Discussion
I agree.
I do about 35000 business miles a year, and although I love fast cars, after spending 4 hours driving home from London the last thing I wanted to do was go out for a fun drive. 12 months ago I had 3 sportscars and I discovered that at the end of the summer I hadn't done much more than 1000 miles in any one of them (and most of that was on track). I now have 1 sportscar and 2 bikes (fast modern one and classic) and I've done more miles on them so far this summer than in all the cars last year.
I've also done more miles in my remaining sportscar (Lotus Elan), but most of that was in France where there are few traffic jams and fewer tax cameras.
I do about 35000 business miles a year, and although I love fast cars, after spending 4 hours driving home from London the last thing I wanted to do was go out for a fun drive. 12 months ago I had 3 sportscars and I discovered that at the end of the summer I hadn't done much more than 1000 miles in any one of them (and most of that was on track). I now have 1 sportscar and 2 bikes (fast modern one and classic) and I've done more miles on them so far this summer than in all the cars last year.
I've also done more miles in my remaining sportscar (Lotus Elan), but most of that was in France where there are few traffic jams and fewer tax cameras.
For some curious reason, I make a distinction. I see scooters as being like vespas and lambrettas. Step thrus represent all the other wierd contraptions (Burghmans, BMW roofed bikes, those strange chromed up wide bar abominations etc) that people step through to get on.
Although I do like the older vespas, I'd much prefer a 'proper' bike, as the limitations in frame design and wheel size of scooters and step-thrus severly limit their performance and enjoyability.
My horror is more aimed at the new wave of people riding these things. I know this is a sweeping generalisation, but many new scooter riders are far less protected, either by their lack of suitable clothes and boots, or their road-craft skills and courtesy. It's all to easy to just twist and go without the proper attitude and skill.
I'm not convinced about their safety aspects either. In my commute from Herts to Soho, I think I've seen far more scooter/stepthru accidents than motorbike incidents.
>> Edited by diz on Tuesday 16th July 14:49
Although I do like the older vespas, I'd much prefer a 'proper' bike, as the limitations in frame design and wheel size of scooters and step-thrus severly limit their performance and enjoyability.
My horror is more aimed at the new wave of people riding these things. I know this is a sweeping generalisation, but many new scooter riders are far less protected, either by their lack of suitable clothes and boots, or their road-craft skills and courtesy. It's all to easy to just twist and go without the proper attitude and skill.
I'm not convinced about their safety aspects either. In my commute from Herts to Soho, I think I've seen far more scooter/stepthru accidents than motorbike incidents.
>> Edited by diz on Tuesday 16th July 14:49
I'd be interested to see accident stats for bikes split into scooters and proper bikes. Round Nottingham in the last year or so there are hundreds of these little trendy 50cc scooters riden by little kids who really havnt got a clue how dangerous the roads are. Most of them are accidents waiting to happen as they ride them like complete arses.
I thought something like a Honda C90 was a stepthru.
I thought something like a Honda C90 was a stepthru.
Too right - I'd add C90s to the stepthru list. What about those wierd Piagio 'not quite a stepthru but not quite a proper bike' things? Or those tricked up stepthru things with dropped clip-on bars, racing dials and pipes... 
Why?
My pet hate is when I've filtered to the front of a traffic light queue, then some t*****r on a stepthru comes along and stops in front of me. When the lights turn green, I have to get past them again - dangerous because many of them don't look behind them.
Grrr!
Why? My pet hate is when I've filtered to the front of a traffic light queue, then some t*****r on a stepthru comes along and stops in front of me. When the lights turn green, I have to get past them again - dangerous because many of them don't look behind them.
Grrr!quote:
My horror is more aimed at the new wave of people riding these things. I know this is a sweeping generalisation, but many new scooter riders are far less protected, either by their lack of suitable clothes and boots, or their road-craft skills and courtesy. It's all to easy to just twist and go without the proper attitude and skill.
This goes back to original question aswell. As (I beleive ) more and more people are in fact turning to 2 wheel transport. I think we'll see a BIG increase in the amount of people using scooters/step-thru's. Most of these people will have no/limited bike skill. I imagine that the goverments accidents stats will go up and up rather than actually reducing the number, as people are getting frustrated with cars and are turning to bikes.
I imagine your average biker who's been riding a 600 for a few years is going to have much more road awareness than anyone stepping out of their cvar ontoa scooter to avoid the traffic queues..
>> Edited by bosshog on Wednesday 17th July 09:10
I wanted a fast car, but couldn't afford it. Bikes are still the most affordable way of getting to 60 in 3 seconds. 4000 notes gets you a huge choice of machines that will outperform most cars apart from the exotic.
So, answer: yes, more people seem to be tuning in. Shame really, because I like it better being a rarity. Hey, on the otherhand, so few people can ride properly so I guess I am !!
Keep it shiney side up.
C
So, answer: yes, more people seem to be tuning in. Shame really, because I like it better being a rarity. Hey, on the otherhand, so few people can ride properly so I guess I am !!
Keep it shiney side up.
C
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