RSVP Blog

Hi, I'm a new rider and have just bought a Honda CBF250 and love it. In answer to your question, it is the feeling being on a bike gives you.
I was introduced to it by a good friend as a pillion passenger and fell in love with the freedom. I try to explain it to my friends using the similarity with a dog on the back of a ute, tongue out, big smile and ALIVE! When they see my eyes light up talking about it, they want what I'm feeling but they blame mid life crisis.
Riding solo is different but great in a different way. Already looking forward to a more powerful bike after the years 250cc restriction!

Posted by: sincerity1959 at February 1, 2012 3:46 PM

I love riding anything with 2 wheels.
The dirt bike is a very athletic sport and has fantastic hoon capability out in the bush but is also very very technical riding too, you learn to read the terrain very well which is important on the road too but you learn it better off road as the surface is constantly changing and the changes are very pronounced.
When I'm out on the road bike it is like a complete reset of the head and it clears out all the trash of day to day living.
My Kawa W650 is undergoing a transformation into a cafe racer and it always attracts people who like to look and comment. Wish I could say the same for myself ;-)

Posted by: paulthebest at January 19, 2012 4:50 AM

Darkhouse: know much about the Honda Magna 750? Personally, consider it not only a far better bike than the Shadow, but also better looking; looks beautiful from both sides.

I rode one in Korea for about 4 years before returning to Australia 2 years ago. The low center of gravity makes it a very forgiving ride, but talk about powerful; left more than a few sports bikes behind at the lights, and in the twisties, though admittedly Koreans are not the greatest of riders.

Started riding with a Honda 250, moved up to a Kawasaki 550, finally an FJ1200. Never thought I would ride a cruiser like the Manga, but an ex-pat had to leave the country in a hurry, and a 2002 cruiser that looks that good was impossible to resist. One day of riding it and I was hooked; totally spoiled for other bikes.

You can pick up a good Manga 750 in Australia for between $4000 and $6000; don't buy anything manufactured before 1998 though; check it out on Wikipedia, really good article on the different years there.

Unlike the Shadow, the Manga was not a major release in Australia, so they are rare to come to market, and hold their price well; not manufactured anymore. Plus, those that ride them love them and therefore are reluctant to part with them.

I'm negotiating with someone right now, might be buying late March. It will be great to get back in the saddle again. :)

Posted by: solomonkane at January 3, 2012 2:50 AM

Hi everyone,
I ride a Honda Shadow TA200....little thing for me. I love the fact that the NSW councils make it free to park, however, I went into the city recently and struggled to find the bike parking areas (its not like I can hold the map out while I ride like I can in the car) and when I did find some they were packed. Maybe there needs to be clear signs up so its easier to find the spots, and perhaps more of them so they aren't so packed. I love riding because it is more convenient and cheaper, but the higher danger factor is constantly on my mind. I have known people who have been in horrific accidents. Following the guidelines from the training is helpful and safer too.

Posted by: reminiscing1 at October 29, 2011 7:48 PM

I livenear to Hyde Park in the City and there is more than enough motorcycle parking in the area, I can name about 3 designated motorcycle parking areas within a 1 km radius of my apartment block. However, I myself ride a Ducati Hypermotard and you won't find me parking that thing outdoors, I fork out nearly $20/day to park it inside the Domain carpark and even then I bolt it to a nearby pole as further protection against theft. More motards are stolen than any other type of motor vehicle in Australia.

Posted by: fitandrew2010 at August 10, 2010 12:19 PM

I am a Learner and i know how dangerous motorbikes can be because i lost my mother early this year in a motorcycle crash. but she alway said if i die on the motorcycle know that i was doing something i love. and i do. i love riding and don't think i will ever stop. but i think something needs to be done about motorcycle awareness. People need to know that we are there. And although more parking space would be great in the city areas, it doesn't help much if we are getting hit on the way.

