UK Bike Culture
Discussion
What is is about UK bike culture that makes it so good? World leading I'd say.
It's a really good mix of sports, nakeds, adv, tourers, cruisers, scooters, and the rest.
I don't know much about Europe, you guys can help out here, but from what I've seen it tends towards smaller bikes and scooters. And in North America it's swayed massively in favour of cruisers. There are a small amount of adv/naked fans, and even less sports bikes. Lots of dirt biking though.
The UK seems to mix all the different types of bikes so well, along with bland enough weather to ride pretty much year round, it's got to be one of the best countries to own a bike. Your thoughts?
It's a really good mix of sports, nakeds, adv, tourers, cruisers, scooters, and the rest.
I don't know much about Europe, you guys can help out here, but from what I've seen it tends towards smaller bikes and scooters. And in North America it's swayed massively in favour of cruisers. There are a small amount of adv/naked fans, and even less sports bikes. Lots of dirt biking though.
The UK seems to mix all the different types of bikes so well, along with bland enough weather to ride pretty much year round, it's got to be one of the best countries to own a bike. Your thoughts?
Bob_Defly said:
it's got to be one of the best countries to own a bike. Your thoughts?
I don’t know enough about other countries to comment but if that’s true it’s pretty sad because this country with cameras everywhere and the possibility of a serious prosecution for a tiny wheelie isn’t good.I think Spain is up there and California looks pretty sweet too. Japan has got to be up there.
£1000 for CBT + DAS.
12month ban for a wheelie.
Cameras EVERYWHERE.
Sky high bike theft in every major city.
The weather good for 6 months, okay for 3 and sucks for 3.
I don't know about world leading...
In my opinion, the UK stands apart in two avenues.
1)Safety. UK has an obsession with all things safety and therefore standards are really high and super strict with anything remotely dangerous. This however, is a double edged sword. Still, you'll be well trained.
2)Ease of access. Whether you've made money because you live in the UK or PCP finance, getting a big bike is doable for the average joe. Getting to a race track and racing your big bike is doable for the average joe. The fact that this country has this many variety of big bikes available and race tracks that the anyone can go on is AWESOME.
12month ban for a wheelie.
Cameras EVERYWHERE.
Sky high bike theft in every major city.
The weather good for 6 months, okay for 3 and sucks for 3.
I don't know about world leading...
In my opinion, the UK stands apart in two avenues.
1)Safety. UK has an obsession with all things safety and therefore standards are really high and super strict with anything remotely dangerous. This however, is a double edged sword. Still, you'll be well trained.
2)Ease of access. Whether you've made money because you live in the UK or PCP finance, getting a big bike is doable for the average joe. Getting to a race track and racing your big bike is doable for the average joe. The fact that this country has this many variety of big bikes available and race tracks that the anyone can go on is AWESOME.
I’d broadly agree with all of the points above but what I’d say makes our culture amazing is the values we more generally hold that allow for like minded folk to mix in a meaningful way, I think over regulation of our road laws and poor weather are the two biggest detractors.
I spent a significant amount of time in the US and found the scene to be far more segregated by folks who associate with certain types of bikes, brands or with club associations. I had expected to just chat to a fellow biker but sometimes (often) felt there were barriers out there. Still the weather and roads, super cheap fuel make the US a great place to ride.
Our values about inclusion, fair play and more general openness/kindness are really what makes country great and also the fact most of us are self deprecating and open to laughing at ourselves also really helps.
I spent a significant amount of time in the US and found the scene to be far more segregated by folks who associate with certain types of bikes, brands or with club associations. I had expected to just chat to a fellow biker but sometimes (often) felt there were barriers out there. Still the weather and roads, super cheap fuel make the US a great place to ride.
Our values about inclusion, fair play and more general openness/kindness are really what makes country great and also the fact most of us are self deprecating and open to laughing at ourselves also really helps.
Scobblelotcher said:
I spent a significant amount of time in the US and found the scene to be far more segregated by folks who associate with certain types of bikes, brands or with club associations. I had expected to just chat to a fellow biker but sometimes (often) felt there were barriers out there. Still the weather and roads, super cheap fuel make the US a great place to ride.
