Considering a motorbike

[Isabelle]

Get a Harley! I see a guy commuting at Leppings Lane on a Harley, and it always cheers me up. I don't know who he is, maybe he's on here? It's a bike with the 'ape hanger' bars and he wears a leather jacket with 'England MC' on it

[rudds1]

We did have a variety of mods and rockers, my dad was a rocker and cruised everywhere on his Zundapp, which is in fact how my mum fell in love with him .

 

Not seen quadraphenia though, it isn't an era that particularly excites me, much more interested in the late 80s/90s as that is when I grew up, all these old men talking about boring stuff!

 

Having said that, during that era we definitely had very strong subcultures and we very definitely used to have fisticuffs due to that. For my era in the part of the Netherlands that I grew up in it was mainly 'Gabbers' and 'Metalheads'

 

Of course I was 'alternative' and pretended to like Nirvana even though I didn't, I like(d) Gabber AND metal

 

Anyway, on topic -thanks for all your advice. I fully appreciate bikes aren't necessarily the safest means of transport, but I already knew that anyway. I've pretty much made my mind up and come this summer will start lessons towards a full license. Also pretty close on deciding which bikes will be on the shortlist, for those into motorbikes:

Yamaha MT-07, Honda CB650, BMW F800, Triumph Street Triple. All 4 are in the 600-800 range and all four are *supposedly* pretty good for bigger riders with a pretty comfortable configuration for commuting.

 

Of course, don't be surprised if I end up with a Harley Davidson Electra Glide...

 

One more thing for you to consider is insurance quotes on the bike you are thinking of getting .it might be a bit steep for you as a new rider

[Alcoblog]

One more thing for you to consider is insurance quotes on the bike you are thinking of getting .it might be a bit steep for you as a new rider

Not if you buy a Harley... they have their own insurance company. When I was looking to buying a V-rod, I was nearly put off entirely due to insurance companies saying they wouldn't insure it, or an astronomical amount.

I explained this to the Harley dealership, who told me the hitherto unknown to me fact that they (Harley Davidson) have their own insurance department.

This ended up being less than a tenth of other quotes, including free international rescue (not the Tracy's) as well as spare bike (if holidaying abroad for example) plus hotels / flights etc paid for (as well as the bike being bought back to my nearest dealership for repair).

Suffice to say, I bought the bike.

[davyboy]

I've been in the unfortunate position of experiencing both at once: an Escort van, stationary in a queue of traffic (going straight on), deciding to queue-jump (to turn right) out of the blue precisely at the moment I reached level with its back bumper (I was filtering at, call it a brisk walking pace, but no faster).

 

I had headlight on and hi-vis gear on (and a bright red helmet), and IIRC I was freewheeling at the time (approaching the junction in about 4 or 5 cars' length, light for us was green, but city centre so lots of peripheral things in motion, I was intending to speed up again after the junction) so not very noisy. The guy never checked his mirror once. He just floored it with turning, just as I was levelling with him. But we both had fast reflexes thankfully, so we ended up stopped, with his car at an angle to the queue, and me leaning with the bike (125cc twist'n'go job) against his driver door/window (after my handlebar had taken his wing mirror clean off).

 

Being a very safe driver means sod all I'm afraid, since you're not alone on the roads. And if you're not going to do "anything to jeopardise yourself", then I'd add filtering (however safely) to your list of "don'ts".

 

Many years ago I had a Triumph tigress scooter

I was overtaking a van when he suddenly turned right into a side road.

No signal. I was halfway alongside him when I saw his front wheel turn

My immediate thought was ...you're dead Dave.

The scooter lodged under his wheel arch I shot over my windscreen and hit the road.

In those days helmets were not obligatory but I had one ... luckily.

The helmet had a dent at the back exactly like an egg tapped with a spoon!.

Next day I had an enormous bruise on the inside of my thigh from the knee to just short of my wedding tackle where I had scraped my screen as I went over the top.

Happy days.

[Treeman893]

Hi tzijlstra, ignore all the doom merchants. I started in 2003 at the age of 53, 150,000 miles later and I still love it. If you go banging round like an idiot bikes are dangerous, if you ride as if every car driver is an idiot you will be a lot safer.

Only accident I have had is while stationary at traffic lights in Broomhill and a police car came through on red.

My son has the MT07 and loves it, I have ridden it a couple of times and it is a great bike. Get it done man but always take care.

