AM I GETTING TO OLD FOR A SPORT BIKE - SERIOUS THREAD PLEASE

Mike Daytona600 · Post by **Mike Daytona600** » Apr 6th, '07, 19:28

Since I saw this accident

topic81625.html?highlight=

I've been thinking about going on this

http://www.bikesafe.co.uk/

I got a leaflet from work. I know you were an instructor speedy but one paragraph says this

'It doesn't matter if you've been riding for years or if you've just come back to biking - what you need is up to date bike handling skills, inside infomation and a head stuffed with riding know-how. Get that lot from somewhere and you'll ride safer AND get more out of your bike.'

Haven't read through the site yet but gonna. Even if you think you now what you're doing and are trained up you may still lurn one thing that could be usefull... so isn't that worth a day?

Blimey · Post by **Blimey** » Apr 6th, '07, 19:38

Don't want to sound rude or ungrateful about advice that bikesafe tution can give but this feeling (i have) is something that no riding school could rectify.

Its more a feeling of loving to ride fast and be on the limit (well my limit) for years but loosing confidence in doing this as there are too many unknowns and feelings getting in the way.

Like you seem to think a bit too much about whats round this corner when before you didn't really care. I know this comes with maturaty but its like you want to but can't with out scarry yourself because of all these feelings about family and life.

I don't know its hard to explain. I love the speed but its hard work keeping up with it. Guess because life can be tooo short.

speedy(delboy) · Post by **speedy(delboy)** » Apr 6th, '07, 19:44

Blimey wrote:Don't want to sound rude or ungrateful about advice that bikesafe tution can give but this feeling (i have) is something that no riding school could rectify.

Its more a feeling of loving to ride fast and be on the limit (well my limit) for years but loosing confidence in doing this as there are too many unknowns and feelings getting in the way.

Like you seem to think a bit too much about whats round this corner when before you didn't really care. I know this comes with maturaty but its like you want to but can't with out scarry yourself because of all these feelings about family and life.

I don't know its hard to explain. I love the speed but its hard work keeping up with it. Guess because life can be tooo short.

My god, thats so so true.

Mike, I was an instructor for 5 years and also a RoSPA observer and was for a fair few years. Its like Mark said, no riding school or person can help me through this feeling. I think its just one of those things. I just hope it goes away fairly god dam sharpish, or even better just a one off today.

Post by **billinom8s** » Apr 6th, '07, 19:55

i did bikesafe last year, was ok, didnt learn anything really, only cofirmed that bike cops have a very high opinion of themselves.

worth a go as some insurers are listing it as a benefit

AlexG · Post by **AlexG** » Apr 6th, '07, 20:05

By all accounts not the most confidence inspiring bike which is sure to have something to do with it.
My old J2 never felt quite right - the C1 feels absolutley spot on and I enjoy riding and look forward to riding more than I ever have.

baz-R · Post by **baz-R** » Apr 6th, '07, 20:09

xbandit wrote:is there a age limit ??

i was in aberdare park once n this bloke on a gsx 1300 pulled up next to us he took his helmet off n [censored] me he must have been 8o plus head shakin around like a skitziod,,

80 plus busa,,

never to old!!

i know a guy in his 70s who has a new firblade with the stickest rubber he coud buy for a road bike and rides it like he is on the track shreding the corners of them first! hes got a rs 250 for a bit of fun and zx9r for a quiet ride (yegh right)
so your never too old!

its just what suits you

im only 28 and i just had to get something more licence friendly than the thunderace (all i will say is that it could run out of numbers on the speedo and start to over rev in top with std gearing)
the missus hated going on the back of it and i thort i was going to get nicked one day and i rarely used all the power it had.

so i got a bike that does all the things that i want it to
tour, 2up ,be able to ride it all day but fun too
sme how i ended up taking a r1150r out for a test ride saying to my self i like the look of it but i wount like the way it rides but i did, thort i couldnt get it though the gate and fit it in the shead and it did.
so i some how ended up buying it
and at the end of the day its more enjoyable and whats wierd is that loads of people coment on it every where i go

i did the bikesafe thing and would recomend it to any one its changed the way i ride for the better and its not "dont do that" "dont go fast" kind of thing thay just make you see how to use the road to your advantage (mainly by the ride wide theory) and a few other things like looking at lines in the middle of the road the smaller the white lines are the safer it is to over take. the cat eyes are ferther apart too.
the guy said "we dont want you to ride slower we want you ride better and safer"

deej · Post by **deej** » Apr 6th, '07, 21:08

yep blimey its nice 2 have 2 wheels and i drive all day long too, covered 45000 miles since last august in the car so need the bike to unwind but find i cant relax like i used too, thats why i took up t'days. i know i'd miss riding on the roads to a degree but i'd rather be alive and doing the odd trackday than not being be able to thanks to some nob in a car/tractor/van/bus/even a mistake by myself. if it happens on track theres someone watching you from trackside and on camera and a paramedic is only 60secs away.

Post by **TLS-Moose** » Apr 6th, '07, 21:20

We all have bad days.

It's always a bit strange on a bike you don't know - especially one you don't own.

