View Full Version : Does having both car and bike license make you a better car
My first thought on this was a resounding yes, however.............
I aquired my bike license first (independence, cool, blah, blah, blah) and my car license 3 years later. At first I felt more aware of road conditions, positioning, life saver, etc...........
Recently though my wife made a comment that made me think. On a journey were she was a passsenger she commented, "you drive the car as if you are on your bike and it scares me sometimes". I don't do anything, I think particularly bad however she commented, "you accelerate really quickly", "you break later and later into corners", "you carry too much corner speed for my comfort" and "sometimes you think this car will fit through the same gaps your bike will" I hate to admit it but she's not wrong (note how I didn't say she was right). Also over the past few days as the weather conditions have got worse I've been using the car and..............I have been quite thoughtless about the how the driving conditions have changed. If I'd been using my bike I'd be making all kinds of allowances but I'm not.
It's just a thought and I was curious what everyone else has to say on the matter. :?:
I had my car licence for 4 years before I got my bike licence. I'm now more alert as to what's going on when I'm driving and I'm much more courteous to riders. I was never discourteous anyway but now I move well out of the way to let them by etc.
Ceri JC
21-12-06, 12:28 AM
I read some stats on this a while back (admittedly it was in America, as opposed to the UK). People with both sorts of licences were statistically safer in both modes of transport than their single-licenced counterparts. I imagine it's because your more likely to be empathic towards other road users.
i'm a ****ing nightmare on both. i've lost count of the number of vans i've written off.
I'm not one to tempt fate but I'd say I'm more observant as a result of being a biker.
the_runt69
21-12-06, 12:51 AM
Daughter says I've worse road rage in the car
H
To quote the Hamster, "I am a driving God!"
Thank you, I'm here all week. :takeabow:
Tiger 55
21-12-06, 08:07 AM
you carry too much corner speed
Is that the way your wife talks? Fantastic! Is she Vicky Butler-Henderson?
Anyway, I'm a crap driver. Soon as I get in the cage I'm disconnected from what's happening outside and more interested in the radio/fiddling with the temperature etc same as most cage pilots.
you drive the car as if you are on your bike". , "you accelerate really quickly", "you break later and later into corners", "you carry too much corner speed for my comfort" and "sometimes you think this car will fit through the same gaps your bike will" :?:
Are we married to the same person :shock: :lol:
I had cage license for 10 years before i got my proper license 8) . I have to say all of the above has been said to be with exception to
"you carry too much corner speed for my comfort"
It was more like for F**k sake slow down round the damn corners :lol:
But as a rule i think my awareness is much better and i am always on the look out for bikes in my mirrors etc and will pull over to let bikes past.
All that said I have more road rage in the car than on the bike. On the bike i tend to express my dissatisfaction by a tweak of the throttle and a show of superior speed 8)
Yes after doing the bike test I was alot more aware of what goes on on the road you could call it thinking outside the box/cage.
fizzwheel
21-12-06, 08:49 AM
On a journey were she was a passsenger she commented, "you drive the car as if you are on your bike
Liz said the same to me after I drove back from the GP at Donnington last year. She said my drivings got worse :oops: I spend a huge amount of time on the bike and I don't really use the car at all. I'd say my awareness of whats going on around me has increased massively but as for the rest of my driving. I'm at the "Could do better standard" at the moment :oops: Same sort of thing as you. To fast, to close to the car in front and I'm always looking for that ellusive overtaking opportunity. Since the Golf went to GTI heaven though I dont think I'm as bad in the Fiesta as I know that it doesnt have as much grunt so its almost not worth bothering to overtake.
I think its more frustratino than anything else, if I'm stuck in traffic or a slow moving queue of cars I know I get frustrated as if I was on the bike I could nip by and then get through it all.
I think its more frustratino than anything else, if I'm stuck in traffic or a slow moving queue of cars I know I get frustrated as if I was on the bike I could nip by and then get through it all.
I with you on that one. I think i annoy the wife a bit when i say "If i had the bike we would have been past this lot.. bla....bla...bla..."
