Hi everyone,

 

im just making the switch from car to motorbike (god my parents are going to kill me ) due to being fed up of paying over £100 a month to get to work and park for my other job (£5.60 a day to park! and another £1 in fuel) so im trying to find a half decent 125cc bike, but that got me wondering (as i often seem to do when im bored) does anyone on here have/has ridden a bike? any tips?

 

Thanks

 

Reaper

Used to have a DT125, have also had a CRM250 and a TS250 (Me and the hubby used to be into off-roading) He still has 3 bikes, but hopefully will be down to 1 in a few months.

 

I'm completely not into bikes any more.

 

The question is...... do you want to have a 125cc forever, or will you be upgrading to a larger cc as soon as possible?

 

If you keeping to a 125, then I think these are sexy!!!

 

i clicked... used to have one.... couple of pics.

 

 

 

*sigh* it was such a beast, so much fun, but sometimes a little scary. I used to race porsches and stuff, they arent actually that fast ow memories, like hitting a false neutral when entering a corner at 50mph and having to just well re grab the clutch (incase it slipped back into gear), keep clam and look at the exit of the corner and well hold on for dear life. and going around a nice hairpin (super tight) at 30ish and riding over a branch lol, i had a super lean on so the sus didnt absorb it i had to correct it.

So loud as well lol... when going to work in the morning i could be heard for 2 miles lol...

 

so 125cc, i personally think these are a little scary because you cant accelerate your way out of trouble and they are just not fast enough for some roads.. so it depends on your route, if it includes dual carage way expect lorries to over take you... that is scary! an not jus that but steep hills are an issue as well unless you have had a run up... also depends on how much u weigh.

 

But around town and coutry lanes they are well fun, i would recommend a crap old honda like this they are literally bomb proof and easy to maintain because there is only 1 cylinder. also with something a bit crappy it wont matter if you drop it and its unlikely to get abused by chavs. they are nice bikes, they go to almost 60 depending on your weight, the wind and your tyre presure lol..

I voted 'want one', but I also think they're a death trap. No more so than my bicycle though probably. Same death, only quicker

Lol, i think people percieve them to be worse, my uncles in around 2 or 3 high speed collisions a year, other than several hundred broken bones, he's not died yet Although having said that, my aunty ko'd on a bike, and well that was the end of her.

 

You never know, you might be lucky they offer about the same amount of protection as a smart car though, so not bad

Just bought a helmet (found a brand new one in a shop that fits for £140 rather than the £360 the shop down the road wanted) So now i just need the bike.

 

in january ill be taking direct access, as ill be 21, so will not bother getting a bike to last too long.

 

Reaper

awesome, big bikes are so much easier to ride... more forgiving.

 

I think everyone should ride a motorbike for at least a month, it will teach you how to drive properly lol.

Haha, true it may help my driving, but then again, it may not. Going to be odd going from a 1.9 Turbo Diesel to a 125cc bike. Im a big bloke, so it probably iwll have trouble beating 10mph

 

Going to have to take a different route to work, dont fancy the national limit dual carriageway that is always full of lorrys. But the second route isnt that much longer, so should be about same time.

 

What do you guys feel about the possibility of turning up to clients workplaces, to discuss a project, on a bike? Would i be better off taking one of the car?

 

 

Reaper

Bikes are great fun...but can be dangerous.

As long as you learn to ride one properly & like everything practise.

As already suggested go for a full licence you will learn more & gain more confidence.

After you pass DAS (full licence) you can still buy a 125cc untill you are ready to move up.

 

I raced an R6 for a few years & now I'm back on the road with a Daytime MOT (no lights or indicators)

This is my new road/track bike.

Bikes are great fun...but can be dangerous.

As long as you learn to ride one properly & like everything practise.

As already suggested go for a full licence you will learn more & gain more confidence.

After you pass DAS (full licence) you can still buy a 125cc untill you are ready to move up.

 

I raced an R6 for a few years & now I'm back on the road with a Daytime MOT (no lights or indicators)

This is my new road/track bike.

 

i will do direct access when i hit 21, no point taking full lciense now, and then being restricted to little bits for 2 years.

 

Reaper

I Have:

 

kx125

yz250

rm125

dt125

 

You'll find me at the local track every weekend

i think they are a death trap and why get soaked in the rain when u could be sheltered in a car

actually riding a bike you are dryer that a driver...

