Why not be a power ranger ?

Phate said:
How much, excluding the bike is it going to set me back? Roughly?
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I done my theory test, CBT and then taught myself how to ride to test standard on a 125 I bought, I passed first time and sold the 125 for the same price I paid for it so it only cost me about £200.

I'm not sure about other methods but since you're 20 you can't do DAS and you will have a 2 year restriction once you pass your test, unless you sit another test when you turn 21 to end the restriction early.
 
I found initial outgoings to be big, but after learning/test/gear, the running costs seem to be a lot less, especially if you get a well looked after bike and share a house with people who are at least competent mechanics.

Maybe I ought to get into a house share again :o.
 
So we are in agreement that the general standard of driving in the UK is poor, leading to a increased chance of something beyond your control to mess you up, hence discouraging average people from takeing up motorised bikes... so why does the gov not do something about the standard of driving...

That said, i've been looking for the perfect 1980 BWM R100RS for while now. I just like them, i dont know why.
 
Just prefer cars, i'll probably never own a bike.

Cars look better, they're more comfortable, warmer (or cooler with the AC) and just generally more useful.
 
1) I never bothered doing my test and let my CBT/provisional expire. Never forgiven myself for that.

2) I would quite possibly wind up damaging myself badly or losing my licence. I'm bad enough in a car, although now I'm older and wiser....

3) Kate has never really got the whole bike thing and isn't particularly comfortable with it. Her family have had nothing but bad experiences with motorbikes, whereas it's been a positive part of my life from a very young age. Getting her onto the pillion of a scooter in Rhodes was a massive, massive step, even if she did spend 75% of the time thinking we were about to die.

Realistically, in a couple of years I would like another bike. I'd really like to build a special, if you imagine a 50's/60's styled Café Racer but using relatively modern forks and tyres. Something like that anyway. Who knows.
 
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I'd REALLY love a bike, however my mate was in a motorbike accident about 6 years ago & seeing him go through life now with one leg, a colostomy bag & him hobbling around on a crutch (Can't have false leg because of where his leg had to be amputated) is truly awful.

Uber puts me off...

I also witnessed a biker die on Chelsea bridge a few years ago right in front of me, I was a witness to the accident etc so again, that would always be on my mind.
 
There is not a day goes by that I dont think of doing my CBT/DAS and getting a Buell XB12SS. Then I tell myself what a stupid and irresponsible thing it is and forget about it till the next day. Will probably go around and around in that circle for the rest of my life.
 
I always thought about doing it, then started work and forgot for a bit, apart from every so often seeing a beaut' of a bike and thinking "ooh, maybe...". Then my friend who had been riding for a couple of years already wanted to go to Holland for some concert and said "come on the back of the bike", to which I replied "or I could just get a bike". So then I did the CBT, loved it, booked the DAS, did an agonising day on the 125 and then 500... woo! Great fun. Passed 2nd time, bought that silly (lovely) SV650 new a week later. Rode about a bit in the Peak District for a few days, then went to Holland. Then I went to Luxembourg on my own immediately after leaving the buggers in Holland.

Most fun ever, HOWEVER up until selling her near Christmas I couldn't reproduce the fun I'd had in Luxembourg/Germany. Wales was pretty great, went for a few days camping, enjoyable apart from paranoia of helicopters with cameras. Used it to commute a few times but Motorway traffic = boring as hell. Apart from trying not to die of course.
Everybody at work seemed to think riding on the motorway must be GREAT FUN. I have no idea why.

Still, I plan on getting something like a VFR or Sprint either this spring or next depending on idiocy factor (moving house costs money apparently). Want more huge Europe/Scotland/Wales trips for sure.

I can understand why people don't fancy it, the danger bit makes it all that more exciting for me I suppose, where as many people don't really see the point in risking your life.
 
