Topic: Why I will never use a motorcycle for long distance travel again

[greasy j]

why not use a car? easy. because they suck.

motorcycles are not for everybody.

I hate getting into a stinky metal box that doesn't lean or fit between other stinky metal boxes.

what about filtering through traffic,

Not legal in most places.

the ease of hopping on and off without any pesky car doors to get in the way?

Hopping in and out of my car is a lot easier than gearing up for a bike ride

the feeling I get of being so much more clever and capable than all the stupid car drivers is also nice.

That's not an advantage, that's your own pretentiousness. I'd imagine all of the car drivers feel a lot more clever and capable when they see you struggling to ride through a rainstorm.

being able to whiz by as they are trapped in their sweltering boxes, pumping out co2 needlessly into the air even know they are not even moving.

Which is more than offset by their modern fuel injection and emission controls. Regardless of engine size and fuel consumption, an old bike is going to be significantly worse for the environment than a modern car.

it is the most efficient way to get from place to place, besides maybe a bicycle which just isn't fast. besides, cars suck.

That depends on many things, such as how far apart those places are.

you like to argue, huh?

I don't. but I will say that as far as bikes polluting more than cars, you are just as wrong as can be.

going across the bay bridge in traffic takes me about 15-20 minutes, those giant SUV's all just sitting there for over an hour apiece. come on, you can't be serious. there is no comparison. and what makes you think I am riding an old bike every day?

and I'm pretentious am I? I'll work on that, thanks for the friendly criticism. if you can take what you give I have some for you as well. you're rude.

anyways, for me there is no choice. I see getting into a car as an inconvenience, I ride whenever possible. besides being much more efficient, it makes me happy. find something that makes you happy, cuz it's not motorcycles.

why are you here anyways if you hate bikes so bad?

[bikerbart]

I'm sorry Gabriel did I offend.What are we 12.

[sangyo soichiro]

besides being much more efficient, it makes me happy.

Hence, the "utilitarian transcendentalist"?  

Josh Stuart Mill?    




Edit:  Oops, I misspelled Stuart the first time.   

[Nikkisixx]

LOL!  He doesn't like to ride his bike because it makes it hard to go antiquing?  Oh golly, what will the nice people at the B&B think of me when I pull up on a (GASP) motorcycle!  Lets stop for cucumber sandwiches and a facial after our ride.
Yeah. On a cycle forum I will rip on crap like that. 

[greasy j]

I kinda was rude back I guess. sorry, usually I try not to start fights. just got heated for a second.


I just got the stewart mill comment, nice!

I am a big fan of the movement in america. especially the abolitionists. John Brown was a bad ass. it takes guts to stand up for what's right when the rest of society is content to wallow in wrong.

[weekend_junkie]

I ride with my wife so I have way more than 70 lbs of baggage on my bike. 

Going for a 1500 mile loop from NYC to Ontario next month, definitely taking the bike.

[greasy j]

I ride with my wife so I have way more than 70 lbs of baggage on my bike.  

Going for a 1500 mile loop from NYC to Ontario next month, definitely taking the bike.

i actually DID lol.

[mgbgt89]

I did 700+ miles in a weekend on this..



At times it was miserable, I was sore, exhausted, deaf, cold, hot, sweaty.

I wouldn't trade that ride for a drive in a car in a million years.

[Laminar]

you like to argue, huh?

I have this weird disdain for misinformation.

I don't. but I will say that as far as bikes polluting more than cars, you are just as wrong as can be.

going across the bay bridge in traffic takes me about 15-20 minutes, those giant SUV's all just sitting there for over an hour apiece. come on, you can't be serious. there is no comparison.

Yes, the giant SUVs with precise fuel injection, catalytic converters, and ECUs monitoring engine conditions. I can tell for over a day which motorcycle I rode last by walking into the garage and taking a whiff - the combination of carbon, NOx, and unburnt fuel coming out of the tailpipe is unmistakable. It's odd that you'd say "there's no comparison" without actually providing any real data - you are basing your claim on real-world test data and not just what you believe or what you'd like to believe, right? (Quick! Tell me that I should provide data after you were the one that made the initial erroneous claim!)

and what makes you think I am riding an old bike every day?

Where did I say I thought you did?

and I'm pretentious am I? I'll work on that, thanks for the friendly criticism. if you can take what you give I have some for you as well. you're rude.

Noted.

anyways, for me there is no choice. I see getting into a car as an inconvenience, I ride whenever possible. besides being much more efficient, it makes me happy. find something that makes you happy, cuz it's not motorcycles.

why are you here anyways if you hate bikes so bad?

The number of baseless accusations you make in this post is staggering. If I hate bikes "so bad," why would I own four? Perhaps I actually like bikes, but I'm not fooling myself into believing that they're something they're not.

[greasy j]

it's cool dude. let's just agree to disagree.

[Laminar]

it's cool dude. let's just agree to disagree.

Disagree on what? Whether or not I like bikes? Whether or not carb'd motorcycles from the '70s produce more harmful emissions than modern cars and trucks? Why "agree to disagree" on matters that aren't subjective?

[greasy j]

why do you keep comparing old bikes to new cars? what does that have to do with anything? this guy rides a vstrom, I commute on a CBR. lots of people drive old cadillacs. motorcycles pollute less/get better mileage than cars on average. new bike to new car, old bike to old car. you are trying to prove that motorcycles are dirtier by comparing the best case scenario car vs. the worst case scenario motorcycle. this shows the desperation of your argument. and if they(bikes) spend less time on the road then they do even less so. it's not even worth arguing about. it's just so obvious. 15 minutes of a bike running compared to 60 minutes of a car. we don't need a scientific study here. think what you like, I doubt anyone will agree with something so silly.

let it go. you do yourself more harm than good getting heated about stuff like this.

