South West Bikers | Motorcycle Forum

I ride around 4-5 times a week and have a a huge craving for speed, fast cornering genially going flat out. I don't get shaken up at close calls I just get more buzzed up.
Its like I have a come down after or the next morning after riding with guilt and worry ie. the potential of harming others or losing my licence. Every biker I come across seems to be going at such a sensible pace even if there on r1 blades etc. I find it hard to understand how they control them self's.

I mainly ride alone maybe that's half the problem. Ideally I want to chill out a bit on the road and focus it on racing in the near future.

Just wondered if anyone else shares this kind of anxiety?

I used to be like that. The only thing that will change you is when you have a big off and I cannot stress enough the word WHEN. Unless worse case scenario (heaven forbid). In the past I have dislocated my shoulder and vertically fractured my ankle never mind the bruises. I say save it for the track for the roads are now more and more busy and full of more and more numpties.

As GP says, the roads are generally just too busy to ride that way now You used to be able to ride from Exeter to Sidmouth or Dawlish in the evening and only see one or two cars - now its more likely you'll only have one or two overtaking opportunities .....

Try trackdays for speed thrills, and maybe Bikesafe to see if your road riding is as good as you think it is ...... I've found that despite a reasonable pain threshold the fear of testing it tends to make my wrist go the other way

I have found that riding the Honda vigor 650 single, the old Z650, and the RD,s i seem to plod along at 60 mph max just going with the flow, but light up the TDR 250 and al hell breaks loose, I wring the bloody things neck everywhere , luckily tis only a 250 so does not do warp speeds, but 90/100 mph come up easy enough ( on trackdays hossifer)

goatpants wrote:I used to be like that. The only thing that will change you is when you have a big off and I cannot stress enough the word WHEN. Unless worse case scenario (heaven forbid). In the past I have dislocated my shoulder and vertically fractured my ankle never mind the bruises. I say save it for the track for the roads are now more and more busy and full of more and more numpties.

Thanks for your input Gp and moose I totally agree with whats said. I think I just need to find some even gound between the two, road and track. Would much prefer to come off on the track rather than the road I try not to think about it.

Yeah roads are really busy I found that its better now its lighter in the evening if I go out about 7 its not to bad.

Mervin wrote:I have found that riding the Honda vigor 650 single, the old Z650, and the RD,s i seem to plod along at 60 mph max just going with the flow, but light up the TDR 250 and al hell breaks loose, I wring the bloody things neck everywhere , luckily tis only a 250 so does not do warp speeds, but 90/100 mph come up easy enough ( on trackdays hossifer)

Yeah I think the bike your riding has a big part on how you ride. With the gsxr srad its really uncomfortable to ride at slow speeds with aching wrists and then you get aching knees from trying to take the weight off your wrists but when going at speed it feels just right.
Also the way the power is delivered with it makes you want to wring its neck with all the power up top.

It's also down to how you they the road and bike.

Adjustments can be made to make the bike comfy at slow speeds, i've done it to two so far.

I know it sounds silly to someone worried about going too fast, but have you played the 'no brakes' game ? Ask Smiler about it, top game I showed her. You start to view the road differently, look more for detail in the surfaces, surrounding, layouts etc. All stuff you miss when trying to ride everywhere on the stop.

Remember smooth is fast, tortoise and hare. Alot of coppers are smooth riders, try keeping up with one of them and only braking when they do. When you brake you unsettle the bike, try to keep it level instead of nose up, nose down style.

Two more key things

Do trackdays
Road ride with others who are more relaxed on the roads and follow their lines.

If you are getting worried about it, get married and put your balls in your wife's handbag!

albieplums wrote:If you are getting worried about it, get married and put your balls in your wife's handbag!

Haha I'm not that worried

Sam, for what its worth, I rode behind you for quite a way today and at no point did I think you were a bit loopy. Do you think riding with others helps in keeping it down a bit? I'm the complete opposite, a total bimbler on my own haha

No brakes game as Simon has said demands you to be smooth - not relying on that heavy braking into bends sure makes you think ahead !

