The friendly "dumb" bike questions thread
Discussion
AceOfHearts said:
Heyrick said:
So tell me about biker parking... 
what can you get away with that those with four wheels 
can't?
e.g. parking between parked cars, paying or not paying in a pay and display etc etc.
Any tales of ticket woes?
I dont live in or visit the city so my experience may differ, but i have never paid for motorcycle parking and have never been fined. what can you get away with that those with four wheels can't?e.g. parking between parked cars, paying or not paying in a pay and display etc etc.
Any tales of ticket woes?For pay and displays I always try to find one with dedicated motorcycle parking (i find that most places do have them) or if not i find a large pavement section and leave it there, just making sure there is still plenty of space for people to get past.
Also if I am going to larger places (like Cambridge), I google motorcycle parking before i go. In the case of Cambridge, one of the large central multi stories actually has a free motorcycle area.
My main rules are, if its a pay and display, dont take up a car space, if you are leaving it on the pavement, just use common sense and keep it out of the way
And i did get a ticket once - unsurprisingly bikes are just as subject to single yellow and double yellow lines as cars. But I was young and stupid.
I parked mine next to the bicycle parking in the middle of Guildford some time back, where I'm sure there used to loads of motorbikes parked but on this occasion I was the only one.
Got back to find a yellow parking notice sticker bag thing on the tank cover.
Opened it to find it was a not from the parking people saying this was no longer bike parking and please could I park in the marked bays in the carpark in the future.
Got back to find a yellow parking notice sticker bag thing on the tank cover.
Opened it to find it was a not from the parking people saying this was no longer bike parking and please could I park in the marked bays in the carpark in the future.
Lukas239 said:
Would this be an appropriate place to ask for riding tips?
New biker having passed 2 months ago and i'm still nervous when it comes to making progress past cars. Not necessarily filtering but just going for gaps in traffic Myself/The Bike are capable of, but not comfortable doing. The obvious answer is practice/experience but seeking some wise words & advice also.
I had the same issue when I passed, until one day it dawned on me that in town its not worth going for gaps, just filter to the front at traffic lights. I never feel the need to be constantly ahead of whats in front of me, my current occasional bike commute is on the M4 , I know all the pinch points, nearly every time its the same , so again I never feel the need to pin it (sometimes obviously) knowing I will hit a jam soon and filter through it.New biker having passed 2 months ago and i'm still nervous when it comes to making progress past cars. Not necessarily filtering but just going for gaps in traffic Myself/The Bike are capable of, but not comfortable doing. The obvious answer is practice/experience but seeking some wise words & advice also.
If I do go for a gap, I do the obvious checks and I make the move, if in doubt I never do.
wilbo83 said:
Heated grips start to come loose and spin when they are on higher than 40% (assume the glue is softening due to the heat). Whats the best adhesive to use which allows them to be used up to full?
Superglue worked for me. Bike and grips saw plenty of use too as I was commuting 2hrs a day. A mate fitted them for me (was my first bike), and I think he took care to give the bars a good scrape before sliding the grips on so the glue had a bit of of key. Zarco said:
wilbo83 said:
Heated grips start to come loose and spin when they are on higher than 40% (assume the glue is softening due to the heat). Whats the best adhesive to use which allows them to be used up to full?
Superglue worked for me. Bike and grips saw plenty of use too as I was commuting 2hrs a day. A mate fitted them for me (was my first bike), and I think he took care to give the bars a good scrape before sliding the grips on so the glue had a bit of of key. Superglue is an absolute
to remove from paint and plastics.Don't ask me how I know.
Few from me.....
People moan these days about car engines being over stressed, specifically thinking about the 1.0 EcoBoost which seems to get a lot of stick. How is it that that engine is apparently prone to go bang, when a 1000cc bike engine putting out ~200bhp is generally quite reliable? I’m thinking less weight to cart about and more frequent servicing, am I missing something else?
Bikes with single exhausts on one side of the bike, are they balanced with a counterweight on the other side? If so, if you save say 10kg, which could be 5%+, by fitting an aftermarket exhaust, can this affect the balance and handling? Can’t say I’ve noticed on my bike, but I don’t/can’t ride hard enough to a point where I think it would be noticeable.
What are the legalities around these three wheeler things, like the Peugeot and Piaggio ones? As I understand it, anybody with a full car license can just jump on one and away you go? If so, that’s a bit mad. I ask because there’s a couple I see on my way home from work these days and they make good progress through traffic but only by taking significant risks and riding quite aggressively, which I assume is down to lack of training.
Ta.
People moan these days about car engines being over stressed, specifically thinking about the 1.0 EcoBoost which seems to get a lot of stick. How is it that that engine is apparently prone to go bang, when a 1000cc bike engine putting out ~200bhp is generally quite reliable? I’m thinking less weight to cart about and more frequent servicing, am I missing something else?
