How well do you cope?

[NinjaBoy]

I'm looking for replies here from people that do not own/have access to a car and rely on their motorbike for all modes of transport.
How do you cope with things like riding in rain or other bad weather conditions, taking the missus or kids out, getting shopping, or ferrying fairly big items around.
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.: NinjaBoy :.

[17-in-87]

Public transport, home delivery services, minicabs.

Bad weather riding is ok as long as it's not to far, after an hour or so my waterproof gear is.........less waterproof.

Cold is ok as long as it doesn't snow.
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K1 GSX-R 600 - blue n white of course....

Growing old is compulsory - growing up is optional...

[_Will_]

Ok i may own a car aswell(albeit it shared) but i didnt for the first two years of riding.
Bad weather- went out when i had to regardless of the weather, wasnt nice when i was late for work because of trying to do a left hand corner uphill on black ice
And yea it scared the crap out of me going to college rinding on ice but you gota do what you gota do.
Topbox helped but i did carry a stupid amount of weight in backpack a lot of the time, and pizza but it slips down so isnt ideal , also had fun riding on a moped with a guitar and other such stuff
I coped because i had no other choice really but had a blast doing it, i fear the cage may make me soft, im already thinking the z wont be going out in torrential rain and icey conditions
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Past -Honda qr50 | 2004 Peugeot Tkr s 50| | 1996 Yamaha XJ600s Diversion|

[Pte1643]

Got a car now, but spent Ten years riding in all weathers on various bikes, including Snow, didn't have any choice, as work 15 miles away from home.

I rode my RGV250 through a proper (Snowy) winter, that wasn't too pleasant .

Mind you didn't have any kids then.
Shopping's easier now though for the "bike only" crew... Tesco's.com

Used to go fishing by bike too, the rod bag strapped lengthways down the bike by bungee cords.

I avoid riding in the bad weather now (why should I if I have a car), because the old bones don't hack now .

Bike's only been out 1 day this week so far.

[killa]

Been doing it for 7 years, i have a very powerful bike now and it probably doesnt like rain so i'm looking for a hack.
It's been dam cold before but there's always a hot drink, a shower and a hug from the missus to make things better...

I don't fany riding in it for a lot longer, i'd like a little crap car but unsure if i can afford both.
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Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[Groove]

How do i cope?

Quite easily. Work is only 2 miles down a curved bypass so jus put on leather jacket/gloves, same as was college.

Goin out is taxis/lifts by a designated driver

Shopping? Im 18! Anything i shop for is usually somthing to eat there and then, posing on the bike whilst digging in

Bad weather: Meh..

Dont have kids

Who ever wants a ride is told to get there own lid, less there fit then ill go and ask most people i know for a spare lid


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|| Past: 1991 Kawasaki ZXR 250 ~ 2003 Honda CBR 600 F Sport ~ 2004 Kawasaki ZX6R B1H 636 ~ 1999 Yamaha R1 ~ 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R J ~ 2004 Kawasaki ZX6R B1H 636 ~ 1998 Honda VTR1000F Firestorm ~ K1 GSXR 600 Track bike ~ K6 GSXR 1000 ~ 2006 Speed Triple 1050 || Current: 2005 R1 https://www.adrucore.co.uk

[Method]

I dont have any other modes of transport, so i have to do everything on the bike realy...

Coping with bad weather can be a bit testing at times, it is hard to be in a good mood when ever you get off the bike after riding in pouring rain, but it could be worse. Last winter i had to ride with a pillion and tank bag through all that snow we had... My mates bike wouldnt start because of the cold and we had to push this thing up and down the road for about 20minutes before it would fire, in the cold and snow at about 7pm... Its hard and miserable, but hey - those are the times you look back at and laugh, and the times that you are truely proud of! How many people do you know that would ride through what you have just rode through? I only knew one, and that was my mate who was beside me all the way

Shopping... I have a luggage rack on the back (no top box, just the rack), a tank bag, and a shed load of bungee's and a cargo net. You CAN get almost anything back on the back of a bike, ive carried loads during my time... never had many problems. Bungees - Complete GodSend!

Taking out the missus... She loves it, pop her on the pillion seat and we're off. We go on holidays together on the bike, tent and clothes strapped to the bike and off we go! She's got her own lid and jacket and borrows the rest of her kit from me, took her a while to get the guts to get on, but now she loves it!

Dont have any kids, but i find taking other mates or my little brother out on the bike easy. Just strap the spare lid to the bike (or carry my brothers lid on my shoulder - he has his own because of his little head), and off we go.

Because i use my bike day in day out, for everything that i have to do and everywhere i have to go, i always go places prepared... i carry a large toolkit and entertainment incase i break down, i always take a loada bungee's with me incase i pick something up and need to get it home somehow, etc.
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CBT Aug '03 ... Gilera GSM 50 ... Honda NSR 125 Aug '04 ...
Full Test Dec 04... Suzuki GS500 Jan 05... Suzuki SV650 Mar 07... Gixxer 6 K5 May 08... Oh and my 'Rado
My Bikepics.com - No Brakes, No Gears... No Fear.

[Marcg868]

Used to have a car as well as the 125 up untill last year. But i hardly used the car, only on really shitty days.

