Seeking Advice on Motorcycle Riding in Sydney Region

alikazi on 19/04/2018 - 00:16
Last edited 19/04/2018 - 00:18

Hi. I want to buy a sport/super sport type of motorcycle. My eyes are on CBR 600RR. I live in Liverpool, work in Surry Hills though I will be moving closer to city in the next few months. I commute to work and everywhere by bus and train/uber since last 3 years I've been in Australia. Originally I am from India but have lived and driven a car in the US for 5 years and in Malaysia for a year. I have a full license from India and I am planning to give the test here to get an Australian license. I have more than 12 years of riding experience although on less than 300cc motorcycles. Never got in an accident. I have not yet driven on Australian roads, but I have taken a few car lessons just to get a hang of driving here and to pick up quirks that one does only by driving (not reading and watching). I am single, not married, no kids. So a car is not necessary right now.

There are a few reasons I want to buy a motorcycle. First, I waste a lot of my time taking the bus to and from the station and walking home to and from the bus stop (at least 40 minutes daily including bus ride). It's my fault to live far from the station, I know. But if I had a vehicle, I could save 25 to 30 minutes out of it. Plus there would be the added convenience to leave the house any time and come back any time. I am completely ok with taking the train as they are mostly on time and convenient. I am a programmer, so I code while in the train. The time doesn't get wasted.

Secondly, everyone tells me finding car parking is much harder in Sydney region, especially at the station unless you get there before 7. So if I bought a car, I may lose time looking for parking wherever I go and over time end up leaving it at home and just taking the bus. I am hoping motorcycle parking is easier to find.

Third, fuel and maintainence will be cheaper for a bike than a car. Also, buying a good quality bike can be cheaper than buying a good quality car.

Fourth, I love motorcycles! At some point in my life I was going to buy a motorcycle no matter what.

I am looking for some general advice from the community + over the following topics:

  • How safe is it to ride in Sydney traffic? Let's say 1 or 2 days a week I want to ride all the way to work: from Liverpool to Surry Hills. Given that I will leave my home around 7 am, what is the safety like? Do people hate "bikies" around here and commit road rage even if you are being a decent human being on the road? Is it safe otherwise? Are people aggressive in general or patient?

  • How safe will it be to ride in winter? It doesn't snow in Sydney, but is there ice on the roads? I will invest in good winter gear and make no compromises on tires. What's your advice?

  • Why are there so few motorcycles in Sydney in general? Is there something that people of Sydney know that makes them not own a motorcycle? What am I missing?

  • Is motorcycle parking generally easier to find?

  • Can you suggest me good and affordable mechanics for motorcycle repairs, modifications?

  • What's your advice on buying a motorcycle from a dealer? What should I watch out for and what should I check? Any money saving tips?

What I promise to do:
- Learn and follow the law. I will take my adrenaline hit on track days on weekends.
- Never drink and drive. I mean it. Not only for the law, but for me alcohol is more boring than being on a motorcycle.
- Take courses on riding as far advanced as they go and as much as I can afford them, to give me enough confidence. I will not assume I know everything. I will continually learn from resources I can find online and offline.
- Never compromise on good quality gear and bike components, tires etc.
- Have comprehensive insurance.

Thanks for reading.

Automotive Motorcycle New South Wales Safety Sydney

Comments

  • Quantumcat on 19/04/2018 - 00:43
    +1

    Don't forget to actually get a license

    I've only ridden in Sydney once, riding there from Canberra on a weekend and riding around while there. I found it terrifying, but then I also find driving in Sydney a scary experience too so you may not feel the same as you're used to it. Can't comment on availability of parks, but most car parks where I am from have a small dedicated section for motorcycles so parking will probably be easy (and free). Don't park on the footpath if you don't want to get on trouble, and don't park in pay n display car parks in a car spot (even if you buy a ticket it will probably fall off or be taken). If you park in a car spot you have to pay.

    If you're not tackling highways (you said it is mostly just to replace the walk to the station and back) it doesn't make sense to get a 600cc bike, a 125-300 would do fine. There's a discount on registration for under 300cc I believe (I think), and insurance is cheaper the less powerful the bike is. And of course the bike itself is cheaper. 300cc would take a 100 km/hr road fine if not heavily laden for your trips all the way to work if you want to do that.

    Best of luck!

