How do you guys do it?
How do you guys do it?
Author
Discussion

Seb d

Original Poster:

616 posts

228 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2008
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Was at the motor show today and took the opportunity to have a sit on a Hayabusa and a couple of other bikes and I can't even begin to imagine just going down the road on one let alone hitting 180mph. I love bikes but I've never ridden one and I just don't think I could do it - for someone who's only ever driven cars, it's such an alien concept. I've got a lot of respect for you guys - maybe one day I'll even join you, but not right now.

Darkslider

3,084 posts

220 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2008
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It's absolutely brilliant, the best buzz you can ever get and there's not a single car out there that will provide the same thrill as a decent sportsbike. You probably couldn't imagine it sitting on the bike as it feels un natural, un protected and scary, which for some people are reasons for avoiding it but they're the exact same reasons I ride a bike. At the end of the day you're either a thrill seeking adrenaline junkie who wants to be in touch with your enviroment at the highest level, or just another boring car driver tongue out

Seb d

Original Poster:

616 posts

228 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2008
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Lol, oh well, boring car driver it is then!

surfsofa

406 posts

314 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2008
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There was a time I thought I'd never be able to do lots of things I take for granted now. wink

shouldbworking

4,801 posts

243 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2008
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So do your test and find out, learn a new skill and become a better driver as a result - whats to lose?

Carbon-Me1

451 posts

228 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2008
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Darkslider said:
It's absolutely brilliant, the best buzz you can ever get and there's not a single car out there that will provide the same thrill as a decent sportsbike.
Ariel Atom? biggrin

PulsatingStar

1,719 posts

279 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2008
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You would probably have a great day just doing the CBT and youd learn a lot too that you probably take for granted now and dont think about.

Would also tell you if you really like it or not.

R5GTTgaz

7,897 posts

251 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2008
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Carbon-Me1 said:
Darkslider said:
It's absolutely brilliant, the best buzz you can ever get and there's not a single car out there that will provide the same thrill as a decent sportsbike.
Ariel Atom? biggrin
I went out in a Ferrari F40 the other day, that felt better than any bike I have ever owned.

podman

9,086 posts

271 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2008
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Its a good question,its mainly down to design,sports bikes are designed to cope with massive speed with a nod to rider comfort(in most cases!) and little esle, everything is geared up to cope with pure speed,no cup holders,sat nav,electric seats etc etc required.150MPH on my Busa was no drama and it almost felt like you could get off and walk ,150MPH in my Imprezza felt much faster and needed more input to keep it on the straight and narrow.Peversely there is no way I would want to drive that car at 170MPH but on the bike it was dead stable, secure all the way up to 200 plus on the clock.

Ive always felt safer at high speed on my bikes than any of the cars Ive owned or been in.

I can well imagine an F40 is some event to be in,just for the looks,noise and sheer pose factor..Id maybe consider swapping the bike for one of them but like the Ariel Atom its still a car so still stuck in the traffic along with Mr Micra driver, bikes are a ticket to freedom and top performance at a amazing price.

amare32

2,420 posts

254 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2008
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I've owned many performance cars from Elise, Exiges, M3 and 996 Turbo and driven Ferarris and Formula Ford. With the exception of the Formula Ford which was and still is the most exciting car I've ever driven with ridiculous corner abilities and accelleration. Motorbikes beat them all for pure thrills for a measly outlay. I made the best decision last summer to pick up motorbiking at 30 years old and I'm glad I did! It was an alien concept to me when I first started but you'll pick it up in no time.

What are you waiting for? Get your DAS booked now biggrin

FeatherZ

2,422 posts

227 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2008
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I can understand how some people find it very daunting, but in reality its not, give it a go you might love it, first day my DAS instructor learnt us counter steering even though i already practised it, took us up some twisty lanes, today (last day of DAS before test tommorow) took us home through wingham and preston backlanes near aylsham and back onto the a2, even encouraged us to overtake a bimbling old lady, iv had great fun and even if i fail tommorow iv learnt so much, running through backlanes at 60 and not dipping below apart from the tightest of bends...

