Saxophones Carrying a tenor on a (motor)bike?

[jonf]

Would you advise a beginner on sax to buy a top of the range Selmer just because that's what he/she fancies?

If a beginner has the cash, and that's what they want, then yes.

But back to bikes, I'd always suggest going for a mid sized bike from the off, passing a full test through DAS. One of the guys in the office was asking me about this subject just yesterday and that was my advice (and that of the other long time biker in the office as well). Less limiting, more capable, much easier to ride, more comfort, more road presence. W800 is perfect for this. Not just my view, either. MCN said much the same.

Jay, if you're worried, take your test before buying the bike. Not only will that leave you knowing what the score is, but if you do DAS, you'll have had a few days riding around on a 500, which will prepare you well. The DAS will be knackering, but it'll also be a bundle of fun. Don't worry about the one specific bike, there are 100's of bikes of that sort available, so if the one you've seen goes, don't worry, just get another one. If you wanted a cheaper option, have a look at something like this - inexpensive and virtually indestructible.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-CBF...ultDomain_3&hash=item2802895de0#ht_166wt_1399

Jon

 

[Jay]

If a beginner has the cash, and that's what they want, then yes.

But back to bikes, I'd always suggest going for a mid sized bike from the off, passing a full test through DAS. One of the guys in the office was asking me about this subject just yesterday and that was my advice (and that of the other long time biker in the office as well). Less limiting, more capable, much easier to ride, more comfort, more road presence. W800 is perfect for this. Not just my view, either. MCN said much the same.

Jay, if you're worried, take your test before buying the bike. Not only will that leave you knowing what the score is, but if you do DAS, you'll have had a few days riding around on a 500, which will prepare you well. The DAS will be knackering, but it'll also be a bundle of fun. Don't worry about the one specific bike, there are 100's of bikes of that sort available, so if the one you've seen goes, don't worry, just get another one. If you wanted a cheaper option, have a look at something like this - inexpensive and virtually indestructible.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-CBF...ultDomain_3&hash=item2802895de0#ht_166wt_1399

Jon

Thank you - yes, that makes a lot of sense 🙂

(And the chap I'm going to train with has a tie-in with the local Kawasaki dealer, so I'm sure could have one 'waiting in the wings' for me if I wanted).

 

[richardr]

It's not unusual for members of this Cafe to receive conflicting advice and while Jonf's is opposed to mine, he may be right. It all depends on you, Jay, and what you want.
I disagree with Jonf's remark, "less limiting, more capable, much easier to ride, more comfort, more road presence". I cannot see why a bigger bike is easier to ride or inherently more comfortable than a little one. "Limiting" - it depends on what you want to do and bigger bikes have limits of their own. For example, you can't lean a larger bike against a wall or a hedge where there's nowhere firm for its stand. With an expensive machine you have to be worried about scratching or marking it, not an issue if your bike stands you at little money. I think that road presence depends more on the rider than the bike.

 

[Colin the Bear]

Cart/Horse. Take the test, then pick a bike. Have you sat on a bike yet? It's not like the car. Nothing adjusts, seat position etc. You need to be able to reach all the controls and the floor, while feeling comfortable. There's a lot more to biking than meets the eye. If I was starting out, I wouldn't go the 125 route. Nobody rides them unless they have to. There were hardly any on the road till the learner limit was changed.

Take the training and test and decide from there.

 

[Jay]

Cart/Horse. Take the test, then pick a bike. Have you sat on a bike yet? It's not like the car. Nothing adjusts, seat position etc. You need to be able to reach all the controls and the floor, while feeling comfortable. There's a lot more to biking than meets the eye. If I was starting out, I wouldn't go the 125 route. Nobody rides them unless they have to. There were hardly any on the road till the learner limit was changed.

Take the training and test and decide from there.

Yeh, I know. I'm good at getting carts in front of horses. I've sat on some bikes, enough to know that I don't like the 'sports' riding position nor the very laid back cruisers - I prefer upright. And I could flat foot from a 790 mm seat.

If I do pass my test though, I'm off work for 5 weeks so I want a bike ready to ride. I'll pop into the dealers and have a chat with them.

 

[Colin the Bear]

It's a buyers market. Don't seem too keen and you'll get a good deal. There's loads of bikes out there.

 

[ProfJames]

It's not unusual for members of this Cafe to receive conflicting advice and while Jonf's is opposed to mine, he may be right. It all depends on you, Jay, and what you want.
I disagree with Jonf's remark, "less limiting, more capable, much easier to ride, more comfort, more road presence". I cannot see why a bigger bike is easier to ride or inherently more comfortable than a little one. "Limiting" - it depends on what you want to do and bigger bikes have limits of their own. For example, you can't lean a larger bike against a wall or a hedge where there's nowhere firm for its stand. With an expensive machine you have to be worried about scratching or marking it, not an issue if your bike stands you at little money. I think that road presence depends more on the rider than the bike.

Apologies @richardr but I disagree with all of this. Have you ever ridden a motorbike? @jonf is sopt on with his advice. Bigger bikes are more comfortable, easier to ride and you can "lean" them if you wish! Althoough I have never seen this done in the UK by any motorcyclist!

