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I hope you are well. My name is Christian, welcome to my channel Backpacking Bananas. I am British and currently live in Sydney. I recently got my motorcycle license for the first time here in Sydney, New South Wales. This is very exciting, because for the last 10-15 years I have been riding mopeds in Southeast Asia, Mexico, and Central American countries, but I have never had a real license. Now there is. If you want to learn more about the process of obtaining a license in New South Wales, you can watch my previous video here or here.
Shortly after I got my license, I bought myself a moped, and that's what I'm going to show you in this video. But before that, let's quickly recall what the options were. I looked at a bunch of ads on Facebook Marketplace and drove all over Sydney testing different makes and models of scooters. First, the 2020 Kymco Agility RS125 for $1,400. The most budget option of all and in surprisingly good condition, but it was uncomfortable to ride: it felt tiny, unstable, and made a sound like a hair dryer. Cheap? Yes. My favorite? Absolutely not. The second scooter was the 2021 SYM Classic 125 for $1,850. Definitely the cutest bike, plus it came with a Shad rack. It felt very reliable and comfortable, but it was a bit heavy and lacked dexterity. Then there was the
2021 Peugeot Belville 200. Price-4200 dollars. The most expensive scooter of the day, but practically new, with only 1,900 km on the clock. It had lots of smart features and handled the road well. The only downside is the price. The fourth scooter was the 2017 Piaggio Fly 150cc for $2,400. He really surprised me. There were some minor cosmetic flaws that needed attention, but it was the perfect combination of power and maneuverability, and it even came with a trunk. And finally, the 2018 Vespa GTS 300 for $3,000. A very powerful scooter at a great price. Let's be honest, it's a Vespa, but it seemed too bulky, and the non-working speedometer was a serious " alarm bell ". So, what do you think I chose? Well, I won't bother you anymore, because I'm proud to
present my brand new scooter. Ladies and gentlemen, meet my new scooter. This is Belle, whom I just named. This is a 2021 Peugeot Belleville 200cc and I am so happy. The price for this scooter from a seller on Facebook Marketplace was $4,200. I wasn't prepared to pay that much for the scooter, but I was prepared to pay a lot more than for any of the others I saw that day. So I offered $3,500. Honestly, I was willing to pay a little more. I expected the seller to haggle, but I'm happy to say that he agreed to 3500. But on the condition that he would agree to this price, only if I picked up the scooter the next morning and paid in cash. I didn't have that amount in cash, and even that amount in Australian dollars in bank accounts. So I immediately
switched to Wise to transfer pounds sterling from my UK account to Australian dollars because I knew it would be fast and with low fees. And Wise always uses the mid-market exchange rate. The small fee is clearly stated and before I transfer I can see exactly how many pounds I will spend. I've been using Wise for years for these kinds of transactions, to refund money to my parents and pay for tours and accommodation abroad. I always advise my non-UK group travel guests to use Wise for international payments as it is the best solution. By the way, if you sign up for Wise using my link in the description, your first international transfer of up to $1,000 will be free. This is
simply incredible. So keep this in mind if you need to make an international payment. And indeed, the currency exchange took place instantly. So I was able to withdraw the cash I needed in a short amount of time and close the deal on the scooter I had agreed upon. Be smart, choose Wise. Let me tell you more about the features of this scooter, and you will better understand why I chose it. Let's start with this folding bag hook. It's a little ring that opens, so I can hang any small bags here. Not too much, because my legs have to fit here too, and they are pretty securely fixed while moving. Plus, this whole glove compartment
folds down. There is n't much space for things, but it's still there. I actually keep a few charging cables in here because there's a USB port inside, which is really handy when I'm on the go and my phone dies or something. I didn't have this before , but there is an emergency light here. The horn sounds and the taillights turn on. as well as the headlights. And that's another thing I really like. Of course, turn signals are nothing new, but this one makes a sound, a kind of "peak" until you turn it off. The same on the other side. At first glance, this may seem very annoying, but I'm actually very happy because it reminds me to turn off my turn signal. When the turn signal is silent, it's very easy to forget that it's on a scooter. And on
scooters, the turn signals also don't turn off automatically. And it's actually quite dangerous to leave your turn signal on when you're not going to turn anywhere. So I consider this a very good and safe feature. The seller was very kind and added this Quad Lock mount. These are by far the most highly rated mounts to be found here in Australia. Actually, I think they are sold all over the world. I already bought a phone case for him. So I'll show you how it works. You angle it, turn it, and it just locks into place. But as you can see, I didn't insert my phone because it's actually illegal for learner drivers and drivers with learning licenses to drive with their phones on, even if it's just for navigation or something else. So I can't use this
until I take off the training badges, which will probably be in about a year. But I decided to prepare the case so that it would be ready when I could use it. The seller also kindly agreed to include a free helmet, which is great. This will not be my helmet. I have a new one, but when I can eventually carry a passenger-which again will be when I get my full license-I will be able to offer my passenger a helmet, and that's great. As with any standard scooter, I can of course open the seat, and there is a trunk. So, I can comfortably put my helmet here and it closes perfectly.
