I've been at it since 1976 . So here's my penny worth 1, Average speed cameras 2, The speed limits ( 50 ) that goes with them 3, Speed cameras in general ( not safety ) 4, Pot holes 5, The general driving standard of your average phone using , coffee drinking , burger eating half wit
The worst trouble when riding is a salty wet road but no rain. The wet filth impedes vision through any lens or visor and you have no adequate way of removing it. Opening the visor makes your face bitterly cold. I used to be better off with real glass goggles and facemask. Glass doesn't scratch so readily. Obviously potholes and wet leaves etc are serious hazards but i again point to impeded vision as the nastiest trouble, ABS visor refracts far worse than did glass, dirt plus apparently multiple headlights makes riding in darkness and on wet roads something very tiring and liable to ruin your ability to keep up a reasonable speed. Obviously the peculiar L plate laws came from clerks and EU ones at that. It used to be that most teenagers used bikes and not having to pedal after age 16 was a godsend. The tendency for parents to taxi children to school and everywhere else has greatly reduced the desire of the young for two wheels.
@@Vegplot Yeah I’m definitely not a fan of group riding either. It’s the same reason I’m not keen taking a pillion, I mess up, someone else could get seriously hurt. Couldn’t live with the guilt if I caused someone else bad injuries or worse.
I live in Victoria Australia and can relate to what you're saying about the less-than-logical progression through the motorcycle licensing legislation. Although it does not seem quite as bad here, I can't help feel that these arbitrary rules are made by people who do not ride. Thanks for the video.
A lot of what you say also applies to the US, I grew up riding bikes in the UK before moving to the US in my twenties. I see a lot of the same biases here. What you say about being injured on a bicycle is spot on. I suffered a much worse injury on a bicycle than I ever experienced on a motorcycle.
Salt and grit when it is used unnecessarily, the other day they dumped salt all over the roads the forecast temperature was 4°! Apparently from that there are worse places, some of the US states where filtering is not allowed for example.
As of this year pretty much the only state is California We have a series covering our journey across the US ( in both directions) this year A total pain in the ass, nearly collapsed with the heat in one city during horrendous road works
@@simonbirt6121 Filtering is allowed in California and it is illegal for drivers to obstruct a motorcyclist who is trying to filter. In a lot of other states filtering is illegal.
Yep Office of national statistics If risk is measured per trip then yes indeed Light aircraft also FYI For planes they usually lump em all together but take away airliners and small planes and helicopters are indeed more risky per trip Don’t even mention horses 🐴
The Insurance on bikes being extortionate. General car and van drivers who rush people , manhood games on the road and weirdly designed tests. I am a cyclist looking to get into riding but the costs and complications are crazy
Insurance can be relatively cheap compared to a car The problem is everyone wants shines an£ new My son Tom was 19 when he got an older Suzuki Sv650 Insurance was considerably less than his 125 had been, while my Himalayan was very expensive for him It really pays to shop around and avoid certain types of bike The test system is undeniably shite however
Some of the same issues that we have in Australia. Lots of poor quality car (and bus and truck) drivers. Some truly awful roads in places. The weather, where it's so hot in the summer you sweat your arse off wearing the proper gear. It's probably why I see some of the less smart riders who insist on wearing shorts and a t-shirt, and sometimes just a pair of flip flops while riding. They're the ones who end up needing a skin graft when they come off at speed. The best one I ever saw was the Harley rider with a moonboot on his left foot, reaching down and changing gear by hand. Our licensing is slightly different, and isprobably not encouraging young people to ride. Basically you have to get your car license and be off your provisional license before you can get a bike license these days, then ride a learner approved bike (up to 650cc and 47hp) until you can go unrestricted.
I have a 1948 BSA A7 that has no rear suspension. I always tried to steer round any potholes but on one event that proved impossible and the bike still shows battle scars from that. It was a run in the area of Loch Ness, mostly along single track roads. Just before the event the roads had been treated with a treatment called surface dressing. Liquid tar is sprayed on then dry gravel is sprinkled onto the tar. This does nothing to repair the potholes but disguises them, making them very hard to see. I rode straight through several deep potholes and the back edge of the sprung saddle would bash the top of the rear mudguard. I had back pain for weeks afterwards and I pretty much stopped riding that BSA.