[daducky88]

Govt figures say this is false.

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-road-fatalities

 

What is the source for your claim?

 

I'd say road design and seat belts are responsible for cutting fatalities.

But I'd say there is a higher traffic density now than say in the 70s. and a lot of younger drivers try to "own" the road i.e. straddle the white line rather than stick to their own side, when 2 cars could pass, especially in Sheffield. This kind of hogging and the Sheffield habit of foaming at the mouth if some dares slow another party eg by pulling out from a side road or a parking space, would suggest a certain aggressive of Sheffield drivers.

 

---------- Post added 03-08-2017 at 13:14 ----------

 

Darnit I thought that was when you hit your 50s! Is 40s the new 50s???

 

I don't really care though, I am fully aware I can only consider this as disposable income has become more readily available. I suppose as a teen with dreams you don't realise that 1500£ a month doesn't actually allow you to spend 500£ on whatever the hell you like

 

@Flexo - a 125 is not really an option for me, the reason is simple, I'll probably weigh close to what the bike will weigh. The combination will make for a rather sluggish performance overall and I think that would put me off riding in general.

 

I fully anticipate riding a motorbike the way I ride a car - thinking at least two or three steps ahead of what is around me and, if I feel I am in an unsafe situation either accelerating out of that or decelerating away from it. Tricky to explain I suppose, but let's say I've got the mind of a (classic) Volvo driver - everybody on the road is an idiot (until proven otherwise).

 

I don't think I'll be doing a lot of fancy filtering and swerving in and out of traffic. Just take up a primary road-position and if opportunity presents itself take it. That is how I used to ride my mopeds as well (and some of those could easily outrun most passenger cars at the time - especially as I was a lot nimbler then hah!)

 

Finally - I will definitely get all the training I can get before regularly venturing out. There will be a period where I'll just do 'fair weather-touring' until I feel confident enough in my abilities to deal with the day-to-day tremudgery of a commute.

 

 

 

What about the kawasaki Z300?

I've been riding bikes for an eternity. My main ride is an R1 which is a piece classy engineering. I heard its capable of 0-60mph in 0.3 secs and 0-100 in 1.3 secs. But I haven't tried that yet and anyway its probably load of bull. But I also have a Kawasaki ZXR400. This is a great little bike with a surprisingly strong engine. Massive flat spot around 3k rpm, but from 4krpm onwards it pulls strongly up to and beyond 100mph. So one doesn't need a big cc bike to easily pull up the speed. If I were you, I stick to something under 400cc or maybe the Honda CB500 which a good steady number. Stick with the 1st bike for a few years to get the feel of corners, counter steering (as bikes are rear wheel drive of course), managing your acceleration in wet conditions, practic/s?ing emergency braking in wet and dry (empty!) carparks of industrial compund roads out of hours, defensive road positioning, pillions, changing the fuses, charging the battery, removing the battery for freezing weather (almost no body insulation on the bike), understanding good choices of tyre (both from the same line). Then after a few years, buy yourself a 600-750cc. But for Gods sake don;t buy yourself a 1000cc at the beginning. It'd be like asking a school leaver to take over the running of the Amazon.

 

---------- Post added 03-08-2017 at 13:26 ----------

 

I have a big heavy 750 bobber and love it ! Yes its dangerous out there, yes i have nearly been killed on it a few times, i will not live in fear of death epecially doing what i love so if it happens so be it, anybody that does i pitty them.

 

I know that feeling. Some loon pulls out directly in front of you and the bike goes down and you too, while the adrenalin is flooding the body. When you standup, the Hulk transformation has happened. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry Mr Bruce.

Edited August 3, 2017 by daducky88

[esme]

...

@Flexo - a 125 is not really an option for me, the reason is simple, I'll probably weigh close to what the bike will weigh. The combination will make for a rather sluggish performance overall and I think that would put me off riding in general

....

I have a 125 scooter, I bought it in 2000 but it still performs. It's a maxi scooter and even so I weigh nearly as much as the bike. Even with a pillion I can keep up with traffic & do motorway speeds. I used to commute to Cambridge twice a week for about 6 months on it. Don't write off 125's completely, it depends what you get, shop around.

[daducky88]

Very fair comment... one thing I have been wondering was whether I should just take an extended number of lessons (they provide bikes and equipment, right?) and take it from there. I am well aware that I am not my 16 year old self any more.

