Poll for Newbie/undecided person

barrybowfinger

Hiya,
I'm a recent returnee to cycling. 15 years ago I was a keen saturday/sunday rider with my mates, but not as serious as a club man or anything like that. Next came 15 years of bad habits; smoking, drinking, etc. 3 months ago, I gave up smoking, although I still drink alcohol. I have 2 methods of commuting to work. The first is a Yamaha YBR 125cc motorbike (I use this most often.) Second is a Claud Butler Milano 2007 road bike which I picked up from a local small bike shop who were selling off 2007 stock . I ride the motorbike alot (especially now the weather's getting bad.) I'm considering selling the Yamaha to fund another bike for commuting/general riding/better health/etc. But for the sake of arguement, for fun and for preaching to the converted....do you think I should sell the motorbike or not?

PS-the commuter/general riding bike i'm thinking of is the Giant FCR 2009 Carbon. Any and all opinions on it are equally welcome. Thanks.

PPS-I don't own a car.

Big Red S

Are you still on L-plates? If so, do the bike test before the end of march before selling the ybr.

I'd say it depends on what you do with the ybr. I got a motorbike about a year ago, and have since found it solves most of the problems I had wit cycle touring (the effort). I've now got a bigger bike, and quite regularly go for a ride on it, as well as commute.
I'm beginning to miss cycling in to work, and am plotting a road bike, but I don't think I could sell the motorbike to fund it.

If all you do with the ybr is commute on it, I'd replace it with a road bike. But there's so much more to motorcycling when you get into it (as with cycling, I suppose).

barrybowfinger

Yes, still on L-plates and yes; seriously considering doing full motorbike test (just to confuse he issue)!!!!

Mettan

I wouldn't sell the Motorbike - and get the big bike test done before it becomes harder (soon) 8) . The Motorbike gives you a perfectly good form of transport, and so does a Road bike - personally, I'd keep them both. You could always keep the Claude Butler over Winter, get some miles in, and then consider selling it come March/April and getting a better Road bike then for Sportives/General riding next summer? There's little point "trashing" an expensive Road/SportsHybrid bike over Winter, if you've got a perfectly good Claude Butler to use instead

gtvlusso

Upgrade the motorbike! Definitely - commuting on a bicycle, ride any old crap! Motorbike will get you further and, if you get a sportsbike, get you there faster!

cee

gtvlusso wrote:

Upgrade the motorbike! Definitely - commuting on a bicycle, ride any old crap! Motorbike will get you further and, if you get a sportsbike, get you there faster!

of course you know what surgeons call motorcyclists.....donors.

Clever Pun

barrybowfinger wrote:

Yes, still on L-plates and yes; seriously considering doing full motorbike test (just to confuse he issue)!!!!

Is there still a restricted test that allows you to keep riding the 125 for a couple years before it becomes unrestricted???

I did my full motorbike test a while back and loved it... just need a bike now


Cycling to work is great it's good for you and you arrive at work feeling alive and awake

biondino

Having ridden a moped I'd love to have a motorbike of any size as well as a bicycle - obviously neither would get used as much as if I only had one form of transport but they're both such fun!

lost_in_thought

In your position I'd hang on to your current bicycle at least until summer.

Nothing wrong with it as a commuter - unless I've misunderstood?

The motorbike, as others have said, is more useful than a bicycle. I wouldn't sell it to fund another bicycle unless you really feel you will exclusively use the bicycle.

It seems from your OP that the bicycle plays second fiddle - so why upgrade it while that's stlll the case??

Ah hey Blondie, wondered where you'd gone!

dirk_van_gently

I too have a foot in both camps, moto is an Africa Twin.
My commute is only 17miles round trip, so I could do it everyday, and have. Selling the moto has occasionally entered my mind, but old habits die hard, I've owned and ridden a motorcycle for almost 40years, I can't part with it just yet.

chas67

Agree with most here ..... keep the motorbike - if you get rid of it you'll only want another one ..... and it is perfect for when you can't be bothered cycling .....