More bikes or less cars
Discussion
Let me frame this by saying I realize this is a very high class dilemma….
I’ve been in to cars all my life and and been fortunate enough to own a number of cars that are special (to me anyway)
I used to mess around on bikes a bit circa 25 years ago and last year after a long hiatus, I did my DAS and bought a bike - a triumph bobber that I’ve customized.
I’m a compete convert and love being on 2 wheels for fun and other than in the rain, I’m trying to get out for a bimble in the Surrey Hills as often as I can.
When I have time for a drive/ride, I find myself wanting to ride more. So much so, I sold one of my cars in October and I’m about to sell another as I’m not driving them anywhere near as much as I was before I had a bike.
I just paid for a huge bit of work on one car that I’m currently keeping and the bill was the equivalent of a brand new MV Augusta!
I would rate my self as a half decent driver but a below average rider. As a result, I find that to have as much fun in a car, I’m going much faster than the equivalent levels of fun on the bike.
Has anyone had any similar experiences? I have a super car in the garage that is incredibly well looked after and I do love it but I find myself contemplating the amazing bike collection I could have in its place (both in terms of ££ and garage space) - something I thought I’d never say.
As I say, it’s a very high class problem but I would be interested if anyone has had any similar experiences.
I’ve been in to cars all my life and and been fortunate enough to own a number of cars that are special (to me anyway)
I used to mess around on bikes a bit circa 25 years ago and last year after a long hiatus, I did my DAS and bought a bike - a triumph bobber that I’ve customized.
I’m a compete convert and love being on 2 wheels for fun and other than in the rain, I’m trying to get out for a bimble in the Surrey Hills as often as I can.
When I have time for a drive/ride, I find myself wanting to ride more. So much so, I sold one of my cars in October and I’m about to sell another as I’m not driving them anywhere near as much as I was before I had a bike.
I just paid for a huge bit of work on one car that I’m currently keeping and the bill was the equivalent of a brand new MV Augusta!
I would rate my self as a half decent driver but a below average rider. As a result, I find that to have as much fun in a car, I’m going much faster than the equivalent levels of fun on the bike.
Has anyone had any similar experiences? I have a super car in the garage that is incredibly well looked after and I do love it but I find myself contemplating the amazing bike collection I could have in its place (both in terms of ££ and garage space) - something I thought I’d never say.
As I say, it’s a very high class problem but I would be interested if anyone has had any similar experiences.
I'm 47 now and have had bikes since I was 5 or 6 years old.
1st came an Italjet Scrambler followed by an original Honda Monkey bike that I only ever rode once as it was to big for me and we had to sell it.
Over the next 40 or so years bikes have always been my passion, but i haven't always had a garage or space to store them so there have been periods where I didn't have any bikes at all, and it was during those times that I had nicer and nice cars.
Fast forward a good few years and I'm in a position again where bikes have once again become viable and I have found myself constantly downgrading my cars each time to fund and allow for motorbikes to come back to the fore.
I'm in a position now where I have a bog basic 4 year old Citroen DS 3 that is purely just a box on wheels that I don't care less about. My Mrs is the same as me now as well, she has been riding for tye past 4 years too and her focus now is purely on bikes, with a similar attitude to cars as me. Infact we are moving house in a few weeks time and one of the main driving factors for purchasing the house was that it has a much bigger garage cum workshop for more bikes for us.
1st came an Italjet Scrambler followed by an original Honda Monkey bike that I only ever rode once as it was to big for me and we had to sell it.
Over the next 40 or so years bikes have always been my passion, but i haven't always had a garage or space to store them so there have been periods where I didn't have any bikes at all, and it was during those times that I had nicer and nice cars.
Fast forward a good few years and I'm in a position again where bikes have once again become viable and I have found myself constantly downgrading my cars each time to fund and allow for motorbikes to come back to the fore.
I'm in a position now where I have a bog basic 4 year old Citroen DS 3 that is purely just a box on wheels that I don't care less about. My Mrs is the same as me now as well, she has been riding for tye past 4 years too and her focus now is purely on bikes, with a similar attitude to cars as me. Infact we are moving house in a few weeks time and one of the main driving factors for purchasing the house was that it has a much bigger garage cum workshop for more bikes for us.
