purchasing a motor bike

[reactor_sa]

You might be able to pick up a CB350 for that price, but it will be ****ed. Also, don't get a big bike if you've never ridden before. It's not a bicycle, you will come off, you will break your collar bone and/or worse.

Meh, I disagree. My first bike was a triumph Street triple r abs and it was just the perfect first bike. I would have been super disappointed if I had started with a smaller bike.

 

[sovielenamen]

One needs a minimum of about 60hp on a bike for safety reasons. 50hp on something agile like a Supermotard and 70hp or more on something heavy. Choppers are inherently unsafe for the lack of handling.

Yes, more power means more safety. Not more risk.
As biker you are vulnerable as can be and breaking to standstill is the least favorable option for you can be rather sure some idiot driver behind you is going to shove your bike over your leg after you managed this world-record breaking. With the ugliest injuries ever. Never stop in cars line, go to the side or better besides a another car or if unavoidable have a free line in front, gear engaged and a look into the mirrors.
To drive safe one needs to regard all car drivers as insane debile morons up to do anything to hit you. Or just think you are driving in Joburg. Your main and best option is the rescue straight out of the danger. And there is always some space to go, I lost once both mirrors between two trucks but the guy riding with me who decided to break lost his life.
If taken by surprise (what should not happen) break hard, find the gap, accelerate hard through and done.
Not rarely you can hear the distinct "thump!" the sound of a car hitting another into the back.
Thats where you would have been.

For the necessary acceleration 60hp are just enough, good torque is a bonus and a training with a good trainer who focuses on the active escape is a big plus. I did this twice and would do it again so I find one at a good time and place.

And never forget: If you make it through the first 5 seasons your chances on an accident are far less then for the usual cardriver. The first two seasons, well yes, thats thinning the herd so to say.

 

[Brenden_E]

The average car driver is far less aware of their surroundings, because in a bumper bash they are fine. Guy on a bike can die in a similar accident.

P.S Can't remember the last time I saw a biker obey the speed limit. Scooter drivers appear to be more responsible.

 

[Ridolfc]

You will not find a good Honda at that price. You might be able to buy a used bigboy, but it will probably be in poor condition.
Taking your height into consideration, any of these tiny bikes will not serve you well.

 

[crysis]

It's chinese and ****. Much like the e-Storm mentioned that isn't really a Honda at all.

Cardboard brakes.

Flexible frame.

Dodgy wiring.

Just don't do it.

E storm is certainly a honda. They are actually bullet proof.

 

[SauRoNZA]

E storm is certainly a honda. They are actually bullet proof.

It's nowhere near the regular Honda standard and no better than any of the Chinese options.

 

[crysis]

It's nowhere near the regular Honda standard and no better than any of the Chinese options.

I owned one for a year and a half. If anything, its slightly better than my friends nxr 125. It didn't even need engine oil, the thing ran anyway. Most indestructible engine ever made. You can stick that in your Chinese pipe and smoke it.

 

[SauRoNZA]

I owned one for a year and a half. If anything, its slightly better than my friends nxr 125. It didn't even need engine oil, the thing ran anyway. Most indestructible engine ever made. You can stick that in your Chinese pipe and smoke it.

All the chinese bikes also tend to last forever...but that's not all that entails quality.

The brakes or lack there of are the first thing, the second thing is the frame that is just so wobbly you can't believe it's made of metal.

I'm sorry but it sounds like you haven't ridden much else to compare it to. It's doesn't even qualify as a "real bike" in my book and I would rather walk that risk my life on one of those things.

It's simply not on par of quality in any way shape or form. In fact I might even take some of the more expensive Chinese options over it. WOuldn't be surprised if it's even built in china like the rest anyway.

 

[SauRoNZA]

The average car driver is far less aware of their surroundings, because in a bumper bash they are fine. Guy on a bike can die in a similar accident.

P.S Can't remember the last time I saw a biker obey the speed limit. Scooter drivers appear to be more responsible.

I find it the exact opposite. Scooters are the crazy ones.

 

[crysis]

All the chinese bikes also tend to last forever...but that's not all that entails quality.

The brakes or lack there of are the first thing, the second thing is the frame that is just so wobbly you can't believe it's made of metal.

I'm sorry but it sounds like you haven't ridden much else to compare it to. It's doesn't even qualify as a "real bike" in my book and I would rather walk that risk my life on one of those things.

It's simply not on par of quality in any way shape or form. In fact I might even take some of the more expensive Chinese options over it. WOuldn't be surprised if it's even built in china like the rest anyway.

The brakes are fine, so is the frame. Sure, the suspension sucks, but for the money it's exactly what I expected. Not sub par at all. And unless you can wheelie one in 4th gear, I'm afraid you don't know what you are talking about either.

