Car to Motorcycle

[gdiza]

Hi guys,

How many of you are considering selling your vehicle or not using it and getting a motorcycle.

Obviously, petrol prices are going up like a crazy MOFO and I'm sure many of you are considering this... but I'd like a show of your posts who is actually either IN PROCESS of doing this, or CONSIDERING IT (Seriously)

Thanks!

[Datura]

Seriously considering getting another bike and keeping my car.

Traffic and petrol prices have actually made me decide to move closer to work. I am moving to Sea Point at the end of the month.

[ToxicBunny]

I am seriously considering a bike in addition to the car... car for the weekends, bike to get to and from work...

[Ecco]

For now its a-okay.

If it gets much worse, then the most i would do, is downgrade to a more fuel efficient car, but still not a motorbike.

[ToxicBunny]

Come on... Think of going to work on a CBR600... it would be loads of fun :D

[gdiza]

So...

1. Get a motorcycle and keep car
2. Downgrade vehicle to something less petrol hungry

Okay! :)

I can't really understand why people are paying so much for petrol and not using a motorcycle.
It's cheaper... so much cheaper!

[Ecco]

Come on... Think of going to work on a CBR600... it would be loads of fun :D

I agree, it would be tons of fun, and less issue with the traffic. But safety comes first.

[Glordit]

Did it already bikes use about 80% less petrol than most cars... + while lining FTW!

[Ecco]

Oh, if you have a family, i don't really think you could just ditch the car for a motorbike. The most you could do is get a bike to go to and from work, and thats if you don't carpool.

[dam]

I was about to buy a bike today, until I phoned my insurance company and got a quote for more than I am paying for my Jeep Cherokee!!?! And that is for a little kawasaki GPX250cc!

[ToxicBunny]

No family FTW in this respect then :D...

I'm already scouting around for a decent 07/08 CBR600 with low mileage...

[Glordit]

No family FTW in this respect then :D...

I'm already scouting around for a decent 07/08 CBR600 with low mileage...

:D Old skool CBR400 was best, that thing would kick in at 3rd and just not stop!!

my bike - http://www.gomoto.co.za/Products/Freedom.aspx It's the older model but still the best!

[xrapidx]

I'm considering a scooter, and keeping both cars :p

[Ady]

I was keen on getting a bike and keeping my car until ABSA told me what interest rate they were going to rape me with!

[kaspaas]

The taxi's are way too dangerous to even consider this option.

[xrapidx]

I was keen on getting a bike and keeping my car until ABSA told me what interest rate they were going to rape me with!

Try Wesbank P2P... depends on the amount, but apparently thanks to the new NCA, getting a decent interest rate on loans is difficult, my Honda S2000 was PRIME+1, even with a 43,000 deposit.

[HavocXphere]

No thanks, too many muppets on the road.

[xrapidx]

No thanks, too many muppets on the road.

I only have 2km between home and work...so a scooter is ideal...

[kevinswan007]

I am considering it. Ill obviously keep my car and I want to get something like a 650cc to use for commuting and recreation on the weekends.

im just worried about insurance costs since I dont yet have a bike license (even though I drove bikes alot when in school)

[xrapidx]

PERFECT!!!! (http://www.motostars.com/flash_content/FlashContainer_Detail.aspx?PopupID=1126&CarName=1969%20Vespa%20&carPrice=35000)

O/T: Check this little Mini (http://www.motostars.com/flash_content/FlashContainer_Detail.aspx?PopupID=1023&CarName=1962%20Austin%20Mini%20Cooper&carPrice=45000)

[dam]

im just worried about insurance costs since I dont yet have a bike license (even though I drove bikes alot when in school)

Well I was quoted R600 a month for a 250cc and I am 32 years old. I worked out that it is cheaper to keep driving 45km/day to work than it is to get a bike, and I drive a 4litre SUV.
So if you are getting a bike to save money on petrol then you may be in for a suprise, I know i was!

[BCO]

I only have 2km between home and work...so a scooter is ideal...

Or an electric bicycle!

*cough* PM me *cough*

[xrapidx]

Or an electric bicycle!

