A car or a motorcycle?

lmpulse · 22-02-2014 04:25PM #1

So i've been having this self debate recently on whether to get a motorcycle or a car. at first i was 100% set on getting a motorcycle, but after weighing the pros and cons of each I'm starting to drift towards a car simply because of convenience and because it's more versatile. however whenever the though of getting stuck in a traffic jam crosses my mind all my plans about getting a car collapse. therefor im asking for guidance for a young fellow like me:)

bladespin · 22-02-2014 04:29PM

It all depends on what you want, how far you're travelling etc, etc.

A bike will always be better than a car of course - just trying to look fair

Stavros Murphy · 22-02-2014 04:33PM

lmpulse wrote: »

So i've been having this self debate recently on whether to get a motorcycle or a car. at first i was 100% set on getting a motorcycle, but after weighing the pros and cons of each I'm starting to drift towards a car simply because of convenience and because it's more versatile. however whenever the though of getting stuck in a traffic jam crosses my mind all my plans about getting a car collapse. therefor im asking for guidance for a young fellow like me:)

To me, sitting listening to the radio in traffic for a bit tends to outweigh the thoughts of getting stuck in the grille of a Hino, or heading off for a quick trip across the bonnet of a Nissan Micra, followed by a swift blast across the tarmac using my ar5e as a brake and my neck as a shock absorber. Also Ireland has "The rain" and that's very dull when all that's between you and "The Rain" is a Lid and some aldi thermal underwear. And yeah, I used to ride a bike everywhere, mainly as I couldn't afford a car.

dmc17 · 22-02-2014 04:34PM

Stavros Murphy wrote: »

To me, sitting listening to the radio in traffic for a bit tends to outweigh the thoughts of getting stuck in the grille of a Hino, or heading off for a quick trip across the bonnet of a Nissan Micra, followed by a swift blast across the tarmac using my ar5e as a brake and my neck as a shock absorber. Also Ireland has "The rain" and that's very dull when all that's between you and "The Rain" is a Lid and some aldi thermal underwear. And yeah, I used to ride a bike everywhere, mainly as I couldn't afford a car.

You mustn't have been very good at it :pac:

lmpulse · 22-02-2014 04:35PM

bladespin wrote: »

It all depends on what you want, how far you're travelling etc, etc.

A bike will always be better than a car of course - just trying to look fair

mostly used for college commutes >40 kms total or so , and some here and there on the weekends.

lmpulse · 22-02-2014 04:36PM

Stavros Murphy wrote: »

To me, sitting listening to the radio in traffic for a bit tends to outweigh the thoughts of getting stuck in the grille of a Hino, or heading off for a quick trip across the bonnet of a Nissan Micra, followed by a swift blast across the tarmac using my ar5e as a brake and my neck as a shock absorber. Also Ireland has "The rain" and that's very dull when all that's between you and "The Rain" is a Lid and some aldi thermal underwear. And yeah, I used to ride a bike everywhere, mainly as I couldn't afford a car.

those thoughts never cross my mind lol.

AgileMyth · 22-02-2014 04:39PM

If you want to carry other people places get a car. If you only want to bring yourself get a bike.

I had both for a couple of years but got rid of the car two years back and have never regretted it.

lmpulse · 22-02-2014 04:41PM

AgileMyth wrote: »

If you want to carry other people places get a car. If you only want to bring yourself get a bike.

I had both for a couple of years but got rid of the car two years back and have never regretted it.

yeah, i thought about that as well. comes out that 70% is going to be by myself and the rest carrying others >.>

Skill Magill · 22-02-2014 04:43PM

Bikes : No parking fees, no traffic jams - grand for short commutes with proper wet gear etc
I travel about 8km into work each day which takes about 15mins on the motorbike. At that time of the morning it would take over an hour and a half in a car or bus.

Vote 4 Pedro · 22-02-2014 04:55PM

I would have said the bike until i had my first and last accident on it.
Had a few bikes, loved them, Untill ....
I was rideing steady away, going with the flow of traffic when some drunken B@st@rd came straight out from a side road without stopping,
my knee whent into his headlight and i took my leg off, seriously i lost my whole left leg from just above my knee.
So i would now say to go with the car.
It's to late to change your mind after the sh!t hits the fan.

lmpulse · 22-02-2014 04:56PM

Skill Magill wrote: »

Bikes : No parking fees, no traffic jams - grand for short commutes with proper wet gear etc
I travel about 8km into work each day which takes about 15mins on the motorbike. At that time of the morning it would take over an hour and a half in a car or bus.

also bikes: no luggage(grocery etc..), no carrying people

, but you mentioned some solid point there

lmpulse · 22-02-2014 04:58PM

Vote 4 Pedro wrote: »