Posted by: thekmess at July 5, 2010 3:18 PM

I used to work on building sites and an old(er) painter ( who had an old BMW 1200 ) bike once said to me "You've got to be smart if you feel fatigued or pre occupied leave the motorcycle keys hanging up and take the car". Had i listened to his advice i wouldn't have a collar bone sitting about an inch higher than it should be right about now !!!

Posted by: farfromordinary at April 12, 2010 10:14 PM

Some people like to fly to their destination so as to maximise time there.
Others like to travel by car so they can experience all the things between home and destination, in a safe and comfortable way, completely insulated from the environment.
I like to live it, feel it, get wet if it rains, feel cold if it snows, pull over and sit under a tree if it's too hot, push my bike through bull dust if that's what's ahead, experience the journey. I'm too old to get a thrill from speed. I'm happy to obey the speed limit and ride safely, but I love riding just as much as I did in my youth.

Posted by: quietlife1 at April 9, 2010 4:12 PM

Going for a ride is the perfect way to de-stress and unwind. That touch of adrenalin rush and some fresh air and I'm good as new. BTW there's nothing hotter than a girl who rides her own sports bike. But that's just my opinion lol...

Posted by: cozy1 at March 23, 2010 7:55 PM

Hi Riseaboveit. I would recommend going to a METAL class and getting your bike licence. It will be a cold day in hell when I get back on the back of someone else's bike. There's only one person you can trust on the road. You!

(but thats just my opinion, whatever you do, have fun!)

Posted by: willow29 at February 17, 2010 7:40 PM

hi,
I have to admit that the thrill of riding pillion is not something that I have had much experience with.
though always wanted to ride, I had one as an 8 yr old, then another in my 20's then another in my 40's.
just people I knew who would take me for a ride.

But now.. I have met a few people who have bikes, and I admit to really enjoying going for a spin. The excitement of putting your life and skin into someone elses hands.. is almost intoxicating.

Have also thought about getting myself just a little scooter for weekend use.
as the saying goes, Life is too short..... not to.. bye

Posted by: riseaboveit at February 17, 2010 5:12 PM

Riding pillion is like FLYING! I drive a convertible and that's a fantastic experience; however to be on the back of a well handled bike, placing all your trust in the rider, being at one with them, is an AWESOME experience ... much better than the convertible! Am thinking of obtaining my licence, but some fear lurks within! Just wanted to say 'Hi' and let you know that I like what you do! Ride safely ...

Posted by: natural64 at January 9, 2010 10:58 AM

Only a motorcyclist understands why a dog will put his head out the car window going down the street.

Its a great thrill, no need to ride dangerously, but there is nothing like a casual ride to clear the head and appreciate the surroundings.

Posted by: macrat at January 3, 2010 5:52 PM

I have been riding bikes of some sort for over 30 years now (both dirt and road), and I would like to say that the freedom you experience on a bike is just great. Many drivers would have different ideas on bike riders, but until you can get out there and experience the thrill of having the wind in your hair and the ability to test yourself according to road conditions, then you just havent lived. there is nothing better than cruising along and enjoying the scenery and having a bit of a hoot every now and then. Most of my riding was on dirt bikes until mid last year, then relocating to the big smoke, I bought a 900 Hornet. I have to admit , its not the best bike out there but it certainly can get you thinking when it needs to. So to summarise, If you enjoy bikes and and the thrill of being on two wheels the go for it...

Posted by: xpilbaraman at January 3, 2010 1:06 AM

hey to all,
my first time here,just wanting to add my 10cents worth,dont ride,only rode trail bikes when i was in my teens and early 20ish,anyways i just have a passion for bikes,love the freedom it gives you,have been a pillion on/off most of my life,just love it!...my fav bike is a trumpy(some sentimental reasons too i guess,lol)but just think they are a awesome bike,but love all bikes,doesnt matter what the #### u ride,just be safe and enjoy....would love to chat with like minded people,maybe someone would simply enjoy the company off a pillion......cheers for now,stay safe and ride safe! angel.

