BUT - most of the time you can only go as fast as the car in front, even on motoways half the time and if you can bury the go pedal into the floor there'll be a constabule not far away
Why don't more of you ride bikes?
- Thread starter eidolon
- Start date
BUT - most of the time you can only go as fast as the car in front, even on motoways half the time and if you can bury the go pedal into the floor there'll be a constabule not far away
I am a speed junkie, and have been riding bikes since I was 6 and know where the OP is coming from. My last bike was a year old GSXR 1000 which cost 5.6K, and would absolutely frazzle your brain with its ludicrous power to weight ratio, I never stopped grinning everytime I rode it. The only thing that stopped me was a slipped disc and getting fat.
However I would temper it all with a cautionary tale, I gave a mate a pillion ride on a 600cc sports bike, and he was amazed how quick it was, so he went out and did his DAS, I sourced him a mint low mileage GSXR600, picking it up for him, and riding it 150 miles home.
The first day he rode it to work he looped it at the lights, then within a few months had another accident. Despite not seriously hurting himself, I still feel slightly responsible for encouraging him to get a bike, I assumed everyone would have the self control and a healthy dose of self preservation to ride safely, but I realize that's not always the case.
However I would temper it all with a cautionary tale, I gave a mate a pillion ride on a 600cc sports bike, and he was amazed how quick it was, so he went out and did his DAS, I sourced him a mint low mileage GSXR600, picking it up for him, and riding it 150 miles home.
The first day he rode it to work he looped it at the lights, then within a few months had another accident. Despite not seriously hurting himself, I still feel slightly responsible for encouraging him to get a bike, I assumed everyone would have the self control and a healthy dose of self preservation to ride safely, but I realize that's not always the case.
BUT - most of the time you can only go as fast as the car in front, even on motoways half the time and if you can bury the go pedal into the floor there'll be a constabule not far away
Can't work out if you mean the car or the bike? I don't get stuck behind many cars on the bike.
But yeah, even with a fast car it's much harder to have a 'spirited' drive due to the amount of traffic. On a bike that is not really an issue.
Because, as many others have said I'm afraid of dying or life changing injuries. I know that I'd get carried away and have an off or get caught doing silly speeds, and even if I was sensible then there's always the chance that another driver will make a mistake for you.
My father has always loved bikes and had a few sports bikes when I was younger. However, he did have a couple of crashes, the last of which many years ago could have killed him, but he got away with a few metal pins in him. That was the end of his biking, and apart from the reasons I've stated bikes just don't excite me, I know they're very fast and I also know that I'm not interested.
My father has always loved bikes and had a few sports bikes when I was younger. However, he did have a couple of crashes, the last of which many years ago could have killed him, but he got away with a few metal pins in him. That was the end of his biking, and apart from the reasons I've stated bikes just don't excite me, I know they're very fast and I also know that I'm not interested.
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I grew up with my uncle regularly putting his body into hedges, fields, fences, cars, buildings etc.
Whilst I always considered his bikes to be cool as a kid because of the noise of his, they have zero appeal to me now.
When people talk about bikes to me, I switch off. I'm sure most people do the same when I talk cars, but it just isnt for me.
My old housemate works for Harley and has a chop which is very cool. A mutual friend of ours builds amazing bikes also. Many of them award winning. If I was into bikes, I would probably ride something like that as they are both part of an interesting, lively community. Surprisingly, they both dislike sports bikes
Whilst I always considered his bikes to be cool as a kid because of the noise of his, they have zero appeal to me now.
When people talk about bikes to me, I switch off. I'm sure most people do the same when I talk cars, but it just isnt for me.
My old housemate works for Harley and has a chop which is very cool. A mutual friend of ours builds amazing bikes also. Many of them award winning. If I was into bikes, I would probably ride something like that as they are both part of an interesting, lively community. Surprisingly, they both dislike sports bikes
Because I've seen far too many dead during my years on the road, usually in a horrific manner, some that I still have nightmares about.
Watching somebody die in front of you - as I have, more than once, is more than enough to put you off his passion, in my case anyway!
