why are you buying new? Small engined bikes tend to hold their value a bit more, yes, but it still applies to the second hand market. Are you sure 125 is big enough, considering if there are many hills and your weight (incl.d. kit)?
Chat Forum
[closed]
Give me a reason NOT to buy a motorbike
-
Posted 1 year ago #
-
+1 for Peter poddy
Not only are vespas super reliable, you get good protection and more importantly you'll pull birds.
I used to have a 1970 v90 with a 135cc kit on it.
Best thing in the world.
The new gt's are even better as they have brakes
Get a secondhand one and enjoy!
Posted 1 year ago # -
It (could) be a very painful experience
But hey...I'm just scaremongering so feel free to ignore my pointless (although still valid) comment.
Posted 1 year ago # -
On the financial side, your 7680 miles cost about £1325 a year in a 35mpg car. On a 100mpg scooter, that's £464.
Assuming you still need a car around for other duties and the £200 a year insurance is an extra cost, plus you spend £3000 on the scooter, riding kit, lock, CBT, etc - it'll take about 55 months, or 4 1/2 years to break even.
Of course, if there's other factors like parking then break-even could be a lot quicker. Generally the compelling reason to do it is if you're saving a substantial amount of time over taking the car.
I like riding my bike in on the odd days when I feel like it. Not sure I'd want to do it day in, day out especially through the dark winters. Riding in the dark is fine, riding in the wet is fine, but both together is not very pleasant at all.
Posted 1 year ago # -
My L(M)BS had a very keenly priced RF900 advertised this morning so I thought I would pop in for a 'look'. Unfortunately someone had taken the train from Stockport to Durham today and ridden it away just before I got there.
They did have an immaculate one very similar to this though, which would have tempted me had the colour scheme been a little more subtle. Only 24k too!
Can't make up my mind whether to be disappointed or relieved......
Posted 1 year ago # -
I bought one last year after a lay off of 17 years. This year i'm selling. Just couldn't get back into it. I felt unsafe unless i was wearing all the gear and then found that I was too hot. When it was sunny it was such a faff with all the gear and i was sweating buckets + I preferred to be on my mtb. When it was raining I used the car.
so this year time to get rid.
I've turned into a boring old fart
Posted 1 year ago # -
PeterPoddy
Knobblies.
I concede your point. The bike I was referring to was a KMX200 which had offroad style road Tyres if that makes sense!? I commuted through a couple of those winters where we had big snowfalls. Boy was it fun flying past all those stranded cars...
Posted 1 year ago # -
I'd buy a C1 but there's such a premium on them now!
Posted 1 year ago # -
I've been commuting on Motorbike for 10 years now, pretty much whatever the weather. As long as you are warm and dry then its great. Granted my commute is only 7 miles each way, but by car it would be 30mins, by m/bike its 15mins. Faffing aruond getting ready takes no time at all.
I manage to stay dry wearing my £150 textile jacket (now 6 years old) an £100 textile trousers (6years old). Extremities are the hardest to keep warm, toes and fingers. My boots are goretex, which cost £170 - a lot of cash, but I use them every day, plus leasure and for trackdays, they also keep my feet dry! Gloves are heated, I suffer from cold hands and have tried all sorts of gloves, goretex rukka jobs and heated grips. Only heated gloves have kept them toastie (£130).Only time I dont enjoy my commute is Tues eves when I organize footy games. Getting changed into your bike gear after footy in the pooring rain and cold, then to lock up and drop key off at leasure centre is a pain.
Still, I must have saved shed loads of time and cash over the years (70mpg 250 commuter - KLR cost £1k, although pre 2008 it was my 750 GSXR). Sold the car years ago, wife has her car for its needs
I love commuting in on the m/bike
Posted 1 year ago # -
With the right clothes,even the coldest sub zero temps arent that bad.Ive felt a lot worse on cycle rides due to the sweating so ive never felt colder on a motorbike.
I have this stormrider heated bodywarmer http://www.exo2.co.uk/exo2.html#stormrider and have wired it in so that the socket is just next to my left thigh.I also bought the battery pack to go with it although i dont use it as much.Its not cheap but when you unplug it while you are out,you soon realize just how cold it is and the tensing up and lack of concentration kicks in.Once plugged back in it relaxes you and you get on with what you should be doing.. providing you have heated grips,and a good windproof neck arrangement!
Oxford heated sport grips too.. usually always on the hottest setting!Posted 1 year ago # -
Last bike was an R6 and I had a ZX9R before that. Got rid of R6 as was not using it and wife thought it was dangerous so got rid of it to please her. Now don't have that problem so thinking about getting another. Think I am going to look at the new Fazer 1000 today. I hired a VFR800 and did some touring in the alps a couple of years ago and the comfort persuaded me I don't want another sports bike.
Bazzer - look at the Triumphs
I commuted for years on a zx9r, then got a Fazer 1000 (which I hated, just unbalanced - too light on the front, too easy to spin the rear 'cos of the EXUP working), then Tiger 1050 and now Sprint GT.
