Considering getting a bike
Discussion
OK chaps. We have a good few biking regulars on PH - and I'd like some of your collective wisdom.
In true "middle-age" style I have been setting myself challenges of late (passing an IAM then ROSPA test, learning Spanish).
My next one is very likely to get a bike licence.
I'm considering using a school that does bike hire.
Any recommendations in the North Hampshire area?
Given I pass - I'll be wanting a bike. In no way does it need to be practical - but it does need to be extremely reliable, quick and reasonably tolerant of spending weeks at a time in my garage unused during winter.
Any thoughts on schools, tests, and bikes welcome.
And is this sensible for a fat middle-aged businessman to be considering?
In true "middle-age" style I have been setting myself challenges of late (passing an IAM then ROSPA test, learning Spanish).
My next one is very likely to get a bike licence.
I'm considering using a school that does bike hire.
Any recommendations in the North Hampshire area?
Given I pass - I'll be wanting a bike. In no way does it need to be practical - but it does need to be extremely reliable, quick and reasonably tolerant of spending weeks at a time in my garage unused during winter.
Any thoughts on schools, tests, and bikes welcome.
And is this sensible for a fat middle-aged businessman to be considering?
Bollox!
I'm fat, ugly and middle aged and I ride a Ducati Multistrada - without stabilisers!
Fortunately my arse isn't big, so I don't look like I've got saddlebags though!
I may consider a Harley V-rod but not many good comments about them so far.
The problem is that a bike starts out as a toy and you then use it more and more, leaving the car more of a toy.
Do it though - wish I had done it years ago!
It is amazingly addictive......
I'm fat, ugly and middle aged and I ride a Ducati Multistrada - without stabilisers!
Fortunately my arse isn't big, so I don't look like I've got saddlebags though!
I may consider a Harley V-rod but not many good comments about them so far.
The problem is that a bike starts out as a toy and you then use it more and more, leaving the car more of a toy.
Do it though - wish I had done it years ago!
It is amazingly addictive......
Don,
As a fat middle aged bussiness man myself, can I reccomend the most extreme sports bike you can afford
:
OK so I've been riding for a few years
Re test: most bike training places will have bikes for hire as direct acces requires you to ride a 500 (actually >37hp but the technicalities aren't important) whuile on your road lessons
After passing, I would reccomend something like a Honda CBR600 AND A TRACK DAY OR SOME TRAINING
Look at it like getting your Chim 2 minutes after passing your test
More advice, do it the difference it makes to you r perception on the road is astonishing
As a fat middle aged bussiness man myself, can I reccomend the most extreme sports bike you can afford
: OK so I've been riding for a few years
Re test: most bike training places will have bikes for hire as direct acces requires you to ride a 500 (actually >37hp but the technicalities aren't important) whuile on your road lessons
After passing, I would reccomend something like a Honda CBR600 AND A TRACK DAY OR SOME TRAINING
Look at it like getting your Chim 2 minutes after passing your test
More advice, do it
the difference it makes to you r perception on the road is astonishingDon,
Go for it! I agree with Incorrigible, if you get a sportsbike, go on a trackday (in the novice group) and benefit from the free training most offer. Although it's largely based on riding 'quicker' around a track, it will help you learn what your bike can do and also give you confidence in the way it handles. This experience will be useful on the road, as (even though the surfaces will be different) you'll know what the bike feels like when braking to the point of almost locking the front up, etc.
Take it easy whatever you decide to buy, and buy the best gear you can afford.
You'll find the whole biking experience great once you get into it. Also, as incorr. says, your perception of road hazards and the road itself will be completely different once you start riding.
Good luck!
>> Edited by fergus on Friday 21st May 10:31
Go for it! I agree with Incorrigible, if you get a sportsbike, go on a trackday (in the novice group) and benefit from the free training most offer. Although it's largely based on riding 'quicker' around a track, it will help you learn what your bike can do and also give you confidence in the way it handles. This experience will be useful on the road, as (even though the surfaces will be different) you'll know what the bike feels like when braking to the point of almost locking the front up, etc.
Take it easy whatever you decide to buy, and buy the best gear you can afford.
You'll find the whole biking experience great once you get into it. Also, as incorr. says, your perception of road hazards and the road itself will be completely different once you start riding.
Good luck!
>> Edited by fergus on Friday 21st May 10:31
Incorrigible said:
Don,
As a fat middle aged bussiness man myself, can I reccomend the most extreme sports bike you can afford
Yep. That's the route I'm considering!
Errr how about one of these... www.suzuki-gb.co.uk/centre_tech_spec_models.asp?BIKE_ID=14
Incorrigible said:
Re test: most bike training places will have bikes for hire as direct acces requires you to ride a 500 (actually >37hp but the technicalities aren't important) whuile on your road lessons
After passing, I would reccomend something like a Honda CBR600 AND A TRACK DAY OR SOME TRAINING
Look at it like getting your Chim 2 minutes after passing your test
Yep. After getting the licence I would certainly get the advanced training. I know locally to me there is a Rospa Motorcycling group I could get some help off...but I'd also want some more "performance" oriented instruction...just as I have done in my cars.