Posted by: scorpangel at December 8, 2009 2:04 PM

Do you think kick is baloney? she got jobs she can afford it ! she wanted to thrill her life to enjoy the fruit labour she work for it...! If she die who would get it? Would she left to people who didn't work hard for that money? You only live once, work hard and spend it, whatever money left-over then give to people you care, if you can afford to have a house paying alone then M-Benz cabriolet is easy dream to get.

Posted by: cattleyaorchids at November 16, 2009 12:31 PM

God that new TAC advert had my toes curling!! Has anyone else seen it?

Posted by: willow29 at October 25, 2009 10:15 PM

A ROOM WITH LEATHER NICE WHY THE HUM HAH JUST RIDE.

Posted by: onlymyking at September 16, 2009 5:06 PM

Yes trill for a ride absolutely, I'm not into two wheels drive scared me off, lots of accident happened in roadside, I'm not looking for it even in a joy ride with a partner, no go zone for me to ride in motorcycle, my ex got one, and he tease me for being a chicken! ..I'll be more trill if I have buy my dream car Mercedes Benz Cabriolet 2 door 4 seat convertible which I'm planning to have one soon, and that's a baby for me !

Posted by: kicknpick at September 1, 2009 11:07 AM

The thrill of the ride obviously doesnt mean anything to the politicians...!!! They are happy to take our money but dont want to understand our needs. Why can I park my bike on the footpath in Melbourne or Adelaide but not in Brisbane???? C'mon Brissy Polly's we need to progress not regress.............

Posted by: riparian6 at August 30, 2009 10:49 AM

I remember when... - AAAGHHHH!!!! that makes me sound so old!! Anyone remember the Lights'on protest rally, GP runs that started at Franklin St or the Toy runs to the Queen Vic? I am fortunate enough to live near the Great Ocean Road and recently took a mates GSXR1100 for a spin on the first sunny day I've seen this winter. (Still looking for my Duke) Missed the rain and was fortunate to only cop one bus and despite having to peel myself off the bike at Apollo Bay, couldn't have had a better day. I wouldn't trade being a temporary Australian for anything and riding a bike makes me a better car driver, more aware and better road craft. Wish all car drivers had to pass a road craft test, might be less of them.!!

Posted by: soliloquist at August 20, 2009 9:12 PM

Have had a 2006 XVS650 for about 3 months now and love it. I put wider 'bars on it which allows for easier counter-stearing and makes the bike feel a lot lighter than it is both through corners and at stand-still. They also stop me from doing silly things like lane-splittting in stupid places or when the trafffic is moving - a source of much angst between drivers and riders.

It's on the LAMS scheme everywhere but WA :( and produces enough power to not feel like you're handicapped on a 250. Travels nicely at the speed limit (110) but gets a bit blustery above that like most cruisers and nakeds. The other downside is that it requires changing down a gear or two to overtake when you're cruising along.

The alternatives in that range/price are the Honda Shadow 750 and Suzuki M50 800. They both produce slighty more power and torque but cost a bit more as well.

All of the cruisers will bottom out in sharp corners so look for footpegs rather than the pads if you like cornering fast, otherwise you can get thrown easily. With the pegs you just get an bit of a scary touch up on the foot. You can still get thrown if going too fast but that's where individual responsibility comes into play.

Having said that I am on the lookout for a reasonably priced sports-tourer for those days when I feel like something a little different.

Posted by: darkhorse73 at August 19, 2009 8:09 AM

Would love to know what the motorcycle is that Sarah Miles rides about on in Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines. I want one.

Posted by: britishracinggreen at August 19, 2009 1:39 AM

I rode roadbikes when I was a teenager then I in my 20's I had a bad accident and got a car, still rode farm bikes, etc, however with cars being expensive and only being back in the country a couple of months I found myself buying a bike again, I have a kawaski ZZR 250 and I am enjoying it, however as soon as possible I am trading it on a crusier, prob a 650 Yamaha, but I am open to suggestions

Posted by: qtp1e at August 15, 2009 10:07 PM

Great post that captures the life of riding in one sentence. Any bikers who read that I'm sure had their senses ignited just by a few simple words.

