Do you prefer building or riding bikes?

[4l04ever]

Let's see who does what... :-)

[mooreandy065]

Like building and rideing bikes I've built first few rides are really satisfying then get bored and want to build another

[jon]

A few years ago I would have gone for 50% building and 50% riding. These days I think it’s more like 25% riding and 75% building.

From memory I’ve had a scooter or bike build going on for the last 38 years. I wish I’d kept a list of all the reg numbers and models etc. back then we didn’t have mobile phones or digital cameras, so it was all 35mm film to be sent off to be developed. I have seen very few pictures of my builds back in the day. I do remember seeing a photo someone had taken at Margate scooter run. There were 4 scooters in the picture. By coincidence one was mine, but the other 3 I had built from the ground up and sold on.

My reasoning these days is safety. We didn’t seem to care back in the day, and I didn’t get a car till I was 22. Always had two wheels the whole time. It just seems too dangerous with the amount of traffic these days. I quite enjoy wide country roads I know, but dread any motorway work. I tend to stay in the inside lane on a bike in case it seizes where I can just pull into the hard shoulder. Back in the day I’d be in the outside lane regularly on a tuned scooter. Looking back it was scary. We all survived though. Worst case was an amputated leg. My brother in law escaped with a kneecap broken in half on his LC.

Jon

[tony2stroke]

I don't ride much anymore, but I do love a mechanical challenge, I am always happy with a spanner in my hand, and love finding a way around things.

[fletche36]

i like doing small jobs but not particularly things like engine rebuilds, however due to a (probably unfounded) distrust of other builders i will always try to do my own . Having a trials bike and enduro bike to maintain as they get used weekly does eat into time for sure but this year the lc has beat them hands down for spanner time !!!!

[masonmart]

At 73 I've just got rid of my last "road" bike and doing very few road miles so my biking is virtually all building. I have 6 classics and try to use them all a little bit. My biking in riding terms is behind me now.

[rclc]

Masonmart get a little scooter, maybe a 250?

[framemaker]

Being in the workshop is my happy place...

20201004_021320 by andbike, on Flickr

But at some point you have to get out and ride what you build...

20230902_180744 by andbike, on Flickr

[reedpete]

Can and would love to ride more than I do… just that i actually feel a bit guilty of using available time to ride when so much else needs to get done on the projects and trying to sort out years of ‘collecting’ parts… and then I feel a bit guilty when my three bike insurance policy come up for renewal and I realise how little miles I’ve done….
Just need to figure out how to stop work is the solution….

[JOHN-DYNOSTAR]

I like both . but not done much of either this year. (on my own stuff)
as you get older time seems to compress.
just had time to service and chain sprocket and do 3,000 miles  ( inc a trip to italy)

Just starting my second winter bike ride/build (Tribsa), not finished the last one yet (TL125)

sad really
next year it'll be different

[geoffers997]

If it’s a warm, dry day there’s nothing more than I love then being outdoors riding something with 2 wheels. I don’t enjoy heavy traffic and avoid motorways but where I live the roads are fairly quiet.

Hiding in the garage tinkering and faffing about with a bike on grey wet days is way better then staring at a screen

[alankelly]

I like a nice solo ride in the summer when it’s warm and went back to bikes after a long break and a health scare, but must admit so much more traffic now than 30 years ago

Also must admit being an engineer love being in the shed solving stuff for the TIgcraft project, and get a bit of a buzz when something is sorted

[beardy]

Myself. As much riding as I can so nearly every day whether for pleasure and meeting like minded souls and talking bollox or for work. I’m handy with spanners and will do whatever it takes to keep my bikes road worthy. Including engine rebuilds. Cleaning and aesthetics are very low on my radar so I don’t waste too much time doing them.

[LC_BOTT]

Nov 29, 2023 9:32:10 GMT 1 reedpete said:

Can and would love to ride more than I do… just that i actually feel a bit guilty of using available time to ride when so much else needs to get done on the projects and trying to sort out years of ‘collecting’ parts… and then I feel a bit guilty when my three bike insurance policy come up for renewal and I realise how little miles I’ve done….
Just need to figure out how to stop work is the solution….

Nicely said, that just about covers it for me too

[naich]

No riding, it'll just be building for me from now on   Well, repairing, once the knee and wrist have healed.

[Robbieben]

A good mix of both for me, I ride 14-16,000 miles a year with 3 or 4 trips to Europe to buy bikes for rebuilding, refurbishing etc in my not so much spare time. This year I've refurbished/rebuilt 5 bikes so far, all for other people who've asked me to source and rebuild a bike for them, really need to get my own bike finished

[lcmarky]

Good question.

I have a new GSA to ride on the road and will so some proper trips on that but that's just fuel up and go. Otherwise I'm generally fettling/building Pre 65 trials bikes now and frantically getting the bike ready to ride again.

The Hybrid did make me think I'd like to do a 500LC Hybrid, but I think I'll stick to my trials bikes and use the Hybrid for local bike nights etc.

[veg]

Time, time is the killer for me. The most miles I ride now is when I’m on the IoM. I’m self employed most days start at 5 then finish around 7.
This week has been Derbyshire, then Ipswich then Coventry then Brentford next week is similar.
I didn’t pass my car test until I was 24 I’d ride year in year out rain or shine, snow or hail now it’s purely car. Too old and arthritis and old injuries mean I don’t ride as much.
I love tinkering and have bought a pre 65 trials bike for that purpose. So that will be a bit more riding but nowhere near as much as I’d like.

