Did you forget cars when you started biking?
Discussion
I was all about cars growing up, never cared about bikes, and two things happened within a few months that changed that.
1) I passed my driving test, stuck in traffic on the way to Hunstanton a few weeks later I got passed by loads of bikes
2) Long Way Round was released.
I've had some good cars, but nothing makes me feel as good as being on a bike. It's meditation, even when commuting I am not distracted by outside thoughts.
If money were no object I'd have cool cars and bikes, but money is limited so I don't care about what car I have. Quite, comfortable and big boot.
1) I passed my driving test, stuck in traffic on the way to Hunstanton a few weeks later I got passed by loads of bikes
2) Long Way Round was released.
I've had some good cars, but nothing makes me feel as good as being on a bike. It's meditation, even when commuting I am not distracted by outside thoughts.
If money were no object I'd have cool cars and bikes, but money is limited so I don't care about what car I have. Quite, comfortable and big boot.
Yes indeed. Forgot about cars etc. for years after getting my motorcycle. Only really bought a car when the wife wanted to learn and we were thinking about starting a family. Then I went out and bought a wee Fiesta, because she was learning in a Fiesta.
With the baby on the way we needed more doors and a big boot...so bought an Impreza. Going for a thrash on the bike is still more rewarding than doing it in the car it must be said!
With the baby on the way we needed more doors and a big boot...so bought an Impreza. Going for a thrash on the bike is still more rewarding than doing it in the car it must be said!
Always liked my cars but got caught in a 5hr jam on the M3 in a car and boiled the motor from all the slow stop/start creeping along.
Got a bike licence and saved an hr each way on the commute, didn't pay to park, saw Long Way Down (I missed Long Way Round when it came out) and now only have bikes.
Still miss my Jaaaag though and would have one again in a second even though I have no use for it!
Got a bike licence and saved an hr each way on the commute, didn't pay to park, saw Long Way Down (I missed Long Way Round when it came out) and now only have bikes.
Still miss my Jaaaag though and would have one again in a second even though I have no use for it!
I was obsessed with cars for years but once I got my first big bike I pretty much immediately lost almost all interest in cars. Cars are useful, I own one but it's just a means to transport other people and stuff or to keep the rain off. Cheap, reliable, comfortable and practical are all I care about.
I'm still interested in old, interesting stuff like the Ford Model T, old soft top Landrovers etc but I couldn't be less interested in performance cars.
I'm still interested in old, interesting stuff like the Ford Model T, old soft top Landrovers etc but I couldn't be less interested in performance cars.
I ended up in bikes due to having an interest in cars, but not being able to afford the costs. A relative had a JDM legend back when you'd see them frequently on the road which is what started my interest.
The cars that I liked ended up silly money or rotten, the traffic became excessive, and I don't really have any interest in new cars or bikes.
I still have an interest in cars, but most of my hobby is related to fixing them, rather than owning or driving anything decent.
The cars that I liked ended up silly money or rotten, the traffic became excessive, and I don't really have any interest in new cars or bikes.
I still have an interest in cars, but most of my hobby is related to fixing them, rather than owning or driving anything decent.
My car desires turned from wanting something racey racey to something armchair armchair. So I now have a lazy V6 auto with massive tyres and tiny wheels.
I still like cars but my money goes into bikes now. 90% of my journeys are by bike.
If i'm going to Europe: bike
If i'm going north to visit family: bike
if i'm going to the dentist and it's raining and I just cleaned the fricking orange wheels again: might take car
I still like cars but my money goes into bikes now. 90% of my journeys are by bike.
If i'm going to Europe: bike
If i'm going north to visit family: bike
if i'm going to the dentist and it's raining and I just cleaned the fricking orange wheels again: might take car
Belle427 said:
Did you move away from cars when you started biking or do you still have both?
I started out on bikes gradually moving up to a Z1100. After an accident I took my driving test for a car and haven't really ridden bikes since.So I went the other way.