Honestly travel across Europe quite often And of course across America this year (check out the series) Can’t say it’s a problem to be honest, especially on a bike
Yep As measured per trip According to the office of National statistics Remember it ain’t necessarily the speed your going It’s the car that hits you and it’s speed A bicycle can do what 20mph with some riders and their protection is nonexistent ditto the breaks Another little known fact is that on average 60 pedestrians a year are killed after being hit by a bicycle I don’t hate bicycles incidentally, I do have a couple but those are the facts Horses are also more dangerous incidentally as are light aircraft Again per trip not per mile
I would say that it shouldn’t put anyone off doing what ever they want too Ultimately your odds of making old age are still pretty good no matter what your chosen transport Much better odds than cigarettes and booze 🥃
I hate bike snobery, who cares what others ride? As long as it does the job for you that's all that matters. I've had fast bikes in the past and now ride a very modest 25 year old 60bhp machine. Its cheap, very reliable, can leave it anywhere, ride it all times of the year and doesn't tempt me to speed. As a daily driver that's what you need. If I wanted a bike for just summer riding at the weekends it would've been a sports bike.
@ Yep, I’ve enjoyed every bike I’ve ever owned all for different reasons. Too many to list on here. But I totally respect anyone on anything, all part of the brotherhood in my mind. All for encouraging new riders too, so everyone gets a nod !
Despite the fact, that you drive in the wrong side of the road 😉 I have really enjoyed the few times I’ve been driving in Britain. By car that is. Still haven’t been to Britain on bike yet. But you seems to be acting patient and civilized in traffic, and be giving space and time if and when I was taking a bit more time than a “native” would.
I think maybe all young drivers should have to do their CBT before they can sit a car driving test, unless they are disabled or have some other good reason. That way they all know to be aware of the dangers they pose to motorcyclists, and some will choose two wheels rather than four. I agree, the overcomplicated testing regime is a big turnoff to younger riders and drives them towards cars rather bikes (and up to about 500cc, a bike burns less petrol than a small car, and some 125s do three times the MPG of a small car), but it's the same throughout Europe. In fact, in Europe, because you're allowed to ride a 125 at 16 rather than 17, you can do your A2 at age 18 (because they have to be two years apart). I would change the rules on learners and new riders to be about power output, not CC; allow up to about 22 or 23bhp on a CBT (so you can ride an Enfield Hunter but not something that puts out 30bhp and can do 100mph), and new passes under a certain age restricted to 47bhp as with the A2 now, for two years. This cuts out the expense and allows people to get used to riding a biggish bike before they take on a Fireblade or something like that.
You have pretty much covered all bases in your assessment. I don't know which I think is the worst. As another person has stated in the comments the wannabe TT gods on a Sunday doesn't help our image.
Well not sure what the richest 2% have to do with anything really Theft is mostly about small bikes in general Certainly wouldn’t put me off Why would it ? I still buy a TV despite the possibility Of burglary
You forgot the worse part of the uk motorcyclists (can't call you bikers), is that the majority is a moaning, boring, few years away from bus pass old s....s. coming from europe with all the biker culture it was a huge shock. Go get on your bike, what ever you ride, and ride more, the potholes, the texting drivers and and other "problems" would fade away. That's why I got into biking in a first place. P.s. your road positioning is showing clearly that you don't ride much, so then obviously everything around is at fault.
