Remove motorcycling from your thinking

franer1970

Guy says he has to commute by train to work in Dublin as there’s no car parking space, wonders if he should get a motorbike.
So-called motoring writers at the Indo reject that idea out of hand, recommend renting a space.

http://www.independent.ie/life/motoring/car-news/car-or-motorbike-second-farm-car-change-or-wait-which-suv-for-me-35217835.html

Is motorcycling now considered such a ridiculous proposition that it must be “removed from our thinking” as they put it? :mad:

Wossack

dont think they're wrong to say as such to yer man in his situation. Sure he says himself:

"Seems like a waste of money to have a car when I can't use it daily but I really like having it and we need two cars realistically."

Lumen

It's a reading comprehension test. :pac:

Indo Reader wrote:

it's surprising how often I end up bringing two with me somewhere when the other car is in use

The correct answer is obviously "sidecar".

cantdecide

Their writers' criteria is ridiculous at the bottom of the article. The major criteria for choosing cars is 1) what cars do your really want 2) budget 3) how long you wish to keep the car and 4) will a motorcycle do instead?

Max Headroom

Guy doesnt need a new car or bike....he needs a vasectomy...........:D

AgileMyth

It would appear that a motorbike is the ideal solution. However the question is so poorly written that it's hard to be sure what he wants/needs.

Cienciano

30k budget? And a city center commute? Crazy not getting bike. Dublin has a really low number of motorcycles compared with some other European cities. He shouldn't be writing a column for a national newspaper if he's so clueless

CaptainR

"I'd buy new, not secondhand, in January/February if a new family is on the way next year. You will have a fresh and a safer car - the latter being of even greater importance with family on board"

What a load of nonsense, spend 500 euro on advanced driving lessons save yourself the 5 grand depreciation on a new sh!t bucket and you'll be way safer. These are the so called motoring experts?

Jimmy Garlic

CaptainR wrote: »

"I'd buy new, not secondhand, in January/February if a new family is on the way next year. You will have a fresh and a safer car - the latter being of even greater importance with family on board"

What a load of nonsense, spend 500 euro on advanced driving lessons save yourself the 5 grand depreciation on a new sh!t bucket and you'll be way safer. These are the so called motoring experts?

I think this ''safer car'' nonsense needs to be shot in the head. They are crash tested up to a maximum speed of 60kph.. The chances of anyone making it through a head on 80-100+kph crash with their life, or without really serious injury are slim. Plenty think that buying a new car with a high NCAP rating will make them invincible on the road. Total nonsense.

CJhaughey

Not much point bitching about it here lads, preaching to the converted etc.
Write in to the Indo rag and complain in a fair and reasonable manner about the blinkered and apparently unjustified advice being given out by the two in question.

Pugzilla

Irish public in general hate or are completely oblivious to motorbikes.

Lumen

The first part of my commute involves filtering up the N11 car park. I can understand why people would want to avoid that; it's bordering on the wrong sort of exciting (although for me it's preferably to the alternatives).

I was wondering today whether there might be a case for a motorcycle lane on the outside of these dual carriageways, for which space can be made by narrowing and strengthening the central reservation. There's easily enough room to create a 1.5m lane there.

Seeing motorcycles buzz past safely on the right whilst they sit stationary in their cocoons might change a few minds.

The next phase would be converting one lane of the inner N11 to motorcycles only, followed by the remaining lane. :pac:

edit: oh, it's a thing in Manila

http://www.philstar.com/metro/2016/11/14/1643518/motorcycle-lane-policy-4-major-roads-starts-today

They're quite keen on safety there, they strongly recommend the wearing of shoes whilst motorcycling.

"The MMDA said motorcycle riders should wear proper attire, including a helmet, long pants and shoes."

goz83

Max Headroom wrote: »

Guy doesnt need a new car or bike....he needs a vasectomy...........:D

They might not be his :eek:

Anyway, I think they got it right. I don't think the writer suggested putting the bike out of his head for safety reasons. I think it was said, because the guy said that 2 cars were needed.

Oodoov

He should spend money on the proper gear, training and awareness and then pick up something like a Deauville for 3-4k. I commute and save myself around 4-5 hours per week compared to car drivers doing a likewise journey. No need to be spending huge money on a bike that is going to be destroyed on our terrible roads.

Lumen

Oodoov wrote: »

He should spend money on the proper gear, training and awareness and then pick up something like a Deauville for 3-4k. I commute and save myself around 4-5 hours per week compared to car drivers doing a likewise journey

How's the handling with two kids on the back?

frozenfrozen

I don't get his question. His wife has a car, he has a car, and he wants a motorbike for his commute? if he has 30k to spend just take 5k of that and get started on a bike and spend the rest on whatever else..

listermint

Lumen wrote: »

How's the handling with two kids on the back?

There is a family car... Probably has no need for 2 cars tbh.

Lumen

listermint wrote: »

There is a family car... Probably has no need for 2 cars tbh.

That's not what he says himself.

I have found myself that it's "difficult" or at least inconvenient to get along with only one family car. When one was off the road for a few months we had to rely on other people quite a lot for things like getting one of the kids to sports matches (which are often in very different places at the same time).

Then there's the case where one of us gets stuck at work unexpectedly.

Depends a lot on where you live and where you need to be.

Oodoov

Lumen wrote: »

How's the handling with two kids on the back?

For sure not ideal in every situation but an absolute no brainer if it's a straight forward run in and out of work in a cage. Even in weather like today it meant me leaving for work at 8:20 to be in work for 8:50 on the bike would have had to leave at 7:30 in a car and lucky to be in at 9. Thinking about it now i'd save close to 6hrs every week on transport alone that's 288hrs or circa 7 working weeks every single year.

Have to say though the proper gear makes all the difference and i invested almost 1300 euro on goretex boots, jacket and pants a couple of years back and it's been brilliant.

listermint

Oodoov wrote: »

For sure not ideal in every situation but an absolute no brainer if it's a straight forward run in and out of work in a cage. Even in weather like today it meant me leaving for work at 8:20 to be in work for 8:50 on the bike would have had to leave at 7:30 in a car and lucky to be in at 9. Thinking about it now i'd save close to 6hrs every week on transport alone that's 288hrs or circa 7 working weeks every single year.

Have to say though the proper gear makes all the difference and i invested almost 1300 euro on goretex boots, jacket and pants a couple of years back and it's been brilliant.

And more time at home, with said family.

galwaytt

franer1970 wrote: »

Guy says he has to commute by train to work in Dublin as there’s no car parking space, wonders if he should get a motorbike.
So-called motoring writers at the Indo reject that idea out of hand, recommend renting a space.

http://www.independent.ie/life/motoring/car-news/car-or-motorbike-second-farm-car-change-or-wait-which-suv-for-me-35217835.html

Is motorcycling now considered such a ridiculous proposition that it must be “removed from our thinking” as they put it? :mad:

A bloody ignorant comment by the journalist imho -and I've just dropped him a note to enlighten him.