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

speedy(delboy) · Post by **speedy(delboy)** » Apr 6th, '07, 13:35

Please guys and gals, this is a serious thread for me, so please only submit useful or helpful suggestions. Its a little long but the only way I could exspress myself on this site

Today, I went out on Chris's SP2, now I am not the world fastest rider but nor am I slow, but this bike scared the living $hit out of me, not in the fact I couldn't handle it, but in the fact that I was hitting the National speed limit and I was still only in 1st gear, and still had 5 gears to go.

I felt, like the bike had control of me and not the other way around. I only even managed to get her into 4th gear and not beyond that.

I also felt that the bike was jumping around like a kangaroo, now I know its not set up for me, but me and Chris are near enough the same size and weight.

I am always scrapping my knee on the deck its something I love to do and cant help myself, but today, it just didn't happen and yet I was on my roads (Barny - Lynton) that I know and know me knee is always scrapping out.

Is it me ?? am I just getting to old for this type of riding now ?? Or is it the bike ??

Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy the 50 mile ride, but it just wasn't me, if you know what I mean.

I think the strangest thing of all, was just prior to going out of the house to get on the bike, don't ask me why or how, but a instant thought came into my head that this was going to be my last ride (and I don't mean because I don't have a bike at the moment). Problem is, I also told Sarah what had happened so I think I scared her as well.

Now most of you will say, its just the bike, with it being a twin and all that stuff, but I'm not so sure, and at this point I am so unsure of continuing riding .

DynaMight · Post by **DynaMight** » Apr 6th, '07, 14:34

They're good handling bikes....once setup. They have one of the few OE suspensions that actually change when adjusting the adjusters unlike most bikes which feel exactly the same from one end to another but even with good adjustment they're very solid and produce a harsh ride, could be that it's not setup at all.

speedy(delboy) · Post by **speedy(delboy)** » Apr 6th, '07, 14:47

DynaMight wrote:They're good handling bikes....once setup. They have one of the few OE suspensions that actually change when adjusting the adjusters unlike most bikes which feel exactly the same from one end to another but even with good adjustment they're very solid and produce a harsh ride, could be that it's not setup at all.

But not even sure it was the bike mate, could have just been me being fekking old.

Mind you, saying that, I never ever had that feeling on the Gixxer SRAD

AndyCBR · Post by **AndyCBR** » Apr 6th, '07, 15:19

In answer to your question...Yes.

Try these contacts they may help you get things off your chest...

http://www.samaritans.org.uk/

or

Tel: 08457 90 90 90

Good luck

andy198712 · Post by **andy198712** » Apr 6th, '07, 16:01

was it just an off day?
we all have them, some days you just dont feel right on a bike, ie not smooth, taking corners wrong, and makes you think.

in my eyes, the litre crew are too big for the road, i mean, where can you use all that power! coming out of a corner......no, on a striaght, still no, you'll run outa space before it tops out, around town....no

but i bet there fun

its not you gettin old mate, just the bike isnt for you, try a mates 600 and see how u feel

speedy(delboy) · Post by **speedy(delboy)** » Apr 6th, '07, 16:17

Not really sure if it was an off day as all the cornering was smooth and sweet, but just seemed to have no speed.

Nick knows what I am like on that back road to Ilfracombe, its like my own circuit if you know what I mean, as that's where we re-named him

jimbo#9 · Post by **jimbo#9** » Apr 6th, '07, 17:12

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!!

Mark-Blade · Post by **Mark-Blade** » Apr 6th, '07, 17:47

I've asked myself the same question too at times Phil.
Sometimes, it just doesn't feel right, or come together, as you'd like, I've left the house wondering if I'm going to get back in one piece, (if at all)
Then you get "The Day" when it all works!!! you are in control, and you know you need to have a bike, or you will spend all your time watching every bike that goes past.
Yes, a litre sportsbike proberbly is too much for British roads.
No I've proberbly not had the best out of my bike.
But then the power a bike makes isn't all about top end is it?
"Effortless" is what someone once described a "big bike" as to me.
But at the end of the day......
If you have one, you can choose weather to ride, or not.
If you don't have one?
If you decide the time to hang up your leathers has come, who are we to judge.

Now time to get back in the garden with my bottle of wine.

Mike Daytona600 · Post by **Mike Daytona600** » Apr 6th, '07, 18:14

We have customers older than you riding sports bikes. Just because you have all that power you don't have to use it (but it's there if you need it to get out the Sh$t).

