OP
OP
Matthew_T
"Young and Ex-whippet"
- Location
- Prestatyn, North Wales
The ACTUAL cost of a car
- Thread starter Matthew_T
- Start date
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It is and it isn't. Firstly you will be surprised at the power and it'll feel a bit scary at speed on bends and things. Take your time getting to know it. Secondly they are addictive, don't neglect your cycling. Thirdly get some decent protective gear, including boots and gauntlets and a jacket and a waterproof.
Often those imports don't have the best tyres. Might be worth getting a couple of decent ones.
Looks nice, have fun.
OP
OP
Matthew_T
"Young and Ex-whippet"
- Location
- Prestatyn, North Wales
The pictures on the listing showed the tires to be in very good condition. I might end up getting some winter ones.
Does anyone know if motorbike tires are about the same price at car tires? I.e. £50-£100 each?
They might be but the compound may be quite hard. I have no idea of the price of bike tyres now.
Boris Bajic
Guest
MT, congratulations on joining the motorcycling community. I rode one until we were expecting our first child and I loved almost every moment of it.
I wonder about your choice of machine, but I rode Italian bikes in the 80s and early 90s, so what do I know about reliability or build quality?
However, from what I've heard of Chines 'Jap-a-like' motorcycles, a working knowledge of 70s and 80s Italian motorcycles would put you in a strong place in terms of learning new swear words and new ways to jury-rig indicators not to set the horn off. I'm joking... sort of.
Some advice from a motorcyclist who was a cyclist first:
1. Do not carry passengers. Ever. It is not fun and they often sit right over the rear wheel and unbalance the machine.
2. It is not a car, so you can use the engine and gearbox to slow yourself down. Unlike a car, the gearbox is sequential, so it lends itself to this.
3. The smell of spilled diesel is the scariest thing in your universe when you have a motorcycle... but you become very good at detecting it.
4. Do not rely on your mirrors.
5. Do not think you've been seen.
6. Take all the training you have the time and money to take. CBT will teach you only the basics.
I wonder about your choice of machine, but I rode Italian bikes in the 80s and early 90s, so what do I know about reliability or build quality?
However, from what I've heard of Chines 'Jap-a-like' motorcycles, a working knowledge of 70s and 80s Italian motorcycles would put you in a strong place in terms of learning new swear words and new ways to jury-rig indicators not to set the horn off. I'm joking... sort of.
Some advice from a motorcyclist who was a cyclist first:
1. Do not carry passengers. Ever. It is not fun and they often sit right over the rear wheel and unbalance the machine.
2. It is not a car, so you can use the engine and gearbox to slow yourself down. Unlike a car, the gearbox is sequential, so it lends itself to this.
3. The smell of spilled diesel is the scariest thing in your universe when you have a motorcycle... but you become very good at detecting it.
4. Do not rely on your mirrors.
5. Do not think you've been seen.
6. Take all the training you have the time and money to take. CBT will teach you only the basics.
OP
OP
Matthew_T
"Young and Ex-whippet"
- Location
- Prestatyn, North Wales
Thanks Boris. Most of that normally comes with riding a bike anyway.
With a car, you can use your engine to slow you down (select a low gear for going downhill). I will have to get used to the gearing though (bike is a 5 speed so not much different from a car).
When I get the bike, I will head to a private car park (walk the bike there) and have a little go (seen videos online about the controls). I will of course video it (just in case I fall off).
With a car, you can use your engine to slow you down (select a low gear for going downhill). I will have to get used to the gearing though (bike is a 5 speed so not much different from a car).
When I get the bike, I will head to a private car park (walk the bike there) and have a little go (seen videos online about the controls). I will of course video it (just in case I fall off).
mark st1
Plastic Manc
- Location
- Leafy Berkshire
1 down 4 (or 5) up don't hit a false neutral or you get the SCREAAAAAAAAAAAAAM when you open the throttle lol
That top line reads like you know it all already, boy how wrong can you be. 45 years of motorbikes and cycling tell me there is very little comparison between the two.
Dress for the accident not the journey.
You are off again..............I suppose these guys must deal with a lot of accidents.......................
Glenn
Veteran
- Location
- Newport, shropshire
Buy and read this along with your training http://www.amazon.co.uk/Motorcycle-Roadcraft-Police-Handbook-Motorcycling/dp/011341143X
mark st1
Plastic Manc
- Location
- Leafy Berkshire
You are off again..............I suppose these guys must deal with a lot of accidents.......................
CHIPS
OP
OP
Matthew_T
"Young and Ex-whippet"
- Location
- Prestatyn, North Wales
Buy it? Why? Have you not seen its an e-copy (which can be viewed by clicking on the picture)?
Like many people in the <cough> 1970s, I could only afford a motorbike at first. Like you, I had a practice in the underground car park where I had clinched the purchase. Unlike you - I hope - I stalled it right at the exit and was whacked on the swede by the exit barrier. No videos in those days, of course, so the only witness was the man in the car behind me, who laughed so much that he probably went straight home to change his kecks.
Boris Bajic
Guest
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY9mrKR5SkA
There was no Youtube when I was a young motorbicyclist (1975 Yamaha RS125).
Had Youtube existed then, I would have looked to footage like that which I have pasted above for tips on controlling my vehicle when passing on the highway.
The gentlemen in the clip are foreign gentlemen and neither of them speaks a form of English which is easy to understand. Nonetheless, both of them appear to have taken heed of all the tips I gave them when they were younger and have made a decent fist of learning their trade.
I commend this to the young Matthew, along with any footage he can find of duels (leisure rides, really) between a Texan gentleman called Schwantz and a Californian named Rainey. These were feisty chaps who brought to their art a wish to prosper in the business of reaching the finish line before the others.
I also recommend CBT as further guidance, as the clips I offer here do not cover such matters as traffic signals, use of indicators or correct roundabout procedure.
I hope I have helped and indeed I find that I have!
Linford
Guest
Wind noise in the crash helmet is a far bigger problem above 60mph. I found this out when tinkering with intercoms and walkmans through in the ear headphones. on max volume, they became null and void above 70mph. The engine note on an unbaffled exhaust is something others have to endure at these speeds as the noise is behind you.
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