6 ms·

I did a couple of 2000+ km tours in Europe on a... motorcycle. It's not sports, it has a big carbon footprint and gas can be expensive, but you can experience s

by bambax 4y ago

I did a couple of 2000+ km tours in Europe on a... motorcycle. It's not sports, it has a big carbon footprint and gas can be expensive, but you can experience some of the same benefits: take less traveled roads, stop anywhere, meet people. I ride a bike every day but only on short distances; on a tour I would be afraid of not being able to pack enough things (clothes, shoes...) But it's a neat idea.

Cockbrand 4y ago
> on a tour I would be afraid of not being able to pack enough things You can always start small with a weekend trip and see which of the items you packed you actually needed, and you'll find out which items you forgot to pack. If you take good note of these, you'll be a proficient and efficient packer very soon, and you'll go on trips that last for days or weeks with the exact amount of stuff you need. And at least in Europe, the next supermarket is never so far away that you can' t reach it on the next day in case you did forget something essential.
deebosong 4y ago
I don't ride mopeds/ scooters/ motorcycles. I've done a couple of cross country road trips. I do cycle pretty much every day for fitness, fun, and challenging myself. But just like you did, I kinda feel like cross country road trips would be excellent on back roads via motorcycles. In a car, it's a bit disconnected and insulated. On a bike, it just seems way too slow and tiresome. Only things I'd want in a cross country motorcycle is: a machine that's under 50 pounds, has a max speed of 50 mph (I'd prefer to keep it at 20-30 mph), goes 300 miles per gallon, and costs under $3000. SO I GUESS I WON'T BE TAKING THAT CROSS COUNTRY MOTORCYCLE TRIP EVER THEN.
- bambax 4y ago
  You're describing my first moped: https://www.mobylette-mag.fr/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/caracteristiques-techniques-peugeot-103-sp-1.jpg https://www.mobylette-mag.fr/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/cara... They don't make those anymore, but they were incredibly fun to ride (and at the time, it cost 6000FF new, which translates to maybe €1000-1500 today).
- JKCalhoun 4y ago
  Yeah, Honda Trail 150. But, of course, it's over 50 pounds and new over $3K.
newaccount74 4y ago
I did both, and I think motorcycle tours and bicycle tours are very different. On a bicycle, you'll be a lot closer to nature. A lot of paths I use are closed to motor traffic and you can't ride with a motorcycle. On the motorcycle, you can cover more ground and see a lot more different places in the same time. Also, cars don't feel as dangerous, so you can ride roads with lots of car traffic that I wouldn't ride on a bicycle.
- randomluck040 4y ago
  Also you can hit the twisties with the motorcycle :) I think both are very different as well for the reasons you have mentioned. I think it depends a lot on where you want to go in what amount of time. On a weekend on the motorcycle you can travel to another country in Europe, on bike it wouldn’t be possible for me because the border is too far away. I believe it’s two different philosophies, for me the motorcycle is the middleground between car and bicycle. Depending on the motorcycle you have a different kind of freedom compared to a car.
thoms_a 4y ago
Came here to say this. Bicycling is absolute madness to me in any location that doesn't have dedicated separate bike paths. You are maximizing all possible sources of risk by riding a bicycle on shared roads. I've ridden motorcycles since I was 16, and everyone always sees me as the daredevil. Yet, I still think bicycle commuters are the true madmen. Zero protection, can't keep up with traffic, your very presence is a psychological irritant to motorists which causes them to wish you harm, etc. But don't take my word for it: https://youtu.be/wM8Xli2KTzI https://youtu.be/wM8Xli2KTzI My only advice to cyclists: put your bike on your car's bike rack, take to a bike path and enjoy. If you want to get on a road on two wheels, buy a motorcycle and wear every piece of protective gear you can afford. You (and your family) can thank me later.
- ervine 4y ago
  I don't have a car. Cyclists don't need your advice, we know it's increasing our risk to ride around idiot drivers. Let's change the rhetoric from "cycling is dangerous" to "driving a car is a serious responsibility".
- cycomanic 4y ago
  > Came here to say this. Bicycling is absolute madness to me in any location that doesn't have dedicated separate bike paths. You are maximizing all possible sources of risk by riding a bicycle on shared roads. > I've ridden motorcycles since I was 16, and everyone always sees me as the daredevil. Yet, I still think bicycle commuters are the true madmen. Zero protection, can't keep up with traffic, your very presence is a psychological irritant to motorists which causes them to wish you harm, etc. > But don't take my word for it: https://youtu.be/wM8Xli2KTzI https://youtu.be/wM8Xli2KTzI Whatever one might think about the general premise, but this video is absolute rubbish. All the little example videos he puts in is of people riding on crazy tuned e-bikes or downhill bikes etc.. On the other hand the few instances of motorcycling videos show him just riding along in traffic, a bit disingenuous. > My only advice to cyclists: put your bike on your car's bike rack, take to a bike path and enjoy. If you want to get on a road on two wheels, buy a motorcycle and wear every piece of protective gear you can afford. You (and your family) can thank me later. Considering that the article points to bike paths off general roads your post is a bit redundant. I would still question your premise. You ride a motorbike beside the fact that motorcycle deaths and serious injuries outstrip cycling ones by quite a margin (it's right there in the video you posted). So I guess safety is not your main priority. Moreover, if we consider overall health benefits you will live longer if you commute by bike, so if health is your priority you should absolute bike.
jacquesm 4y ago
And the big one - for me - it's noisy! Bikes are utterly silent so you don't spook wildlife and the locals tend to be a lot more friendly than if you disturb their neighborhood with your motorbike.
- robin_reala 4y ago
  I’ve got a bike with a belt drive and that’s freakishly quiet. Would recommend if you’re optimising for peace.
  - jacquesm 4y ago
    I really like the belt drives but I don't like the required split in the frame.
- Lio 4y ago
  Yeah there’s not much more magical than going round a bend on the bike and coming face to face with a stag. He looked at me and I looked at him, didn’t seem spooked at all. Being able to ride the quietest country roads regularly makes me really happy that I don’t live in a city.
  - jacquesm 4y ago
    A few weeks ago I almost tripped over a fairly massive wild boar, dusk at the Hoge Veluwe. Super impressive up close (and the most dangerous animal in Europe right now). Fortunately I have very good brakes :)
    - Lio 4y ago
      I think I'd have needed a new chamois if I'd have seen one of them up close... :P
      - jacquesm 4y ago
        It was over so fast that I didn't have time to get scared. There are quite a few of them in that area (~50) and I know it well so I'm somewhat prepared but normally you see them coming from some distance away, this one (a pretty beefy male) just sauntered out from between a bunch of trees very close to the bike trail.
SirZimzim 4y ago
It's still too fast for you to really take things in.

