mccarthy1983

Wahey! Something I can actually contribute to...

Most secure option would be Moto Stable, based in Abbeyhill, but I'm not sure how they work with memberships etc and not sure on cost for short term storage.

Easiest/Cheapest would be the NCP car park on Castle Terrace (https://www.google.com/maps/place/NCP+Car+Park+Edinburgh+Castle+Terrace/@55.9479858,-3.2034162,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x31e760fb76816581!8m2!3d55.9479858!4d-3.2034162)

Hopefully if I've copied this Streetview link properly you can see the upper level entrance. They are fine with bikers rolling up to the LHS of the barrier and parking there, totally free and if you have a long enough chain you'll be able to secure your bike to the fence.

Honestly though, the stories you hear of bike thefts in Edinburgh tend to be tourists who bring no security at all. If you have a disc lock/chain then you'll be safe parking up in any of the (free) motorcycle parking bays in town. So long as your ride is more secure than the one next to it I wouldn't worry. Although, that said, I would avoid parking in George Street for any length of time as that seems to be where the opportunistic thiefs operate.

Or, if you're not fussed on distance, I'm in South Queensferry, 10 miles outside the city centre, you'd be welcome to pitch up in my driveway/street for the duration. It's quite as you could hope for. In fact, while you're thinking about riding up....you have to head out here and visit the Biker's Cove (http://www.motorcycledirect.co.uk/motorcycle-direct-club/biker-friendly-directory/bikers-cove.php); obviously I'm biased as I'm local but it's the best (IMO) pit stop you can make in the lothian and borders area.

Feel free to PM me if you want any local knowledge, or someone to rideout with.

Thank you so much for the offer. Is there a transport link from Queensferry to the city centre? Is Moto Stable stil open, I have tried emailing and calling and no reply, albeit its only been 24 hours, but not sure if it was my business I would keep potential business waiting.

Hi All,

I am planning a trip to Edinburgh in August to see friends. Live in the south of UK, so three options. Fly, Train or ride. Obvioulsy want to ride. But does anyone have any experience of secure parking in Edinburgh.

This has been a really interesting insight. Most people who have responded have said a full face helmet, pretty much all the time, and it has certainly swayed me to wearing me on my trip next weekend. Long journey, unfamiliar roads etc, wear all the gear!!!

What is interesting me though is the custom bike scene/hipster scene has really taken off over the last couple of years. I have a genuine interest in it also, thus the reason I wear an open face sometimes on my Guzzi Griso. All the adverts you see in mags like Built and in the Bikeshed, most people seem to be wearing open face helmets. Now is this just propaganda to entice us into the free spirit of motorcycle, or are helmet companies genuinely making enough money out of a product that from this discussion alone, would suggest is substandard and not safe

Whether to wear an open face or not is totally subjective in the same way as some riders choose to ride flip front hats.

So here is a counter thought. I would rather wear an open faced helmet than a flip front.

I have dealt with more serious injuries, brain injuries and fatalities of riders wearing flip fronts than I ever have with open faced hats, and this is going back nearly 40 years when full face helmets were crap, open faced were the norm and flip fronts had not even been thought of.

A helmet is intended to protect your brain function. Whatever style you wear, by and large they all do that and have to in order to comply with EC22/05 (as well as the old BS6658-85).

A full face will afford a degree of facial protection over an open faced helmet and greater comfort in inclement weather, but that is about it.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what you are wearing, but if your impact is hard enough, you are going to die or be left paralysed anyway.

Broken necks are the most common cause of death with riders. A £500 hat or a £30 cheapie is no protection against that.

So, it comes down to personal and individual choice.

Would I wear an open face? Sure I would. When I started, that was all that was available, and when I started on Police bikes that was standard issue.

Would I wear a flip front? You must be joking, No chance. If that all that was available, I would give up riding altogether. (and I was a consultant to one of the big Jap firms to help get their flip front through BSI which is why it was sold as an open face)

I choose to wear a full face and have done since the late 70's on my own bikes, but even they are no guarantee that you are going to walk away from a crash unscathed. Look at my case of Finnis v Cauldfield (2001) which I was the expert on, and the riders head shrunk by about a third on impact allowing the helmet to rotate and come off resulting in serious brain damage to the rider.

So nothing is ever guaranteed.

This is a great response, thank you...Certainly something to think about. Basically, a big enough impact is going to kill you no matter what. I guess if you choose the open face helmet, ride with the attitude that you have an open face helmet on, take it easy, give yourself room, stay alert so that if you do have an impact, its not too big...

I dont mind a lecture, maybe I am being silly when riding open face with Ray Bans for some short journeys, but its doesn't half feel good...

Hi All,

Just curious, planning a trip at the end of the month, 2 days in Wales with a few pals. I have a Bell Custom 500 (open face) as well as an AGV K5 (Full face) and I am thinking about which to take on the long distance ride. Open or full face. If I was to go open, i'd purchase a bubble visor rather than just wear sun glasses. My question here is what would you guys go for, does anyone go long distance with an open face, whats your experiences etc etc.

Hi All,

I am planing on riding to Heathrow T3 as flying out for a 2 day trip and wondered if anyone had any experience of parking there. Is the parking secure and where did you leave your riding gear?

Failing that, does anyone have any suggestions on where to leave riding gear. My current option is to store in left luggage, at a cost pf £20, but wondered if anyone had any ideas.

Thanks

Andrew