Got a Dilema.

[Jay-ZS+]

What with rising fuel the increase in traffic and the possibility that the tax will shoot up Ive been seriously considering parting with the zed for something that can filter through the traffic costs no more than ?50 tax and has a much higher power to weight ratio. Fed up of sitting in traffic for an hour at 8 for what can be a 15min journey!

Just insured the zed for a year and going to put 12months tax on it this month so wont be for a while but Im seriously thinking about, as Ross put it becoming a power ranger. :laugh:

Know there are a few bikers on here, whats the procedure with the test? Rough cost to start up with test, leathers helmet etc....

Just need to work on the gf as she thinks im nuts and my Mum would go mental!

Obviously a bike isnt that pratical, just wondered if a biker can tell me the cons of having a bike?

I know the dangers of bikes as my uncle was killed on one. Thinking of a 125 to begin with then get something abit tastier after a bit of experience. :bike:

[stamford]

I sympathise with you, I too would like another bike but have been told no-way by the wife and kids! Plenty of pro's and con's, biggest con's being winter, rain, getting tooled up everytime, higher maintenance and inconsiderate car drivers! Pro's are easy, cheap to run, nimble in traffic etc.

As for costs, no idea but we do have a few on here who will enlighten you.

[Jay-ZS+]

Yer the weather is the main thing that puts me off, the fact i may have to use public transport now and then!

[ZS]

Jay

Before I took my kids on I brought a brand spanking new Honda CBF125 (still for sale... lol)

I ran that alongside the ZS180 and for me, 28, on a learner plate (for the bike) it cost ?198 a year Fully comp insurance, ?15 a year tax and the bike does 300 - 400 miles to a tank of fuel (?8 max from empt to full... probably ?10 now) oh and ?46 a month finance...

So thats the equivalent of about ?26 a week to run the bike (incuding purchase cost of the bike) plus ?40 to service it once a year...

The ZS180 costs me ?50 a week in fuel just for the commute!

So, I was actually SAVING money to have the Bike alongside the car!

Down sides... Obviously the weather, but that didn't put me off... the amount of gear you have to put on for a 10 second trip (helmet, boots, trousers, jacket - on top of your normal clothes!)

Oh and the safety gear is not cheap either! (Although I could probably do you a deal on that if you happen to be my size!) - however that is a one off purchase, and can almost be brought as normal clothes (apparently normal designer jeans are ?150 these days? fek that Tesco Value all the way for me :p)

Best Pro... Well the moment you open that bike up (yes even from the 125! although the bigger bikes are better) on a nice clear stretch of road.. you'll know the pros then! And skipping traffic is a bonus too :D

[neiljm0]

at one time a 50cc could be ridden on a full uk driving license not sure now, but a 125 you will need a cbt, or you could go for a direct drive which is i think quite expensive. and decide what bike you want gears or twist and go
not sure on prices when our lass got her 125 vesper the shop wouldnt let her drive it out they delivered it to the test centre once passed you can drive on L plates for 2 years before having to do it again but the actual test is 2 parts theory and practical you can get a cd/rom or you can practise online with the theory it costs less than a couple of quid. i passed my bike test 30 years ago this month nothing like it is today
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNewDrivers/LearningToDriveOrRide/DG_4022530
http://www.motorcycle.co.uk/Training.aspx

[ZS]

Neil...

Thats almost correct :p

There is now three parts to your test, not including the CBT

The CBT at Silverbikes is ?80

and they will do a three day course for ?300 - 400 which includes the two practicle tests... although you need to do the theory before hand (See the Module 1 and Module 2 test from your second link)

[Jay-ZS+]

Cheers for that.

Well working from those figures that gives a rough saving of ?1200 in running costs! :yikes: I thought it would be alot lower than that!! If the tax on the 180 goes up next year it will be even more!

Would save almost ?800 on insurance, tax and parking alone!! I dont do many miles a year, would only really be used for trips to uni and work.

Long journeys we normanlly go in the gfs car anyway as its loads cheaper on fuel.

What sort of cost is the test? Edit: spent too long typing this! :slap:

Also how does ncb earnt in a car work assume a bike license is completly seperate. Which means if Im not the main driver on a car for a few years will I loose my ncb?

Cant really justify running both as I dont do the mileage to get the saving.

The gf said why not get a less powerful car thats cheaper to run, in which I said why dont you by cheaper clothes. So now she sees my point. lol

[ZS]

Also how does ncb earnt in a car work assume a bike license is completly seperate. Which means if Im not the main driver on a car for a few years will I loose my ncb?

TBH it is almost worth buying a cheap crappy car and insuring it to keep your no claims... doesn't even need an MOT or anything, leave it to one side ;)

But yes I beleive if you don't have insurance for more than 3 years (IIRC) you loose your NCD. Also if you don't drive a car for 10 years you loose your Car License!