I keep looking at bikes and thinking I might get another.
Belle427 said:
General question.
I have always been cars but always had an interest in bikes, had a couple of motocross bikes but never a road bike.
Did you move away from cars when you started biking or do you still have both?
Always been the other way round for me. I could ride bikes younger and then performance was cheaper so I started with bikes and moved onto cars. I have always been cars but always had an interest in bikes, had a couple of motocross bikes but never a road bike.
Did you move away from cars when you started biking or do you still have both?
Still love both but if you put a gun to my head I prefer cars. Or atleast if I could only have one it would be a car.
Another person who went the other way. I went FS1E, RD 250, CB550 Four to a Datsun 120Y Coupe (!) back in the late 70s / early 80s. The reason was mainly that girlfriends never wanted to go on the back of the bike. It was a bit cold and miserable in winter too.
I did have a go on a Ducati in around 2000. I found it frankly a bit terrifying. I turned around after half a mile and handed the keys back to the owner who'd lent it to me.
I fancy an MV Augusta - but I'd hang it on the wall rather than drive it. I suspect a big comfy BMW tourer with ABS would be my limit nowadays.
I did have a go on a Ducati in around 2000. I found it frankly a bit terrifying. I turned around after half a mile and handed the keys back to the owner who'd lent it to me.
I fancy an MV Augusta - but I'd hang it on the wall rather than drive it. I suspect a big comfy BMW tourer with ABS would be my limit nowadays.
Started out on bikes as a teen, had no interest in cars, and didnt pass the car test until age 27 when I needed one for work and car came with the job.
Moved down south for work, lived in digs for years moving a few times, no garage, didnt have a bike again until I got my own place with a garage.
Since then always have both, have had many nice cars over the last 25 years, did trackdays/sprints, touring hols, but the cars never really replaced bikes, just offered a difference experience.
Now im retired and on a sunny day the bike usually wins out, I dont foresee me continuing to have a performance car for many more years as its a big expense and so rarely used, im always out on a bike or cycling
Moved down south for work, lived in digs for years moving a few times, no garage, didnt have a bike again until I got my own place with a garage.
Since then always have both, have had many nice cars over the last 25 years, did trackdays/sprints, touring hols, but the cars never really replaced bikes, just offered a difference experience.
Now im retired and on a sunny day the bike usually wins out, I dont foresee me continuing to have a performance car for many more years as its a big expense and so rarely used, im always out on a bike or cycling
I started on bikes at 16 with my little Fizzy. I had no interest in buying a car and progressed to a 125 at 17 with the intention of doing my full test.
Sadly, I failed it 3 times in a row at which point my mum stepped in and said she would cover the cost of my driving lessons and test if I went down that route instead. Passed that one first time and it wasn't until I hit 25 I started riding again. I ended up with a company car so it presented a great opportunity for me to sell my car, pay for a bike, lessons, leathers, test, etc.
Passed DAS first time and enjoyed my GSXR600 for a year until I had to sell it to fund a new house. Another 7 years passed before I was on a bike again (ZX6R) and since then I have never been without one. It's purely for pleasure for me, I take both my boys out from time to time, ride with friends, etc. Even my dad has started riding again at the ripe age of 72 on his Honda Forza so bikes are very prominent in our family. My wife is currently in the process of doing her full test as well.
I couldn't rely on one solely for transport anymore it just isn't practical.
Sadly, I failed it 3 times in a row at which point my mum stepped in and said she would cover the cost of my driving lessons and test if I went down that route instead. Passed that one first time and it wasn't until I hit 25 I started riding again. I ended up with a company car so it presented a great opportunity for me to sell my car, pay for a bike, lessons, leathers, test, etc.
Passed DAS first time and enjoyed my GSXR600 for a year until I had to sell it to fund a new house. Another 7 years passed before I was on a bike again (ZX6R) and since then I have never been without one. It's purely for pleasure for me, I take both my boys out from time to time, ride with friends, etc. Even my dad has started riding again at the ripe age of 72 on his Honda Forza so bikes are very prominent in our family. My wife is currently in the process of doing her full test as well.
