Stopped riding from 2006 until 2014 big mistake will never get back the years of something that I really enjoy now. It not just the riding it's the social side aswell.
I largely agree with you there, although about 20 years ago I deliberately went out one day with the mindset that I would stick strictly to the limits. About 10 miles into the journey an oncoming taxi decided to take a right turn in front of me, bike was written off and I was a bit bruised. Riding at the speed limits will reduce your risk of an accident, but there’s no accounting for wrong time wrong place. If I had broken the speed limit by as little as 10% I could have been about a mile up the road from where the accident happened.
If you're basically bored of road riding then you should definitely get into track riding, you'll actually get to use your bike properly, learn loads about the bike and what it is capable of and if you take your time and don't take an ego with you, you're unlikely to bin it either... I don't have too much time for road riding now, but when I do get out I enjoy it more as I feel more in control and am not chasing crazy triple digits on roads that are at best falling apart and littered with shite drivers doing stupid things... Only downside to tracks is that it's addictive and gets expensive! Forum track day!!!!!!!!
I have a tiny brain . it's mostly filled with thinking about boobs. the spare grey matter left is bikes. I ride the Blade every day a lot of those days are great I'm wet getting cold and fuck is that diesel but then the sun shines the road opens and it's time to lift the old girls skirt a little . all my stress and anger at life disappears when I ride . now I'm on so many points I have adjusted a little but I'd still rather ride all year them buy another car . I may get another transit soon but I'll only use it for track bike transport and if it snows.
I could never not have a bike now, so much so I've recently bought another one as most will know. Had a break from bikes some years ago when I bought a house that didn't have a garage and I was worried about leaving it outside so I sold it. (should have built a garage I know) Worst mistake of my life...... Well maybe not the worst but definitely a mistake. I lost a good few years of my 30's being with out a bike that I'm still making up for! It's not just the bike I'd miss either, there's a whole host of things bike related that goes hand in hand with bike ownership like the social side, like following bike sports, motogp, superbikes etc. I couldn't watch those things on TV or watch live at the track being bikeless as it just makes you want to have one!! I've also sold a road bike to focus on track riding before as well, had a few scares and thought I'm not enjoying it on the road anymore. Did a couple of track days but found I didn't have the time or the money to do enough track days to satisfy my need to be on a bike. Its great if you can do it every couple of weeks or so but NOTHING beats the freedom of pulling your bike out of the garage and going wherever you want whenever you want....... So I actually found myself missing the road! You need to find a happy medium, enjoy road riding with out taking to many risks and book two or three track days a year to give yourself something to look forward too! Now who fancies Oulton in August??
In answer to the original post. Yes often, a lot more often than anyone could think. I wasn’t really feeling anything with the bike racing of the last few years as well. Plus a few other things like work and family commitments. But luckily the repeats of the WSBs of yesteryear (2002 Imola) being shown on Eurosport the other day reminded me of great times. Even watching that gave me the itch. I taxed and bought a new battery for my bike this week, it was brilliant to get out on my bike again. In weird times like these we need our little escapes, plus the garage would never seem the same without my blade in it. It has been an expensive ornament really for the last seven years but these things are only ever happy and useful being ridden as intended.
Or you could have met the next asshole and had a higher speed impact? Don't get me wrong! I do like speed. I collected my bike yesterday after getting a PCV fitted & did give it the beans all the ways home.(bout 50 miles) Don't think the bike saw 5th let alone 6th
Even sometimes when the weather is crap & you don't want to go out on the road.......it's great to escape to the shed (not posh enough for garage) & just shine up the already clean bike. Having a few beers while doing so even makes it more satisfying.
RM try Portugese Vimto, I kid you not nothing like it for working out how not to put on a tail tidy on cold wet windy September evening …. FFS that how fucking frustrating it turned out to be
Well took the bike out yesterday for a gentle ride. Loved every second even though there wasn’t a purpose to the ride and I went alone. Cleared my head no end. Also got lots of looks and even a few pictures taken of the bike whilst I was stuck at a set of lights she’s not going anywhere!
I think i'd always have a bike, even if didn't ride it much as long as i could afford it. I'm a bit of a hoarder though and always regret selling any bike, id have a garage full if i could. I've been tempted to get something like a Kawasaki Z900RS for the road, i find sportsbikes do egg you on a bit to go faster. but the blade is great for the track and plenty fast enough for me, it's just a shame it's an expensive hobby if you want to do loads of them. If i ever stopped riding on the road i'd still do track days. My dads over 70 now and still had a K4 GSXR-1000 , but he got an old moto guzzi which he probably rides most of the time he goes out now as he says you don't feel the need to get past everything on it, and can happily pootle about in comfort.
My dads got a Z900RS and a GS - prefers the Z for anything other than touring (he’s 69). Thinking of going naked again but haven’t felt the rush with naked bikes before
Good read this and lots of valid points and views. I have always told my mates who sold their bikes to do the family bit, biggest mistake of their lives, (selling the bike not having kids!!), cos once that’s out of the garage, it’s out of her mind, and bringing one back in is like trying to move a 25yo blonde in under the guise of an au pair, so even if it’s an old snotter, always keep one in the garage as an insurance policy, whilst it’s always in sight you don’t get any objections when you move more in.
