Yeah, now if they can only figure out how to drive on them, they'll do ok
Yeah, now if they can only figure out how to drive on them, they'll do ok
Haha so true...
Nevertheless, there are a lot of flawlessly paved (mostly obscure) roads here that seem like they were designed by race/rally car drivers (as opposed to track designers!).
To take the focus away from socal (or midcal
), the best roads I have ever driven on were through the redwood forest with banked hairpins going around the trees... with the top down and nobody else on the road... in a truly great machine--beyond beautiful. http://www.panoramio.com/photo/1594775 
PCH through Big Sur (south of Monterey) is fabulous as well.
But when it comes to inner-city streets (the ones a lot of us probably spend the most time on), and aside from the occasional cobblestone, Europe has the US obliterated.
And that is where England wins, we have the best roads in Europe (some have said world, but I'm not sure about that personally). To go out onto the A and B roads, and just cruse around, very rarely will you ever see another vehicle. Pure bliss.
Not joining the "who has the best roads" debate, just glad to hear you're ok Jak 
It's obviously the UK though, North of England in particular.
It's obviously the UK though, North of England in particular.Similair thing happened to me on race bycicle i crashed bike was fine,
but not me me knee plate was shifted,
and i had a large flesh wuond
that waS funest for my strict running training
but not me me knee plate was shifted,
and i had a large flesh wuond
that waS funest for my strict running training
Yeah, California does have nice roads. Our roads mostly suck here.
Nice flat and square. But that's a good thing I guess cause with the idiots we have driving here if we was to have something like the PCH, it would replace heart disease as the leading cause of death.
Nice flat and square. But that's a good thing I guess cause with the idiots we have driving here if we was to have something like the PCH, it would replace heart disease as the leading cause of death.
I actually found a nice gem of an area relatively close to where I live. On one particular road in this area, there's a short section that has a stair step pattern (alternating between flat ground and steep inclines) like this:
--------------_____
------- ____/
--____/
_/
(ignore the hyphens)
Each incline is about 4-5 feet tall at an angle of probably about 15-20 degrees. They're separated by about 15-20 feet of flat ground. Presumably it's designed to allow horses time to break between each ascent or decent so they don't get too tired. It also makes for great fun on a bike, especially one like mine. Third gear, throttle pinned, 45 mph, catch some air.
--------------_____
------- ____/
--____/
_/
(ignore the hyphens)
Each incline is about 4-5 feet tall at an angle of probably about 15-20 degrees. They're separated by about 15-20 feet of flat ground. Presumably it's designed to allow horses time to break between each ascent or decent so they don't get too tired. It also makes for great fun on a bike, especially one like mine. Third gear, throttle pinned, 45 mph, catch some air.
Idiots... they come in all packages, and the PCH does have it's share--remember this guy?
http://cache.jalopnik.com/cars/pch_enzo_2.jpg
http://cache.jalopnik.com/cars/pch_enzo_1.jpg
http://www.pistonheads.com/pics/news/13635/enzo_wreck-L.jpg
http://wagonlog.com/wp-content ... zo_crash_mercedes_slr.jpg
http://kerfuffles.blogsome.com/wp-admin/images/ferrari.jpg
Hmm...
P.S. while I'm at it
http://www.winespring.com/english/blog/pch.jpgJakg, if you can get a bigger bike.
I had a aprilia 80cc when I first started riding and that thing was nothing but trouble. Powerless crotch rocket. It's the only bike I crashed.....often!
My next was a 1972 Sportster (harley baby) and it's nothing but pure joy, just not quite as sporty. However, I realised that crotch-rpckets are just boring and too twitchy, aside from uncomfortable.
So I finally settled on a XB9 (buell streetfighter) and dude, what joy. It beyond safe as you can feel every little nick on the road. The seating position make it idiot proof and as confy as you can get on a sports bike. Did I mention it has power beyong what you can even think of using yet rides just fine on city limits.
Stay safe man.
I had a aprilia 80cc when I first started riding and that thing was nothing but trouble. Powerless crotch rocket. It's the only bike I crashed.....often!
My next was a 1972 Sportster (harley baby) and it's nothing but pure joy, just not quite as sporty. However, I realised that crotch-rpckets are just boring and too twitchy, aside from uncomfortable.
So I finally settled on a XB9 (buell streetfighter) and dude, what joy. It beyond safe as you can feel every little nick on the road. The seating position make it idiot proof and as confy as you can get on a sports bike. Did I mention it has power beyong what you can even think of using yet rides just fine on city limits.
Stay safe man.
Nope, the great thing about a 50cc is that you can ride them at 16 (have to be 17 to even get a restricted 125) and that you can ride them with just on day's training
Oh I'm sorry.
I guess I assumed we were a similar age.
My bad. Well maybe a better set of rubber will help, although nothing beats practice.
Enjoy the ride.
The bike could of easily made the turn without braking, but tbh i just haven't ridden if enough to do that
Loads of newbies crash because they underestimate the ability of the bike. Just be glad your first spill was relatively minor, you'll still learn from it.
The closest I've ever come to crashing was also turning at a junction, one that I knew well. A sunny day with trees casting dark shadows over the road on the left which I was about to take.
Brake fine, turn in fine. The turn was more than 90 degrees, say 140, opening out from the initial tightest part. So I hug the inside for a while, wind on the throttle gently and as the road straightens I let the bike move from the inside back out towards the outside, and into the shadows, where there must have been a layer of dirt and gravel between the cars wheel tracks. Both tyres slip sideways across the dirt and the bike yaws to the left, off the dirt, grips, hops and skips, out the seat, wiggle, onto wrong side of road, "oh my that was blooming close" or something like that. Lucky. Learnt I can't ever afford to rely on things being the way I expect them to be.