Bikes with single exhausts on one side of the bike, are they balanced with a counterweight on the other side? If so, if you save say 10kg, which could be 5%+, by fitting an aftermarket exhaust, can this affect the balance and handling? Can’t say I’ve noticed on my bike, but I don’t/can’t ride hard enough to a point where I think it would be noticeable.
What are the legalities around these three wheeler things, like the Peugeot and Piaggio ones? As I understand it, anybody with a full car license can just jump on one and away you go? If so, that’s a bit mad. I ask because there’s a couple I see on my way home from work these days and they make good progress through traffic but only by taking significant risks and riding quite aggressively, which I assume is down to lack of training.
Ta.
horsemeatscandal said:
Few from me.....
People moan these days about car engines being over stressed, specifically thinking about the 1.0 EcoBoost which seems to get a lot of stick. How is it that that engine is apparently prone to go bang, when a 1000cc bike engine putting out ~200bhp is generally quite reliable? I’m thinking less weight to cart about and more frequent servicing, am I missing something else?
Bikes with single exhausts on one side of the bike, are they balanced with a counterweight on the other side? If so, if you save say 10kg, which could be 5%+, by fitting an aftermarket exhaust, can this affect the balance and handling? Can’t say I’ve noticed on my bike, but I don’t/can’t ride hard enough to a point where I think it would be noticeable.
What are the legalities around these three wheeler things, like the Peugeot and Piaggio ones? As I understand it, anybody with a full car license can just jump on one and away you go? If so, that’s a bit mad. I ask because there’s a couple I see on my way home from work these days and they make good progress through traffic but only by taking significant risks and riding quite aggressively, which I assume is down to lack of training.
Ta.
1. Less weight and therefore less ultimate stress on the engine. Bike engines don't last very long when put into small car conversions generally. People moan these days about car engines being over stressed, specifically thinking about the 1.0 EcoBoost which seems to get a lot of stick. How is it that that engine is apparently prone to go bang, when a 1000cc bike engine putting out ~200bhp is generally quite reliable? I’m thinking less weight to cart about and more frequent servicing, am I missing something else?
Bikes with single exhausts on one side of the bike, are they balanced with a counterweight on the other side? If so, if you save say 10kg, which could be 5%+, by fitting an aftermarket exhaust, can this affect the balance and handling? Can’t say I’ve noticed on my bike, but I don’t/can’t ride hard enough to a point where I think it would be noticeable.
What are the legalities around these three wheeler things, like the Peugeot and Piaggio ones? As I understand it, anybody with a full car license can just jump on one and away you go? If so, that’s a bit mad. I ask because there’s a couple I see on my way home from work these days and they make good progress through traffic but only by taking significant risks and riding quite aggressively, which I assume is down to lack of training.
Ta.
2. I would think bikes are too narrow for weight on one side to have too much of an effect. If that extra weight was 3 ft away from the centre line of the bike then yes.
3. If it's classified as a three wheeler or quad, then it can be driven on a car licence. Sensible or not.
BowieMS said:
Word of caution on superglue - used it on mine and rather than soften (as some glues), when it lets go it's completely gone, so I was stuck at side of road with useless throttle grip. Would recommend gaffer taping bar to ensure a v tight fit with grip, then glue on that.
Don't use superglue or epoxy. Rubber cement works really well and is similar to the renthal grip glue. Apply lightly on both the bar and inside of the grip. When the grip is pushed on, it will remove some of the glue, hence also putting it on the inside of the grip., Just make sure you clean the bar and inside of the grips with a de-greaser first of all.
horsemeatscandal said:
What are the legalities around these three wheeler things, like the Peugeot and Piaggio ones? As I understand it, anybody with a full car license can just jump on one and away you go? If so, that’s a bit mad. I ask because there’s a couple I see on my way home from work these days and they make good progress through traffic but only by taking significant risks and riding quite aggressively, which I assume is down to lack of training.
Ta.
ridden on a bike license unless is a wide track model that can be ridden on a car licenseTa.
Nikken and most of the piaggio trikes are bike license only, the piaggio models badged LT (large track) are the only ones that can be ridden on a car license
Krikkit said:
For those with bikes already - how much would you value ABS as a newbie?
I quite fancy a Monster 696/796 for a first bike, but finding one with ABS is a bit tricky as it was optional.
You don't need it but it's a pretty good safety net. Knowing how hard you can brake without it is a very handy skill but having it there as a backstop is cool. I've just bought my first bike with ABS after about 25 years and braking without it is so ingrained I've yet to trigger the front. As long as you never go back to a non-ABS bike or it never fails I guess you could just go straight to ABS and use it with abandon but it seems a bit risky.I quite fancy a Monster 696/796 for a first bike, but finding one with ABS is a bit tricky as it was optional.
