stupid dogbot
Haughty and Superior
I've driven quite a few, personally. You? How many high performance bikes have you ridden, ky?
(e2a: again, genuine question, not having a go)
(e2a: again, genuine question, not having a go)
500 dead motorcyclists killed last year
- Thread starter likesfish
- Start date
Wringing the neck of CBR600 is one thing - but wringing the neck of an R1? There are no roads where you can do it. There aren't even that many tracks.
And if you don't wring the neck of a sports bike, why buy it? There are so many disadvantages to them - if you don't make the most of the one thiing they're good at...it's all a bit sad. The whole ethos of having a sports bike is to ride it hard, whereas with a sports car it's more about owning something expensive. Pottering about at the speed limit in a Porsche is fine. But on a sports bike...well, if you don't cane it a bit you're just a poseur, with all the gear and no idea. Better to do that on a cruiser/tourer/giant trailie on which you can at least be comfortable and carry passengers.
mattie
missing in inaction
Of all of my mates who made rapid jumps from 125cc to 750cc+ sports bikes, I've visited all but one in hospital. The only one I haven't (thankfully) had cause to visit got his bike at the age of 30. He still crashed, but because he slipped on diesel on a roundabout, not because he got carried away on back roads.
I think a key idea is that you can get a brand-new superbike for about the same price as a ford fiesta. Not many fearless youths driving Ferraris, but plenty on Fireblades.
I think a key idea is that you can get a brand-new superbike for about the same price as a ford fiesta. Not many fearless youths driving Ferraris, but plenty on Fireblades.
Four 911s, three Aston Martins, a Caterham...that's it I think.
e2a And one of the early M3 Evos.
kyser_soze
Hawking's Angry Eyebrow
Never ridden an HP bike, have driven modern (easy-ish) and classic 911s, Ferraris and one Countach (which scared the living shit out of me)
Also (attempted) to drive a Skyline GTR with the traction control off...that was fun
So fair play to you, but I know bikers who have never been anywhere near a car with a bigger engine than a 2.0l who say there's a world of difference.
However, putting someone who'd just taken a test in a 1.0l Micra into a supercar, which is what you're all talking about on here, is still a recipe for disaster...
DownwardDog
Well-Known Member
Because he wants one and can afford it?
Says who?
What if somebody just liked owning it, polishing it and riding it around in 2nd gear every Sunday morning in the summer? If that's what makes someone happy then good luck to them I say.
You're right. It's a free country. There are plenty of people who do exactly that. It's tragic. Sad.
kyser_soze
Hawking's Angry Eyebrow
Agreed - it's like being stuck behind some old cunt in an AMG Merc doing 70 in the outside lane on a motorway.
It's worse than that. It's like somebody with a single seater racing car on public roads. Tyres, suspension, fancy valve gear all designed to do 0-150 and back in ten seconds, but ultralight so they need fettling and replacing all the time. With the driver paying a fortune in insurance in order to be uncomfortable, sitting there in his specialist clothing, logos all over the shop as if he's sponsored. Look at me, I'm Valentino Rossi! Going to Starbucks!
DownwardDog
Well-Known Member
Why do you give a fuck how someone else chooses to enjoy their bike?
kyser_soze
Hawking's Angry Eyebrow
Yeah, when we went up to Spanglegrinders wedding the next morning all you could hear, and the only peeps on the road, were weekend warriors on their might mo'bikes zipping around Lincolnshire like it was the Isle of Mann...
I give a fuck for the same reason that I give a fuck about the Top Gear style car worship in this country, and other displays of conspicuous consumption. It's a sign of a narcissistic, selfish society of people with inferiority complexes.
DownwardDog
Well-Known Member
Right, so owning an R1 and flogging it mercilessly is morally correct but owning one and just polishing it is narcissistic and selfish?
ymu
Niall Ferguson's deep-cover sock-puppet
He's just bitching because he has to renew his CBT every couple of years instead of getting some proper training for an actual licence.
And, as said, he's ignoring the A1 test, which allows you to ride up to 125cc without L plates.
likesfish
You can't park here sir
for £5 grand you can buy a bike that is capable of performance beyond what mere mortals can handle its speed can get you into trouble quicker than you can get yourself out of it.
can't really do that with a car for simliar amount of cash and even if your a footballer cars have airbags and safety cages so your probably survive.
most roads are not free of obstacles or have large bits of gravel for you to slide on so even with full leathers you may end up hitting something
can't really do that with a car for simliar amount of cash and even if your a footballer cars have airbags and safety cages so your probably survive.
most roads are not free of obstacles or have large bits of gravel for you to slide on so even with full leathers you may end up hitting something
stupid dogbot
Haughty and Superior
Never ridden an HP bike, have driven modern (easy-ish) and classic 911s, Ferraris and one Countach (which scared the living shit out of me)
Also (attempted) to drive a Skyline GTR with the traction control off...that was fun
So fair play to you, but I know bikers who have never been anywhere near a car with a bigger engine than a 2.0l who say there's a world of difference.