    • alikazi on 19/04/2018 - 15:21

      Thanks for the feedback. I thought about < 300cc bikes but I have already driven such bikes and I feel that on highway they will be slower in the sense that they get pushed to their limits. Heavier bikes are more stable at 100 km/hr. At this point I am willing to spend on registration and the bike itself because I want the bike long term.

    • alikazi on 22/09/2018 - 17:14

      Just wanted to thank you for your comment once again. I have bought a 2018 R6 1 month ago. I went for a new one because first it has more electronics than other manufacturers/older models of self, second because I wanted something long term and I don't want to have a nagging feeling a used bike may break down anytime. Riding experience so far so good. I don't take risks too much, I stay in my lane and just follow the flow of traffic. I lane filter carefully and don't speed. Overall I am happy with my purchase as I save way too much time compared to public transport even during peak hour traffic and the convenience of leaving anytime from anywhere is refreshing.

  • SydStrand on 19/04/2018 - 01:12
    +3

    I used to ride around when I lived in the inner west, now own a bike in Melbourne, and I've done Asia cross-country, but Sydney is possibly the worst. No major accidents yet (touch wood), but a handful of scary near misses due to inattentive drivers. Maybe it's because fewer people cycle in Sydney, so drivers just don't watch out for two-wheelers, but every motorcycle owner has a horror story and probably knows someone who bit the dust.

    I did it for years and it's nice to split lanes during peak hour. If it makes financial sense for you, do it. Sydney never gets too cold, so you don't need handguards, etc., but you're still going to deal with rain, can't park on footpaths, etc.

    Why are there so few motorcycles in Sydney in general?

    It's not Mumbai, most Aussie cities have about the same, cars will always be most common road vehicle

    Is motorcycle parking generally easier to find?

    Just look where other people park. There are nooks all over the city.

    Can you suggest me good and affordable mechanics for motorcycle repairs, modifications?

    I've always used Balmain Motorcycles, good service, affordable

    What's your advice on buying a motorcycle from a dealer? What should I watch out for and what should I check? Any money saving tips?

    Same as buying a car, and there are plenty of threads here and WP dealing with this.

    • alikazi on 19/04/2018 - 16:26

      Cool! Definitely going to have to watch out on a motorcycle. I've had my fair share of near misses too, specially worse in India. Every motorcyclist has those.
      Financially, it definitely makes sense since motorcycles usually dont need as much maintenance as cars, so even if I buy a used bike it is probably more reliable.

    • alikazi on 22/09/2018 - 17:15

      Just wanted to thank you for your comment once again. I have bought a 2018 R6 1 month ago. I went for a new one because first it has more electronics than other manufacturers/older models of self, second because I wanted something long term and I don't want to have a nagging feeling a used bike may break down anytime. Riding experience so far so good. I don't take risks too much, I stay in my lane and just follow the flow of traffic. I lane filter carefully and don't speed. Overall I am happy with my purchase as I save way too much time compared to public transport even during peak hour traffic and the convenience of leaving anytime from anywhere is refreshing.

  • [Deactivated] on 19/04/2018 - 02:19
    +1

    Buy a car less dangerous

    • alikazi on 19/04/2018 - 15:24

      True but thats what I am trying to figure out - how dangerous? If its more dangerous than I can handle, it will justify spending more to buy a car.

  • assface on 19/04/2018 - 10:06
    -2

    Please buy a motorcycle we need less 457.

    • alikazi on 19/04/2018 - 14:28
      +2

      Too late. I got my PR. Now I am eligible for Medicare haha.

  • Tibby on 19/04/2018 - 17:48
    +1

    • How safe is it to ride in Sydney traffic?
      • All depends on you. Awareness, road craft, self-control and experience. These things will increase your safety but if someone out there in a car wants to kill you (probably by accident) you have little to no protection from severe injury. This is the first thing to come to terms with.
      • I ride 3-4 days a week 30 mins to work each way and at a minimum of once a week I encounter a close call. Riding past a car in double lanes and they merge without looking is the most common. Never sit in a car or trucks blind spot and if you are passing a car make some noise.
      • Rear ended by driver not paying attention at stop event. Even if I’m not intending on filtering through 2 lanes of traffic I will always come to a stop near the middle of the 2 lanes, better to be glanced by a car from the side and fall over than to be crushed in-between 2 cars.
      • Don’t get sucked in! They teach this in the rider training and it happens a lot. You come up behind a car and they offer to veer off to the side to let you pass in an area you shouldn’t be. If they hit a bump or notice a cyclist, they will swing back into their lane and push you into oncoming traffic. Only ever pass a car on your terms when its safe.
      • Sydney drivers a generalisation: Unskilled, poorly trained, ignorant, arrogant, selfish, impatient, unaware, careless. Think that of every other road user and expect the unexpected always.
      • Watch dash cam videos. Invaluable insight on what can happen on the road.

