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Well after 7 years of riding motorbikes and two accidents including this years. I'm thinking about giving it all up after Summers. Now i do love my motorbikes, as nothing compares to the accleration and being able to demolish everything from a standing start from the lights and up a motorway slip road and on sunny days its great. It costs me nowt to insure and the only real cost is the £180 a month im paying my Mum's fella for the bike, which ends in October.
But after having my most recent accident and tearing Ligaments and breaking my leg and also living in a Area that when it snows its nigh on impossible to ride a motorbike off the street and not being a fan of winter riding in general now after 7 years.
Im thinking once its all paid off to get a small capacity car for work etc. Now the insurance for me wouldn't be cheap £800 fully comp on a 1.2 litre up to 1.6 litre car. Now my missus does all the driving. But because missus works 2200 - 0700 and me mostly a 0700 - 1500 shift i couldn't use hers so would need my own vehicle.
Just wonndering if im doing it for the right reasons giving motorbikes up or will i regret it. Id love to have both but its one or the other untill i get a pay rise and we cut some of the outgoings (wedding planning costs, getting missus's daughter through college and clearing our credit cards off) and related to winter, its disheartening having to go out in the cold, when really i just want to be warm and be able to sip a brew have a ciggie in the car.
Plus on average as car owners what are the yearly running costs of a small car. On average, i probably spend more in petrol doing a 20 mile each way commute than my missus does in petrol. My bike returns 40 mpg at best and hers the low 50's to mid 40's mark. Both put £20 a week of fuel in, or more if i go for a blast and we go in the car somewhere.
Stop riding like a ****
Get a trail bike, get your fix off road.
I wasn't riding like one. I had cold tyres and slipped. No accident ive had has been caused by stupid riding as i dont take silly risks. Accident before this one was caused by someone driving into to the back of me because they were driving their car while on a mobile phone and didn't see the car infront of me had stopped and i had stopped.
I gave up because a . I ride like a lunatic and b. because 4 wheels tin box mean it slides and protects me, instead of falling over and abandoning me to my fate. Reluctant to even ride a mtb on the road now. I love bikes but I love life better.
sugdenr - Member
I love bikes but I love life better.
Only your own by the sound of it.
Mine is parked up, not sure if it'll ever go back on the road- I just found I wasn't enjoying riding it that much, then got more into mountain biking and tbf I just found it more satisfying- the best bits on the motorbike are as good as the best bits on the pushbike but the pushbike just has more good bits. Not enough time for both so I went with the more satisfying one.
If you like it, stick with it. If you don't, don't.
Motorcylists account for 1% of traffic and 19% of fatalities.
I used to love riding a motorbike too for all the reasons you give but sensibly, a car is the way forwards. If you want to live. I had a couple of small accidents and then walked away from a big one where my friend lay broken on the street and a car was now a car-bike. Car drivers fault. It happened so quickly and easily and we both spent a night in a hospital ward where another motorcyclist had lost both legs. He screamed all night.
Scare tactics maybe but the risk is very high.
Get a little car, the initial preim may seem higher but drive quietly and it'll pay you back big time. In money and longetivity.
Cold tyres and slipped .... 😀 love it
Only your own by the sound of it.
So, how's the view from your little bit of the moral high ground? 🙄
Coffeeking it was and I'm happy to admit my fault completely it was cold I was stressed after seeing my Granpa take his last breath and seeing my now deceased Gran taken into a hospice overnight hysterical cause of her dementia and lastly but by no means least my step mum at the time was in critical care after a massive stroke. So due to a total lapse in concentration I made a school boy error, setting off on a bend when it's cold in 1st gear, and the back end stepped out so I stuck my leg out to steady myself and it got yanked backwards and I sustained the injuries.
Under normal circumstances I would of set off not as agressivley and in a higher gear.
But it's made me think I can't afford to run the risk and end up off work for 2.5 months again.
Yeah sell it,
Do us all a favour
Bored of all these nobhead replies from certain people all the time! Op sounds like you've already decided to sell it, and that you need to hear it from someone else to do it. If you've still got to pay it off, why not decide then, and see how it goes for the summer? Can you not look into busses etc for the short term?
Cold tyre? No. That only applies to race compounds. You fell off for another reason.
You can always buy a bike sometime in the future. Get a mx or enduro bike. You'll find riding on the road utterly tedious after that.
