I'm in a 300hp S3 at the moment. It's certainly not slow. I'm also about to learn to ride. Why? Well bikes are awesome and I want to know if they're as fun as they look to ride. I would probably be a sunny sunday rider only though as my bike is an old classic and I don't really want to get rain on it lol (1976 Triumph Bonneville T140V).
Why don't more of you ride bikes?
- Thread starter eidolon
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Riding since 2010 and ill be honest the danger side I didn't even think about. I'm no speed demon and what got me into bikes was watching the tv series long way round. I like my adventure bikes I have a tiger 800xc and its fast enough for what I want and how I ride. I don't drive a car, but I think I am more aware than the typical driver. I keep to speed limits in towns and slowdown when I pass junctions just in case.
I have fallen off three times, first was stopping at a junction. I put my foot on the ground and there was a bit of a dip so just fell over
Second was in 2012 in November went about 10mph at around about it was icy and I fell off. minor bike damage and a bleeding nose. Third time was 2013fell off my bike parking my bike in an icy car park, once again minor damage.
I ride everyday and I only once had a near miss with a car but that was my fault for speeding around a blind corner.
I have fallen off three times, first was stopping at a junction. I put my foot on the ground and there was a bit of a dip so just fell over
Second was in 2012 in November went about 10mph at around about it was icy and I fell off. minor bike damage and a bleeding nose. Third time was 2013fell off my bike parking my bike in an icy car park, once again minor damage.
I ride everyday and I only once had a near miss with a car but that was my fault for speeding around a blind corner.
The track day bug bites. I did the race school last year and last Friday was blasting around a soaking wet Anglesey on my track bike faster than I'd ever imagine riding in the wet on the road. Racing wets are good
The track day bug bites. I did the race school last year and last Friday was blasting around a soaking wet Anglesey on my track bike faster than I'd ever imagine riding in the wet on the road. Racing wets are good
The surface at Anglesey was really good in the wet even years back when it was still pretty new, lot better than places like Donington and Oulton tbh. Downside being it was much harder on tyres in the dry I always found.
I think you are painting a prettier picture than reality here. A suitable bike is definitely 100% less stable than a suitable car at high speed. In a generic diesel Audi you could corner at 150 MPH without having to be very precise or careful with your inputs. If it got a bit lairy, it would mostly sort itself out. Are you suggesting you can be nonchalant with a bike at 150 MPH?
My car can do about 170 MPH or so and I'm pretty sure I'd be having a more relaxing time at that speed than you would be on your bike
Think I'd wonder what sort of corners you'd find you could take at 150mph in a car without needing to be precise or careful? Getting lairy at that sort of speed wouldn't end well imho, car or bike.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.3...ata=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s29AhJD9seYj63nLeJSYoqw!2e0
Something like that I guess, more of a bend than a 'corner'!
In a car you can just turn and hold, brake a bit if you need to, change lanes... but in a bike you're going to be on some pretty serious lean at 150 MPH, with surely very few options if the situation pans out anything but perfectly?
I've never seen a bike bother going much above 140 MPH but have seen plenty of cars. My guess is then either a) car drivers are loonier, or b) there's something far more taxing about riding a bike at 150+ MPH than driving a car!
I'd probably say that sort of bend on a bike at those speeds you'd need less lean than you'd think. Course doing those sorts of speeds even on a straight is more comfortable in a car but then that's why some people prefer the physical aspects of bike riding compared to cars.
I can't think of many times at all back when I had my roadbikes (long time ago tho
) that I ever came across cars doing speeds like we're talking about, maybe different driving abroad. Can recall one time following a T5 Volvo on the A50 pretty much flat-out watching a kiddie waving to me from the back window 
but that was on a decent 400. Had to make a fuel stop on the M6 after that for a trip I could usually do on a tankful!
In general terms I expect statistics show the majority of accidents which involve bikes happen at a lot lower speeds that triple figures and involve another vehicle in one way or another. Will stand corrected if that's not the case.
I can't think of many times at all back when I had my roadbikes (long time ago tho
) that I ever came across cars doing speeds like we're talking about, maybe different driving abroad. Can recall one time following a T5 Volvo on the A50 pretty much flat-out watching a kiddie waving to me from the back window but that was on a decent 400. Had to make a fuel stop on the M6 after that for a trip I could usually do on a tankful!In general terms I expect statistics show the majority of accidents which involve bikes happen at a lot lower speeds that triple figures and involve another vehicle in one way or another. Will stand corrected if that's not the case.
Hehe, what I was trying to do was to counter ... the guy above saying unstable or whatnot at speed. They aren't. Also yes, that curve is bugger all.
But I suppose the one big downside is that it's so boring sitting there at massive high speeds for extended periods. As tl45 said, the greater connection etc. you have to the bike, it makes you want to use it. You know, corners and such.
Boop.
But I suppose the one big downside is that it's so boring sitting there at massive high speeds for extended periods. As tl45 said, the greater connection etc. you have to the bike, it makes you want to use it. You know, corners and such.
Boop.
Hey geekman. I'd disagree about the start of your statement/question. Most large capacity bikes that are built to go to high speeds are designed to be stable at those speeds. (Geometry, steering dampers and the like).