 

when on a bike in the rain you wear the water proof gear, your dry from when you leave the house, to the journey to getting to where you need to be...

 

in a car, you get wet going to the car and when going from the car to where your going..

I Have:

 

kx125

yz250

rm125

dt125

 

You'll find me at the local track every weekend

 

 

Sell me a 125 then.....

Sell me a 125 then.....

 

 

We also sell trackers for motocycles (which use GPS).

 

Costs 250 GBP and 10 GBP per month.

 

email sales@ga-intl.com if interested.

 

Guardian Angel International

Po Box 341

London SM1 9EW

We also sell trackers for motocycles (which use GPS).

 

Costs 250 GBP and 10 GBP per month.

 

email sales@ga-intl.com if interested.

 

Guardian Angel International

Po Box 341

London SM1 9EW

 

the 125 im buying only costing me £200...... and that is up to the insurance company if its stolen anyway.

We also sell trackers for motocycles (which use GPS).

 

Costs 250 GBP and 10 GBP per month.

 

email sales@ga-intl.com if interested.

 

Guardian Angel International

Po Box 341

London SM1 9EW

 

I didn't realise the SM1 postcode was London?...

Wouldn't get on one if you paid me

 

lol

 

too scared

You strike me as a biker girl Emms

You strike me as a biker girl Emms

 

 

 

lol you think! no chance

 

more like rock chick

You rock my world (did that one work? hehe)

 

I think im going to have to go for the full look. Biker in heavy leathers, listens to metal/rock, need to grow my hair and a beard, but i still need to find a way to look professional for work.

 

Reaper

I'd love to get one but don't think the OH would let me near it. I'm dangerous enough in a car

I didn't realise the SM1 postcode was London?...

 

SM1 is Sutton. (it is a London Borough) London Borough of Sutton.

the 125 im buying only costing me £200...... and that is up to the insurance company if its stolen anyway.

 

Fair Point. But with a more expensive bike and most excess on motobikes are around 400-500 GBP - 250 GBP on a tracker is not a bad value especially if the bike is worth 10-14K.

You rock my world (did that one work? hehe)

 

I think im going to have to go for the full look. Biker in heavy leathers, listens to metal/rock, need to grow my hair and a beard, but i still need to find a way to look professional for work.

 

Reaper

 

 

 

or be a biker dude full time and give up the day job lol

Ill be a biker dude if you pay my wages?

Ill be a biker dude if you pay my wages?

 

 

 

Ya I wouldn't win at all then

 

lol

SM1 is Sutton. (it is a London Borough) London Borough of Sutton.

 

I see. I always thought Sutton was part of Surrey - learn something new every day.

People on bikes p*** me off, it also annoys me how many road-signs there are saying 'look out bikes about', it's not my fault you're driving 120 down the wrong side of the road, dickhead.

I've wanted one as long as I can remember, my dads always had bikes so I guess that's why. I'm learning to drive first though as it makes more sense, for shopping etc but as soon as I can afford it I'm getting one. Only thing is I'm also a pretty big bloke and don't want to start on a lawnmower .

 

My dads had a Suzuki GT750a (loved that, really loud and classic looking), a Kawasaki ZZR1100d1 which was purple and orange and he's got a Hayabusa at the minute. His Hayabusa is decorated with Corona decals and looks just like a race bike, other than the fact it's too big .

 

He's a bit crazy with it though, he went 206MPH down the M6 the other year to see if he could get it to its limit. Generally though he's a safe driver, he speeds a lot but he's in full control he's only had 1 crash his whole life and that was his friends fault and on ice.

 

Edit: Haven't got a picture of my dads bike but I do have a younger me at the bike show...

 

 

It amazes me how that bike must be 10 years old but it still looks really futuristic and cool .

Sell me a 125 then.....

 

 

You couldn't handle my beasts, the power bands would have you hanging on for dear life

traxor, most bike crashes are caused by cars not looking and pulling out in front of bikes... i think you should do a cbt to see what drivers are really like, it will make you a better driver.

Passed my CBT on monday, and i have to say, it has really opened my eyes.

 

me and my other half did them on the same day, and we had 3 cars pull out infront of us, 2 pulled infront of me and then breaked heavily, if i had been any closer, my metal plated boots woulda made a nice mess of their driver door......