I would have said the bike until i had my first and last accident on it.
Had a few bikes, loved them, Untill ....
I was rideing steady away, going with the flow of traffic when some drunken B@st@rd came straight out from a side road without stopping,
my knee whent into his headlight and i took my leg off, seriously i lost my whole left leg from just above my knee.
So i would now say to go with the car.
It's to late to change your mind after the sh!t hits the fan.

ouch man, sorry for your loss.

jpb14 · 22-02-2014 05:51PM

lmpulse wrote: »

also bikes: no luggage(grocery etc..), no carrying people , but you mentioned some solid point there

Are you saying that you cant have luggage on a bike?
And that you cant carry a pillion passenger on a bike?
I would beg to differ if thats what you are saying.
Aswell as driving my car,I ride a Ducati 998 (monoposto model) and also a Yamaha FJR 1300.No problem with a pillion on the FJR and no problem with lots of luggage space on the FJR aswell.Full pannier set and tank bag on the FJR.Ubber comfy machine to commute on for both rider and pillion passenger and plenty of power for high speed motorway blasts

Mycroft H · 22-02-2014 05:54PM

Riding a bike in the ice would be my only concern. Depends on where you are and whether you'd like to be riding on ungritted roads etc

AgileMyth · 22-02-2014 05:56PM

lmpulse wrote: »

also bikes: no luggage(grocery etc..), no carrying people , but you mentioned some solid point there

You can carry one person after you pass your test.

I've managed to fit a tent, two sleeping bags, overnight bags for two (including 1 female!) and a full slab of cans into the luggage space on mine with space to spare.

AgileMyth · 22-02-2014 05:58PM

Vote 4 Pedro wrote: »

I would have said the bike until i had my first and last accident on it.
Had a few bikes, loved them, Untill ....
I was rideing steady away, going with the flow of traffic when some drunken B@st@rd came straight out from a side road without stopping,
my knee whent into his headlight and i took my leg off, seriously i lost my whole left leg from just above my knee.
So i would now say to go with the car.
It's to late to change your mind after the sh!t hits the fan.

Sorry to hear. You were unfortunate to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Its a risk we take on the roads regardless of our means of transport.

lmpulse · 22-02-2014 06:05PM

jpb14 wrote: »

Are you saying that you cant have luggage on a bike?
And that you cant carry a pillion passenger on a bike?
I would beg to differ if thats what you are saying.
Aswell as driving my car,I ride a Ducati 998 (monoposto model) and also a Yamaha FJR 1300.No problem with a pillion on the FJR and no problem with lots of luggage space on the FJR aswell.Full pannier set and tank bag on the FJR.Ubber comfy machine to commute on for both rider and pillion passenger and plenty of power for high speed motorway blasts

well, with the type of bike i would be getting (ninja 300) luggage would be an issue, and i meant carrying like a group of people. and in regards to pillion passengers i don't think i would be that comfortable taking male passenger >.>

jpb14 · 22-02-2014 06:12PM

lmpulse wrote: »

well, with the type of bike i would be getting (ninja 300) luggage would be an issue, and i meant carrying like a group of people. and in regards to pillion passengers i don't think i would be that comfortable taking male passenger >.>

Luggage for a ninja300 wouldnt be an issue.Just buy a givi pannier set for your bike.See link below.
Male pillion pasenger is no different to a female passenger,just one has balls and the other has t!ts.
http://www.giviusa.com/my-motorcycle/kawasaki/ninja-300-13/3-case-mounting2013-07-01-20-42-51_
http://www.motorcycleplanet.co.uk/products/1504-GIVI-TE4108-Pannier-Holder-for-Easylock-Side-Bags/

Stavros Murphy · 22-02-2014 07:10PM

AgileMyth wrote: »

Sorry to hear. You were unfortunate to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Its a risk we take on the roads regardless of our means of transport.

Yeah, but it's a risk you take every time you ride your bike - I can name a dozen lads around here who were my age and died off them. I've also seen more lads broken up off bikes than I care to remember. Usually, not always, but usually, it's some gob5hyte driving a car who doesn't bother looking that does the harm, that and the fact what passes for roads here are not fit for bikes to travel. Anyway, everyone has their own view, that's just mine. My eldest rides a bike, which I fcuking hate tbh, so there you go. Given my way, I'd burn it.

lmpulse · 22-02-2014 07:16PM

true, a close relative to me died because of a bike accident as well, however its a risk that i fully understand and i'm willing to take else i wouldn't have though of taking this path

Stavros Murphy · 22-02-2014 07:50PM

lmpulse wrote: »

true, a close relative to me died because of a bike accident as well, however its a risk that i fully understand and i'm willing to take else i wouldn't have though of taking this path