Now i just have the bike, i dont mind the rain, its actually quite good fun and challenging, if the weathers really bad, just use public transport, as its pretty darn reliable round here, so its oki.

Dont have kids


And my ex, had a little go on the back of the 125 and didnt seem to mind it, other than moaning about her hair (Helmet hair) and any new girlfriend that i get, that makes me choose between her and the bike, will be fucked off quicker than she can say the words "FUCKED OFF"
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JACK, MISS YOU LOADS YOU LEGEND.

[Craggles]

I was fine! (Till I crashed, twice, in a month, on two different bikes).

I'd be able to fit a weeks shopping (for one) on the bike from the out-of-town Asda and ride home comfortably. I'd bungee large things on - moved everything up to my student accomodation myself (70 Miles) apart from a set of drawers! Just did it in a few trips over the course of the first few weeks!

Used to love riding in bad weather! Had waterproofs, my luggage was waterproof (or could be made waterproof with bin liners). Once took a new set of creative 2.1 speakers from Southampton to Bristol in the pouring rain! Box wasn't even damp!

I could give my housemate lifts around Bristol - and it started to become practical rather than a speciality. Girlfriend never came on the bike. Took a mate back from the pub a few times. Not the most practical vehicle to ferry people on though - usually would take a lift with someone else who was driving (or meet them there).

Craig
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If this signature is blue, you're riding too fast

[johnsilva]

i ride 50 miles every day of the year,

I love it

I get cold in winter, wet in the rain, but hey, thats bikes!

love it!!!!
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Current Bikes: ZX7R P5; KR1S C2; GPX250R F3
Previously: CBR400RR-R; YQ50 Aerox

[Itchy]

I cope fine , though I don't have anybody to carry on the back , though a few times I've had women on the back it crushes the MPG though and makes the handling shit.


shopping is easy , bring two soft panniers put them in the top box and fill them up when you come out,

bigger things you might want to rent a van but I;ve had fridges/microwaves , desk top PCs , TVs etc on the back (crazy insane I know).

The rain is not a problem £200 or hell £80 of gear will get you some decent rain gear,

I ride day in day out all day anyweather though I do have second thoughts if there is ice , though that just means I push it to the end of my street where the roads are gritted my Culde sac doth not be gritted in winter and in January I drop the bike just pushing it out with the side stand up.

Live it love it the mild british weather will put hairs on your chest!
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[Trixie]

Yeah, I cope, although would prefer a bike I'm not so precious about for the crap weather.

Shopping is easy, as I live just round the corner from the local supermarket, although I (very) occasionally hire a car (for the weekend) and do a HUGE Tesco and B&Q run, move larger stuff round, and stuff like that. It's not needed much, so it works out really cheap.

Saying that, if me and my fella go shopping on the bikes, he has a big topbox and I can always pack my panniers, so it's not too bad.

Have no kids, so transporting rugrats is not an issue for me.

For commuting, I've ridden in some bloody awful weather and no, it's not pleasant, but get the right gear and it makes life a little easier. Occasionally though, I have been known to cheat and get the bus, as my present workplace is right on my bus route.
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Dead nobodies in company cars...

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

For shopping, although I live with my parents I do alot of my own, I just walk. I live near shops though so probably easier for me, takes me 10 minutes to walk, good exercise.

Otherwise get it delivered or use public transport/get a lift of relative's/mates.
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Pictorgraphicalfantastical

[extreme3d]

[Trixie]

[NinjaBoy]

[jok]

[Pte1643]

[_Will_]

Can ride a Moped at 16

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Past -Honda qr50 | 2004 Peugeot Tkr s 50| | 1996 Yamaha XJ600s Diversion|

[chris___]

Bike is my only form of transport, so have no choice but to ride in shit weather and do shopping and stuff.

Quite regularly pack a weeks worth of shopping for my GF in a ruck sack on her back, one on mine and the rest in my tank back. Not very comfortable but hey, it works!!

Went down to brands hatch for the WSB weekend on my ZX6R. Panniers, pillion, tank bag and ruck sacks, no problem. (wrists aching when we got there though)

The main annoyance for me is what to do with gear when I get somewhere. Going to gigs is a fucking pain especially when its a little club venue thats hot and sweaty and I'm stuck in full leathers, not very comfy at all!
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Yamaha rxs100 > Kawasaki ZZR600 > Kawasaki ZX6R > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda Bros 400 > Suzuki SV650S K2
Bikepics page

[Jebus]

dont know yet as i aint started riding but this winter going to be my first, as long as i can stay rubber side down then i will ride, just make sure i get decent under and over suits!
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2nd time around CBT: 8/9/11
125 Varadero

[ISLAND GIRL]

Used to have a car up until last October when I sold it so as I could have my bike, sadly cannot afford two bikes and a car in my house on top of all the other outgoings.
Rode all winter except for the real icey ones when I would walk.
Pick up bits of groceries on way home most evenings, all goes in the back pack. If want a bit more at the week ends we both go down on our bikes and when we need a good stocking up we simply walk down, shops not far and get the taxi back. For what we save on car road tax, insurance etc covers for things like this.
If the kids need to go anywhere they simply jump on the back. Have simply adjusted now to our situation, not so bad.
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Live on the Isle of Wight and ride a CBR600F