I definitely accelerate harder than I otherwise would, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Depends on the circumstances.
My driving has been vastly improved by my motorcycling without a doubt.
However to me they are two separate machines which require different approaches and attitudes to riding / driving them. I've never had any problems separating them.
A lot of bad driving is caused by impatience, on both two and four wheels (IMO)
My bad driving is caused by impotence, on both two and four wheels (IMO)
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
I'd have to say yes.
I had my car licence for about 4 years before I got my bike licence. Once I did get my bike licence it made me much more aware of what was going on around me when I'm in the car, and that has stuck with me.
However, as mentioned by others, since I now spend 99.9% of my driving time on the bike, I tend to get frustrated in the car with traffic and the inability to overtake. My sister thinks I accelerate too hard, corner too fast and go for gaps which are too small (my girlfriend had no licence, and hence no opinion!).
On the flip-side, I think most car drivers underuse the capabilities of their vehicles and don't accelerate/corner quick enough - don't even get me started on people not knowing how wide their cars are and stopping for gaps they could easily fit through!
Having said that, I have been more aware recently that I'm carrying a certain ammount of "bike attitude" with me when I'm in the car, so I now have a conscious "car head" that I put on, whereby I'm thinking to myself that I'm inevitably going to get stuck in traffic and there's nothing I can do about it so I may aswell chill the hell out and listen to some tunes!
My driving has been vastly improved by my motorcycling without a doubt.
However to me they are two separate machines which require different approaches and attitudes to riding / driving them. I've never had any problems separating them.
A lot of bad driving is caused by impatience, on both two and four wheels (IMO)
:winner:
Bluepete
21-12-06, 09:08 AM
Car licence for 17 years, no accidents, then advanced car and pursuit course for the job. I had always wanted to do my bike licence, but am really glad I waited until I had more training. After all, whenever in a car or on a bike, it's more about observations and road sense than the actual mechanics of using the vehicle in qiestion at the time.
Still, managed to drop the bike 5 months after I got it. My fault entirely :oops: :oops:
I used to get "the rage" in my car...but now I realize there's not point getting worked up over things that I have no control over..(other car drivers) :flower:
Having my Bike License has defiantly made me more aware of everything..at last I'm alive..alive I tell you \:D/
:santa: :santa: :santa: :santa: :santa: :santa: :santa: :santa: :santa: :santa: :santa: :santa:
My bad driving is caused by impotence, on both two and four wheels (IMO)
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Does this mean viagra will make me drive better ?
:lol: :lol: :lol:
My bad driving is caused by impotence, on both two and four wheels (IMO)
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Does this mean viagra will make me drive better ?
:lol: :lol: :lol:
It'll make you use your horn more.
My bad driving is caused by impotence, on both two and four wheels (IMO)
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Does this mean viagra will make me drive better ?
:lol: :lol: :lol:
It'll make you use your horn more. :winner:
Sounds like my driving.
But i drive only for fun, whats the point otherwise. If im going shopping, i'll have a full car on the way home, best have some fun on the way there :lol:
Seriously, riding a bike has without a doubt made me a better car driver. Not as in my skills as a driver have gone up, as I don't think they do, its the other aspects such as awareness (mainly). You see a lot more in a car after being on a bike as your always on the look out for something to come and hit you.
But tbh, im a very confident car driver anyway as i do a lot of track days etc. I can also do all the silly things like J turns, handbrake parking between 2 cars etc (this was done on an airfield, not a carpark or anything).
I'm the same as many folks. Car licence before bike.
When driving the car, I brake later, carry more speed through corners, accelerate harder etc etc than I used to before I got the bike. I'm also always looking for the overtake.
But then, when I'm in the car, I have the same acceleration as a house!
I frequently get in the car, and ask whoever is with me to remind me I'm NOT on the bike. The main issue is that the car is a little wider than the bike, and on the narrow roads around here, I have been known to clip bushes with mirrors :oops:
However, having said all that, my observations whilst in the car are FAR better than they were. I also don't let "door handles" get to me as much as I used to. Principal from the bike is that I prefer them to be in front of me, and I do exactly the same in the car, where I wouldn't before.
