Why not be a power ranger ?

[Flukester]

What happened to Helpimcrap is a perfect example of why i wouldn't ride a bike. The injuries he's sustained are terrible and you may well say that similar injuries can occur if you drive a car, but the likelyhood of it happening is far less. It doesn't matter how experienced you are, if someone decides to pull out on you or if an animal runs out in front of you etc you're going to get hurt in some way or another.

Car's are just safer - however bikes offer epic excitement for a small cost.



Lets not make it any shorter

People die and get injured everyday on the roads... if you use your head the risks prolly are not that more. I could say to a point that if someone is 'pulling out' on you you have made a error in not spotting it.

Only once had a near miss with a deer in 22 years of countryside riding, so don't think it's a problem.


I think you summed up well why many won't do it, just fear, the fun your missing out on is epic though . Fear is a part of biking, I can hand on heart say my bike does scare me at times (a lot), the day I'm not scared of it is the day I should prolly sell it and buy a car as it would be way too dangerous then.

 

[rsatd]

*Snip*

True, a car would be better for that, however I was simply correcting people who think that because their casual clothes isn't waterproof that motorbike gear isn't as well.

Also you only actually sweat when you are stopped on a particularly hot summer day... When you are going without having to unzip the coat, at least with moderate gear you do. And I am guessing more expensive stuff is even better.

 

[Sagalout]

Theres two main uses for bikes - as practical transport, and as a leisure activity.

As practical transport the only advantages they have over cars are the ability to get there a lot quicker and, more often than not, the ability to park for free right by your destination. Otherwise if you're not in a rush and can cope with the queues a car is the more practical and sensible choice.

As a leisure activity, a bike is far far more rewarding than a car. Faster, more exciting, in some ways more practical (try going to the coast in a car on a sunny bank holiday weekend!) unless you need to take the kids.

 

[Janesy B]

• I will kill myself on one
• I don't want to have to drag my helmet/waterproofs and other associated gear around with me
• I need a boot for carrying rubbish
• I don't trust motorists, they just don't pay attention to bikers
• Bikes are too easy to steal and I have no means of securing one
• The insurance on a reasonable bike is prohibitive for someone of my age and my area

I would love to hoon around on a motorcycle but i'm too much of a wimp

 

[craptakular]

I thought about doing my bike test, but then I realised there totally impracticle. I would sweat to death in leather.

I would probably break my back and be crippled in some horrible accident, my luck is so bad the accident wouldn't kill, just leave me like a vegetable.

Bikes are gay, there I said it.

 

[Sagalout]

I think you summed up well why many won't do it, just fear, the fun your missing out on is epic though

Yeah, I think thats it. Personally a little bit of fear is what lifes all about. A little adreneline rush every now again can only be good for you.

Loads of my friends think I'm mad for riding a bike, and my wifes friends think she's mad for letting me! The thing is, unless you've tried it you dont know what a bikes like - they are easier to rider and safer than most people think. Most people only experience two wheels in bicycle form, or perhaps a small scooter, but a proper motorbike is far far safe and more stable that you'd imagine.

 

[Gaygle]

People die and get injured everyday on the roads... if you use your head the risks prolly are not that more.

Well statistics say that you are 20x more likely to be killed riding a bike than driving a car, so make of it what you will. The risks are definately greater. In a car you have a margin for error, on a bike there is little or no margin.

I could say to a point that if someone is 'pulling out' on you you have made a error in not spotting it.

You can't spot everything? If the driver pulls out 10 metres before you get to him, what are you going to do then? Even at 30mph that's going to be incredibly difficult to avoid, let alone higher speeds.

Only once had a near miss with a deer in 22 years of countryside riding, so don't think it's a problem.

I have no idea how you've managed to do that. I've driven for 4 years in the country side and i've lost count of the amount of deer/cows/fox's/badgers/pheasants that have run out in front of me and i've had to take evasive action.

I think you summed up well why many won't do it, just fear, the fun your missing out on is epic though . Fear is a part of biking, I can hand on heart say my bike does scare me at times (a lot), the day I'm not scared of it is the day I should prolly sell it and buy a car as it would be way too dangerous then.

I agree. I am definately missing out on epic fun (i've been a passenger on a bike only once before, but i still remember it being SO damn fun ). But for me, it comes down to risk vs reward. On a bike you risk a lot more, but the reward (fun) is far greater. In a car, the risk is reduced but so is the reward.

I'd choose the latter, you'd choose the former, it's as simple as that

 

[Flukester]

Yeah, I think thats it. Personally a little bit of fear is what lifes all about. A little adreneline rush every now again can only be good for you.

