License to ride

The buying process for my E-Rider Moda 30 was probably one of the most painful purchasing experiences I've had, and I've bought a house before! I think the problems lie in the expectations you have when purchasing a bike - you expect to be able to ride it!

As this is a new bike and bought from a small online retailer it transpired that the vehicle wasn't registered when it arrived and so I was unable to use it for a month after delivery. I had to order the registration form online and wait almost 2 weeks for it to arrive (why it wasn't downloadable in this modern age is beyond me) and then I also had to contact the seller as they had delivered the wrong documentation with the bike. Check VIN and engine numbers very carefully if you are registering yourself or else you'll probably have real problems down the line. Luckily I noticed that the documentation didn't match and got the new details before I registered. Had I not noticed that it would have taken even longer. Luckily the registration was actually quicker than their estimate and so I got it registered within a month.

Getting it registered within the month was actually very important.  When I received the bike I had to get it insured so if it was stolen I would be covered - is parked on the street. Some insurers won't insure without a number plate and some that do only do it for 2 weeks. Luckily the one I finally found would insure with the VIN number and had a 1 month grace period. Even then I got right to the end of that period and the company then told me that they no longer insure from VIN's only and so I couldn't have re-insured it with them. There seems to be a big disconnect between the registration process and the insurance companies which really needs to be addressed. I know people don't usually register their own vehicle but if we want to encourage new companies to start selling in this new eco market then this should really be made easier. Most governments want to encourage electric vehicles and so they should really help to make the process much easier. At least I don't have to pay for my road tax, which is a clear indication of their promising intentions.

Top gun

When I first started riding I used a route tracker to take a look at some stats on its performance. Was quite interesting to see its performance and also to find my current top speed of 31 mph! Am sure it was quite literally down hill with the wind behind me!

This a pair of outgoing and return trip reports.

I think I hit a bird on one trip! I was going down a country road which I often see birds darting around and then something caught my eye to the right and I felt a clunk on the helmet. Never expected that and was glad I had my visor down. I think it would be crazy to ever have it up at speed. I sometimes raise it at a junction for some cooling but it goes down pretty quickly.

I bought myself a tube scarf as sometimes my neck can be a little cold and the top of the jacket can be a bit harsh on my neck. It also helps with wet weather but I think I will need something more substantial when the weather gets worse so will start looking out for something thicker, warmer and more waterproof. I thought growing my beard out would help but it gives little warming effect when riding - well at least not my fairly small one!