Im not a rider as yet but considering getting a bike very soon, but have a few questions and ideas I wanna ask everyone.
Im a little concerned about riding, especially living in London. Looking at the stats, and speaking with friends, Im told to be prepared to come off a couple of times.
To be fair this scares the s**t outta me as had a friend loose a leg in a motorcycle accident, and I really don’t want anything like this to happen to me, or ANYONE on this site!!
Am I being paranoid, or over cautious? I really wanna ride, but want to here other peoples stories and opinions?
Ill be using the bike to commute into work (4 miles) into Central London (Bond St), so you can imagine what the traffic is like.
MY FIRST BIKE!!
Im 27 and will be looking to get a Honda CBR 125 as my first little puppy….has anyone got any advice on this as a choice of first bike?
Thanks guys and looking forward to hearing what you gotta say.
I’m a new rider and I commute on my bike. Used to have a 125 scooter, but felt that it was a little limited in acceleration - plus they’re so light, easy to turn and just twist and go I think you get encouraged to try for gaps you shouldn’t bother with. I’m pretty heavy (over 18stone) so for me a 125 is a bit light and accelerates that little bit slower - I didn’t feel as confident on them - but that’s just me. If you do a DAS course you’ll have ridden a 500 for two days minimum, and I think the extra stability and weight not only helps, but kind of makes you wiser (that might just be me though) provided you don’t have a boy racer mentality. If you’re just learning on the 125 then obviously stick with that.
I got knocked off my scooter once. Touch wood though - not yet on the bike, but it’s going to happen one day whatever I do - best bet is to just minimise the chances. Trick is to not be stupid, keep your eyes peeled - always check out what’s going on up ahead and be prepared for possibilities like someone changing lanes or pulling out etc. Beware of flying past lorries or buses that you can’t see beyond. Don’t feel that you have to keep up with the nutters who think every commute is a race. There are a few - just let them pass.
It’s the best way to travel through town though - without a doubt - (as long as you stay on the bike!) And the feeling when you’ve had a good ride is superb - much better than I’ve ever had in a car for example (I’ve had a couple of nice cars as well). I’d go for it - but just respect the bike and your vulnerability on it.
the good thing is Im old enough now to know and have never been a boy racer, so I dont think ill be a nutter on the saddle. I want to enjoy riding and get to work without having some sweaty guys armpit in my noggin!!haha
I have seen what you mean by every commute being a race. I was outside my local the other day in Wandsworth Common, and no word of a lie, the guy mustve been hitting 100mph+ and it scared the **** outta me!! He was heading over a blind hill also…what a nutter!!
Yep. It’s the sweaty armpits that do it! I would imagine the route back to Wandsworth Common shouldn’t have too many nutters - there isn’t the space. Traffic will be bad, but it’s bad everywhere. I used to live in Balham so know the route. Now I live out East and the guys on the A13 are complete spanners sometimes - revving up behind you, shaking their heads when you let them pass. Doesn’t happen often to be fair and I’m a quicker filterer than I used to be but it still gets on my nerves when they do it.
I did the DAS course - had 2 days on a Honda 125 - which is great fun, just a little slow. I remember thinking that my scooter felt a bit nippier from 0-30. Then a Kwak ER-5 - which is a very basic 500 - not much oomph low down the rev range, but an OK amount higher up (like a quick hot-hatch car or something) to get you out of trouble if needed. I prefered riding the Kwak pretty much straight away - it is slightly harder in slow manouvring initially (mainly the U-turn for the test) - but you quickly feel much more confident about your road presence. I found myself riding like a grown up (at least in my mind) because if you don’t it all goes wrong and you look a pillock.
My first bike (got it in September) was a Triumph Street Triple - a 675 - way more powerful than the ER-5, especially at low revs - but easy to ride. Just have to start of very carefully. I had a couple weeks of pretty slow filtering, and then only when I had to, before getting a bit more confident.
For what it’s worth (and not wanting to tempt fate) I’ve been commuting 12 miles each way through some of the worst traffic in London for the past three years with no mishaps. I did have some previous riding experience but it was still a bit of an eye-opener the first few times I commuted.
A couple of tips:
Be extra careful at the beginning and end of your journey- when your concentration isn’t always 100%
Use your mirrors and do lifesavers before changing road position or braking, even if you think it makes you look like a bit of a tit
Watch out for cars with blacked-out windows/ young drivers/ Volvos /Range Rover as these are likely to turn without indicating
Buses often pull out without looking or indicating
Most black cabs are fine but there are a few who don’t like bikes
Cyclists do what they like and swerve at random
The good news is that riding to work is great fun. You feel so much more in touch with the city than you do on public transport. Your journey will be quicker and if you’re anything like me you’ll be more relaxed when you arrive. Cheaper than a Travelcard too! go for it:cool:
hi benj all i can say is that if you really want to ride then dont turn backwards, your safety strategy for riding in London will become easier and clearer as you ride. good luck
I spent 2 days on a Honda 125cc then a Honda 500cc and that’s when i fell really in love … i thought what a great bike
eventually i bought a Suzuki GSR600 quite nice and easy for a first bike
You feel so much more in touch with the city than you do on public transport. Your journey will be quicker and if you’re anything like me you’ll be more relaxed when you arrive. Cheaper than a Travelcard too! go for it:cool:
… i thought what a great bike