I've been flicking between bikes and cars for a long time but as I do not have a garage, all my decent cars have to sit on the drive or live in secure storage. I'm fortunate that I have a decent sized log cabin and that's where my bikes live. I've just bought another three bikes recently (will feature) and they are all completely different styles. I have a Sports Tourer, a big arsed Tourer, a Custom and a Sports bike. Talk about indecision 
I'm leaning towards less cars more bikes. The Tesla gives good performance and is fun for an everyday work environment, also have a Toyota estate for moving stuff and trips to the dump and a bonkers car for shows and scaring people. I'm mid bucket list in cars and bikes and will wind everything down to streamline one car and one bike.. well that's the plan!
I'm leaning towards less cars more bikes. The Tesla gives good performance and is fun for an everyday work environment, also have a Toyota estate for moving stuff and trips to the dump and a bonkers car for shows and scaring people. I'm mid bucket list in cars and bikes and will wind everything down to streamline one car and one bike.. well that's the plan!
I’m in my 50’s now and got into bikes relatively late in life at 39. I had always been a huge car fan with a particular passion for Lotus cars, and have owned multiple versions over the years - various Elise’s, Exige’s, 2-eleven, Evora’s. Since passing my bike test, I’ve always owned a bike alongside them.
I came to realise though that for everyday fun on the road, I simply preferred the bikes so no longer own a Lotus. The fact the bikes are considerably cheaper and take up a lot less space is just an added bonus
I came to realise though that for everyday fun on the road, I simply preferred the bikes so no longer own a Lotus. The fact the bikes are considerably cheaper and take up a lot less space is just an added bonus
If the weather was better I’d probably not have a car at all. That being said I enjoy driving a light sporty hatchback in the wet much more than I would riding a bike in the same conditions.
It’s not just wet roads that are the problem, because modern tyres can deal with them, it’s that there will also be accompanying gravel, mud etc.
It’s not just wet roads that are the problem, because modern tyres can deal with them, it’s that there will also be accompanying gravel, mud etc.
Im in my 50s now. Was a biker first, riding off road early teens and on the road at 17 and never owned a car until I was 28 and needed one for work. Tried a few nice cars in my 30s as funds allowed and where I lived It wasn't practical to keep a bike. During the years without a bike I had a 300bhp Elise instead.
I enjoy a nice car, prefer convertibles and its always nice to have one in the fleet to go on touring trips with partner. However bikes are my passion. Moved house in 2007, with a garage and it was great to get back on a bike. I do have a convertible car still but it would be the first to go if circumstances change I might go down to one do it all vehicle in future.
Have a 4x4 for daily driver (live in the country on a farm track) a convertible sportscar and 3 bikes. Tend to spread the fun miles around e.g a car touring holiday for a couple of thousand miles, bike touring trip similar and then 1-2k miles on each other bike. If I can get 6K+ fun miles in per year I I've had a good year
So my vote is more bikes and fewer cars
I enjoy a nice car, prefer convertibles and its always nice to have one in the fleet to go on touring trips with partner. However bikes are my passion. Moved house in 2007, with a garage and it was great to get back on a bike. I do have a convertible car still but it would be the first to go if circumstances change I might go down to one do it all vehicle in future.
Have a 4x4 for daily driver (live in the country on a farm track) a convertible sportscar and 3 bikes. Tend to spread the fun miles around e.g a car touring holiday for a couple of thousand miles, bike touring trip similar and then 1-2k miles on each other bike. If I can get 6K+ fun miles in per year I I've had a good year
So my vote is more bikes and fewer cars
Like others, I was a biker before a driver and for a period it was even my job to ride bikes. I also had a garage to store bikes so but for a short period where i was without a bike (about 8 months) I have owned motorbikes since i was 17 and I hit the big 50 later this year.
