So why exactly do people buy motorbikes?

[Justin]

This is the first time I have even looked at this forum. I just don't understand the point in a motorbike if you can afford a car. Would someone care to enlighten me? Is rain something which appears on the motorbiker radar for example, or are bikers waterproof, as well as exempt from traffic lights and speed limits?

[Eirik]

There are several reasons for riding, and I'll try to name the most common:

1) Performance. Where else can you get close to track performance for so little money? You can buy a reasonably priced bike that will do over 190mph in stock form, does the SS 1/4-mile in the nines and does 0-150mph in 10 seconds flat, and it's less than an Astra! You also get multiple adjustable suspension (preload, compression and rebound damping and often ride height adjust as well - some can even have their steering geometry changed) on most sporting bikes, and the three disc brakes often comes with a total of 16 brake pistons (compare that to 4 on my 1650kg Scorpio!) etc. etc. Magnesium engine covers were used on some production bikes as far back as the 70s. Racing on the street is also easier and more fun on bikes, and getting away from cops are easier.

Cost: This is a typical British fenomen these days, with the odd German thrown in for good measure. In general, bikes cost less to buy and run than cars, especially those referred to as standards (simple, reliable, not too fast, easy to maintain). However, in most of the world bikes are used for fun and recreation, and I guess at least 90% of those who owns a bike also have at least one car.

Fun: See above. Riding motorcycles are fun, especially if you can allow yourself to ride only in good weather. Even an old 400cc from 1980 will cover the SS 1/4-mile in about 14 seconds - much quicker than most sporting cars. So they are a blast to ride. Also, they are more fun the more the road twists, quite the opposite of a cage. You also get closer to Mother Nature, which can bring a smile on anybodys face. And you can practice stunt riding (wheelies, burnouts, jumps, powerslides) until you drop - which will be often enough :D

Brotherhood: Some losers need to feel part of a group to fell whole and happy, and biker environments offer this much in the same way as classic car groups or Am-Car grops does. The members feel they belong, which gives them something to live for.

Separation: Some want to be separate from the mainstream, and motorcycling has traditionally offered these people a place to refugee to. unfortunately, these days all sorts of upper-class lawyers, doctors, directors et al ride and motorcycles are more common. A shame, really, because it makes it harder to stand out as a rebel or daredevil ;)

So, there you have the basic arguments. Cars are used for getting places, bikes are for fun (unles you are British http://www.eforecourt.com/UBB/naughty.gif )

[Anders]

I kinda always wanted a bike. It's a cheap way to get serious performance. But I've heard so many horror stories about people getting injured and in Ireland there's the added problem of them getting stolen all the time. Might still do it, though. Kinda interesting to read a bike magazine, being biker seems to require a lot of attitude. Not sure I want to get into that sort of thing.

Watched some British Superbike competition on TV today, from Donington Park or something. That kicked ass. I have never really watched a bike race before. Any other good races around? I think Eurosport covers some?

[Eirik]

World Superbike and GP racing is well worth following (see a few of my reports further down in this forum).

As to accidents - motorcycles are much less forgiving if you do mistakes. Also, riding them randomly doesn't help skill. Like everything in life, you need constant practice to stay sharp. i don't ride often, but I'm pretty fast when the road turns (nobody been able to keep up so far in 18 years), but my reflexes aren'tup to the speed I use. As a result, I may very well do the wrong thing if things get a bit out of hand, which can see me crashing where a more experienced rider would not. Over the years, I have suffered about 25 broken bones (mostly fingers and ribs, but a few seriously smashed up bones as well), damaged some muscle tissue, killed a bunch of nerves, ended up with more than one deformed body part, cracked the spleen and managed to kick my kidneys hard enough for them to bleed internally. It's still as much fun as it was 18 years ago, but already by 1990 I realised I couldn't have a very fast bike, because I'm not able to take them to the road without doing some stupid speeding (like 125mph in the city or 100mph powerslides passing cars on a regular basis). Instead, I ride slow bikes (about 100-110mph top speed, but getting there is so boring I hardly go beyond 60) that can corner well. Falling off at 60 leaves a much greater chance of survival than doing so at 120mph ;)

Anyway, I'm growing older and I have a family, so I rarely press to the limit anymore, although on the right road I cannot resist. If you ride sensibly and carefully, riding isn't more dangerous than driving. Done stupidly (like me), the risk is very much higher. Not to have an accident, but to become injured in case you do crash.

[Anders]

And when are these events on? Every weekend? Any web sites out there where I can read up on the riders and stuff?

Your list of injuries is enough to put me off, I think. I actually kinda like the cruisers more so than the performance bikes. I tend to spend more time in the Chicago area than I should, but in the summers there's a lot of very nice bikes around, Harleys. You don't need to wear a helmet in Illinois either. Looks like great fun to cruise around with a Harley in 90+ degrees, making lots of noise.

There's a company Cruise America that rents out Harleys. What a great way to see the American South West. That's like reliving Easy Riders. It has to be done with a confederate flag wrapped around the head, though.

[Justin]

I remember you outlining your incredible range of injuries before - that's enough for me. I like crumple zones that aren't me and airbags etc. Also, it seems to me that the greatest risk on two wheels is often not doing something stupid yourself, but other idiot not thinking of the possibility of a bike in the vicinity. I'll stick to 4 (fastish) wheels. I don't need 0-60 in 3 seconds.

[Eirik]

This weekend, there will be two suberbike races starting at 0530 AM CET. You may also want to visit
http://www.motograndprix.com/

for a GP schedule.

As to cagers not observing motorcycles, that is correct. But if you anticipate that, it's usually not a problem. I have been close to being killed by a car once (a lady kept looking at me but continued to drive onto the road from he house still, and once a tractor came out from some trees with the shovel in height with my head - managed to lay down on the tank and got scrape marks on my lid to show how close that one was :) ), but that happened when I was 16/17yrs old. Apart from those, all my episodes has been my fault (although I've been able to blame a tractor driver for one serious accident) due to me going to fast under the circumstances. One driver also swerved over to our lane, almost going head-to-head with my friend. Said he was looking for a music casette. So, things like this can happen, but you can avoid most of them by expecting the unexpected. I consider myself my greatest danger, not the cars around. By that I mean I can anticipate what errors most around me can and will make, but I often find it difficult to realize my own mistakes before they happen. Something to do with speed, I guess ;)