Youth is a great thing. The older I get, the less indestructible I feel. I used to be entirely bullet-proof, in my own mind.

lmpulse · 22-02-2014 07:54PM

Stavros Murphy wrote: »

Youth is a great thing. The older I get, the less indestructible I feel. I used to be entirely bullet-proof, in my own mind.

i think that's because the older someone gets the more he knows, the wiser he gets. of course this does not apply to everyone(not directed to you)

Del2005 · 22-02-2014 07:55PM

If your 40km commute is going to be in traffic with a bike it'll be nearly always take the same amount of time whereas in a car you'll have huge time differences. To get to college on time in a car you may have to leave 30 or more minutes earlier than on a bike.

lmpulse · 22-02-2014 08:02PM

Del2005 wrote: »

If your 40km commute is going to be in traffic with a bike it'll be nearly always take the same amount of time whereas in a car you'll have huge time differences. To get to college on time in a car you may have to leave 30 or more minutes earlier than on a bike.

yeah i thought the same especially since my commutes are towards the city center, and man i gotta say it would be a PITA to be in such traffic

bladespin · 22-02-2014 08:05PM

Stavros Murphy wrote: »

Yeah, but it's a risk you take every time you ride your bike - I can name a dozen lads around here who were my age and died off them. I've also seen more lads broken up off bikes than I care to remember. Usually, not always, but usually, it's some gob5hyte driving a car who doesn't bother looking that does the harm, that and the fact what passes for roads here are not fit for bikes to travel. Anyway, everyone has their own view, that's just mine. My eldest rides a bike, which I fcuking hate tbh, so there you go. Given my way, I'd burn it.

TBH I've lost as many friends in cars as I have on bikes over the years, one stupid action can have dire consequences regardless of what you're driving.

noelf · 22-02-2014 08:11PM

Mycroft H wrote: »

Riding a bike in the ice would be my only concern. Depends on where you are and whether you'd like to be riding on ungritted roads etc

Their are many more risks apart from ice diesel spills on roundabouts for example.....get proper training and gear

Mycroft H · 22-02-2014 08:19PM

noelf wrote: »

Their are many more risks apart from ice diesel spills on roundabouts for example.....get proper training and gear

Forgot about those.

I don't ride myself, my aul fella has been for near 30 years and it's just icy mornings that stop him using the bike in the morning.

mlumley · 22-02-2014 08:52PM

lmpulse wrote: »

mostly used for college commutes >40 kms total or so , and some here and there on the weekends.

If you want the freedom of the road, and don't mind every car driver trying to kill you, go for the bike.

if you want comfort and warmth, then the car. I have. Been in situations where drivers have both seen me and not seen me, and put me on the ground. I would love to be back on a bike again, but value my life more.

Hard choice that only you can make. Just watch out for fools if you choose the bike.

rowanh · 27-02-2014 01:27PM

I just bought a ninja 250 a couple weeks ago to commute instead of getting a car and im happy i did. I have been driving a car for over 10 years and i have cycled in Dublin commuting for years also.

some pros and cons for myself are

Free parking
quicker commute
cheaper on petrol
much cheaper on tax
loads of fun
learning a new skill
My girlfriend has a car im insured on!

Cost is higher than expected, probably not significantly cheaper than driving a car in the first year.
Risk of theft is higher.
Irish roads are dodgy, gravel, animal ****, pot holes, diesel, wet road marking, cracks filled with tar in the wet etc.
Cold and wet sucks though im used to commuting on a bicycle.
Danger is significantly increased.
Carrying things is awkward, though i just need to buy a tailpack or something.

For me the pros outweigh the cons, id say go for it. Just be ready for cars trying to kill you on a daily basis and being cold and miserable in the rain being blown all over the place etc. Also you might be better off getting something older than a ninja 300, if you have a minor crash it will cost a lot to repair and you may lose a lot selling it. Im loving the 250, i think its ideal to learn on, an sv650 seems a good option if you would like something a bit bigger.

biko · 27-02-2014 01:50PM

A bike is great for a lot of things but for general purpose a car is better imo.

Anan1 · 27-02-2014 01:51PM

bladespin wrote: »

TBH I've lost as many friends in cars as I have on bikes over the years, one stupid action can have dire consequences regardless of what you're driving.

It can, but it's many many times more likely to have dire consequences on a bike. I just did a quick google, and it seems that bikers are 16 times more likely to be seriously injured, and 35 times more likely to die in an accident, than drivers. To suggest that all modes of transport carry similar risks is dangerously untrue - there is no comparison between the risks involved in bikes and cars.

A car or a motorcycle?

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