I would like to get a motorcycle

[ian]

OK Matt, I believe you, the bike's for economical transport.

Now I'm a little biased, the people I know who ride bikes ride something like a BMW R1200 plus they have either a 125cc scooter for pottering around town or a dedicated off-road bike. One friend is working his way around Australia driving a 6T van with his two bikes in the back!

The process for getting a bike licience you describe used to apply here.
Then it got changed to one where you have to take a two day training course before you get a learner's permit — and this applies to everyone no matter how long you have held a car licience.
The impact has been a dramatic drop in bike rider casualties.
so as Astrid said, do take that training course

take care and have fun

ian

BTW I hope that you with a bike you will be able to park a lot closer to the lecture room door

[brettsyoung]

What I don't get is why you're bothering to tell anyone. Just get one fer chrissakes. It's not like you want to buy a howitzer or a pair of rhinos. It's just a bloody bike! If you workshop the purchase of a toothbrush with the family it'll end in tears - xmas lunch is testament to that.

[Optimark]

Astrid, your idea of a scooter, perhaps a Vespa, for running around Melbourne is quite sound. I would not suggest you attach a large top box on the back, perhaps one that can only carry a helmet. A large(ish) topbox on the rear usually makes the handling a bit suss, you don’t need that.

Small wheels that are on most fifties Italian type scooters, or their modern equivalents, are sometimes a handful with tramlines and ruts that follow the road. If you get a more modern designed scooter with slightly larger wheels, it usually handles better and should feel more secure in tight situations.

My first 6 motorcycles were scooters, Vespas and Lambrettas, all fifties and sixties models.

Matt, I would suggest you get a machine that your frame is comfortable sitting on for an hour or more at a time. As you will be travelling between campuses and wherever, you may like to add some saddlebags (panniers in Oz). The throwover type are perfectly good for your usage and have the advantage of not being left on the bike.

Both of you remember to purchase some reasonably good but cheapish waterproofs, especially waterproof trousers, there is nothing worse than a wet crutch, it’s also cold with the wind rushing along.

I’ve been riding bike since I was 16 legally, prior to that I
I bought my first motorcar when I was 33 to see what it was like, had it for 6 months but I only did 300 kilometres in it and as I was always charging the battery, I sold it.

I have clocked up over 1,500,000 kilometres on motorcycles around the world including the USA, Europe, especially Germany and quite a few parts of Asia.

I look forward to seeing either of you on the road one
day.

One last thing, always wear gloves no matter how hot it is. When you step off, you always push your hands out to break the fall.

Mick.

[astrid]

Thanks for your tips.
My nephew came off on wet tram track, he was ok vespa got abit scuffed.
I would only use in fine weather and take the back roads.
I only have to do city road and spencer in the city.
First i have to save the money

Astrid

[Optimark]

Astrid, not a problem.

Mick.

[Ivan in Oz]

G'day Astrid,

If you are considering a Vespa;
then you might also consider one of the Larger wheeled Scooter type "Bikes"
from Yamaha, Honda, and I believe, Suzuki.

These have reasonable Power and the larger wheels, are benificial.

I have riden Motorcycles on the road, for the past 40+ years

Something I have found,
is that I have to become AGRESSIVE
when I ride down to/in Brisbane.
The Motorists/Traffic has become quite unforgiving.

By AGRESSIVE I mean to at least keep up with the surrounding Traffic.

Last time I's in Brisvagas
I was near hit; as well as abused............WHY????
Stopped for Pedistrians ON a Zebra Crossing.............Go figure

One Car driver left Skid Marks on the road behind me;
I left Skid Marks elsewhere

This is a LOT like what I ride
http://lh4.google.com/jussi.k.koskin...jpg?imgmax=512
No! Not me though

[astrid]

Thanks Ivan
but a fatter wheeled scooter is for me,
suits my style and age better.
astrid

[NewLou]

Gidday

I didnt own a car until I was 28 rode road bikes throughout my 20's n was into big bore Jap Bikes I shot around on a ZZR 1100 n before that owned a CBR 600.............

I really enjoyed the biking scene and the subculture...................Loved going to rallies the GP n taking off with friends easy rider style

The bad news is my list of injuries from motorcycle accidents I've had a few spills over the years n one life threatening write off (I've survived 3........ 2 in cars n 1 on a bike)

Dont let anyone tell u riding motorcycles is safe Nurses in Australia call bikers temporary australians N when u go or even worse get run into on a motorcycle u go bigtime...........

The injuries I recieved from my last accident were as follows:

1 Closed head injury (Yup thats mild brain damage)
1 broken pelvis
1 fractured back
1 full left wrist rewire n construction
A right knee full of 20 stitches
Destroyed left ankle tendon

Wasent fun spending to much time in a hospital bed not being able to walk. I rode for years after this accident but eventually retired from bikes after having my beautiful daughter............

Its something I miss but have decided to hang up the rossies n helmet for the kids..............My advise is go for it but consider the risks n wether your willing to cop the potential consequences................

REgards Lou

[astrid]

if youve had 3 major accidents in cars or bike your on the high end of the scale.
I'm nearly 50 never had a car accident
have ridden scooters quite a bit in the greek islands in my youth never came near a prang.
as others have said all acidents are your own fault.
what was it .. stay alert stay alive.
but then again, I'm a female of the species

touch wood

Astrid

[woodbe]

I think I posted before in this thread, but I'm with Lou.

If you ride a bike, you must expect a major prang, hospital and hoping that the orthopod is as good a woodworker as you are (Orthopedics is just carpentry with bones after all)

Forget whose fault it is. Bikes get taken out when riding defensively, and they also cop it when they're not, it's a numbers game. You can alter the odds by riding well and keeping your wits about you, but you cannot remove the very significant risk of accident and major trauma to your body.

Thinking that it won't happen to you is just self delusion (sorry Astrid)

In the end, you have to decide if the benefits outweigh the risks.

woodbe.

[dazzler]

Gidday

1 Closed head injury (Yup thats mild brain damage)

Ahhh, so that explains the "no steel" workbench

[astrid]

I didnt say I wouldnt ever come off
what i was saying is if i only ride a scooter at 45k on back roads in dry weather i'm less likly to come off.

you run a risk stepping off a tram, driving in the wet or walking the dog.
I think that we all accept that bikes are more dangerous.
but as i said before the more that use them the safer theyll get.
hopfully well get to the point where there are dedicated lanes and bikes are protected like trams.

astrid

[NewLou]

Ahhh, so that explains the "no steel" workbench

I've seen the light mods n new plans coming to a station near you soon

REgards Lou