I've also learnt to respect the fact that I can't push the car as hard as the bike. Back at college etc I used to drive a lot harder than I do now.
So six of one, half a dozen of the other really.
Passed my driving test back in 1991 & did my Das in Feb/March this year.
Technically, I'm a better driver because I've had to re-learn the highway code again so I know what all the signs etc mean. Also, I'm much more watching out for other traffic users i.e. cyclists & the elderly.
BUT I'm actually a much more cautious driver (and that's not necessarily a good thing as anyone who's been on a bike ride with me may attest to - it's like driving Miss Daisy)...but that's got more to do with the psychological baggage I'm carrying because of the hit & run and pedestrian-stepping-out-in-front-of-me incidents on my bike earlier this year.
I've also learnt to respect the fact that I can't push the car as hard as the bike. Back at college etc I used to drive a lot harder than I do now.
Disagree with that.
I think you can push a car harder and safer than you can a bike. You make the slightest mistake on a bike while riding hard, it could cost you your life.... A car is much more forgiving, and even when on the limits, you can mess up and still catch it and get away with it
Mainly down to experience, but after riding and driving for 7 odd years, i still feel more comfortable on the limit in the car without a doubt.
I've also learnt to respect the fact that I can't push the car as hard as the bike. Back at college etc I used to drive a lot harder than I do now.
Disagree with that.
I think you can push a car harder and safer than you can a bike. You make the slightest mistake on a bike while riding hard, it could cost you your life.... A car is much more forgiving, and even when on the limits, you can mess up and still catch it and get away with it
Mainly down to experience, but after riding and driving for 7 odd years, i still feel more comfortable on the limit in the car without a doubt.
There is a big difference between driving "well" on the road and driving fast.
Experience is everything though, I will push my car towards its limits given suitable circumstances.
I don't have the skill or confidence yet to push the bike that much (yet) and certainly not on the road. Do push a little more on the track and intend to do a few more trackdays next year.
chazzyb
21-12-06, 10:02 AM
I have both, having passed the bike test first. I voted no. However, I think having both licenses has made me a better car driver, but I can't see that applying generally to everyone who has both. Or perhaps I misunderstood the question. :roll:
My wife doesn't like my car driving. She clutches at the seat, visibly tenses up and finally shrieks "for chrissakes slow down!". Oh, and she has this idea that you shouldn't overtake other cars. What's that all about? :roll:
I would say my road awareness has definitely increased but I would not say riding a bike makes a better driver. Two very different machines with different limitations.
Also, cars don't filter as well as cars.
Also, cars don't filter as well as cars.
You know what, you're right there ;)
I voted yes. In my experience you learn to be more assertive and confident in the car... also, I filter in my car !!!!!!
:lol:
Rob S (Yella)
21-12-06, 10:22 AM
I was out on an observed run for my IAM test and the observer guessed I had bike experience before I told him from the way I drive. (perhaps the lifesavers gave it away)
Passing the bike test made me a better car driver and passing the IAM better still. All I need now is a decent car to refine my skills in. Then again it's nice to leave much faster cars behind on the twisties by using better driving skills.
I would say a definite yes. I passed my car test first, two years before bike in the good old days when all you had to do was stay on it.
Much more better now as a car driver - the bike is my devilish release :twisted: :lol:
In the car:
Hardly ever get road rage :)
Use my mirrors consistently :)
Good use of lanes :)
Always indicate and very courteous (except to taxi drivers - sorry to the good ones out there :wink: )
Usually :-dd keep to speed limit at least to and from work 70mph on M4 just stick the cruise on :)
Much more relaxed when get to work and get home :)
I get my buzz from the bikes :twisted: and enjoy it so much more cos not on it all the time :lol: .
:twisted: But I hate middle lane hoggers and often undertake :twisted: one 'bad' habit picked up from biking. Missus ain't keen on my car driving anymore cos i'm too boring! :lol:
I would say a definite yes. I passed my car test first, two years before bike in the good old days when all you had to do was stay on it.