I have also had a rather nice cars in the garage up until December 2021, but COVID and work put paid to riding or driving for last 2 years. However I have 4 bikes in the garage and I'm down to 1 workhorse car which I have owned for coming up to 6 years. I don't change cars often and bikes.... well it seems like i don't sell or part-ex my bikes either, i just keep them and add to the collection.
I rode for living for all weathers, snow, ice, rain, now I tend only to ride in dry weather as have no need to get cold or wet and i don't enjoy it unless it's off-road.
I'll replace the car i lost in December eventually but i'd rather add a Panigale to the collection which i think will be my final bike for a while, just haven't seen one that jumps out at me.
I have also had a rather nice cars in the garage up until December 2021, but COVID and work put paid to riding or driving for last 2 years. However I have 4 bikes in the garage and I'm down to 1 workhorse car which I have owned for coming up to 6 years. I don't change cars often and bikes.... well it seems like i don't sell or part-ex my bikes either, i just keep them and add to the collection.
I rode for living for all weathers, snow, ice, rain, now I tend only to ride in dry weather as have no need to get cold or wet and i don't enjoy it unless it's off-road.
I'll replace the car i lost in December eventually but i'd rather add a Panigale to the collection which i think will be my final bike for a while, just haven't seen one that jumps out at me.
Been into cars all my life, though classics these days, modern stuff doesn't interest me much, had some nice yank muscle
cars over the years as well as hot hatches etc, never kept a car more than a few years. Most recent fancy car i had was a
72 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400. Bikes were always something i admired from a distance.
Passed my bike bike test in 2020 aged 50 after dithering over doing it for 10 years, can honestly say it was the best thing i've
done, once i passed (and during taking lessons) bikes were all i could think about, and weekends were about getting out for
a ride, realised the Firebird would just sit unused, was just money tied up so it got sold six months after i got my bike license.
I now have three bikes, a 2006 Hayabusa, a 2004 GSXR600 and a Ducati Monster (which is for sale), so it's been the flick of
a switch for me, just don't see cars the same, have a Fiat Panda 100HP to run about in in the winter which is all i need, could
easily buy a better/faster/more comfortable car but would rather buy another bike/bike gear.
There is pretty much no modern car i lust after or would like in my garage but there are ton of modern bikes i like, also have
no interest in driving these days.
cars over the years as well as hot hatches etc, never kept a car more than a few years. Most recent fancy car i had was a
72 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400. Bikes were always something i admired from a distance.
Passed my bike bike test in 2020 aged 50 after dithering over doing it for 10 years, can honestly say it was the best thing i've
done, once i passed (and during taking lessons) bikes were all i could think about, and weekends were about getting out for
a ride, realised the Firebird would just sit unused, was just money tied up so it got sold six months after i got my bike license.
I now have three bikes, a 2006 Hayabusa, a 2004 GSXR600 and a Ducati Monster (which is for sale), so it's been the flick of
a switch for me, just don't see cars the same, have a Fiat Panda 100HP to run about in in the winter which is all i need, could
easily buy a better/faster/more comfortable car but would rather buy another bike/bike gear.
There is pretty much no modern car i lust after or would like in my garage but there are ton of modern bikes i like, also have
no interest in driving these days.
I will be interested to read this. I'm 40 and done my cbt twice but never gor further due to costs, having to use leave to do the das and just life getting in the way.
I'm currently driving a 2.0 diesel a4, which is nice but not exactly an exciting or even warm ownership experience. Nice cars seem expensive to buy and/or run and although I have a garage, I don't really have time or space for a classic car what with 3 kids.
I keep thinking about just running the a4 for years, and concentrate on getting my licence and bikes.
I'm currently driving a 2.0 diesel a4, which is nice but not exactly an exciting or even warm ownership experience. Nice cars seem expensive to buy and/or run and although I have a garage, I don't really have time or space for a classic car what with 3 kids.
I keep thinking about just running the a4 for years, and concentrate on getting my licence and bikes.
covmutley said:
I will be interested to read this. I'm 40 and done my cbt twice but never gor further due to costs, having to use leave to do the das and just life getting in the way.
