Little bikes...what a fugin danger

[monyx]

Now maybe, I'm just spoilt by the Busa and somewhat loud Yoshis but taking a little Custom EL250 to work the other day really had me frustrated. Myabe it was a bad day, but I found even less respect than I usually do on the Bus.

e.g. women pulled out at the top of hill, be alright but 250cc needs to keep momentum be also ok if she accel away but she meandered down the lane. Normally, down a gear and whip around in disgust....not on this 30hp monster.

Got me thinking the combination of low power, less imposing street presence, no noise = a bloody frustrating nightmare. I couldn't be bothered commuting on the piss weak blighter anymore - too dangerous, yet my wife has too learn and ride in the traffic on it. Not a pleasant thought...

Then today she has her first low speed, off, getting out carpark, gravel perhaps, scrapped pipe, indicator and brake lever. Had draggins, leather jacket. gloves so ok bar bruise.

After two weeks not riding I said she wasn't ready for peak traffic commute even if it is Canb. Night before she wanted to go trivia at the pub on it - NO WAY i said, get practicing in day light, those lil headlights are prince of darkness at the best of times.

I'm pretty harsh on her...perhaps, but I feel my 19 yrs MC advice is being ignored. Mark
Canberra's Best Silver/Black K5!Edited by: monyx at: 31/1/07 19:05

[Gassick]

Get her a dirt bike mate, then she can hit a paddock or head out bush and learn all that she has to know about front brakes and when to use them, slides,accellerating,falling off and a multitude of other skills she should have under her belt before she has to negotiate cars,pedestrians,wet roads,red lights and dumb f@*ks driving while talking on mobile phones.

[Blackzook]

Mark,
I agree with Gassick a traily is the way to learn but if that is not an option then loud pipes and an air horn are vital to the little bike at least then she has a presence on the road.

Tell her to ride as if everyone out there is trying to kill her as often that is the case. Be prepared for the worst at all times. Bruce
N2O no laughing matter
f*** nos I've got Velocity

[DAN85]

or you could do what bruce did and have enormously loud incredibley sexy pipes just thinking about those pipes mmmmmmm. have to say bruce you have impecable taste You may now refer to me as Sting

[kev11e]

G'day
Daughter of a friend of ours just got her Ls again and a newish bike...has taken the Ls off becoz she feels that drivers are far more aggressive to bikes wearing Ls...
On the other hand, my daughter ran out of road recently around canberra on her 250, and it was not the size of the bike at fault :-)
Regards
Kevin

[tenacious]

Yeah I would say go with the trailbike - that's how I spent 7 years of my youth learning m trade.

Funny you mention commuting around Canberra on a 250. When I did it I really didn't have a problem, in fact I think other riders were positively nice to me compared to riding the bus now (except for one idiot who nearly bunted me - literally - off the road on like my second ride). Now every wannabe street racer sees me as a target to either try and race (not interested), or run off the road.

[m8ee]

Get a VFR400 for a learner bike - best 250 there is. :ghastly:

[RaZz0R]

There is LAM's in NSW - get her a 650 ffs & be done with it ;)

[garbo]

You bet dirt riding is the best training there is..Worked for me when I was a young fella and thats how I tried to get my skills back when I resumed riding a few years ago.Nothing like learning how a bike feels when it's moving around under you.It also worked well for my missus and my son.But you are right,a 250 is a lot more hard work. Just my 2c worth.
garbo

[RaZz0R]

./agree & signed! 250's are more work :)

I actually WISH to hell I could get my hands on a trial bike for a weekend - i need to learn how to control a bike moving under me...

[Monyx]

./agree & signed! 250's are more work :)

I actually WISH to hell I could get my hands on a trial bike for a weekend - i need to learn how to control a bike moving under me...

Yep, appreciate 250cc is part of the prob....thing is this was vehicle No.4 to be registered in a household of 2. SO low cost of rego & TPP for <300cc was major factor...no option there.