Its considerably better in quality than what the Chinese owned brands do for the same price. For one it doesn't rust the minute it rains. Its not a great machine, but for the price its a difficult to argue with it. Im guessing you have never ridden one.

 

[SauRoNZA]

The brakes are fine, so is the frame. Sure, the suspension sucks, but for the money it's exactly what I expected. Not sub par at all. And unless you can wheelie one in 4th gear, I'm afraid you don't know what you are talking about either.

Its considerably better in quality than what the Chinese owned brands do for the same price. For one it doesn't rust the minute it rains. Its not a great machine, but for the price its a difficult to argue with it. Im guessing you have never ridden one.

Okay let me spell it out for you.

EVERYTHING in this price bracket is rubbish, doesn't matter who makes it or sticks their label on it after someone else made it.

So if your expectation is that low then I guess you'll be fine...personally it's sub par BECAUSE it's too cheap and I would rather spend more money to buy something proper or not spend it at all and walk.

And yes I have ridden one. No I haven't owned it, I didn't need to, the short ride was enough to tell me that I would never ever do it again.

If people say bikes are dangerous and mention anything under <R20k in the same sentence then I'll completely agree with them.

 

[crysis]

Okay let me spell it out for you.

EVERYTHING in this price bracket is rubbish, doesn't matter who makes it or sticks their label on it after someone else made it.

Fair enough, that's your opinion. I bought mine because it was all I could afford. After using it for 1.5 years, I sold it for the exact same price I bought it. It cost me petrol and a few services. For that, you cant fault it. It is what it is. Sure, its a crap, under powered bike. Served me fine in a small town. Maybe in a city it's lack of power will be dangerous. I haven't ridden anything under 600cc in a city for many years now so I wouldn't know what that feels like.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Fair enough, that's your opinion. I bought mine because it was all I could afford. After using it for 1.5 years, I sold it for the exact same price I bought it. It cost me petrol and a few services. For that, you cant fault it. It is what it is. Sure, its a crap, under powered bike. Served me fine in a small town. Maybe in a city it's lack of power will be dangerous. I haven't ridden anything under 600cc in a city for many years now so I wouldn't know what that feels like.

And that is why it is a safety concern to me, because most people aren't in small towns.

It doesn't have the power to keep up and it doesn't have the brakes to stop.

It also doesn't have the tyres to provide any real kind of lean angle or proper traction.

Therefore it is generally unsafe and if you can do better you should.

 

[crysis]

And that is why it is a safety concern to me, because most people aren't in small towns.

It doesn't have the power to keep up and it doesn't have the brakes to stop.

It also doesn't have the tyres to provide any real kind of lean angle or proper traction.

Therefore it is generally unsafe and if you can do better you should.

Sure, but not many people looking at bikes have R20k+ to spend. Unfortunately our weak rand and high import taxes keep most bikes out of the reach of the majority of people.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Sure, but not many people looking at bikes have R20k+ to spend. Unfortunately our weak rand and high import taxes keep most bikes out of the reach of the majority of people.

Yes I understand that.

Many people also don't wear the appropriate gear that they should be wearing due to affordability concerns.

In which case I would say rather stick to public transport.

It really is a death trap if you go without the gear and even more so on a dodgy bike.

 

[Ridolfc]

Yes I understand that.

Many people also don't wear the appropriate gear that they should be wearing due to affordability concerns.

In which case I would say rather stick to public transport.

It really is a death trap if you go without the gear and even more so on a dodgy bike.

I'll take my chances on a dodgy bike before I trust public transport again. Last week the metro bus crash this week a train.

I feel safer riding naked without a helmet on a 50cc popcorn machine on a freeway than with full gear on a bus, train or in a taxi. lol

 

[SauRoNZA]

I'll take my chances on a dodgy bike before I trust public transport again. Last week the metro bus crash this week a train.



I feel safer riding naked without a helmet on a 50cc popcorn machine on a freeway than with full gear on a bus, train or in a taxi. lol

Lol, yes there is that.

You see my issue is the mentality.

The same person who is happy with a 10k bike is also happy with a R500 helmet and nothing else.

Is the same person who has no medical aid and definitely no insurance so they simply are a drain to society and their own family when the **** hits the fan.

 

[Ridolfc]

Lol, yes there is that.

You see my issue is the mentality.

The same person who is happy with a 10k bike is also happy with a R500 helmet and nothing else.

Is the same person who has no medical aid and definitely no insurance so they simply are a drain to society and their own family when the **** hits the fan.

I use to have that mentality. T-shirt, shorts and a helmet. I learned the hard way.