Discussion
Following on from my earlier thread, I’m slowly coming to the realisation that I’m going to struggle to ever be able to swing my leg over a bike seat again. Despite being mostly healed, I’ve had to accept that I’m never going to be right again (some of you would be completely correct that I was never right in the first place).
I’ve ended up with slightly mismatched leg lengths (right leg is still a couple of cm shorter than my left), arthritis in my right knee, reduced mobility in my right knee and hip and less leg strength, too. My right knee will sometimes throw in a big “f
k that” at the most inappropriate moment and decide that it’s going to have a bit of a rest and stop doing important keeping me vertical stuff, leaving me in a sprawled heap on the ground.
I can get on and off my push bike, but it ideally involves me finding a handy kerb, tilting the bike over at an angle, grabbing my trouser cuff and performing one of my pissed up disco flamingo routines. Graceful, it is not. Throw in the added frisson of struggling to shift my duff leg quickly if I need to stick it down in a rush, then never really knowing if it’s going to work or not if I do manage to stick it down in time. That’s just with my weight and a pushbike. Throw in the weight of a motorbike on top and it would a lot more interesting, much more quickly…
The thing is, I do really miss having a bike. I’m starting a new role at work in a few weeks (completely office based, as I’ve finally been assessed as permanently restricted by the force doctor) and the commute by car will quickly get tedious, depending which shift I’m on - there’s really only one route to take. A bike would solve this issue (assuming I don’t get collected by another driver).
More than that, I really, REALLY miss my Scandi bike trips. I know there are other people who’ve had worse injuries than me and manage to bike absolutely fine. Yes, Biker’s Nemesis, I’m looking at you. A bike would solve the travel issue.
One thing I’ve been considering is a “big” scoot. I’m still a fat knacker, so would like something that can keep up with traffic and that I can use on motorways. It’d obviously be easier to mount/dismount without having to swing my leg up and over (although I’d still have the issue of potentially having to stick my right foot down quickly in an emergency).
Trouble is, I’ve always thought of scooters as a bit st. Am I being shortsighted? Is there a scooter out there with a decent amount of acceleration/top speed? One that I can commute on, including filtering, but your on as well?
Or do I actually need to just MTFU and get a proper bike (maybe something a bit lower than my last one - Triumph Tiger Explorer 1215)?
I’ve ended up with slightly mismatched leg lengths (right leg is still a couple of cm shorter than my left), arthritis in my right knee, reduced mobility in my right knee and hip and less leg strength, too. My right knee will sometimes throw in a big “f
k that” at the most inappropriate moment and decide that it’s going to have a bit of a rest and stop doing important keeping me vertical stuff, leaving me in a sprawled heap on the ground.I can get on and off my push bike, but it ideally involves me finding a handy kerb, tilting the bike over at an angle, grabbing my trouser cuff and performing one of my pissed up disco flamingo routines. Graceful, it is not. Throw in the added frisson of struggling to shift my duff leg quickly if I need to stick it down in a rush, then never really knowing if it’s going to work or not if I do manage to stick it down in time. That’s just with my weight and a pushbike. Throw in the weight of a motorbike on top and it would a lot more interesting, much more quickly…
The thing is, I do really miss having a bike. I’m starting a new role at work in a few weeks (completely office based, as I’ve finally been assessed as permanently restricted by the force doctor) and the commute by car will quickly get tedious, depending which shift I’m on - there’s really only one route to take. A bike would solve this issue (assuming I don’t get collected by another driver).
More than that, I really, REALLY miss my Scandi bike trips. I know there are other people who’ve had worse injuries than me and manage to bike absolutely fine. Yes, Biker’s Nemesis, I’m looking at you. A bike would solve the travel issue.
One thing I’ve been considering is a “big” scoot. I’m still a fat knacker, so would like something that can keep up with traffic and that I can use on motorways. It’d obviously be easier to mount/dismount without having to swing my leg up and over (although I’d still have the issue of potentially having to stick my right foot down quickly in an emergency).
Trouble is, I’ve always thought of scooters as a bit s
t. Am I being shortsighted? Is there a scooter out there with a decent amount of acceleration/top speed? One that I can commute on, including filtering, but your on as well?Or do I actually need to just MTFU and get a proper bike (maybe something a bit lower than my last one - Triumph Tiger Explorer 1215)?
Good luck finding something suitable.
My suggestion is a Gilera Fuocco. 500cc, will easily keep up with motorway traffic, luggage space, and if leg(s) do start playing up can come to a stop without putting your feet down.
Will also be easier to get on and set off as it holds itself upright not on a stand.
My suggestion is a Gilera Fuocco. 500cc, will easily keep up with motorway traffic, luggage space, and if leg(s) do start playing up can come to a stop without putting your feet down.
Will also be easier to get on and set off as it holds itself upright not on a stand.
