Considering 2 wheels over 4
Discussion
Hi all, 33 Yr old recent new Dad here. I've never seriously considered a motorbike before save for fleeting fancies that never progressed further than that.
I have to recently sold my 5.0 V8 coupe and in a boring Dad wagon now. I am now considering a cheap track/weekend blast car (MX5, 350z, S2k etc) but recently had the epiphany that a weekend bike might be the cheaper/more thrilling answer, plus I can possibly store the thing in my tiny garage which is definitely too small for a car.
I've never really ridden bikes other than a couple pillion trips years ago, so kind of a completely new world to me.
Anyone been in the same boat and offer advice using the wisdom of hindsight?
I guess I'm still quite nervous about personal safety on public roads on a bike compared to a car and some trepidation around handling a bike (though I imagine the CBTand DAS go a long way to allay these initial fears?)
I have to recently sold my 5.0 V8 coupe and in a boring Dad wagon now. I am now considering a cheap track/weekend blast car (MX5, 350z, S2k etc) but recently had the epiphany that a weekend bike might be the cheaper/more thrilling answer, plus I can possibly store the thing in my tiny garage which is definitely too small for a car.
I've never really ridden bikes other than a couple pillion trips years ago, so kind of a completely new world to me.
Anyone been in the same boat and offer advice using the wisdom of hindsight?
I guess I'm still quite nervous about personal safety on public roads on a bike compared to a car and some trepidation around handling a bike (though I imagine the CBTand DAS go a long way to allay these initial fears?)
KC_TypeR said:
5.0 V8 coupe
Holden Monaro? Mustang?On your question: I started biking at a similar age. Your risk can be reduced to low levels, but it will always be there.
I’d do the CBT. Opinions will vary on this, but I’d wait 6 months before doing DAS. You may not have any choice now anyway with Coronavirus. I would buy a used 125 for those 6 months though. After DAS, buy a powerful bike, don’t make the mistake of assuming a mid-power bike (eg your typical SV650) keeps you safe; it’s up to you to control your bike.
Also don’t take ‘what bike’ advice from others, tastes vary a lot.
It’s a good option but worth considering you’ll be unlikely to use it between October and March for fun.
It’s not so much you being wet and cold more the lack of reliable grip that will stop you wanting to go out much.
This will be my first winter with a sorned bike having come to the realisation that there will be hardly any days worth going out.
I still love it in the summer and find that a lunchtime (or when time allows) run of even just 30 minutes is enough to enjoy, much more than a car.
It’s not so much you being wet and cold more the lack of reliable grip that will stop you wanting to go out much.
This will be my first winter with a sorned bike having come to the realisation that there will be hardly any days worth going out.
I still love it in the summer and find that a lunchtime (or when time allows) run of even just 30 minutes is enough to enjoy, much more than a car.
I’d never sat on a bike in May, did my CBT, started my DAS in July and passed in August, didn’t ride a 125 at all on the road, straight on the 650 and it was much much easier.
Been green laning every opportunity I can and looking to buy a Moto Guzzi V7 for my commute (5 miles town / B roads), at least in the Spring / Summer / Autumn.
It is absolutely brilliant, something I’d wish I’d done much much earlier.
Appreciate your views re safety, i felt the same, go and do it and it’ll fade away ... but it isn’t for everyone.
Been green laning every opportunity I can and looking to buy a Moto Guzzi V7 for my commute (5 miles town / B roads), at least in the Spring / Summer / Autumn.
It is absolutely brilliant, something I’d wish I’d done much much earlier.
Appreciate your views re safety, i felt the same, go and do it and it’ll fade away ... but it isn’t for everyone.
I did my licence in early 2018 after years of pontificating about it. Best thing I've ever done.
As said above do a CBT and then a couple of lessons on a proper bike. I can't overstate how much nicer a proper bike is to use than a knackered riding school 125.