by bambax 4y ago

Cockbrand 4y ago

> on a tour I would be afraid of not being able to pack enough things You can always start small with a weekend trip and see which of the items you packed you actually needed, and you'll find out which items you forgot to pack. If you take good note of these, you'll be a proficient and efficient packer very soon, and you'll go on trips that last for days or weeks with the exact amount of stuff you need. And at least in Europe, the next supermarket is never so far away that you can' t reach it on the next day in case you did forget something essential.

deebosong 4y ago

I don't ride mopeds/ scooters/ motorcycles. I've done a couple of cross country road trips. I do cycle pretty much every day for fitness, fun, and challenging myself. But just like you did, I kinda feel like cross country road trips would be excellent on back roads via motorcycles. In a car, it's a bit disconnected and insulated. On a bike, it just seems way too slow and tiresome. Only things I'd want in a cross country motorcycle is: a machine that's under 50 pounds, has a max speed of 50 mph (I'd prefer to keep it at 20-30 mph), goes 300 miles per gallon, and costs under $3000. SO I GUESS I WON'T BE TAKING THAT CROSS COUNTRY MOTORCYCLE TRIP EVER THEN.

bambax 4y ago
You're describing my first moped: https://www.mobylette-mag.fr/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/caracteristiques-techniques-peugeot-103-sp-1.jpg https://www.mobylette-mag.fr/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/cara... They don't make those anymore, but they were incredibly fun to ride (and at the time, it cost 6000FF new, which translates to maybe €1000-1500 today).
JKCalhoun 4y ago
Yeah, Honda Trail 150. But, of course, it's over 50 pounds and new over $3K.

newaccount74 4y ago

I did both, and I think motorcycle tours and bicycle tours are very different. On a bicycle, you'll be a lot closer to nature. A lot of paths I use are closed to motor traffic and you can't ride with a motorcycle. On the motorcycle, you can cover more ground and see a lot more different places in the same time. Also, cars don't feel as dangerous, so you can ride roads with lots of car traffic that I wouldn't ride on a bicycle.

