Thinking of Getting a Motorcycle

porchrat

porchrat

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Hi guys

I've been slogging it out on my daily commute watching longingly as guys on bikes cruise past me. I'm thinking of getting a bike for my commute.

Problem is I've never really ridden one and I'm not sure how long it takes to get competent enough to do my license and whatnot.

I'm also sort of tall at 6'2" so I'm not sure if that impacts on what sort of bikes I should be looking at (or are they built for all sizes?).

Also what sort of engine size I should be looking at. I thought maybe get a little 250cc as my first bike to get me used to it before I move on to something more serious. I don't need the thing to break the sound barrier. As long as it can hit 100-120kph I'm cool with it.

It just seems like a cheaper and quicker way to get to work in the morning.


If some of the guys who have been riding for a while could give me advice I'd really appreciate it.
 
Dunno where you are, but I did the BMW novice course at Zwartkops. Very valuable for a first time rider.
I'm in the same boat as you. At the course they let me ride a 1200GS and an F800R, which gave me the confidence to realise I could handle a big bike reasonably easily.

However, the beemers are out of my budget, so I opted for a second hand Honda NC700XD which I will be taking delivery of later this week, hopefully. Very economical, easy to ride, plenty of power for what I need. And automatic. So I don't need to worry about gear changes while I try and process all the new stuff involved in not getting killed by moron drivers.
 
I'm in Cape Town. That sounds like a good idea though. I could get exposure to the bigger bikes to see if I'm comfortable with them. Does anyone know of a similar thing here in the Mother City?
 
After commuting for many years, here is what i have realised:

1. I shall have an accident and probably more than one. I need to be prepared for these accidents so helmet, jacket, pants, boots and decent gloves are the order of the day.
2. by going fast through traffic, one does not have the time to stop when a car sees a gap and cuts you off, so 10 - 20 kms faster than the traffic is good. plenty reaction time.
3. It is no use in getting irritated with drivers in cars, seen a guy in front of me getting worked up, revving the s#!t out of his bike and staring at drivers in their cars as he tried to get past. i ended up laughing at him, cause he was such an idiot. WTF is wrong with some people?
4. Taxis generally move out your way quicker than drivers.
5. a wave does not hurt when someone moves out the way.
6. slow is smooth and smooth is fast.
 
porchrat said:
Hi guys

I've been slogging it out on my daily commute watching longingly as guys on bikes cruise past me. I'm thinking of getting a bike for my commute.

Problem is I've never really ridden one and I'm not sure how long it takes to get competent enough to do my license and whatnot.

I'm also sort of tall at 6'2" so I'm not sure if that impacts on what sort of bikes I should be looking at (or are they built for all sizes?).

Also what sort of engine size I should be looking at. I thought maybe get a little 250cc as my first bike to get me used to it before I move on to something more serious. I don't need the thing to break the sound barrier. As long as it can hit 100-120kph I'm cool with it.

It just seems like a cheaper and quicker way to get to work in the morning.


If some of the guys who have been riding for a while could give me advice I'd really appreciate it.
Click to expand...

I bought a 250cc (Honda CBR250R) for my commute here in Cape Town (I'm still waiting for that dinner, by the way :p) and it's perfect for the drive I do. However, even on a 100 km/h road, it doesn't have quite enough grunt, even though I can push it up to around 135/140 km/h.

In terms of experience, I went from having never ridden a motorbike, to comfortable in a handful of days. I did what no reasonable person would ever do, and practised the night before I rode to work. Not advised, obviously, but I had no other mode of transport.

It's cheap, my petrol costs are essentially negligible. I fit very comfortable on the bike, and am just under 6'.
 