Loads of my friends think I'm mad for riding a bike, and my wifes friends think she's mad for letting me! The thing is, unless you've tried it you dont know what a bikes like - they are easier to rider and safer than most people think. Most people only experience two wheels in bicycle form, or perhaps a small scooter, but a proper motorbike is far far safe and more stable that you'd imagine.

Hah yeah, my fiancee hates bikes, won't go on back and is scared when I go out. But she realizes it's my passion in life and I would never give it up.

 

[Gaygle]

A little adreneline rush every now again can only be good for you.

I can get plenty of that from a car

a proper motorbike is far far safe and more stable that you'd imagine.

I don't think anyone is disputing the ability of the bikes themselves. I'm debating the ability of other road users and unknowns that arise from using the road.

 

[Bigsy]

I wear a shirt tie and trousers under my leathers everyday on my commute and keep a pair of shoes in work, not a problem. In fact I cannot honestly think of a better way to get to work if you work in the center of a large city.

If I need to go somewhere and I don't fancy changing I have some kevlar cargo pants, plus my puma bike boots just look like trainers with the trouser over the top. As for the impracticalities: I run a crappy 306 for shopping and stuff, used to have nice fast cars before I had my bike, but don't need them now they all feel slow, and running a crappy car + bike works out a hell of a lot cheaper than a single nice car.

I guess it has to come down to being scared of dieing with 99% of people, I'm more of the mind set that you have to go sometime, so may as well try and have as much fun as possible, and believe me riding is fun! I've own relatively quick cars (+200bhp) but nothing compares to the buzz of going out for a quick blast on a nice sunny weekend and without even trying destroying a load of sports car drivers who actually think their quick.

 

[Building Candy]

Yesterday morning, A1081, Modeo pulls out, bike doesnt stop in time. Net result was the Modeo needs a rear bumper and a wing mirror, it needs a wing mirror because the chap on the bike caught it as he was flying through the air, he landed in the ditch on the opposite side of the road.

I think for this reason alone the car is probably the best bet.

 

[Dogbreath]

plus points -

- faster than you could possibly imagine
- costs peanuts for beyond supercar performance
- nothing can give you the buzz of pushing a sportsbike hard (IMO)
- what traffic jams ?
- you'll want to go out and just ride for no reason other than riding on a sunny day
- relatively cheap on fuel
- cheap tax
- something thats easy to 'tinker' / 'fettle' with when your bored

As much as I love bikes, and I am constantly tempted to get another, I can't agree with some of the above. Superbikes are certainly far less expensive to run compared to the kind of car you would need to get anywhere near the performance, but I'm not sure they are exactly "cheap to run". They consume expensive tyres at a fair rate, and they consume more fuel than many cars. Service items such as brake disks and pads tend to cost far more than car parts.

However, ignoring costs then IMO it boils down to two main factors stopping most car drivers from using a bike, danger and practicality. Bikes are more dangerous, no-one can deny that, and to be honest it's part of the fun of riding them.

I guess it has to come down to being scared of dieing with 99% of people, I'm more of the mind set that you have to go sometime, so may as well try and have as much fun as possible,

Do you have a family? Serious question BTW, not being sarky.

 

[Defcon5]

I lack the self control to ride a bike, cant see the license lasting too long!

 

[Bigsy]

Dogbreath, I totally take your point, I don't have kids. I wasn't mocking people for being scared at all. And of course I'm quite open to the fact that my outlook on life could easily change based on many factors, not just having kids.

 

[DreXeL]

I'd love to get a bike, but I have no self control and I know for an absolute fact that I would end up being a bloody, pulpy mess getting mopped up with a sponge.

 

[peterattheboro]

My negative....



DEATH!!!

 

[Flukester]

I'd love to get a bike, but I have no self control and I know for an absolute fact that I would end up being a bloody, pulpy mess getting mopped up with a sponge.

a lot of people saying this, but surely you have self control in a car ?, I guess the difference is you can get away with it in a car.. but even so, doesn't take much effort to hold back on the old throttle

 

[Randell Floyd]

Because in my job we tend to scoop up a lot of bikers, who are usually blame free. The ones who's fault it is are usually being picked up by the dead bus.

Though saying that a lot of the ambulance service do ride bikes, and one day when I have a couple thousand spare I do fancy doing my bike training.

 

[Solari]

I know I would end up thrashing the crap out of it and becoming some sort of splattered mural on a wall.

Was going to get one when I was 20 as all my mates had bikes but my mum & sister managed to talk me out of it.

 

[Flukester]

Because in my job we tend to scoop up a lot of bikers, who are usually blame free. The ones who's fault it is are usually being picked up by the dead bus.

Though saying that a lot of the ambulance service do ride bikes, and one day when I have a couple thousand spare I do fancy doing my bike training.

you also have to stand and watch while the fire service cut dead people from squashed cars ?