The Car Thread

[jlo]

What a terrific bike and a lovely personal gain there too. Have to have some pleasures and gains especially when it feels it’s all the other way at times and cost neutral is a right result. Nice one, enjoy.

Not had a bike for about 5 years and still hanker for one but find myself holding fire til making a decision on the EV switch and how best to get weekend kicks, bike, car etc. Funnily enough a contact in the cycling club mentioned his green-laning group and I really fancy that and can be done relatively cheaply, with just a fairly lightweight 250 or something like that required. That sounds like terrific fun too so will have to see.

Thinking out loud about your bike and your location, would thoroughly recommend a sunny weekend morning ride out to Rykas Cafe at Box Hill. Always lots of other bikes there, primarily a motorcyclist’s stop but normally a few nice cars too and always a friendly atmosphere. It’s a super ride through the Surrey Hills (Shere, Leith etc) and always worth taking in the views at the top of Box too. Have done it all on a MTB but would be fabulous on a motorbike.

You may well have already been there but anyway, it’s a real treat if not. Bit of a surprisingly close sanctuary from the madness of urban sprawl too.

Rykas | Cafe Boxhill | Old London Rd, Dorking RH5 6BY, UK

Discover the delicious world of Rykas food at our cozy café in Dorking. Explore our history, follow us on Instagram, and find out what's on the menu!

www.rykas.co.uk

At first I thought I was just kidding myself about the cost neutral bit just to justify the purchase, but it really is proving that way and going beyond with even weekend trips into the centre etc which are now becoming a thing my partner is preferring now the sun is out saving us both money too. Love the bike, pretty adaptable. Hadn't come across green laning before, curious about that! I bet the 400 scrambler model would be pretty decent for it too, whereas mine gets quite hot at low speeds.

Yeah Rykas is on the list, we've not had much sun recently but planning a ride out there soon. I miss living up around Warwickshire and the West Midlands for some decent country rides too, maybe at some point I'll use it for a longer journey out to one of these places too rather than the car!

 

[sycophantia]

Ha. I do most my own servicing but that's useful to know as it probably will benefit from one thorough go over.

Actually I've used it all winter (bar the fact I had a month overseas during that time) and only 4 or 5 complete soakings - helpful that my work has showers and underground parking etc.

What have you got? I don't think bike chat is derailing this thread...

I do most of my servicing/maintenance too.
I tend to keep my bikes a long time, like to build up a relationship with them (I know that sounds a bit wanky but there you go).
I only do pleasure riding now that I'm retired
My main ride atm is a vstrom 650. Day rides, weekends away, and 1 or 2 European trips.
Missus is usually on the back. The little Suzuki is brilliant for Alpine/Pyreneean paases etc, its a bit low on power for motorway munching but I only use them as to get to the ports.
My other bike is a 2002 FJR with 89000 miles on tbe clock. Its kind of in semi retirement now, I'll never sell it as its worth nothing now and I love it.

 

[EpsomWolf]

At first I thought I was just kidding myself about the cost neutral bit just to justify the purchase, but it really is proving that way and going beyond with even weekend trips into the centre etc which are now becoming a thing my partner is preferring now the sun is out saving us both money too. Love the bike, pretty adaptable. Hadn't come across green laning before, curious about that! I bet the 400 scrambler model would be pretty decent for it too, whereas mine gets quite hot at low speeds.

Yeah Rykas is on the list, we've not had much sun recently but planning a ride out there soon. I miss living up around Warwickshire and the West Midlands for some decent country rides too, maybe at some point I'll use it for a longer journey out to one of these places too rather than the car!

The guys in the cycling club who do the green laning are members of (I think) the South London and Surrey Trail Riders Fellowship. We come across green laners on the mtb trails now and again and it looks a right hoot. I recall them saying a light bike is best (they do seem to fall off in water and mud quite a bit tbf) but there’s a balance to be had as you need something that’s capable on the road to get you to wherever it is you wish to start.

Sounds like great fun but reckon I need to keep the peace as probably spending a bit too much time messing about on the bikes as it is!

 

[sycophantia]

Something to mention jlo if you're commuting is the current state of motorcycle theft. Western Europe is the worst in the world and UK the worst of all.
Currently Litelok seem to be the best 'D' lock, one of these in conjunction with one of the trackers that phone your mobile when it detects motion. Monimoto get good reviews.

 

[pagey]

And it takes days to install a regular set of fast chargers here.

BYD hits 5,000th flash charging station just 27 days after launch

BYD has opened its 5,000th flash charging station, including the first highway hub, covering 297 cities nationwide.

carnewschina.com

 

[Hereford Wolf]

Just about to consider a new car. I’m really torn between getting a petrol or an electric.
Electric cars seem like a faff to me whilst petrol cars seem straightforward. Maybe I’m not ready to embrace something new.
Any advice from people who have swapped from petrol to electric would be really appreciated.

 

[Kenny]

No faff unless you are driving hundreds of miles a day.
If you can have a charger at home, then all good.

I know you go down to Devon a fair bit so can use my experience from last week to show not really a faff.

Market Drayton to Honiton on Thursday. Stopped around half way at Michaelwood Services. This is a stop i would have made in a petrol car. Plugged in (used Tesla chargers but the bank of other chargers had loads of spaces). Toilet, coffee, be one of them twats that does a work call in Starbucks and off I go to finish the journey.
Following day, drive to my meeting 7 miles outside of Honiton then drive to Ilfracombe. Needed lunch so decided a little trip back on myself to the Moto Services as I like overpaying for food and a top up charge.
Back home Sunday with a Michaelwood stop.

Every stop I would have done in a petrol car and my fuel bill for the whole trip was under £35. So no faff.


If you can, see if you get a demo for a couple of days or hire an EV to see how you get on.

I wouldn't go back from an EV and spend my days working to get people into them but they are not for everyone for various reasons so if you can try before you buy, do it.

 

[Stan Hullis]

I’ve just started a new job in Derby. 45 mile round trip (or thereabouts) each day.

No real prospect of a charger at home so would be reliant on public charging but with the Tesla network that is easy enough - we have a Tesla garage in Nottingham with superchargers & at the shopping centre in town as well (with two hours free parking).

Seems like I should be able to manage pretty well, and the university is planning to upgrade the car park and install a bank of chargers at some point as part of their net zero commitments as well.

Second hand Tesla shopping here I come.

 

[Hereford Wolf]

Looking at the Kia EV3. It’s got some cracking reviews.
Test drive next week.