I'm thinking of giving up bikes.

[Kwackerz]

You'd have to sit on that special chrome Gioseat on the back!! You'd never fit in that!!

[Gio]

Bollox

[lazarus]

Bought my wife a Smart roadster. Now you may well laugh at its power output and top speed (something like 80bhp and 120mph) but its very light weight, a wheel at each corner and an absolute hoot to drive down a twisty B road. Definitely faster round a corner than a bike, though it gets eaten for breakfast on the straight.

I suppose what I'm getting at is that cars can be fun too, whilst being significantly safer , slower, and a damn sight more comfortable than a bike. So I'm toying with replacing the bike with something like an Elise.

But I still bought another bike magazine in WHS today.

Interesting that so many people have exactly the same thoughts.

You saying that, I rather fancy this



Its a Wolsey Hornet Special from 1932

Nah! I ballsed up my degree taking something similar (it was a Singer Le Mans) to bits in the week before my finals and it wasnt worth it once on the road. Like classic bikes, classic cars simply remind you how much progress we have made in recent years. These days in that thing you'd get burned off by a Smart car!

To me a sports car has to be a 2 seat open car, very light, sophisticated suspension, no frills just maximised for going down windey roads.

[HowardQ]

Bought my wife a Smart roadster. Now you may well laugh at its power output and top speed (something like 80bhp and 120mph) but its very light weight, a wheel at each corner and an absolute hoot to drive down a twisty B road. Definitely faster round a corner than a bike, though it gets eaten for breakfast on the straight.

I suppose what I'm getting at is that cars can be fun too, whilst being significantly safer , slower, and a damn sight more comfortable than a bike. So I'm toying with replacing the bike with something like an Elise.

But I still bought another bike magazine in WHS today.

Interesting that so many people have exactly the same thoughts.

You saying that, I rather fancy this



Its a Wolsey Hornet Special from 1932

Have to agree Gio, that's a "smart" roadster.
Different kind of fun from bikes though.

[HisNibbs]

I've been riding continualy for over 35 years now. There were a couple of years about 10 years ago where I was working from home had 2.5 kids, mortgage and 2 cars as well as the bike. The bike of the time was un reliable and did not get used much. As I did not get much satisfaction riding for the sake of it on a weekend, popping out to burn few gallons, take a few risks and go round in a big circle, I did wonder if it was finaly the end of my motorcycling. I kept the bike because having one was part of who I was but I am? that was certainly being questioned..

Then I ended up having to commute into a busy town and riding a bike made sense again. So I bought a better one and now take the scenic route to work every day and enjoy it. I think what I'm getting at is that though there are a few things to do with self image tied up in being a motorcyclist, the primary issue is it is an efficient form of transport. It is restricted to one or two people leaving the kitchen sink and the 2.5 kids at home and if you need that, or can use it in your daily life then cotinue and enjoy, if you can't then move on. Maybe when the kids leave home , circumstances change etc. the time will come again.

As for the risk element, I'm not sure I buy that one. Yes it is dangerouse but I'm not convinced I am more at risk on the bike than in the car. Over the years I've made mistakes and had near misses with both but mile for mile, the car incidents have been much more frequent. There is something about riding a bike that focuses the mind, fear, adreneline, excitement, maybe if it doesn't do that then sure it is time to stop.

Racing is a sport, an expensive and all involving one and I would like to have another crack at it some time but I probably know beter. I think track days a good for improving your riding skills but as an end in themselves? I don't think that would work for me.

[Gio]

classic cars simply remind you how much progress we have made in recent years. These days in that thing you'd get burned off by a Smart car

Do they?

Classic always meant to me "How interesting". Cars these days are boring in the extreme, they lack character, soul and desirability.

[Gio]

Have to agree Gio, that's a "smart" roadster.
Different kind of fun from bikes though.

Well I've asked how much its going for (fingers x'd now )

[Skub]

I don't think I will ever give up bikes unless I'm too ill to ride. I have never liked driving and only own a car out of necessity,bikes are what I am I suppose.

My previous bike was a GSXR1000 and there is nothing bad to say about it,however last year I did very few miles on the bike yet did twice the miles on my little step through.

Thing is...I think although the Suzuki did everything I required it failed in the most important area. I didn't love it.

When I bought my current ZX10R I covered more miles in a month than I did in a year on the gixxer.

So,lazarus.....maybe you need to buy a bike you can love,both to ride and admire.

[lazarus]

So,lazarus.....maybe you need to buy a bike you can love,both to ride and admire.

Thats absolutely right - my bikes are toys and there'sno point in having a toy that doesnt grab you. But its also part of the problem - I wouldnt be dithering like this (well not so much) if there were a bike that grabbed me like the written off GS did.

[Skub]

So,lazarus.....maybe you need to buy a bike you can love,both to ride and admire.

Thats absolutely right - my bikes are toys and there'sno point in having a toy that doesnt grab you. But its also part of the problem - I wouldnt be dithering like this (well not so much) if there were a bike that grabbed me like the written off GS did.

But there will be one. I bought my 04 bike when I could have bought a newer model,but I knew it was the one.

[YODA]Guided by your heart you must be,yes[/YODA]

[lazarus]

As for the risk element, I'm not sure I buy that one. Yes it is dangerouse but I'm not convinced I am more at risk on the bike than in the car. Over the years I've made mistakes and had near misses with both but mile for mile, the car incidents have been much more frequent. There is something about riding a bike that focuses the mind, fear, adreneline, excitement, maybe if it doesn't do that then sure it is time to stop.

I used to think like that until a young woman came straight on at a bend, across the double whites and hit me at 100 mph closing speed. There was just no way to avoid an accident. Had I been in the car I would have been OK. So now the possibiolity and consequences of a bike accident are a bit more real to me than they were.

Doesnt stop you riding a bike and enjoying it. Just means that if you are at all rational, you ask yourself a few questions.

[BikerGran]

Well I went the 3 wheel route cos I couldn't bear to give up the lifestyle! But then I do lots of rallies and most of my friends are there, I'm not in it for speed or thrills, I started too late for all that.

[woody]

Bikergran!! my heroin!! you tell em............

[Samray]

Bikergran!! my heroin!! you tell em............

You switched to e from heroine ?

[Gio]

Bikergran!! my heroin!! you tell em............

You switched to e from heroine ?

Or even here on in