51mpg at whatever speed you do, they are cheaper than the competition now due to currency drops and the triple is a great road engine plus the changes to the GT over ST makes it super stable on my crap/holey 100 mile roundtrip commute.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I would die of pain commuting at slow speeds on the zx9! Its only when i`m up over 50mph-ish that i feel comfy on it.I suppose it would feel similar with any sports bike in town after an hour or so.Having said that,the size and position of that gsxr600 k8 i tried felt so right.
I`m five foot eight.Posted 1 year ago # -
i had a honda varadero 125 (i would advise one of these rather than a moped) it is a baby version of its big brother, you sit pretty high up and is a bit more beefy than a moped.
anyway...
i sold my car to help save money for when the baby came,
Pro's
£15 road tax
silly MPG
traffic jams dont exist (if you have the guts to slip through them)Con's
Outlay for helmet, jacket, trousers, gloves, then water proof stuff
When it rained it sucked, not just getting wet but not being able to see jack shit sometimes
I had to setup the back garden to accomodate the bike
The whole shirt and tie affair in work was a pain in the arse.
Did i mention the rain?
You are TOTALLY invisible on a motorbike, you will see the road in a very, very different way and when/if you go back to a car you will appreciate it.
i come form a biking family aswell, they never appealed to me but it was a means to an end.
would i ever get another bike, i doubt it.
just my 5p worth,
Posted 1 year ago # -
Ride and guage yourself. Just like driving you should know how much of a natural or able you are.
Ok?
Ignore all of the above. Your life is in everyone elses hands around you.
I LOVE motorbikes but you have to weigh up the risks.
Remember there's a stw'er who isn't here anymore due to a motorbike accident on the way to work.
Posted 1 year ago # -
If you're anywhere near Newcastle, then we've got more PCXs coming on Tuesday. They are pretty thin on the ground at the moment with demand very strong. They'll do closer to 130mpg too...
If you are local to us, then we've got a Richa clothing package for £365 which is helmet, jacket, gloves, trousers and boots. If you bought the bike from us I'd do you the clothing with a healthy bit of STW discount... If you're not local, then I'd always suggest using a dealer closer to home instead. A bit more info at newcastlemotorcycles.co.uk.
Woody. We might have a plain black RF900 coming in this week for a used ZX10. He wants decent money for it though. I could let you know if it comes in?
/advert over
Cheers
Craig
Posted 1 year ago # -
Remember there's a stw'er who isn't here anymore due to a motorbike accident on the way to work.
And Rod Hull died trying to sort out the signal on his telly!
Knob.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Road legal quad?
I had one. It was ace
You can ride on a car licence
Posted 1 year ago # -
B r why? This topic reminded me of a stwer. Can you leave it there. Thanks.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Blimey - thanks all for the comments. Certainly a lot to think about.
The A449 is a bit of a rat run, and one I will have to somehow circumnavigate if I cycle in.
iamtheresurrection - thanks for the info - not local at all, I am guessing the PCX is going to sell quick with the current 0% deal on. 130mpg - is that quoted or in reality?
It all kind of depends on the job anyway, so I will have a while to think about it.
At least starting out in summer will allow me to get to grips with riding before winter sets in - although I will obviously try to get practice of night riding before then.
One other question - keeping a bike outside - it'll be secure, but is it recommended (if covered up)? Any possible issues?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Well its not exactly recommended! But obviously you can keep a bike outside. I used to keep mine under a car port and had an Oxford storm cover for it. The cover was lined so as to minimize condensation. It did a good job, but the local cats pissed over it a fair bit! You may also have issues if you need to leave the bike for sometime with battery top up. Insurance will be up
Posted 1 year ago # -
Woody. We might have a plain black RF900 coming in this week for a used ZX10. He wants decent money for it though. I could let you know if it comes in?
Thanks for the offer Craig but literally in the last hour I've bought up one of these - pick it up Wednesday
Posted 1 year ago # -
I'm part of a motorbike forum, have been for about 8 years. In that time there's at least 1 or 2 RIP threads a year from commuting related incidents.
Not trying to be morbid, just make sure you've got your eyes open, your wits about you and assume that everyone in a car is either on the phone, having a shave, putting on makeup, or half asleep.
On the plus side bikes are frikkin awesome!! (and Trackdays ROCK!!)
Posted 1 year ago # -
The 130mpg thing is reality, our first customer is getting more than that but it's a very light rider and I don't think he's giving it the beans too often... It's always tough to quote a number I suppose.
The 0% deals runs out at the end of the month, being replaced with a low rate finance deal. If the term stays the same, you'll pay a little under £200 in interest on the new scheme.
I think commuting by bike is as safe as you make it. Watch you speed in 30 and 40 zones especially, keep away from the gutter, especially when there are side roads joining and wear bright, safe gear. Odds are you'll be just fine!
I've got a soft spot for Teneres Woody - good call...
Posted 1 year ago # -
Also, in city centre traffic, is a motorbike actually much quicker?
yes - hugely, if you can read the traffic properly. I do not sit in queues of traffic, but filter straight to the lights where the better acceleration of a bike over car gets me away faster.
However, you need to ask, so you probably shoudln't bother. You either want to ride a bike or you want to talk about it.Posted 1 year ago #
Topic Closed
This topic has been closed to new replies.
