if i damage other's seems like the way to go

6/29/2011 5:33:10 PM

Collision is if you hit somebody else or you are otherwise at fault, your stuff is paid for. Comprehensive covers everything else that you are not necessarily liable for - animals, natural disasters, weather, etc.

6/29/2011 6:17:55 PM

i need an XR100 supermoto

6/29/2011 9:37:33 PM

^You and I both.

6/30/2011 7:16:13 AM

^

And me

7/4/2011 12:19:02 PM

Quote :

"krazedgirl All American 2108 Posts user info edit post it's a yamaha zuma 125......i was actually leaning towards the yamaha vino since i like the styling but the deal on the zuma was not bad 6/22/2011 4:01:41 PM Quinn All American 16080 Posts user info edit post We should ride together i just bought a POS 250CC ninja. 6/22/2011 7:51:17 PM"

lmao

7/5/2011 11:45:35 PM

Buy a AR-15 and a bunch of PCP and you wont have to worry about anyone stealing it!

7/6/2011 8:57:40 AM

any recommended scooter stores around here for maintanence service and some accessories? i need some baskets for grocery shopping LOL.

7/6/2011 10:11:53 AM

just ride it up to OCC, they'll rig somethin up for you

7/6/2011 12:10:33 PM

lol

7/6/2011 12:56:03 PM

what's OCC oh and i tried to get my plate today and they said i needed an inspection first

i thought the plate comes first, so i asked the dmv guy how can they inspect the scooter without a plate and he didn't know either

any quick places to get the scooter inspected around state?

7/6/2011 1:52:58 PM

The DMV guy should have offered you a temporary registration, which you use to get it inspected, then come back and pony up the $18 for a plate. Go back and tell them you need a 10-day temp, then you can ride it to the inspection. It's dumb as shit, but welcome to the NC DMV.

Ray Price HD is the only MC inspector I can think of nearby. You may get some funny looks at a Hardley shop, but $13 and 15 minutes later you'll be on your way to the DMV.

[Edited on July 6, 2011 at 2:17 PM. Reason : .]

7/6/2011 2:15:05 PM

When I had this problem, they gave me paperwork to drive it temporarily(3 days) and get it inspected. Took it to inspection shop, handed them the 3 day paperwork and they inspected it. You should call a couple DMVs and see what they suggest. Sounds like the guy you dealt with was lazy and didnt want to explain the procedure to get it legal. He damn sure better know the procedure if he works at a fucking DMV office that issues plates

7/6/2011 2:25:28 PM

thanks went to another dmv and just got my 10 day temporary pass.....Ray Price HD closed today

anywhere else around that does scooter inspections?

7/6/2011 3:04:41 PM

Barnett's on Lake Wheeler across from the Farmer's Market

7/6/2011 4:17:26 PM

Team Powersports does, if you feel like going that far. There's also a shop across from the shopping center on Timber Drive called Ultra Power Sports that most likely does inspections. Can the scooter store not do them for you? Anywhere that does motorcycles will do the scooter.

[Edited on July 6, 2011 at 4:43 PM. Reason : anywhere]

7/6/2011 4:42:47 PM