Ooooh A sweeping generalisation The roads that day were much crappier than y the looked Maybe you attitude is the problem You seem pointless rude and a touch arrogant Judging from you comments I’d say I covered 15,000 miles this year in 3months 13,000 of which was across the US twice Did you ? Not including commuting and general riding in the Uk Should likely watched my other videos before commenting stupidly Do you ride at all Or too busy Trolling ? You are aware some of that video is in Europe right 😂
I've been at it since 1976 . So here's my penny worth
1, Average speed cameras
2, The speed limits ( 50 ) that goes with them
3, Speed cameras in general ( not safety )
4, Pot holes
5, The general driving standard of your average phone using , coffee drinking , burger eating half wit
Well speed cameras effect all road users equally don’t they
You could argue traffic in that sense, that makes making good progress more difficult
Your not a fan of speed cameras 😂
But then who is
Not much use when the roads are filled with drunk drivers this time of year
The worst trouble when riding is a salty wet road but no rain. The wet filth impedes vision through any lens or visor and you have no adequate way of removing it. Opening the visor makes your face bitterly cold. I used to be better off with real glass goggles and facemask. Glass doesn't scratch so readily.
Obviously potholes and wet leaves etc are serious hazards but i again point to impeded vision as the nastiest trouble, ABS visor refracts far worse than did glass, dirt plus apparently multiple headlights makes riding in darkness and on wet roads something very tiring and liable to ruin your ability to keep up a reasonable speed.
Obviously the peculiar L plate laws came from clerks and EU ones at that. It used to be that most teenagers used bikes and not having to pedal after age 16 was a godsend. The tendency for parents to taxi children to school and everywhere else has greatly reduced the desire of the young for two wheels.
You can fit anti mist pin lock visors
They definitely work Very well
I often carry a cloth between my legs
The worst aspect for me are group riding sports bike riders who are largely wanna-be alpha males riding roads like they were on a track day.
It can be a bit pathetic
No doubt about it
I
Often left wondering if some love going fast more than the motorbike itself
Personally I just love to ride
Fast bike
Slower bike
All good for me
@@Vegplot This is why I don’t ride in groups.
@@Vegplot Yeah I’m definitely not a fan of group riding either. It’s the same reason I’m not keen taking a pillion, I mess up, someone else could get seriously hurt. Couldn’t live with the guilt if I caused someone else bad injuries or worse.
if tests had been like that when i was young in the 70s i just wouldn't have bothered and just bought a car
Fortunately I son did not see it that way
He’s a smart guy
In Scotland, the weather. Most of our roads are pretty awesome, apart from the numerous craters we call potholes... :)
True
Did the NC 500 last year (shameless plug😂)
It was absolutely brilliant
The new rules were probably made by someone who`s never ridden a bike.
Think that’s always been the case to be honest
Same everywhere I expect
I live in Victoria Australia and can relate to what you're saying about the less-than-logical progression through the motorcycle licensing legislation. Although it does not seem quite as bad here, I can't help feel that these arbitrary rules are made by people who do not ride. Thanks for the video.
Yeh
Australian laws are very different
You have to question some of the motives of the people who dream those laws up
A lot of what you say also applies to the US, I grew up riding bikes in the UK before moving to the US in my twenties. I see a lot of the same biases here. What you say about being injured on a bicycle is spot on. I suffered a much worse injury on a bicycle than I ever experienced on a motorcycle.
Well in fact I’m quoting the office of National statistics there
A bicycle is more dangerous when you consider safety per trip
Salt and grit when it is used unnecessarily, the other day they dumped salt all over the roads the forecast temperature was 4°! Apparently from that there are worse places, some of the US states where filtering is not allowed for example.
As of this year pretty much the only state is California
We have a series covering our journey across the US ( in both directions) this year
A total pain in the ass, nearly collapsed with the heat in one city during horrendous road works
@ That’s good, I may review my plans to visit and avoid California.
@@simonbirt6121 Filtering is allowed in California and it is illegal for drivers to obstruct a motorcyclist who is trying to filter. In a lot of other states filtering is illegal.
Interesting fact that you are more likely to die on a pushbike than a motorcycle. Hadn't heard that one before.
