Who got a 7 style car after a bike?

[HertsBiker]

Am pondering something 7ish after decades of bikes. Am 6ft 1, medium build. Big feet. Half skint, old git.
Anyway, what's the comfort Iike, how easy to use for say 5000-10000 miles a year as I do on the bike?
Looking for handling and fun rather than top speeds. Reliability key. Safety, not a huge worry after bikes obviously.
Many thanks.

[sociopath]

I had a Westfield after 30 odd years of bikes.

They're great, like GoKarts on the road, a lot of fun at slower speeds too.

Get a good one and get it set up properly and they're a hoot.

They aren't bike quick obviously, but the next best thing.

[BertBert]

What sort of driving are you doing for 10k miles per year?

[HertsBiker]

BertBert said:

What sort of driving are you doing for 10k miles per year?

That's just leisure riding. I'm quite keen on bikes but I used to do more miles and I'm getting aches and pains now that I didn't 25 years ago.

[LordFlathead]

I sold an Ultima GTR back in 2002 and bought an Atom to replace it for kicks. It was bike quick, handled well and was a hoot. Problem for me was that,like a bike, the scaffolding provided zero protection from the elements and you still needed to wear a helmet to protect against stones and kevlar coated bees etc. Sidewinds also whistled through you as there is no bodywork at all so to speak.

I loved the acceleration and the way it screamed out of a corner but I sold it 3 months later as the novelty had worn off and bought another "normal" car. There are other kitcars that emulate the Atom for much less money. To me it is a bucket list car not something that you'd hang onto for any length of time.

[gareth h]

HertsBiker said:

That's just leisure riding. I'm quite keen on bikes but I used to do more miles and I'm getting aches and pains now that I didn't 25 years ago.

It’s more practical than a bike….just. Great when it’s dry, bit of a ball ache putting the roof up when it’s wet, but at least you’re not pulling waterproofs on.
Fun when the roads are quiet, but as a biker it will be frustrating when your caught in traffic, and because you sit so low visibility for overtaking is a bit rubbish.

[Bill]

gareth h said:

It’s more practical than a bike….just. Great when it’s dry, bit of a ball ache putting the roof up when it’s wet, but at least you’re not pulling waterproofs on.
Fun when the roads are quiet, but as a biker it will be frustrating when your caught in traffic, and because you sit so low visibility for overtaking is a bit rubbish.

This. Plus anything decent isn't cheap. I'm your size and had a SV (wide) Caterham and then raced a standard car with a lowered floor. The SV was very comfortable and great for touring but had a bit too much space on track, the standard car had enough room but held you in place far better.

Ultimately the Caterham was better for me because my wife hated the bike but you have to pick your moments to avoid traffic, and motorways are purgatory. Although we could probably have mitigated that with intercoms/helmets.

If you still want a bike then I'd be looking at something more relaxed like a BMW GS.

[ghibbett]

I've gone the other way! Caterhams since 2014 (and still have one), but got my bike license earlier this year.

I'm not sure how much longer the Caterham will stay in the garage; I'm having more fun on the bike!

[HertsBiker]

thank you folkes, interesting reading opinions. I could see that a conventional car, a 7, and a bike is the clear way forward!
Omg. Now I need to think seriously about funds, and maybe first go for a test drive to see what it's like.
Thanks again, appreciated.
Any more thoughts very welcome please.

[sociopath]

HertsBiker said:

thank you folkes, interesting reading opinions. I could see that a conventional car, a 7, and a bike is the clear way forward!
Omg. Now I need to think seriously about funds, and maybe first go for a test drive to see what it's like.
Thanks again, appreciated.
Any more thoughts very welcome please.

Got to the kit car show in Malvern this weekend, pay for a drifting experience on the Westfield stand,

[Coolcatshaft]

I've had bikes for years, currently have a Ducati Scrambler 1100 and am getting a Caterham 420R this summer.

The original plan was for the Caterham to replace the bike but have managed the lobby the wife into letting me have both!

I'd also love a Morgan Super 3 but that's just being greedy and have no funds or space for it so it will have to wait for now!

Thankfully depreciation on the these cars is very low which makes them a low guilt proposition, and I think while my kids do enjoy going on the bike they will enjoy the 7 more without having to get all geared up!

[shirt]

Other way around for me, still have my 7 but got my bike license a few years back aged 39 and that seems to be the way my motoring is developing when it comes to fun.

The atom is the closest I’ve driven to resembling a bike in the way it piles on/off speed plus the exposed element to it. Driving vs riding dynamics are so different though I don't think it’s possible to emulate one with the other.

[Turn7]

OP, where are you based ?

I’m 6”4 and love my Caterham.

Came from bikes, even drag raced them.
Built a bike engined Fury for track days, was amazing on track but shyte on the road.

Always wanted the real thing so finally bought one.


Beds/bucks border if you wanted to have a look around one .

[Chubbyross]

I used to ride bikes, ending up with a Fireblade before quitting for four wheels. My 420R is the closest I’ve come to feeling a similar level of adrenaline as I got on two wheels. Be prepared for lots of attention too. People love a Caterham and you’ll get smiles and positive comments wherever you go.

[Tin Hat]

Chubbyross said:

I used to ride bikes, ending up with a Fireblade before quitting for four wheels. My 420R is the closest I’ve come to feeling a similar level of adrenaline as I got on two wheels. Be prepared for lots of attention too. People love a Caterham and you’ll get smiles and positive comments wherever you go.

I have kept my Triumph 675r, but I only really use that for avoiding traffic now.
On the attention point, be prepared, they are magnets for attention, I have never come across anything like it - I suspect I have seen at least 2 people take pictures on every trip out. I am lucky to have some fruity cars, but this is seemingly by far the most interesting car to others.
Just to add that they generate a highly positive response, you always get let out in traffic and be prepared for everyone to want a chat!

[mickrick]

I still ride bikes, I have 3 and a half, and half a Seven. I've been building it for over 15 years! (see my Nuvite thread) I had a K series R300 before, brand new factory built car. The one I'm building now is an SV, I'm glad I opted for the SV, as I had difficulty getting in and out of an S3 with a roadsport cage a couple of weeks ago.
A seven is quicker than a bike in the twisties.