Would you give up biking?
Moderator: D-Rider
- falcomunky
- SuperBike Racer
- Posts: 820
- Joined: Wed Jan 03, 2007 8:29 pm
- Location: NEUK
End of the day, its all down to personal choice.
I lost a good mate a couple o three years back. Blasting through a corner on his zzr11, he hit an oncoming Picasso that had crossed the white lines in an effort to straighten the corner. Killed him instantly.
Very sad day.
But I still ride.
Faster, but more observantly and sensibly than ever!
I know my mate would want it that way.
Ive had three major-ish crashes in the neck-end of twenty years riding; All of em the fault of a cage driver.
Pure n simply, I ride because it gets me hard, if you'll pardon the french, and few things in this ever-more sanitised day and age does, (Missus excluded, of course! ).
Anything that gets you hard/wet has got to be good!
I think part of the problem for even asking the question 'Should I still be riding?' comes from two things; Advancing years and driving cars.
Im the only person I know who hasnt yet succumbed to four wheels and I only have one mate who still has a bike, (though rarely rides it)!
Ive got a four year old Son, ?yr old Wife, 18yr old Stepdaughter, ???????illion pound mortgage, the usual more-money-going-out-than-coming-in probs that everyone has but there is simply no way I could ever not ride a bike.
I think that generally as you get older you get more cautious, (and you get less bendable and more breakable! ). That, combined with a lot of peoples need to get a car license and car fer the family or whatever, (Im lucky; My Missus already drives!), means that a bike seems less and less as a 'need' and more a luxury.
We forget that we need the rush that only carving a corner or burning a Porsche-off whilst on two wheels in an armoured PowerRanger suit, dragging a sparking slider that sets fire to the chasing car behind, all the while grinning insanely and cackling like the Joker on meths...
Or is that just me?...
I love bikes, me...
Oh, n welcome aboard Knot!
I lost a good mate a couple o three years back. Blasting through a corner on his zzr11, he hit an oncoming Picasso that had crossed the white lines in an effort to straighten the corner. Killed him instantly.
Very sad day.
But I still ride.
Faster, but more observantly and sensibly than ever!
I know my mate would want it that way.
Ive had three major-ish crashes in the neck-end of twenty years riding; All of em the fault of a cage driver.
Pure n simply, I ride because it gets me hard, if you'll pardon the french, and few things in this ever-more sanitised day and age does, (Missus excluded, of course! ).
Anything that gets you hard/wet has got to be good!
I think part of the problem for even asking the question 'Should I still be riding?' comes from two things; Advancing years and driving cars.
Im the only person I know who hasnt yet succumbed to four wheels and I only have one mate who still has a bike, (though rarely rides it)!
Ive got a four year old Son, ?yr old Wife, 18yr old Stepdaughter, ???????illion pound mortgage, the usual more-money-going-out-than-coming-in probs that everyone has but there is simply no way I could ever not ride a bike.
I think that generally as you get older you get more cautious, (and you get less bendable and more breakable! ). That, combined with a lot of peoples need to get a car license and car fer the family or whatever, (Im lucky; My Missus already drives!), means that a bike seems less and less as a 'need' and more a luxury.
We forget that we need the rush that only carving a corner or burning a Porsche-off whilst on two wheels in an armoured PowerRanger suit, dragging a sparking slider that sets fire to the chasing car behind, all the while grinning insanely and cackling like the Joker on meths...
Or is that just me?...
I love bikes, me...
Oh, n welcome aboard Knot!
Two is the magic number... ;)
- snapdragon
- SuperBike Racer
- Posts: 866
- Joined: Sun Dec 17, 2006 9:01 pm
errm no - two or three wheels is enough - am not allowed trikes due to the date I took me test, but am allowed an outfit cant figure that but wtf, managed to crash the outfit within two miles of riding it - it took me about 17000 miles before I did that on the solo
welcome in knot who is it that it is that is your missis then?eh?
welcome in knot who is it that it is that is your missis then?eh?
Snappy ~~X~X~{:>
Think you've hit the nail on the head there Falcomunkyfalcomunky wrote:I think that generally as you get older you get more cautious, (and you get less bendable and more breakable! ). That, combined with a lot of peoples need to get a car license and car fer the family or whatever, (Im lucky; My Missus already drives!), means that a bike seems less and less as a 'need' and more a luxury.
