Selling Your Car and Living on Two Wheels

[future62]

I just got an 06 650R. I used to be a car nut, but they really bore me now. I don't know if I can go back

[96shox]

how are you taking your bike to south america?

Are you going alone? I want to do a road trip with my bike but I doubt any of my sissy friends will be down...is there a club or something?

[AtlasRider]

@96shox I went solo. Plenty of people meet up. Check out the forum on HorizonsUnlimited dot come

[ElloGunva]

How do you go grocery shopping without a car lol?

[MrRowanMess]

I'm 16 and have been riding a moped for a month and a half. I can't wait until I can ride something bigger (in the uk the biggest we can ride at 16 is a 50cc.) I can safely say I have no interest in driving a car. I have encountered so many idiotic car drivers. Bikes are cheaper, cleaner and quicker.

[jlarsenx87]

haha nice you were at rural and southern at that light.. AZ isnt too bad to ride all year long

[BellalAzimi]

I think it's unique doing a vlog on a motorcycle.

[2bidfilmsguy]

I live in Michigan and ride my bike through the winter I have another set of rims with tires that have good tread on them and really there is only about 5 days in the winter were I wouldn't feel comfortable to ride in, its cold but really all I do is ride from school and back and maybe lunch so 15 minutes of cold is dooable

[jipi0001]

i live in quebec so i doubt i could use a motorcycle during winter, at -25 celsius and 1 foot of snow in the streets... i doubt it can even be done legally since all vehicles need winter-only tires. id really love a bike during summer, when it gets as hot as 35 celsius but the plates cost over 600$ for a year. the government just doesnt want us to buy motorcycles i guess

[breethwithme]

@jipi0001 look for the riding in snow on youtube they make tires that would be perfect for you in the winter i know i live in the northern us the tires have studs in them im thinking of taking a trip to canada this summer

[jipi0001]

@breethwithme ill check if the tires are legal, cuz here in quebec there are strict laws concerning winter tires... but yesterday there was an epic snow storm here, there sure was over 1 ft of snow in my driveway and so much in the streets the city announced everyone to stay at home... id like a sport bike but what i need is a snowmobile lol... maybe those street legal dirt bikes would do it

[DucatiS2R1000S]

This isn't the case if you live in Chicago...

[simon44]

Since I was 16 i've been riding bikes which is 8 years now. It wasnt until I was 20 that I got a car for 3 months and then got ride of it. Then when I was 22 I got another car and had that until recently but with the economy so bad i decided to sell it and just live off my bike. When ever I need a car I borrow my parents car. Its a handy situation for me. I love biking so when it came down to it, despite the weather and impracticalities sometimes I still prefer the bike and always will I think.

[garden772]

im 16 right now in NJ and the law for Motorcycles is 17= stand alone license no need to endorse a drivers license, and so i was thinking that when i graduate i want to attend a college in Florida and i would rather use a motorcycle which is more economical than buy a car so i wanted to know what do you think?

[dollabilljj]

I will soon be a college student (this will be my last year of high school). I'll be getting a motorcycle for my 18th birthday. Is there a certain motorcycle you would recommend for someone who hasn't ridden anything but a dirtbike? I've never owned one though, ridden around 20 times (never done anything crazy). Just would like an experienced rider's opinion on getting a bike.

[AtlasRider]

@dollabilljj I think you should start on a 250CC or at MAX a 500CC bike. GL

[JTLweb]

@dollabilljj Learn on a 250 but don't buy one. Once you are comfortable on the bike you are going to want so much more.

[breethwithme]

@dollabilljj i never rode a street bike but rode dirt bikes in my youth i jumped right on a 99 cbr919rr and have had no problems and thats after 10 yrs of not riding at all. if you got experience riding dirt bikes riding a street bike is easy. i would get something in the 600cc range if i where you so down the road you dont outgrow it and need a bigger bike. and you have ridden 2stroke dirt bikes probably? they have more power than a 250 motorcycle by far get something bigger

[dollabilljj]

@breethwithme Im planning on getting a kawa ninja 650R, as they're cheaper than most other 600's.

