We have loads of mopeds round here, seems to be a rite of passage where they turn 16, they buy a moped. We have an extensive cycle-track system round here (not just alongside roads, all over the town) and they ride them on that. It is unnerving at first as a pedestrian, but it means you never get stuck behind them on the road. Well, you do but less often. I have seen people riding 100/125cc scooters on the tracks at 40-50mph which is very naughty and incredibly dangerous.
Having a moped at 16 must be great. Problem is, boys will be boys and they do silly things on their mopeds. Some of them try to do motorcross-esque hill climbs with them, others do wheelies and stoppies with them... Yes, you can pop a wheelie with 50ccs!. They occasionally all sit around with them, the younger boys envy the mopeds. I have even heard some of them refer to their mopeds as a "motorbike"... I make no attempts to contain my laughter when I hear that one.
Now, a moped generally has about 2kW power. Maximum power. Argos currently have several 2kW hairdryers for sale. Even a 2.2kW one. So, the power of that moped, ripping up the tarmac at 28mph (providing it isn't up a hill) is less than the rider's mum's hairdryer.
Something I have noticed the local moped-riders doing... Mopeds are "turn and burn", that is you pull the throttle open and it's CVT automatic transmission does the rest. No gearchanges. Yet I hear them pulling away whacking the throttle on and off in bursts, "NEEEEURGH... NEEEEURGH.... NEEEEEURGHH..." Does this somehow defeat the speed governor and allow them to go 29mph, or is this the "it's not a moped it's a motorbike" brigade pretending their "motorbike" has gears?