I had an off in Jan '03. Not my fault but hit the front right wing of a Cherokee and flow over the bonnet. The copper said if I'd been a foot to the left I'd have hit the windscreen strut

but I was just bumped and brused. Since then I worry about riding, especiely if it's been planned. But I find once I'm on the bike I'm ok.

I don't think you're too old I think you've just had the touch of ebee gebees. I've had them and get them like I said and I'm 28. But I think of Mike Hailwood, how many TTs and died in a car.

I now you've been off the road for a while and you shouldn't expect to be as good you were (I was off proper bikes for 2 years cos of that crash). And you can't expect to be fully confident with a bike you've only riden for the day.

But at the end of the day it's up to you.

Hope this helps

deej · Post by **deej** » Apr 6th, '07, 18:15

it was just one of thise days mate, you were on roads you know but you werent on your bike which makes a big difference. theres days when i can nail it through my local bends and thres othr days when i cant even get my knee down on those same bends,never seems to happen on the track just on the roads. the sp2 wont have helped you, a big twin can be very grunty but also harder to get the knee dwon on, i really struggled on my firdt few rides on my old ducati, so much harder than the r6 i had before

dont worry about it or dwell on it, shit happens and it was just your luck that it was today,the first really sunny day of the year lol what wree the roads like up that way today,might head up there on sunday

Blimey · Post by **Blimey** » Apr 6th, '07, 18:45

Mate i don't if its the same feeling i am getting more and more of. But its like i am nailing round a corner and just sh*t myself more and more often and all i think about is my kids and what will be left for them if i die right now.

The strange thing is the more trackdays i do the more i am scared on the road. I ride everyday to work 20 mile round trip but i am loosing more confidence. Just don't feel safe on the road. I still push it but i am scared sh*tless all the time.

Went past Sniffys accident place today onway to Westbay with a couple of mates and man it just frighten me stupid.

Never opened up like this before about my fears that have creeped in the last 12 months or so but hearing you say the same makes me feel better.

I pushed it to the extreme today to get past it and felt better but its still there i can feel it. Even thinking dropping a couple groups in the summer rideout now.

Track is the only safe place now for fast riding

deej · Post by **deej** » Apr 6th, '07, 18:52

blimey i have to agree with you on the road v track issue

i've been toying with selling the road bike and just having a trackbike but we just live too far away to warrant £4k sat in the garage to be sued 4 or 5 times a year.

i think that once you've experienced the track/racing side of motorbikes you realise the dangers of riding like a loon on the roads. the buzz isnt the same so you have to go harder and further than before to match the same buzz of pegs down at oulton or knee in the grass going down craner.

just relax and remember what your limits are and you'll be fine,its not a race too see who can die first, its all about going our,relaxing and having fun, yeah open her up get the knee/pegs down but first of all make sure you have fun

speedy(delboy) · Post by **speedy(delboy)** » Apr 6th, '07, 18:59

Blimey wrote:Mate i don't if its the same feeling i am getting more and more of. But its like i am nailing round a corner and just sh*t myself more and more often and all i think about is my kids and what will be left for them if i die right now.

Mark, you hit the nail right on the head. This is the feeling I got today and I didnt like it.

Some may call me a fanny for this but, dont knock until you have felt this feeling.

deej · Post by **deej** » Apr 6th, '07, 19:20

dont have kids so wont know that feeling but i do have a wife and responsibilities and i know that im too quick for the roads or too quick on the roads so can kinda guess that feeling.

im seriously thinking of cancelling the insurance once easter is out of the way and just sticking to the track, the £500 a year on tax and insurance will cover 3 trackdays and a new set of tyres

Blimey · Post by **Blimey** » Apr 6th, '07, 19:24

deej wrote:dont have kids so wont know that feeling but i do have a wife and responsibilities and i know that im too quick for the roads or too quick on the roads so can kinda guess that feeling.

im seriously thinking of cancelling the insurance once easter is out of the way and just sticking to the track, the £500 a year on tax and insurance will cover 3 trackdays and a new set of tyres

Been so so tempted to do this myself but just can't bring myself to do it.

Webber gave up road riding for the same reason but more as he was a looney on the road.

Driving all day as a job its just too nice to be on 2 wheels for a short journey home but a safe one.