Motorbike or Van? My search for work.

[Bug Squasher]

Well, its nearing the time when i start planning a move up north (Western Australia) in search of my first ever aviation job.

as im not fussed where i work, i am planning on communting up the coast in search of employment.

Now my choices are
A F650 bike, which i already own.

or

A Van (probably an old tradies van)

i can travel extremely light which will warrant the bike.

What would you suggest, anyone have any experiences?

[...still single]

Go the van.

Can't sleep in a bike. Can't lock all your stuff in a bike (well, you can lock up some stuff if you got decent panniers, but you'll be carrying more than two armful's of stuff).

Can't call RAC after you hit a big red on your bike, 'cos you'll be chatting with Saint Pete.

I guess it would be possible to do the bike if you're going to go to a particular place, find a place to stay and set up camp for the long haul.

If you're going to 'sample' a place for a few weeks then move on, go the van.

[Mr. Hat]

Can't call RAC after you hit a big red on your bike, 'cos you'll be chatting with Saint Pete.

Yep. You are about to undertake some country driving come home in one piece please.

Van is a great idea - just make sure you have aircon and some music. A four wheel drive van would be good also but i guess now i'm pushing my luck with your bank account!

Good luck and understand that driving reallly is the risky stuff. Give driving at sunset sunrise and night a miss.

[No junk male]

Not to mention the start of the wet season... definitely the van.

NJM

[compressor stall]

Yup, get a van.

[The Green Goblin]

Get the Van and put the bike in the back :)

IMO though just get a little 4cyl rice burner that is cheap to run and reliable. You will not need to sleep in your car very often (if at all) unless you like that sort of thing.

I remember the boys who had scooters! There is a story about the boys doing nude runs down the runway at night on the scooter!

[sleemanj]

Where is the sense of adventure in the previous posters!

Bike!!!

Security: get a pacsafe.
Safety: man up.
Getting wet: man up.

[Bug Squasher]

well as i was reading down the list fo replies (thanks btw) i totally agree with the van, "the wet" season.. i didnt even put two and two together when considering communting up there..

when i got to the post

Where is the sense of adventure in the previous posters!

Bike!!!

Security: get a pacsafe.
Safety: man up.
Getting wet: man up.
http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/buttons/report.gif (http://www.pprune.org/report.php?p=5321247) http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/buttons/reply_small.gif (http://www.pprune.org/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=5321247&noquote=1)
i laughed after every line.
You are right i do want a sense of adventure, and dont get me wrong i am quite adventerous!
but this is why i ahve posted this question, to see what people think and hopefully get information about previous experience.

someone mentioned before taking both.. I WISH, as per the majority of Fresh CPL holders(well i will be very soon, finger crossed) we dive on the ground for any signs of coins:ugh:.

[40Deg STH]

VAN VAN VAN

Good luck and enjoy. This is the start of a lifelong adventure. Its like school, the learning only starts now after you leave, you will now become a "Pilot".:ok::ok::ok:

[777WakeTurbz]

Get the Van and put the bike in the back http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/smile.gif
Cannot agree more, seeing as you cant really take your fishing/diving/camping gear on your bike. And you WILL want those things!! :ok:

Can't call RAC after you hit a big red on your bike, 'cos you'll be chatting with Saint Pete.
This is really only a problem if your traveling at night, generally no fences, so there is cattle, goats, emus and roos to worry about hanging around the warm bitumen of a night. During the day they are generally easy to spot and avoid.

Where are you headed? Or are you just dropping into all the companies on the way up the coast?

Good Luck and have some fun, whatever you decide! :ok:

[Bug Squasher]

Where is the sense of adventure in the previous posters!

Bike!!!

Security: get a pacsafe.
Safety: man up.
Getting wet: man up.

Haha Sleemanj i laughed at every line of your comment! it be a hell of a cheap trip up on my bike, not to mention memorable!

VAN VAN VAN

Good luck and enjoy. This is the start of a lifelong adventure. Its like school, the learning only starts now after you leave, you will now become a "Pilot".http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/thumbs.gifhttp://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/thumbs.gifhttp://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/thumbs.gif

Thanks 40Deg STH! Van is appealing! trust me! up unitl this year i have always owned a 4wd, until the real cost of flying kicked in, but i still have my fridge and stuff:


This is really only a problem if your traveling at night, generally no fences, so there is cattle, goats, emus and roos to worry about hanging around the warm bitumen of a night. During the day they are generally easy to spot and avoid.

Where are you headed? Or are you just dropping into all the companies on the way up the coast?

Good Luck and have some fun, whatever you decide! http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/thumbs.gif
cheers 777WakeTurbz, i do know of the animal problem of the north, have personally encountered them a good amount of times.

where am i headed? well i guess thats a trivial Question, ideally Broome, but im pretty sure every tom dick and harry say that, I will be checking out every comapny on the way up, unfortunatley my planned departure is a little later then the ideal time to go up, i want to find a place i like and hopefully show the operator i mean business!
Id take what ever, aslong as i get to fly and enjoy myself:)

has anyone got any pictures of a nice decked out Van? i have some ideas..

[Homesick-Angel]

There is no sticker that sais "If the bikes a rockin-Dont come a knockin"..

You will surely need the leisurely space the van offers at some point.

Nuff said...

[the air up there]

Go the van. Grab a mate, make it a roadtrip. He can fly home when its done.