    • Liverpool to Surrey Hills.
      • Using the M5 and Eastern distributor in morning traffic is like riding in a parking lot. You will be riding on a fast moving 3 lane highway with the above-mentioned hazards at 100+ km/hr. Then at King Georges road it all comes to a grinding halt and you can sit in the traffic which is incredibly dangerous, or you can filter through many kms of slow moving vehicles which is incredibly dangerous. Practice the trip on weekends before you do it in heavy morning traffic. If you go via Bankstown and Parramatta Road and ” If you find yourself alone, riding in the green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled. For you are in Elysium, and you’re already dead!” – Maximus
      • Some people will be annoyed that you can get to your destination quicker and easier than they and will try and block you from filtering or cut you off, on the other hand you will have people make room for you to pass easier. My experience shows that the majority of people simply don’t care and won’t do a thing.

    • Winter
      • I’ve had no problems riding in winter a good jacket with thermal liner, Kevlar pants with optional thermals under and some winter gloves and its business as usual. Never encountered icy roads. When it’s raining maintain 4-5 car lengths of braking distance, gentle acceleration and braking and don’t lean into corners.

    • Few motor cycles
      • People preach that riding is unsafe. These are the generalised demographic mentioned above. Along the roads I commute to and from work in the past 2 years there have been 3-4 motorcycle fatalities. 3 lanes straight road lots of trucks. The riders I see on the road with me I want to slap half the time either not paying attention or taking risks I wouldn’t ever consider either for the threat of a fine or being killed. To get your licence for a motor cycle is more involved and takes 2 half days of training (L’s) and another day for (P’s). It takes more physical and mental effort to commute on a bike and people are lazy and want to drink coffee, eat food and check FB while they drive to work.

    • Parking
      • Generally easier there are designated bike only bays in the city. You need much less space. Be aware that if you part close behind or in front of a car they will run into it poor visibility in SUVs etc.

    • Mechanic
      • You. Learn.
      • Otherwise pick it like you would anything else check reviews and go in and have a chat.
      • I’ve had workshop staff take time to show me how to fix the problem I’m having and not charge a cent. I’ve also had staff tell me they don’t have time to look up a single part for me, with 4 staff all sitting at computers.

    • Dealer bike
      • I’ve only ever bought bikes from dealers both cases they turned out to be better deals than private sellers at the time but there was an element of luck involved. Do your research ride many demo bikes find one that is the most comfortable.

    • Final thoughts
      • I started riding on a CBR500r, great learner bike.
      • I wanted a CBR600rr, I found it very race oriented aggressive seating position which I found to be uncomfortable. I’m 175cm tall.
      • Suzuki GSXR 750, very comfortable for a sports bike and less expensive than owning a 1000cc
      • I now own a CBR1000rr 2012. Suitable comfort for up to 2-3 hrs of riding, wrists and back get a bit sore after that. Rego $127, CTP $500, Full Comp, $700-1100. Bit expensive to own but a great bike.
      • Recommendation for a commuter bike anything with a more upright posture. I ride with a backpack and its always a treat to ride the CBR500r occasionally. Much easier on the body. You can slay the windys on the weekend on any bike and have a blast.
      • If I could keep my CBR1000rr and buy an extra bike for commuting id go for something like CB1000r or MT-10
      • Use a Gopro or another mounted camera.

    • alikazi on 22/09/2018 - 17:17

      Just wanted to thank you for your comment once again. I have bought a 2018 R6 1 month ago. I went for a new one because first it has more electronics than other manufacturers/older models of self, second because I wanted something long term and I don't want to have a nagging feeling a used bike may break down anytime. Riding experience so far so good. I don't take risks too much, I stay in my lane and just follow the flow of traffic. I lane filter carefully and don't speed. Overall I am happy with my purchase as I save way too much time compared to public transport even during peak hour traffic and the convenience of leaving anytime from anywhere is refreshing.

      I expected to feel very uncomfortable due to R6's aggressive riding position but actually I am fine!! I do feel tired with long hauls but my daily commute to and from work is absolutely more comfortable than I thought.