*cough* PM me *cough*

ROFL.... That might be scary if I have to go on the highway for some arb reason...

[BCO]

Use your car for the highway :D

[gdiza]

What about bicycles?!?

[Glordit]

sadly, insurance here in SA is a way to make more money out of you...

[kwmf]

Come on... Think of going to work on a CBR600... it would be loads of fun :D

Good man ... 2007 CBR600 in red/black here :D

I love my precious......

[xrapidx]

In the rain...not so fun...

[Turbo_Aspiration]

sadly, insurance here in SA is a way to make more money out of you...

Which insurance companies aren't in it for the money?

[kwmf]

I'm already scouting around for a decent 07/08 CBR600 with low mileage...

Talk to me next year, you can help me fund an upgrade to a 'Blade :rolleyes:

[Shake&Bake]

Well I've certainly been making more use of my CBR900 (95 model) to try and avoid the high cost of fuel.

I don't particularly keep tabs on it, but 50 bucks in the bike certainly gets me more mileage than in the car (199 Golf 4 1.6l).

I think where you save money on the bike is that, you spend less time in traffic.
Also its lighter and with regards to dam's post, its going to come down on your driving style.
If you drive the bike hard, you'll be using more fuel :)

[dam]

I think where you save money on the bike is that, you spend less time in traffic.
Also its lighter and with regards to dam's post, its going to come down on your driving style.
If you drive the bike hard, you'll be using more fuel :)

You are right, it depends how you ride although I am not saying that a bike will use more fuel than a car, I am saying that once I added the monthly payments and the insurance etc. it ended up costing more than I would save on petrol.

I could get a second hand bike, pay cash and ride it without insurance then it would work out cheaper, I could save about R800 month on petrol that way.

Good point regarding traffic, that would save time although I start work at 9:30 so it's not too bad for me.

[redarrow]

I could get a second hand bike, pay cash and ride it without insurance then it would work out cheaper, I could save about R800 month on petrol that way.

Yea, you can get some pretty decent older bikes...
Last year I bought a Yamaha FZR 750 Genesis 89 model..
Bought it for R11000 and spent about R2500 fully overhauling it (I did it myself) it hadn't been used for like half a year (according to the previous owner) so it did need some attention, but nothing serious..
Insurance is a bit less than R250.00 a month..


It's still a really awesome bike though.. - the only thing I don't really like about it is the custom "Virgin" spray job - Virgin is not my favorite company.. :o


The amazing thing about bikes though is that even really old bikes can still totally outperform modern cars .. even modern supercars.. :cool:

Have a look here (my FZR's specs): http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/yamaha/yamaha_fzr750%2087.htm
Standing quarter mile in 11.2 seconds.. :eek:
The Ferrari Enzo does the quarter mile in 11.1 seconds.. (http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=3&article_id=627&page_number=5) .. :eek:

Yea so the latest greatest Ferrari's standing quarter mile performance is only 0.1 of a second faster than my 89 Yamaha?? :cool:

Oh and before someone points out the obvious, yea I know that after reaching 220 km/h the Ferrari Enzo is going to come flying past me... but seriously how often do you get to go much faster than that anyway? ;) (If even that fast at all)..

Now isn't that a good reason to have a bike? I mean don't get me wrong I'd love a Ferrari Enzo, but how many of us can afford that kind of machine? And yet for < R20000.00 you can pick up a second hand motorcycle that'll give you all (and more) of the exhilaration of the Enzo.. - Just not the attention.. ;)

[Gnome]

I have quite a few friends who bought bikes, every single one of them have been in accident (although most of them have/had been driving for almost 2 years or more), from minor accident to 2 of them who died. There is no way I'll drive a bike, the statistics don't quite favor you. But fuel wise it's pretty good, no doubt about that.


The amazing thing about bikes though is that even really old bikes can still totally outperform modern cars .. even modern supercars.. :cool:

The reason for that would be that those cars aren't built for quarter mile ;)
What makes a supercar a supercar is it's overall performance not just standing pull away, and by that I mean handling, braking and safety features also, bikes aren't exactly safe (or handle anything like supercars). Cars purpose built for quarter mile perform 7s and lower....