Incorrigible said:
More advice, do it
I have heard its very good for your driving skills...I'll look forward to finding out.
Are these guys good:
www.totalridertraining.co.uk
?
Don
A lot of the advanced training teaches you more of the 'roadcraft' type of skills, e.g. hazard awareness & perception, not necesserily machine control. You are probably safest doing this on a track. A track school is probably useful in this respect - someone like the 'california superbike school' (google them) will help your on bike ability. IMHO the ROSPA and IAM groups tend to focus more on 'roadcraft' type skills as mentioned above.
With regard to protective gear, you firstly need something that's comfortable (e.g. do you want one of two piece leathers), and then something that fits well (snugg-ish leathers will 'give' over time).
In terms of brands, you can either go for an off the peg suit - which are good but overpriced for their levels of protection, or go to an independant manufacturer who will custom build you a suit (MW, Manx, Crowtree, BKS (who are probably the best suits you can buy - but pricey). They aren't as pretty, and are typically a lot heavier, but are usually substantially stronger.
Hein Gericke also do good budget gear. In my opinion, I'd stay away from 'budget' leather suits (e.g. sub £500 gear), as they MAY not fare as well in a crash (as borne out by many of the crash tests in various magazines over the years).
A few people are offering kangarooo skin suits these days, which are as strong as leather in terms of abrasion & tear resistance, but a lot lighter. A few people also offer kevlar suits. These feel like cloth and are also very light - not sure how well they'd slide down the road though! It won't rip - as it's essentially the same gear you'd use for chainsaw protection!
You only have one set of skin though. No matter what type of riding you do and what type of leathers you go for, I'd take a long hard look at some form of back protector.
I can also recommend 'Held' as a glove manufacturer. A lot of gear out there looks pretty, but is sh1te!!!
A lot of the advanced training teaches you more of the 'roadcraft' type of skills, e.g. hazard awareness & perception, not necesserily machine control. You are probably safest doing this on a track. A track school is probably useful in this respect - someone like the 'california superbike school' (google them) will help your on bike ability. IMHO the ROSPA and IAM groups tend to focus more on 'roadcraft' type skills as mentioned above.
With regard to protective gear, you firstly need something that's comfortable (e.g. do you want one of two piece leathers), and then something that fits well (snugg-ish leathers will 'give' over time).
In terms of brands, you can either go for an off the peg suit - which are good but overpriced for their levels of protection, or go to an independant manufacturer who will custom build you a suit (MW, Manx, Crowtree, BKS (who are probably the best suits you can buy - but pricey). They aren't as pretty, and are typically a lot heavier, but are usually substantially stronger.
Hein Gericke also do good budget gear. In my opinion, I'd stay away from 'budget' leather suits (e.g. sub £500 gear), as they MAY not fare as well in a crash (as borne out by many of the crash tests in various magazines over the years).
A few people are offering kangarooo skin suits these days, which are as strong as leather in terms of abrasion & tear resistance, but a lot lighter. A few people also offer kevlar suits. These feel like cloth and are also very light - not sure how well they'd slide down the road though! It won't rip - as it's essentially the same gear you'd use for chainsaw protection!
You only have one set of skin though. No matter what type of riding you do and what type of leathers you go for, I'd take a long hard look at some form of back protector.
I can also recommend 'Held' as a glove manufacturer. A lot of gear out there looks pretty, but is sh1te!!!
Don,
No idea about the training school, did mine ages ago. If I were you I'd just try one, you've got loads of driving experience so you'll know if it's any good or not. The direct acess comes in two bits CBT (Compulory Basic Training) then the test proper. Do the CBT (a day) and if you think the school is rubbish go somewhere else for the rest of the training
Agree with Fergus on everything and will add riding out with mates (not just people showing off) You'll see what your bike can do when you're following some one on a similar bike
Re Busa: might not be fast enough for you, but you can get the engine up to 400hp
with a bit of tuning
No idea about the training school, did mine ages ago. If I were you I'd just try one, you've got loads of driving experience so you'll know if it's any good or not. The direct acess comes in two bits CBT (Compulory Basic Training) then the test proper. Do the CBT (a day) and if you think the school is rubbish go somewhere else for the rest of the training
Agree with Fergus on everything and will add riding out with mates (not just people showing off) You'll see what your bike can do when you're following some one on a similar bike
Re Busa: might not be fast enough for you, but you can get the engine up to 400hp
with a bit of tuning Incorrigible said:
Don,
Re Busa: might not be fast enough for you, but you can get the engine up to 400hp
I doubt if anyone will quote me insurance for the flippin' thing anyway.
Never had a bike before.
Licence held for less than a year.
Its a psycho-bike...
No chance.
And I suspect none of my IAM/ROSPA stuff will help at all as its all been done in cars...
How much do you reckon I should expect to pay?