We forget that we need the rush that only carving a corner or burning a Porsche-off whilst on two wheels in an armoured PowerRanger suit, dragging a sparking slider that sets fire to the chasing car behind, all the while grinning insanely and cackling like the Joker on meths...
Or is that just me?...
I love bikes, me...
Oh, n welcome aboard Knot!
I use my bikes for 'stress relief' - ther's nothing like going for a blast after a crappy day at work, with an hour & a half each way sat in a cage in all the traffic
I'd use the bike for work more, but I have to cart all my files & laptop & safety gear round with me (and you tend to stand out a bit at project meetings if yer sat there in yer poweranger suit )
But keep up the riding as much as you can folks, because I suspect we'll be the last generation of bikers that have the freedom to get out there on machines that can get the old Adrenaline pumping
Me, I'm the missis.snapdragon wrote:errm no - two or three wheels is enough - am not allowed trikes due to the date I took me test, but am allowed an outfit cant figure that but wtf, managed to crash the outfit within two miles of riding it - it took me about 17000 miles before I did that on the solo
welcome in knot who is it that it is that is your missis then?eh?
I remeber a conversation with "Hans" Joos when his litle one was born, that he hardly had time to ride. I couldn't beleive it at the time. The only past time that is more expensive than bikes are kids. Although neither Knot or I have a bike at the moment, I wouldn't put it past us to go and get a "family" discount for 3 "Nuclear Red" Speed triples and 1 RD350 LC for the man. We are still young enough to do so.
- BikerGran
- Gran Turismo
- Posts: 3924
- Joined: Sun Dec 17, 2006 5:12 pm
- Location: Any further south and I'd fall off!
My daughter and son in law have a 2 year old and a six year old and rarely get a chance to ride these days, but they kept the bikes even though they don't go out very often.
So they're off to the Le Mans GP this year cos good ol granny only works part-time now......
So they're off to the Le Mans GP this year cos good ol granny only works part-time now......
The tragedy of old age is not that one is old, but that one is young.
- back_marker
- SuperSport Racer
- Posts: 650
- Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2007 4:30 pm
- Location: Deepest, darkest Wiltshire
I find that I can justify the bike to the better half (and myself for that matter) as having it instead of a second car, as opposed to just a weekend toy.
That doesn't quite work for the crosser and the minimoto parked in the garage though - I just have to use the good old fashioned "when you're the one going out and earning the money you can complain" line
That doesn't quite work for the crosser and the minimoto parked in the garage though - I just have to use the good old fashioned "when you're the one going out and earning the money you can complain" line
Racing is life - anything before or after is just waiting.
- Steve McQueen
- Steve McQueen
- snapdragon
- SuperBike Racer
- Posts: 866
- Joined: Sun Dec 17, 2006 9:01 pm
aha tis You that it is that is it elloo FlossyFlossy wrote:Me, I'm the missis.snapdragon wrote:errm no - two or three wheels is enough - am not allowed trikes due to the date I took me test, but am allowed an outfit cant figure that but wtf, managed to crash the outfit within two miles of riding it - it took me about 17000 miles before I did that on the solo
welcome in knot who is it that it is that is your missis then?eh?
I remeber a conversation with "Hans" Joos when his litle one was born, that he hardly had time to ride. I couldn't beleive it at the time. The only past time that is more expensive than bikes are kids. Although neither Knot or I have a bike at the moment, I wouldn't put it past us to go and get a "family" discount for 3 "Nuclear Red" Speed triples and 1 RD350 LC for the man. We are still young enough to do so.
always young enough to buy bikes innit
Snappy ~~X~X~{:>
- snapdragon
- SuperBike Racer
- Posts: 866
- Joined: Sun Dec 17, 2006 9:01 pm
with hundreds of years of experience I do hope you didn't really use that one - it will come back and bite you - feminine memory is phenominal when linked to slights and scorn - either real or imaginedback_marker wrote:I find that I can justify the bike to the better half (and myself for that matter) as having it instead of a second car, as opposed to just a weekend toy.