Kind of agree with night driving bit. I avoid driving at and around sunset, but the night driving has never been an issue. Just slow down, 80kmh on most roads, have good headlights/spotties. Also the standard of clearing on the side of the road dictates speed.

Ive done many years of night driving through western qld, nt and nsw. Trick is don't do it if your concentration isnt 100%.

Make sure you hit up all the small bush operators. Don't be in a rush for that first twin gig and just enjoy the ride that is GA, the people and sites you'll see will stay with you for ever.

[psycho joe]

I personally love the this age whereby every tedious conundrum can be remedied by a thousand faceless individuals in lieu of any form of self determination. :ugh:

Just spare a minute of thought for those of us who in the past didn't have such a web site to ask:


"Should I travel (go) North, South, East, West, down to the shops?"

"Should I ride, drive, walk, fly, or just click my heels together whilst thinking of a happy place?"

"When should I walk, drive, fly , click my heels as I have no concept of geography & meteorology?"

"Should I become an instructor, join the Air Force, be a charter pilot, go straight to QANTAS, get an Instrument Rating, or wear 5 bar epaulettes with clusters and gold braid?"

"Should I use 2 ply toilet paper or 3ply?"

"Should I lift the lid before taking a p:mad:ss?"

"What's this rash?"

Here's a tip; Try making a decision. If the outcome is not what you had desired, then try lifting the lid. :ok:

[Bla Bla Bla]

Its all been said before, a van is practical, you can lock it up, you can sleep in it etc etc.

Go for the bike, it will be much more fun you only need a couple of lockable panniers, a light weight tent and a few cloths. Don't take to much stuff and have an adventure at least if you are not successful you will have a real adventure and save **** loads on fuel.



You might get wet you will get hot you will get dusty but you will look back in years to come and smile about the time you biked all over to get that job. You have years ahead of you to make boring sensible decisions and drive practical boring family cars etc etc.

Do it on two wheels:ok:

[HTFU]

don't muck around trying to find a van you've already got the bike just go man, more easy on the fuel too, you'll need every dollar you can get when ya there

[Bug Squasher]

Here's a tip; Try making a decision. If the outcome is not what you had desired, then try lifting the lid. http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/thumbs.gif psycho joe (http://www.pprune.org/members/109385-psycho-joe)

i see joe that you are a die-hard forum lover! look i was never asking what was right or wrong or what i should do, i was asking for opinions from people. i was hoping to gain a bit of insight from peoples experience.

But thank you for your contribution.

Its all been said before, a van is practical, you can lock it up, you can sleep in it etc etc.

Go for the bike, it will be much more fun you only need a couple of lockable panniers, a light weight tent and a few cloths. Don't take to much stuff and have an adventure at least if you are not successful you will have a real adventure and save **** loads on fuel.



You might get wet you will get hot you will get dusty but you will look back in years to come and smile about the time you biked all over to get that job. You have years ahead of you to make boring sensible decisions and drive practical boring family cars etc etc.

Do it on two wheelshttp://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/thumbs.gif Bla Bla Bla (http://www.pprune.org/members/307500-bla-bla-bla)

don't muck around trying to find a van you've already got the bike just go man, more easy on the fuel too, you'll need every dollar you can get when ya there
HTFU (http://www.pprune.org/members/298189-htfu)

These last two comments have definatley swayed me back to taking my bike!
this was my original idea, and i guess i dont have much to loose, i can of course get a 4 wheeled vehicle later!

There are a million ways to make an adventure, i dont say that one way is the best, or do i think there is a best!

Thanks again guys for you thoughts!

[HTFU]

yeah glad i can help

[Mr. Hat]

I'm going to be the party pooper Bug Squasher. I note under age you have 22. Off the top of my head I recall some statistics regarding your age group vs top causes for death. Road accidents were a strong contibutor.

I think landing your first 210 into a remote strip in the middle of the wet will be more than enough adventure for you. If thats not enough "assisting" certain contiki customers outside of work hours (and inside work hours sometimes!) will well and truly satisy the adventurous needs within trust me.

I say it from having experienced quiet a bit of the second paragraph and having come awfully (as in you wouldn't believe me if i told you) close to the first one.

Fate is fate but if you can minimise risk where possible then you are ahead of the game.

[the air up there]

I think landing your first 210 into a remote strip in the middle of the wet will be more than enough adventure for you. If thats not enough "assisting" certain contiki customers outside of work hours (and inside work hours sometimes!) will well and truly satisy the adventurous needs within trust me.


Done plenty of the first line. Up to 50kts of wind in the circuit, moderate to severe turb, then the windshear, then the crosswind landing in between the trees. And that was the dry season. The wet season, you get rapidly changing wx conditions, thunderstorms that form supercells that form lines of supercells and your 150nm from home thinking, "how the hell do I get my arse out of this sling?"

The second part with the contiki customers, well, thats the motivation to go to work everyday. Certainly not the fantastic pay or the boss that appreciates your efforts and is always happy to see you.

I used to love going 4 wheel driving, camping, hunting and fishing. That was enough adventure. Now, still in my 20's, I make great use of my home entertainment system. Much less exciting, but no scratches, scars or cold sweats in the sleep.

In no way is this meant as a discouragement, just an observation. Adventure finds you up there, no need to go looking for it. Best of luck. Hope your nerves make it all the way through the first job.