Much more better now as a car driver - the bike is my devilish release :twisted: :lol:
In the car:
Hardly ever get road rage :)
Use my mirrors consistently :)
Good use of lanes :)
Always indicate and very courteous (except to taxi drivers - sorry to the good ones out there :wink: )
Usually :-dd keep to speed limit at least to and from work 70mph on M4 just stick the cruise on :)
Much more relaxed when get to work and get home :)
I get my buzz from the bikes :twisted: and enjoy it so much more cos not on it all the time :lol: .
:twisted: But I hate middle lane hoggers and often undertake :twisted: one 'bad' habit picked up from biking. Missus ain't keen on my car driving anymore cos i'm too boring! :lol:
says it all really ! :thumbsup:
you carry too much corner speed
Is that the way your wife talks? Fantastic! Is she Vicky Butler-Henderson?
That really is my wife......I've bored her to death with phrases like that over the years.......much scarier that Vicky :lol: 8)
Daughter says I've worse road rage in the car
H
Same here buddy 8) :twisted:
[/quote]
Since the g*lf went to GTI heaven though I dont think I'm as bad in the Fiesta as I know that it doesnt have as much grunt so its almost not worth bothering to overtake.
[/quote]
I drive a Corsa dude I know it doesn't have any grunt but it's well worth trying.............right :?: :roll:
i treat all car drivers with extreme caution. only takes them to not see me once and i'm in trouble, i dont care if they can fly rocketships to the moon i'd still be treating them with caution....
i'd like to say i spend more time looking out for bikes, but truth be told i've pulled out at junctions quickly and had an afterthought of "****, what if there'd been a bike coming, would i have seen it?!
ps merry christmas
Ceri JC
22-12-06, 12:37 PM
I think you can push a car harder and safer than you can a bike. You make the slightest mistake on a bike while riding hard, it could cost you your life.... A car is much more forgiving, and even when on the limits, you can mess up and still catch it and get away with it
I agree with this. It's a lot easier to recover/vastly less scary when you skid a car than a bike.
I've also learnt to respect the fact that I can't push the car as hard as the bike. Back at college etc I used to drive a lot harder than I do now.
Disagree with that.
I think you can push a car harder and safer than you can a bike. You make the slightest mistake on a bike while riding hard, it could cost you your life.... A car is much more forgiving, and even when on the limits, you can mess up and still catch it and get away with it
Mainly down to experience, but after riding and driving for 7 odd years, i still feel more comfortable on the limit in the car without a doubt.
I agree Daimo. I am more aggressive in the car then on the bike. I wish I had the same grunt on my bike as I have in the car, but I don't think I ever will. Anyway, the bike is so much more aggressive in it self, I show more respect for it. T
wyrdness
22-12-06, 12:50 PM
I spend a huge amount of time on the bike and I don't really use the car at all. I'd say my awareness of whats going on around me has increased massively but as for the rest of my driving. I'm at the "Could do better standard" at the moment :oops:
I think its more frustratino than anything else, if I'm stuck in traffic or a slow moving queue of cars I know I get frustrated as if I was on the bike I could nip by and then get through it all.
I'm exactly the same. I'm more observant in the car these days, but I get impatient, frustrated and stressed which leads to bad driving.
Jelster
22-12-06, 01:31 PM
After buying a new car this sumer I have spent quite a bit of time in it. Couple of observations I noted:
Compared to my wife (who's a pretty good driver) my hazard perception and awareness is far greater. I'll often say something like "watch that guy, he's going to cut across", and 3-5 seconds later he does. It's just one of those things you pick up riding a bike on a daily basis.
However, my general standard of driving has fallen;
My parking is dire, the Focus ST has got a really poor turning circle, but that's not a real excuse.
I accelerate to quickly too often, again I blame the car, if you've ever heard one from inside you'll know what I mean :lol:
Plonkers in repmobiles who I know are going to cut me up, I make sure they can't, it's aggresive, and I shouldn't do it
And yes, I corner too fast at times (too fast for the wife, not too fast for me :roll: )
I have though lost the road rage, which is good - maybe I'm just getting old, I'll be 45 on Monday :cry:
.