 

 

 

You WILL get my name right one day, probably after we have jointly lifted a glass in a local favourite. Re. the Fat Boy, HD is definitely on my radar and when/if it comes to a purchase decision I will certainly test-ride one or two different models. This is mainly due to me realising I am not 16 any more (as above...).

 

You know a Fat Boys a >1500c bike. Hmmm. And you haven't ANY full license experience yet.

 

---------- Post added 03-08-2017 at 13:37 ----------

 

I've been a biker all my life but have given it up now.The roads really are too dangerous,there are potholes everywhere.If you hit one of these you will finish up on your earhole and British roads are hard,especially at 40,and I am way past that.

 

I wonder if its the council's policy in sheff to not bother repairing road surfaces. The London Rd is appalling.

[euclid]

Darnit I thought that was when you hit your 50s! Is 40s the new 50s???

I fully anticipate riding a motorbike the way I ride a car - thinking at least two or three steps ahead of what is around me and, if I feel I am in an unsafe situation either accelerating out of that or decelerating away from it. Tricky to explain I suppose, but let's say I've got the mind of a (classic) Volvo driver - everybody on the road is an idiot (until proven otherwise).

When out on a bike ride it as though "everyone is out to kill you"..this is what most bikers will tell you,...you will suddenly become invisible to lots of "cagers",always have your headlights on.

I don't know if you ended up with a bike but if you have always wanted to do it..then go for it...for choice of one go for a Honda which are known for reliability..as are other Japanese ones,Harleys have a reputation for Unreliability..or used to have??....Triumphs are now very nice bikes too...Road fund depends on the CC....insurance is not that expensive depending what you buy. I currently have two bikes...Honda's....1500cc Goldwing with six cylinder engine (over 26 years old) ,VTX 1800cc V-Twin,....for both, insurance fully comp including full breakdown recovery £167 on a multi bike policy....Just to add i started biking in the 60's and went back to it after a 30 year break,i started again with a VT600/750/1200 G/Wing/ and now the ones i still have...Don't be put off,Have a run to Willingham Woods one weekend and speak to some bikers ,there will be hundreds there.

 

Never understood the point of a side car

 

The point of a sidecar outfit when i started biking was it turned the bike into a trike...which meant you could ride a lot bigger CC one on "L" plates,at the time you could only ride up to a 250cc,so lots took the chair off the sidecar frame and used them like that...

[ivan edake]

When out on a bike ride it as though "everyone is out to kill you"..this is what most bikers will tell you,...you will suddenly become invisible to lots of "cagers",always have your headlights on.

I don't know if you ended up with a bike but if you have always wanted to do it..then go for it...for choice of one go for a Honda which are known for reliability..as are other Japanese ones,Harleys have a reputation for Unreliability..or used to have??....Triumphs are now very nice bikes too...Road fund depends on the CC....insurance is not that expensive depending what you buy. I currently have two bikes...Honda's....1500cc Goldwing with six cylinder engine (over 26 years old) ,VTX 1800cc V-Twin,....for both, insurance fully comp including full breakdown recovery £167 on a multi bike policy....Just to add i started biking in the 60's and went back to it after a 30 year break,i started again with a VT600/750/1200 G/Wing/ and now the ones i still have...Don't be put off,Have a run to Willingham Woods one weekend and speak to some bikers ,there will be hundreds there.

 

 

 

The point of a sidecar outfit when i started biking was it turned the bike into a trike...which meant you could ride a lot bigger CC one on "L" plates,at the time you could only ride up to a 250cc,so lots took the chair off the sidecar frame and used them like that...

Yes that is correct.In fact there used to be a sidecar called "The Sidewinder".This was not rigidly attached to the bike but was attached in such a way that the bike could be leaned hard over to both left and right without the sidewinders wheel leaving the road.

 

---------- Post added 06-08-2017 at 15:01 ----------

 

Hi tzijlstra, ignore all the doom merchants. I started in 2003 at the age of 53, 150,000 miles later and I still love it. If you go banging round like an idiot bikes are dangerous, if you ride as if every car driver is an idiot you will be a lot safer.

Only accident I have had is while stationary at traffic lights in Broomhill and a police car came through on red.

My son has the MT07 and loves it, I have ridden it a couple of times and it is a great bike. Get it done man but always take care.

 

150,000 miles in 14 years for someone now pushing 70,that's some claim.