Has anyone just got a bike?

[-LG-]

Fairly sure there are a few people that have just got a bike, but I'm looking for peoples advice/opinons on it.

I'm getting a bit fed up of paying £250 a month on fuel in my current car (BMW 528i), I'm really tempted to get rid of the car and just get a bike.

What is it like with just living with a bike? I very rarely carry passengers, and I'm a named driver on my mums car, so if need be can use that.

One question I have, is how do you go about day to day life. I can't think its very cool to be wearing all the gear when going to the cinema with mates.

Secondly...how does finance work? I should get around £1,000 for my car, and thinking about financing the rest (around £2,000/£3,000). Can I pay off more each month if need be, or do I have to pay the same amount each month?

I should be able to save £2,000 a year just in fuel, which seems pretty good .

Thanks for any help/advice.
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Snow rider wrote: I'm far to annoying to be near for long periods of time

[gfrancisdev]

started riding in october, so pretty new

~2k setup costs for me:
1300 bike
400 3rd party only insurance (best deal i could find, bloomin ridiculous)
120 cbt
250 gear (can save money here, i went for full winter kit)

now it's a tenner a week for fuel, commuting 50 miles a day total + weekends

only downsides are maintenance costs (though it's an old bike, and i ride it about 350 miles a week), and the risks associated with stupid van drivers/pedestrians

also snow/ice isn't too much fun, but the only days i haven't ridden are days i wouldn't have gone out in a car

[stuartt]

i've got a bmw 728i , apart from city driving it's far cheaper on fuel than my busa & rocket .

i couldn't give a fk how i look with my all weather bike gear

my hairs usually a mess again i don't care .

the sense of freedom a bike brings out ways anything .

i usually drive like miss daisy but if i take the notion to do 150 or whatever it's only a few secs away .

if i'm on a country road behind a car i can overtake in a few secs safely nearly anywhere rather than having to wait for a long straight if i'm in my car .

unless i can help it i never use my car

also if i want to go in to glasgow i can park almost anywhere for free .

[thx1138]

I only have bikes. We have three at the moment. I don't drive, hate it, never driven since the day I passed my test, save for a pass plus, and a couple of refresher lessons to see how I felt.

Hate it.

Stick to bikes me.

[thx1138]

[Clanger]

Originally yes, my bike was it.

You don't have to worry about carrying your kit around with you. You have plenty of options, take a rucksack and squeeze some of your kit into that. Get a top box, and do the same, just leaving your kit attached to your bike. Most bikes have helmet lock just under the seat. Or in good weather you can take a chain and thread it through your jacket sleeve and through your lid and lock it to your bike that way.

Just remember, where there's a will, there's a way.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[Slacker24seve...]

I have a bike and a car that I can borrow by prior arrangement as a named driver, to carry things and people. Weekdays are possible, weekends are unlikely. Other than that I ride my Daytona. Worcester is home (and where work is) and the girlfriend lives in Cheltenham, ~25 miles away, splitting my week between the two. She doesn't drive but is a happy pillion.

Re: financing, take a long, long look at your options. I found borrowing £5k was vastly cheaper than borrowing £3.5-4k. Good excuse to buy a better bike.

Think seriously about bike choice - can you hack the riding position day in, day out? Also for me another consideration is tyres; when the weather is good its great - I take the twisty way, or perhaps even a serious detour and have some fun on the way home. When the weather is bad, like it has been recently, I'm stuck on shit sports tyre (BT016s, they're pretty bad) and to make matters worse they've gone square from doing literally nothing but blasting up and down the M5 for the last 3 months in the crap weather we've had. I cannot wait to throw on some good rubber, probably in March, and get out hooning again.

Cold weather is fine (layer up), torrential rain is not. Invest in good gear and/or a decent rain suit. Getting into and out of your gear is a PITA, adding a few minutes on to each end of the journey but being able to filter and ultimately get to the destination a lot quicker is a good tradeoff. Luggage is another thing to consider, I can get a weekends worth of stuff and more into a backpack and/or tankbag but smart work clothes, in particular my suit jacket, is a bit of a nightmare - keeping stuff at work helps!
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Triumph Daytona 675 track bike + girlfriend's Honda Hornet 600
Selling a hack/winter bike for less than a grand? PM me.
Banger rallies are ace

[Benno]

I made a poll thread about this a few weeks ago, turns out about 80% plus of people here have both a bike and a car...I suppose cars are something of an almost-necessary evil, though it's perfectly possible to live without one.
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I'm autistic. That means I'm smarter than you.

