Bikers, are they more individual than car drivers?
Discussion
I've been commuting in London for years but recently I've been looking at the bikes that filter by and have noted the sheer diversity, a stark contrast to the sea of BMW and Audi cars that surround me. Bear in mind there are far fewer bikes than cars and the diversity is even more marked.
I regularly see a chap on a KTM RC8 which is a fairly exotic and uncompromising bike for the commute. You'll also see hardcore Jap bikes like the R1 and many GSX-R's which again and fairly focused and would be like driving your Caterham into town every day. Same can be said for high end Ducati models and I even saw two big MV Auguta's today
Then there are a plethora of street-fighter type bikes, many modified by the owners which show a sense of individuality and enthusiasm as they want to ride something different
You see Harley riders, some on Sportsters, some on Fatboys, some on V-rods, then there are the proper custom bike 'chopper' riders
Add in the explorer bikes from BMW and the huge range of scooters from two-stroke Vespa's to big 800cc Yamahas, the classic guys on Norton and Triumph, large motorcross bikes with road tyres and the big tourers with full luggage
It seems to me that bikers don't follow the herd as much as car types, but maybe I'm just rambling...just thought I'd think out loud on the subject.
I regularly see a chap on a KTM RC8 which is a fairly exotic and uncompromising bike for the commute. You'll also see hardcore Jap bikes like the R1 and many GSX-R's which again and fairly focused and would be like driving your Caterham into town every day. Same can be said for high end Ducati models and I even saw two big MV Auguta's today
Then there are a plethora of street-fighter type bikes, many modified by the owners which show a sense of individuality and enthusiasm as they want to ride something different
You see Harley riders, some on Sportsters, some on Fatboys, some on V-rods, then there are the proper custom bike 'chopper' riders
Add in the explorer bikes from BMW and the huge range of scooters from two-stroke Vespa's to big 800cc Yamahas, the classic guys on Norton and Triumph, large motorcross bikes with road tyres and the big tourers with full luggage
It seems to me that bikers don't follow the herd as much as car types, but maybe I'm just rambling...just thought I'd think out loud on the subject.
If you're stuck outside in all weathers, does it matter? With cars you can choose the luxuries to some extent. We're outdoors on a bike whether we like it or not - might as well be a bit special. That said, I ride a CBR600F and it's a Mondeo of the bike world. I really only lust after an S1000RR or Fireblade, neither of which are extravagant. 
Motorbikes are easier to work on, less complicated, cheaper to buy/run (for the performance) and get parts for too I'd imagine. Take up less space, you could work on a bike in your average British garage more easily than a car.
Want to change the wheels on your Audi? That'll be 1k. Zany paintjob? That'll ruin the resale and cost a fair bit to return to normal.
I just think bikes are more suited to modifying to personal tastes, rather than bikers being more individual. A lot of car individuality just makes it harder to sell on whereas I can't see a bike being that hard to return to its original specification should you want to. How much is a whole new fairing for the likes of an R1?
Want to change the wheels on your Audi? That'll be 1k. Zany paintjob? That'll ruin the resale and cost a fair bit to return to normal.
I just think bikes are more suited to modifying to personal tastes, rather than bikers being more individual. A lot of car individuality just makes it harder to sell on whereas I can't see a bike being that hard to return to its original specification should you want to. How much is a whole new fairing for the likes of an R1?
Good points raised.
I guess I just respect the chap who commutes on the filthy MV Augusta F4, as I say that's (to me) like commuting in your Italian supercar, ditto the RC8 and even some of the more focused litre bikes.
Could ride an aged 600 Bandit for the commute with crash bungs and weather gear, choose not to. Very cool.
I guess I just respect the chap who commutes on the filthy MV Augusta F4, as I say that's (to me) like commuting in your Italian supercar, ditto the RC8 and even some of the more focused litre bikes.
Could ride an aged 600 Bandit for the commute with crash bungs and weather gear, choose not to. Very cool.
Far smaller pool of bikers and a much larger relative range of machinery from which to choose.
None of the snobbery you get with cars - BMW bikes are well made but so are many bikes.
I imagine Ducatis and Italian stuff are the "Ferraris" whereas the BMWs tend to be the Range Rovers.
Commuters are the eco-car equivalents.
None of the snobbery you get with cars - BMW bikes are well made but so are many bikes.
I imagine Ducatis and Italian stuff are the "Ferraris" whereas the BMWs tend to be the Range Rovers.
Commuters are the eco-car equivalents.
Bikes don't have to have airbags, crumple zones, pedestrian safety features etc etc. They can be any shape and size and are a lot less limited by legal concerns in terms of design.
However, Bikers as a group are some of the most conservative unindividual people you could meet when it comes to their bikes. If you own a BMW 1150GS for example, it seems that it is compulsory to wear Ewan and Charley style BMW textiles or high viz. If you own a sportsbike it used to be de-rigeur to wear matching race-replica leathers.
Personally I like naked/streetfighter type bikes because these days you tend to get the decent handling and some of the power but less of the image of standing around at a biker meet drinking orange juice and staring at other peoples 2014 GSXR or S1000RR. I think most of the race rep crowd have now moved on to BMW GS's, and they now look down their noses at people who don't have all the gear, the touratech panniers and the official BMW sat nav for going to the shops.
Bike design has changed little in the last 20 years. All we've seen really is less weight and more power in general. There hasn't been a revolution in bike design since the Honda FireBlade or even before that. Most sportsbikes have an aluminium beam frame with a monoshock braced aluminium swinging arm and telescopic forks. Most are four cylinder across-the-frame engines or 90 degree V twins with the odd V four thrown in.
