Thinking of giving up.....

mistergixer · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Karma :

Yup, thinking of selling my bike(s) and calling it a day on biking for a while.

I'm thinking of selling the 2 bikes and buying a Caterham/Westfield/Locost 7 type car instead, with a view to doing some sprints, hillclimbs, trackdays and possibly even some short circuit racing.

Recently, i find i hardly ever use the gixer, and my TDR250 project sits in the garage and never shows any signs of progress. I feel it's a shame for 2 such fabulous machines to go unused, and feel i could currently get more year-round use from the car, and i think i'd be far more competitive in 4-wheels, rather than 2.

Plus, when i do go out, i find it difficult to control my speed, and I fear that being in posession of (and making full use of Wink

) a motorcycle capable of almost 180mph will eventually earn me either a spell at her majesty's pleasure, or a place in the hospital/morgue.

I'd like to get out whilst the going is still good - after all, i can always buy another bike.

Your thoughts please....
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carlnicholson... · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Mar 2005 Karma :

I did a couple of years off bikes (not by choice BTW) and as much as I hated it, the return was fantastic, 500's felt fast again!

Having two bikes doing nothing is just dead money, I'd say go for it, BUY THE CATERHAM, and enjoy. (Espesially if you can get a blade engined kit model!)

You could easily get another bike with not a lot of money at any point and when you do, it feels even better than it does now.

Enjoy. Thumbs Up

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map · Mr Calendar Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :

If you ant year round use from a car then a Caterham type isn't one to pick. It's a good little weekend toy but little else use. There isn't even room for a briefcase! Shocked

Then again, given your choice of bikes are weekend toys then I can see the appear of a 4 wheel weekend toy.

If you want a truly year round car then a Mazda MX-5 with a hard top will give you a semi-practical car with year round use. In spring/summer there's the softtop and in autumn/winter snap on the hardtop. This firms it up, makes it more rigid and gives a different type of driving. Effectively you get 2 cars for one. The owners club is quite active as well organising track days, hillclimbs, etc.

Just some thoughs Thumbs Up

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Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

Why not.

Caterhams are fun.

MinhDinh · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Jan 2005 Karma :

whatever makes you happy.

have you thought about contacting other people with your bike and working on the project together?

maybe do a few ride outs with people in your area. like most things, they can be the best fun in a group, but very boring when you try solo.
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Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

That's more or less what I've done/doing.

Haven't ridden for a year since a crash - Don't really have the inclination to sort the bike out and ride again. And I'm building a single seat car with lots of the design bits nicked from a locost.

Can always go back to riding again if I feel like it.

One bit of advice - if you want the car to enjoy it, buy it made. Locosts are cheap on ebay, and easy to fix. Building it will take you a very long time.

Flip · Super Spammer Joined: 28 Feb 2004 Karma :

If it makes you feel good do it.

Buying a muscle bike slowed me down, oddly enough. Quite happy to cruise about.

I enjoy driving almost as much as riding. More some days. I couldn't part with the bike though. I like to have the choice.

strag · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Oct 2004 Karma :

Tricky decision. I know exactly where you are coming from with the fast bike angle. Until recently I had a K5 1000 that was just so easy to go way to fast on, it just felt 'right' at silly speeds.

Like the above poster I changed bike styles, an 08 Tuono. Not slow by any means but on dual carriageways/motorways I ride at 'sensible' speeds. It is still as much fun as the gixer was on smaller A and B roads.

In fact I am enjoying it more than I was the gixer towards the end.
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Grendel · Scooby Slapper Joined: 31 Aug 2007 Karma :

Oddly enough I keep considering selling up since the accident in June both the bike and I are back on the road but I keep finding fewer excuses to use the bike rather than the car. But then I keep thinking if I sell up will I miss not having the bike since before the accident I used it everyday for commuting?
I did think about what you’re doing but the other way around and getting a sensible car since I already have an Mk1 MR2 which I could use as toy but problem being running 2 cars would cost more than having a bike.
Rolling Eyes

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speed1 · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Karma :

sounds fair enuf!

caterhams are great fun! just not very pratical for year round use!

how about a used lotus elise? early ones can be picked up for under 10k and they are a tad more pratical!
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Grendel · Scooby Slapper Joined: 31 Aug 2007 Karma :

Or if you like classic 80's car a Toyota MR2 Mk1 T-Bar (Not that i'm bias honest) It has front and rear boot. It's cheapest midengine sports car about and an excellent track car for a weekend blast. Laughing

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Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

Mk1 MR2 is good fun, I had one for a couple of years.

However, Caterham or similar will be a whole different level of silliness. Double wishbone suspension too, which makes a different.

If you get an MR2, polybush it.

Grendel · Scooby Slapper Joined: 31 Aug 2007 Karma :

Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

And totally buggering up your low end and midrange. They go faster on the stock exhaust, ECU is very basic.

Grendel · Scooby Slapper Joined: 31 Aug 2007 Karma :

You get far better throttle response letting the engine breath with filter and exhaust since it can let all the bhp out of the engine rather than restricting it.
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Past bike: 2004 Hyosung Comet
Current bike: 1993 Honda Transalp
Transalp Page: https://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=11418462079

mistergixer · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Karma :

Some interesting points there folks, up until the MR2 fanboi hijack anyway.
I looked briefly at bike-engined RWD 'old' mini, up until i found out the price! The company that makes them (Z-cars) charges 18 - 23 grand per car (dependent on spec).
So, i'm going to get myself some test drives booked up and see how i get on, but don't be surprised if you see my gixer over in the 'Exchange & Mart' section.
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Space Monkey #7
Don Eladio is dead. His capos are dead. You have no one left to fight for. Fill your pockets and leave in peace. Or fight me and die!
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Grendel · Scooby Slapper Joined: 31 Aug 2007 Karma :

Why not consider a Trike that way it's the best of both worlds?
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Past bike: 2004 Hyosung Comet
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Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

mistergixer · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Karma :

Can't say trikes have ever really done it for me either - IMHO they combine all the negative features of car/bike ownership with few of the positive.

Bendy - i did have a look at the Caterham academy, but wasn't really taken by it because of a) price, and b) not my 'thing' really, that sort of thing.
I've been looking a the 750 motorclub who run a series for kit cars, but primarily i'd want to get some 'fast road' miles under my belt before getting out onto trackdays - then look at doing some competition like sprints and possibly the 750 series.
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Space Monkey #7
Don Eladio is dead. His capos are dead. You have no one left to fight for. Fill your pockets and leave in peace. Or fight me and die!
Mistergixer's videos on YouTube

Kal · World Chat Champion Joined: 02 Jan 2007 Karma :

Clanger · Stirrer Joined: 27 May 2004 Karma :

Do what you gotta do, if your heart's not into biking at the moment, then you are likely to make mistakes when out riding.

Anyway, the Caterham sounds like fun!!!!! With a capital F.

Errr, do they have two seats...? If yes, I'm more than willing to come out for a wee drive Wink

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