What car or motorbike

[funkyrobot]

Have to keep this short as I'm at work. However, I'm just trying to decide whether to learn to ride a motorcycle or get a project car to work on and learn spannering.

I changed jobs six months ago and pretty much doubled my commute. Therefore, I was thinking of either investing in a more fun and comfortable car to run and learn spannering on, or go down the motorcycle route. My current journey to work (50 mile round trip) takes me down the A17 and I can spend ages stuck in a long line of traffic behind a lorry doing 40 mph. I know that the speed limit for these vehicles is due to go up to 50 mph soon, but it can be a real pain trundling along like that.

A bike appeals because I am really interested in learning to ride one. I thought that it would be a good tool for filtering through the traffic and it would also make my commute more fun. My fiancee hates the idea of a bike as she considers them to be death traps. We have a six month old, so that doesn't really help. She does understand though and said she won't stop me getting one.

Car wise, I thought it would be very useful to finally learn something useful about spannering and maybe get something more interesting. Current car is a 2007 Mazda3 2.0 litre petrol Sport and although it's a good car, it's just missing something. It's quite revvy and the chassis is good, but for the fuel economy it returns I'd rather be running something more meaty and comfortable. I do like
the idea of something with a 'V' engine in as I could always keep the Mazda and run it as my main hack, or get rid and get something cheap and cheerful to run alongside the favourable car.

I thought I'd open this up to the PH masses to see if anyone else has been in a similar situation. Any ideas anyone? Thanks all.

[andburg]

I'd get a bike, just not a sports bike so its comfortable and with a nice big pillions seat with chunky grab handles.

Something like a Suzuki SV650, its not going to set the world alight but if you manage to get her on the back she'll be able to relax

Less room to store, cheaper insurance although you do have to pay out for the protective gear and the training/test

[funkyrobot]

Indeed. A tourer type bike would be good. Something big and comfortable.

I'm 6ft 4in tall and heavy, so a nimble little sports bike would be wasted on me.

Speaking of bikes, is it beneficial to do the CBT and spend some time learning the craft on a smaller bike before leaping in and doing the full test?

Thanks.

[andburg]

Yes and no, as a new road user I'd say yes. As you can already drive, its more about learning to control a bike, I'd book a course with room to add an extra day or 2 of tuition on a bike before doing the test if you felt so inclined.

[funkyrobot]

andburg said:

Yes and no, as a new road user I'd say yes. As you can already drive, its more about learning to control a bike, I'd book a course with room to add an extra day or 2 of tuition on a bike before doing the test if you felt so inclined.

Thanks.

I'm 35, so will have access to certain machinery if I went down the direct route. However, even though I have ridden bicycles for years, I've never ridden a motorbike. I think it would be a very good idea to learn on a 125 and get some experience on that before going for the big stuff.

Speaking of a 125, will it struggle with a lump like me on it?

[crofty1984]

funkyrobot said:

Indeed. A tourer type bike would be good. Something big and comfortable.

I'm 6ft 4in tall and heavy, so a nimble little sports bike would be wasted on me.

Speaking of bikes, is it beneficial to do the CBT and spend some time learning the craft on a smaller bike before leaping in and doing the full test?

Thanks.

My advice would be yes to the pootling round on a 125 for a couple of months. A 125 Varadero would probably suit you for that task, and you'll probably get most of your money back when you sell it.

Also, yes to getting a bike rather than a project car. If it's a second vehicle you have a lot more room to work around it, it's simpler if you want to learn the spanners and bits are (usually!) more accessible.

If you're on about chopping in the Mazda to get a project car as an only vehicle, I'd definitely advise against it (having done it!). Tinkering about with a car/bike is fun, but you'll find it's dramatically less fun if you HAVE to finish that job by Sunday or you're not getting to work on Monday.

[andburg]

funkyrobot said:

Thanks.

I'm 35, so will have access to certain machinery if I went down the direct route. However, even though I have ridden bicycles for years, I've never ridden a motorbike. I think it would be a very good idea to learn on a 125 and get some experience on that before going for the big stuff.

Speaking of a 125, will it struggle with a lump like me on it?

Yes you will hate a 125! given your size 55mph will be pushing it and painful to get there!