I'm currently driving a 2.0 diesel a4, which is nice but not exactly an exciting or even warm ownership experience. Nice cars seem expensive to buy and/or run and although I have a garage, I don't really have time or space for a classic car what with 3 kids.
I keep thinking about just running the a4 for years, and concentrate on getting my licence and bikes.
I love cars, always have done. I’m a little bit older than you but getting my big bike license is one of the best things I’ve done. Do it, you won’t regret it!I'm currently driving a 2.0 diesel a4, which is nice but not exactly an exciting or even warm ownership experience. Nice cars seem expensive to buy and/or run and although I have a garage, I don't really have time or space for a classic car what with 3 kids.
I keep thinking about just running the a4 for years, and concentrate on getting my licence and bikes.
I like a nice car as much as the next car enthusiast but, one car is enough for me as long as it ticks all the boxes: fast, comfortable, practical etc., that said I never go for a drive just for driving's sake, that's why I have bikes.
I started on bikes in 1978, being too young for a car anyway and used for everyday stuff. I didn't get a car until I needed one for work in 1981 but I've always had a bike of some sort, currently got 3 but I'm now a fair-weather only rider.
That said I am toying with the idea of getting an old V8 Land Rover...
I started on bikes in 1978, being too young for a car anyway and used for everyday stuff. I didn't get a car until I needed one for work in 1981 but I've always had a bike of some sort, currently got 3 but I'm now a fair-weather only rider.
That said I am toying with the idea of getting an old V8 Land Rover...
Bikes for the summer, cars for the winter.
Sliding a car in the rain is a hell of a lot fun, but nothing beats a good ride out on a crisp sunny morning.
I do car trackdays in the winter, and bike trackdays in the summer. It's the perfect combination.
In summary, you "need" both, as they complement each other.
In an ideal world I'd have at least two cars and three bikes, but you can never really have enough.
Sliding a car in the rain is a hell of a lot fun, but nothing beats a good ride out on a crisp sunny morning.
I do car trackdays in the winter, and bike trackdays in the summer. It's the perfect combination.
In summary, you "need" both, as they complement each other.
In an ideal world I'd have at least two cars and three bikes, but you can never really have enough.
I'm in the same situation - although a rung down
I haven't taken my cars out for a drive in 20+ years, I need to have a destination - the PH meets were good for that
I sold my faster cars because I only enjoyed them near their limits which meant 130+ on NSL
Like you I'm nowhere near as good on a bike and as I've fallen off a lot, off road - I know it hurts so I'm more careful - although I don't get the same buzz as I'm never really "on it" on a bike - I'm hoping to start track days this year to help with that
As I wanted to try more and more bikes I've ended up dealing in them - currently own 25 or so, it's great that they all fit in 4 garages, so much easier than having lots of cars and a huge difference in riding experience from a Supermoto to a R1200GS etc
I haven't taken my cars out for a drive in 20+ years, I need to have a destination - the PH meets were good for that
I sold my faster cars because I only enjoyed them near their limits which meant 130+ on NSL
Like you I'm nowhere near as good on a bike and as I've fallen off a lot, off road - I know it hurts so I'm more careful - although I don't get the same buzz as I'm never really "on it" on a bike - I'm hoping to start track days this year to help with that
As I wanted to try more and more bikes I've ended up dealing in them - currently own 25 or so, it's great that they all fit in 4 garages, so much easier than having lots of cars and a huge difference in riding experience from a Supermoto to a R1200GS etc
catso said:
I like a nice car as much as the next car enthusiast but, one car is enough for me as long as it ticks all the boxes: fast, comfortable, practical etc., that said I never go for a drive just for driving's sake, that's why I have bikes.
I started on bikes in 1978, being too young for a car anyway and used for everyday stuff. I didn't get a car until I needed one for work in 1981 but I've always had a bike of some sort, currently got 3 but I'm now a fair-weather only rider.
That said I am toying with the idea of getting an old V8 Land Rover...
It is that going for a drive for driving’s sake that I find I’m doing less and less of.I started on bikes in 1978, being too young for a car anyway and used for everyday stuff. I didn't get a car until I needed one for work in 1981 but I've always had a bike of some sort, currently got 3 but I'm now a fair-weather only rider.
