Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Planning, Trip > TRAVEL Hints and Tips
TRAVEL Hints and Tips Post your TIPS to travellers - all the interesting little tidbits you learned on the road about packing, where to get stuff, and how to cope with problems. Please make sure the subject describes the tip clearly!
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 17 Oct 2005
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: london
Posts: 14
does anybody enjoy city riding?

I love riding bikes like most other people here do,but getting ready in the morning to travel across 8 miles of london with the good chance of meeting the accident waiting to happen type or the need to see a good doctor type sometimes makes me want to get on the tube!!,which i know is more uncomfortable than piles!
I'm interested to know if anyone gets enjoyment from riding in a busy city?or is it just me?

Thanks all

Lee
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 17 Oct 2005
simmo's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: melbourne
Posts: 555
Yes...but its best on a motard with your brain conveniently disconected from your body.
__________________
Close to Antarctica and a long way from reality
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 19 Oct 2005
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Mexico City Mexico
Posts: 56
well not exactly, but i do know that being able to grip the seat firmly with your butt cheeks will add to the fun and sometimes save you.. i have tried this many times and it usually works..
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 29 Oct 2005
Sime66's Avatar
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Wild West (of Crete)
Posts: 283
I absolutely bloody love it. I had six months off work before leaving for Africa and I used to ride around central London all day for laughs. I particularly enjoyed the Rush Hour Traffic Light Moto GP Grid at about 5.30pm every day. (I'm not being sarcastic). I also quite enjoy riding around African cities, but that might be because that's when the luggage comes off.
Simon
__________________
Simon

London-Cape Town 2004-06
Buenos Aires-Vancouver 2008-10:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/fitzpatrick
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 29 Oct 2005
Smellybiker's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Missing, presumed fed
Posts: 295
Sao Paolo rush hour was, errm, intersting.

Fun, probably not, but theres something nice about having THAT MUCH adrenaline in your system.


------------------
Last seen in S.America, missing presumed fed.
http://www.smellybiker.com
__________________
Missing, presumed fed.
https://youtube.com/@ChileBob
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 30 Oct 2005
Gold Member
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Auckland & Wellington, New Zealand
Posts: 66
I love it....

Sao Paulo was definitely the wildest (non Indian) city ride (awesome fun following the couriers on tiny bikes, lane splitting at max speed),
London is ok but bike parking sucks,
Paris is insanely fun with some glorious rides along the Seine as well,
US cities suck (cars don't see you),
Rome and Milan are lots of fun - actually any city in Europe is fun.
Central American cities are too crowded but the bike is so superior than the car that you just can't help laughing.

Rio is awesome - bikes make their own rules, and it is alway warm. Not much protective gear used though..

Cities to me are where being on a bike puts you at your biggest advantage over cars - you just cruise past them while they are parked in traffic jams, then park your bike on the footpath/pavement outside your destination while cars search for (expensive) car parks.

In most cities you have a completely independant "moto" set of rules - you can go the wrong way down streets, on the footpath, in bus lanes, through barricades and even on pedsestrian streets. Of course you do this in a respectable sensible manner, just like the other motorcyclists. The best cities (Rio, SP, Europe) are used to the bikes and expect you to lane split, filter to the front of queues and park anywhere...
L
__________________
http://www.elevatorfactoids.com
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 10 Feb 2006
Red Bull's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Clayton > Melbourne > Australia
Posts: 141
Quote:
Originally posted by y_kiwi:
I love it....
Cities to me are where being on a bike puts you at your biggest advantage over cars - you just cruise past them while they are parked in traffic jams, then park your bike on the footpath/pavement outside your destination while cars search for (expensive) car parks.
L
Couldn't agree more with you on this, this is especially true of Indian roads. Though I prefer the Highways. Leaving the Cars behind while riding in the city traffic is something I love and have fun doing.

