Motorbikes

[tim b]

Anyone here into their bikes, and perhaps be able to give a comparison between going from a GTR to a decent sportsbike?

It’s that time of year when my GTR insurance is due again soon, and now that I’ve now got a mortgage to pay, (along with £10k I owe back to my Dad for the deposit on the new flat), and the fact that I only did 1120 miles last year in the Skyline, makes me wonder if it’s such a good idea to keep it as a very expensive ornament.

I've been speaking to a friend who’s into bikes, and he says if you really want to go ridiculously fast, (and yes I’ve taken him out in my car ), you need to get a bike.

Depending on how much I’d get selling the R32 I should be able to pay back my Dad, do a direct access bike course, (not got a bike licence yet), and buy and insure a decent bike, (thinking year 2000 Yamaha R6). Plus its cheaper road tax, better mpg, and easier to park. Decent R6s go for £2700 or so, that’s a flippin’ bargain isn’t it.

I’ve still got an S13 200SX I can use to carry stuff back from B&Q in, but maybe I wouldn’t even need to keep that as the R6 has a pillion seat, plus the missus still has a car for the shopping.

So would the R6 be ok for commuting to work, (5-6 miles), and for nipping round friend’s houses etc, or is it a massive pain in the a$$ putting leathers and a helmet on every time you go out? Is the enjoyment / excitement from a fast bike that much better that a 570 odd bhp Skyline, or is it offset by getting cold and wet and having to avoid slippery drain covers? Would an R6 out drag most tuned up GTRs? And how likely am I to kill myself? (I have life insurance now though).

[chrisT.O.T.B.]

Originally Posted by tim b

Anyone here into their bikes, and perhaps be able to give a comparison between going from a GTR to a decent sportsbike?

It’s that time of year when my GTR insurance is due again soon, and now that I’ve now got a mortgage to pay, (along with £10k I owe back to my Dad for the deposit on the new flat), and the fact that I only did 1120 miles last year in the Skyline, makes me wonder if it’s such a good idea to keep it as a very expensive ornament.

I've been speaking to a friend who’s into bikes, and he says if you really want to go ridiculously fast, (and yes I’ve taken him out in my car ), you need to get a bike.

Depending on how much I’d get selling the R32 I should be able to pay back my Dad, do a direct access bike course, (not got a bike licence yet), and buy and insure a decent bike, (thinking year 2000 Yamaha R6). Plus its cheaper road tax, better mpg, and easier to park. Decent R6s go for £2700 or so, that’s a flippin’ bargain isn’t it.

I’ve still got an S13 200SX I can use to carry stuff back from B&Q in, but maybe I wouldn’t even need to keep that as the R6 has a pillion seat, plus the missus still has a car for the shopping.

So would the R6 be ok for commuting to work, (5-6 miles), and for nipping round friend’s houses etc, or is it a massive pain in the a$$ putting leathers and a helmet on every time you go out? Is the enjoyment / excitement from a fast bike that much better that a 570 odd bhp Skyline, or is it offset by getting cold and wet and having to avoid slippery drain covers? Would an R6 out drag most tuned up GTRs? And how likely am I to kill myself? (I have life insurance now though).

jumping onto an R6 straight from learning/direct access might not be the best plan for a long life.
modern 600cc sports bikes are ridiculously fast and dont corner as well as the skyline unless you are a complete loon upto say 120mph my mates R6 will eat most decent cars.

[TREG]

Bikes are normally faster,cheaper on fuel and cheaper on tax.
Insurance is cheap compared to a Gtr!!0--Then it rains you wish you had a car,as you pull your leathers from your rain/snow/frost soaked skin!!


Sod that,pay the insurance!!

[BigD]

As a litre sport bike rider I can honestly say that it's a totaly different experience. My bike is in standard form and can do the quarter mile in 11.5s at a TV of 126mph. Yes there are heavily modded skylines that can go quicker but these are heavily modded. As with both it is not about straight line speed but more about the fun you get on the twisties.