However, putting someone who'd just taken a test in a 1.0l Micra into a supercar, which is what you're all talking about on here, is still a recipe for disaster...
No worries - my edit was to make it clear I was asking cos I didn't know, rather than challenging you!
I've also spun a Skyline (R34 GT). Scary. Fucking scary. Personally, I believe both high performance bikes and cars to be challenging, although in quite different ways. Anyone can get on/in either and go flat out in a straight line. Driving fast, well and being safe, that's a whole other thing.
Personally, I think if you pass your DA, then go out and get a supersport bike, you're a) not very clever, and b) almost certainly got more money than sense.
Even with experience, the insurance quotes for the R1 aren't fun. What they must be like for a beginner, I cannot imagine.
stupid dogbot
Haughty and Superior
Btw, nick... what do you ride?
kyser_soze
Hawking's Angry Eyebrow
No worries - my edit was to make it clear I was asking cos I didn't know, rather than challenging you!
I've also spun a Skyline (R34 GT). Scary. Fucking scary. Personally, I believe both high performance bikes and cars to be challenging, although in quite different ways. Anyone can get on/in either and go flat out in a straight line. Driving fast, well and being safe, that's a whole other thing.
Personally, I think if you pass your DA, then go out and get a supersport bike, you're a) not very clever, and b) almost certainly got more money than sense.
Even with experience, the insurance quotes for the R1 aren't fun. What they must be like for a beginner, I cannot imagine.
The Skyline with the toys switched on was one of the most fun things I've ever driven - balanced, poised, responsive. Upon switching the toys off it became a twitchy, argumentative beast with too small tyres
At least that's my excuse.The Lambo was the scariest of them all tho - I did 2.5 laps at Snetterton, the last half lap I coasted in as I was sweating and had quite frankly had enough of it.
stupid dogbot
Haughty and Superior
I wish I could blame something for me spinning it... other than my lack of skill... but that's what it was. Thankfully, it wasn't on the road. 
Sat in a Diabolo, but never driven one. Ferrari 308 was scary enough, though. All thoughts of being a race driver straight out the window after about 10 metres!
It's nice having all these people so worried for my safety, btw. And my narcissism.
Sat in a Diabolo, but never driven one. Ferrari 308 was scary enough, though. All thoughts of being a race driver straight out the window after about 10 metres!
It's nice having all these people so worried for my safety, btw. And my narcissism.
I now ride a GT550 very slowly! But not often - I'm selling it and going travelling on a bicycle. Used to have a Hayabusa, RSV Mille, various BMWs, a VFR750, a ZZR11. Used to race an R1 and a MV Agusta F4 in the British endurance championship. And played around on all sorts of other things when I could get my hands on them: 916, ZX9-R.
stupid dogbot
Haughty and Superior
DownwardDog
Well-Known Member
So given that you said it's "tragic" and "sad". Is it somehow worse to own one an R1 and not flog it?
Sigmund Fraud
893 all the way.
I was thinking of getting an oldish Fireblade for contrary reasons - at 6'2" its actually pretty comfortable; if you don't cane it you can get 55 mpg; parts availability is second to none; it has depreciated as much as it will now and I'm likely to get all my money back if I sell. And I appreciate fine engineering and couldn't afford one when they came out.
So thats why I'll be buying one
djbombscare
Plays with knives
I was thinking of getting an oldish Fireblade for contrary reasons - at 6'2" its actually pretty comfortable; if you don't cane it you can get 55 mpg; parts availability is second to none; it has depreciated as much as it will now and I'm likely to get all my money back if I sell. And I appreciate fine engineering and couldn't afford one when they came out.
So thats why I'll be buying one
You gone off the bimmers then ?
That's brilliant! First time I watched it I had no idea what it was...wtf? Surely there's no track with a park bench next to it?? There just might be somewhere in the world - some of them are a disgrace. I raced in Northern Ireland once when the start was delayed because the organisers were still trying to sort out insurance cover. The insurers were saying it was too risky because the surface was breaking up. So the organisers added a corner with some cones to route us around the holes.
stupid dogbot
Haughty and Superior
Same here. I thought it was ace, and pretty appropriate!
Sigmund Fraud
893 all the way.
Hehe
I would get another boxer if it was my only means of transport. This is going to be a fun bike. Shortlist is pre '97 900ss, Urban tiger blade, slabside 750 gixxer and late 90s ZX-7R. The biggest factor is if it will fit in the front yard of my house - so far the 900ss is winning.
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