I cant ride the street any more

[xxdcmast]

I tried going out riding tonight after getting back from practice and DAMN the street sucks my ass. I never really realized how much riding on the street sucks. People going 20 mph, stop lights every 2 minutes, turns that feel like your basicaly going straight.

The track is awesome but I am pretty sure it may have ruined my street riding.

[TTD]

Yep...just posted a similar thing on another forum.

I can definitely say that a full on race replica is a big waste... and annoying... on the street.

I would consider another touring bike.. or maybe even a super scooter.

[13]

Join the club. It sucks. But selling the streetbike can get ya a badass racebike!

[OreoGaborio]

I think the one reason why I don't mind riding street much is because, by supersport standards, my zx6r is a couch. Even still, it's amazing to me how much my street riding has dwindled. First year I got my bike i did about 10k miles... second year, about 5k miles, this year i've filled my gas tank maybe 5 times at 160-170mi a tank.

[Paul_E_D]

Well, riding around in circles on the street stopped for me a long time back, but actually going somewhere on the bike... Like to work, to the beach, etc. it still a lot of fun for me. I certainly don't need a sportbike for that. My Duc M750 does the job nicely.

I'm thinking of a Multistrada for my next bike. Hard bags, longer travel, a little wind protection, etc.

Hey Tony, pick up an adventure tour rig and use it as a daily driver. It's fun in a different way. Keeps you sharp, too.

[TTD]

I agree that your Duc makes a great street bike!

And I also like the adventure tourers. I actually like the Buell "thing" (I forget what it's called... the new one that looks like it could go off road... but can't)

We'll see...

The great thing about my bike decisions is that they are NEVER final.

[akira700]

Maybe cause I dont race but I still enjoy the riding in the street. And i ride alot, city riding...maybe I'm weird but it takes all my concentration, its like meditation for me. relaxing...

For me even taking turns at 20 mph still takes concentration. I have yet to get the perfect turn.

Every turn is another chance to get the braking right and timed with the throttle so that there is no slack in drive. or to test different turn rates like a fast tip in or slow and gentle, etc... or to blip the throttle to match revs on the down shift or to feather the clutch just right for maximum smoothness... its all fun to me.

Even right angle city streets there's a challenge there somewhere... like the right line around pot holes.

I just like the feel of lateral traction when leaned over. It doesnt have to be going 70-80 mph in turn one at NHIS. I still get a thrill just going to work in Dorchester. Plus who wants to sit in a line of cages at a red light... green light i'm gone.

[Ken C]

Akira has it right, IMHO.

Riding a motorcycle can be as multi-faceted as you make it. And there is a challenge in every type of riding. I treat traffic as a video game-type endeavor where I win every time (knock on wood).

[McBiggity]

Originally posted by akira700
Maybe cause I dont race but I still enjoy the riding in the street. And i ride alot, city riding...maybe I'm weird but it takes all my concentration, its like meditation for me. relaxing...

For me even taking turns at 20 mph still takes concentration. I have yet to get the perfect turn.

Every turn is another chance to get the braking right and timed with the throttle so that there is no slack in drive. or to test different turn rates like a fast tip in or slow and gentle, etc... or to blip the throttle to match revs on the down shift or to feather the clutch just right for maximum smoothness... its all fun to me.

Even right angle city streets there's a challenge there somewhere... like the right line around pot holes.

I just like the feel of lateral traction when leaned over. It doesnt have to be going 70-80 mph in turn one at NHIS. I still get a thrill just going to work in Dorchester. Plus who wants to sit in a line of cages at a red light... green light i'm gone.

nice! great post!!

[TTD]

Let me clarify my position...

It's not that I couldn't find enjoyable things out there... I was just so dang uncomfortable that they were overshadowed.

When I wasn't sitting in traffic and actually got out onto an open section, I enjoyed being out there... just not on a race replica.

When things settle down for me... I can see another street bike in my future.

[Awesome]

I love two wheels any way i can get 'em. Street, track, dirt...whatever. The passion never ends.

[TTD]

I agree Jay.

But riding a race replica on the street seems about as logical to me now as bringing a Goldwing in the woods.

[akira700]

C'mon Tony ! Knobbies on a Wing could be the next big thing that Honda marketing folks may have missed.

I think its got potential !

[Awesome]

I feel there's something for every mood. If I had the backing I think I'd have 12 or so different bikes in the garage. I find I can have some fun on a race repl;ica on the street, of course I'm a bit of a hooligan at times, lighting up the rear tire, locking slamming the thing around corners in the city....hell I've been known to jump a curb or two on the 929 on campus. I know ...I know.......I can be a bit irresponsible.......

[Ken C]

I've TOURED on the 636 and loved it!

[xxdcmast]

Riding is and will always be fun for me in the right place. You put me in the country or in the mountains Im loving it. I just realized yesterday going from the track to the street just how much better track racing is.

[akira700]

"I just realized yesterday going from the track to the street just how much better track racing is."

This is what I have been afraid about, but given my lack of free time and money ! I have yet to catch the racing bug !

If I had the money, space and spousal support ;-) I'd be prepping a 250 Aprilia right now.

[LiononaLeash]

I'm somehwat in Akira's camp, but not exactly. I've been riding 15 years and always finding new stuff to do to have fun.

On the street, you obviously shouldn't be going 100+mph and taking corners at Mach 2 with your hair on fire.

What about the opposite side of the spectrum. You know... what are the skills that are taught by the MSF in their classes? Those skills I'm referring to are low speed skills. For me, I love to challange myself at lower speeds. How can I make low speed riding fun?

I sometimes go to the local MSF range and do some of the excercises(its 5 minutes from my work). Particularly I like the excercise where there is a circuit shaped kinda like a letter "B" and its a blast. Its like a mini racetrack. Scrape the pucks in the curves(this is about 18-22mph and no it doesn't matter that the tires are cold, you just need a clean surface so you don't eat it.). Its a great workout if nothing else, and it keeps me familiar and comfortable with lean angle. The leg muscles can be on fire at times.

Turning from one street to another, I often pitch the bike over late for a quick touch of the knee puck(if the surface is good, and again its not fast its often around 20mph give or take a couple mph). Sometimes, if I see some little kids in a car, waiting at their red light watching me approach the intersection, I'll often times give em something like that to look at as I go by with a wave.

Who knows, maybe someday they can watch a guy picking his bike back up on the side of the road too

They'll always be something, I'm probably going to look into becoming an MSF instructor at some point in the near future too. I think I'd have a blast teaching.