Athenian Bike Riders
Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 10:05 pm
Firstly greets from sunny Athens, its been 35 degrees every day so far; been downing heinies n frappes like water. Hopefully the sydney winter is starting to ease for you guys.
Before comming to Athens, I got my international drivers license; so I could get around, I quickly found out that provisional restrictions have no bearing on an international license. So my license is unrestricted!
A friend has loaned me his zx6r, its such a great bike; I did myself a diservice by getting on it; as now i dred going back to my little 250R! The learning curve to adapting to athenian driving let alone bike riding is quite steep!
If you forget to "scan", consider yourself in an accident whilst riding in the city. Drivers really dont give a shit about you. Line splitting is mandatory especially on the highway & at highway speeds. Highways are treated like the autobarn by riders, that doesnt stop them breaking quarter mile times whilst in the city though.
Very few locals where a helmet, police dont really enforce it. "Multitasking" on a bike seems to be a big thing; as I dont know how you can smoke a ciggie, sms and manage to ride and stay alive at the same time.
Went riding up some of the mountains outside of athens yesterday, the friend who loaned me his zx6r also has fireblade 1100 "highly modified"; managed to find a quiet flat stretch of road. Allowed me to take it for a small test ride, after two OMG moments of too much power, lifting on one wheel; i quickly gave back the keys.
Off to Nafplio this afternoon, Im told the roads are quite nice going around the mountains.
Cheers
Before comming to Athens, I got my international drivers license; so I could get around, I quickly found out that provisional restrictions have no bearing on an international license. So my license is unrestricted!
A friend has loaned me his zx6r, its such a great bike; I did myself a diservice by getting on it; as now i dred going back to my little 250R! The learning curve to adapting to athenian driving let alone bike riding is quite steep!
If you forget to "scan", consider yourself in an accident whilst riding in the city. Drivers really dont give a shit about you. Line splitting is mandatory especially on the highway & at highway speeds. Highways are treated like the autobarn by riders, that doesnt stop them breaking quarter mile times whilst in the city though.
Very few locals where a helmet, police dont really enforce it. "Multitasking" on a bike seems to be a big thing; as I dont know how you can smoke a ciggie, sms and manage to ride and stay alive at the same time.
Went riding up some of the mountains outside of athens yesterday, the friend who loaned me his zx6r also has fireblade 1100 "highly modified"; managed to find a quiet flat stretch of road. Allowed me to take it for a small test ride, after two OMG moments of too much power, lifting on one wheel; i quickly gave back the keys.
Off to Nafplio this afternoon, Im told the roads are quite nice going around the mountains.
Cheers
