Pros and cons of motorcycling

[mjharper]

Hi all,

I did my cbt a couple of years back and bought a Huan 125 (cheap chinese thing) It really rattled and the thin tyres at around 60mph had me bricking it tbh!

Within a month I was back in a car. I'm wondering if I just had a bad experience with a crappy Bike? I had never even sat on a motorbike prior to my CBT training and felt pretty insecure on the road.

Non bikers always pipe on about "they're death traps" etc.
I'm no speed demon but like the idea of saving money on MPG and having something for the summer. Can biking be a relatively safe activity?

I'm 27 and have been driving cars for 8 years.

I'm in Uni at the moment and I'm kinda torn between motorcycling or getting an Impreza/Evo when I graduate :D  I'm not here looking for people to convince me to ride as I know it's up to me but what are your main pros and cons especially people that have had 'fast' cars and Bikes.

Thanks!

[snoopy]

There are pros and cons tho everything in life ... you just need to decide how much you are going to make them rule what you do ...All sorts of things are dangerous . biking ''perhaps'' more so than driving a car, Loose control of a fast car and you are liable to get seriously injured ...   You take lots of ''risks'' in life of varying degrees ... You can't always legislate for accidents ..that's why they are ''accidents''

I love my bike, wouldn't give it up, but its not for everyone .... Only a decision You can make. Lots of people ride bikes and never have an accident/off/or bad experience ...its just the way things are .. 

[mjharper]

Thanks Snoopy, I was reading a thread in another forum where Bikers with 20 or 30+ years riding only had 1 or 2 minor incidents.

On the other hand some with less experience had been in intensive care :(

[snoopy]

Thanks Snoopy, I was reading a thread in another forum where Bikers with 20 or 30+ years riding only had 1 or 2 minor incidents.

On the other hand some with less experience had been in intensive care :(

If you don't ride the bike ...you won't get experience ....

[pricey]

hello,  chinese bikes  get a yammy or honda mutch better get youre cbt done then have a test ride on as many bikes as you can, you will then see the difference in how better they are 

[yoyo]

I like this kind of thread!!

I've only been biking 2yrs and from the minute I started my CBT I thought this is for me. Was happy on a 125 and did my test 6 months later to get rid of the L plates but then found big bikes and that was that!

I've dropped one bike a couple of times due to not being used to the weight of it and I've had one crash after I did something stupid.

Is it dangerous? It can be but it's all about the rider and the training. Do your CBT, get a good used Jap bike and do a few hundred miles then have a lesson with a school. I'm sure Red on here will recommend a good North Wales school.

Mrs Yoyo did the chinese bike for 300km and it was crap, vibey and sapped your confidence. She's got a Honda CBF125 and is really happy now.

As for the Evo/Subaru point, you'll have to be traveling bloody fast to have a grin in one of those where a 600 bike will give you more thrills for loads less initial cost/fuel/tax/tyres/servicing etc etc. It's a no brainer!!

Happy riding

[wizurd]

From my point of view I'm gutted I didnt stick with the bike years back.

I passed just over two years ago and I'm 33 now. I did my cbt back when I was 18 and loved it but due to money and situation I let it run out and it's taken this long for me to get on with it.

According to the stats it is more dangerous than driving. But I wouldn't change it cause it's soooo much better than being stuck in the car!

I had a Chinese 125 and they do rattle like hell. Weirdly I actually enjoyed mine lol but I'm probably not all there. But once you get on the bigger bikes wow!

I've had two offs in the first year. Come out ok from it though and it's not put me off. Everything in life is dangerous that's what makes it fun :)

It's up to you obviously and you need to be comfortable with it but I would say stick with it for now get a better 125 and spend some time on it. Then you should have a better idea.

You won't get anywhere near the same fun and excitement from an evo as you will from a bike.

[Pope]

Women love a guy with a fast bike 

A guy with a fast car usually means small cock 

[Tris]

Hmmmmmm Pros are many - the wind whistling through your teeth/hair (if you still have either). There's the feeling of freedom. The cool breeze on a hot day. An end to traffic jams.  Easy parking. Cheap insurance (in my experience with 4 policies all at around £100 each for a ZX9R, XT660Z, VT1100 and my girlfriends SR125).  Straight to the front at traffic lights.  Arrive Alive vans cant catch you speeding towards them :D  The chicks love a biker usually.  Bikers will nearly always stop for a broken down biker and offer help(see how long you sit in a broken down car without a single offer of help). Fuel can last longer depending on your bike and your riding style and many other pros too

The cons? Getting wet is no fun but with the right gear its less severe.  Getting cold is no fun but with the right gear its less severe especially with heated grips and gloves and boot insoles etc.  Snow is really difficult to ride in even with years experience.  Apparently falling off hurts but I luckily have not experienced that since I fell off a 50cc on loose gravel over 20 years ago.  Drivers sometimes/often forget to use their eyes if they indeed have any in on their car journey and you really need to assume they have not seen you even if they are waving at you.  Mr Plod can sometimes like to make an example of you if the wrong one stops you and his wife didnt make his sandwiches that day but the same can be said in a tin can too

Hope this helps some

I love my bikes and use them all year round but occasionally I slum it in a car

[Tris]

oh and my last car was a 3ltr TwinTurbo Soarer on a Toyota Racing Development badge and I used it to drive from a bank to a petrol station and then a bank and then a petrol station etc etc.

A £5k sports bike second-hand will accelerate at a rate similar to a £200k+ car and the maintenance costs and tyres cost but a fraction

[mjharper]

Reassuring to hear no offs in 20 years! that with using it daily for work etc too? Notice you live in Penmaenmawr, do you know Blane 'Inkaholic' Dickinson?

Cheers

[madasmax]

I drive a car for work 30,000 a year bit of drag
ride a bike for pleasure and enjoy every mile
 

[blueracer]

Women love a guy with a fast bike 

A guy with a fast car usually means small cock 

 

[snoopy]

Women love a guy with a fast bike 

A guy with a fast car usually means small cock 

 

Always rely on good constructive help here     

[blueracer]

I have driven cars since the age of 18 like alot of people, but about 7 years ago got board with them and thought about bikes wish i had taken bike test sooner all new different ball game a better one best experience ever