[johnsmith234543]

@dollabilljj because it is a v-twin and not a 4 cylinder superbike.

[MikSane]

i rode all winter on my first bike KLR250. its possible. very possible and one must drive on the sides of the road that do not have salt. during the winter i would take turns basically staring at the ground. i even drove in snow, quit fun when you see 4x4 trucks spinning and and you just ride past easy. the worst part is that salr REALLY fcks shit up. im getting a bonneville since im going to college and wont be riding in the winter. cant wait!

[vivitar45]

stop conplaning about hard lugege just looks around for plastic storege boxes you can get at anny hardware store and make a system to atch it to the bike i started with a milk crate on the back of my bike but you can put lots of things in it

[flybikes90]

i live in new york and i knew this guy who just had like a r6 and didn't drive a car. he wasn't much fond of riving in the winter, shits nasty and cold.

[PinkThinkingCat]

I did this, sold my car and now its two wheels all the way. Dont really miss the car, traffic jams are making cars way to much hassle, and the running costs.

I have hard luggage as standard, so i can carry my shopping easy enough.

[Fiercefighter2]

Hey im totally fine with riding in the winter and the rain. i dont mind bad conditions. But what do you do about salt on the road in winter?

[AtlasRider]

@Fiercefighter2 I don't have experience in wintery conditions with sand/salt/grit/etc. But if I did, my beside advice would be...avoid it.

[dodgerider26]

@Fiercefighter2 What I did in the winter was just to ensure I washed the bike as often as I could. Sometimes I would use warm water from inside in a bucket and wash the bike in the driveway. If you can't wash the whole bike, at least thoroughly spray the chain down with WD-40 after each ride and then re-lube it. The chain on my Katana took 3,000 miles during the winter and didn't need adjusted during that time period. YMMV but chain maintenance is vital!

[ThisizChaveze]

U Say Ur Getting a New Motorcycle?... Id Get Another Kawasaki Ninja bro... The 2010 650R Ninja is Badass

[itsniper]

I've been riding my bikes ('82 GS550L-Sold, '01 SV650S-Sold, '05 R6) as 90%+ of my transportation. You just learn to adapt :).

My wife used our only car for about 2yrs. Then when we had a kid I got her a small SUV, and now I use the old car for bad weather only. It's been wrecked twice and has 190K miles, so it's not worth selling but it works fine for my "snow car". I live in KS so there's probably 10-20 work-days per year were there's ice/snow on the roads so I can't get by with ONLY a bike.

[tbogue]

I've been thinking of doing it. I currently have a Mustang that is my fair weather car (that I am still making payments on) and an old pickup for my winter beater. Whenever the weather is nice I always choose one of the bikes over the Mustang so I really probably should get rid of it.

[Naturepheonix]

Hay Atlas.

What is your job?

How are you able to travel all the time?

[AtlasRider]

I am a software developer. I use my vacation time wisely and often take weekend trips. Nothing special really.

[Naturepheonix]

Lucky.

You design games?

[rin1987]

I am a student and live on my own. and i use my motorcycle for everything its cheap to insure and i can maintain it myself i currently have a necked 1992 dr650 it does the trick ride all-weather to living on two wheels can be done but you have to make do with less comfort

[AtlasRider]

Yea I think it is perfect for students. You're right, it is less comfortable but I think you can mitigate that with some good gear.

[hulkninja]

Thanks for talking a bit about this. I am currently deciding if going with a motorcycle only is a viable option. I live in FL right now so weather is not too big of an issue. however, i will be moving to VA soon and cold weather riding will be a big issue as well as what to do if i need to wear a suit and get somewhere i.e. for work. any ideas, tips, comments?

[CaptApril123]

I gave up the car a few years ago when insurance payments just got ridiculous but with me it was a bicycle. My weight went down muscles got strong and I'm buying my house without killing myself.

I ride in all weather, cold of course is a factor.Roads are usually cleared after a big snowstorm before sidewalks so it's not really a factor. If I really need a car I can always rent one, they're pretty cheap and I have the money now.. :)

Great video, thanks.