I think there are so few of us here, we can't afford to segregate. We've got to stick together haha. That's an interesting point you make. The majority of motorcycle videos I watch are from Americans riding sports bikes. The scene presented in those videos looks incredibly friendly and inclusive, so it's interesting to hear you had a different experience.
However, like you said, the weather and their spacious roads with (sometimes) a mountainous back drop look like an incredible riding location.
Their punishment system also seems to be more focused on draining your bank account via multiple tickets as opposed to the UK where it's points based with the easily attainable top prize of being banned from the roads.
trickywoo said:
I don’t know enough about other countries to comment but if that’s true it’s pretty sad because this country with cameras everywhere and the possibility of a serious prosecution for a tiny wheelie isn’t good.
I think Spain is up there and California looks pretty sweet too. Japan has got to be up there.
Japan is an odd one. When we hired a car in Hokkaido I put in our destination in the sat nav. For about 250 km of mainly A and B roads it suggested over 7 hours. WTF I thought until we discovered that the speed limit is just 60 kmh outside of town and I think 40 kmh in town (yes higher on motorway but hardly fun driving or riding those). Did seem at odds with the car and bike culture.I think Spain is up there and California looks pretty sweet too. Japan has got to be up there.
NZ isn’t too bad. Lots of great roads and not much traffic outside of the main cities.
I think that there is a big difference between market and culture. The OPs examples are market related. The UK does enjoy a wide range of bike styles and engine capacities compared to many other markets. But that's not the culture.
The fact that some members of the non-biking public in the UK still view bikes as some sort of "scum" makes biking culture much less mainstream than Europe. Turn up at a hotel, cafe or restaurant in Europe, especially southern Europe, as a group of bikers and they are happy to welcome you in just like any and every other customer. It's not always like that in the UK.
My experience of the UK biking culture suggests that for most, it's based around Sunday afternoons, riding the same pot holed, poorly surfaced, camera infested, over crowded roads to the same cafe/pub to meet with the same group and chat about the same things.
My limited experience of European biking culture suggests that the reason that adventure bikes are so much more popular is because the distances that average biker travels are greater. There is just so much more space.
The fact that some members of the non-biking public in the UK still view bikes as some sort of "scum" makes biking culture much less mainstream than Europe. Turn up at a hotel, cafe or restaurant in Europe, especially southern Europe, as a group of bikers and they are happy to welcome you in just like any and every other customer. It's not always like that in the UK.
My experience of the UK biking culture suggests that for most, it's based around Sunday afternoons, riding the same pot holed, poorly surfaced, camera infested, over crowded roads to the same cafe/pub to meet with the same group and chat about the same things.
My limited experience of European biking culture suggests that the reason that adventure bikes are so much more popular is because the distances that average biker travels are greater. There is just so much more space.
I enjoy the sunny weekend blat, occasionally with others, but I'm not really a group ride fan.
As for the camera infestation: depends where you go. Its pretty easy to plan a 100 mile route with no cameras & little traffic, even here in South East England.
However, weather at this time of year sucks....
As for the camera infestation: depends where you go. Its pretty easy to plan a 100 mile route with no cameras & little traffic, even here in South East England.
However, weather at this time of year sucks....
I agree that some parts of the UK are still very anti biker... spent many a good tour in Europe and I've never had that attitude.
In the UK I see less and less "sport bikes" on the roads...more (older) people moving to fast and comfy bikes now.. sometimes I wonder why I take my RC51 out when my middle weight naked is just as fast and capable.
Thankfully I still have some amazing roads near me without any cameras and I can't remember the last time I actually saw a police car, so I'm still able to go out and have some fun.
I can turn right out of my street and have a 70 mile loop of great A and B roads which are quiet, and camera free, I could probably extend that to 100 miles without trying hard.
Had many chats with people that moan about "all the cameras" yet only do and average speed of 45mph on a decent A road..
A good, high average speed is far better and demands more skill than an easy twist of the wrist top speed on a straight, for me at least, so I tend not to worry about cameras too much.