I've heard of horror stories involving four figure numbers that don't necessarily start with a 1.
Don said:
reasonably tolerant of spending weeks at a time in my garage unused during winter.
Most bikes will do that, but I recommend you get an Optimate trickle charger for about 40 quid.
www.accumate.co.uk/it010003.html
The odd thing with biles Don is that pretty no matter what you go for first, if you have spent you life in cars it will feel like a rocket ship pretty much no matter what bike you go for.
Even a little ER5 kwakersaki with its mere 500cc & 50bhp will feel like thrust 2 from 0-100 if you nail it to the red line in every gear, and the latest crotch rocket sports bike will weigh the same, but will in comparison handle & stop like its from another planet and with an over 3 times the power go just a tad better as well!
Personally I went from no proper training (in a country with far slacker rules than us- no riding nedded!!
) & jumped on a VFR750 only ever having wobbled about on a 50cc scooter before for a tiny bit as a lad, now ok they are hardly the fastest things on earth but I rode it flat out & to be honest scared the crap out of myself. I then propmply got a 400 instead & enjoyed the experience a whole lot more & feel I learnt a lot more that way too.
Lizard advice is to stick to under 600cc for your first bike, although wind a modern sports 600 right up & its still flipping devastatingly rapid!
SV 650 a popular choice, a long way off 4 cylinder sports bikes power but a very popular choice.
Personally thing the saddest thing on earth is new riders going for a beast of a sports bike right away, as there is just no way on earth they can ride it properly & end up riding around like the 2 wheeled eqivalent of driving miss daisy
Most modern jap stuff can be thrashed like an Iraqi POW (although best not to pi$$ on your bike tho ) & will demand no more mainatenance than an occasional wash, chain lubeing (not even that if you get a scotoiler) & occasional chain tightening (although some peole manage not even to do that between services) & thats usually it till service time when the plugs & oil get changed & then you go out & thrash it again. Although IMHO do that on a somat Italian & you will be getting a wallet bashing before you can say court martial
Get a trickle charger for the battery over winter & start it occasionally or better still ride it & it should be a pretty painless experience.
Look forward to seeing you on two wheels and yes the a339 alton-bastoke is far better on 2 wheels too
Even a little ER5 kwakersaki with its mere 500cc & 50bhp will feel like thrust 2 from 0-100 if you nail it to the red line in every gear, and the latest crotch rocket sports bike will weigh the same, but will in comparison handle & stop like its from another planet and with an over 3 times the power go just a tad better as well!
Personally I went from no proper training (in a country with far slacker rules than us- no riding nedded!!
) & jumped on a VFR750 only ever having wobbled about on a 50cc scooter before for a tiny bit as a lad, now ok they are hardly the fastest things on earth but I rode it flat out & to be honest scared the crap out of myself. I then propmply got a 400 instead & enjoyed the experience a whole lot more & feel I learnt a lot more that way too. Lizard advice is to stick to under 600cc for your first bike, although wind a modern sports 600 right up & its still flipping devastatingly rapid!
SV 650 a popular choice, a long way off 4 cylinder sports bikes power but a very popular choice.
Personally thing the saddest thing on earth is new riders going for a beast of a sports bike right away, as there is just no way on earth they can ride it properly & end up riding around like the 2 wheeled eqivalent of driving miss daisy
Most modern jap stuff can be thrashed like an Iraqi POW (although best not to pi$$ on your bike tho
) & will demand no more mainatenance than an occasional wash, chain lubeing (not even that if you get a scotoiler) & occasional chain tightening (although some peole manage not even to do that between services) & thats usually it till service time when the plugs & oil get changed & then you go out & thrash it again. Although IMHO do that on a somat Italian & you will be getting a wallet bashing before you can say court martial Get a trickle charger for the battery over winter & start it occasionally or better still ride it & it should be a pretty painless experience.
Look forward to seeing you on two wheels and yes the a339 alton-bastoke is far better on 2 wheels too
iguana said:
Lizard advice is to stick to under 600cc for your first bike, although wind a modern sports 600 right up & its still flipping devastatingly rapid!
SV 650 a popular choice, a long way off 4 cylinder sports bikes power but a very popular choice.
Personally thing the saddest thing on earth is new riders going for a beast of a sports bike right away, as there is just no way on earth they can ride it properly & end up riding around like the 2 wheeled eqivalent of driving miss daisy
Thanks for the advice, Alex. And I also think you are right. For various reasons I think it would be far better for me to spend a year or two on a 600 or similar before going mental. Insurance and the sheer insanity factor being two.
I drive like I'm chauffeuring Miss Daisy anyway
so why would it change when/if I get a bike? Its hard getting my head around bike economics at the moment. For the equivalent of runaround car you can buy a Suzuki Hayabusa psycho-nutter-mental bike. More performant than an uber-Porsche at less than a tenth the cost. But to insure it it costs more than the Porsche...servicing is after every trip around the block! Bizarre. Logical. True. But bizarre!
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