Why don't more performance car enthusiasts ride motorbikes?

Why don't more performance car enthusiasts ride motorbikes?

Author
Discussion

Esceptico

Original Poster:

7,392 posts

109 months

Thursday 15th March 2018
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I can understand that your average Joe/Jane, who are not interested in speed and acceleration, would also not be interested in motorbikes. What puzzles me slightly are people that are really into performance cars, yet don't also ride motorbikes. Why not?

Yes bikes are a bit more dangerous than cars. Adjusting for the fact that bikes are ridden much less than cars I think you are about 20 times more likely to die on a bike than in a car. However, the risk of dying in a car is not that high. I know people that have died in car accidents. I know people that have been killed in bike accidents. Yet the vast majority of motorists and the vast majority of motorcyclists don't die.

I have heard comments like "I wouldn't trust myself on a bike". Yet, the most dangerous period to drive a car is when you are eighteen. I never hear car enthusiasts say "I didn't start driving until I was 25 because I didn't trust myself". Similarly I don't know many car nuts who would walk into a garage to buy a Nissan GTR but come out with a Micra "because they didn't trust themselves"!

I wonder whether it is because almost all parents drive, but relatively few ride motorbikes and that if your parents (or your friends) don't ride then that lack of exposure means people don't consider it.

Is class/snobbery an issue? In the past motorbikes were often the only form of transport available and perhaps there was a stigma against them for being "for people that couldn't afford a car".

Or is it that you have to go through training to be able to ride them and as you don't need to ride bikes (if you have a car) then people don't bother?

Is it because you have to wear protective gear? But then I don't see many people refusing to ski because they have to wear ski boots and ski clothing.

sjg

7,446 posts

265 months

Thursday 15th March 2018
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Because their wives won't let them.

Integroo

11,574 posts

85 months

Thursday 15th March 2018
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For most, motorbikes are toys, cars are tools. If you are a performance car enthusiast, you are typically driving a quicker car instead of a slower car - you would have a car regardless, however. You would have got your licence anyway. It is more difficult to justify the time and cost to get a motorbike licence, motorbike equipment and a motorbike as well as your car.

Also, it is less safe and less pleasant (in that you can't just jump in and drive shielded from the elements). I suppose it's the same reason that many car enthusiasts would rather a BMW 335i than a Caterham.

C.A.R.

3,967 posts

188 months

Thursday 15th March 2018
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Esceptico said:
Is it because you have to wear protective gear? But then I don't see many people refusing to ski because they have to wear ski boots and ski clothing.
I don't think anyone would begrudge having to wear protective gear. It's more that -
- You're exposed to the elements
- You need to allow extra time at the start / end of your journey to get dressed / undressed
- Need to pick up milk on your way home? You're screwed.
- Need to pick someone up in an emergency / run an errand to collect a friend / relative? Not happening.

I can understand bikes / bikers, but as a mode of transport they're massively impractical for any task you can use a car for. Even a Micra has a thousand more uses than a sports bike.

Also; I can't fall off of my car.

PTF

4,271 posts

224 months

Thursday 15th March 2018
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No car comes close the the feeling of involvement that riding a motorbike provides.

...and the cheaper insurance, tax, reliability, easier storage, decent MPG, easier commuting, MUCH faster acceleration, etc, etc.

It baffles me why more people don't ride bikes, even if just a scooter for commuting. Congestion would be eased greatly.

Nickp82

3,176 posts

93 months

Thursday 15th March 2018
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Integroo said:
For most, motorbikes are toys, cars are tools. If you are a performance car enthusiast, you are typically driving a quicker car instead of a slower car - you would have a car regardless, however. You would have got your licence anyway. It is more difficult to justify the time and cost to get a motorbike licence, motorbike equipment and a motorbike as well as your car.

Also, it is less safe and less pleasant (in that you can't just jump in and drive shielded from the elements). I suppose it's the same reason that many car enthusiasts would rather a BMW 335i than a Caterham.
Sums it up well for me

culpz

4,882 posts

112 months

Thursday 15th March 2018
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I'm just not massive on bikes. It's probably more of an aesthetic thing really, as they just don't look particularly special to me. My dad's always been into them though and i do probably wanna do my bike license one day. I can imagine that, on the right day, there's really nothing like being out on a bike.

Shiv_P

2,736 posts

105 months

Thursday 15th March 2018
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You get cold, you can't hear anything, it's uncomfortable, no radio, no seat, no heated seat
Etc

SystemParanoia

14,343 posts

198 months

Thursday 15th March 2018
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Ive always wanted a bike.
But life expenses always come first, and then family commitments mean that i just cant.

I need to drop my youngest to nursery every morning, and being < 2 means i cant put her on a bike anyway.

then there's the cost of the lessons and tests.. this will cost more than the combined value of both my current cars... so no, its just not going to happen, despite how much i'd love to skip all the traffic.

PTF

4,271 posts

224 months

Thursday 15th March 2018
quotequote all
Shiv_P said:
You get cold you can't hear anything, it's uncomfortable, no radio, no seat, no heated seat
Etc
Wear appropriate clothing
Yes you can hear plenty, all around you, more than in a car.
It not uncomfortable, depending on the bike
I wear headphones
Yes they have seats
Yes some have heated seats

captainaverage

596 posts

87 months

Thursday 15th March 2018
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I like both. I love speed.

The only issue is getting ready and un-ready for bikes. Maybe I will go back to it soon hehe

D1bram

1,500 posts

171 months

Thursday 15th March 2018
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Good question.