This is where I fill up the tank with gasoline. And there is actually an additional safety feature on this scooter. It is now locked, which means the engine will not start. I need to switch it to unlock mode if I want to go. So I lock it every time I turn off the scooter. This is just an added security feature to make it harder for someone to access the bike. If you watched the previous video, you know that the footrest is very important to me, because there were scooters where you fold the footrest down and it doesn't lock in place. She just leaned back, which I find very dangerous. But not here. She stays in place. And I'll demonstrate an additional feature of this step, which I really like.
The engine is running. And as soon as you fold down the footrest, the engine automatically shuts off. And I love this feature. Again, I think this is another thing that makes the bike safer. Another great feature of this bike is that, for a moped, it has fairly large wheels, which makes it much more stable, balanced, and enjoyable to ride. So I really like that too. So, this is my bike. As you can see, I'm delighted with it Now I'll tell you about everything else I spent money on in connection with this bike. After I picked up the bike and bought it, needed to do something before I left. The first step was to re- register, or as it's
called here in Australia, "Rejo". It cost $177. And since I was going to ride a scooter, of course I needed insurance. It was actually very quick to arrange and much cheaper than I expected. I pay $19.25 a month for insurance on my motorcycle. Before testing all these scooters, I went and.oh my god, the hot air. I went and bought my own helmet. Someone in the comments on my previous video asked, "Why didn't you buy a used one? It would have been much more economical." In fact, the first thing we were taught in motorcycle school was to make sure you don't buy a used helmet. You better get a new one, because you don't know the history of that helmet. If your helmet has been dropped even once, even if you don't see any damage, it may
be damaged inside and therefore unable to properly protect your head in an accident when needed. So, I went to MCAS to pick out a new helmet, and I'm very happy with what I got. It is extremely comfortable. The brand is Nolan, and now I will display the exact model of this helmet. I didn't expect to choose red. I thought I would get a white one, but this one fit just perfectly. You should make sure your helmet meets EU and Australian safety standards. I'm pretty sure every helmet in the MCAS store meets these standards. I tried on closed helmets, which, you know, cover the chin, but I thought they restricted my vision; and for riding my small automatic scooter, I feel more comfortable in such an open helmet because
I have a much better viewing angle. I can see a lot more, and as I said, it's very convenient. This is a size S. I keep it completely down while riding, simply because the wind on my face feels so strong. And you know what's really cool about this helmet? When the sun shines in my eyes, I have a little lever that I can lift and it's just class. And the visor can be lowered completely. I know it's not the coolest look in the world, but oh my god, how practical is it. Especially in Australia, where the sun shines very brightly. So that's just a great feature of this helmet. Now, what is not currently a mandatory requirement, but will become one for learner and restricted drivers from July 2026, is the presence and use of
protective gloves. I did n't even know it would become a legal requirement, but I still wanted to buy them for myself-both for warmth and protection. Now I will display the brand name and model of these gloves that I have chosen. I also bought them at MCAS, but I wear them every time I travel. I just feel safer with them knuckle protection here. And from July 2026, it will become mandatory, it seems, especially for students, to wear a reflective vest while riding. I already have a pink reflective vest from Kmart, so I'll probably have to start wearing that. But I actually hope to switch to "P-plates" shortly after July 2026. I have to drive with "L-plates" for a minimum of 3 months and a maximum of 12 months. I
completed preliminary training in early May. So I think I'm planning on taking the exam in August, which will hopefully allow me to get my "P-plate". Where I currently take care of the house, I am very grateful to have this private place to keep the moped so it is not parked on the road. However, it is not under a roof, and I still want to protect it from the weather. So I bought a cover for my moped. It cost $50 at a store called Oxford Aquatics. I'll show you the exact model of this cover on the screen and show you how it looks on the bike. That's it. By the way, I chose a model that fits even if the scooter has a trunk, although I do n't have one right now. So it just goes down like this. And here she is. This cover simply protects Belle
