Why don't more of you ride bikes?

[TripleT]

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.

How did you get a bleeding nose?!

Edit: Triple, how do you find the stability on a 125 at speed? Other than my CBT and start of DAS I've never used a 125.

Have you been on a big bike yet? That second day when we switched to GS500 bikes, felt so much more stable, was incredible (see my above long post for reference).

Never been on a big bike but everyone say's they're a lot more stable due to the weight etc. I'm doing my full test next March, I'd have to do my CBT again next Summer so might as well just do my full test. Then we'll see how long I last before getting a new bike... Loving the new Honda CBR650F, right up my street being aimed at commuting etc.

So yer I find stability fine, but have nothing to compare it to as mentioned My commute is all 30mph/40mph roads through town, so having a small light bike to flick through rush hour traffic works well. I have to go to a meeting in Bolton once a month which means going from Bolton > Manchester which is annoying as I can't use motorways (obviously) so have to go A666 and then East Lancs. I must admit on 60mph duel carriageways it's not fun and if I had to do them more often I'd definitely do my test tomorrow!

 

[Hagar]

The last motorbike I owned was a pre unit 1959 model Triumph Thunderbird, 110mph flat out chin on tank, with half width drum brakes and skinny tyres to stop you. Adrenaline through the roof. Exhaust note to die for.

^^ I used to commute Leigh to St Helens on this daily, along the East Lancs and down through Newton le Willows.

 

[Tute]

No thanks. I have faith in my own ability to handle a bike but I don't trust other road users. If someone pulls out on me in the Focus I have all the safety systems, airbags, seatbelt, etc. to protect me and most of the time it's only really going to damage the car.

If the same happens on a bike then it's most likely going to be me over the car's bonnet and crunching limbs against the tarmac.

Always makes me wince when I see bikers doing 100mph+ on the motorway as I think "what if you come off or someone clips you? There's going to be very little left".

 

[bakes0310]

How did you get a bleeding nose?!

Fell off bike sideways, my lid was open and I decided to use my face to soften the blow rather than put my hand down
Funny to see a guy run up to me and look down and say "are you alr..oh dear" blood was all over my face and bike, im a bleeder. When I bleed its OTT, I think from years of being on tablets that thin my blood

Edit: Didn't even break my nose, which I think was kinda impossible not to happen.

 

[NathWraith]

The death replies are ridiculous at best, face it, your missus won't let you have one/you're scared.

What is it with these superiority complex replies from bikers.

 

[XeNoN89]

Death traps

 

[Freefaller]

What is it with these superiority complex replies from bikers.

^^ I don't know.

I'm a biker (well not at the moment) but I know I can push a car harder and feel "safer" as if I **** up in a car, there's less chance of me hurting myself.

I love bikes, I love how fast they are, how easy they are to look after, and how cheap they are for the performance you get. I love nailing a corner and getting it "right". I love how I can filter. I love how I can overtake so seamlessly. I love how pretty much nothing on 4 wheels can keep up with me. I love the freedom of it. I love how you're more exposed to the elements, even if you're going slowly, there's something very nice about a nice undulating country road on a bike. You don't have to be going to quick to get a thrill from a bike.

However, I don't enjoy riding in the wet, I do it if I have to, but I'd rather not. I do not like the fact that people do not see me or anticipate well when I'm on a bike. I don't like the placement of manhole covers or the fact that diesel really is a big problem for bikes.

The thing is, I also like cars and have been driving cars for a lot longer than bikes (16 years vs 10) - preferably something reasonably potent and RWD - so you still have a little bit of "risk" but less so on a bike. As a young man I'd have been a bit reckless on a bike, I'm a thrill seeker and had a few close calls in my youth in my car.

Have I pooed myself more on a bike than in a car? Probably. However I've only ever had 1 crash (not my fault) on the road on the bike, but never as of yet in a car. I wasn't injured so it didn't put me off.

There is more skill to riding a bike fast and well - that's a fact. You can drive a car fast with less skill owing to the fact that it is less hard to cause major "whoospy ****" moments.

I still feel though that more people should learn to ride a bike to get an appreciation of them and to be more aware of them and learn a little bit more about anticipation, reading the road, and behaving appropriate to the conditions.

 

[lmfy2k]

had some 600cc bikes a few years back, great fun but will not have one now, simply too dangerous and family got worried sick every time i was out on it.

not worth the risk imo

 

[1337_KR3W]

I'm nearly always carrying something big or a passenger in the van, if I got a bike I doubt it would do more than 200 miles a year, so it really isn't worthwhile.