I have a full motorbike licence and initially did the training as a reward when I graduated. As a graduate earning a good but not huge salary I could afford to run a nice (but not performance) car and a bike alongside (CBR600F) which offered performance and excitement which I had no hope of affording on four wheels.

All in all, I had bikes for about 7 or 8 years and made a lot of friends through them, but ultimately I found it increasingly difficult to find time to use them and combined with lots of friends giving up (largely because they were starting families, didn't have time or didn't want to take the risk any longer).

I moved into owning a fun car alongside my everyday car which was great until I split with the wife and had to sacrifice this. Last year I was back on my feet and really did consider another bike but concluded;

- I don't have the time for dedicated ride outs, and commuting on a bike for me offers no advantage.
- It's something else to store.
- It's not as much fun when your mates don't have them.
- All my kit was due a refresh too.

So I parked the idea for now, I dare say I'll have one again one day.

Shiv_P

2,736 posts

105 months

Thursday 15th March 2018
quotequote all
PTF said:
Wear appropriate clothing
Yes you can hear plenty, all around you, more than in a car.
It not uncomfortable, depending on the bike
I wear headphones
Yes they have seats
Yes some have heated seats
If I want to go to get some milk I don't want to have to put on some "appropriate clothing"
I want to just get in the car and go
I'm lazy, comfort is key, car provides more comfort, therefore car is for me

Esceptico

Original Poster:

7,392 posts

109 months

Thursday 15th March 2018
quotequote all
Integroo said:
For most, motorbikes are toys, cars are tools. If you are a performance car enthusiast, you are typically driving a quicker car instead of a slower car - you would have a car regardless, however. You would have got your licence anyway. It is more difficult to justify the time and cost to get a motorbike licence, motorbike equipment and a motorbike as well as your car.

Also, it is less safe and less pleasant (in that you can't just jump in and drive shielded from the elements). I suppose it's the same reason that many car enthusiasts would rather a BMW 335i than a Caterham.
But bikes are dirt cheap. A second hand litre bike can be bought for £4k and won't depreciate much after that. Running costs are low. Yes you have to spend a bit to get the gear but you don't have to do that each year. A lot of performance car enthusiasts spend more modifying their car than it costs to buy and run a bike. If the choice is between a slightly older car plus a bike and just a car, then seems an easy decision to me.

PSH

196 posts

97 months

Thursday 15th March 2018
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Perhaps you should include in the question 'How many car enthusiasts rode bikes first'? you may find the numbers grow...personally as an ex-biker...drivers should begin on a bike before being allowed anywhere near a car. The best drivers are those who gained experience with bikes first, you learn a lot about road conditions when riding a bike. I wouldn't like to ride a bike today though, there is much more traffic today than back in the 70's when I started, most of which seem totally brain dead when 'thinking bike' and road savvy in general.

Pete

captainaverage

596 posts

87 months

Thursday 15th March 2018
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Shiv_P said:
You get cold, you can't hear anything, it's uncomfortable, no radio, no seat, no heated seat
Etc
Then you're not going fast enough or accelerating hard enough. Adrenaline keeps you warm. Or you could just wear appropriate clothes. wink

Rawwr

22,722 posts

234 months

Thursday 15th March 2018
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I would always encourage everyone and anyone to do their CBT. For the sake of £100, you'll know quite quickly whether or not you want to continue with bikes. Some people, like myself, know the instant they get out on the road on a scabby old 125 that bikes are amazing and you want to invest, whereas others will do the CBT and figure it's not for them, which is also fine and understandable. The very minimum you'll take away from it is that you'll appreciate bikes and bikers a bit more than you did before.

One of the greatest feelings I've ever experienced was the first time I jumped from that pissy little 125 to a 500. The feeling that it was so powerful and infallible and nothing could be better. Then you end up on 1000cc sports bikes.

So yeah, if you've never ridden a bike before, get your CBT booked. Consider it a fun day out.

Monty Python

4,812 posts

197 months

Thursday 15th March 2018
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Always remember what a US trauma surgeon called motorcyclists when it rains - organ donors.

otolith

55,969 posts

204 months

Thursday 15th March 2018
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It also depends what it is that you like about driving. If it's acceleration, yes, a bike is going to give you that in spades. If it's playing in the corners, a car has a lot more margin for error correction and lower stakes if you mess up.

Esceptico

Original Poster:

7,392 posts

109 months

Thursday 15th March 2018
quotequote all
C.A.R. said:
Esceptico said:
Is it because you have to wear protective gear? But then I don't see many people refusing to ski because they have to wear ski boots and ski clothing.
I don't think anyone would begrudge having to wear protective gear. It's more that -
- You're exposed to the elements
- You need to allow extra time at the start / end of your journey to get dressed / undressed
- Need to pick up milk on your way home? You're screwed.
- Need to pick someone up in an emergency / run an errand to collect a friend / relative? Not happening.

I can understand bikes / bikers, but as a mode of transport they're massively impractical for any task you can use a car for. Even a Micra has a thousand more uses than a sports bike.

Also; I can't fall off of my car.
All very sensible arguments if comparing a bike and car as modes of transport. Which I why I understand the average person is not interested. However, if you bring logic into the mix then performance cars make no sense. The maximum you are legally allowed to drive is 70 (only 60 on interesting roads) and you are usually paying much more for them, to maintain them and to insure them but at the same time most are much less practical than a Micra. If you have the mind set that says it is worth making all those sacrifices for a performance car...why not also for bikes?