Stop riding like a ****
^ Great help.. 🙄
Yeah sell it,Do us all a favour
^ More great help.. 🙄
Bored of all these nobhead replies from certain people all the time!
^ +100. Keyboard warriors at their best.
How about keeping the bike and using it for the occasional track day. No tax or insurance to pay, just buy single bike trailor and tow to the track. Still get your adrenaline fix in relative safety.
I use to not ride if there was ice on the car windscreen (90 mile round-trip commute), and based on this year (now live in Scotland as opposed to the South East) I'd have barely ridden it so far.
So, if you need a car anyway, then either accept the additional cost or just run a car.
I sold my bike last year as I didn't need it - I do miss my bikes as I've been riding for 30 years. I'd stopped the Sunday Superbike riding once I'd got into MTB's, but still commuted 20k per year.
As for accidents, they happen and you just need to learn why.
[i]Cold tyre? No. That only applies to race compounds. You fell off for another reason.[/i]
Nope, a mate of mine did exactly the same as the OP. On a 'Busa. Except he didn't hurt himself, or at least we didn't think so. He got home with the damaged bike and went in the house. About an hour later his Missus comes home, sees the bike and says "What the hell happened to your bike". "Eh?", says he, "What you talking about?".
Concussion. He rang to ask what had happened as he couldn't remember a thing.
Your mate may we'll have done the same thing as the op. Cold tyres weren't the cause though.
Guys get a grip and if you can't say anything useful don't say it...
Sounds to me like there's a need for 'fun' and a need for transport. Motorbikes can do both, but sometimes you need to focus on one aspect or the other....
A motorbike can be more useful than a car for commuting, sometimes a car is best. Depends on lots of aspects. Have you considered a minimising risk approach? Keep on riding but only for commuting, i.e for the times when you can't use your partners car, therefore reducing your exposure but still riding. Or public transport/ push bike combination for commuting and keep the bike for the occasional fun blast.
It might make sense financially to keep the bike rather than sell and get a tin box. It might not be an important aspect, it might not make much difference. It might be an idea to get a more sensible bike? Lots of things only you know.
Having been brought up with a father who spent the majority of his time commuting by motorbike and being an 'enthusaist' who loves riding to races and cleaning and working on the machines, but not one who deliberately hung out with bikers or always went out riding at weekends for fun; I personally struggle to grasp the concept of people who view motorbikes as toys (it's not a criticism) and not as a transport option. Sure I like Sunday afternoon blasts, and going to the races (when I have a bike) but for me motorcylcing is a mode of transport, and not purely something to do for fun. I can think of more people I know who have hurt themselves badly by riding for 'fun' on public roads rather than using their bikes as a means of transport.
Plus...in these times there's the unnecessary burning of fuel issue.But I've no strong feelings on that.
So, not much useful to say I guess, just the dribbling drivelling of someone who loves bikes, even MZ's!
I wasn't riding like one. I had cold tyres and slipped
That's just bad riding. Sorry but it is. I've had some pretty powerful bikes and you can give them a LOT of stick on cold tyres before anything happens. Personally I've never had so much as a twitch from that situation and I've been riding all year round for about 17 years.
I've had a couple of low speed spills but theory were mostly my fault through inattention or lack of skill. If you can accept it was your fault and learn from it, it won't happen again.
Every rider needs to improve. We have to because the car drivers are stuck in their little bubble of perfectness once they've passed their tests and cannot imagine they could be any better. And that's what we as riders have to account for.
I'd suggest you go and get yourself some additional training, Rospa, IAM, something like that. And what bike are you riding? Maybe something smaller and more manageable would be better. And personally I wouldn't buy a motorbike without ABS any more, having experienced what it can do. 🙂
It's a difficult one re whether to get rid of the bike completely. I know I definitely wouldn't like to have to commute on the bike all year, in all weathers.
If space/circumstances permit, how about keeping the bike for summer when the weather is ok and getting an old cheap car for winter. At least then you still have the bike for back-up should the car break down and the bike (which you say will cost you next to nothing after Oct) is still there when you want it.
The above is pretty much what I do and to be honest, the bike rarely gets used for commuting as the car is so much easier for my short journey to work.
