regretting biking

[Motu]

Oh, for fucks sake - if you want a bike - GET ONE

Dont worry about what anyone else thinks!!

If you're worrying about that, obviously, bikes arent for you, so get a nice little Starlet or something!

Shit - I sold a bike once to get a car -----WHAT WAS I THINKING !!!!

I once swapped an EIP Vauxhall for a 5T Speedtwin....my mate sold the bike for me and I never saw the money....Swapped a cherry sohc CB750 for a Singer Vogue that jumped out of 2 gears and smoked so much my wife got stopped and told her tyre was on fire.Sold a bike to pay for lawyers bills.I could go on for ages with my cunning deals,but I just do what seems a good idea at the time,never regret whatever you do....there was a reason I'm sure....

[rocketman1]

I have two cars & 1 bike, I guess you couldn't call me a true bikie, cos I only ride when the weathers not too bad,and for fun.
Riding bikes is a sole thing, man you can think of hundreds of safe reasons why you should drive a car, but the bike is for the soul, the buzz you get from a nice cruise or fast blast, getting home & polishing the bits,the feeling of being alive,
There are some things you have to do, before you get into the retirement homes, dont ever old and say .. "I would have loved to have had a bike, but...there was always something else" GET OUT THERE, GET YOUR BIKE, AND RIDE..............and bloody well enjoy every minute of it
Dont wrap yourself in cotton wool, life is out there too enjoy, risks are there to be taken,
Love life, Love Bikes

[Wolf]

I regretted trading my RD350 for a Hillman Imp - especially after finding out that five minutes work by a competent mechanic fixed the very simple fault that was causing the bike to run only on one cylinder (if I'd've been more experienced and known what to look for I could've fixed it myself in 5 minutes).

At the moment my bike is kaputt and I cannot afford another. We have a car as we have young kids to transport around (things will change once they are old enough to pillion) and I don't like driving it (nothing wrong with it in particular, it's a nice, reasonably late model Corolla - I just don't dig driving cars, dude) so StrayJ drives it most of the time.

I sit in the passenger seat looking out through the windsheild, imagining me on a bike out in front of the car and visualising the lines I'd take through the corners, imagining the feel of the bike under me and the feedback coming up through my hands. Am I addicted to biking or what!

As to load-carrying: Crap expands to fill the space provided.

I long ago solved the problem of carrying too heavy a pack up the mountains when camping by buying a smaller pack! A bike has less storage space than a car so you learn to take what you need, not what seems like a "neat idea". You can actually carry a fantastic amount of stuff on a bike if it suddenly becomes necessary - groceries, a large plastic soft-drink urn, all sorts of things.

I'll add my vote to the voices saying if I were riding a car I may not be here today - avoided a couple of near catastrophic accidents by taking the bike where a car just could not go. Could have been killed or seriously maimed, but I'm not.

When it all boils down to it, though, do things for your own reasons and be true to yourself. Others may disagree, but you're always going to get that. Best you can hope to achieve is a reputation for knowing your own mind and taking responsibilty for the consequences - they might not like your choice, but they can learn to respect it.

As always, be mindful of the risks and be ready to lessen them - the same goes for driving a car or crossing the road on foot or eating your food or handling power tools. Risk is all around, nowhere is "safe" (not even the grave, for worms can enter that).

If you really want a bike, get one. Learn to ride it safely and responsibly (no riding at 50kph on footpaths), get the proper gear to protect you and keep you warm and dry (you'll be the one laughing up your sleeve as you strip off wet armour to reveal dry clothes underneath while all the car drivers are drenched from running from their car to the building in a downpour), get whatever carrying gear you find is sufficient to carry what you need (be it a small back-pack or a pair of 15-litre paniers and a top box), and show them = by your continued existence, healthiness and happiness that your decision was right for you.

If your g/f doesn't like bikes, then that's her choice. She may discover she likes them if given the opportunity, she may not - people are like that. Compromise works fine - set aside your own time for riding (you do have your own time, I trust) and go places together in her car. Get her to drive and you can stare through the windsheild and visualise what lines you'd take on the corners...

