Owning a Motorbike - Disadvantages

This post is following on from my post about the advantages of owning a motorbike: http://motorbikelearner.blogspot.com/2011/08/owning-motorbike-advantages.html


#1 It's Dangerous!
On a motorbike you are less visible to other drivers, less protected,  and vulnerable to the mistakes of crappy drivers. You have to look out for potholes and the like on the road, and ensure your bike is well maintained.


#2 The Weather
Slippery when wet, exhausting when hot, depressing when cold, and tender when hailing. Being exposed to the elements definitely has its disadvantages.


#3 Travelling
Although you can get tank bags and the like, it's hard to lug around a lot of gear on most bikes. Generally you can't have more than one passenger. If you're going to be travelling a lot it's worth while getting a touring bike.


#4 Safety Equipment
Sometimes it's annoying taking your gear off and putting it on all the time. It can be expensive to buy all the gear. Good thing it looks cool!


#5 Maintenance

As riders we need to make sure our bike is in good nick, else a failure due to poor maintenance can have serious consequences.


#6 Helmet Hair
Not an issue for some, but others it's everything. I shave my hair so it doesn't bother me.


#7 Communication
It's harder to talk with people while riding. I'm pretty sure you can get bluetooth headsets for helmets that  sync with your phone for calls and music (this is something I'm looking into at the moment).


#8 Annoyances
I hate it when you wearing a full-face helmet and your face gets really itchy, or you need to sneeze.
Sometimes I find it annoying to warm the bike up for a minute or two on cold mornings.

Beginner riders - Things to learn

If your a beginner rider there's probably a lot of things you don't know about and know where to start.

Below I have compiled a (not necessarily complete) list of questions to should try to answer on your learning journey. I hope to post about all these things over time.

Learn basic theory
You probably have lots of gaps in your knowledge. You need to get curious and ask questions. Here are some questions you may want to find out about:

• What types of bikes exist?
• How and why do you need to change gears/shift gears?
• Where the controls are on the bike? What do the controls do?
• How do you know what gear your in when your riding?
• Can a motorbike reverse?
• What is counter steering and how do you do it?
• What maintenance do you need to do on a bike? How often? When does it need to get serviced?
• What does it cost to keep a motorbike running?
• How do you measure the speed and power of a motorbike? What does 250cc mean?
• How does a motorbike work?
• Where can I find more information about this stuff?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of owning a bike

Getting your license
You need to be licensed to ride a motorbike. You need to find out the laws and road rules for where you live, and the options you have to get your licence

Buying gear
You should be protected everywhere on your body. It's important for you safety that you don't buy cheap low quality gear. Search for information on the following:

• Leathers vs Textile
• Boots
• Kevlar jeans
• Gloves
• Compromises between comfort and protection
• Helmet
• Jacket
• Pants
• Where to buy stuff
• Tinted visor vs clear visor
• Warmth in winter
• Wet weather gear
• Anti-fog for visor

Buying your first motorbike

• Should you buy privately or from a dealer? What are the advantages and disadvantages of both?
• Should I buy new or used?
• What are the costs and options for insurance and warranty
• When will I upgrade to a faster bike?

Good first bikes to read about and compare:

• Kawasaki Ninja 250R
• Honda CBR250R
• Suzuki GS500, GS500F
• Honda CB250, CBF250

Getting skilled, practice

• Constantly practice and get better at the following:
• Cornering
• Braking
• Emergency stop
• Shifting
• Slow riding
• Hill starts
• Parking
• Safety
• Throttle and clutch control
• Vision, scanning, looking through corners

Owning a Motorbike - Advantages

#1 Fuel Economy
I fuel up with 98 Octane premium when my tank is 25% full (I'm an optimist) and it costs me a little under $9.00. I will fuel up again when I have ridden 200 Km.

#2 It's Fun!
The refreshingly cool wind blows on you, the handling is fluid and smooth, the speed is exciting, the sound is epic. WOOOOO HOOOOOOO.

#3 Cool Factor
Riding a motorbike is bad ass, I'm just sayin'.

#4 Traffic
Traffic not moving? No worries, just slip down the side and keep moving (carefully and slowly).

#5 Community, Social Factor
It's easier to make friends when you own a bike, because your more bad ass, and you share something in common with a lot of people (ie: being bad ass, and owning a bike).