The only problem we have here is of the Dust and pollution when you are on the Bike since you are much more exposed to the SOOT from trucks and buses.
Red Bull

------------------
Ride far, ride safe , ride often,,,...
http://theroyalenfieldbullet.blogspot.com/
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/hari_iyer_s/my_photos
__________________
Red Bull
Ride safe, ride far, ride often,,,...
http://theroyalenfieldbullet.blogspot.com/
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/hari_iyer_s/my_photos
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 10 Feb 2006
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Toronto, ON, CA
Posts: 59
Riding around the city is not may favourite.
BUT...living & working in downtown Toronto forces me to enjoy daily adventures while commuting 7 kms. to my office.

I look at this as a plus though!

The urban/rush hour journey tests/trains my senses (visual, audible and intuitive) by having to deal with trolly (streetcars we call them here) tracks, bicyclists (a species not yet researched by Nat Geo), taxis (the u-turn kings), SUV's, pedestrians, buses, etc. And...all on cell phones!!

Many of my riding buddies live outside the city. They are quite nervous when they ride down here. I, on the other hand, deal with it as an every-day occurance.

It has it's benefits...to a degree.
__________________
--
http://www.motorcycle-overland.com
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 11 Feb 2006
electric_monk's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Waterford, Ireland
Posts: 309
Dublin at any time of the day is like a game of russian roulette. 70% of motorcyclists are on provisional licences which does not restrict you in capacity and about 40% of all car drivers are on provisionals amd driving unaccompanied. Half the drivers don't know the rules and the other half don't care, that's why we have one of the worst road fatality rates in Europe. Rush hour lasts from about 7.00am until 8pm. It is guaranteed to wake you up in the morning.
Oh and I work as a bike instructor in the middle of it all and love it.

------------------
The electric monk always has faith.
__________________
The electric monk always has faith.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 12 Feb 2006
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 29
I too love to ride in the city of Tucson, where I live. About a million people and not much hiway. And many snow birds and drivers from mexico. I use my Black Panther Motard. It seperates the riders from the well you get it.... After over 40 years of pretty much non-stop riding I've still never been in an accident with a car or crashed on the pavement. But as I tell my wife a lot, I am the best rider in the world....

Bill
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 12 Feb 2006
Robbert's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Gent, Belgium
Posts: 523
hmmmm. This afternoon was fun because it was snowing. But other wise... half of the city has a 30km/h speed limit which is enforced to. Getting cought at 60 costs your license. Now, which gear are you driving in at 30?
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 21 Jun 2006
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: West Cork Eire
Posts: 36
yup

id have to agree with simmo about bieng on a supermoto, with disconnected brain, keeping to one wheel or the other.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 27 Jul 2006
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,654
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rossa
id have to agree with simmo about bieng on a supermoto, with disconnected brain, keeping to one wheel or the other.
My XR650R in motard spec deffo made in more fun than it should be but i just HATE traffic and idiotic car drivers trying to kill you
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 29 Jul 2006
mj's Avatar
mj mj is offline
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 303
I would say it depends on the city. For example, even though I have lots of experience with'em, I hate Italian cities - the scooters keep driving me crazy, at times I wish I had a machinegun (no wait, make that a rocket launcher) mounted to my bike so I could do nature's job and kill a moron that is going to die in a horrible self-inflicted traffic accident some day anyway... that way I might at least save somebody else's life. Actually, there's probably no city I would enjoy driving through. I can deal with it but I wouldn't exactly say I'm enjoying it. On the other hand, as tor1150r has pointed out, it sharpens your senses, both visual and intuitive, therefore I tend to drive through rush hour as often as possible the last few weeks right before I go on tour.
__________________
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty and well preserved piece, but to skid across the line broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil, shouting GERONIMO!"
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 6 Aug 2006
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Cardiff
Posts: 31
I loved working as a courier in London. You got a feel for the mood and herd mentality of the traffic. You see the lines and gaps opening and closing; trying to anticipate where it would happen so that you could flick your bike across into that lane to keep your speed. It made me feel extremely alive and only partly because of a fear of not being that way for too long.
I have to say that was over 15 years ago though. The last time I tried to go at dispatch rider speed there it scared the crap out of me.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 03:07.