Thread: Might be time for a Motor Bike

Originally Posted by hiline

i did notice that at the pub

didn't want to say anything incase i hurt your feelings

sorry i just had to say it


right back to it guy's

yeah i think its an evolution thing, it allows me to slap you from across the bar without needing to get up

Originally Posted by grumpybastard

yeah i think its an evolution thing, it allows me to slap you from across the bar without needing to get up

thats nasty

What are peoples recommendations on safety gear?

Everything you can live with. Leave a pair of shoes at work and DEFINITELY wear boots. Take it from someone who's broken an ankle, $400 for a good set of Alpinestars touring boots with goretex and armour are the cheap way out.

Jacket - I'd be cautious of the synthetic cheapies sold around the traps these days. They all have some armour in them, but are so baggy that as soon as you hit the ground the armour moves around and you're grinding flesh. I have a Walden Miller leather jacket that was made to measure ten years ago and it's been great. Definitely worth the money.

Pants - knees, hips and **** are where you lose skin. I have made to measure leathers but often skimp and wear jeans. Partly because my K100RS is ****en hot in traffic, and partly because a 6'6" leather clad bloke can make the wrong impression! The Draggin jeans with Kevlar inserts are the go and I will buy some.

Gloves and helmet - best you can afford, no less.

In terms of bikes, there are plenty of options. Depending on the speed of the traffic (ie, any freeway work?) a 4 stroke trailbike with road tyres makes an excellent commuter. I did my early road riding on a TTR250 and the riding position is great, view of the road is great and they are so nimble in slow moving stuff. A good TTR or Suzuki DR250 (both elec start) starts at about $3.5K and both are super reliable. Mounting curbs to park is a cinch and there are no fairings to damage. All other 250s were way too small for me. The CB250 Honda I did my L's test on was like a dog rooting a golf ball.

I commute 40km each way on the K100RS when I need to go to town and it beats taking the Disco. Cheaper on fuel, no tolls, faster without speeding, free parking, and just plain good fun. Go for it!

Maaaaate,

As Rangieman said - 'go for it'.

I sold my bikes, but kept my licence.

I've got dragon jeans and they are the ducks nuts.

In QLD (if you've had a car licence for 3 yrs), you can do a "Q RIDE" one day course, about $250.
If you have half a brain and know how to ride and handle a bike, you'll pass. Then you can get an open licence the same day.

It is a better system as there is more thorough technical and theoritical training. but.....

in theory some numbnut who has no idea could go from non rider to flogging a Hayabusa in one day

Originally Posted by Numpty's Missus

If you come off without the boots and pants, you might just wish you'd gone the extra $ and inconvenience.

What Mrs Numpty said....it's chear insurance and far better for you.
Gloves and boots especially - the digits and wrists/ankles get hammered more than anything.

Originally Posted by grumpybastard

I am so sick of my commute to work each day!

It takes me on average, an hour and quarter, but this year its averaging an hour and half, and some times its an hour and 45 or even 2 hours to travel a mere 40kms.

Thats 15 to 20 hours of my life each week sitting on my **** in traffic!

Clutch in, clutch out, clutch in and brake, clutch in, clutch out, clutch in and brake, i cant stand it anymore. Well actually i got bored with the clutch years ago so only use it when i have to and knees are easier to steer with than hands and leave your hands free for rude gestures

So anyway back to the point...

Every 12 months i go to myself "i wanna a motorbike", but normally this is where it all falls in a heap. I let my bike license expire 10 and a bit years ago (back in the dim dark days when you had separate licenses) so i have to resit my bike license and so im stuck on a 250cc and at 6'2" i have all the joys of riding of with my knees somewhere around my head

So every now and again i jump online and have a look whats about and generally get annoyed at the ridiculous prices of 250's, 10 YO Honda CBR that looks like its been repainted with a toilet brush for $6k etc... NO FRIGGIN' WAY!!!!

But today is different, i found something that looks a goer' but im not keen on the red, never been a red fan, it reminds to much of things that say "stop" ie: traffic lights Hyosung GT250R



Now normally i cringe at the thought of "Korean" but this doesn't look half bad, seems to get good reviews, it is big physically, costs $6.4k new + ORC, has 2 years warranty. It isn't the most powerful 250 out there but has a flat power curve and really what do you expect out of 15 cu in of motor? Even better theres a few coming up in the 2nd hand market which is where I'll be looking.

So it costs me approx $20 a day to go to work, $10 a day in tolls and $10 for petrol, but the bike will cost me a mere $2 a day, (no tolls) plus will save me prob 5 hours a week in travel time, its damn appealing!

I haven't been on a bike for a bloody long time and i have no intention of coming off but....

What are peoples recommendations on safety gear?

Minimum i see is- helmet, gloves and jacket. Should we go the whole lot and get boots and pants too? Pants and boots are a pain having to change at work each day.

Opinions?

I gave up commuting on bikes years ago, BECAUSE it seems every Ba$tard in a car is out to KILL you, I would go for the red, more visible and I would opt for some flashing lights as well and get as much protective gear as you can, great way to travel, but until the motorist finally connects that part of his brain that say's, "GEE, I BETTER LOOK AND SEE IF THERE IS A MOTORCYCLIST THERE BEFORE I DO A RIGHT TURN, CHANGE LANES, DO AN ILLEGAL U TURN, PULL OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY (just add whichever is applicable) before I get back on one, Be Careful, Regards Frank.

I say the same thing to the MRS every day when sitting in the traffic along Nepean Hwy, " I think I'll get another Bike" I am sick to death of the traffic, Have also thought very seriously about moving. The problem is, your everyday average motorist doesn't look/care about Bikes, Thats what is scaring me off from buying another Road Bike, But a dirt bike again is getting very tempting, problem is all the mates are married and not allowed to buy a dirt bike and I dont see any fun in riding alone.

Yup as everyone has said, definitely get the best gear you can afford including pants & good boots. Legs get caught underneath a sliding bike and grind away at your ankle bone, even a couple metres at low speed is gonna hurt. If you can afford leathers and can stand them in summer, this is the best protection as although draggin jeans have kevlar to take the friction of sliding you'll still land with a thump which is when bones break, leathers will usually have some soft armour on the bum/hip/knees which will take some of the hit and are more comfy in the saddle.
Speaking of saddles, dirt bikes have no saddle to offer. I had a KLX250 to start with but if you're only using it on road and for some distance then a roadbike will have better seating, brakes, tyres & handling. Those Hyosungs are the same frame as the 650 so they're a generous cockpit.
Don't use high beam, it hust dazzles even in daylight and people will tend to misjudge your speed & distance. My thumb habitually checks the indicators are cancelled and hovers by the horn button. Don't know the situation in Vic but in Bris there's been a blitz on lane splitting, just political ****