Question for the bikers

iBot · 11 Jul 2007 at 09:09

Can you ride a pushbike?

I was just wondering if there is anyone who cant ride a pedal bike but have no problems driving a motorbike. I assume there isnt but you never know.

PardonTheWait · 11 Jul 2007 at 09:24

I should think even if you'd never ridden a pushbike, but had ridden motorbikes, you'd be able to get on one and ride it anyway.

Why do you ask?

Bobbler · 11 Jul 2007 at 09:51

Mohinder said:
I should think even if you'd never ridden a pushbike, but had ridden motorbikes, you'd be able to get on one and ride it anyway.

Why do you ask?

I wouldn't have thought that personally. Motorcycling relies heavily on the gyroscopic effects produced by the engine rotation and wheel rotation to keep you steady and upright (hence high revs is good when doing slow moving stuff on your test etc). On a push bike you dont get that until up to speeds.

squiffy · 11 Jul 2007 at 09:54

Bobbler said:
I wouldn't have thought that personally. Motorcycling relies heavily on the gyroscopic effects produced by the engine rotation and wheel rotation to keep you steady and upright (hence high revs is good when doing slow moving stuff on your test etc). On a push bike you dont get that until up to speeds.

Wrong. You can pedal without falling over at around 2mph.

Bobbler · 11 Jul 2007 at 09:59

squiffy said:
Wrong. You can pedal without falling over at around 2mph.

Thats great? Did I say anywhere in my post that you cant pedal at lower speeds.
I was talking of gyroscopic forces produced by an engine, which even at 1000 rpm is far more than your size 9's are going to be doing.
http://www.rider-ed.com/tips/motorcyclestability.htm

Fireskull · 11 Jul 2007 at 10:04

Lol i hadnt ridden a bicylce for ages till the other day and damn i was dodgy the front was so damn light and i cudnt keep it in a straight line for first 5 mins

moss · 11 Jul 2007 at 10:19

I rode a pushbike for years as a kid then stopped for about 5 years before I started riding motorbikes. Not really sure if there is a link between the two though.

Fireskull · 11 Jul 2007 at 10:25

moss said:
I rode a pushbike for years as a kid then stopped for about 5 years before I started riding motorbikes. Not really sure if there is a link between the two though.

The only link imo is just having 2 wheels and having to go round corners the same

but a bike is waaay to heavy to have any other link with a bicycle, mabie a gas gas has more in common

light can move it around easier

Luke · 11 Jul 2007 at 10:40

I can ride a bike, but going up hills, I find my power to weight ratio causes serious problems.

GM@N · 11 Jul 2007 at 12:21

I hadn't ridden a push bike for years when I got back on one I found the position of the front wheel almost right under me very strange.

Bobbler · 11 Jul 2007 at 12:35

GM@N said:
I hadn't ridden a push bike for years when I got back on one I found the position of the front wheel almost right under me very strange.

That was similar to when I got off the unfaired learner bike and onto my new faired machine.
The odd sensation of turning the handle bars and the front bit of the bike still going forward threw me completely!

toadsy666 · 11 Jul 2007 at 12:48

Fireskull said:
Lol i hadnt ridden a bicylce for ages till the other day and damn i was dodgy the front was so damn light and i cudnt keep it in a straight line for first 5 mins

Same. It was really strange getting back on a pushbike after so long, and after riding a motorbike. Seems lots more wobbly than I remember it

Bobbler said:
That was similar to when I got off the unfaired learner bike and onto my new faired machine.
The odd sensation of turning the handle bars and the front bit of the bike still going forward threw me completely!

Same happened to me- so strange the front not moving with the bars and lights. You get used to it pretty quick though