Krikkit said:
For those with bikes already - how much would you value ABS as a newbie?
I quite fancy a Monster 696/796 for a first bike, but finding one with ABS is a bit tricky as it was optional.
Have it on my commuter (Hornet) which I've had since passing and it's kicked in twice? Once dicking about and the other when a car pulled out. I'd say it's worth having if you ride all year round, however if just a weekend bike, don't worry about it. I quite fancy a Monster 696/796 for a first bike, but finding one with ABS is a bit tricky as it was optional.
This isn’t meant to be condescending, but I think if you have to ask you probably need it.
If you don’t know when it helps and when it doesn’t, best have it and let the bike make some of that decision for you.
I like it on my big touring thingy, despite it’s limitations. But if I was on track or a very experienced and fast road rider, I probably wouldn’t.
If you don’t know when it helps and when it doesn’t, best have it and let the bike make some of that decision for you.
I like it on my big touring thingy, despite it’s limitations. But if I was on track or a very experienced and fast road rider, I probably wouldn’t.
How much difference do large front wheels make?
I like the look of adventure bikes, but there always seems to be comment that the larger front wheels make them more lazy (maybe not the word to use, but you get the idea)
Is it an issue when commuting, and having a general ride out? I don't think I will ever be a knee out person, so just a general weekend type ride out.
Thanks!
I like the look of adventure bikes, but there always seems to be comment that the larger front wheels make them more lazy (maybe not the word to use, but you get the idea)
Is it an issue when commuting, and having a general ride out? I don't think I will ever be a knee out person, so just a general weekend type ride out.
Thanks!
I feel I talk too much on this thread, someone feel to tell me to “shut up”, if I’m boring everyone...
I bought an Africa twin last year and, coming from a GSXR-750 I have struggled a bit when pressing on with a 21” front on the front. It’s not just the overall size, the front tyre is narrow, the tyres usually “dual purpose”, and the suspension a bit soft (obviously). There’s fundamentally less grip, less feel, it’s slowler to turn and it will go squirrelly if you push too hard. But much of that is just the nature of adventure bikes, which is difficult to isolate from the wheel size (for my level of experience anyway).
The 19” front offered by some adventure bikes makes more sense to me on road, but if you do take the bike light off road and trails to me the 21” makes a great deal of sense, for me I feel it’s more stable through ruts (and potholes) and increases confidence. Also if you want to get some proper off road boots on it the 21” wheel size, I think, it offers more variety. Certainly cheap enough for the tyres.
I ultimately think it’s horses for courses, it is a slight compromise on road for a tangible advantage off. In all honesty, though, the bikes they fit 21” too are typically limited dynamically in so many other ways, a fractionally larger wheel is unlikely to make a big difference... After all, if your bike bike weighs in at 400kg, with jelly stilt suspension, on part-knobblies you’re really not going to get that sublime superbike experience regardless.
Just my two pence of course.
I bought an Africa twin last year and, coming from a GSXR-750 I have struggled a bit when pressing on with a 21” front on the front. It’s not just the overall size, the front tyre is narrow, the tyres usually “dual purpose”, and the suspension a bit soft (obviously). There’s fundamentally less grip, less feel, it’s slowler to turn and it will go squirrelly if you push too hard. But much of that is just the nature of adventure bikes, which is difficult to isolate from the wheel size (for my level of experience anyway).
The 19” front offered by some adventure bikes makes more sense to me on road, but if you do take the bike light off road and trails to me the 21” makes a great deal of sense, for me I feel it’s more stable through ruts (and potholes) and increases confidence. Also if you want to get some proper off road boots on it the 21” wheel size, I think, it offers more variety. Certainly cheap enough for the tyres.
I ultimately think it’s horses for courses, it is a slight compromise on road for a tangible advantage off. In all honesty, though, the bikes they fit 21” too are typically limited dynamically in so many other ways, a fractionally larger wheel is unlikely to make a big difference... After all, if your bike bike weighs in at 400kg, with jelly stilt suspension, on part-knobblies you’re really not going to get that sublime superbike experience regardless.
Just my two pence of course.
pessimal said:
How much difference do large front wheels make?
I like the look of adventure bikes, but there always seems to be comment that the larger front wheels make them more lazy (maybe not the word to use, but you get the idea)
Is it an issue when commuting, and having a general ride out? I don't think I will ever be a knee out person, so just a general weekend type ride out.
Thanks!
Large like this?I like the look of adventure bikes, but there always seems to be comment that the larger front wheels make them more lazy (maybe not the word to use, but you get the idea)
Is it an issue when commuting, and having a general ride out? I don't think I will ever be a knee out person, so just a general weekend type ride out.
Thanks!
Certainly looks like the steering would be lazier than a smaller wheel.
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