Sagalout said:
A bike is all about the actual journey - the destination is just an excuse for the journey.
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i like that:D
see over the years i've always said to myself dont be silly you'd just kill yourself, or nah its just too impractical, but more and more i feel the urge to go for my bike license.
one of these days i'll just say to myself, STUFF IT!!! I'M DOING IT!!!:p
 
steve45 said:
i like that:D
see over the years i've always said to myself dont be silly you'd just kill yourself, or nah its just too impractical, but more and more i feel the urge to go for my bike license.
one of these days i'll just say to myself, STUFF IT!!! I'M DOING IT!!!:p
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One of these days! :D

Re practicality, I may have never fitted my suit and butler on mine (probably because I never bothered trying, and my butler ran away some months ago) but I had a week's worth or clothes on there and a tent, sleeping bag etc. I have a hilarious photo somewhere of the bike on Aberystwyth seafront with a huge amount of luggage sitting on the pillion seat. (I just used bungees (MY EYES))
 
if you are concerned about death on the roads, go off road by going to trackdays or taking up motocross.

Pass your test (£700 in London), buy gear (£500-£1500), buy track bike (£1000-£2500), race said track bike, realise what a buzz it is. £4000 for insane fun
 
Bikes really are great toys but i cant ever see me using it for practicle reasons.

Costs wise they are not to bad but keep in mind servicing is regular and my latest rear tyre lasted ~800 miles (Micheline Pilot Sport) on a low power budget bike SV650.

They are great fun.

I will hopefully get something new and a bit more powerful this year or next (GSXR6 , ZX6R or CBRrrrrrrr..)
 
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Flukester. Most people haven't got the cahones to ride a bike, which just leaves the rest of us to enjoy doing so :cool:
 
Amps said:
Bikes really are great toys but i cant ever see me using it for practicle reasons.

Costs wise they are not to bad but keep in mind servicing is regular and my latest rear tyre lasted ~800 miles (Micheline Pilot Sport) on a low power budget bike SV650.

They are great fun.

I will hopefully get something new and a bit more powerful this year or next (GSXR6 , ZX6R or CBRrrrrrrr..)
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800 miles! Christ on your bike! I know the stock tyres are a bit pants but mine did 4000 odd in 3 months and had a lot left. Crazy difference yo.
 
Costs wise they are not to bad but keep in mind servicing is regular and my latest rear tyre lasted ~800 miles (Micheline Pilot Sport) on a low power budget bike SV650.
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Jesus, what you been riding on, broken glass!!!
My GSXR750 did over 4k on it's rear Pirelli Diablo Corsa and that was with some spirited riding;)
 
I have had my mid life crisis (37) and did my DAS last week and passed on friday the 13th.

I am now looking to buy my first bike. I cannot wait. Something I have wanted to do for the last 4 years and I cannot wait till I find the right bike for me......


BUT god you have to watch out for everyone when your on the roads. I learnt that just on my training.
 
My main reason not to is having to go through another expensive set of lessons plus theory test plus practical test, or failing that having to ride a moped on L plates.

Plus the amount of inconsiderate, blind or terminally stupid car drivers that have managed to hit me while in a car over the years (not to mention the vast numbers of ones where I've managed to prevent them from hitting me) means I wouldn't feel too comfortable on a bike.

The new Think ad with the guy pulling out on the biker is a good one, and pretty much sums up the problem. On multiple occasions I've had some tit do that to me while I'm in a car, in one case it was some old git in a Rover 75 trying to turn right onto the dual carriageway bit of the A5, stopped across both lanes because the right turn refuge in the centre was already occupied. Could've been nasty if I hadn't managed to go onto the side road and around the back of him. I would've been dead if I were on a bike.
 
Magic_x_uk said:
I have had my mid life crisis (37) and did my DAS last week and passed on friday the 13th.

I am now looking to buy my first bike. I cannot wait. Something I have wanted to do for the last 4 years and I cannot wait till I find the right bike for me......


BUT god you have to watch out for everyone when your on the roads. I learnt that just on my training.
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You must be mental :D
 
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