 

Reaper

People on bikes p*** me off, it also annoys me how many road-signs there are saying 'look out bikes about', it's not my fault you're driving 120 down the wrong side of the road, dickhead.

 

Partially agree with you there..... there are a lot of bikers out there who are just plain idiots.

 

I remember being somewhere in my car, and pulling out to overtake (It was a dual carriageway) there was nothing behind me, then all of a sudden this bike was right up my backside, flashing me as I was in the wrong.

 

Some of them seem to think they are invincible.

Andy, I think you're too quick to say that I'm being unreasonable, I'm not talking about pulling out on them, there are signs all down a road near where I live, and it's where motorcyclists speed down it well over 100mph thinking they're Jesus.

Like tonight...... I can hear them on the expressway, and let me tell you they aren't doing the speed limit! You can hear the wind rushing and the bike screaming!

I remember being somewhere in my car, and pulling out to overtake (It was a dual carriageway) there was nothing behind me, then all of a sudden this bike was right up my backside, flashing me as I was in the wrong.

 

hummmm... doesnt add up. on a dual carrage way you should normally be able to see 1/4 mile behind and infront of you if you are paying proper attention and looking every 5 secs like your taught to. for a bike to be 1/4 mile behind you when you pulled out to over take that should take what?? 5 seconds to change lane if that?? a bike would have needed the closing speed of 180mph, so if your doing 70mph they would have had to be doing 250mph.... I dont think you looked or you would have noticed!

 

Andy, I think you're too quick to say that I'm being unreasonable, I'm not talking about pulling out on them, there are signs all down a road near where I live, and it's where motorcyclists speed down it well over 100mph thinking they're Jesus.

 

do you know the cercumstances of these crashes? most bike crashes which are caused by bikers are on corners where they panic, stop looking where they want to go and look where they are pointing, brake and then crash.

 

 

 

well done reaper, your now addicted to checking your mirrors and blind spot.

I would also like to point out, for the people that say bikers speed, that when i drive down the motorway (alot, as my GF used to live 90 miles away) for every bike i had that overtook me at high speed, there were 10-15 cars, so they are just as bad, if not worse.

 

There are obviously times when bikers cause problems, and i will admit i have seen some stupid ones, but most of the time it is the fault of the car. Like that old man who killed the biker because he didnt see him. We are smaller than a car, so people need to take notice.

 

Reaper

good point. and a lot of the speeding cars are ones not designed to go fast like people carriers full of kiddies while tail gating cause u know they are da kings of da road mon.

 

When i passed my bike test, well literally 5 minutes later, on the actual ride back from the test center while going around a ro-und-a-bo-ut, my instructor was crashed into by an old lady who decided to change lanes but didnt look, guess she was deaf as well because the bikes were noisy.

 

so.. alsoo.. me thinking... its obvious car drivers dont check their mirrors, it not just motorbikes its push bikes and police cars (last week i followed a police chase(on my push bike, they were only doing 20mph), the police were chasing an old man for 1 mile until he stopped.. he didnt hear or see them(i heard him say then as when i caught but he was explaining)!) so is it safer to be in the danger zone ie overtaking for the shortest amount of time possible, ie to accelerate and get past as quick as possible before returning to a safe speed, or overtake at 5mph being on the wrong side of the road longer where any car can pull out at anytime in front of you? i guess its personally preference and experience which tells you which is safer, and i dont think we can agree which is. I think its better to drop it to 2nd unleash the horses take her up to 100mph and get past as quick as possible, then slow down to a safe speed and continue riding.

 

 

I loved riding and im considering getting a new one soon. there really is no other feeling like a warm summers evening cruising through the country side on a bike powerful loud bike... ahahhhhhhhh

Once again, you're still stereotyping and condoning going over the speed limit, if I'm travelling at 60mph down an urban clearway where national speed limits apply - the road that I discussed earlier - then they do not and should never need to overtake me. I literally don't understand how you can't see that quite a few motorcyclists have very, very powerful motorbikes for one reason: so that they can travel very fast. If you're travelling at a high speed, there will always be a certain degree of risk there, one that's much higher than if you were obeying the law.

 

I completely agree with you that drivers should check everywhere before pulling out, making sure that there are no motorcyclists by double checking, and also checking your blindspot before pulling away - something which I always do. But you can't rub it off and say that there are many irresponsible motorcyclists out there, if you go out and sit on the edge of a straight road on a summer day, you'll see it.