Watching somebody die in front of you - as I have, more than once, is more than enough to put you off his passion, in my case anyway!
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BUT - most of the time you can only go as fast as the car in front, even on motoways half the time and if you can bury the go pedal into the floor there'll be a constabule not far away
However you can get past that car in half a second or so, and are much more likely to be able to do this than in any car. It's actually ONLY motorways where you tend to get slowed down by stuff in front.
This.
I've had Focus RS's, a 280bhp Fiesta ST and various other hot hatches and just nothing can provide the buzz for me.
Only thing that has come close is a Radical, and I can't afford one of those.
I now own a £15k 190bhp superbike which is Vauxhall Astra money.... It's mentally fast and shouldn't be legal. It's like a drug.
I know what you mean Eddie. I had an f800 courtesy bike the other day. ONLY 80 odd hp, felt slow as a half-legged dog. Back on my 175hp k felt like... I can never give it up
. And mine weighs rather much more than yours... Barnstormer were trying to tempt me on to one of yours the other day...
Thats another reason I've never been tempted by bikes, I have 0 instincts for self preservation.
Soldato
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Because:
A) you have to spend 10mins zipping yourself up in a leather suit every time you go out.
B) you're exposed to the elements. So you're either sweaty and gross or wet and freezing.
C) you're at risk of being squashed by cars, tumbling into fences, slipping over on manhole covers, potholes etc.
D) you have to be concentrating at all times to maintain your balance.
E) no stereo.
F) no storage space, you can't buy anything while you're out.
G) even having one passenger is a complete pain.
H) ruins your hair by the time you get to your destination.
I) most sports cars are plenty fast enough for most roads. Unsure why anyone needs such straight line acceleration that a bike has.
J) they all sound like hair driers compared to any larger engined car.
A) you have to spend 10mins zipping yourself up in a leather suit every time you go out.
B) you're exposed to the elements. So you're either sweaty and gross or wet and freezing.
C) you're at risk of being squashed by cars, tumbling into fences, slipping over on manhole covers, potholes etc.
D) you have to be concentrating at all times to maintain your balance.
E) no stereo.
F) no storage space, you can't buy anything while you're out.
G) even having one passenger is a complete pain.
H) ruins your hair by the time you get to your destination.
I) most sports cars are plenty fast enough for most roads. Unsure why anyone needs such straight line acceleration that a bike has.
J) they all sound like hair driers compared to any larger engined car.
The idiot within me worries me less than those without.
A girl I work with was wearing full leathers and a massive hi-vis jacket when she was sideswiped about 100 yards from our works exit several months back, in broad daylight. It was a low speed collision, but there was absolutely nothing she could've done to avoid it and she was pretty badly banged up. The driver of the car that hit her simply didn't notice her. Then there's the guy I work with who walks like one leg is shorter than the other after someone went into him resulting in his knee being de-gloved. Etc etc.
There are too many nasty stories I've heard first hand for me to want to ever get on a bike.
A girl I work with was wearing full leathers and a massive hi-vis jacket when she was sideswiped about 100 yards from our works exit several months back, in broad daylight. It was a low speed collision, but there was absolutely nothing she could've done to avoid it and she was pretty badly banged up. The driver of the car that hit her simply didn't notice her. Then there's the guy I work with who walks like one leg is shorter than the other after someone went into him resulting in his knee being de-gloved. Etc etc.
There are too many nasty stories I've heard first hand for me to want to ever get on a bike.
Associate
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I'm with pioneer, with the exception of H
Plus I certainly don't have confidence in some/most other road users
Plus I certainly don't have confidence in some/most other road users
It's just not worth it in the UK, but as I'm moving to Switzerland I finally got off my arse and got my licence and a bike.
There is a lack of good weather and fun roads in the UK (IMO). More importantly though, people in Switzerland/France seem to be used to bikers and look out for them, whereas here they all seem to want to kill me!
There is a lack of good weather and fun roads in the UK (IMO). More importantly though, people in Switzerland/France seem to be used to bikers and look out for them, whereas here they all seem to want to kill me!