A good school would do all the basics of your training on the 125, get you confident and comfortable on their pad area in simulations before taking you out onto the road. Noone is going to throw you onto a 650 immediately without you feeling ready for it, from my experience it was a 4 day course, 2 on the 125 and then 2 on an old CB500.

the 125 will feel like a toy and you will quickly lose all respect for it and will need to learn to modulate the throttle more gently, that said a 650 isn't going to suddenly spit you off motogp style, it would need major provocation.

[Freakuk]

Similar experience years ago however I've been riding bikes for years, my commute was A roads and in excess of an hour each way in the car, stop/start for 50% of the journey. Once the weather picked up I started using the bike (KTM950SM) and could 1/2 my commute time, I took to counting how many cars I would overtake on the way in, without fail it was in excess of 100 each day!!!

Taking the bike didn't actually save me any time however, with getting the bike out, putting on my gear, warming the bike up, travel, locking the bike up, getting changed it was the same amount of time overall, just the actual travel/commute was quicker.

[funkyrobot]

crofty1984 said:

My advice would be yes to the pootling round on a 125 for a couple of months. A 125 Varadero would probably suit you for that task, and you'll probably get most of your money back when you sell it.

Also, yes to getting a bike rather than a project car. If it's a second vehicle you have a lot more room to work around it, it's simpler if you want to learn the spanners and bits are (usually!) more accessible.

If you're on about chopping in the Mazda to get a project car as an only vehicle, I'd definitely advise against it (having done it!). Tinkering about with a car/bike is fun, but you'll find it's dramatically less fun if you HAVE to finish that job by Sunday or you're not getting to work on Monday.

Thanks. If I'm honest, I would like to keep the Mazda and just get something else alongside it. As you say, it wouldn't be good for me to be messing around with my primary method of transport.

The 125 thing is a good idea. I was having a look on Autotrader last night and noticed some 125's under £1k. I guess it is a good idea to go Japanese with a bike?

[funkyrobot]

Freakuk said:

Similar experience years ago however I've been riding bikes for years, my commute was A roads and in excess of an hour each way in the car, stop/start for 50% of the journey. Once the weather picked up I started using the bike (KTM950SM) and could 1/2 my commute time, I took to counting how many cars I would overtake on the way in, without fail it was in excess of 100 each day!!!

Taking the bike didn't actually save me any time however, with getting the bike out, putting on my gear, warming the bike up, travel, locking the bike up, getting changed it was the same amount of time overall, just the actual travel/commute was quicker.

Thanks. Time at either end isn't an issue. It's just the dreary plod down the A17 in a long line of traffic doing 35 - 40 mph that I would like to avoid.

[GreatGranny]

What section of the A17 do you travel on?

I do Holdingham (A15/A17) to Newark (A1) daily.

Yes does get tiresome behind 40mph lorries at times but also I can't imagine a 125 will be much fun pottering at 40-45mph.

Edited by GreatGranny on Tuesday 3rd March 11:32

[andburg]

funkyrobot said:

I guess it is a good idea to go Japanese with a bike?

Yes, japanese!

do not risk buying chinese, they tend to break and will lose value, if you must buy a 125 then buy a good 125 from a jap brand and you shouldn't lose any money.

as mentioend a varadero is a much bigger 125 than most and ideal for a full size bloke

[dave_s13]

Bikes are great in the summer, not so much fun when the weather's miserable.

Also, with young kids it's really hard to get out for blast withouth upsetting everyone. "Just nipping out for the day dear", always goes down like a st in a hot tub.

And they are death traps. My wifes cousin was knocked of his lowly cb125 commuter last year and then died a few weeks later from his injuries.....3yr old daughter....fkin grim this is the main reason I no longer have a bike.

[andburg]

dave_s13 said:

And they are death traps. My wifes cousin was knocked of his lowly cb125 commuter last year and then died a few weeks later from his injuries.....3yr old daughter....fkin grim this is the main reason I no longer have a bike.

Sorry to hear that, its unfortunately far too common and why I wouldn't use one myself for commuting. Filtering is possibly the most dangerous aspect of riding. Urban busy environments where drivers are distracted and in a rush aren't great once you've filtered to get there either.

riding for me is pleasure, infact I misread OP's original post and in hindsight I'd do both, I'd get a dull comfortable commuter car that i can put the kids in and get a bike purely for pleasure.