Even thought I agree with many of the points made in the rest of the post, I have to be honest and say that whilst drivers tend not to notice motorbikes (and their riders), there is a much higher burden that riders carry in terms of responsibility for their safety. We can see cars easily, they can't see us so well and that is a fact of life that bike riders simply have to live with.

In my life there have been a few tragedies where the rider had no option for getting out of the way - not that any accident caused by a bike rider isn't a tragedy. However the majority all of the people I know that have had accidents or near misses when riding bikes (motor or otherwise) have been at least partially the rider's fault and could have been avoided or the effects minimised. One in particular that comes to mind is getting hit from behind at the lights and spending a few weeks in hospital with head injuries. Where it could have been avoided was if one foot was on the brake lighting the brake light. They also should have been watching their mirrors and wearing a full helmet, not one of those stupid open face 1cm thick plastic things whose only benefit is that they fit the easy-rider stereotype.

I almost got hit by a car the other day in heavy city traffic. Granted, the driver could have seen me in his mirrors and didn't. On the other hand I was riding below the stated speed limit for the road (40km/h), which was still probably twice as fast as the traffic conditions would safely allow. Just because there's a posted speed limit doesn't mean the environment is safe to use that limit. Had I been hit, I would have had to accept some liability for the accident, which thankfully didn't happen.

With being being stopped at different borders, the only time I was ever stopped at a border was when I had been speeding so it was a fair cop (pardon the pun). I wonder, C&M, if they were stopping you because they thought you were someone else. It does happen from time to time since bike rego plates can be hard to read at high speed.

I fully agree that the governments around the country need to do more for motorcyclists but I don't think that anyone who wants to ride a bike is going to pay the costs of the initial license training plus a week or two of mandatory advanced rider training including traffic awareness.

The ease with which a bike license is obtained is ludicrous. I'm not biased. I also think the same for car licenses. Only pilots have to do a realistic amount of training before they get licensed. The level of experience that most people had in my particular course, had I ever driven past them on the road, would have scared the pants of me. Actually, they did...even when we were just in the training car park.

Councils do need to do more to provide parking for bikes to encourage people to get out of their cars, but beyond that they can't control people's behaviour on the road...no matter how much legislation they put in place.

The grim reality is that self-protection is the one thing that bike riders have to take the most seriously. You have more control over your safety on a bike than the drivers on the same spot of road as you do. When it comes to right of way, whatever the law says, physics dictates that a higher mass will overpower a smaller mass. If you're unlikely to be safe during or after an accident then you probably shouldn't take right of way as a guaranteed right.

As for parking, if I have to pay the same price for parking as a car (which I never have so I would be interested to know which cities have the price of parking the same for both, parking meters excluded) then that's a cost I accept I also have to bear in exchange for getting to travel around the best way in the world to do so.

Posted by: darkhorse73 at August 12, 2009 7:58 PM

Hi Jamie, I started riding at 12 & have loved it ever since (now 47). As for "less impact" I can vouch for that. Hitting a guard rail on the Ocean Road at 120kph, I was surprised at the little of an impact I had on the guard rail, lol. I have also been hit twice by a car (honestly their fault) and too me it comes down to car drivers see M/Csts as annoyance to their enjoyment of their piece of road. I am always reminded of the Mr Magoo cartoon "beep beep road hog" just get out of my way. No thought to actually sharing the road. And for all the environment and green speak

Posted by: wgd1962 at July 14, 2009 8:58 PM

Jamie..You have made some good points....I recently rode my zx14 from perth to melb and drove a car back. It was interesting to see the different attitudes the cops at the state borders have to car and bike riders. On the bike I was subjected to lic/rego/booze/drug/vin number tests at Eukla and Ceduna. Returning in my mustang cobra convertible, I was waved straight through both checkpoints. Apparently if you ride a bike you are either on the run or carrying drugs but if you are in a flash car, you must be ok!!

Posted by: comedyandmusic at June 19, 2009 6:14 PM