They are much much cheaper to run as you say but bikes are not that much fun in the winter. But then some folk garage their Skylines in the winter too.

As for putting on the leathers etc, not too much hassle really it's just like pulling on a pair of jeans and a jacket.

I did direct access and went straight on to a CBR600. As long as you are aware of the dangers then it's not too bad. But hey, you could get knocked down crossing the road and with out any of the fun. The reason I went straight for a 600 was that I knew I'd get bored of of a small bike quickly. And I only kept the 600 for 18 months before I got the 1000cc.

If you are only nipping to your mates and there are no fast roads involved then you don't necessarily need to wear your leathers. So no hassle there.

I went a trip to Spain on the bike and it was too hot to wear leather so it was just jeans and a t-shirt.

It's difficult to say how likely you are to kill yourself, there are easier ways to do that.

It does make you much more aware when you are riding and as a consequence is much more tiring. Very rewarding too.

[tim b]

Thanks for the responses.

Originally Posted by BigD

My bike is in standard form and can do the quarter mile in 11.5s at a TV of 126mph. Yes there are heavily modded skylines that can go quicker but these are heavily modded.

That's half my problem to be honest, my Skyline is fairly modified, to the point where its not a sensible road car anymore, so I don't get the enjoyment from driving it that I should.

but bikes are not that much fun in the winter. But then some folk garage their Skylines in the winter too.

Yep, that's me, not driven the Skyline since way before Christmas.

I As long as you are aware of the dangers then it's not too bad. But hey, you could get knocked down crossing the road and with out any of the fun.

I've done an advanced driving course, (IAM thing), and have managed to keep the GTR shiny side up for two years, and like to think that I am reasonably sensible on the roads. If anything I have a far greater awareness of what other people on the road may/may not do, which is normally more of a problem than what I'm up to myself.

The reason I went straight for a 600 was that I knew I'd get bored of of a small bike quickly. And I only kept the 600 for 18 months before I got the 1000cc.

Interesting, how much faster are the 1000s, and how do they differ, (heavier, more torque, more stable etc) ? Don't think I'd go for a 1000 obviously for a while, I'd have thought the 600s would be more than enough.

[RepLiKa]

There a ****in deathwish tbh
offroad bikes for me

[rb26]

Hi,
I had fast motorbikes for 20 years. Gsx-r 1100, FZR 1000, Fireblade and have driven R1's 1000R's and Hayabusa.
Having written off one FZR and crashed both my Gsx-r and a GPZ 900R i really must say that buying my Gtr two years ago was the best thing i have ever done. I would choose my Gtr over any bike any time.
Forgot to mention!! i also lost my driver licence twice during my R-bike period the second time for 19 months!!
It is mutch easier to drive fast everywere on a fast bike so these are lethal things..

rb26.

[Newera]

I've been riding bikes since I was 13, on the roads since I was 17, including all year round riding in the UK, except when snow was on the roads. I'm now 37, so it's been 20 years and I've been through 2 stroke screamers, dirt bikes, bit trialies, 600cc sports bikes, 750cc Race replicas and now have a 954RR2 Fireblade having ridden some 100,000 - 130,000 miles on roads. I've also done a fair bit of work in tuning them, fitting bespoke suspension, upgrading brakes, wheels, etc. I could never help tinkering with them

Bikes are the fastest thing from A to B, period. In the real world, bikes will be able to filter through traffic, take off faster, stop and corner faster than most cars too. With a bike you can always arrive on time, not necessarily the same as with a car.

Riding a bike involves using all of your body to steer it, as any small weight transfer has an effect on what it's doing. So, leaning slightly to one side when turning means you don't have to drop it over as much when cornering, etc, etc.