It does sound like you want an excuse to get rid of the bike (for whatever reason) and really it's not that big a deal. You can always get another one later 😉
5thElefant - MemberCold tyre? No. That only applies to race compounds.
Utter pish.
5thElefant - Member
Cold tyre? No. That only applies to race compounds.
Utter pish.
It is yes, but there's not much difference between a 'cold' Bridgestone BT021* and a 'warm' one one I can assure you. Blaming cold tyres for falling off is a very weak excuse. It was your right hand mate...! 🙂
*or whatever their sports/touring tyre is these days.
Guys get a grip and if you can't say anything useful don't say it...
So, not much useful to say I guess
😀
PeterPoddy - MemberBlaming cold tyres for falling off is a very weak excuse.
It's always the rider's fault... But that's 2 different things. Someone claiming road tyres don't grip less well when cold is really not helping matters, that's proper leads-to-a-crash advice.
And the OP did only mention it when accused of "riding like a *". He screwed up but that doesn't equal "riding like a *"
Cold tyres + cold Tarmac + not realising/thinking about the implications of the first two = recipe for disaster.
OP was happy to admit it was his fault, he was explaining the circumstances, not blaming inanimate objects. Anyone who suggests that temp makes no difference to grip with motorcycle tyres plainly has no clue about motorcycle tyre compounds vs car tyre compounds.
And the OP did only mention it when accused of "riding like a *". He screwed up but that doesn't equal "riding like a *"
I never said it did 🙂
But, You've gotta be giving it a fistful to come off on the road due to cold tyres, and blaming the cold tyres rather than your right hand is the problem. Learn from your mistake and move on, rather than trying to apportion blame to something else. And get some advanced training. 🙂
Yeah I wholeheartedly admit it was my fault. Not thinking straight, the cold tyre aspect with the combination of a frosty road plus me giving it too much throttle. Plus I don't like the bridgestones on it they are fack in the wet. I have just been out on it to physio and it put a smile on my face
Cold conditions is not the same as cold tyres. You do not have to get road tyres 'up to temperature'.
Ahh. Now it's frost.... Or the make of tyre........ 😉
Cold conditions is not the same as cold tyres. You do not have to get road tyres 'up to temperature'.
You don't [i]have[/i] to get race tyres 'up to temperature' either... But their grip is improved as you do. Same with motorcycle road tyres.
[i]Cold conditions is not the same as cold tyres. You do not have to get road tyres 'up to temperature'. [/i]
There is an assumption there regarding the tyres the OP was running.
I'd agree that 'proper' road tyres don't need warming in the same way the semi-slick road-legal ones do, but +100bhp can make life interesting. My Fazer 1000 on a cold morning would happily spin the rear, especially with the crappy OE Metzlers that came with it.
You don't have to get race tyres 'up to temperature' either... But their grip is improved as you do. Same with motorcycle road tyres.
Yes, you do.
Only dedicated axe murderers ride hard enough to get heat into road tyres. Try putting your hand on your tyre after a legal-speed commute.
To suggest you could get your tyres hot while riding in cold conditions is farcical. Which is why road tyres work from cold.
Give him a break he admitted he made a mistake.
id keep the bike but get a cheap old car, with the smallest petrol engine you can find. (its what i did)
you are only going to work in it, it will have a heater etc.
keep the bike for summer.
i used a bike as my only form of transport for 3 years before i passed my car test and i loved it at the time but i wouldnt want to go back to that now.
im sorry to hear about all the shit youre going through, i went through similar when my gran died, time is a great healer, its been 15 years since she passed away and it doesnt feel so raw these days.
Yes, you do.
Only dedicated axe murderers ride hard enough to get heat into road tyres. Try putting your hand on your tyre after a legal-speed commute.
To suggest you could get your tyres hot while riding in cold conditions is farcical. Which is why road tyres work from cold.
No, you don't. As someone who used to ride with part worn 'race' tyres on the road because they were a damn sight cheaper I can unequivocally state that the levels of grip from cold equalled or exceeded that of a cold road tyre. Of course if the tyre was 'up to temperature' it's grip provided would be improved to a different level, but I would suggest that if you were riding in such a committed style as to use that grip, then you may not be riding on the road for very long. Road rubber also offers less grip when ambient conditions are cold; the difference in grip between the first couple of miles of a ride (cold rubber) and the rest of the ride (up to temperature) is extremely noticeable.