[-LG-]

[magpiemale]

I have been riding for a while now but I bought my second bike just feb gone,you cannot do the shopping with the bike or ride all year round though depending on the winter some are milder than others so it is possible.I do not work far from home but ride my bike everyday (apart from this last week or so I do not ride on snow n ice) if your going to chop your car for a bike,think about what you want from a bike if it can handle hard luggage,how much stuff you likely to carry on the bike.
If I go to the cinema I take my top box wear my jacket in the cinema and trousers n helmet into the top box.I also have a car (wife uses it) If you want to use your bike for everything think can I ride in the rain,cold,too much heat.Biking to me is an aquired taste either you like it,or you do not start on a 125cc for a while to see if you like it if you do not you have not wasted to much ££.
I love biking wish I had of got one sooner than 7 years ago weigh up your options and choose as for finance most finance is done by blackhorse and you can pay either just the repayment,more if you want to with no penalties.
magpiemale
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NSR125 1992 (sold) kawasaki Z750S,fazer FZ1 07 now gone present bike 2012 fz1s Fazer,beowulf rad protector,heated grips,sw motech gps holder,power socket.

[Benno]

[stuartt]

if it's just fuel thats to dear & you like a big car gas is the way to go .

i got 650 miles for £80 driving a 2.8 L nearly all the miles where done on the motorway at 50mph as i was towing , it would of been even cheaper if i was going a wee bit faster i think .

[magpiemale]

It's just me and my wife but when we shop its 3 maybe four shopping bags which I could not carry on the bike as for the top box they only hold 7kg of weight.You don't wanna load to much on your body work or swingarm.If I had to cope with the bike alone I would be shopping everyday in the car it's one hit.On my bike I have a givi E52 and a detachable moto detail bag which expands I tend to only carry this instead of the top box.
I use the top-box more for security like cinema outings or carrystuff say like up to newcastle 520 miles.
why don't you trade the car in for a smaller car and a small cc bike ?
Going from a car to a bike is a big change make sure you like riding bikes weather n all.
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NSR125 1992 (sold) kawasaki Z750S,fazer FZ1 07 now gone present bike 2012 fz1s Fazer,beowulf rad protector,heated grips,sw motech gps holder,power socket.

[Hevra]

Only have a bike, never learned to drive (well, had 3 lessons when I was 22, hated it).

I cope fine without a car, although in weather like this I have a few regrets.

I have a 52L topbox that I can fit my helmet, boots, gloves, waterproof jacket and trousers in, I usually wear my bike jacket. Alternatively, I ride in my hiking boots and secure my helmet to the bike with a chain and then my jacket will fit in the box too.

Having to suit up is a pain but I'd rather spent the 10 minutes either end than have skin grafts. I don't even notice the time spent now, and the time gained not having to drive through central London every day, or get screwed by train fars, is of far more benefit to me.

I do have to leave my baseball kit in the team lock up though - I can't cart all my catchers gear around with me, so if I'm playing away (quiet in the cheap seats) there is a bit of faffing.
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_MJS_ : TLDR; MTFU, RTFM, DIY, tits and Gary. It's the only way you'll learn
CBF125 > XJ600S > V-Strom 650

[Nexus Icon]

Personally, I love cars and I love driving. I really enjoy getting out on the bike but I had a year of two wheels only and it almost ruined it for me. There's no fun turning up to nights out soaked to the skin or buried in gear.

Nowadays I use it for pleasure or when it's more appropriate than the car and the buzz is back.

I think tying yourself to just the bike will sap some of what it is you enjoy about biking right out of it.
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Greetings from Shitsville!

[-LG-]

[Clutchy]

Not too bad after a while, you will notice that your friends will accommodation around your bike, mine always let me put my gear in their car or offer me lifts, try not to ask. I even offer them a lift sometimes, that is because I know they will say no

Save an unreal amount of money. £3,400 to insure my golf, so I think not! I get 110 mpg and get to places quicker You can work around luggage, again friends may offer to carry, if not a ruck sack and some panniers/cargo net will do.
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Malaguti F12 Phantom-Dead, Suzuki AY50- Dead, NRG power DD LQ, CBR125.
*33 BHP restriction up on 10/12/14* Current bikes/car: SV 650 S/ MKIV GOLF
Guide to pass your test with no lessons!