It takes a lot more skill to ride a bike properly, than driving a car fast, as you need to learn the fine art of hard braking without locking the front wheel (Learners usually apply too much back brake and lock the rears though), as well as how to make your bike corner best. It should be a slow learning process. Try to ride over your limits and this is when you risk having a big accident. I've seen inexperienced club members push too hard, go barreling into a corner, panic, then brake - which makes the bike stand up and go straight. If a car were coming the other way, this could be lethal. Slow in, fast out is the way to ride on the roads, as you can never be sure of what the surface is like till you see it!!

Provided you can be sensible, ride within your limits, treat ALL other road users as if they're a potential danger (That way you won't be caught out when they do something stupid), then you should be fine.

I wouldn't recommend a fully faired sports bike to begin with, as you WILL drop it on it's side at slow speeds, or stationary - when you aren't paying attention. U turns poorly executed can make the bike stall and all of a sudden you might find the bike going over - once it's caught you out and is leaning over enough, you can't hold it, usually. Also, parking without care or knowledge, your bike might sink it's stand into a muddy patch and fall over, or roll off it's stand, etc. I've seen lots of friends drop their beautiful sports bikes when they first get them, through inexperience, which can cost £1,000 in plastic parts, etc.

The best way to learn is to take your test and buy a cheap trialie such as an Suzuki DR350 (Light and manageable) Honda Dominator 650's are great fun too - I rode one all the way to the Greek Cyclades Islands & Back with a friend on his XT600E when some 13 years ago. It was the best journey of my life!... Consider even something smaller like a Honda XT250. All depends on your size & strength. Be realistic, as a larger bike off road can be intimidating rather than fun.

Then do some off road riding. Find some wasteland or a forest where you can get away with it. It's huge fun and much harder than you think. It'll teach you how to control the bike in a slide and when you get it wrong, only your ego hurts. Also teaches you how to control the front end when you lock the front (Stamp in the floor, no matter what speed you're going - you'll wobble, but the bike will stay upright instead of washing out), drift the rear out of turns, wheelie, jump, etc. These trialies have wider handlebars, so you'll have more leverage with which to throw the bike into a turn very quickly, as you improve. They're a hooligan's tool.

The most important thing is to NEVER panic on a bike, as that's what causes accidents (Inexperience and pushing too much).

It's the most fun and purest way to travel on a motor vehicle. It will make you a better car driver, as you'll begin to instinctively monitor road surfaces much more than as a car driver. Some of your most memorable journeys will be on a bike. You'll find bikers are mostly fun loving people who are a lot more friendly with a better attitude than car drivers. You'll often find a biker stopping to help another biker who breaks down, etc. In the UK, people are fairly friendly and there's some good local clubs in most places.

Once you become proficient on a smaller bike, move up - that way you'll have experienced riding at it's cheapest level and will know whether or not it's really for you without hurting your wallet. You can also use a small bike for nipping to the shops, or round to your mate's.

When you're ready and move to a larger bike, take a 2 week biking holiday with some friends and do the twistiest roads you can find (Avoid motorways). If you ride 10-15 hours per day through mountains, etc, your riding will improve a LOT. Don't be tempted to go down the fashion route and get a bike that's way too powerful for your abilities. Modern sportsbikes are seriously quick and need an experienced rider to really get the best of them. If you must go this route, get a CBR600 which has a better more upright seating position than an R6. Yamaha sports replicas are probably the most focussed of all the breeds. Personally after trying many, I settled on Hondas as the best built.

Riding a bike well on a smooth fast country road, getting it all right and scraping your pegs on hairpins, etc. is awesome. Just be careful of other road users who won't expect you to be coming so quickly.... treat all of them as a potential danger, especially the ones going really slow... they're about to do something like open a door, do a U turn, or stop!

Racing couriers in London's fun too.

Enjoy it - and ride safe.

Miguel.

[colin c]

There's nothing quite like scrapes your sliders round roundabouts on nice sunny days and pulling wheelies down the road. Can't do that in a car!

Personally i like to have cars and bikes as its a different buzz from each. A supermoto like an XR650 would be good fun provided you don't want to go to far. Alternatively something like a fazer 600 is a good all round bike to start with.