IainMarsh said:
After commuting for many years, here is what i have realised:

1. I shall have an accident and probably more than one. I need to be prepared for these accidents so helmet, jacket, pants, boots and decent gloves are the order of the day.
2. by going fast through traffic, one does not have the time to stop when a car sees a gap and cuts you off, so 10 - 20 kms faster than the traffic is good. plenty reaction time.
3. It is no use in getting irritated with drivers in cars, seen a guy in front of me getting worked up, revving the s#!t out of his bike and staring at drivers in their cars as he tried to get past. i ended up laughing at him, cause he was such an idiot. WTF is wrong with some people?
4. Taxis generally move out your way quicker than drivers.
5. a wave does not hurt when someone moves out the way.
6. slow is smooth and smooth is fast.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty chilled in traffic even stuck in my car so I doubt I'll be ragey on a motorbike. I always thank folks that move out of the way. Still I suppose we all have our bad days.

Thanks for the tips. Much appreciated.

I'd actually like more information on what would be good riding gear to purchase. What to look for in a decent helmet, what are decent kinds of jackets etc. I mean I don't need the best of the best but I want to be safe.
 
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copacetic said:
I bought a 250cc (Honda CBR250R) for my commute here in Cape Town (I'm still waiting for that dinner, by the way :p) and it's perfect for the drive I do. However, even on a 100 km/h road, it doesn't have quite enough grunt, even though I can push it up to around 135/140 km/h.

In terms of experience, I went from having never ridden a motorbike, to comfortable in a handful of days. I did what no reasonable person would ever do, and practised the night before I rode to work. Not advised, obviously, but I had no other mode of transport.

It's cheap, my petrol costs are essentially negligible. I fit very comfortable on the bike, and am just under 6'.
Click to expand...
How about not this weekend but next weekend we do dinner? (I did promise) Come to my place we'll have a lekker braai. Actually I'm having one this weekend I think. You're welcome to come along.

It sounds like a 250cc might be too small for me. I may get frustrated with it. :(

This would be a pity as I was hoping to get away with spending very little on some cheap little motorcycle.
 
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porchrat said:
How about not this weekend but next weekend we do dinner? (I did promise) Come to my place we'll have a lekker braai. Actually I'm having one this weekend I think. You're welcome to come along.

It sounds like a 250cc might be too small for me. I may get frustrated with it. :(

This would be a pity as I was hoping to get away with spending very little on some cheap little motorcycle.
Click to expand...

This is the advice I received as well when I was toying with the idea of getting a bike. Ye, it might be good initially to learn and get to grips with the nuances of riding a bike, but it would soon frustrate you, especially on the open road. When I'm finally in a position to get a bike, I'll probably look at at least a 600.
 
porchrat said:
Hi guys

I've been slogging it out on my daily commute watching longingly as guys on bikes cruise past me. I'm thinking of getting a bike for my commute.

Problem is I've never really ridden one and I'm not sure how long it takes to get competent enough to do my license and whatnot.

I'm also sort of tall at 6'2" so I'm not sure if that impacts on what sort of bikes I should be looking at (or are they built for all sizes?).

Also what sort of engine size I should be looking at. I thought maybe get a little 250cc as my first bike to get me used to it before I move on to something more serious. I don't need the thing to break the sound barrier. As long as it can hit 100-120kph I'm cool with it.

It just seems like a cheaper and quicker way to get to work in the morning.


If some of the guys who have been riding for a while could give me advice I'd really appreciate it.
Click to expand...
I also started on a CBR 250. It's a great bike in traffic, and can keep up with highway speeds. It's quite light so you won't struggle with the weight. As others have said, it's not a Supersport bike. At around 140kmh she's out of steam, on level ground. If I'm feeling frisky, I can get 160kmh easily on a downhill... I've heard they are geared for 180kmh. I would suggest starting small, like the 250. You'd be surprised at how strong that single pot engine is, especially when riding through traffic
 
Some points to ponder on:

  1. Fuel wise, a bike is typically far superior to a car.
  2. Maintenance wise, a bike is typically on-par or more expensive than a car. (Shorter service intervals, tyres last anywhere between 1/2 to 1/8 the mileage)
  3. Proper gear is expensive. Add R8k to R15k extra for the gear.
  4. Given your height, at approximately 188 centimetres the little 250cc motorcycles will be a squeeze for you.
  5. For commuting, I suggest the following:
    • Something that is frugal.
    • Something that has a decent helping of torque. You don't really need power when commuting, torque on the other hand is fun and can help you accelerate out of tight situations.
    • Something with reasonable wind-protection.
    • Something that can carry a top-box.