[Dange--Russ]

get a good commuter (EDIT/ HEHEHEHE I said "computer" EDIT) bike and keep the car for rainy days when you dont feel like getting wet.

My bike saves me hours and alot of gas money.

Juat dont go buy a friggin Busa to use to work and back, Its a bugger to ride stop start.

[gdiza]

I am planning on purchasing a MTB so I can cycle to work and back, but I don't trust you bloody drivers... you guys ride like asses in the morning, the afternoon is better, but I still wanna live to see my kids ;)

[Shake&Bake]

You are right, it depends how you ride although I am not saying that a bike will use more fuel than a car, I am saying that once I added the monthly payments and the insurance etc. it ended up costing more than I would save on petrol.

I could get a second hand bike, pay cash and ride it without insurance then it would work out cheaper, I could save about R800 month on petrol that way.

Good point regarding traffic, that would save time although I start work at 9:30 so it's not too bad for me.

Aha - well I never took the insurance into account, as mine is not covered - I couldn't be bothered. My car is though.
My logic - if I wrote the bike off, I'd be written off along with it :D


I have quite a few friends who bought bikes, every single one of them have been in accident, from minor accident to 2 of them who died. There is no way I'll drive a bike, the statistics don't quite favor you. But fuel wise it's pretty good, no doubt about that.


Hell on my 1st bike, a z1000ST I broke my leg due to an idiot jumping a stop street. 10 months of rehab on the leg, though in the 1st 5months, with 5 steel pins coming out of my leg, I jump started the bike and got back on my pony and drove it around the peninsula.

I love the freedom of a bike.
When I'm in a k@k mood, I'll open her up and when you're just lazy and wanna get out of the house, take her for a nice cruise.

Yeah I lost a brother though to a motorcycle accident.
But that kinda thing is unforseen...
But I never once considered not getting on a bike again.
Though my time for bikes in this country is coming to a close.
I plan on selling mine in the next few weeks as I'm getting my cash flow ready to go to the UK later this year.

[redarrow]

The reason for that would be that those cars aren't built for quarter mile ;)
What makes a supercar a supercar is it's overall performance not just standing pull away, and by that I mean handling, braking and safety features also, bikes aren't exactly safe. Cars purpose built for quarter mile perform 7s and lower....
Well.. I was really just using the quarter mile as an example..
Most motorcycles are also actually not built simply with standing pull in mind.. Superbikes are really the parallel of supercars.. I.e., they are built with superior handling, braking etc.. performance..

Obviously you're quite correct though that a motorcycle can never provide the same safety as a car.. although personally I doubt that supercars are built with safety in mind..


Anyway if my 19 year old 750cc motorcycle is only 0.1 seconds slower on the quarter mile than a Ferrari Enzo.. then do we even need to start contemplating how a modern 1000cc superbike will compare (which would utterly destroy my bike) .. :eek:

As to handling, my brother does motorcycle circuit racing (just local regionals) and something that these tracks highlight is that no car can get near the lap times of the motorcycles - and in this case it's not about acceleration, it's more about handling.. ;)

[Gnome]

Well.. I was really just using the quarter mile as an example..
Most motorcycles are also actually not built simply with standing pull in mind.. Superbikes are really the parallel of supercars.. I.e., they are built with superior handling, braking etc.. performance..

Examples of such bikes? (sry don't know much about bikes)
I was under the impression bikes have problems with traction, which is why it's limited on 0-100km/h pull away speeds. (what is the fastest bike on pull away anyway?)

Also aren't super bikes in the same category as Formula 1 cars? (IE. Super Bike racing?)



Obviously you're quite correct though that a motorcycle can never provide the same safety as a car.. although personally I doubt that supercars are built with safety in mind..

Actually they are, many racing cars are made from carbon fiber, feature not only advanced braking systems but advanced traction control and airbags,etc. Take a look at the Bugatti Veyron, to go into top speed mode requires many safety checks to be done,etc. before it is allowed, there are many other examples...