In the UK I see less and less "sport bikes" on the roads...more (older) people moving to fast and comfy bikes now.. sometimes I wonder why I take my RC51 out when my middle weight naked is just as fast and capable.
Thankfully I still have some amazing roads near me without any cameras and I can't remember the last time I actually saw a police car, so I'm still able to go out and have some fun.
I can turn right out of my street and have a 70 mile loop of great A and B roads which are quiet, and camera free, I could probably extend that to 100 miles without trying hard.
Had many chats with people that moan about "all the cameras" yet only do and average speed of 45mph on a decent A road..
A good, high average speed is far better and demands more skill than an easy twist of the wrist top speed on a straight, for me at least, so I tend not to worry about cameras too much.
I think that in the UK commuting by motorbike is a bit more common than in Europe. Although there is still a significant number of bikers in the UK who have them as toys or weekend playthings my experiences in Europe are that that type of riding is by far the norm, with commuting by bike seen as a bit of a poor man's journey.
I'd definitely agree on the US side ot things though - it is often very brand/club orientated and highly cliquey. Unlike in the UK when you pull into cafe with loads of other bikers the mingling seems limited in the states; with the cruiser guys one side, and the sports bikes the other and no real mixing... even with segregation in the parking lot! It all just felt a bit weird to me; despite being a HD rider I quite like chatting to everyone and looking at all the bikes parked around me; whilst I may not want to own or ride a super sports, the engineering being them is fascinating and some of the care taken in them is second to none.
Russia was interesting to ride in, not only for the questionable level of driving displayed and some roads that make the most potholed crapfest in the UK look like smooth running in comparison - but also the odd bike culture. When I say odd it's got weird bits of US biker culture of clubs/brands influencing it, but its also a bit wild west with super sports pulling 100mph wheelies and what I can only describe as 'youtube riding' as a regular occurance. People look at you like you're mad when you say you commute on a bike; although I will admit, I would not be an al year biker there!
I'd definitely agree on the US side ot things though - it is often very brand/club orientated and highly cliquey. Unlike in the UK when you pull into cafe with loads of other bikers the mingling seems limited in the states; with the cruiser guys one side, and the sports bikes the other and no real mixing... even with segregation in the parking lot! It all just felt a bit weird to me; despite being a HD rider I quite like chatting to everyone and looking at all the bikes parked around me; whilst I may not want to own or ride a super sports, the engineering being them is fascinating and some of the care taken in them is second to none.
Russia was interesting to ride in, not only for the questionable level of driving displayed and some roads that make the most potholed crapfest in the UK look like smooth running in comparison - but also the odd bike culture. When I say odd it's got weird bits of US biker culture of clubs/brands influencing it, but its also a bit wild west with super sports pulling 100mph wheelies and what I can only describe as 'youtube riding' as a regular occurance. People look at you like you're mad when you say you commute on a bike; although I will admit, I would not be an al year biker there!
I’ve ridden in pretty much every Western European country with the exception of Finland and Sweden and generally the things that make biking good here make biking good there and vice versa. I’ve never really noticed anti-biking here any more than anti-car or anti-cyclist.
The only place I’d say don’t be a biker is Denmark. Was sitting on a ferry in Norway chatting to a Danish guy on a 6 year old CB600F that he’d not long bought, he’d paid more for it than my new RC8.
Get away from the Cat and Fiddle or Matlock and see for yourself.
The only place I’d say don’t be a biker is Denmark. Was sitting on a ferry in Norway chatting to a Danish guy on a 6 year old CB600F that he’d not long bought, he’d paid more for it than my new RC8.
Get away from the Cat and Fiddle or Matlock and see for yourself.
Edited by Oneball on Wednesday 9th February 08:16
The best thing about the UK is that we have such a variety of roads / landscape in a relatively small area
So you're not going through flat plains for 4+ hours etc, there is a wide choice of roads to get from A-B and the scenery (and accents) change every hour
If it all goes tits up you're never that far from help / a hospital either
The weather is possibly the worst thing combined with all the "speed kills" bulls
t
I'm not into "biking culture" but I'm aware from others that at meets there isn't much cross over between Sports / Cruisers / Adventure riders
So you're not going through flat plains for 4+ hours etc, there is a wide choice of roads to get from A-B and the scenery (and accents) change every hour
If it all goes tits up you're never that far from help / a hospital either
The weather is possibly the worst thing combined with all the "speed kills" bulls
tI'm not into "biking culture" but I'm aware from others that at meets there isn't much cross over between Sports / Cruisers / Adventure riders
Germany, well Bavaria.
