Motorcycle Vs. Car [What to do? Help!]

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ThrillbillyCC

ThrillbillyCC

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Hey what's going on everyone? I decided to post this topic because I am in the middle of a "dilemma" I guess you could say...

I had a 2001 Ford Focus ZX3 that I sold about a month ago because the A/C was broken, passenger window motor was broken, a few months back the heater hose outlet tube cracked and spewed antifreeze all over the engine causing it to overheat (that of course got fixed and ran okay...but to me never felt the same after that)...and numerous other hell and back things had happened to me and that car.

I also owned a 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser which was a secondary passed down vehicle in my name. I had planned to sell the PT Cruiser because I loved my focus but I changed my mind and sold my focus instead because it had 130,000 miles on it vs the PT Cruiser which only has 40,000 miles on it.

I have been driving the PT Cruiser for about a month and I have already had to replace the battery (routine), and now my CEL or check engine light is on...I got it tested and apparently a Cam Shaft Sensor has gone bad which is a 40 dollar repair (not much but still).

Everytime I take it to an autopart store they ask "what do you drive?" I say "A PT" then they quickly reply with "No wonder junk it while you still can" (lol)....apparently from what I have been told by them...the timing belt in these cars are notorious for breaking after about 20,000 more miles than what the car only has...ONLY 60,000 timing belt snap? sheesh!

I want a Kawasaki ninja 250 right now...and I could sell the PT for at LEAST 4,000 dollars resulting in the purchase of a bike...

I am a college student so in many ways it would be perfect for some of the pro's of owning a bike...gas milage etc...
I used to think that owning a bike as a dorm student would be inconvenient when it comes to moving out...till I decided I would just buy a UHAUL for a day...which would actually get my stuff out for a cheaper price than the PT which would require several trips in a small car...

Who here lives on two wheels?
How is grocery shopping?
Rainy driving?
Is hydroplaning that bad?
Living in florida we get some VERY and I mean VERY heavy downpours and sometimes hail...haha so I wouldn't mind hearing the opinion of some of ya'll....is it an inconvience sometimes not to own a car or should I just get a bike since I want one so bad?
 
well I pretty much live on 2 wheels, groceries are fine with a big enough bag when ever I need lots of stuff I just take the army bag I'm sure you can get one in a military surplus.

Though I live with my dad I still try to do as much with the bike as possible.

I personally love riding in the rain, with enough waterproofs you'll be fine, as long as you're carefull and don't race it, aquaplaning shouldn't be too bad. if you do get caught in hail make sure you have some thick clothes on, those f**kers hurt.
 
you Will need :
luggage for the food shopping etc
to be hard as nails (for the bad weather)
decent set of earphones (for long trips)
get a good set of wet road tyres (michelin road pilot 3) and the rainy roads will be not so much a problem.

just my short opinion.
 
I only own a motorcycle, I use it for everything. It's very cheap to run, good fun and practical as I have panniers.

I would also recommend getting some luggage if you want to make your bike truly practical.

Don't worry about hydroplaning man, I believe cars are much more prone to this than bikes due to cars having flat tyres as opposed to curved ones. I've never hydroplaned no matter how hard it's rained, and anyway in the UK winter there's much worse things to worry about like ice and gravel etc.

If I had to get a car then I would, but for now just the bike is working out well for me. I save hundreds of pounds (maybe even close to a grand) every year by not owning a car, and even though it would be more practical, I can't justify the extra cost.
 
senthx said:
I am 40 I briefly owned a car when I was 18, I've made do with motorcycles ever since.
Click to expand...

you now have my total respect =) it is possible :P might get a car when I have a family, but whilst solo bike > car :D
 
POPE5HAT said:
get a good set of wet road tyres (michelin road pilot 3) and the rainy roads will be not so much a problem.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I hadn't really looked into high performance weather tires...I just google searched those and the reviews are outstanding...I will definitely look into that upgrade ASAP once riding...

btw, quick possible newb question... is the spelling "tyre" foreign to the United States spelling ... or is that just how you spell tire when referring to motorcycles?
 
ThrillbillyCC said:
btw, quick possible newb question... is the spelling "tyre" foreign to the United States spelling ... or is that just how you spell tire when referring to motorcycles?
Click to expand...

The US spelling is wrong :P
 
I don't have Road Pilot 3's I will get them next. I've had Road Pilot 2's and loved them.

Bike Magazine testers, got their knee down in the wet on a track with them on. (pilot 3's)

Right now I have Dunlop Roadsmarts, that's cos I had a nail in a tyre, and the local tyres while you wait garage only had Roadsmarts in stock at the time,, and I couldn't wait and I was riding one Roadsmart one Michellin, and when the other needed replacing I got another Roadsmart..
 
ThrillbillyCC said:
btw, quick possible newb question... is the spelling "tyre" foreign to the United States spelling ... or is that just how you spell tire when referring to motorcycles?
Click to expand...

"Tire" is the American and Canadian spelling
"Tyre" is the British way :)

bit like the whole "fries" and "chips" thing. :)
 
Tyre is the British way. However, the original spelling of Tire, is the original British spelling too.

Metal TIRES were fitted to early buses etc, then when pneumatic tires were introduced, they were spelled TYRE as a marketing thing as much as anything. So, we spell it TYRE.

p.s I spell jail GAOL. :D
 
senthx said:
Metal TIRES were fitted to early buses etc, then when pneumatic tires were introduced, they were spelled TYRE as a marketing thing as much as anything. So, we spell it TYRE.
Click to expand...

Well there you go, I've learned my new thing for the day, reckon I can go to bed now :lol:
 
I find myself in the car more in these icey conditions, But there was a 6/7 month period last year where I only had my bike.

Pros
Rush hour, What's that?!
Parking, A doddle!
Excitement and thrills all the time

Cons
Rain, Didn't mind it to much
Takes a while to build up a tolerance to the cold weather
More prone to shitty drivers
Not alot of carry space, Half weekly shop was fine, But can't carry any large items back home
 
Lol'd @ taking a while to build tolerance to the cold, that is so damn true!

What they said above, at the end of the day a car is more practicle for the bigger things in life (shopping, moving, long long rides, carrying more people blah blah), but you get way more out of a bike than a car.
 
for me it's all pros, with the only con being I won't ride in dangerous weather

like today


riding a bike focuses your mind, you learnt to live without all that 9 to 5 junk that the rest of the rat race needs, you learn to live with just the essentials in life and the extra clutter goes away, and becomes an irrelevance
 
senthx said:
riding a bike focuses your mind, you learnt to live without all that 9 to 5 junk that the rest of the rat race needs, you learn to live with just the essentials in life and the extra clutter goes away, and becomes an irrelevance
Click to expand...

Quote of the year!
 
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