[Marmoot]

You will lose some creature comfort such as protection from rain, convenient luggage space, etc. But they all can be worked around. Biking has gone a long way since what it was, and now we can do almost everything, except preventing wet boots wet gloves and wet crotch.
We just do it differently from car-people (e.g., larger rucksacks, weatherproof overalls, etc). I guess it is actually like "walking with significantly faster pace".

Girlfriend, wife and family (especially kids) are the normal factor for stopping to ride. Nowadays (since I'm married) I only ride to work when I don't take my missus to work, and ride in the weekend for riding only. For shopping etc I normally take my car, as my bike is not fit for riding 2 up (it's not about me, but it's about her)

For the mean time, here are some anwers you can use:

"why have u decided to get a bike? personally i wouldnt do it." - God has led me

"i know someone who knows someone who rode a scooter onto the footpath at 50km/h and lost his leg" - God must have a purpose for him

"what the hell would you want to get a bike for?" - I don't know. God moves in mysterious ways

"if it rains, you'll get wet... and you wont be able to take people anywhere!" - God will provide

"you'll regret buying a bike after you've had this car" - I will not regret following God's call

"dont be a fucking idiot, man you're going to die!" - God will call us. It's not for us to know when.

"where are you gonna keep your stuff when you go places?" - God will provide

[Highlander]

When they pay your bills for you they get a say in what you do with your money.

In the mean time I am loving being back on two wheels, part of the apeal is there are only two seats (read NO KIDS).

[oldrider]

im gettin tired of all this crap... maybe when i get a bike it will stop...

It will only stop when you stop listening to it. Hey you are in control of the situation aren't you. Or are you? Think for your self man!

[raster]

I started riding a bike about 6 months ago, through the winter, which can get rather wet in AK, Sold my Mercedes S class and got my own bike as the one I started on was my Bro's.
I save $50/week in fuel, still have a car for carrying the kids and wife, I don't use it often.

Initially you will notice the negs, take extra care initially and they will change their minds.
Get good gear, multilayer, waterproof. I went into Kmart in Manukau earlier this evening and it started pissing down, others were crouding under cover, so I put my helmit back on and walked out, got on the bike and rode home, the only thing I get wet is my hands and I don't think they will shrink.
I've strapped computers etc on as required, I wondered how I would cope, don't need to carry all the stuff I used to carry around, I have a workmate that lives nearby, she drops it off(only twice so far).

Seeing the support that is on this website helped my wife to feel a lot happier and I showed her all the padding and armour in my suit which I always wear while riding.

The longer you go without binning the better everyone will feel, including you.

By the way, use a taxi if you need, will take a lot a taxi trips to pay for a car, no repairs, insurance, reg etc.
or
If you do need a car get a $300 corolla for the other half.????

[enigma51]

I know I'm old and slow (and currently don't own a bike) but your comment I assume to be humour? Interesting way to show this. I'm not trying to be sarcastic or derogatory just asking is all?

Nope cant say I have a sense of humour!

[bigbadwolf]

well you can stop hasslin me, i sold my car today!!!! and i dont regret it at all!!! going down to ash vegas tomorrow or saturday to look at this:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/structure/a...sp?id=42775036

what do u think?

[Wolf]

well you can stop hasslin me, i sold my car today!!!! and i dont regret it at all!!! going down to ash vegas tomorrow or saturday to look at this:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/structure/a...sp?id=42775036

what do u think?

Bandits are pretty cool looking bikes. Phurrball has one and is well pleased (except it's not as economical as his lady's FXR150. But then, many things aren't)

[T.W.R]

see that bike around ashvagas regularly gets nana'd most of the time

[enigma51]

well you can stop hasslin me, i sold my car today!!!! and i dont regret it at all!!! going down to ash vegas tomorrow or saturday to look at this:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/structure/a...sp?id=42775036

what do u think?

Not a bad price for a bandit and they seem to last long.

Just get some gear like pants jacket and boots

[Biff]

Sell the car.. buy a good bike, good riding gear and a BRAND new helmet.
Then buy a dungy old runabout car.... to keep the peace

So true. Such wise words Crashe.

I drive an $1800 Primera. But I got a nice new motormacycle, and now my significant other doesn't complain any more. Much. Often.