 

[lemonade]

Good question OP.

My reasons are same as others, not safe enough, the risk of serious injury is too high aswell as death. Otherwise I would love a bike and it would be great to commute around London too. But I love cars much much more regardless.

 

[eidolon]

I still feel though that more people should learn to ride a bike to get an appreciation of them and to be more aware of them and learn a little bit more about anticipation, reading the road, and behaving appropriate to the conditions.

Definitely agree. If more people rode a bike, even just for a short time it might make them more observant. I see far too many car drivers that are disconnected from the outside world because they're inside their tin box.

Would it be frowned upon to carry a brick on my bike and throw it through the window of anyone I see texting or updating Facebook whilst driving? Although I'd probably need dozens of bricks so maybe not a viable option.

 

[4T5]

Interesting read for someone who owns/rides a bike.

You know though if all you car drivers actually looked out for us bikers we would be a lot safer.

Also just think if 50% of people rode bikes to & from work, think of the extra space on the roads with 50% of commuter cars gone.

And for those that do actually look out for us & move over etc Thanks a lot.

 

[XeNoN89]

Interesting read for someone who owns/rides a bike.

You know though if all you car drivers actually looked out for us bikers we would be a lot safer.

Also just think if 50% of people rode bikes to & from work, think of the extra space on the roads with 50% of commuter cars gone.

And for those that do actually look out for us & move over etc Thanks a lot.

I always look out for bikers, I think it's because my dad rides a bike and so he kinda drummed it into me. I see so many cars nearly knocking people off though I wouldn't ever want to ride one myself.

 

[Fireskull]

I think you either 'get it', or you don't.

Yes it's dangerous and potentially bad for you, but so are most fun things in life.

This is my view also.

Having had two major accidents on my bike, one my fault one not my fault and whilst I haven't ridden on the road since my last accident this year I do plan to get back on the road soon, I cant stop it, it's in the blood


Also LOL at the gay comments, yes sticking a combustion engine under your balls with no protection around you really is homesexual isn't it....

 

[Fireskull]

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!

A)I think a lot of the big german saloons that you see all the time cruising at 120+ on the A34 and M25 are loonies yes, they must feel they are 'safe' in their car but it still wont end well if they crash at that speed...
B)Not really, head down out of the wind and you can sit at 160+ easily all day, personally all out speed does not bother me, yes I can do 190mph but would I have a license or life left if I did that every journey? there are lots of idiot riders out there that don't but every rider needs to respect the performance and dangers of a bike.
Also bikes have a small tank, if I sat at 140mph I would need to refuel in under 90 miles, and speeding bikes are a magnet for police

 

[TehBluebear]

Love bikes, love the idea of bikes, would even love to have an old classic Enfield or Norton, an old British V-twin would be fantastic.

But I don't trust myself on a bike. I'd probably be fine to be honest, but I dunno. Maybe in 10 years time

 

[Conscript]

The death replies are ridiculous at best, face it, your missus won't let you have one/you're scared.

Surely citing the risk of potential death as a reason for not riding bikes is an implicit admission of being scared. I certainly have no trouble admitting it.

 

[Pixel]

The number of times I've seen people pull out at junctions even though there's a bike coming..

You won't see me riding a bike until the majority of the human population stops being retarded, maybe in a few thousand years.

 

[Haggisman]

Surely citing the risk of potential death as a reason for not riding bikes is an implicit admission of being scared. I certainly have no trouble admitting it.

Indeed, you'd have to be a special kind of special not to have a certain trepidation at the prospect of losing several layers of skin and muscle, shattering a few bones, and leaving the majority of your vital organs smeared across the road because a silly cow in a people carrier felt that turning round to to tell little Wayne to stop hitting little Dean was more important than watching the road.

 

[Griffo]

... 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.

I love my TCS in winter... and actually in summer . I used to go past a bugger of a roundabout that was always covered in something. Had it kick in a few times at ridiculously low speed/angles/acceleration. On a dry day I'm getting better at feeling/anticipating, but would not be without it for sure.

Death traps

More death catapults, I like to think .

Interesting read for someone who owns/rides a bike.

...

Also just think if 50% of people rode bikes to & from work, think of the extra space on the roads with 50% of commuter cars gone.

And for those that do actually look out for us & move over etc Thanks a lot.

If 50% of people rode my commute it would absolutely ruin the lovely country road parts . Also half of them would probably be dead after a week or two.