That’s ste news Dibble.
I can ride my 93 400cc but cannot ride the 600 nor the vtwin i bought 2 years ago as i also cannot hold the weight up due to one leg being 1.5cm shorter and a left calf muscle that refuses to let me go on tip toes and a knee (other leg) that loves to lock up in the bent position which is great for a racing crouch 😆 but not great when coming to a stop on a bigger bike (Cue falling off to the side when i can’t put my foot down(I’m 5’6” and had no problems before my accident and the 400s from the 90’s era were made for the average Japanese persons height at the time)) I still keep pushing and try to train it and it’s coming up to 7 years now but as of yet it’s not happening but i refuse to give in
I think scooters are a bit 🤮 also but if that was the only way of keeping me on two wheels then i would quickly get over it.
Get the scooter but don’t let that stop you from wishing/hoping/pushing to get back on a motorbike.
Pirks
te news Dibble.I can ride my 93 400cc but cannot ride the 600 nor the vtwin i bought 2 years ago as i also cannot hold the weight up due to one leg being 1.5cm shorter and a left calf muscle that refuses to let me go on tip toes and a knee (other leg) that loves to lock up in the bent position which is great for a racing crouch 😆 but not great when coming to a stop on a bigger bike (Cue falling off to the side when i can’t put my foot down(I’m 5’6” and had no problems before my accident and the 400s from the 90’s era were made for the average Japanese persons height at the time)) I still keep pushing and try to train it and it’s coming up to 7 years now but as of yet it’s not happening but i refuse to give in
I think scooters are a bit 🤮 also but if that was the only way of keeping me on two wheels then i would quickly get over it.
Get the scooter but don’t let that stop you from wishing/hoping/pushing to get back on a motorbike.
Pirks
JulianHJ said:
Also, we get a lot of former Tiger 1200 owners on the Tiger 800/900 forums who have downsized for similar (though not usually injury-related) reasons. I've never ridden any of the 1200s, but the 900 in particular is meant to be much easier to handle.
I have a 2014 1200 explorer and have ridden my mates 850 Tiger a few times. The smaller bike feels very similar with quite s bit less weight, it does miss out on the feeling of effortless torque and feels a bit less plush but that’s to be expected really.
Regarding the big scoot, would a bike that’s more cruiser shaped do? Low seat and weight while still being a bike
I've met loads of people who ride all sorts of bikes and they all tell me scooters are ste, what have in common is they have never actually ridden one.
I have and they don't know what they are missing. Maxiscooters are good fun to ride, make good tourers and handle well enough to fluster most regular bikes on a twisty road.
Just don't expect to be waved at though.
Spend 2 or 3 grand on an old Suzuki Burgman (650 or 400) or Honda Silverwing (600) to see how you get on, if you don't like it sell if for the same amount. If you take to them then £12k for a TMax no longer seems silly money.
So yes Dibble, you can ride a big scooter and they are fun.
te, what have in common is they have never actually ridden one.I have and they don't know what they are missing. Maxiscooters are good fun to ride, make good tourers and handle well enough to fluster most regular bikes on a twisty road.
Just don't expect to be waved at though.
Spend 2 or 3 grand on an old Suzuki Burgman (650 or 400) or Honda Silverwing (600) to see how you get on, if you don't like it sell if for the same amount. If you take to them then £12k for a TMax no longer seems silly money.
So yes Dibble, you can ride a big scooter and they are fun.
It seems people tour on them and it's a British hang up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdLd9i-qngc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJWMUe3cdxE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdLd9i-qngc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJWMUe3cdxE
I've always been a scooter fan, i bought one purely as a commuter years ago, I found myself riding it more and more often until i was even going out for a sunday afternoon ride on it!
My last scooter was a xmax 300, masses of storage, speed wise i always compared it to a 2.0tdi car, nippy enough to overtake safely, comfortably cruise at 80 on the motorway and handled well enough to have fun on!
If you have a bit of a budget, get a test ride on the Tmax, they're 530cc i remember correctly, about 50hp, they have the engine mounted like a conventional bike not on the swing arm like 99% of scooters so they handle exceptionally well, Neevsy is a real advocate for the tmax.
If you give one a go, give it a little time as it will feel totally foreign to you having ridden bikes for so long!
My last scooter was a xmax 300, masses of storage, speed wise i always compared it to a 2.0tdi car, nippy enough to overtake safely, comfortably cruise at 80 on the motorway and handled well enough to have fun on!
If you have a bit of a budget, get a test ride on the Tmax, they're 530cc i remember correctly, about 50hp, they have the engine mounted like a conventional bike not on the swing arm like 99% of scooters so they handle exceptionally well, Neevsy is a real advocate for the tmax.
If you give one a go, give it a little time as it will feel totally foreign to you having ridden bikes for so long!
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