seeing Europe by moped/scooter

I have worked everything out already in terms of time in Europe. I am studying in France this semester with a student visa, then leaving the Shengen area afterwards (for a month) and reentering the Shengen area as a tourist for fewer than the limit of 90 days. Hence my query about taking the moped to and from to UK. Afterwards I am going to be traveling around Europe, but I'm not sure where. I plan on seeing Prague, Budapest, places in Switzerland, etc. I just don't want to spend a ton of money on trains, so I'm searching for a better way to get around.

You can take a moped to the UK using the ferry from Calais to Dover.

My only concern is that most mopeds have a 50cc engine. That's just not enough for tourism purposes. You really need a minimum of 250cc from the point of view that takes in reliability and comfort. If you do decide to do it your way I would earnesly suggest the Honda 50 stepthrough. You can get parts and servicing for them in any European town, and they are reliable.

Elise Remember San Jose is a dry climate. It rains much more and more often in Europe. We were in Germany last September and people coming from Austria said it had rained on them every day for ten days.

No way.

Obviously, you can't take a scooter on the freeways (Autoroute, Autostrade, Autobahn...) and to navigate the secondary roads would be perilous.

Are you thinking you would tote a scooter on the train and only use it for local travel?

Elise, many years ago a friend shipped a Vespa from Canada to England for use while there. He worked for Air Canada, was from England, and was overseas at least 6 times each year on his AC passes. He picked it up at the freight hanger in Heathrow, and drove it to his old 'home town' just outside of Bath. Between the weather, the 12"?? tires, lack of power and the traffic, he never again used it much beyond his home area -and that rarely. He kept it for years (using the same Nova Scotia licence plates with self doctored stickers -but that's another story) and besides going to the green grocer for brussels sprouts and milk, the machine didn't often leave his parents' garage. As another poster said, 250cc is the minimum; if 'twas me, in your situation, I'd use the bus for your travels with the odd train thrown is as a treat.

My wife and I are planning on buying two Vespas (250cc) to travel through Euope (Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Holland, Great Britain to include Wales and Scotland) and Ireland. What I'd be interested in knowing is where you can buy, tax and get insurance for Vespas without having a residence permit?

My wife and I are planning on buying two Vespas (250cc) to travel through Euope (Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Holland, Great Britain to include Wales and Scotland) and Ireland. We plan on it being a two month trip. I expect to use the smaller roads when possible for travel which will help her because she's not that experienced with two wheels yet. I ride a Harley Road King so I don't think I'll have any problems adjusting to the road and the scooter. We are leaving in less than two weeks. I have been trying to find out some information on shipping the scooters on some of the long treks instead of driving them. I thought we could get them on a train? Does anyone know if trains accept such baggage?

Greg, does your wife have a full motorcycle licence? In other words, has she taken a state motorcycle driving test so that a motorcycle entitlement is specifically mentioned on her licence? You say she isn't experienced on 2 wheels yet, but I just wanted to check if she has actually passed her test, because if she hasn't then she can't ride a 250, it'll have to be a 125 (at least here in the UK, other countries may vary). There may be other problems as well, but rather than get into the details of European motorcycle licensing please let us know if she has passed the test and we can take it from there... To answer your question, the answer is no, not on ordinary trains. There used to be a lot of motorrail services that took cars and motorcycles, and there are still a number of those services left. Read about them on the best European rail website there is, The Man in Seat 61: http://www.seat61.com/Motorail.htm#.UZKJchIS2XU

Gregory, since this thread is over 4 years old...please start a new thread. But FWIW, I don't expect you're going to get the answers you want to hear :-( Elise - So...now that this has been resurrected...how was your trip ;-) Did you use a scooter/moped after all?