[Retro Rocket]

why do you keep comparing old bikes to new cars? what does that have to do with anything? this guy rides a vstrom, I commute on a CBR. lots of people drive old cadillacs. motorcycles pollute less/get better mileage than cars on average. new bike to new car, old bike to old car. you are trying to prove that motorcycles are dirtier by comparing the best case scenario car vs. the worst case scenario motorcycle. this shows the desperation of your argument. and if they(bikes) spend less time on the road then they do even less so. it's not even worth arguing about. it's just so obvious. 15 minutes of a bike running compared to 60 minutes of a car. we don't need a scientific study here. think what you like, I doubt anyone will agree with something so silly.

let it go. you do yourself more harm than good getting heated about stuff like this.

Couldn't have said it any better myself....

Mick

[Laminar]

why do you keep comparing old bikes to new cars? what does that have to do with anything?

Old bikes seem to be the most prevalent, hence most relevant, form of transportation on these boards.

this guy rides a vstrom, I commute on a CBR.

Since when were we talking about this guy?

lots of people drive old cadillacs. motorcycles pollute less/get better mileage than cars on average. new bike to new car, old bike to old car. you are trying to prove that motorcycles are dirtier by comparing the best case scenario car vs. the worst case scenario motorcycle. this shows the desperation of your argument.

No, old car vs. new car would be worst case scenario. "Desperation"? I'm not desperate to prove anything.

and if they(bikes) spend less time on the road then they do even less so. it's not even worth arguing about. it's just so obvious. 15 minutes of a bike running compared to 60 minutes of a car.

Once again..."a bike" vs. "a car." It's too vague to be worth anything. If you're going to posit an argument, be specific.

we don't need a scientific study here. think what you like, I doubt anyone will agree with something so silly.

Please point out any silliness I've presented.

let it go. you do yourself more harm than good getting heated about stuff like this.

I thought I was pretty calm about it all...it's not like I called anything you said "desperate."

[Damfino]

Please point out any silliness I've presented.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=73188.msg812755#msg812755
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=73188.msg812779#msg812779
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=73188.msg812879#msg812879
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=73188.msg812895#msg812895
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=73188.msg812984#msg812984

You seem hellbent on arguing with anyone who doesn't see it your way....

[hondaface75]

I think the other guy from the forum with the Vstrom might have forgotten why he rides his motorcycle? I dont do it to be any of those things he mentioned. If I had someone who didnt ride, with me, then yeah lets take the car. But I get uncomfortable in there too. And its loud. Especially my car. I agree that antiqueing isnt the brightest thing to on a motorcycle. But thats obvious. Hitting an animal? I feel a bit safer, by myself on my bike than in anyones car. Oh and the $$$ part of buying parts to be comfortable. Have we compaired this to the cost of a car? Less mpgs, means more gas. You can even that up with the tire costs. But I'm sure now adays you can get special compounds that last longer in the center. Buffeting? From wind? Please, I drive by a semi in a bike or car and I get buffeting. My head may not be bouncing around but I do have to countersteer a bit. The bike is just more FUN. And you cant just find or buy fun, but I'm sure I wont find it in a cage.

[gregimotis]

Getting to back to what's important here (making fun of this V-Strom guy);  He posts athis

"have climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro while suffering malaria..."


And then complains that motorcycles are uncomfortable, unsafe, and can't carry enough stuff.  What, did he climb this Mountain on the back of a couple sherpas* or what?  I smell a fibber.













*Yes, I know they don't have sherpas in Africa for cryin' out loud.  I'm tryin to make a point here

[Gordon]

What a whiny #$%*.




That's in reference to the V-strom guy.

[ryder60]

The operative term was 'logical reason' and I'd agree with him.  If we take the bike it usually isn't for a logical reason.  Riding the bike is a subjective thing in most cases whether short or long distance.

[Terry in Australia]

I've been riding bikes for over 40 years (and boy, am I tired............. ) and with a company car as part of my salary package don't commute nowadays, but when I did, logically, it was  a much better method of transportation than my car.

If I took my car at that time of day I'd need to get up an hour earlier, to arrive at the same time as I did on the bike. Sure, there was a greater element of risk riding a bike in and out of the city every day, mostly from people in cars, half asleep at that time of day, not driving in what I'd consider a safe manner, but it was still a better way of getting around in busy peak hour traffic.

Nowadays, I use my bikes purely for pleasure, and I probably enjoy them more than when I commuted, although I'm probably not as good a rider as I was when I rode my bike every day. No matter, as handy as my cars are for basic transport, I still enjoy riding my bikes more. Cheers, Terry.

[scottly]

Right after I got my bike, I tore it apart, and put it back together, and took a 3000 mile round trip. I was up all night, putting on the final touches, and we left about 9:00 AM. Took about 10 days, with breakdowns (not my bike), weather, and the fatigue of droning along at 55MPH in Colorado. Would I do it again? Probably not. Do I regret doing it? HELL NO!!!! It was a great adventure!!! Pic of my bike attached. (sorry for the poor quality)

[the technological J]

I'm sorry Gabriel did I offend.What are we 12.

yup and without smileys thers no way to really tell what u meant

[axehole54]

I'm a little touched  seems like the more i experience on my bike the more i wanna drive it... life's an adventure I say treat it as such... P.S. loud pipes discourage wildlife from coming anywhere near you

[Terry in Australia]

loud pipes discourage wildlife from coming anywhere near you

Not Kangaroos mate, they're dumber than dog#$%*!

[scottly]

loud pipes discourage wildlife from coming anywhere near you

Not Kangaroos mate, they're dumber than dog#$%*!

Doesn't work for kamikaze coyotes, either. I had one ram me on the return leg of the trip I mentioned.