#6 Parking
First class parking where ever you go. Fantastic if you live in the city.

#7 Speed and Agility
The handling, acceleration, and speed on a motorbike is much better than on a car.

#8 More room on the road
Lots of room to breathe and move around.

#9 Mean and Green
Your little beast is better for the environment

Lookout for the Rusty Beat-up Cars!

It seems to me that the drivers of beat-up bombs have an impatient, lazy, negligent, selfish, and dangerous driving style. I don't say this to be rude or put others down, it's just the way it is.

For the sake of safety I try to keep extra distance from them.

Motorbike Gear Stores

A few motorbike gear stores I have looked at in Australia:
- http://motodeluxe.com.au/
- http://www.ozmotorcyclegear.com.au/
- http://amawarehouse.com.au/
- http://www.motorcyclesuperstore.com.au/
- http://www.bikegearwarehouse.com.au/
- https://www.thehelmetwarehouse.com.au/store.php

Other:
- http://stores.ebay.com.au/i5motorcycle?_rdc=1
- http://www.shoebuy.com/mens-motorcycle-boots.htm

What is Counter Steering?

Push Left, Turn Left    |    Push Right, Turn Right

Counter steering involves turning the right handle bar away from you to turn right, and turning the left handle bar away from you to turn left. Counter intuitive perhaps?

When I first got on a bike this concept confused me greatly, however it feels very natural after a few minutes of cornering for the first time. It felt just like riding a bicycle down a hill.

Counter steering doesn't really take effect until your going about 20 kmph.

There are some good clips on the web that explain and demonstrate the concept:
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8IdTq3_3WI
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8M_7fBR63Y
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqcRPv-rOi8&feature=fvst

12 Safety Tips

Lets face it, as motorbike riders we are more vulnerable than most other vehicles on the road. We need to take extra care to keep the rubber side down.

Here are the things I try to do to keep safe on the road.

#1: Expect the Unexpected!
You never know what can happen on the road. A cat can jump out at you (reminds me of this video), a car can run a red light, or a vehicle can be broken down on a blind corner. Always be on guard, and never get to relaxed or comfortable.

#2: Keep your Distance
The more distance there is between you and vehicle in front of you, the more time you will have to respond to any problems. Try to keep a distance of about 4 seconds. When a vehicle passes something like a road sign, count how many seconds it takes you to pass the same marker to determine how far you are away from them.

#3: Blind Spots and Staying Visible
Stay out of blind spots! A lot of drivers don't even check them. The messages on the back of trucks ring true - "if you can't see my mirrors, I can't see you" (if they look that is). Consider getting reflectors for your motorbike or gear.

#4: Lane Positioning
Position yourself so you have more time to respond to hazards and more distance between you and the crummy drivers! The QLD motorbike safety website has some good information on this.

#5: Scanning
You need as much information as you can get about the environment around you to better identify and respond to hazards. Consider what's in front of you on the road, check your blind spots, check your mirrors, check for merging traffic, lookout for cars reversing out of driveways, look at everything between you and the horizon. (handy tip: if there's a car in front of you, try to look through the windscreen to better see what's in front of it).

#6: Look through Corners
Looking through corners improves your vision and somehow improves cornering. Keep your head up and use your peripheral vision. Just do it!

#7: Gear
Don't skimp out on gear. Try to go for leathers. Get a full-face helmet. Ensure your protected from head to toe. It's a little awkward if your not wearing it all in a crash.

#8: Practice your Riding Skills
Here and there practice your emergency stops, slow riding, and everything else to better prepare yourself for complicated events.

#9: Maintain your Bike
Keep your ride in good nick. The QLD motorbike safety website has some good guidelines.

#10: Fatigue, Alcohol, Drugs
Don't drive if your knackered. Drugs and alcohol while riding is bad mmmmkay.

#11: Ride to the Conditions
If it's icy, wet, or frosty, be careful on the corners and don't accelerate to hard. Take care if the sun is shining in your eyes (consider getting a tinted helmet visor). Keep extra distance between vehicles in foggy conditions. If it's hailing, GTFO!

#12: Confidence and Humility
Put aside the ego and swallow your pride, especially when riding with other riders. Don't get cocky. Having said that, have confidence in your ability and have fun while your riding!