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Caporegime
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I have no self restraint and am easily egged on in my car so that would be a no from me as I would end up in a coffin. I had a moped at 16 and thats where it ends.
I have always pondered the possibility of learning for a pure track basis as the risks are smaller and the budget is smaller compared to club racing in a car. Plus Cadwell Park is just down the road.
I have always pondered the possibility of learning for a pure track basis as the risks are smaller and the budget is smaller compared to club racing in a car. Plus Cadwell Park is just down the road.
I might get a slowish one one day just for the experience of riding a bike, but I don't think I'd want to go at motorway speeds with a bike. I think if I ever had enough money though, I'd probably just invest it into either improving the car I have or getting a better one.
I got all (well most) of bikes out my system in my yoof. I was a speedway rider, starting out (self funded) on a 2 valve jawa and moving up to Eddie Jancarz's ex works (world final) Weslake.
Why did I quit in my prime (I was 21) ?
Like Johnny Herbert was to learn later.. it's not what you know.. It's who you know and it was a very heartbreaking expensive lesson at that !
Anyway.. I'd had quite a few bikes up to then anyway but always reserved my "loonyism" for the track where everyone is going the same way and first aid is there immediately.
As for modern bikes.. My bro let me have a go on his Suki 1100 (with him on the back) and changing gear normally I felt a whack on my back and him screaming "slow down you t..." .... I was doing 150 mph without realising or even trying.
Sod that.. I'd either end up dead or lose my licence.
Why did I quit in my prime (I was 21) ?
Like Johnny Herbert was to learn later.. it's not what you know.. It's who you know and it was a very heartbreaking expensive lesson at that !
Anyway.. I'd had quite a few bikes up to then anyway but always reserved my "loonyism" for the track where everyone is going the same way and first aid is there immediately.
As for modern bikes.. My bro let me have a go on his Suki 1100 (with him on the back) and changing gear normally I felt a whack on my back and him screaming "slow down you t..." .... I was doing 150 mph without realising or even trying.
Sod that.. I'd either end up dead or lose my licence.
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They are not really faster on a run. I just came back from a trip to watch the Assen moto gp. Two cars and 10 bikes. The cars beat the bikes to the destinations every time, depending on what bike some had to stop every 80 miles for fuel whereas we stopped every 400 odd.
When it rained I put my wipers on they all had to stop and put on waterproofs.
When it rained I put my wipers on they all had to stop and put on waterproofs.
Not true.Because:
A) you have to spend 10mins zipping yourself up in a leather suit every time you go out.
Not true. I don't own a set of leathers.
B) you're exposed to the elements. So you're either sweaty and gross or wet and freezing.
Mmm, so so. I get full of dirt and don't mind.
C) you're at risk of being squashed by cars, tumbling into fences, slipping over on manhole covers, potholes etc.
There are risks to anyone who's near a road, pedestrians, cyclists etc.
D) you have to be concentrating at all times to maintain your balance.
Really! Just lol
E) no stereo.
You could have a MP3 player etc, but I prefer to listen to the engine.
F) no storage space, you can't buy anything while you're out.
Some have storage, or you could just put stuff in a back pack.
G) even having one passenger is a complete pain.
Not on all bikes.
H) ruins your hair by the time you get to your destination.
Most are bald. lol
I) most sports cars are plenty fast enough for most roads. Unsure why anyone needs such straight line acceleration that a bike has.
It's not all about acceleration and top speed. Your a much bigger part of the machine, you feel the suspension loading/unloading as you flip from left to right, brake and squeeze the power on.
You can feel the road surface changing, the tire squiggling the smell of the things around you, the sound and vibration of the engine etc. So much information to feed your senses.
Get home, kick back with a cold one and remember the day with a huge grin on your face.
J) they all sound like hair driers compared to any larger engined car.
I also take mine off road, rocky hills to descend and climb, river crossings, dirt trails through the countryside.
Grinning as you steer it with the rear, #### twitching as your loosing the front, bars shaking over bumpy fast sections and laughing as other people have silly falls.
Great days out with a great bunch of lads, clean off the numberplate and ride home.
My car......Just transport.