  • Quantumcat on 19/04/2018 - 19:35

    An extra comment about bike choice, you won't be able to get anything too powerful, it has to be on the LAMS list to be allowed to ride it while on your Ls. http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/roads/licence/approved-m…
    The Honda CBR600RR that you mentioned is not there, so you won't be allowed to ride that (the 500RR is though).

    • alikazi on 22/09/2018 - 17:18

      Just wanted to thank you for your comment once again. I have a full licence from India that I converted to full NSW license by giving the tests. I ended up buying a 2018 Yamaha R6 1 month ago. I went for a new one because first it has more electronics than other manufacturers/older models of self, second because I wanted something long term and I don't want to have a nagging feeling a used bike may break down anytime. Riding experience so far so good. I don't take risks too much, I stay in my lane and just follow the flow of traffic. I lane filter carefully and don't speed. Overall I am happy with my purchase as I save way too much time compared to public transport even during peak hour traffic and the convenience of leaving anytime from anywhere is refreshing.

  • [Deactivated] on 19/04/2018 - 20:43

    I ride to work regularly - North Shore to Surry Hills.

    My advice:

    Never be impatient.

    Ask yourself is it worth Lane Splitting for the time saved vs Risk.
    Sometimes yes, more often than not - no.

    Usually you can get away from traffic lights quicker than the car.
    This is not always the case - be aware of this and give high performance cars space.
    Don't make them wait for you if you have lane split.

    Never lane split past a semi trailer.
    You can get stuck half way if the space is not as wide as you thought.

    Never be impatient.

    Stay out of blind spots.
    Get a bike powerful enough to move you forward in a hurry.

    Anticipate getting cut off.

    Respect the busses and other drivers and they will (usually) respect you.
    It is a pleasure to co-exist in the bus lane on Epping road / Gore Hill in the morning.

    Invest in good quality gear. I use a $19 neck warmer for winter that I got on ebay.
    I also have winter and summer gloves. Don't skimp on boots - you need to protect your ankles.

    Get a brightly coloured or textured helmet so it stands out.
    Don't go black, or other dull colours.

    Remember that your stupidity and risk taking gives us all a bad name.
    As Tibby said -I often just shake my head when I see a statistic drive doing crazy things.

    Never be impatient.

    • alikazi on 22/09/2018 - 17:20

      Just wanted to thank you for your comment once again. I have bought a 2018 Yamaha R6 1 month ago. I went for a new one because first it has more electronics than other manufacturers/older models of self, second because I wanted something long term and I don't want to have a nagging feeling a used bike may break down anytime. Riding experience so far so good. I don't take risks too much, I stay in my lane and just follow the flow of traffic. I lane filter carefully and don't speed. Overall I am happy with my purchase as I save way too much time compared to public transport even during peak hour traffic and the convenience of leaving anytime from anywhere is refreshing.

      About lane splitting - I just don't do it. Its not necessary. I lane filter but not lane split. I get to my destination quicker than public transport and I enjoy my ride, that's all that matters.

  • alvian on 20/04/2018 - 00:28

    Be aware of the sun during your commute between Liverpool and Surry Hills. You'll be facing the sun directly for both the morning and evening journeys and you don't have a sunshade to help. Choose your face shield and sunglasses carefully.

    Do assume the cage drivers are all idiots and out to kill you, so leave yourself plenty of buffers. Have an escape plan for the time when a cage comes too close.

    • alikazi on 22/09/2018 - 17:23

      Just wanted to thank you for your comment once again. I have bought a 2018 Yamaha R6 1 month ago. I went for a new one because first it has more electronics than other manufacturers/older models of self, second because I wanted something long term and I don't want to have a nagging feeling a used bike may break down anytime. Riding experience so far so good. I don't take risks too much, I stay in my lane and just follow the flow of traffic. I lane filter carefully and don't speed. Overall I am happy with my purchase as I save way too much time compared to public transport even during peak hour traffic and the convenience of leaving anytime from anywhere is refreshing.

      During winter I have not had any trouble with the sun. May be in summer I will. My HJC helmet has a built-in drop down visor. I do leave plenty of buffers behind and ahead of me.

  • fantombloo on 20/04/2018 - 01:57

    For bikes, around 40% of crashes are single vehicle, the remainder involve other vehicles. Its just simple statistics that the more you ride the more chance you have of being in an accident with another vehicle. Add peak hour congestion / stressed workers to the mix and the risk gets even higher. The chances of you being in an accident, especially considering the length of your commute, are much higher than for a weekend rider. Whether you want to take that risk is your choice; personally it's not worth it, regardless of the advantages.