from the elements when she's outside. By the way, I don't have a wheel lock yet. But if I buy it, I can stretch it here and here. And I think if I have to store my bike outside, this is definitely something I'll invest in for extra security. But now we will remove it. I make sure the bike is completely cool and dry before covering it because I don't want anything to get damaged. I also don't want mold to appear anywhere. In addition to the scooter cover, I also bought this little thing. It's just a seat cover. It cost 18 dollars. I usually keep it with me on the bike either under the seat or in that little glove compartment. And then, let's say I'm going to the beach or the store, especially if it's going to rain, I put this seat cover on every time
I leave the bike unattended, just to protect it a little bit. And if it rains while I'm gone, it means that when I get back on the bike to ride, my pants won't be wet, and we love that. Because, well, I don't think it's realistic to carry that huge bike cover with me everywhere and cover my motorcycle with it every time go somewhere. Well, that's just unrealistic. So he doesn't go everywhere with me. He's just lying at home. Another thing I bought after buying this bike was an e-rider pass to pay for travel across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Harbour Tunnel. This is quite beneficial for motorcycles. It costs $90 per quarter, which entitles you to unlimited trips across the bridge and tunnel.
Considering that without it, each ride costs about $3.50. In fact, it costs the same for a motorcycle as it does for a car. So this is a significant amount. Therefore, it is very profitable to buy an e-rider if you cross the bridge at least occasionally. I feel like I'll probably have to buy a long-distance motorcycle jacket that has pockets for protective inserts at some point. But I haven't found one that I really like, fits well, or is worth the money yet. I wanted to find something like a riding jacket that would be warm enough, because as you know, Sydney doesn't get very cold in the winter. But get on a scooter and the wind makes it quite chilly. And I actually found a great jacket at Uniqlo, as strange as it may sound. This is their windproof,
reversible fleece zip hoodie, and it cost 80 bucks. It is fleece inside, and a windproof layer outside. It's double-sided, but I wear it with a windproof layer on the outside. And let me tell you, even with a short-sleeved T-shirt underneath, it's still pretty warm in the winter while riding. There are also zippered pockets where I can put my phone or anything else I definitely don't want to lose during my trip. Unfortunately, this lilac color I chose doesn't really go with my bright red helmet, but that's okay. This is not a fashion show. I just want to be warm and comfortable, and this jacket is doing a great job so far. Now about the dilemma I have with my bike. I want to start taking it on adventures, maybe overnight or on a hike. Although I
can wear a backpack and have some space under the seat where a helmet fits, you can't put anything else there. And this hook is very convenient. But, again, only for a small bag. I can't take many things. I want to start riding this scooter to get groceries. And now I just have nowhere to put my shopping. So the logical solution would be to buy a top case-a box that conveniently attaches to the back of the scooter. I see them around all the time, they look good, and I would like one for myself . I went to Scooter Central in Brookvale on the North Shore, brought my scooter and said I wanted a pannier, preferably a Shad 39, SH39. In my opinion, they look quite stylish, and their size is very comfortable. When I bought
the scooter, I didn't take into account that finding spare parts would be a bit difficult and expensive. In general, to install a pannier on a scooter, you need a suitable mount. The seller checked the system to see which mounting plate I needed for my Peugeot Belleville 200cc. He says, "Oh, the only thing I can find is an aluminum model. Usually they're steel." He added: " It's a great option because it's premium and lightweight. But it costs $500." It is worth remembering that the suitcase itself costs about $250. And I knew the price would be around that. But I expected the mounting plate to cost, I don't know, $100 at most, not $500. So basically, to put a pannier on this bike, I would have had to shell out a minimum of $750. I was just shocked,
it's too expensive for me now. So I decided to wait with it for now. I'll see if a cheaper solution comes along, and in the meantime, I'll think about what else can be done. The first thing I looked at, since that's what pannier bags, which have straps that go under the seat and the bags themselves hang down on either side. And I thought that was a good decision. But then I saw a guy with pink hair somewhere in Australia doing a review of these pannier bags that he was trying to install on his motorcycle. Note, he had a motorcycle, not a moped. He said that these bags hang down from the sides, and since the wheel and suspension on his motorcycle are open, they dangle while riding, which is not only inconvenient, but also quite dangerous.