Riding bikes makes you a much more aware driver as you start to look far more at what other people around you are doing.

Give it a try i say!

[psd1]

Better have your head on a swivel for sure.

There are two types of riders...those who have been down and those who will go down.

That being said, I dont have enough restraint to own another bike...some sort of disconnect between my brain and my right wrist/hand! Luckily I survived my first bike...a tuned GS 1100ES... then stepped DOWN to a GSXR 750...of course had a Honda CR 250 and a DR-650 too...worst that came to me was Titanium plates and 6 screws in my ankle...I was lucky!!!

Think twice Bro, that's all I have to say!

[BigD]

Good write up again Miguel.

I agree with what has been said about not getting a fully faired or out and out sport bike as your first. My CBR600 was an older one the F model which was really a sport/tourer. Very comfortable, easy to ride slowly and still quick.

The main reason I went for a litre bike was purely down to my size. It was a difficult choice as even the litre bikes are very small these days.

I ended up getting an Aprilia RSV as I always likes V-twins. It's not as quick as the R1's or Blades in a straight line but handles like a 600 on the twisties. It's lighter than my CBR600F was.

[mambastu]

For what its worth...

I passed my bike test back in 1996 and then circumstances meant that I couldn't actually buy a bike untill 2000. I did a days refresher course on a unfaired 400 (GS400 ?) and then bought a new Kwacker ZX6r Ninja. Very scary picking it up and also riding it for the first couple of weeks untill I started to get used to it. Still have it after six years and I'm still not bored of it, its fast enough for me and handles ok. The only time it feels strained is when I occasionally have someone on the back of it.

A lot of my friends were telling me to buy a 400 as my first bike but I would have got bored of it quite quickly, I've ridden 400's since I bought the 6r and I always feel that you have to thrash them all the time to get anywhere. The 6r is reasonably comefortable for a 600 although sportsbikes aren't generally that comfortable below 50/60 mph because of the weight on your wrists and arms. At 50/60 upwards airflow hitting your upper body helps take some of the weight off though and its quite comfortable. I rode it up to Scotland in June 2001 and did 2300 miles in 6 days. Great bike roads compared to the south east where I live although it was cold and rained a lot.

To give you some idea of what its like performance wise I have a 200SX RS13 with an RB25DETT conversion and just over 400bhp. The car is probably 180/200kgs lighter than a R32GTR. The bike is a yr 2000 ZX6r Ninja with a race can, jet kit, K&N and ignition advancer. The bike when standard is in the 105 to 110hp range. Not sure what it is now but it feels noticeably quicker.
From a standing start the bike is very very fast off the line compared to the car and if you're over the tank you can use pretty much all of the throttle from standstill without wheelying. The car being rwd is much harder to get off the line cleanly.
From a roll on 2nd gear start from 30mph the car will actually stay next to the bike untill 130mph but I haven't run them any faster than that together so can't comment on the upper speed ranges.

Bike ownership has its ups and downs. Servicing is suprisingly expensive - more than £300 for a main service on mine. Rear tyres only last 3,500 ish miles and you can halve that if you have a big bore bike and ride like a nutter. Road tax is cheap though and fuel consumption is low on a 600. I got over 60mpg average touring Scotland.

Clothing-wise it is a pain to keep getting leathered up for short journeys and my bike takes around 10 minutes to warm up from cold and combined with the slow speed comfort (or rather lack of it) I don't use it for popping down the shops.

The bikes great for occasional commuting, really cuts journey times but I tend to go out on it in the evenings or at weekends just for enjoyment. Its completely different to driving a car, much more challenging to get right and you always feel that you're learning with it.

[tim b]

Thanks very much for the well written replies so far guys, much appreciated.

Interesting comments about the 200SX, (tuned), keeping up with the bike once its rolling, and about getting used to a 400 quickly.

I was speaking to my friend at work who did his direct access last year, and now has a 600, (oldish Yamaha, Firecat?, something cat anyway ), and he reckoned 60 comes up in 4 and a bit seconds, thought it was quicker than that.