From a safety perspective I don't really worry about it, although my Mrs does. Buy good protective gear and ride within your own limits and it's not that dangerous imho. As a pleasure rider I minimise my risks by being cautious, and not commuting (I work from home).
As said above do a CBT and then a couple of lessons on a proper bike. I can't overstate how much nicer a proper bike is to use than a knackered riding school 125.
From a safety perspective I don't really worry about it, although my Mrs does. Buy good protective gear and ride within your own limits and it's not that dangerous imho. As a pleasure rider I minimise my risks by being cautious, and not commuting (I work from home).
Edited by Krikkit on Saturday 17th October 22:07
KC_TypeR said:
At a halfway house between excited and terrified at the moment.
I was the same to start with, but it was converted into pure excitement after realising how straight forward the basics are. Even though I did my CBT in a freezing February day in torrential rain, the kind of day I wouldn't even consider going out in now, I was hooked.If you can ride a push bike it'll come to you easily.
MrGman said:
If you’re unsure how about booking a CBT, it’s under £100 for the day and it’ll get you out on the roads on a bike, only a 125 admittedly but it’s a real good indicator as to whether it’s for you or not.
Under £100? that's a cheap CBT. Sometimes you get what you pay for!I was car obsessed before I got my bike licence in 1997. Then it was like cars didn’t exist. Then had a big crash and stopped riding on the road for 16 years but then started again 5 years ago. Just can’t get excited about cars now. A few years back I bought myself a nice, manual 997.2 with the idea that I would use it when the weather was bad but to be honest found that even in the winter I wasn’t using it much as driving in the UK (at least where I was living in the South East) was not much fun as too much traffic.
As other say above, try the CBT and then have a lesson in a big bike and see what you think.
As other say above, try the CBT and then have a lesson in a big bike and see what you think.
KC_TypeR said:
How do you guys find something like a CBR600 or R6 (at the moment, the kind of bike I'm looking at after passing) compares to something like an Elise btw? I appreciate completely different power/weight/vehicle but as a occassional thrill, how do they stack up?
I have a monster 1100 evo (first bike, bought in jan) and an elise. I was worried the latter would be less fun/involving after getting used to the former, but both have different uses and scenarios that would put them into their own category of thrill. I’ve driven some very fast cars, very hard accelerating ones and full on wings and slicks racers. Biking gives me a different kind of thrill. The ability to pile on and take off speed so quickly is like nothing else. The satisfaction of getting a corner ‘right’ - braking/downshift/throttle blip/turn and feeding in the power - easily matches that of doing the same in a car. I’ve done a couple of trackdays and skills days and I’m told I’m one of the smoothest but also one of the slower riders. Trust me it does not feel slow at all. My only real problem is that when riding home afterwards at 50-60mph, it feels like I could get off and walk faster. The monster is appropriately named, it’s a bruiser and a ton of fun on sweeping open roads and I commute on it a lot. The elise is slower but more communicative. I can feel the edge of grip and where the brakes start to bite and can drive it like it’s on rails or push it over limit of grip as I like. On the bike I can’t, I’m not experienced enough and it’s abilities far exceed my own. Too much tyre more than anything I reckon, and also slow to respond from leaning one way to the other, albeit I don’t really fancy falling off a bike so that’s been fine. My mrs’ Duke 390 is more chuckable, but crap outside of an urban environment. I’m actually looking at both the bikes on your short list next, as a halfway house for both of us.
That's the sort of answer I was hoping for to be honest.
Lord.Vader said:
Not comparable, at all.
I passed on a CB650, can’t remember if it was a R or F and it’s about 80 bhp, 0-60 around 3.5 seconds, I’ve got a Aston Vantage for my fun car and a bike just makes it feel slow / heavy (but doesn’t sound as good!).
I passed on a CB650, can’t remember if it was a R or F and it’s about 80 bhp, 0-60 around 3.5 seconds, I’ve got a Aston Vantage for my fun car and a bike just makes it feel slow / heavy (but doesn’t sound as good!).
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff