Bikings not all bad.

[kawakid]

From time to time I read negative posts about how everyone is out to get motorcyclists, things like engine restriction, police intolerance etc, there are frequent rants and raves that everyone is out to get at us.

Now I am fairly new to motorcycling (only held a full license for 7 months) and I would like to make a few comments.

Firstly, I think that there is a great amount of leniency to motorcyclists, why?, step back and think, when you were 17 and wanted a car for example. What did you have to do? You went out with a driving school and or your parents, whom must be seated next to you at all times.

Now think about this from a biking point of view, what happens is, you reach the grand old age of 17, you attend a 1 day compulsory basic training, you get a nice little certificate(that lasts for 2 years) and what can you do? Well you go can ride a motorcycle up to 125cc (14 or so bhp) and all roads apart from motorways. This immediately gives us a far greater freedom than any car driver. Looking back to my two months on a 125cc, I couldn’t believe it was legal, it was so much fun,. My little CG would do about 62 mph on the flat, (which was fine). The comparison to a car driver are so different, they have to pass their test. I remember at the test centre talking to some other people doing their car tests and I remarked pass or fail, I can ride home..

Secondly, I do honestly think the bike test was easier than a car test (Now I’m 33 and did my car test at 17, but my wife recently took her car test at the ancient age of 28, so I do have some recent experience of what’s involved). The motorcycle test involved, (in my case) an examiner following me in a car, at a distance of 50 yards. I would only here instructions. He could analyse my life savers, road positioning etc, but he could not tell I was revving the bike too much, coasting down the road with clutch slipped in, rolling to a stop in neutral, nor that I was not always in the most appropriate gear. (Looking back at the car test, the examiner is 1 foot away and all these things would be noted).

I know bikers do have some restrictions, such as the 33bhp limit, but being limited to 95mph on my ER5, doesn’t really worry me too much and I honestly think it’s a good idea, it will enable me to have experience when the 2 years come.

Just a thought to all the negative posts we seem to get.
____________________
I've a twin and a 4.

[riichy]

i wont be happy till i can ride a 1000cc bike at 17 full power
____________________
.......... PLOD ............ zx636 2004

[Rookie]

Tell you what - I bloody hope you're right. I don't want to have to fail the first time!

[chris___]

Some good points there mate. I had loads of fun on my RXS100, got it on my 17th (september 2004) and sold it when I could afford my ZZR (june this year). However, I still think that the 33BHP law is bollocks. Since I got my ZZR ive riden it literally ever day, Ive put about 4000 miles on it already! And I still have another year and a half of being restricted, which although I fully intend to do, is annoying seeing as someone else my age who drives a car can have far less road experience but drive any power car.
____________________
Yamaha rxs100 > Kawasaki ZZR600 > Kawasaki ZX6R > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda Bros 400 > Suzuki SV650S K2
Bikepics page

[BenBray]

The bike aint cheap though, lets be honest. A guy at work was bitching today cause it would have been about the same if he got a car now - and he's riding in the shitty weather with no air-con or backseat blowjobs.

The test centres that are near me always follow on bike.. cause.. er .. half of them absolutely hate cars come rain or shine

I'm sure if you had an instructor behind you it would have been a fair bit different, but you're right, it's not like they're detailing everything as much as car driving.

In all fairness though, I think learning to ride a bike is easier than learning to drive a car - when you get to a certain level I should imagine the bike is harder than car.

I guess thats all subjective though. I know a great car racer who cant even go around a roundabout well on a motorbike!

I generally agree with ya!
____________________
Current Bike: nc30