[steveswitek]

Your car sounded like a white elephant, until you got rid of it that is.

[JustTheRoad]

I know many people have asked this question! I just wanted to know what type of motorcycles you have and what engine size is it? Please Reply Back: ill be very greatful..

Peace, Ride Safe

[AtlasRider]

Kawasaki Ninja 650r

...since you asked so nicely :)

[leafsfan9917]

unfourtunatly in canada that is just not possible

[MrHasie]

I live on two wheels and when I need a car, I use the girlfriends :P

[SpeedingStudent]

I have been living on two wheels for a decade now, since I turned 18.

I have had 6 bikes so far...all Japanese.

I have 10,000+ miles on my '07 650R, and it hasn't given me any problems at all.

I ride in all-weather, and it is very easy to shop for groceries. Perhaps twice a week, I shop for groceries. I have a backpack, and an accessory luggage rack on my 650R. That rack let's me tie 50lb bags of dog food on the back.

It CAN be done! I do it! Real men with balls ride all-weather!!!

[bigdogITbiker]

Hi AtlasRider, what bike is that you are riding , how many cc s? thanks

[uulaitai1]

what kind of motorcycle ? do you ride ?

[adoniscomplex]

Kawasaki Ninja 650r

[Nanan0001]

I totally understand how you feel on the making a car payment when you drive the car about once a month. I ride my 650r every day I can, the only reason I even drive my car these days is when it is raining or I need to do food shopping. Which makes me wonder, how do you bring home groceries, my bi-monthly shopping results in 3-4 bags + a case of water.

[AtlasRider]

Bi monthly grocery shopping turns into bi-weekly shopping. It's more of a hassle, but it can be done.

If you don't want to take more trips, lose the case of water, buy a Wolfman or RevPack soft luggage (about $100) and you'll be able to carry those 3-4 bags.

[sunman111]

hey what car did you have? :P

[inagod]

Im 6'2 220lbs57 years old,Im thinking about the GS 650 BMW,not as smooth as the Honda,but mileage,world class touring ability in any condition,makes it a winner

[inagod]

do you like Arizona

[AtlasRider]

Yea

[MentorInBusiness]

*sigh* "dummy" ... that was funny!

[Macrohard26]

I like you idea of a touring trip down to South America but have you seen the show Locked up Abroad on National Geographic? There was an episode where a guy was riding from California to the tip of South America but was kidnapped along the way by Colombian rebels. After his release many months later he immediately continued his ride where he left off despite protest from law enforcement. Its a great story, worth checking it out.

[finstervonshamrock]

i saw that one. faking cancer was a stroke of brilliance. too bad he couldn't have used those immense deductive powers of reasoning to know that driving off the beaten path into the jungles of Columbia was a bad move to start with.

anyway, i have been seriously considering selling my car and getting a bike. the only reason i haven't is that i live in montana.

[ConfusedSponge]

hey my friend wanna learn to ride but he doesn't even know how to ride a bicycle! i said it's impossible! but i've read that you can learn to ride even if you can't ride a bicycle! so any thoughts and advice?

[AtlasRider]

Have him take a course from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation

[inagod]

Take a course,you will be very happy to see that yes you can ride.Safety is the key,motorcycle crashes can be avoided,you need to read and take some courses.you will never be un happy again,I promise

[GuitarMasterGraeme]

You were talking about people who need to carry shopping and what not... Why dont people just use the bag you showed in your video before? im gonna get me one of those soon when i get a motorcycle :) i have a scooter atm so its a little easier having a storage under the seat

[GuitarMasterGraeme]

Bikes all the way...... i had no desire for a car anyway :) just gonna work my way up the bikes =P

[EdgeyForSure]

oh wow. dual sport ftw =D what you planning on getting or not know atm?

[AtlasRider]

Debating between a BMW GS650 and a Kawi KLR650

[LARC0]

I'm slowly leaning that way, but in Michigan there are many times where a bike is impossible. :( Lately I have been riding every day, braving the elements, and plan to all season. Great vid Mate. :) I'll be looking forward to this series.