Personally I think that KTM are the only people producing particularly interesting bikes at the moment with stuff like the 390 Duke being something that has never really been done seriously before to produce a bike for new riders. I reckon it would be a complete hoot to ride, and they are bringing out an RC390 sportsbike based on the Duke which will have the same engine but wrapped in a sexy GP style fairing. Even then, KTM aren't exactly breaking the mould, the only real innovation is the small capacity and use of a tiny single cylinder engine.
Buell were the last manufacturer to really try to shake things up, and I will never forgive Harley Davidson for shutting them down. The new EBR bike by the former founder of Buell motorcycles (who lent his name to them) looks pretty exciting, but again it's not really much of a development from things he did at Buell Motorcycles.
Yamaha have also shook up the status quo a bit with the MT-09 and MT-07, but again it's nothing ground-breaking, it's just not taking a sportsbike engine and detuning it for a naked bike.
However, Bikers as a group are some of the most conservative unindividual people you could meet when it comes to their bikes. If you own a BMW 1150GS for example, it seems that it is compulsory to wear Ewan and Charley style BMW textiles or high viz. If you own a sportsbike it used to be de-rigeur to wear matching race-replica leathers.
Personally I like naked/streetfighter type bikes because these days you tend to get the decent handling and some of the power but less of the image of standing around at a biker meet drinking orange juice and staring at other peoples 2014 GSXR or S1000RR. I think most of the race rep crowd have now moved on to BMW GS's, and they now look down their noses at people who don't have all the gear, the touratech panniers and the official BMW sat nav for going to the shops.
Bike design has changed little in the last 20 years. All we've seen really is less weight and more power in general. There hasn't been a revolution in bike design since the Honda FireBlade or even before that. Most sportsbikes have an aluminium beam frame with a monoshock braced aluminium swinging arm and telescopic forks. Most are four cylinder across-the-frame engines or 90 degree V twins with the odd V four thrown in.
Personally I think that KTM are the only people producing particularly interesting bikes at the moment with stuff like the 390 Duke being something that has never really been done seriously before to produce a bike for new riders. I reckon it would be a complete hoot to ride, and they are bringing out an RC390 sportsbike based on the Duke which will have the same engine but wrapped in a sexy GP style fairing. Even then, KTM aren't exactly breaking the mould, the only real innovation is the small capacity and use of a tiny single cylinder engine.
Buell were the last manufacturer to really try to shake things up, and I will never forgive Harley Davidson for shutting them down. The new EBR bike by the former founder of Buell motorcycles (who lent his name to them) looks pretty exciting, but again it's not really much of a development from things he did at Buell Motorcycles.
Yamaha have also shook up the status quo a bit with the MT-09 and MT-07, but again it's nothing ground-breaking, it's just not taking a sportsbike engine and detuning it for a naked bike.
If you wan to see what guys and girls are currently doing with bikes and the massive diversity being shown I'd say get your ass down to The Tobacco Dock in London this weekend for the Bike Shed Event.
http://thebikeshed.cc/2014/03/19/bsmc-iii-2014/
There's a real resurgence going on in biking and it's great to see. Yes there are sport/adventure/cruiser type cliques and stereotypes but on the whole bikers seem to be the friendliest bunch you're likely to meet.
You have to be passionate about bikes to ride one really, there are too many drawbacks if you don't actually enjoy it!
http://thebikeshed.cc/2014/03/19/bsmc-iii-2014/
There's a real resurgence going on in biking and it's great to see. Yes there are sport/adventure/cruiser type cliques and stereotypes but on the whole bikers seem to be the friendliest bunch you're likely to meet.
You have to be passionate about bikes to ride one really, there are too many drawbacks if you don't actually enjoy it!
Commuting by car is a necessity. For many, means to an end with a 'white goods' vehicle.
IME, by going out of your way to do a bike test and ride a bike you are an enthusiast. As such, you're more likely to have interesting metal on show.
I suspect if you took a cross section of the cars on PH, they'd be a lot more interesting/varied than those seen on your daily commute.
IME, by going out of your way to do a bike test and ride a bike you are an enthusiast. As such, you're more likely to have interesting metal on show.
I suspect if you took a cross section of the cars on PH, they'd be a lot more interesting/varied than those seen on your daily commute.
MarJay said:
However, Bikers as a group are some of the most conservative unindividual people you could meet when it comes to their bikes. If you own a BMW 1150GS for example, it seems that it is compulsory to wear Ewan and Charley style BMW textiles or high viz. If you own a sportsbike it used to be de-rigeur to wear matching race-replica leathers.
It also seems to be mandatory to live with a fat bird with a massive builder's crack. 
MarJay said:
However, Bikers as a group are some of the most conservative unindividual people you could meet when it comes to their bikes. If you own a BMW 1150GS for example, it seems that it is compulsory to wear Ewan and Charley style BMW textiles or high viz. If you own a sportsbike it used to be de-rigeur to wear matching race-replica leathers.
This may only apply to badge snobs and/or most Harley owners. I have one set of rather neutral gear forsix different bikes ranging from a Buell to an Ural sidecar from 56'.
Don't see why anyone would prefer to fit into a certain sterotype and wear a stupid brain cap for example.
I must admit that I kind of dislike the whole cruiser thing as they tend to be crap in the handling department and
I live next to the Alps.
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