Anyone on here into motorbikes?

OH and I have been down to the bike shop today as we both fancy taking our test at some point.

We're both going to get 125s soonish, then a year or so after take our tests and get a pair of Harley Davidson Sportsters ...

Put my name down for a white one:


Seriously though would appreciate any advice from any bikers on here - what would you do differently? What is decent gear / clothing to buy?! Is a cheapish helmet really any worse than a top of the range one etc.?

Am not a biker but the IAMs website has a motorcyclist section with links to various sites - bikes, clothing etc. Might be of some use to you P*P

Oooooh aaaaah! Lovely bike, maybe interesting to handle for a novice.
Full leathers are the way to go (jacket and trousers or one piece), in my opinion, with a decent set of waterproofs. The armoured jackets, like Frank Thomas are excellent too. Oh and a pair of boots.

Helmets - there are two levels, ACU racing gold standard and not. I would not buy any helmet that was not to this standard, but there are some that are still relatively inexpensive. Lazers seem to be good value. Just make sure it's a good tight fit, as they loosen over time and it's important that it fits well. Personally I have always had full face helmets. Look at the sound proofing too, as if you are going fast for a long distance some helmets can be quite noisy.

Think about an intercom too!!

Above all, have fun!

I have never been on a motorbike and would be terrified. but I can't help myself going to stand in open mouthed admiration next to any big bike I see parked. And on the coast down here in summer there are plenty of beauties to admire.

Last time I went to the restaurant there were a couple of Harley Davidson's parked outside and I positively drooled. (I'm the same over boats!)

Beautiful bike!!!

My neighbour has a Harley Davidson trike and it looks like AMAZING fun!


I have ridden a motorbike a couple of times but don't think the UK is really very safe and the roads where I live are rather small and narrow. I also have to stick to cars for taking my dogs with me.

But I do love the sound of a Harley...

Dawn - will only have a full face helmet and thank you for the advice

Aquarelle - I would love a boat to cruise up and down the Med in .... I'm a rich girl in a poor persons life ... but aren't we all?!

Lottie - Harleys' sound real good Here a lot of roads are small and narrow - LOTS of bikes about though so people are used to watching out for them

We live in an area popular with bikers. On average about three a year die round here, almost always with no other vehicle involved. They complain about how the tight and 'dangerous' bends should be straightened out so that they wouldn't die quite so often but it seems like a pretty clear cut demonstration of evolution to me. I don't want anyone dying on my patch but I'm really sick of being cut up by bikesm overtaken on bends and scared to death by bikes roaring up behind me.

Alpha Male Jazz Cat = SERIOUS Biker.

Bag was initiated last year.... Akshully was bl**dy good fun and I look forward to doing a whole lot more this summer

Biker-Bag x

Banjogirl - I get my "serious" fun out of four wheels and know what you mean about *some* bikers! Thing is superbikes are probably the cheapest bang for your buck you can get ...

Bagpuss - Have you got a bike yourself?

Ha ha, no I do not despite Alpha Male Jazz Cat's constant nagging. I am a fair-weather Bag and the thought of freezing my paws off with all my instruments strapped to my back on a day-to-day basis appeals not.

Lol.

Enjoy, Pixie

Bx

I don't blame you, lol! I'll certainly be a fair weathe biker and won't be carrying stuff either ...

At Uni my bike was my only transport... I used to strap my violin (in it's great big rectangular case) to my back in a rucksack. Couldn't go more than 30 mph or it pulled me backwards!!

- I quite fancy one of those!

My soon-to-be-retiring boss brought in his new motorbike today... I'm now feeling very envious! I can just see myself whizzing along with my oboe backpack case (I do actually own one) and I'd save quite a bit in gas on the twice a week 30 mile round trip to oboe classes and rehearsals. It's very dangerous here, though. And not much fun during the tropical deluges of our rainy season.

The only thing I can add to this thread (apart from for the bike) is to make sure you have somewhere really secure to keep it. Insurance is monstrous on a Harley, but also people will go to all sorts of lengths to steal them. A friend of mine had his LIFTED over an 8' wall out of his backyard overnight, didn't hear a thing

Agreed. One of the best ways of securing is to cement a ring into the floor of the garage (or whatever you have), then you lock to that. Cheap but effective. A pair of new harleys will be eyecatching.....


We had a trike (not a Harley one) as our wedding car. It was brilliant, complete with planted confetti that streamed down the road after us. Got beeped all the way to the reception!!

Interesting thanks for the advice! My partner and I both have classic cars and have never had any trouble with them so I'd not really thought too much about security of bikes!

We are getting two 125s first to get used to biking then taking the test and when we do get Harleys having them restricted. After two years that comes off.

Now, I know I am going to get into serious trouble for saying this, but I cannot for the life of me understand why anybody, let alone somebody who likes to drive a Porsche, would want to ride a Hardly Ableson.

The whole point of a motorcycle is to accelerate fast, go round bends fast, and stop even more quickly, whilst wearing an ear to ear grin. A Hardly won't do any of those, and handling is frankly evil compared with (say) a Ducatti.

I have no doubt that Harleys are good touring bikes, but they are not, by any stretch of the imagination, sports bikes.

SB

I'd not even consider biking right now; the ridiculous amount of potholes in the UK's roads and motorways make it extremely dangerous.

Hello

We were going to go for a Triumph Rocket 3 and ended up on a Hayabusa. It is an amazing bike. I cannot ride it though as it is too big for my little legs.
I want a Honda Shadow Spirit but need to take my big girl test.

Good luck with biking as nowadays the roads are cruddy and there are so many idiots in cars that don't see you.

Helen x

We went to have a look at the bikes on friday again.

I also fancy a Triumph Bonneville no rockets for me I'm only small, lol! Only bikes I can sit comfortably on are cruisers and at a push the Bonneville too!

In my humble opinion the old BSA Rocket 3 and Triumph Trident were the most gorgeous sounding bikes ever made, with the possible exception of the Kawasaki and Suzuki two-stroke triples, and the Hailwood Honda six. Just add a whiff of Castrol R to make a perfect day.

SB