[alexmortillaro]

yup im living on two wheels. doesn't bother me all that much just when it snows!, i have had to ride in the snow before...oh dear that won't happen again! by the way great video! nice to know im not the only one out there!

[SpacedTime]

Im going to have to make a choice for either a car or a bike. I have never owned either so it would be a life saver for me to finally have a car that i can transport things in and not have to rely on people for it. But, I would be much happier with a bike and all the fun you can have riding one.

I never enjoy being in a car. But i think i deserve the comfort of one. Riding a bike in English weather wont be much different from public transport all through the winter like im used to.

[z33tec]

I definitely would if it didn't snow so much up here in NY.

Btw, that clutch sounds worse each vid ;)

[AtlasRider]

I know, I know! I'm getting to it....

Thanks for bugging me, heh

[andyroo24601]

Hey, another great video. I'm a two-wheels-only guy as well - Never learned to drive a car, don't think I would want to in the future. Here in Scotland the weather is the main issue - ice and snow being the major barrier in winter! Most of my miles are commuting to work, which is not fun with a 10 below zero temperature (celsius!)

[whatsagixer]

ride comfortably until 20F...um, i live in wisconsin and driving in 30F weather gets cold with the wind and what not...not ideal, but bearable.

[AtlasRider]

Two words: Heated Gear.

It's amazing stuff. More on this later.

[AtlasRider]

I'd like to say that I am both surprised and thrilled that there are many others out there living only on two wheels as well. 2 > 4 :)

[rebelyell91]

I too have only a motorcycle (honestly, I just wanted some cheap transportation but it turned into a wonderful hobby.) Great video about living with only 2 wheels. (: (I too had a car and handed it over to a family member)

[starzship]

great vlog. it has been shown that sitting in traffic jams increases risk of heart disease, blood pressure, exposure to pollution, etc. Here in Los Angeles, riding my motorcycle, I can get from Carson to downtown LA in 15- 25 minutes during RUSH hour, where the car driver it will take over an hour and often longer. I look forward to more of your adventures!

[peeteey]

Hi Atlas, really enjoying your vids!

I would happily live without a car but for a few reasons:

1) I LOVE my car

2) Try getting a double bass, amp, music stand, books and me in a suit on a bike!

3) I live out of town and don't want to ride on the highways to get to town and back without my leathers but need tidy clothing/suits at regular intervals for work.

4) I'm a pussy when it comes to the cold :)

You're riding to South America? Good luck and have fun!

Cheers from New Zealand!

[spiralisedcat]

cool vid atlas,I dont ride but i always enjoy your vids.

[steelhorseclub]

I gave my car to my wife.lol. But I do use it sometimes until it rains alot.

[ManOfMeans]

Awesome job, Atlas. You've done something/are doing something that only a small handful of people would ever commit to doing. I wish you the absolute best...and...keep posting those videos - I'll be waiting to see them!

[F8H]

you could make a video about that bag lol... sounds usefull!

[Magna4940]

I have :

Yamaha XJR1300 for pure pleasure & touring.

Suzuki (1981) GS550L for winter rallys.

Yamaha Neos 50cc scooter for work & shopping.

and a bicycle to get to the pub !

I manage just great, but i did have to ask a friend to help when i bought my a new dining table. Would only have acted as a wind break on the bike !!!

So, getting around/living on 2 wheels is very possible.

Ride safe .... Magna

[AtlasRider]

Yea, I definitely do need to get a bicycle for when I go out to the bars...

I'm sick of relying on people picking me up or cabbing it.

[britex3186]

Motorcycle only is great if you can do it. I would if the wife would ride too but alas she protesteth too much. She hates helmet hair! Golf clubs are also an issue with a motorcycle.

[billmaa]

Atlas, I got rear ended in my Jeep about a year ago..and there was controversy on which insurance company would pay for the repairs. It sat for six months and I only rode my bike during that time. With proper planning, it's pretty easy. My only real challenge was picking up my 5 year old from kindergarten. But I scoured the internet and found him proper gear, his fellow classmates thought he was the cats pajamas when I would roll up on my loud 919

Take Care,

Billy

[AtlasRider]

Ha! That's awesome. No doubt your son is getting bit by the motorcycle bug early in life!