Yep
Office of national statistics
If risk is measured per trip then yes indeed
Light aircraft also FYI
For planes they usually lump em all together but take away airliners and small planes and helicopters are indeed more risky per trip
Don’t even mention horses 🐴
It’s a fact that does surprise some but measured per trip
Yes indeed Light aircraft
It’s a fact that does surprise some but measured per trip
Yes indeed
ride my pushbike on pavement for this reason
A friend of mine lost his licence for repetetive riding too fast and had switch to a pushbike. It cost him his life.
That’s terrible
The Insurance on bikes being extortionate. General car and van drivers who rush people , manhood games on the road and weirdly designed tests. I am a cyclist looking to get into riding but the costs and complications are crazy
Insurance can be relatively cheap compared to a car
The problem is everyone wants shines an£ new
My son Tom was 19 when he got an older Suzuki Sv650
Insurance was considerably less than his 125 had been, while my Himalayan was very expensive for him
It really pays to shop around and avoid certain types of bike
The test system is undeniably shite however
Some of the same issues that we have in Australia. Lots of poor quality car (and bus and truck) drivers. Some truly awful roads in places. The weather, where it's so hot in the summer you sweat your arse off wearing the proper gear. It's probably why I see some of the less smart riders who insist on wearing shorts and a t-shirt, and sometimes just a pair of flip flops while riding. They're the ones who end up needing a skin graft when they come off at speed.
The best one I ever saw was the Harley rider with a moonboot on his left foot, reaching down and changing gear by hand.
Our licensing is slightly different, and isprobably not encouraging young people to ride. Basically you have to get your car license and be off your provisional license before you can get a bike license these days, then ride a learner approved bike (up to 650cc and 47hp) until you can go unrestricted.
Weather is a difficult thing
We get too much but rain but it is possible to ride all year round
More than be said in say Canada
I have a 1948 BSA A7 that has no rear suspension. I always tried to steer round any potholes but on one event that proved impossible and the bike still shows battle scars from that. It was a run in the area of Loch Ness, mostly along single track roads. Just before the event the roads had been treated with a treatment called surface dressing. Liquid tar is sprayed on then dry gravel is sprinkled onto the tar. This does nothing to repair the potholes but disguises them, making them very hard to see. I rode straight through several deep potholes and the back edge of the sprung saddle would bash the top of the rear mudguard. I had back pain for weeks afterwards and I pretty much stopped riding that BSA.
Have a couple of rigid bikes myself
Certainly focuses the mind
Greetings from Sweden. For us, it's a bit of an inconvenience riding on the left side of the road.
Though only time I did it wrong was in Peel.
Bloody Vikings, still don't know which side of the road to ride on...lol
Honestly travel across Europe quite often
And of course across America this year (check out the series)
Can’t say it’s a problem to be honest, especially on a bike
@@Mike40M But you used to drive on the left (proper side) and then for some uncountable reason you changed, was it in the 1960s?
Is it true that it's more dangerous to ride a bicycle in Britain than a motorcycle? Despite he much higher speed of the latter?
Yep
As measured per trip
According to the office of National statistics
Remember it ain’t necessarily the speed your going
It’s the car that hits you and it’s speed
A bicycle can do what 20mph with some riders and their protection is nonexistent ditto the breaks
Another little known fact is that on average 60 pedestrians a year are killed after being hit by a bicycle
I don’t hate bicycles incidentally, I do have a couple but those are the facts
Horses are also more dangerous incidentally as are light aircraft
Again per trip not per mile
I would say that it shouldn’t put anyone off doing what ever they want too
Ultimately your odds of making old age are still pretty good no matter what your chosen transport
Much better odds than cigarettes and booze 🥃
I hate bike snobery, who cares what others ride? As long as it does the job for you that's all that matters. I've had fast bikes in the past and now ride a very modest 25 year old 60bhp machine. Its cheap, very reliable, can leave it anywhere, ride it all times of the year and doesn't tempt me to speed. As a daily driver that's what you need. If I wanted a bike for just summer riding at the weekends it would've been a sports bike.