The closest I've ever come to crashing was also turning at a junction, one that I knew well. A sunny day with trees casting dark shadows over the road on the left which I was about to take.
Brake fine, turn in fine. The turn was more than 90 degrees, say 140, opening out from the initial tightest part. So I hug the inside for a while, wind on the throttle gently and as the road straightens I let the bike move from the inside back out towards the outside, and into the shadows, where there must have been a layer of dirt and gravel between the cars wheel tracks. Both tyres slip sideways across the dirt and the bike yaws to the left, off the dirt, grips, hops and skips, out the seat, wiggle, onto wrong side of road, "oh my that was blooming close" or something like that. Lucky. Learnt I can't ever afford to rely on things being the way I expect them to be.
Why did you spend out on a scooter anyhow? All the money could have accumulated into a car! Heck, you only have one year to wait. It is not like you need the scooter to go out now is it Jack. 
Sold my bike recently, mainly due to the fact that my Girl-friend refussed to go for a ride with me, espicially in the back roads of the highlands. I had a Suzuski GS500 which I found a joy to ride, and had only one minor crash on it. Caused by some idiot in a 4X4 who pulled out of a junction causing me to swerve and loose control (rather easily, but I was still a newbie at the time).
Fortunately for me, there was no oncoming traffic and the only thing damaged was the paint work, mirror and my ego.
Fortunately for me, there was no oncoming traffic and the only thing damaged was the paint work, mirror and my ego.
To get on the road with a bike, fuel, tax, insurance etc = £1,000
Car Insurance = Over £1,000
Simple Maths, n00b
Car Insurance = Over £1,000
Simple Maths, n00b
Plus, you learn a lot more riding a bike for a year (about road craft, road condition, hazard awareness and perception) than if you wait and go to cars, because the bike can be sold (maybe not for profit, but for not much loss), and because freedom at 16 (to go to work, to visit friends and what not) is very liberating.
Just because you weren't allowed a moped by your mummy James doesn't mean Jack shouldn't have one.
Just because you weren't allowed a moped by your mummy James doesn't mean Jack shouldn't have one.
I want a bike. Too bad I want one that I'd me more likely to get killed on by getting hit by traffic like some people have had happen locally. It seems to always be old people too who merge and smash a motorcyclist.
I didn't go for a scooter at 16 on basis that I'd rather save and start driving as soon as possible, for me I have a need to do a regular longish run that would be a pain, although possible, on a scooter and bikes have never really interested me. I have a friend though who started riding a scooter aged 16 and is now onto big bikes, having never bothered to learn to ride a car, in the end I think it cost us both about the same seeing as the car test/lessons cost more but he's taken 3 tests/courses IIRC.
The way I treat the roads is that everyone is out to get you. See all other road users as potential accidents.
The only downside is that I'm now slightly paranoid.:eek: :hide:
Basicly the same here Mackie, treat everyone as a dumb inconsiderate twat who will do what you least expect them to. 
Unlucky though Jak, to be quite honest I was the same as you, well not quite as bad to fall off but had alot of times when I was just going to fast or braking to hard.
The worst one I had was into a corner like the one you described, down a hill and a 90 right, while just touching the front brakes (and rear) went over a drain cover and I can quite happily say I was lucky not to have to change my pants when I got home. The grip came back after the drain cover but it certainly taught me how easy it is to just lose the front end.
Also roundabouts, 7am on a foggy cold greasy morning, some 4x4 up your arse so your i'm just going at a fast ish pace and the rear starts snaking around, it's just so easy on a moped, luckally I never crashed mine, but I have crashed one of my mates one a couple of years ago, basicly the same but the road was gravely and I slid off the side, hit a bank and landed on the road.
When you crash once you probarly wont crash in the same way again so it's a good lesson to learn early on.
Unlucky though Jak, to be quite honest I was the same as you, well not quite as bad to fall off but had alot of times when I was just going to fast or braking to hard.
The worst one I had was into a corner like the one you described, down a hill and a 90 right, while just touching the front brakes (and rear) went over a drain cover and I can quite happily say I was lucky not to have to change my pants when I got home.
The grip came back after the drain cover but it certainly taught me how easy it is to just lose the front end.Also roundabouts, 7am on a foggy cold greasy morning, some 4x4 up your arse so your i'm just going at a fast ish pace and the rear starts snaking around, it's just so easy on a moped, luckally I never crashed mine, but I have crashed one of my mates one a couple of years ago, basicly the same but the road was gravely and I slid off the side, hit a bank and landed on the road.
When you crash once you probarly wont crash in the same way again so it's a good lesson to learn early on.
It's all fixed (if the paint looks a little dodgy...), getting a new light off eBay (hopefully)
It seems irrespective of what speed i do on my bike i get overtaken - in a 60 it makes sense, but when i'm speeding in a 30?!
It seems irrespective of what speed i do on my bike i get overtaken - in a 60 it makes sense, but when i'm speeding in a 30?!
You're riding a scooter, get used to it :P
Yeah, not that i've crashed on them, but drain covers are LETHAL.
I live in NYC (live in Brooklyn, work in Manhattan) and everyone IS out to get you here. Roads are crap and taxi's are beyond dangerous. It's till a lot of fun riding the white line while everyonr else is stuck.
FUnny thing is, I never crashed since I moved to NYC. Knock on wood, indeed.
FUnny thing is, I never crashed since I moved to NYC. Knock on wood, indeed.
Crashed My Bike :(
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FGED GREDG RDFGDR GSFDG