[billmaa]

Haha! his first ride, he was four..it was circle in a cul de sac at 5 mph...but the first the thing he said when he got off was "Daddy, when can I get my own motorcycle" ..I told him " well you have to master that bicycle first" =)

[AtlasRider]

lol, that's great!

[ToastToGo]

I might be selling my worthless car this summer and using the bike until I can afford a manageable car. It's just giving me so much hassle, haha, it's almost a chore to drive my car and crap keeps falling apart on it.

[AtlasRider]

I'm going to try and visit every country

[CRBlKER]

wich part of south america are you going to?

[ashf00t]

ya, I've never had a car and all I have is a bike. I think that's the ONLY way to live :)

I guess you could say I'm living the dream :D

[kfallscody]

I pretty much live on 2 wheels during the warmer months, except when I have to haul around a bunch of computers for my job.

In fact I'll be getting a top box for my versys here soon so I won't need my car for doing a lot of the simple things like grocery shopping :)

[thehorsefly87]

Glad to see another vid.. i was gong through atlas withdraw. gotta say you probably my fav vlogger and your HD vids are ridiculous... Keep em coming, looking forward to more on this topic!!! =]

[AtlasRider]

It was your comment on my last video that kicked me in the butt and finally went and made a new video. Fee free to bug me when I don't post for too long :)

[thehorsefly87]

haha, glad to hear it. Keep it brewing buddy... peace.

[woodenchairs]

Wish i could go two wheels only but way to cold and snowy here to even consider it. :( Good to see you making vids again. Seems like its been getting fewer and far between.

[dbauernf]

2 wheels here only, er6f and a scooter, but the winter/snow doesn't make it easy and I borrow a car from time to time (I guess I could take the bus). What are you plans re next bike? Just don't tell me you're gonna get a BMW GS.

[AtlasRider]

Right now i'm looking at a KLR650 or a GS650

[seanleach]

If I lived in a nicer climate I would seriously considering going car-less. Here in the north east I could do it for 9 months of the year, but no longer. Snow+ice+bad drivers = unsafe for two wheels in Dec/Jan/Feb.

Keep up the good work, and keep us posted!

[AviBaby18]

my car insurance runs out at the end of july, i already have some people who may be interested in purchasing my car.

I've got a full bike test early april, so after that I should have enough money to put a high deposit down on a bike and pay the remainder on finance. That is the plan anyway. It is very difficult being 19 years of age, in the UK, AND MALE. Because insurance companies just see gender, young age, high CC?? = EXTREMELY HIGH INSURANCE. so, its just a waiting game really

[xXCigarXx]

i sold my car to buy my bike and havent looked backif i need to go to the store its only like 2-3 miles away i just take a back pack and i can buy groceries to last about 3-4 days easy and put em in my back packand i get good enough gas mileage i dont care if i need to make 2 trips as a matter of fact sometimes on nice days i prefer to take 2-3 trips and get a bunch of shopping done

[Cottonwotton33]

Love your videos man, you are an inspiration.

I live in Minnesota and though I've considered it I think I'll be tethered to my truck for the long haul. I really wish I lived in a warmer climate sometimes but for now I'll just have to make do with riding 6 months out of the year.

Keep up the good work.

[nachomahn]

When I lived in Phoenix with an 80 mile commute my big car was perfect. Now that I live in the tiny mountain town of Flagstaff (and the snow is gone) I plan on selling it and going bike only until November when the snows come back -- and even then riding all winter when the roads are safe. I look forward to your series!

[Zedith]

I also rely on my motorcycle for my only transportation. If it´s too crappy weather or too cold I can use public transportation, witch is very good here where I live. I drive about 80km (50miles) to and from work every day so when it´s down to 2°C (35.6F) I rather take the train ;)

Backpack and hard cases help a lot. I´m just so lucky that all my supermarkets are within walking distance from my home.

Looking forward to see more from this series. 5stars...

[Iroquois14]

i have always wanted to hear this kind of information... i cant wait for your upcoming vids