Amazing weather, once winter ends… empty roads, hardly any police/speeding checks… and on the rare occasions when the police do pull me over it’s usually pretty calm/pleasant. You get the feeling you are not public enemy number 1. To be fair, I also had nothing but positive experience with the law in the UK.
Also cheap road tax, cheap insurance, fairly cheap fuel.
Scene is mostly old guys on GS or Multistradas. Young kids on 50cc vespas. Nobody wants sports bikes anymore, which suits me… cause they’re cheap as a result.
Amazing weather, once winter ends… empty roads, hardly any police/speeding checks… and on the rare occasions when the police do pull me over it’s usually pretty calm/pleasant. You get the feeling you are not public enemy number 1. To be fair, I also had nothing but positive experience with the law in the UK.
Also cheap road tax, cheap insurance, fairly cheap fuel.
Scene is mostly old guys on GS or Multistradas. Young kids on 50cc vespas. Nobody wants sports bikes anymore, which suits me… cause they’re cheap as a result.
black-k1 said:
My experience of the UK biking culture suggests that for most, it's based around Sunday afternoons, riding the same pot holed, poorly surfaced, camera infested, over crowded roads to the same cafe/pub to meet with the same group and chat about the same things.
You're talking about the oldies who fell in love with biking when it was much more affordable and aren't really chasing speed, but just enjoying biking. They make up the majority of the biking community in UK.
Under them are the street rossi's. These are the speed chasers getting clocked doing 140mph, weaving in and out of traffic. Mostly solo riders and when in groups, never more than 6 of them. When selling the bike, the reason on the ad will be "finally have enough for a deposit" or "want to buy a van."
Under them, the second largest community, the young ones. These days, not even allowed to get big bikes until the age of 24 because pre 2013, too many police officers were knocking on people's doors to deliver news that their 21 year old son had crashed his R1 and died.
This is the UK bike culture.
DirtyHarley said:
I'd definitely agree on the US side of things though - it is often very brand/club orientated and highly cliquey. Unlike in the UK when you pull into cafe with loads of other bikers the mingling seems limited in the states; with the cruiser guys one side, and the sports bikes the other and no real mixing... even with segregation in the parking lot! It all just felt a bit weird to me; despite being a HD rider I quite like chatting to everyone and looking at all the bikes parked around me; whilst I may not want to own or ride a super sports, the engineering being them is fascinating and some of the care taken in them is second to none.
That the weird thing about North America, every biker here waves to every other biker (left hand 'cos you're riding on the right), apart from a lot of Harley riders, who won't wave back unless you are on a Harley. 
Bob_Defly said:
That the weird thing about North America, every biker here waves to every other biker (left hand 'cos you're riding on the right), apart from a lot of Harley riders, who won't wave back unless you are on a Harley.
This is true, except if you are riding a scooter no one will wave at you. I found sport bike riders in the UK were always enthusiasts, full leathers etc.In the U.S.A. the average sport bike rider is a douchebag in shorts and t shirt weaving through traffic who bought their Ninja/GSXR on cheap finance.
I do wonder if UK biking culture is dying with the boomer generation though.
20 years ago there was 3 largish bike dealers in my town. With the closure of J&S recently they've all gone.
As far as I'm aware we've got one small shop that sells a few bikes and he does MOTs but he must be 70 so that'll go soon.
Commuting in winter and a lack of mates into bikes is what has temporarily killed it for me, that and having kids and wanting to stick around for them.
20 years ago there was 3 largish bike dealers in my town. With the closure of J&S recently they've all gone.
As far as I'm aware we've got one small shop that sells a few bikes and he does MOTs but he must be 70 so that'll go soon.
Commuting in winter and a lack of mates into bikes is what has temporarily killed it for me, that and having kids and wanting to stick around for them.
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