Why so few bikers ?

[new001]

Why are there so few bikers on Uk roads nowadays.Its like out of 100s of cars I only maybe see 1 biker if im lucky and thats on a good day.You would of thought with the cost of petrol and other things that people would be switching to motorbikes for their commute but it seems its the opposite more and more cars appear and less and less motorbikes.It makes me wonder that maybe the reason why there are so far motorbikes on the roads is because people class them as too dangerous and prefer to be surrounded in a metal cage.What do you think ?

[.....]

'Cos it's cold and you can fall off.

[P.addy]

As above, its cold and people wimp out.

I notice far more bikes out around april/may time.

[kawakid]

Lots of bikers have a car, when it's cold & dark people go in their cars.

On my commute I am now the only biker, wheras from April - October I see loads. I actually nodded to someone last week.

But tomorrow I will bow out, its snowing. I've put the bike on the Optimate and I will use it again when we are safely above freezing.
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I've a twin and a 4.

[The Gixxer]

I'm lucky enough to run a Summer and Winter bike, but many aren't so fortunate. That said its also a safety thing during the winter as many motorists don't adjust the way they drive and are in my opinion a liability for us on two wheels.

[Kradmelder]

Fark knows. I don't much care what other people do. I'm an old school biker. I ride as I love it not because of cost. it fulfills me. I don't need groups, social events, clubs, image, good weather and all the other BS of modern biking. I've had a bike licence 30 years. I ride every day. I cage as a transport of last resort.

If people want to cage because its safer, drier whatever, or because they are scared to ride alone, let them. I won't be joining them.

I may have something in common with commuters and weekend warriors doing group brekkie runs or club rides, but not a whole lot.
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2011 KTM 990 Dakar
2009 BMW 1200 GS

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

Also it's warm where you are.
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[Raffles]

[Tarmacsurfer]

[Kradmelder]

[Teflon-Mike]

[P.addy]

[dgo1212]

I don't know where you live but in South Yorkshire , I'm seeing the exact opposite, I'm seeing more and more bikes.all year round, even in snow and ice, the amount jumping on the lets ride a bike bandwagon is starting to annoy and worry me.

Annoying because- the filter line is constantly being held up by stupid fvcks that can't judge gaps.

Worrying because- once enough people have bikes, you can kiss cheap tax, free parking and cheap insurance goodbye, and filtering will probably be made illegal.
u
Any cagers thinking of taking up biking as a cheaper means of commuting, and are here looking for advice, heres some, fuck off and keep driving your cage, you're not welcome, saving money is NOT the reason to start riding bikes. Those who actually have an interest in bikes and the amazing community experience that biking has to offer, the doors open :up:

That's my 2 penneth and little rant anyway.

[Ammoman]

As it's been so wet I for one can't be assed to go out and get wet.
Don't mind the cold but wet no thanks.. Must be getting Old..
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2013 ZZR1400 & Honda CG125 1986..

[Torque Wrench]

Check CMC as loads hang out around the ice-cream van, failing that go to Matlock and search the chip shops .

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Depends where you go and when. Still plenty knocking around in London.
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My Flickr

[Spudly]

I was riding to work one day last week, stopped in a rare queue at a roundabout on the A69 near Hexham when someone on a 125R filtered up and stopped next to me.

I'm not sure of the etiquette in situations like that, but figured "fuckit, I'm Australian", so not having seen too many of those bikes, not to mention not having seen another motorbike on the road for months, I gawped at it like some sort of inbred yokel looking at a banjo.

Traffic started moving, the guy started heading in much the same direction as me, after a while, he went straight ahead when I went left.

Strangely reluctant to say goodbye to my surprise comrade in the cold, I beeped bye to him, then felt slightly guilty when he turned to see which idiot was beeping, lifted his hand to wave back and started wobbling in the traffic. Pretty sure he's ok.

I think its a bit cold for people at the moment. I'll be riding in tomorrow though, regardless of snow.
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The Old Apprentice

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[Bomberman]

[Kradmelder]

[thx1138]

there are a few around, no suicide jockeys screaming past me at warp speed though

[Pigeon]

Back in the day (60's/70's), bikes were relatively cheap form of personal transport, plus they were good fun. There was a limited second hand car market.

Fast forward to 2007-12. People are far more risk averse, bikes are a lot more expensive, the test is a lot more expensive (and harder), there are truck loads of second hand cars, prices have fallen (relatively).

Having said that, the dealer who sold be the AJS has recently expanded, buying the premises next door and knocking through. He can't keep up with demand for Chinese/cheap scooters and 125's
Fuel prices are high, the commute has become a giant traffic jam and there is nowhere to park a car without being robbed.
I think these are made in Austria for example. And at £1,600 are £800 less than a CBF, look like a Street Triple and are higher quality compared to your usual Chinese 125's.

EDIT: crap, its not that one that looks like a Tripple. Another one in the range...But you get the point.

But how many of these people will progress to a full license, and how many are happy to pay £16pa tax, nip in to work on 110MPG+ and spend £120 every 2 years re-doing their CBT.

Fingers crossed they came for financial reasons, they stay for the grins

[thx1138]

I might risk riding my XR 250 in the snow, dunno yet. Might do. Not bothered if I drop it, just don't want to like, die or anything. Have to go 3.5 miles tommorrow evening.

Probably end up walking. I really ought to get a sidecar outfit for the winter.

[Polarbear]

[nowhere.elysium]