[donkeychomp]

Brentford? You should have popped over for a coffee. Or double latte with frothy vegan milk substitute served in an ethnic clay cup with a biodegradable spoon and sugar made from the sweat glands of the Indonesian sweetie pie frog.

Alex

[puddy]

I have a lot of 70's and mainly 80's jap bikes , so working on them is a given.
But this year , in particular, I have done more rallys and ride outs than ever before.
Had a lovely holiday touring on my lc , devon and Cornwall, highly recommended
Puddy

[veg]

Nov 29, 2023 22:27:08 GMT 1 donkeychomp said:

Brentford? You should have popped over for a coffee. Or double latte with frothy vegan milk substitute served in an ethnic clay cup with a biodegradable spoon and sugar made from the sweat glands of the Indonesian sweetie pie frog.

Alex

That’s your problem it’s not the Indonesian sweetie frog they are just so last year, passe, but the Malaysian sweetie pie frog.

[donkeychomp]

Really? Fecks sake Tim. You and your damn frogs...

Alex

[donkeychomp]

Perhaps a toad? This can't be passe as it's 1000 years from now...



Alex

[Tobyjugs]

I would say riding, but i do understand the importance of maintenance.
For me riding a bike is an all year round thing.

Maintenance for me at the moment is;

Block 40% of my radiater off and rejet for the cold weather on my RD road bike

Prepare Bakker bike for next year trackdays. Check/clean brakes etc, change gear ratios in gearbox, Possibly fit quick shifter and dry clutch.

Remove dry clutch from 400cc engine inspect all parts improve/fix any teething problems and source/make new parts for a couple more dry clutches including making one for a 4LO using the 4LO engine casing, water pump etc.

Not too much to do and thats why i say riding only

[Norbo]

I used to enjoy building them and riding them but do little of ether now

[Norbo]

Nov 29, 2023 5:35:11 GMT 1 framemaker said:

Being in the workshop is my happy place...

20201004_021320 by andbike, on Flickr

But at some point you have to get out and ride what you build...

20230902_180744 by andbike, on Flickr

you need to build me one of them frames Great work .

[1966baz]

About 50% building and riding now.It used to be riding 95 % but my health is everything now.Very nearly died at 52 , now 57 of a type a aortic dissection.

[masonmart]

The killer about getting old is that mauling around tall heavy bikes becomes a pain and riding in the cold of winter, as I always did, pretty difficult once circulation diminishes and getting dressed for rain and cold just too much hard work. Even sadder though is that I lose maybe 6 months in winter as it becomes difficult substituting building for riding as it gets too cold in the garage to even enjoy that. My wish for next year now will be to use my classic bikes more, especially the YPVS when I finish it, and to do another project but try to join the 50/50 club as I would hate to be dying and wishing that I hadn't carried on riding when I could have. Classics are superb too as they are light, handle well and are naturally pleasant to ride at a reduced pace yet be up for fast work if you want with an enhanced awareness of speed compare with a modern bike. The RD Yamahas are just perfect too as many bikes of that era were. Working on bikes is a great activity even if, like me, you are not naturally brilliant mechanically and don't have the required equipment.

[steve63]

Nov 29, 2023 9:32:10 GMT 1 reedpete said:

Can and would love to ride more than I do… just that i actually feel a bit guilty of using available time to ride when so much else needs to get done on the projects and trying to sort out years of ‘collecting’ parts… and then I feel a bit guilty when my three bike insurance policy come up for renewal and I realise how little miles I’ve done….
Just need to figure out how to stop work is the solution….

Close to word for word the way I would have put it.

It's always a dilemma when the weather is warm and dry. I SHOULD be doing stuff that needs doing but I want to be out and about doing pointless journeys on the bike. I'll look for an excuse to go out sometimes. Living in the UK I think sometimes you've just got to do what your heart desires and get out on the bike. The chances are high that it'll be raining the following day.

I'm insured for the RGV and the R1, neither of which has moved in a couple of years. I'm not going to be one of those "reason for selling; not getting used" people. My LC's not been running since 1993!

I have never been bored riding a bike. Even when the only bike I had working was a Suzuki A100 that I went to work and back on I still enjoyed riding it every day. The day I don't enjoy riding I'll give up. That is unless not being able to physically, comes first. 
 

[element137]

I have recognised , especially in the last year , that my enjoyment has shifted more to working on bikes vs riding - currently own three bikes, two working, and my 31K that will be finished Spring 2024, modern bike I did 800 miles on it last year - keep thinking about selling it as it feels like such a waste - go out on it , reconnect with the sheer joy of riding, tell myself never get rid of it - I also own a 76 400/4, and riding that for 45mins a week is the best therapy possible - its loud, visceral, and riding it is such an escape, however - I have had as much pleasure, quietly working on it in the garage its hard to decide which is more fun riding it or fettling it - and then, the 31K - I have given up so many sunny days over the last two summers in preference to working on the restoration of it - something I never thought I would ever do - i.e., choose not to take a bike out on a sunny day - and choose to work in the garage instead - it has really surprised me how that change has just happened - I also know, 100% - that once the 31K is finished and is rideable - the other two bikes are not going to get any chance of being used - I guess all part of how we change over the years, and where /how you get your enjoyment changes too - time in the garage, lost in tasks, music on , couple of beers - takes some beating and still feeds a lifelong love of bikes.