That said I am toying with the idea of getting an old V8 Land Rover...
Out of interest, those of you that have 3 bikes (or more), how different are they all? I’m assuming for most it’s 1 x sports bike, 1 x tourer/long distance and maybe 1 x retro or classic naked? Maybe 1 for off-road for some people?
You’re not the first to say that 3 is the magic number and seems to cover pretty much every eventuality.
I was massively into cars but then converted to bikes. After a big crash I stopped riding on the road for 16 years. In that time I had loads of cars. Then I started riding on the road again and my interest in cars waned. I tried reigniting my car interest by buying a very nice manual 997.2 C2 but found that whenever there was a opportunity to go out for a drive or ride I would take on of the bikes.
In an ideal world I would have a collection of bikes and cars but if pushed to choose I’d definitely have more bikes and fewer cars.
In an ideal world I would have a collection of bikes and cars but if pushed to choose I’d definitely have more bikes and fewer cars.
Yeah on a sunny day, usually my first choice is to get out on the bike. I need to have a reason to use the car instead....usually passengers, luggage or turning up smartly dressed for an even, all easier in the car.
I have a cruiser style bike, a super naked and a tourer. I like sports bikes but just dont find them comfortable any more. I have ridden off road, started off doing so, but its too much like hard work now and I cant be arsed with all the cleaning required !
I have a cruiser style bike, a super naked and a tourer. I like sports bikes but just dont find them comfortable any more. I have ridden off road, started off doing so, but its too much like hard work now and I cant be arsed with all the cleaning required !
Lambo FirstBlood said:
Out of interest, those of you that have 3 bikes (or more), how different are they all?
Of my current bikes these are the ones that I'm intending to keep
KTM 450 - green laning / enduro practice days
KTM 525 - Supermoto for blatting about the local lanes, it's the most fun bike I've ridden
KTM 990 SM - this is what I use for touring
Speed Triple R - so much better built than the KTMs and with torque everywhere - heavy though
CBR600 F4i - bought as a track bike but only used on the road so far
Bought a Street Triple R today so I'll see if that replaces anything
I've always loved both since I passed both tests in June 1976, but as a fair-weather biker (self-preservation really) and working in an office environment needing to be "suited and booted" a car was just so much easier.
But that made getting a bike out at the weekend feel more special!
Until my OH and I moved to different addresses in 2011 which meant I sold my bikes as I no longer had a garage.
Hopefully I'll be putting that right soon with a house move, but I think 2 bikes would be enough for me as there aren't too many types I like.
Both naked, one newer cheap practical 4 stroke and a classic 2 stroke for old time's sake would be great.
But that made getting a bike out at the weekend feel more special!
Until my OH and I moved to different addresses in 2011 which meant I sold my bikes as I no longer had a garage.
Hopefully I'll be putting that right soon with a house move, but I think 2 bikes would be enough for me as there aren't too many types I like.
Both naked, one newer cheap practical 4 stroke and a classic 2 stroke for old time's sake would be great.
I love cars & bikes (turned 50 recently). Had many TVRs, Corvette etc.. I had similar thoughts last year.. I had a 2nd car, a Mk2 Focus RS garage queen.. low miles, immaculate, but barely used. So I decided to sell the RS and replace with a few bikes of my choice.
I have no regrets & now enjoy going into the garage to work on the bikes.
I bought bikes that I wanted when I was younger..but could never afford.
Itch scratched
‘04 Kawasaki ZX12R
‘99 Honda Fireblade
‘98 Suzuki GSXR750 SRAD
‘90 Kawasaki ZXR 750 H2
‘04 Aprilia RSV Factory
I have no regrets & now enjoy going into the garage to work on the bikes.
I bought bikes that I wanted when I was younger..but could never afford.
Itch scratched
‘04 Kawasaki ZX12R
‘99 Honda Fireblade
‘98 Suzuki GSXR750 SRAD
‘90 Kawasaki ZXR 750 H2
‘04 Aprilia RSV Factory
Edited by Waynester on Sunday 20th February 12:30
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