5thElefant - MemberOnly dedicated axe murderers ride hard enough to get heat into road tyres
Also pish.
Road tyres work from cold, sure, but they get better as they warm. Can't believe this is even a subject for debate tbh.
Road tyres work from cold, sure, but they get better as they warm. Can't believe this is even a subject for debate tbh.
Agreed. Ridiculous. Also, for sensible riding on the road, I can confirm that 'race tyres' work fine from cold too. They just wear out a LOT quicker.
Road tyres work from cold, sure, but they get better as they warm. Can't believe this is even a subject for debate tbh.
Sure, they get better. It's the phrase 'cold tyres' that's the problem. This is only an issue on road tyres where the level of grip is non-existent, like riding in the wet, until they get up to temperature.
Nobody falls off on the road because of 'cold tyres'.
I've said it before... I have nothing useful to add...
😆
5thElefant I think your argument is based withing the parameters of legal riding speeds in which case no sportsbike tyre will get anywhere near optimal temp.
Nobody falls off on the road because of 'cold tyres'.
Oh, grow up. Semantics. No one is suggesting that it was [i]because[/i] of cold tyres. It was because the rider exceeded the grip available. Which quite possibly would have been available if the tyre was warmer. This is daft. Move on.
5thElefant - MemberNobody falls off on the road because of 'cold tyres'.
If you fall off because you ran out of traction, and you ran out of traction because the tyres were still cold and therefore not as grippy as you'd thought, then you fell off because of cold tyres
(and because of your error in misjudging the grip- but the reason the grip was lower than expected is the cold tyres- they created the situation which the rider failed to deal with)
Sell it before the summer as there will be more demand and you'll get more of your money back. Don't keep it longer than you have to. If you have another prang, you'll be kicking yourself (legs permitting).
Give him a break he admitted he made a mistake.
+1.
Didnt the OP request advice on whether or not to get rid of the motorbike? Pretty sure he didnt ask all the STW "experts" for more information on exactly what caused his crashes. 🙄
My advice would be to keep the bike until it's paid off, AND get a small car - that's if you can afford to do both. Use the bike on dry days when you're feeling nice and alert - will help build your confidence back up 🙂
Only dedicated axe murderers ride hard enough to get heat into road tyres. Try putting your hand on your tyre after a legal-speed commute.
My tyres are warm after the commute and i dont ride the bike hard. Motorway commute is enough to feel the heat in the tyres. Have you actually ridden a bike?
some bizarre comments here re differences between hot/warm and cold tyres and the OP appears to know (and has admitted) his mistake!To suggest you could get your tyres hot while riding in cold conditions is farcical. Which is why road tyres work from cold.
There has been loads of discussion and tests re standard road and 'performance' tyres and the general concensus is that very few riders will ever ride hard enough for long enough on the road to get a proper race/track tyre up to optimum operating temp. I've heard of quite a few guys fitting used race rubber and are very happy with it but for general road riding you would be much better with a normal road tyre which gives better grip through a wide range of temps and conditions.
FWIW I would always give it at least 2 or 3 miles at a reasonable speed before even thinking about pushing it as I like to leave a fairly hefty margin for error, or the unexpected, and warm tyres are just another thing which 'help'.
Yeah I've always been taught by more older and wiser bike riding friends limit the lean and throttle on cold days and when you first set off or set off in second to limit the power a bit on accleration.
Do people really set off in second when the weather is cold !!!!
I am deffo not giving up, I pick up a brand new Tuono V4R on Friday 🙂
I think if you are asking the question then your hearts not in it. Get rid. It is more dangerous than a car. Though I feel the dangers can be mitigated some what by choosing how, where and when you ride.
I wanted a motorbike for a long time wen I was younger. I did ride one for a short period while working abroad, but have never gotten a UK bike license.
I don't think there is anything quite like the feeling of riding on twisty country roads, even on the relatively low powered bike I rode. However, my experiences on a bike were in a warm climate, with barely any traffic and no complications of moisture on the roads and irate cab drivers.
Looking back on it I am glad I never really pursued it. I have missed out on some experiences, but the UK has got so many downsides for riding motorbikes.
A small car can cost roughly the same as a sports bike of similar age, but the power to weight ratio is so much less. I have just had a kid and have now hit the time of life where I would have to opt for a 1.0 hatchback, rather than a sports bike. It is my choice, but as said before I get my kicks riding mtb off road and if I get wound up in traffic, I just try and sticks some good tunes on...