[funkyrobot]

GreatGranny said:

What section of the A17 do you reavel on?

I do Holdingham (A15) to Newark daily.

Yes does get tiresome behind 40mph lorries at times but also I can't imagine a 125 will be much fun pottering at 40-45mph.

I do Gosberton area/Sutterton roundabout to Sleaford daily.

I live near Spalding so I have a few options including the A17 and the A52.

[funkyrobot]

andburg said:

Yes, japanese!

do not risk buying chinese, they tend to break and will lose value, if you must buy a 125 then buy a good 125 from a jap brand and you shouldn't lose any money.

as mentioend a varadero is a much bigger 125 than most and ideal for a full size bloke

Good info. Thanks.

[funkyrobot]

andburg said:

Sorry to hear that, its unfortunately far too common and why I wouldn't use one myself for commuting. Filtering is possibly the most dangerous aspect of riding. Urban busy environments where drivers are distracted and in a rush aren't great once you've filtered to get there either.

riding for me is pleasure, infact I misread OP's original post and in hindsight I'd do both, I'd get a dull comfortable commuter car that i can put the kids in and get a bike purely for pleasure.

Sounds like a good plan.

Sorry to hear about the accident. It's something that is always in the back of mind.

I know the risks are probably higher on a bike than in a vehicle, but people still die in both. Terrible.

[Herman Toothrot]

Bike - I get on well with my Honda CBR600F, it's comfy and with me sat on it works out about 370bhp/ton , I commute 40miles round trip a day all year round, 1 single day this year I got the train instead due to snow. In the past I did the same journey in Mk2 MR2 then a VX220, last 4 years have been by bike. I could never go back to a car. The bike takes 35 to 40 minutes each way no matter what, car can take anywhere between 45 mins (half term on a really good day) or 1hr 30mins on a rainy winter day when everyone drives everywhere, normally 1 Hr 10min. The cars no fun whatsoever ever as I'm on some great NSL roads ruined by morons doing 35 to 40 nose to tail, it just sends you mental. Bike you come to see cars as more of less stationary objects in the road no different to a pot hole or similar you just ride round them and continue how you please. Bike also good economy a full tank costing £15 will do me for almost a week, range of 180 miles, also no more paying for parking, tax only £50, insurance whatever bike seems to only be a max of £300 (I also have a Fireblade and that £286) my 600 is £230.

If someone had a commute starting in the sticks, going nowhere near any towns and finished in the sticks then a car would be good competition for a bike, indeed an Elise or similar may even get me off the bike. Add traffic, going anywhere near a town etc. Bike every time.

P.s. Weather other than snow is a non- issue, full face helmet and good over trousers / jacket. Today for example I just had a good leather jacket over a cotton shirt, it was raining when I left, got to work jacket off and shirts dry and I'm not cold, fine.

Edited by Herman Toothrot on Tuesday 3rd March 12:09

[RizzoTheRat]

If you're an experience driver who's used to cycling, then some form of direct access on to a bigger bike makes sense. If you're a relatively new driver though then three's a lot to be said for having a 125 for a while. My Mrs did her CBT then pootled around on a 125 for a year before doing her test. In town 125's are fine but they start to struggle if you spend any time on a dual carriageway. 125's hold their value very well so you generally won't loose money on one, but then again you can usually get a 600 for similar money to a 125. I'll second the Varadero recommendation though, the BiL is about 6'6" and had one, and a bloke at work who's about 6'4" and spends too much time in the gym rides one, they're V twins so a bit torquier than a single by all accounts.

In terms of learning to spanner stuff bikes are ideal, you might need a second pair of hands to drop the engine out of something bigger than about a 600, but other than that because everything is a lot smaller and lighter they're generally easier to work on, get something with a paddock stand, or get a separate Abba stand, and you strip off anything you like to work on it, and if you have a single garage or reasonable sized shed you can work on the bike in there which is pretty much impossible on a car.

[anonymous-user]

Yep, get a bike. You'll love it especially as spring is in the air!