Not sure if jumping on a 600 straight away is the best idea though, wondering if CBT then ride about on a 125 for a bit is the way to go. Mate reckoned that with car experience the direct access, (6 day course), is deffo the best option?

The trouble is that I'd need to comit to selling the Skyline to be able to afford a decent bike, leathers, helmet, courses etc, and once its gone I can't have it back, so I need to make a decision before I have to re-insure it next month.

Miguel's recommendation of buying a cheapy bike to make sure I get on with it ok sounds sensible, but I'd still need to shell out £650 for direct access, unless perhaps I do CBT only, and mince about on a 125 with L plates for a bit. That would be the correct way to do it perhaps.

Bikes seem to make a lot of sense though, cheap tax, nip through traffic, free parking.

Just been looking at R6s on Bike trader again though, damn they look cool.

[Newera]

Tim, get a 125 Trialie is better... Kawasaki KMX 125 is quite fun if you can still find a good one... If not already done, drill out the restrictor - 3 spot welds - in the exhaust where it meets the engine, then hey presto - you'll have around 24 bhp. Enough to wheelie and have fun with. Not all 2 strokes are as easy to de-restrict, but if you can find a good one, it'll be cheap. They're also a piece of pi$$ to repair.

Ride it and learn how to use a bike. Instant access sounds like a rip off!
I just turned up and took the test. It was easy (20 years ago, mind!), if you ride competently. Just got to watch your mirrors, look behind you before signaling, don't put your feet on the floor when doing the U turn (Use the back brake to steady yourself at slow speeds whilst slipping the clutch, that way you won't stall), etc.

Regarding clothing, the best I've found is something from the States called an Aerostitch. Not sure it's still in production - but look in MCN. It's basically a well designed very tough waterproof suit with full armour that zips up over your clothes. The design is clever enough that it only takes 30 seconds to put on, plus there are zips for ventilation. Mine's some 10 years old but still going strong. A good friend in the UK bought it new and paid around ***163;1,000 for it, then went off bikes after having kids and sold it to me for ***163;250 after I'd already borrowed it for a year. Result!!
Leathers are a pain in comparison, more fashionable perhaps - but biking's not all about that, it's about having fun on 2 wheels, and getting there a lot quicker than with 4 wheels plus it's bloody convenient to be on 2 wheels in traffic.

At this stage don't get caught up in looking cool, nobody can see who is on the bike beneath the clothing and helmet and the bike's usually out of sight before people get a chance to oogle anyways.

A bike won't replace the Skyline, but if you get a good price for your BNR32, you might be able to afford a decent bike and have enough change to buy a more sensible GT-R for road use too. A double whammy!

I built my way up, but each time I did the bike up, made it look real nice and usually made a small profit upon sale. Big trialies are huge fun. They're light, so you can learn endos at traffic lights, wheelies taking off from them, plus they have enough ground clearance to climb pavements and jump off them if you're that way inclined. Nowadays though, the UK Police would probably confiscate the bike if they saw you do that.... assuming they could catch you...

[tim b]

Big trialies are huge fun. They're light, so you can learn endos at traffic lights, wheelies taking off from them, plus they have enough ground clearance to climb pavements and jump off them if you're that way inclined

Yep, deffo want some of that.

So the trialie concept would be something like this, (Yamaha DT125R) ?



Sounds like CBT, one of those for a few hundred squid on L plates, and get some experience before proper test might be a good idea. I am not sure that in a six day Direct Access course I'd be able to figure out and feel comfortable with the controls sufficiently to pass the test, (45 minutes apparently ).

Thinking back to my car lessons it took quite a few before I was comfortable with pulling out onto busy-ish roads from a T-junction, (actually I'm still not confident with my tripple plate clutch ).

My friend at work who did it assures me that six days is plenty, but I think starting on a cheapy bike that might get dropped would be a good idea.

Keep looking at these though, R6, drool drool



***163;2700, bargain!!