Given this information, I'd probably recommend something like a Honda NC700X(D)/NC750X(D). The D variant has an auto-box. The engine is pretty torquey, it is frugal, you sit up-right and it has an awesome storage container for your helmet where the fuel tank would usually be.

Inb4 the usual "A motorcycle is death on two-wheels" crowd arrives.
 
XennoX said:
Some points to ponder on:

  1. Fuel wise, a bike is typically far superior to a car.
  2. Maintenance wise, a bike is typically on-par or more expensive than a car. (Shorter service intervals, tyres last anywhere between 1/2 to 1/8 the mileage)
  3. Proper gear is expensive. Add R8k to R15k extra for the gear.
  4. Given your height, at approximately 188 centimetres the little 250cc motorcycles will be a squeeze for you.
  5. For commuting, I suggest the following:
    • Something that is frugal.
    • Something that has a decent helping of torque. You don't really need power when commuting, torque on the other hand is fun and can help you accelerate out of tight situations.
    • Something with reasonable wind-protection.
    • Something that can carry a top-box.

Given this information, I'd probably recommend something like a Honda NC700X(D)/NC750X(D). The D variant has an auto-box. The engine is pretty torquey, it is frugal, you sit up-right and it has an awesome storage container for your helmet where the fuel tank would usually be.

Inb4 the usual "A motorcycle is death on two-wheels" crowd arrives.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the recommendation. I will have a look at the Honda.

So upright riding position is more comfortable than being more crouched over on the bike?

What do you mean by gear?

I take it bike licenses follow the same pattern as car licenses? You do a theory, get a learners, cruise around on that for 6 months and do a road test? Surely on a bike you can't drive around because the tester would have to sit on the back or something? Do they just do it in the testing centre?
 
porchrat said:
Thanks for the recommendation. I will have a look at the Honda.

So upright riding position is more comfortable than being more crouched over on the bike?

What do you mean by gear?

I take it bike licenses follow the same pattern as car licenses? You do a theory, get a learners, cruise around on that for 6 months and do a road test? Surely on a bike you can't drive around because the tester would have to sit on the back or something? Do they just do it in the testing centre?
Click to expand...

Gear = helmet, gloves, jacket, boots and possibly pants.

On a bike you may not carry a passenger with a learner's licence. Learners is valid for two years, same test as a car learners with some extra bikey bits thrown in .
 
What is your commute route?

And as for bike size, I'd go with what you feel comfortable riding on. Seating position, arm-reach, how the brakes feel to you, easy to get on and off etc.

I have less than maybe 5 years bike riding in total, but I commute (job permitting) on a 135kW machine, but it only goes as fast as I want it to go.

But NB for a first time rider: Get something with ABS
 
You should make your learner's appointment - that will be your biggest delay.
Once you have a learner's you can use your bike for 18 months (last I checked) - no passenger allowed.

Someone will be along to give you references to courses.

Like copacetic , I just started my commute with no experience - it was uncomfortable in the first week - after that you quickly become comfortable with cars around you.
 
Pox said:
But NB for a first time rider: Get something with ABS
Click to expand...

Not sure if I agree with that.

NB for a first time rider: Get training at a riding schoold
 
Sinbad said:
I went for the ABS option... :)
Click to expand...

I'm sure it doesn't hurt having it (unless you grab a fist full of front brake and moer over the windshield...that'll hurt :p )

For a commute it depends on the route. If it is mostly city then a small lightweight bike (XT250, XR250L ... not like I have an inkling for certain bike types :whitle: ) work way better. I'm on a small 125 I can easily manouvre between cars and since you hardly ever get to go faster than 80 it doesn't really matter.

But if you're going to hit the highway or "faster" routes with longer straights - fsck it, get something bigger. You really don't want to be the slowest oke on a stretch of road especially not when mrs-impatient-SUV-driver thinks sitting on your ass improves your aerodynamics and make you go faster.
 
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