As to handling, my brother does motorcycle circuit racing (just local regionals) and something that these tracks highlight is that no car can get near the lap times of the motorcycles - and in this case it's not about acceleration, it's more about handling.. ;)

That may be true for the local scene (where the budget is low and bikes are much cheaper than cars), but on the bigger picture bikes don't compare (at least not when events such as formula one is included).

[dam]

I was under the impression bikes have problems with traction, which is why it's limited on 0-100km/h pull away speeds. (what is the fastest bike on pull away anyway?)

The problem is that the bike wants to wheelie if you give it too much power.

Apparently the car is still faster than bikes on acceleration, something like 1.2 seconds for a drag car to get to 100kph, Google search says 2.5 for the fastest bike.

There was something about drag racing on tv a few days ago, iirc the drag cars were doing 5.6 seconds for the 1/4 mile and the Hayabusa (fastest production bike) did it in 9.95.

[Gnome]

The problem is that the bike wants to wheelie if you give it too much power.

That is the impression I got also.



There was something about drag racing on tv a few days ago, iirc the drag cars were doing 5.6 seconds for the 1/4 mile and the Hayabusa (fastest production bike) did it in 9.95.

Top Fuel are around ~4.5seconds, so in that respect I think a bike is outclassed seeing as those cars are specifically designed just to drag and have four wheels, which is why I'm interested in the 0-100 & quarter mile for production bikes VS. production cars.(super bikes that are used for racing I see are modified versions of the same type available on street.)

[xrapidx]

I am planning on purchasing a MTB so I can cycle to work and back, but I don't trust you bloody drivers... you guys ride like asses in the morning, the afternoon is better, but I still wanna live to see my kids ;)

I'll advertise my Trek 4900 in the Cape Ads for you. :p

[redarrow]

Examples of such bikes? (sry don't know much about
bikes)

Eh? Well where to start? There are so many :D .. What about a nice R1? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_R1



I was under the impression bikes have problems with traction, which is why it's limited on 0-100km/h pull away speeds. (what is the fastest bike on pull away anyway?)

You're probably right.. Single drive wheel with much smaller surface area.. yea not too much grip there, but then again a bike is a lot lighter than a car = less inertia..
I'm not actually too sure what the fastest pull away bike is.. :o
I do know that they can do the quarter mile in under 7 seconds though perhaps not as fast as rocket powered cars.. See here: http://www.controleng.com/article/CA6428691.html - though just as with drag cars I doubt these sort of things are much good for anything else than going in a straight line..



Also aren't super bikes in the same category as Formula 1 cars? (IE. Super Bike racing?)

You must be confusing with MotoGP.. Superbikes are production vehicles (just like supercars) ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superbike_racing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MotoGP




Actually they are, many racing cars are made from carbon fiber, feature not only advanced braking systems but advanced traction control and airbags,etc. Take a look at the Bugatti Veyron, to go into top speed mode requires many safety checks to be done,etc. before it is allowed, there are many other examples...

Well, I wasn't doubting that they do have safety features, I'm only doubting that this is a focal point.. I mean people don't buy a Murcielago because they are looking for safety features do they?
As far as braking systems I doubt that cars are ahead of bikes (I'm not insinuating that bikes are ahead of cars either). ABS and such things are not unheard of on motorcycles , though they are perhaps not so common - remember that a motorcycle having only a fraction the weight of a car does not require as much "technology" in order to stop as fast..

Things like airbags are of course very difficult to implement on motorcycles and in most cases would probably not prove much.. but nonetheless they do in fact actually exist! I think the Honda Goldwing has them (granted it does not nearly qualify as a superbike :o ).. see: http://world.honda.com/MotorcycleAirbag/

Anyway, I don't want to look like an idiot by trying to suggest that motorcycle safety systems are on a par with cars.. ;) I doubt they ever will be.. (unless maybe if they developed some kind of ejection seat :D)



That may be true for the local scene (where the budget is low and bikes are much cheaper than cars), but on the bigger picture bikes don't compare (at least not when events such as formula one is included).
Well I can't claim to be in the know in this area..
I would say it depends on the situation..
Where top speed is concerned then the cars are definitely gonna win..
But throw in some very tight twists and I'm not so sure..