It is perhaps my least favourite thing
I enjoyed riding an MZ as much as a Honda
All the same to me
@ Yep, I’ve enjoyed every bike I’ve ever owned all for different reasons. Too many to list on here. But I totally respect anyone on anything, all part of the brotherhood in my mind.
All for encouraging new riders too, so everyone gets a nod !
love your vids
Thanks we try 😂
Pity a few more people don’t feel the same might actually make some money 😂😂
My bike test cost me £7.35 and all I had to do was ride around the block and not fall off.
Guessing that was a while ago
In fairness it was pretty poor
But today’s system is massively the other way
A mid way would be nice
@@bikerdood1100 Yeah it may seem poor now but traffic was a completely different thing back then. Anyway, I'm still here so it wasn't all bad.
Despite the fact, that you drive in the wrong side of the road 😉 I have really enjoyed the few times I’ve been driving in Britain. By car that is. Still haven’t been to Britain on bike yet. But you seems to be acting patient and civilized in traffic, and be giving space and time if and when I was taking a bit more time than a “native” would.
Oh
You have that wrong😂
Incidentally all shipping passes the same side as we do
America likely copied the French during that revolution business 😂
I think maybe all young drivers should have to do their CBT before they can sit a car driving test, unless they are disabled or have some other good reason. That way they all know to be aware of the dangers they pose to motorcyclists, and some will choose two wheels rather than four. I agree, the overcomplicated testing regime is a big turnoff to younger riders and drives them towards cars rather bikes (and up to about 500cc, a bike burns less petrol than a small car, and some 125s do three times the MPG of a small car), but it's the same throughout Europe. In fact, in Europe, because you're allowed to ride a 125 at 16 rather than 17, you can do your A2 at age 18 (because they have to be two years apart). I would change the rules on learners and new riders to be about power output, not CC; allow up to about 22 or 23bhp on a CBT (so you can ride an Enfield Hunter but not something that puts out 30bhp and can do 100mph), and new passes under a certain age restricted to 47bhp as with the A2 now, for two years. This cuts out the expense and allows people to get used to riding a biggish bike before they take on a Fireblade or something like that.
Interesting idea
Can’t imagine it happening mind you
But maybe it should
The average UK mother would be outraged of course
Which is a Very good reason in itself
The state of the roads, followed by some car users.
Both are pretty poor that’s for sure
You have pretty much covered all bases in your assessment. I don't know which I think is the worst. As another person has stated in the comments the wannabe TT gods on a Sunday doesn't help our image.
No indeed
To be honest we did think of a few more
It's not austerity it's money circulating around the top 2%.
Louts knocking you off and stealing your bike is a worry.
Well not sure what the richest 2% have to do with anything really
Theft is mostly about small bikes in general
Certainly wouldn’t put me off
Why would it ?
I still buy a TV despite the possibility Of burglary
@bikerdood1100 there's no money to do the roads because it doesn't trickle down that far! Surely you get that.
You forgot the worse part of the uk motorcyclists (can't call you bikers), is that the majority is a moaning, boring, few years away from bus pass old s....s. coming from europe with all the biker culture it was a huge shock. Go get on your bike, what ever you ride, and ride more, the potholes, the texting drivers and and other "problems" would fade away. That's why I got into biking in a first place. P.s. your road positioning is showing clearly that you don't ride much, so then obviously everything around is at fault.
Ooooh
A sweeping generalisation
The roads that day were much crappier than y the looked
Maybe you attitude is the problem
You seem pointless rude and a touch arrogant
Judging from you comments I’d say
I covered 15,000 miles this year in 3months 13,000 of which was across the US twice
Did you ?
Not including commuting and general riding in the Uk
Should likely watched my other videos before commenting stupidly
Do you ride at all
Or too busy Trolling ?
You are aware some of that video is in Europe right 😂
INSURANCE COST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Depends what you buy
Go for new and shiny and you will be screwed
Shop smart and it can be pretty good
Much cheaper than a car if you shop smart
My son at 19 payed less for insurance for a SV650 than his 125
Insurance is a mad game
Cars
Loath entirely 😂