I am pretty certain every one of us has had that 'what if' thought...I know I have. But at the same time, no one wants you to end up as 'jam' The most positive thing about what you've said is that you recognise it in the first place

Smiler wrote:Sam, for what its worth, I rode behind you for quite a way today and at no point did I think you were a bit loopy. Do you think riding with others helps in keeping it down a bit? I'm the complete opposite, a total bimbler on my own haha

No brakes game as Simon has said demands you to be smooth - not relying on that heavy braking into bends sure makes you think ahead !

I am pretty certain every one of us has had that 'what if' thought...I know I have. But at the same time, no one wants you to end up as 'jam' The most positive thing about what you've said is that you recognise it in the first place

Thanks smiler. Yes If I was on my own I would be going a fair bit faster but riding with the group more than made up for it really enjoyed today total buzz riding in a big line of bikes.

Thanks for the advice on smoothness makes alot of sence.

Hi GixxerSam

Not sure how long you have been riding, but I had a conversation with a top bloke from Devon & Somerset Advanced Riders the other day. He said they operate half day ride outs and give you pointers on what you could improve on and how to take corners properly etc for free. His said..... we are not a pipe and slippers group, we do trackdays and like going fast. He basically wants to pass on his knowledge and see people ride properly, even if it is fast, and reduce the amount of motorcycle incidents on the road.
This appeals to me as I have only been riding for 2 years and passed my test after doing a weeks intensive course. I'm sure since then I have picked up/developed some bad habits.
Not sure if this is any help in your speed quest but just thought i'd pass it on.

billinom8s wrote:It's also down to how you they the road and bike.

Adjustments can be made to make the bike comfy at slow speeds, i've done it to two so far.

I know it sounds silly to someone worried about going too fast, but have you played the 'no brakes' game ? Ask Smiler about it, top game I showed her. You start to view the road differently, look more for detail in the surfaces, surrounding, layouts etc. All stuff you miss when trying to ride everywhere on the stop.

Remember smooth is fast, tortoise and hare. Alot of coppers are smooth riders, try keeping up with one of them and only braking when they do. When you brake you unsettle the bike, try to keep it level instead of nose up, nose down style.

Two more key things

Do trackdays
Road ride with others who are more relaxed on the roads and follow their lines.

I like it!!!! never done that before. And the Police thing. Highly rocommend the Bike Safe days. Think they charge now, but it's basically two punters to a Police biker. They don't issue tickets, they want to see how you ride and then advise constructively. Also you get to see how unskilled most of us actually are thinking we're all Rossi.

Gixxersam wrote:I ride around 4-5 times a week and have a a huge craving for speed, fast cornering genially going flat out. I don't get shaken up at close calls I just get more buzzed up.
Its like I have a come down after or the next morning after riding with guilt and worry ie. the potential of harming others or losing my licence. Every biker I come across seems to be going at such a sensible pace even if there on r1 blades etc. I find it hard to understand how they control them self's.

I mainly ride alone maybe that's half the problem. Ideally I want to chill out a bit on the road and focus it on racing in the near future.

Just wondered if anyone else shares this kind of anxiety?

Yes!
Not too sure what the answer is, although all the suggestions of training, track days and riding with slower people may help.

I was just surprised how well you put into words, exactly what I feel, but these days with everyone else seemingly bought into the health n safety dullery it seemed like some sort of dirty secret that needed to be kept in.

I'm not its so much about riding with 'slower' people, as riding with people that know 'time and place'..

.....and its not necessarily buying into H&S dullery either...its about not ending up licenceless or injured/dead

If you're going to post up a thread like Sam has (and I think its a very valid discussion to have!) you have to expect people are going to contribute their opinions/solutions. But without exception, nobody wants to hear of a fellow SWBer (or indeed any biker) getting injured..

If you aren't having enough fun on the roads, it isn't fast enough, thrilling enough, then the track is your best option