I couldn't rely on one solely for transport anymore it just isn't practical.
Built my entire life around cars, work in the industry, never went without something interesting of my own even when driving all kinds of exotic stuff on a daily basis.
Last year I did my bike test and ended up selling a car I told myself - and everyone else - that I would never part with.
Learning to ride taught me a lot about what's important. I discovered that riding a 125cc bike with less than 15hp was more fun than any supercar or sports car I'd ever tried. But I still loved the sound and feeling of a great engine. The single-cylinder was fun but nothing special, so I thought I would always have both from then on.
But after that I passed my full licence and tried some larger-engined bikes with multiple cylinders... unbeliveable. The Yamaha twin in my current bike is better than any engine in a car I've driven short of a £150k V10. Insane torque at low RPM, but revs to 10,000? It's just everything I could want from an automotive experience and it cost less than £10k for the whole thing, lessons, insurance and gear included.
It honestly taught me that while I still love cars, I actually don't really like driving them. Traffic, average speed checks, parking... Bikes just solve all of those problems, it's fun at literally any speed. Absolute magic.
Last year I did my bike test and ended up selling a car I told myself - and everyone else - that I would never part with.
Learning to ride taught me a lot about what's important. I discovered that riding a 125cc bike with less than 15hp was more fun than any supercar or sports car I'd ever tried. But I still loved the sound and feeling of a great engine. The single-cylinder was fun but nothing special, so I thought I would always have both from then on.
But after that I passed my full licence and tried some larger-engined bikes with multiple cylinders... unbeliveable. The Yamaha twin in my current bike is better than any engine in a car I've driven short of a £150k V10. Insane torque at low RPM, but revs to 10,000? It's just everything I could want from an automotive experience and it cost less than £10k for the whole thing, lessons, insurance and gear included.
It honestly taught me that while I still love cars, I actually don't really like driving them. Traffic, average speed checks, parking... Bikes just solve all of those problems, it's fun at literally any speed. Absolute magic.
Started on bikes long before cars.
Bikes have always remained one of my favourite things but cars were of more interest for a while. I have had a few nice ones (well nice by my lowly standards) but now I have little desire for fast fancy cars.
I'm back to getting my kicks from bikes, specifically older more analogue bikes that are not controlled by a hundred computer chips. Partly because I prefer it that way, but more honestly because I can't afford the newer bikes these days - I am sure they are startlingly good. Or to put it another way, I feel like I probably get more fun from three older bikes than from one new one.
Car wise I now prefer to waft (quickly) around on a wave of torque rather than scream about redlining the engine - that's what the bikes are for!
Bikes have always remained one of my favourite things but cars were of more interest for a while. I have had a few nice ones (well nice by my lowly standards) but now I have little desire for fast fancy cars.
I'm back to getting my kicks from bikes, specifically older more analogue bikes that are not controlled by a hundred computer chips. Partly because I prefer it that way, but more honestly because I can't afford the newer bikes these days - I am sure they are startlingly good. Or to put it another way, I feel like I probably get more fun from three older bikes than from one new one.
Car wise I now prefer to waft (quickly) around on a wave of torque rather than scream about redlining the engine - that's what the bikes are for!
I’ve always liked nice cars and spent a small fortune on them over the past 40 years. I wish I’d forgotten about them, if I’d saved the depreciation I’d suffered and just bought an Insignia or something similar instead, I reckon I’d have saved well over half a million quid. I’ve suffered with bikes too, spending too much on them as well over the years, although the headline numbers are thankfully smaller.
If I had to choose one method of transport only then it would still be a car. The practicality of it far outweighs the time saving on traffic jams.
If I had to choose one method of transport only then it would still be a car. The practicality of it far outweighs the time saving on traffic jams.
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