He noted that they were actually designed for scooters. So I'm like, "Oh, great." Because he said that scooters usually have a cover that covers the rear wheel, suspension, and everything else under the seat. And I'm like, "Oh, cool." "That's good." And then I looked at my scooter and thought, "Oh, it looks like my scooter is not typical in that regard. "It's more like a motorcycle because the wheel, suspension, and engine are open here." In short, I don't think these pannier bags will work for me on this scooter. Then I looked at another solution-tail bags-and thought, "Oh, that could be good. " So, tail bags are attached mainly where the passenger sits.
Besides, I still can't carry passengers for over a year until I get my full license. So why not take that space with a bag? Sounds good. I looked at a few tail bag options and honestly, they are just ugly. They are ugly, and there is not much space in them. They are kind of flat. And when I think about grocery shopping, I imagine trying to stuff bags of food into these tail bags, and I realize that nothing will work. I even asked ChatGPT to model some tail bag ideas that I would like to ride with. I asked to make them more square so that I could freely put grocery bags in them. But then I thought: no, I don't want to look like a Deliveroo courier. That is, it is normal. There is nothing
wrong with this. But for me, it's just not the style I'm after. This is my dilemma. Should I make my own trunk bag? Should I contact a designer to create a layout? Does this even make sense? Maybe just buy a damn suitcase? But I have something new and interesting for the scooter. I've shown this Quadlock mount before; I can't attach a phone because I don't have full rights yet, but there's no ban on attaching a camera. So I bought a Quadlock action camera mount and mounted my Insta 360 on it. I've never done this before, but I'm going to try mounting the Insta 360 on the Quadlock. Let's see what happens. Good. Ha, that's all. Looks pretty stable.
Let's go for a ride and check out how it is? I think it's worth it. We're going to one of my favorite cafes in Sydney, it's in North Bondi. I decided to take the quieter route. At least I thought it was quieter because I didn't want to go out on the main street with the Insta 360, just in case it wouldn't hold up. But it seems like everything is fine. Although in reality the road is not quiet at all. There are a lot of cars here. Hmm, there's a lot of traffic jams. Here, please. I took the coffee. Very gentle. This is Bobby's. Although, if you look at Google Maps, it's called Brighton Brew by Bobby. It is on the corner of one of the main streets in North Bondi. It's about a 5-minute walk from Bondi Beach. And that's
just great. The coffee is great, the atmosphere is great. Bobby is very nice and he does a great job training all of his baristas. Even if he is not there himself, he teaches the barista how to make quality coffee. It's nice to know a good place is nearby. Do you know what I'll have to buy next? Some kind of coffee holder for the scooter, because if I was in the car, I could just take it with me and go. But I ca n't ride a scooter because everything will spill. So.what modification or accessory can be added? If I were to make my own trunk bag, I would add a cup holder so that my coffee would always be at hand. As for the ride with the Insta 360, I would say it was a success. I'm interested to see the footage, you've already seen how shaky it is because I
looked at it and it was a little shaky, but they have stabilization now, so maybe it's not so bad. We'll see. And the next step will be to purchase a small microphone to attach to the helmet. I guess I'll end the video here because I realize I've been telling you everything for too long. But thank you very much for watching. I hope you enjoyed this video. I hope you like my new scooter. I really like him and I'm excited to take him on all these adventures. Interesting. Do you think I made the right choice? Would you do the same? Let me know if you have any ideas about my dilemmas, because they are still dilemmas. Anyway, let's talk about it in the next video, see you later.