    • alikazi on 22/09/2018 - 17:28

      Just wanted to thank you for your comment once again. I have bought a 2018 Yamaha R6 1 month ago. I went for a new one because first it has more electronics than other manufacturers/older models of self, second because I wanted something long term and I don't want to have a nagging feeling a used bike may break down anytime. Riding experience so far so good. I don't take risks too much, I stay in my lane and just follow the flow of traffic. I lane filter carefully and don't speed. Overall I am happy with my purchase as I save way too much time compared to public transport even during peak hour traffic and the convenience of leaving anytime from anywhere is refreshing.

      I mostly travel during slightly off peak hours. I have noticed that there are a few people who drive like crazy and if I notice them around me I let them go ahead. Other than that I don't lane split I behave in a predictable manner. My only worry is a car in front of me going 100+ km/hr suddenly brakes, I apply front, rear brakes and shift down to use engine braking and the car behind me isn't quick to respond, I am going to end up rear ended. This is a massive worry for me and I am trying to figure out how to deal with such a situation and avoid the rear ending. Also I found that most motorcycle accidents happen due to the biker going into a turn too fast. I am careful not to do that.

  • DBBROS on 01/10/2018 - 18:40
    +1

    Is the R6 comfortable for short commutes around the city? I traded my inazuma 250 for a Duke 690 R from a local dealer after getting it on a good deal.Supersports were too uncomfortable for me being a large rider. I live in regional NSW and although I don't have to put up with too much traffic there is lots of trucks around. The servicing wouldn't be that cheaper if you decide to take it to dealership after the warranty expires or if it's a major service. You can cut down the comprehensive insurance cost if you declare that you don't want to include any pillion rider. Also a membership from the NSW motorcycle alliance for a road side assistance is helpful and cheaper if your provider doesn't cover them

    • alikazi on 04/10/2018 - 09:08
      +1

      Wow thanks for that info! I'll sign up with NSW motorcycle alliance right away, never know when I might need it. No pillion insurance discount also sounds good. In case of servicing I found that Ducati services are the most costly generally and some dealerships will try to rip you off because you ride a Ducati so you must be wealthy. A Ducati 899 was just $1000 more than my brand new R6 but I didn't go for it because of above reason + I prefer the sound of a inline 4. The fact that major service is costly for super sports after warranty expires is the reason why I went for a new one. But after 2+ years of use I may be inclined to spend extra to maintain my bike. 2 years is a lot of kms on the bike. Within a month I'm already at 1400 kms.

      The R6 is pretty comfortable in my opinion. In the beginning I felt some leg pain and back pain for 2 days but it was just my body getting used to the bike, now I don't feel anything. Short commutes are absolutely comfortable. I ride around 80 kms per day sometimes 120 - no complaints. Motorcycle boots tend to have think soles, so that adds to your height and helps you reach the ground little bit as the R6 is taller than other super sports. Also on the highway I ride in a racing position (the way you are actually supposed to ride these bikes) so that I relieve pressure on my wrists and palms. Brakes are really good, ABS and traction control is nice to have. I feel safer on this bike than on a CBR600. Personally I couldn't live without a super sport, I have ridden some other types of bikes and I'm bored with them. If you really care about comfort, super sport is simply not the best choice. Ninjas are the most comfortable super sports.

      https://www.instagram.com/p/Bod5VZhBnOK

      • DBBROS on 05/10/2018 - 00:31
        +1

        Congrats on your purchase and that is one great looking R6. I'd recommend that you join netrider to connect to other riders all over Australia. Also since you are living in Sydney and if you are after some good quality riding gear you can get them from ferghals motorcycle gear which is located somewhere in Miranda and also from Finnmoto if you are after a decent but good quality Kevlar jeans. Hope you have a great time with your R6

        • alikazi on 05/10/2018 - 12:10
          +1

          Thanks a lot. I joined NetRider before I got the bike to read up as much as I could. Thanks for letting me those shops for gear I will check them out. For now I have shopped at MCAS near Surry hillls and at Fraser's. Got a Draggin and a Bullit jeans from there, both discounted via price match to other online stores. I ride with all the gear. Looking forward to exploring outer Sydney and National parks on my bike.

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