[Sable]

Panniers and tail pack fits my shopping. I got a lock on my bike for my helmet. I have a short textile jacket which I wear every where all the time. I don't wear any back armour and mostly wear denim or kevlar jeans so usually just look like a 60's/70's biker throwback. A look I am quite comfy with..... ^^

Car was stolen a long time ago. Stick with a 125cc bike as I live in London, and rarely ever get a chance too go above 50mph. A bit limiting when i go out of the city, but used too it and rarely leave the city

[thx1138]

I rarely have a problem living with just a bike.

I can't go to the tip, so I have to systematically dismantle things, strip them down, smash them up, or take them apart and reuse them or feed them into the wheelie bin.

95% of friends or colleagues who need a lift, laugh nervously and refuse when I offer them one.

Occasionally, not owning a car is a pain. Such as, if I'm on a boring dull essential trip, such as A34 in rush hour, in rain, in the dark. It's rubbish, and yeah, just maybe being a car then would be better. Those days are few and far between though.

Where I live, I don't really need a car or a bike. I rarely make an essential journey tbh.

[magpiemale]

Jfk well if that is your situation go for it a 125cc will get you around 60-70mpg £45 road tax I presume now.I learned on a nsr125 loved it for 3 cbt's the weather will grow on you until it does'nt bother you much,heated grips are a god send.
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NSR125 1992 (sold) kawasaki Z750S,fazer FZ1 07 now gone present bike 2012 fz1s Fazer,beowulf rad protector,heated grips,sw motech gps holder,power socket.

[-LG-]

[stevo as b4]

I've had periods of having one or the other as well as having both together and also no vehicles at all car or bike.

The last situation sucks, but more so for the lack of personal freedom and something to get involved with, work or and tinker with.

I can if need be get to work without my own transport, and i live 2min walk away from a train station, so getting to nearby towns and city's is not bad at all if i plan it right and not experience any delays or cancelled trains etc.

I'm a fair believer in using public transport if its there, and suited to your needs. If people don't use it out of convenience or choice, then they simply will withdraw less popular services and routes, and generally make travelling around harder for alot of people.

There's times outside of work use that having your own transport is very useful and can also save you a packet. It also obviously depends on your personal situation. I don't have any kids or need to take people to various appointments or anything, so the only person i need to worry about is me.

That said id find it hard to not have either a car or bike at all, as not just for the independant form of go anytime transport, but for the social and interest side of things. 50% of all my interests must relvolve around motorbikes and car's, take them both away from me and i've got alot of time to fill, and interests to replace with new things.

Lastly alot of people on BCF have both a bike and a car for whatever reason. Some by neccessity, some by choice, some like me are equally petrol head about 2 or 4wheels. But overall for alot of full time working people without familes to support, i don't really see whay it's that hard to afford to own both a bike and a car of some description?

Running costs can be low for either, depending on what you choose as your vehicle. If i just had a bike now, i would probably be looking into getting a small car based van like a Fiesta for example. As having one could really pay for itself with regards to doing bike restorations and running about collecting parts etc. You could even make a small van work for you, by doing this kind of thing for other people too.

[gorillaonabik...]

I have a car sitting in by drive but haven't used it for a couple of years. I'm bike only.

As a Londoner, it's good - really good to ride everywhere and I'm an addict. It's worse than heroin - if I don't ride for a few days I start to miss it even when it's cold and wet.

I love my bike but then again I think I might be crazy...
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FZR400 (blown engine), ZXR750 (blown engine), ZX6R (accident), CBR600 which had engine issues after which I learned to change gear..., CBR900, CBR924 (stolen), CB600, CB1300 (everything blew up), BMW K1300GT (written off, hit from rear while stationary), Bandit 1250 for a couple of months, Triumph Sprint ST 1050 (nicked) and somewhere in there, I wrote off a Ducati 748 at Cadwell.

[iMark]

Time spent putting gear on, and taking it back off.
vs
Time gained filtering in town.


Bike wins.
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K8 GSXR 1000
"G" : you got him to have a look at a forum which seems to have established a picture of an erect penis in a cat's mouth as it's mascot and thought he might consider it ok?

[Derivative]

I don't think anyone has mentioned yet that you don't need to wear full gear everywhere if you don't want to.

If I thought I 'had to' put a full set of leathers on for a 1-2 mile journey to the cinema then I'd just walk.

Just be sensible.