[Gnome]

As far as braking systems I doubt that cars are ahead of bikes (I'm not insinuating that bikes are ahead of cars either). ABS and such things are not unheard of on motorcycles , though they are perhaps not so common - remember that a motorcycle having only a fraction the weight of a car does not require as much "technology" in order to stop as fast..

Ah good point wasn't thinking about that ;)



Well I can't claim to be in the know in this area..
I would say it depends on the situation..
Where top speed is concerned then the cars are definitely gonna win..
But throw in some very tight twists and I'm not so sure..

It's exactly in those situations (tight cornering) that bikes are outperformed by formula one cars:



As mentioned above, the car can accelerate to 300 km/h (190 mph) very quickly, however the top speeds are not much higher than 330 km/h (205 mph) at most circuits, being highest at Monza (360 km/h in 2006), Indianapolis and Gilles Villeneuve (about 325 km/h (202 mph) at both). This is because the top speeds are sacrificed for the turning speeds. An F1 car is designed principally for high-speed cornering, thus the aerodynamic elements can produce as much as three times the car's weight in downforce, at the expense of drag. In fact, at a speed of just 130 km/h (81 mph), the downforce equals the weight of the car. As the speed of the car rises, the downforce increases. The turning force at low speeds (below 70 to about 100 km/h) mostly comes from the so-called 'mechanical grip' of the tyres themselves. At such low speeds the car can turn at 2.0 g. At 210 km/h (130 mph) already the turning acceleration is 3.0g, as evidenced by the famous esses (turns 3 and 4) at the Suzuka circuit. Higher-speed corners such as Blanchimont (Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps) and Copse (Silverstone Circuit) are taken at above 5.0g, and 6.0g has been recorded at Suzuka's 130-R corner[7]. This contrasts with 1g for the Enzo Ferrari, one of the best racing sports cars.

These turning accelerative forces allow an F1 car to corner at amazing speeds, seeming to defy the laws of physics. As an example of the extreme cornering speeds, the Blanchimont and Eau Rouge corners at Spa-Francorchamps are taken flat-out at above 300 km/h (186 mph), whereas the race-spec GT cars in the ETCC can only do so at 150–160 km/h. A newer and perhaps even more extreme example is the Turn 8 at the Istanbul Park circuit, a 190° relatively tight 4-apex corner, in which the cars maintain speeds between 265 km/h (165 mph) and 285 km/h (in 2006) and experience between 4.5g and 5.5g for 7 seconds - the longest sustained hard cornering in Formula 1 (and hence all motorsport).

[Shake&Bake]

Eish - talk about derailng a thread! :D

*Applauses Gnome and redarrow* :D :D

[redarrow]

It's exactly in those situations (tight cornering) that bikes are outperformed by formula one cars:
Well.. OK, it seems you're right! .. I'll give you that one..

But I must say that this discussion has drifted somewhat from my original point.. ;)
A car like that will also tear a production supercar into shreds in a dice.. :p

So basically we've concluded that if you have stacks of money you can get a high powered drag car which will out perform a motorcycle on the quarter mile - but not be much good for anything else than straight line driving..
OR if you have even more money you can get a formula one car which will outperform a superbike on all angles, but never in your wildest dreams get it licensed.. :p

So yea.. my original point: an average production superbike will outperform an average production supercar except on top speed (and safety features).. - for a fraction of the price tag..



Eish - talk about derailng a thread! :D

*Applauses Gnome and redarrow* :D :D
*bows*
Thank yew, thank yew! :cool:

:o

[Gnome]

*bows*
Thank yew, thank yew! :cool:

:o

We humbly accept the award :p

[lexis]

I never saw myself on a motorcycle but now I ordered a Vuka XL 110 to travel to work and back, to the amusement of my children who are both students. I am staying 7.5 km from work - town traffic.

[gdiza]

It's the way to go lexis!
I'm buying a car (or trying too) and if I get it, I'll only use it on Tuesdays when I work late hours, other than that, TAXI's ;)

[hyperian]

3 of my mates have been killed on bikes - 2 of them driving in the suburbs with other cars being the cause (jumping lights etc). Pay the extra on fuel and stay out of hospital with all body parts intact.