randomluck040 4y ago
Also you can hit the twisties with the motorcycle :) I think both are very different as well for the reasons you have mentioned. I think it depends a lot on where you want to go in what amount of time. On a weekend on the motorcycle you can travel to another country in Europe, on bike it wouldn’t be possible for me because the border is too far away. I believe it’s two different philosophies, for me the motorcycle is the middleground between car and bicycle. Depending on the motorcycle you have a different kind of freedom compared to a car.

thoms_a 4y ago

Came here to say this. Bicycling is absolute madness to me in any location that doesn't have dedicated separate bike paths. You are maximizing all possible sources of risk by riding a bicycle on shared roads. I've ridden motorcycles since I was 16, and everyone always sees me as the daredevil. Yet, I still think bicycle commuters are the true madmen. Zero protection, can't keep up with traffic, your very presence is a psychological irritant to motorists which causes them to wish you harm, etc. But don't take my word for it: https://youtu.be/wM8Xli2KTzI https://youtu.be/wM8Xli2KTzI My only advice to cyclists: put your bike on your car's bike rack, take to a bike path and enjoy. If you want to get on a road on two wheels, buy a motorcycle and wear every piece of protective gear you can afford. You (and your family) can thank me later.

ervine 4y ago
I don't have a car. Cyclists don't need your advice, we know it's increasing our risk to ride around idiot drivers. Let's change the rhetoric from "cycling is dangerous" to "driving a car is a serious responsibility".
cycomanic 4y ago
> Came here to say this. Bicycling is absolute madness to me in any location that doesn't have dedicated separate bike paths. You are maximizing all possible sources of risk by riding a bicycle on shared roads. > I've ridden motorcycles since I was 16, and everyone always sees me as the daredevil. Yet, I still think bicycle commuters are the true madmen. Zero protection, can't keep up with traffic, your very presence is a psychological irritant to motorists which causes them to wish you harm, etc. > But don't take my word for it: https://youtu.be/wM8Xli2KTzI https://youtu.be/wM8Xli2KTzI Whatever one might think about the general premise, but this video is absolute rubbish. All the little example videos he puts in is of people riding on crazy tuned e-bikes or downhill bikes etc.. On the other hand the few instances of motorcycling videos show him just riding along in traffic, a bit disingenuous. > My only advice to cyclists: put your bike on your car's bike rack, take to a bike path and enjoy. If you want to get on a road on two wheels, buy a motorcycle and wear every piece of protective gear you can afford. You (and your family) can thank me later. Considering that the article points to bike paths off general roads your post is a bit redundant. I would still question your premise. You ride a motorbike beside the fact that motorcycle deaths and serious injuries outstrip cycling ones by quite a margin (it's right there in the video you posted). So I guess safety is not your main priority. Moreover, if we consider overall health benefits you will live longer if you commute by bike, so if health is your priority you should absolute bike.

jacquesm 4y ago

And the big one - for me - it's noisy! Bikes are utterly silent so you don't spook wildlife and the locals tend to be a lot more friendly than if you disturb their neighborhood with your motorbike.

robin_reala 4y ago
I’ve got a bike with a belt drive and that’s freakishly quiet. Would recommend if you’re optimising for peace.
- jacquesm 4y ago
  I really like the belt drives but I don't like the required split in the frame.
Lio 4y ago
Yeah there’s not much more magical than going round a bend on the bike and coming face to face with a stag. He looked at me and I looked at him, didn’t seem spooked at all. Being able to ride the quietest country roads regularly makes me really happy that I don’t live in a city.
- jacquesm 4y ago
  A few weeks ago I almost tripped over a fairly massive wild boar, dusk at the Hoge Veluwe. Super impressive up close (and the most dangerous animal in Europe right now). Fortunately I have very good brakes :)
  - Lio 4y ago
    I think I'd have needed a new chamois if I'd have seen one of them up close... :P
    - jacquesm 4y ago
      It was over so fast that I didn't have time to get scared. There are quite a few of them in that area (~50) and I know it well so I'm somewhat prepared but normally you see them coming from some distance away, this one (a pretty beefy male) just sauntered out from between a bunch of trees very close to the bike trail.

SirZimzim 4y ago

It's still too fast for you to really take things in.