The only major factor for me is winter it's a complete no go. I'm too scared if it snows or looks icy. Public transport the only option is a taxi at £30 as the first train to Preston from darwen via Blackburn gets me there at 0730 so I'd be half hour late.
[i] but the UK has got so many downsides for riding motorbikes.[/i]
Decent clothing sorts out the majority, and since the roads in the UK have one of the lowest levels of deaths/injuries you're just kidding yourself that abroad in the warmth is safer.
Back on topic - selling a motorbike. I gave up in 2004 and I regretted it the moment the van the buyer put it in started up to drive off. I then gave up again in December 2012 and don't miss it at all. If you sell the bike, keep the gear and you can always get another one in the future. I now plan to hire one now 2-3 times a year for a nice day out, total cost £240. That's less than my annual insurance on the last bike let alone, servicing, tyres etc.
No-one suggested riding a push bike to work yet? Can't be very far if you only spend £20 on fuel per week. 10-12 miles each way? Perfectly doable every day all year round (just get some marathon winters for the snow/ice). You could get a very nice road/commuter bike for less than the cost of a cheap car + a years insurance. Plus your fitness on the MTB will go through the roof! Keep the motorbike for nice Sundays when the roads are quiet.
Keep the motorbike for nice Sundays when the roads are quiet.
Do they even exist nowadays? Never went out on a Sunday unless I was back home by 10am having left at 6am.
Yeah I know what you mean. I can normally find quiet country roads when out on the road bike, but earlier is definitely better!
Think it's roughly 15 miles. It would be a idea a push bike but I'd be utterly shagged after riding there doing a 8 hour shift then back again.
Can’t believe tyre temperature has got everyone so worked up when this is in the first post:
when really i just want to be warm and be able to sip a brew have a ciggie in the car.
If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. Love it.
Just sold my old bonneville - had it over 30 years but after 20 years racing i really didn`t enjoy riding on the roads anymore. Just getting older and more paranoid i expect ...
As for the cold tyre arguement - see how hard the production classes go down Bray hill from a cold start and thatll answer the question.... 8)
Maybe crap on the road or rider error but not cold tyres.
Maybe crap on the road or rider error but not cold tyres.
I wonder why people bother with tyre warmers in that case and the warm up lap is obviously a waste of petrol 😉
Bloke falls off bike due to own stupidity
Bloke hurts himself
Bloke seeks affirmation and pleading on forum to not get rid of bike
Bloke gets told to sell it, to save killing someone who matters or possibly himself
Bloke doesn't like answer, keeps asking other people until receives answer he was looking for.
its the STW way.
i'd be the first to say i ride slow.. but thus far i ve not had an accident.. 25 plus years riding.. my bikes are my adult toys.. and cold tyres of any manufacture dont grip as well as warm..whether thats on a c90.. or a 400/4.
Woody - tyre warmers have their uses but not essential, its mostly a head thing with proddy classes.
Warm up laps are good for RACE tyres and help to heat up road tyres but ....
You don't see many warm up laps at the TT .....
and tyre warmers aint allowed in the starting area where the rider que for 1/2 an hour or so before the off = cold tyres down Bray hill - FACT ! 😯
Yep, because they have mad skillz and balls of steel. But that doesn't mean the tyres are performing as well as they do when warmed up. So not sure how it's relevant.
😯 Can't believe this is still rumbling on. A performance gradient proportional to tyre temperature isn't a difficult concept. No one was suggesting that cold tyres are slippier versions of Teflon coated greased bars of soap, just that they weren't quite as effective as when warmed, and could therefor factor in a loss of traction mishap. Oh my. 😯
Can't believe this is still rumbling on
Indeed. With 100k of road riding in all weathers and many track days (with no tyre warmers) I can say hand on heart tyre warmth does make a big difference, especially on sportier rubber.
The number one reason for track day sessions being red flagged is usually the intermediate group (fast but no skilled enough to be with the racer boys in fast, ie: dangerous) who rag it before their tyres warm up for the first few laps.
Also the main thing tyre warmers achieve on a track day is getting enough heat into the wheel itself to maintain the tyre temperature above ambient while the group is lined up.