Hi NW:

Welcome to the HUBB.

I believe that when you refer to a 'moped', you mean a pedal-assisted small motorcycle with an engine size of 50cc or less, is that correct? The type of vehicle that the Swiss refer to as a 'Mofa'?

If that is the case, you might find that the restrictions that apply to a moped/mofa vary considerably from country to country. By this I mean some countries might only permit the moped to be used on roads with a 60 km/h or less speed limit. This could cause you very significant logistical problems getting from one city to another if the only available (paved) road has an 80 km/h limit on it.

For sure, if you are planning on doing any kind of international touring on your moped, you should think about getting a pretty good quality dedicated GPS device (a waterproof one). The better quality GPS devices allow you to impose restrictions on the automatic route generation such as "no toll roads" and "no highways". You might find those restrictions apply to you (by law) in some countries.

Michael

What I understand a 'moped' to be (note the pedals)

This is what a modern moped Looks like.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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Yeah, but a tuned Derbi Senda can easily go 80-90km/h!

And haha, that's not the kind of moped I was talking about!

Thanks a lot for your help though, I definitely need to get a good GPS, I hadn't quite thought of that.

Ah, OK, then we have a difference in interpretation of the word 'moped'.

I interpret the word 'moped' to mean a pedal-assisted motorcycle. The picture you posted above appears to me to be a small displacement motorcycle without any pedals at all.

To the original poster (NWY): What do you define a moped as? Without knowing what you mean by the term, it's difficult for others to offer accurate and thoughtful answers to your question.

Michael

From a German POV:

Mofa = ca. Fahrrad mit Hilfsmotor: max. speed 25 km/h, 49 cc; these days you need a quite easily achievable drivers license, if you are born after 01.04.1965. License obtainable from 15 years on.

Moped = small motorbike with pedals: pedals were supposed to start or break the bike. I remember them from my childhood, these days we are talking of oldtimers. Max. speed 40 km/h, 49 cc. European license AM in Germany needed. Only actual moped these days according to Wikipedia: Peugeot Vogue.
Moped = acronym for anything motorcycle, even used for a 1600 cc, in a fun way.

Mokick = small motorcycle with kickstarter
Max. speed 45 km/h (always in Germany), max. 49 cc, European license AM. East German mokicks made before the reunification like the gorgeous Simson Schwalbe are legal to run max. 60 km/h.

Small scooters with max. 4 KW power, 49 cc and max. 45 km/h are being treated like mokicks.

In Denmark, things might differ.

From my misguided youth I remember the Honda CB50, a four stroke model with the reputation of being both rugged and easily being tuned over the then legal limit of 40 km/h .... just sayin´.

Damn you for bringing up touring on 49 cc! Again and again it is giving me the strong craving for buying a Simson Schwalbe ..... must resist .... aaaarghhh

In the UK a moped is normally a 49cc automatic (twist and go) - i.e no gears and both brakes are on handlebars... Nomally limited to about 30mph but can be de-restricted to increase speed to around 40-45 mph..

Mopeds often used by lots of 16yr old scumbags racing up and down my street keeping me awake at night. Ignorant riders who shout abuse at you whenb you politly ask them to go ride someware else can easily be slowed down by a brick or long piece of 4 by 2

A moped may be cheap and get you where you want but for under € 1000 you can buy an old but neat 400 or 500 cc motorcycle.
For touring in Europe, I would prefer a 400cc or more motorcycle because you can ride all roads and keep up with other traffic and even (if necessary) ride on the autobahn or Autostrada and don't have to worry about cycle paths and local moped rules.

It is a lot safer to be able to ride the same speed as the other traffic and not be overtaken by big trucks and cars all the time.

Also, you have a little more luggage room and it is more comfortable then a small moped.

Next to my GoldWing GL1200, I have a Honda CB400T from 1987 that I bought a few years ago for only a few hundred euro's that I ride regular and enjoy very much so I know where I'm talking about.

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Jan Krijtenburg

My bikes are a Honda GoldWing GL1200 and a BMW R1200GS

My personal homepage with trip reports: https://www.krijtenburg.nl/
YouTube channel (that I do together with one of my sons): motormobilist.nl