With regards the SP2 - considering you have had an I4 for ages, a twin will seem slow, because of the lazy exhaust note which means you feel out of synch between the speed your brain says it sounds like you're approaching a corner at, and that which your eyes say you are doing

As for the feeling of "what if" ...... only you can reconcile that in your head. I have noticed over the last 5 years or so I have slowed considerably, am not prepared to comit so heavily if I can't see through the corner, twist the throttle back if the surface doesn't feel right, and more worringly have braked rather than leant more when it feels like i'm too fast mid-corner

...... The thing is the throttle goes two ways, and if you feel more confident on a sports bike (and if you don't, why did the Z750 go), then stick with it, just take it easy for a while

greg · Post by **greg** » Apr 6th, '07, 21:21

I too had a Thunderace and changed it for the same reasons as Xbandit, and I know the feeling that Speedy described at the beginning of the thread.
I just happen to think that sooner or later everyone who rides will feel this way, my answer was to buy a bike that didn't 'make me do it', because frankly the roads just are not suited to really quick riding, by which I mean regularly doubling the speed limit plus some.
So I solved the problem by getting a bike that was so much more versatile and has enabled me to get away from the 'Sunday blast' thing, which frankly became extremely dull. Choice of bike could well be something you should look at Speedy. There are bikes out there that really do make sportsbikes feel like planks and will go RTW if thats what you want to do. They are called dual sports. Big torque, fantastic handling, off road capability too, and no this is not a BMW GS ad, can't stand the things.
Try a KTM or pre 07 Tiger. Anyone try them, if you are open minded they change the way you think about biking.
Mind you the yummy mummy in the 4WD is just as likely to tw*t you, you'll just see it coming a bit sooner.

Blimey · Post by **Blimey** » Apr 6th, '07, 21:29

greg with all this in mind about how i feel nowadays when riding this is the route i have considered. Changing bike. Supermoto was a thing i seriously looked into a while back. I felt i could keep the buzz wth this kind of bike as its torquey and not a mega quick bike. Wheelies and just playing rather looking for speed to keep me entertained

age · Post by **age** » Apr 6th, '07, 22:43

Well Phil we all get days like that.

There is a corner about 5 miles away from my house, If I get around it with a smile on my face I carry on, If It don't feel right I turn around and go home.

Age

svr-ash · Post by **svr-ash** » Apr 6th, '07, 22:56

I'm with Blimey as well, i don't race around anymore since the second nipper was born and now with my third on the way i'm less inclined to do so

Saying that when was the last time you rode a sports bike? I mean you got rid of the SRAD, had to change your riding to get used to that piece of poo you had after it, settled into that and now you jumped on a SP after a while, i'd feel a bit nervy if i was in your shoes

Today I rode my bike for the first time in 9 days and it felt weird, not just because of the new tyres but i thought i was hearing and feeling things and it didn't feel quite the same, when i have a longer break, like when i was riding the KDX to work for a couple of months, it was horrible

So in my humble opinion... no, your not to old to ride a sports bike your just out of practice mate ;) so hurry up and get a bike before you have to get your buss pass

clunk · Post by **clunk** » Apr 7th, '07, 08:53

TLS-Moose wrote:The thing is the throttle goes two ways

As I was reading this thread this was what I was thinking the whole way through.

I dont think that going a little slower, being more cautious, is a bad thing. I see it as a good thing, it's about being more mature, looking at the bigger picture, being aware of your own mortality. And if more people did this there would be less accidents out there. The road isn't a race track and riding style on the road must reflect that.

On the few SWB rides I've been on I've seen many risky manouevers, probably done a few myself in an attempt to keep up. But not any more, I ride for me at my pace, that IAM course must have had an effect

I also think choice of bike has an effect. I'd have my bike over any sports bike out there. It's the perfect bike for me and my riding style. There's no need to feel that I have a fast bike therefore I must ride fast.

Mark-Blade · Post by **Mark-Blade** » Apr 7th, '07, 09:15

clunk wrote:
TLS-Moose wrote:The thing is the throttle goes two ways
As I was reading this thread this was what I was thinking the whole way through.

I dont think that going a little slower, being more cautious, is a bad thing. I see it as a good thing, it's about being more mature, looking at the bigger picture, being aware of your own mortality. And if more people did this there would be less accidents out there. The road isn't a race track and riding style on the road must reflect that.

On the few SWB rides I've been on I've seen many risky manouevers, probably done a few myself in an attempt to keep up. But not any more, I ride for me at my pace, that IAM course must have had an effect

I also think choice of bike has an effect. I'd have my bike over any sports bike out there. It's the perfect bike for me and my riding style. There's no need to feel that I have a fast bike therefore I must ride fast.

Well said. I totaly agree with you both.

tomr6 · Post by **tomr6** » Apr 7th, '07, 09:26

Experience, maturity (whatever that is) and sense of what you want out of life are all relevant.

How old you are matters not a jot.

There are plenty of people who ride bikes just cos it makes them feel good to be looked at in loud leathers or bikes. Some people just wanna wheely all the time. Some just like the kudos of riding a bike powerful bike. Some like to ride to their limits all the time.

All you will get on this thread is a lot of conflicting advice which is totally correct in the circumstances of the author only and there is a possibility that your judgement may be clouded by it.

Just do whatever you feel is right cos if it dont feel right it probably isnt.

My advice? Never too old to ride a sports bike if thats what flicks your switch! But only if thats what you want. If I wanted to buy an image I'd buy a Harley and a waistcoat with some tassles!