The gf said why not get a less powerful car thats cheaper to run, in which I said why dont you by cheaper clothes. So now she sees my point. lol

That had me and a collegue in stitches! Quality argument!

TBH the only reasons I'm getting rid of the bike are because of cost (sounds strange but I can't use the bike any more due to point 2, so still paying insurance and finance for no reason!) and the fact I can't put two children under 5 on the back of it... I'm single so no GF or wife etc to sort the kids, its all down to me!

[neiljm0]

our lasses has been stuck in the gdn since summer fair weather biker. im glad it wasnt like that when i passed my test.

[ZS]

Oh, one other point...

The cost above only make sence with a 125... anything bigger and its less of a saving. - My collegue only rides bikes, has a 1200 BMW thing (not my style) but pay's more in fuel than My friends corsa, as much in insurance as my 180 and more in servicing costs than my ZS and the corsa added together...

Plus whoever buys my bike won't pay as much finance as its being sold for a lot cheaper that I paid for it :) (09 plate too)

[Jay-ZS+]

Im a named driver on the gfs car, wonder if theres a cover that allows two named drivers? Or one that allows named driver to earn ncb as then I could split her insurance cost and it would be a win win.

[Jay-ZS+]

Oh, one other point...

The cost above only make sence with a 125... anything bigger and its less of a saving. - My collegue only rides bikes, has a 1200 BMW thing (not my style) but pay's more in fuel than My friends corsa, as much in insurance as my 180 and more in servicing costs than my ZS and the corsa added together...

Plus whoever buys my bike won't pay as much finance as its being sold for a lot cheaper that I paid for it :) (09 plate too)

Yer id run a 125 to begin with at least, even I can see its madness to jump staight on a RSv4 or something meaty!

Got a mate with an RS125 thats doing his full test soon and wants a ninja so may end up with that. Know its up together as helped rebuilt the entire bike.

[Dan1971]

My views.

Downsides -


Weather. As bad in the summer as the winter cause unless you're an idiot who rides in shorts and flip-flops you'll cook. When it rains, even the best gear costing hundreds will leak. In the winter although you'll get wherever you're going quicker, it'll take you an hour to warm up when you get there. If your gear got wet on the way, unless you have a drying room, it'll be wet when you go to put it on 8hrs later to come home.
Hazards. Suddenly everything becomes a hazard especially in poor weather. People don't see you and you have to spend plenty time looking at the road surface taking in potholes, drains, white lines etc and when they are wet - they are a nightmare.
Death. Very small percentage of road users are bikers. Very high percentage of deaths and serious injuries are bikers.

Positives.


Cheap so long as you stay with a small engine bike - but the service intervals are more regular and they are not cheap to service.
Quicker for a commute, but, remember to factor in the amount of time it takes to get all the gear on. It took me an extra 10 minutes to get the gear on in the winter, but it was a 20 minute quicker commute. Worth it ?
Nothing compares to the outright performance of a high power motorcycle pound for pound.

My advice - have a go and try it or you'll always wish you did - but, keep a car too - even a little ZR 1.4 so that you have a choice in poor weather or if you want to go somewhere incase you need a bag.


Who am I to comment/advise ?

Dan - GPZ500 - ZZR600 - VFR 750 - Triumph sprint 900 - Police motorcyclist and having ridden on duty and very quickly whilst on surveillance - Yamaha Thunderace 1000 - ZZR1100 - CBR 1000 - Diversion 900.

[ZS]

Well Put Dan :)

[Jay-ZS+]

Well Put Dan :)

+1

Cheers Dan thats good food for thought,

[Jay-ZS+]

Really cant decide on this one, been looking at 125s and a mate has offered me enough parts to build up a gsxr400

Part of me cant wait to get on a bike, have about a 3 mile trip to uni this morning at 8 when I got to traffic I checked my sat nav, had 2.4 miles still to go and it was crawling all the way to the uni car park!!

Although I drove home with windows open and just listened to the V6. Would like to get the car in a mint condition and keep it.

[ZS]

I say do both Jay :)

Keep the 180 and have a cheap to run 125 as well :) (Mines for sale lol)

[Jay-ZS+]

Yer that would be ideal but theres no way I can justify both.

[ZS]

Yer that would be ideal but theres no way I can justify both.

Why not?

You saw my sums above... even with the finance I was saving money :)

Obviously not now because I'm not using the bike (purely due to kids) so... pick up a cheap bargain and save money :p

[Jay-ZS+]

I wouldnt do the mileage on the bike to save money on the fuel to cover the insurance and tax on the 180.

Getting insurance quotes of ?400+ for the bike plus the cost of the bike (want to spend ?1500 mark) Plus test and gear. I wouldnt save the 2 grand on fuel to justify running both, I just dont do enough miles fuel isnt a major problem with the 180. Its the traffic and other 'legal' costs.

Although selling the 180 would give me the money to get a bike on the road and Id save about a grand on insurance and tax on the 180. Then petrol money is a bonus.