Moving to the UK

[Jonty]

London's a stinking filthy over-crowded shithole of a place and I wouldn't live there again if you paid me.

everyone has his price - they just managed to find mine

[Alpha Solo]

You need a moped / motard in London, not a busa. The traffic is extremely congested and you cant weave through it on a sports bike. I rode there for 5 years so I know it only too well...

Secure parking is in your house front room or office reception, I've seen bikes lifted off posts, chains cut off and put into van's in broad daylight. Nobody will blink let alone help if there is a crime going on.

Why is every other person you meet here a pom? Cause the UK sucks - Tell me I'm wrong after you try it!

UK

[Deviant Esq]

everyone has his price - they just managed to find mine

That would be why. Personally I enjoyed my time in the UK... but was happy to be home again too.

Still set up to sell your CBR, Jonty? Still got a purchaser?

[mattsdakar]

Hi Jonty,
I lived in London for 4 years and motorcycle couriered in London for 2years, it's the only way to get around the city, faster than tubing,central London is actually smaller than you think. I scouted out a garage in the street I lived in and approached the owner asking if I could rent some space to store the bike, he was more than happy. Otherwise park on the footpath and lock bike to something like iron fence etc. I also used a bike cover people tend to take less notice when they can't see whats hidden away.
Enjoy the European roads, try getting to the Alps in summer zig zag zig zag zig...you get the idea..think tour de france.
As for the bike, try the London equivalent of buy sell and exchange available at all tube stations
Good luck

[chris]

London's a stinking filthy over-crowded shithole of a place and I wouldn't live there again if you paid me.

Take a phone box. Place seven homeless people inside. Fill with empty Macdonald's wrappers and general rubbish. Piss in each corner and take a dump in the middle. You now have a scale model of London.

[Jonty]

That would be why. Personally I enjoyed my time in the UK... but was happy to be home again too.

Still set up to sell your CBR, Jonty? Still got a purchaser?

Yeah, he is still hangin in there drooling in my garage every weekend. I am being mean holding out on him but it will do him good

[Jonty]

Hi Jonty,
I lived in London for 4 years and motorcycle couriered in London for 2years, it's the only way to get around the city, faster than tubing,central London is actually smaller than you think. I scouted out a garage in the street I lived in and approached the owner asking if I could rent some space to store the bike, he was more than happy. Otherwise park on the footpath and lock bike to something like iron fence etc. I also used a bike cover people tend to take less notice when they can't see whats hidden away.
Enjoy the European roads, try getting to the Alps in summer zig zag zig zag zig...you get the idea..think tour de france.
As for the bike, try the London equivalent of buy sell and exchange available at all tube stations
Good luck

Thanks I will check it out. The alps will be cool

[Jonty]

Take a phone box. Place seven homeless people inside. Fill with empty Macdonald's wrappers and general rubbish. Piss in each corner and take a dump in the middle. You now have a scale model of London.

It's gonna be a bastard to keep the machine clean then aint it

[martybabe]

It's gonna be a bastard to keep the machine clean then aint it

don't wana rain on your parade mate you should try the old country but.......bikers are treated like shit in england,bike theft rates are astronomical and no one gives a toss,Its over crowded,dirty,crime ridden,expensive and polluted,the weathers crap and yarda yarda yarda.Not a fan of the french but over there your treated like a person that happens to ride a bike as opposed to a shit for brains criminal thug.Gota p.h.d ?don't matter your still Biker scum.Try it get it out your system then come home n be happy,good luck.

[Griff]

I also used a bike cover people tend to take less notice when they can't see whats hidden away.

Absolutely a must!!
Buy a shitty Green Canvas Cover with locking rings so you can cable-lock it to your bike. Don't buy covers with cool graphics on them as they will just advertise the fact that you must have a cool bike underneath.
Park next to nice bikes:
A. They will treat their bikes with care and yours will not get scratched/dropped etc.
B. If a bike is going to get nicked, then they will go for the nice shiny one next to you.
C. Get an alarm, preferably one that texts you.


I used to commute to London from Oxford for 5 years on a bike, riding down M40 & Hangar Lane. You will be amazed at how narrow a gap you can get through!! Also you will not get nicked for filtering, although there are shit loads of speed cameras.

Get there early in the morning and there are loads of free parking spaces, then grab a coffee and a croisant before work.

I'm sure you have a fantastic time!!

[MisterD]

...and one more thing.

Black cabs are not looking at the road, they're looking for their next fare and they will U-turn in front of you without any warning.

[scracha]

and they aint rich either, they earn london money and pay scottish prices. ok they work hard but look at what is on their doorstep, awesome roads and awesome scenery. a bit like here really lol

And there's another myth I have to dispel. London wages are rarely much higher (if at all) than many other areas of the UK but the cost of living means you're normally on a lower wage. Have you seen the wages they're paying in Edinburgh [*1] lately? Come to think of it, have you seen the cost of living too? You get sick of sitting waiting on FlyBE or EasyJet on Friday evenings and getting up at 4am on a Monday morning to catch a flight VERY quickly.

If you must work in London I'd take a look at Hertfordshire (not exactly cheap either), Bedfordshire or at a push Peterburgh and just take the train in the morning. You really don't wanna be riding motorcycles in London...it ain't fun unless you're a local. Aside from the traffic there are immeasurable numbers of speed cameras (and yes, they snap rear plates...and no...british cops don't @#4ck about with little speed fines or take kindly to hidden number plates).

Foreign rider + London postcode + >600cc bike = amazingly high insurance.


[*1] Financial sector there is huge

[YellowDog]

London isn't so bad for riding. Daytime parking in the city is fine. There are motorcycle bays everywhere. There were free when I last used them. It's the night time parking you need to be careful.

Unlike NZ, second hand bikes are very cheap. If you are buying new, you will pay more than in NZ.

Good luck.