Would suggest what jonf stated.....rent a bike while you are doing your test.

 

[Colin the Bear]

I couldn't ride a 125. Too much of me and not enough bike. I'd get a terrible wedgie.

 

[Jay]

Apologies @richardr but I disagree with all of this. Have you ever ridden a motorbike? @jonf is sopt on with his advice. Bigger bikes are more comfortable, easier to ride and you can "lean" them if you wish! Althoough I have never seen this done in the UK by any motorcyclist!

Would suggest what jonf stated.....rent a bike while you are doing your test.

I can use the 'school bikes' while I'm training.

 

[Jay]

I couldn't ride a 125. Too much of me and not enough bike. I'd get a terrible wedgie.

Whilst not as tall as you, I'm a bit bothered about this too - I'd quite like the bike to weigh more than me! 😳

 

[Pyrografix]

Do you need to buy a bike before you do the training? When I went on a refresher course a few years ago, the company provided the bike, and I had an option of 125, 500 and 900cc bikes (I had already passed my test, but had a long time without 2 wheels (20years) to accommodate family commitments!) to trial ride on private ground, with mock road markings and traffic situation etc. before going out on to the road. I assumed that all businesses which offer the level of training you're looking for would do the same....

 

[Pyrografix]

Cross-posted with your reply above.... Ooops

 

[kevgermany]

Get the test, then sort out a bike. What's the problem, apart from a perfectly human desire to spend, spend spend?

 

[kevgermany]

I rode for many years. Started on an 80, then a 125, then a 500. The small bikes were a pain. Too slow, too buzzy and no way to relax. OK for commuting, but not for anything else. I once went to London on the back of a Honda 50, but that's something I wouldn't do again. Something that's comfortable cruising, and with enough weight to be stable, but not an unwieldy lump like a Harley. You also need to think about your drive. Something heavy, from what you described, is going to be a problem.

On the riding position, wait until you've ridden at motorway speeds. You need to be leaning forwards a reasonable amount, otherwise you're just hanging on. Either that or make sure you have a decent fairing.

 

[Jay]

I rode for many years. Started on an 80, then a 125, then a 500. The small bikes were a pain. Too slow, too buzzy and no way to relax. OK for commuting, but not for anything else. I once went to London on the back of a Honda 50, but that's something I wouldn't do again. Something that's comfortable cruising, and with enough weight to be stable, but not an unwieldy lump like a Harley. You also need to think about your drive. Something heavy, from what you described, is going to be a problem.

On the riding position, wait until you've ridden at motorway speeds. You need to be leaning forwards a reasonable amount, otherwise you're just hanging on. Either that or make sure you have a decent fairing.

Hadn't thought enough about the need to be streamlined! The hurry is just so I can play (um, practise) as soon as possible – she's says, impatiently 🙂

 

[kevgermany]

The hurry is just so I can play (um, practise) as soon as possible – she's says, impatiently 🙂

Thought so. Perfectly natural. I seem to remember something simliar with saxes a few months ago.

 

[Jay]

Thought so. Perfectly natural. I seem to remember something simliar with saxes a few months ago.

Yep 🙂 God grant me patience - and hurry up about it! 😛 Not one of my virtues 😉

 

[Jeanette]

Would you advise a beginner on sax to buy a top of the range Selmer just because that's what he/she fancies? Surely you'd suggest being less ambitious just in case he/she doesn't take to saxophony - not everyone who starts carries on. Isn't Jay's situation where she doesn't know whether she'll pass her test at first go analogous?

I was thinking more choosing between alto, sop, bari and tenor 🙂

and thinking more about it I would always recommend the best you can afford, but not necessarily brand new in case you decided to resell, unless you can afford to lose the depreciation.

Jx

 

[richardr]

In response to Prof. James, there's no need to apologise for disagreeing with me. We all have our own opinions and the Cafe would be terribly boring if we all thought the same thing. He asks, "have you ever ridden a motorbike?" Yes, I've owned several bikes and done plenty of miles on them. My opinions are based on my own experience. One part of that experience is the fun I've had on little bikes. As well as my big bike I always used to have a little winter bike to ride on salty roads, light enough for me to drag it through snowdrifts, one that didn't matter if I dropped it on an icy road. And in, in summer, I'd often find myself doing a journey on my little winter bike just because it was more fun.

 

[ProfJames]

In response to Prof. James, there's no need to apologise for disagreeing with me. We all have our own opinions and the Cafe would be terribly boring if we all thought the same thing. He asks, "have you ever ridden a motorbike?" Yes, I've owned several bikes and done plenty of miles on them. My opinions are based on my own experience. One part of that experience is the fun I've had on little bikes. As well as my big bike I always used to have a little winter bike to ride on salty roads, light enough for me to drag it through snowdrifts, one that didn't matter if I dropped it on an icy road. And in, in summer, I'd often find myself doing a journey on my little winter bike just because it was more fun.

Thanks Richard, understood! 🙂