Any non-hairy bikers out there?
I want to learn how to ride a motorbike, but I refuse to crawl around the city on a rubbishy little 'scootay' that sounds like the crazy frog on helium, so I wondered if there were any biker people out there who might be able to recommend me a sweet-ass bike that's not hugely expensive and that I'll be able to pick up if it falls over at traffic lights.

Ta!
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Thu 14 May 2009, 16:40, 7 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

I've always wondered about motorbiking....
Isn't it a bit off-putting knowing that if you were to crash or come off the road at speed then you'd be in a world of badness? Or maybe getting squished between two juggernaughts.


/paranoid
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Thu 14 May 2009, 16:53, Reply)

I was on /talk about this yesterday
I personally have no sympathy for motorbikes as all I ever see are bikers cutting up the inside and revving too loudly and speeding down residential streets, I do try and look for goo motorcyclists, but I would say the proportion of shit to good must be at least 10:1.
(Bazongaloid, Thu 14 May 2009, 16:58, Reply)

Aye
There are a lot of annoying little shits on motorbikes being cocky, but I did hear once that motorcyclists are trained to overtake slow moving cars at traffic lights and things, although I don't know how true that is.

I'm still not sure about learning to ride myself as it scares me a bit to be honest, I'm quite a slight little lady and so I think it might be too aggressive for me. Plus cars do fuck motorcyclists up when they hit them. Although I've been a car driver for 7 years now so that would hopefully make me a more considerate rider.
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Thu 14 May 2009, 17:02, Reply)

The other thing that was said
is that a lot of cars don't pay enough attention to motorbikes. Which is probably also true. But then again, if you aren't passing a car on teh inside then you aren't going to get squished when it pulls in unexpectedly.

I guess you just need to be super uber aware of the road, and, as my cousins boyfriend said to me, if you ride a bike, you will crash and you will break something, so if you can accept that, then go ahead, if not, don't ride a bike.
(Bazongaloid, Thu 14 May 2009, 17:06, Reply)

While I'm not an actual biker...
...I know a little bit about bikes and can recommend looking into the following...

www.gladiusstyle.com/
www.huntsmotorcycles.co.uk/NewBikes/2007_Honda_Varadero_XL125.htm
www.suzuki-gb.co.uk/bike/rv125k9/ - this is a good city bike and also not too heavy!

You really want to look at 125s if you're starting out, or you could get a bike with a bigger engine and have it restricted until you're more confident etc.

I hope that helps!?! :)
(Flim-Flam the Magnificent "You is talking loco and I like it!", Thu 14 May 2009, 17:22, Reply)

Dunno about where you live, but over here the Honda CT110 is very popular. They are known as postie bikes as they are used for delivering mail. They are also popular on the farm. Cheap, reliable, easy to repair... they are the ducks guts.
( enoughblueskyforsailorstrousers, Thu 14 May 2009, 19:38, Reply)

i would agree with the above ^
i learnt to ride on Yamaha DT125 which is a kinda motocrosser for tall learners. if you don't weigh 13stone and have a 32inch inside leg they can be awkward.
Varadero (many roads) 125 a damned good option.i've also seen a few suzy vanvan 125s about lately and reckon they look pretty damned cool for learning.

my advice: biking is great but take the time to learn properly and buy the best kit you can afford. and try not to cry when it hurts...and only do it if you enjoy it. if you're not relaxed then accidents may well happen. they may well happen anyway...

also: forget scooters. unless you are on holiday in spain. that is all.
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Fri 15 May 2009, 0:33, Reply)