Motorbikes
Posted by: Paul Hutchings on 10 November 2004
Having spent a day at the bike show at the NEC I've come away thinking "i want a bike".
It's one of those things I always wanted as a kid but as you grow up you tend to do the sensible thing and just get a car.
I need to do a lot of homework so far as what's involved with tests/cbc and gear needed and just the practical element (I'd imagine bikes on winter roads aren't fun!).
My daily trip to work is around 20 miles, mostly minor A roads with roundabouts every couple of miles.
Right now I'm thinking something like a Ducati Monster, though it's entirely possible it's a "one day wonder" idea and I'm mad for even thinking about it.
I should stress that I'm not thinking of it for the "razzing around country lanes and killing myself" factor.
Any thoughts?
Paul
It's one of those things I always wanted as a kid but as you grow up you tend to do the sensible thing and just get a car.
I need to do a lot of homework so far as what's involved with tests/cbc and gear needed and just the practical element (I'd imagine bikes on winter roads aren't fun!).
My daily trip to work is around 20 miles, mostly minor A roads with roundabouts every couple of miles.
Right now I'm thinking something like a Ducati Monster, though it's entirely possible it's a "one day wonder" idea and I'm mad for even thinking about it.
I should stress that I'm not thinking of it for the "razzing around country lanes and killing myself" factor.
Any thoughts?
Paul
if you commute don't go for a monster - i owned one for a while and doing 70 + up the A3 each day became a pain. the 600 is underpowered and without even a small fairing the wind will get on your nerves. (had a funny moment one summers day when i forgot to zip up my jacket - spent 15 mins wondering why the damned thing felt so slow - i must have looked like the michelin man!)
Anyway if i was starting again i'd prob look at the fazer or similar from other makers. not too fast but with enough power to make a commute fun and enough power to keep out of trouble (once you learn how
). also you'll benefit from a lower seat height, and flat high bars - riding a bike is a physical thing and whilst you apply basic skills to the real road you really don't want to have to cope with aching wrists, stiff neck and sore back too. your strenght will increase as you ride more. finally bikes of this ilk won't be too expensive to insure so you'll be able to buy a decent lid & leathers not some 100 quid piece of tat. (you should be bugeting some 600+ for lid leathers, gloves, boots waterproofs and panniers. don't even think of frank thomas as a vendor of quality kit - they aren't!!)
Anyway if i was starting again i'd prob look at the fazer or similar from other makers. not too fast but with enough power to make a commute fun and enough power to keep out of trouble (once you learn how
). also you'll benefit from a lower seat height, and flat high bars - riding a bike is a physical thing and whilst you apply basic skills to the real road you really don't want to have to cope with aching wrists, stiff neck and sore back too. your strenght will increase as you ride more. finally bikes of this ilk won't be too expensive to insure so you'll be able to buy a decent lid & leathers not some 100 quid piece of tat. (you should be bugeting some 600+ for lid leathers, gloves, boots waterproofs and panniers. don't even think of frank thomas as a vendor of quality kit - they aren't!!)Cadwell is a great circuit, ive raced a bike there many times 
and bent a couple in the process!
and bent a couple in the process!