Biking aint for everyone, so many different kind of people ride, it aint just for the nutters, but how anyone can be scared of something that there controlling is beyond me, get on a bike, pass your test chuck some advanced training in at the end.

shot2bits

1,273 posts

259 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2008
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R5GTTgaz said:
I went out in a Ferrari F40 the other day, that felt better than any bike I have ever owned.
You probably never rode the bike very well then, sorry to say that but it's the only way I can understand your comment! I would take the car on the A1 in preference to the bike but that's about it.

R5GTTgaz

7,897 posts

251 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2008
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shot2bits said:
R5GTTgaz said:
I went out in a Ferrari F40 the other day, that felt better than any bike I have ever owned.
You probably never rode the bike very well then, sorry to say that but it's the only way I can understand your comment! I would take the car on the A1 in preference to the bike but that's about it.
Used to ride a bit with Gary Johnson who is fairly quick round the TT circuit I did plenty of trackdays as well I had alsorts of bikes but for some reason I just got bored it just wasn't a challenge anymore. I suppose the next step was racing but I was unable to afford it.

The F40 was something else, something I might experience if I was on some kind of exotic bike I suppose like the Ducati V4 but for me the car topped the bike experience for sure.

EvoBarry

1,903 posts

296 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2008
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I've been in a tuned F40 with a journo driving, whilst it was a right laugh it wasn't better than riding my bike. biggrin

Even a raw open top car can't replicate everything a bike does, and that feeling of freedom you get from riding around on a crisp summers morning...

Aubrey

1,157 posts

227 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2008
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Before I took my test a few years ago, I thought the same thing. I'd sat on a few sports bikes and just could not imagine that position riding it on the road, but now it's second nature. I am also happier at high speeds on my bike as opposed to the TVR.

podman

9,086 posts

271 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2008
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R5GTTgaz said:
shot2bits said:
R5GTTgaz said:
I went out in a Ferrari F40 the other day, that felt better than any bike I have ever owned.
You probably never rode the bike very well then, sorry to say that but it's the only way I can understand your comment! I would take the car on the A1 in preference to the bike but that's about it.
Used to ride a bit with Gary Johnson who is fairly quick round the TT circuit I did plenty of trackdays as well I had alsorts of bikes but for some reason I just got bored it just wasn't a challenge anymore. I suppose the next step was racing but I was unable to afford it.

The F40 was something else, something I might experience if I was on some kind of exotic bike I suppose like the Ducati V4 but for me the car topped the bike experience for sure.
What are you getting your kicks from now then Gaz? serious question as I cant see driving a R5 Turbo being too much of a challange,apart from maybe MOT time...?

R5GTTgaz

7,897 posts

251 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2008
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Nothing at the min, (I had an R5 Turbo when I joined PH check my profile, no problems with mots)

I think the only place for me now is the track, otherwise I'll be in a box or in prison.

I'm not realy a fan of run of the mill stuff so I might see when 250GP bikes get made redundant if I can pick up a nice RS250 Honda for track work.


AndyDRZ

1,202 posts

267 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2008
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OP - have you got any mates that ride bikes? Maybe they could take you for a ride with you on the Pillion?

Make sure the guy/girl realises it's so you can enjoy it, not so he can scare you with the acceleration!


PolarExpress

6,796 posts

258 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2008
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Even my humble VFR can make my GT3MR feel slow and tame (unless balls out through the Foxhole). For me it isn't the nominal speed, it's the sheer sense of freedom and adrenaline the bike gives. There is absolutely no doubt, imho, that learning to ride a bike makes you a better road driver with a greater road hazard awareness.

Edited by PolarExpress on Wednesday 23 July 11:55

WTFWT?!

872 posts

254 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2008
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I know how the OP feels. I used to sit on my flatmate's 998s before I started riding and I used to recoil internally at the thought of how much damage you could do to yourself in such a short space of time. The thing just seemed to spell trouble.

Now, of course, I don't even think about it. One of the things that non-riders and pillions aren't aware of until they hop on is that a bike is incredibly stable. The wheels act like giant gyroscopes and want to keep the bike tracking straight and true all the time (even when you want to turn!).

It is every bit as rewarding and fun as you might imagine, and very nearly as challenging!