Since I drive both when I'm driving my car I take special care of bikers. That to me is enough to make me a better car driver.
Driving a car is relatively easy. You notice extremeties much more and quicker on a bike which you may never experience in a lifetime driving a car. This makes for a safer driver in panic situations as he's trained to react quicker and with better foresite than a car driver.
Filipe M.
22-12-06, 03:56 PM
Compared to my wife (who's a pretty good driver) my hazard perception and awareness is far greater. I'll often say something like "watch that guy, he's going to cut across", and 3-5 seconds later he does. It's just one of those things you pick up riding a bike on a daily basis.
.
Same here about the hazard perception, but I can't really compare my driving to your wife's! :lol:
seedy100
22-12-06, 06:14 PM
I got my bike licence over 20 years after my car licence.
I have driven well over half a million miles in various cars
There has been a noticeable change in my driving since I got the bike.
1 Observation has improved
2. Lines through corners have changed
3. Top speed has reduced (but that may be due to a scamera allergy)
According to she who must be ignored I have always:-
1. Driven too fast
2. Accelerated too hard
3. gone for gaps where i shouldn't
So no change there!
when I am in the car I sometimes get a feeling that some one is going to pull out, cut me up, stop in the middle of the road etc. I am right often enough to think people must be giving subliminal clues before they even know themselves what they are going to do.
I don't get the same sort of feelings when Iam on the bike, probably because I am concentrating on staying upright!
So I would say,
The overall effect has been to improve my car driving.
I am a better driver than rider
I enjoy riding more than driving.
Chris
Since I drive both when I'm driving my car I take special care of bikers. That to me is enough to make me a better car driver.
Driving a car is relatively easy. You notice extremeties much more and quicker on a bike which you may never experience in a lifetime driving a car. This makes for a safer driver in panic situations as he's trained to react quicker and with better foresite than a car driver.
Hey Zunkus, as far as I'm concerned anyone who drives anything in Malta and has a license to do so is either a f**king driving God or insane (loads of family living on the Island dude).
kwak zzr
22-12-06, 09:59 PM
i drove a car for 8 years before i got my bike licence and after getting the bike licence i realised how poor my car driving was :roll:
Hey Zunkus, as far as I'm concerned anyone who drives anything in Malta and has a license to do so is either a f**king driving God or insane (loads of family living on the Island dude).
Thanks for the compliment, I guess :) Yes we're well and truly packed over here. Third most populated per square mile in the world I hear.
This thread reminds me of an article in Bike that Rupert Paul wrote. He was publicly berated for being a menace by a young mum he overtook in his car. All caused because riding bikes made him drive quicker because he's better at judging grip etc. :lol:
dirtydog
06-03-07, 08:16 AM
hmmm i was riding a bike before driving a car and whilst i was having driving lessons it was commented that my observations were better than most peoples, got the same comments when i was doing my hgv licence a couple of years ago
so in respect of observation, yes
but in my van i get much more frustrated and annoyed at the lack of progress i'm making etc.
I'm a fairly aggressive rider and much more aggressive in the van with a little bit more road rage but have calmed down in recent years
I'm a fairly aggressive rider and much more aggressive in the van with a little bit more road rage but have calmed down in recent years
aye right;)
the_runt69
06-03-07, 10:20 AM
No I ride the bike reasonably well but when back in the car I'm a complete pig, get very impatient and bad tempered when stuck in traffic and with drivers who shouldnt be on the road.
Had car couple of years before bike, but driven cars more than bikes.
Overall having experience of both is a good thing and yes I think you become better at both as a result. But the equation isn't that simple. You then have to bring in your general desire to drive and ride and age and experience. perhaps age should read maturity. Put all that into a pot = your general ability.
I love driving and riding. Have been doing both for a long time during which time I like to think I've matured a bit, well in the car anyway!
I'm calm and considerate most of time in the car. On the bike I let go a bit more :smt098 but usually can read a car driver and have some understanding of their position. In a car I can see that bikes can be intimidating, unnerving even - but when on a bike I have no sympathy for that :smt019 :-D
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