My bike can get to 175mph. I've yet to go that high, but it feels very stable and much nicer at 130mph (autobahn) than my Octavia MkI VRS, which is probably near it's operating ceiling at that speed. Whereas an M3 feels fine at 130mph. Stopping, turning etc. from these speeds, all fine. Wind? Remember most cars are a big sail for a cross-wind. Bikes are a much smaller one, often with multiple holes going through them.
My old SV650 (apparently it'd do 120ish, I forget) felt a little less confidence-inspiring at 100mph, but much happier than doing 100mph in a little Corsa or Saxo.
Re your last part about doing high speeds because you can, I disagree again. There's something about knowing you have that power, and not having to use it all the time. It's like the cars you see flying along in the outside lane of the M40, I see diesel commuters, miniature city cars going all out. I look to the inside lane and see the 360s, R8s etc.
As I think has been said, going fast isn't all that exciting, getting there is, going round corners etc. is far more fun.
For sure I can understand the people who give lack of self-restraint as a reason, but maybe that's something to work on to help avoid killing yourself in some awesome double-flip rolling fireball crash off the side of the M4 elevated section
The only bike experience I've got is riding a 250cc moped on deserted roads in Italy, so I guess I should bow to your superior knowledge
However, I just can't see it. I've spent a fair bit of time at my car's maximum speed and it feels much the same as it does at 90-100, and I've never got the feeling that I'm at risk of losing control. Perhaps it'd be the same on a bike, but I just can't get my head around the practicalities of that: how can a bike with two small contact patches be affected by road surface/corners less than a car with four massive contact patches?
I'm not saying I'd drive a bike everywhere at 170MPH, but I'd probably max it fairly frequently when I got a nice clear stretch of motorway, just as I do in my car. And I could see myself hitting a pothole or something and it going a lot more wrong for me than it would in a car.
On a good, dry surface you have to do fairly silly things to upset a bike to the point of throwing it down the road (unless assisted by a blind car driver...). The faster you go on a bike, the more it wants to keep going straight so more effort is needed to make it change direction, so it's not like they are trying to throw themselves off the road.
Cresting a hill fast enough that you significantly unload the suspension, or getting on the power too early and causing the rear tyre to slip can make for exciting times, but you need to be in full loon mode to do that on a public road. For those that like to rely on electronics to save their arses, modern bikes now come with ABS, traction control, anti-wheelie etc.
On slippery surface with a powerful bike and no rider aids then yes, it is very definitely easier to upset them.
Obviously you can also upset a car quite easily by pushing too hard, the big difference being that it's far easier to recover from a slide in a car than on a bike.
The only bike experience I've got is riding a 250cc moped on deserted roads in Italy, so I guess I should bow to your superior knowledge
However, I just can't see it. I've spent a fair bit of time at my car's maximum speed and it feels much the same as it does at 90-100, and I've never got the feeling that I'm at risk of losing control. Perhaps it'd be the same on a bike, but I just can't get my head around the practicalities of that: how can a bike with two small contact patches be affected by road surface/corners less than a car with four massive contact patches?
I'm not saying I'd drive a bike everywhere at 170MPH, but I'd probably max it fairly frequently when I got a nice clear stretch of motorway, just as I do in my car. And I could see myself hitting a pothole or something and it going a lot more wrong for me than it would in a car.
I think maybe you just don't realise how fast you're going in your car. Climate controlled noise dampened atmospheres often jade your opinion of the danger.
Cars have double the chance of a blow out
Soldato
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I've just bought a 2013 KTM Duke 690 after 3.5 years without a bike (have been riding motorbikes since 2002) and am loving it. The combination of great performance and the fact that you are relatively vulnerable as a rider gives me an adrenaline rush I've never felt in any car. I love fast cars equally to bikes but I became fed up of the high running costs that come with running a performance car so I'd rather get my speed fix from a bike. Only problem is now I want a Superduke and 180bhp on a 190kg naked bike is going to be utterly mental, not to mention the fact that they cost £14000
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Soldato
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Good choice
It's amazing, can't believe how much fun it is to ride. Just got to resist the temptation to trade up to a Superduke...
I understand some folks being scared ect,esp with todays traffic
you will get used to it though,it just comes with experience,and you will come off...lots
all I can say is just take care, keep your witts about you and you'll be ok
you will get used to it though,it just comes with experience,and you will come off...lots
all I can say is just take care, keep your witts about you and you'll be ok
Soldato
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id love a bike, reasons I don't are:
1. I would hardly get chance to ride it
2. Had a lot of deaths in the family from bikes
3. my Mrs would punch me in the nuts
4. I cant afford to run a car and a bike
5. if you go somewhere on a bike you spend the day walking around in stupid bike gear
1. I would hardly get chance to ride it
2. Had a lot of deaths in the family from bikes
3. my Mrs would punch me in the nuts
4. I cant afford to run a car and a bike
5. if you go somewhere on a bike you spend the day walking around in stupid bike gear
That's not strictly true, for instance I've been riding for 22 years and come off once, and it was my fault for riding like a ****.
Ride sensibly, pay attention, and you will stay on just fine.
Car drivers and HGV drivers doing the same thing and not crashing into you, well that's a different thing entirely.