That doesn't quite work for the crosser and the minimoto parked in the garage though - I just have to use the good old fashioned "when you're the one going out and earning the money you can complain" line
Snappy ~~X~X~{:>
- back_marker
- SuperSport Racer
- Posts: 650
- Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2007 4:30 pm
- Location: Deepest, darkest Wiltshire
To be fair she never really says anything out loud, just gives those disapproving noisessnapdragon wrote:with hundreds of years of experience I do hope you didn't really use that one - it will come back and bite you - feminine memory is phenominal when linked to slights and scorn - either real or imaginedback_marker wrote:I find that I can justify the bike to the better half (and myself for that matter) as having it instead of a second car, as opposed to just a weekend toy.
That doesn't quite work for the crosser and the minimoto parked in the garage though - I just have to use the good old fashioned "when you're the one going out and earning the money you can complain" line
and looks every time i mention buying "stuff" and "things" or any kind of problem with the bike.
Racing is life - anything before or after is just waiting.
- Steve McQueen
- Steve McQueen
- graham0071
- Track Day Addict
- Posts: 136
- Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:23 pm
- Location: bognor regis
It'd be a pretty sad day for me if I gave up riding. Yes it has risks and is expensive but I try and minimise those down sides while accepting that they exist as part and parcel of what I enjoy.
Bikes have allways been a big part of my life and are part of my identity.There was a period a while back which I did not find very satisfactory where I was reduced to going on 'pointles' rides for the sake of getting out on the bike. At that time I had a performance car for my every day work and dad's taxi runs. It worked ok but the buz of getting a little side ways or hitting full boost never matched that of leaning a bike and cutting a smooth line. It was easier to cary the shoping, the baby and associated paraphenalie though.
I much preffer where I am now which is going some where for a purpose with the bike being the most efficient and also fun way. My kids range from 11 to 25 and they all enjoy a blast on the the back and most mornings I drop the middle one off at the station on her way to school, before continuing on to work.
I may on occasions meet a car on my side of the road at a closing speed of about 150 and possibly tomorrow I wont avoid it, but at least I don't feel like a Lemming comitting a communal 'suicide'. Which is what commuting by car, bus or train feels like.
Bikes have allways been a big part of my life and are part of my identity.There was a period a while back which I did not find very satisfactory where I was reduced to going on 'pointles' rides for the sake of getting out on the bike. At that time I had a performance car for my every day work and dad's taxi runs. It worked ok but the buz of getting a little side ways or hitting full boost never matched that of leaning a bike and cutting a smooth line. It was easier to cary the shoping, the baby and associated paraphenalie though.
I much preffer where I am now which is going some where for a purpose with the bike being the most efficient and also fun way. My kids range from 11 to 25 and they all enjoy a blast on the the back and most mornings I drop the middle one off at the station on her way to school, before continuing on to work.
I may on occasions meet a car on my side of the road at a closing speed of about 150 and possibly tomorrow I wont avoid it, but at least I don't feel like a Lemming comitting a communal 'suicide'. Which is what commuting by car, bus or train feels like.
Don't put off 'till tomorrow what you can enjoy today
- HowardQ
- World Champion
- Posts: 3921
- Joined: Sun Jan 14, 2007 10:20 pm
- Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England
I'm possibly the oldest fart on the site and over 40 odd years with bikes I've given up and come back 6 or 7 times. The first time I packed it in was because I had started rallying cars and (at that time) the thrill of driving a car sideways was something I couldn't do on a bike! Especially doing this without really using the steering wheel, just the throttle of a RWD Mk I Twin Cam Escort. Cost money to do this so bikes had to go. Rallied and raced cars for about 12 years, but odd bikes kept apprearing in the garage over that period. Packed up that when the family came along and again kept having bikes to tinker with and or ride and occasionally as fun commuters so never left em for long. Then as I was starting to get into my late forties I thought I'm too blooody old to be pratting about on a bike and thought I'd give up for good. It was the longest break I've ever had but I found I could not live without the fix, so came back again at 53. Got a nice sensible retro bike a 1992 Honda CB750 F2 Retro, suitable for an old git like me. Was nice at first and kept for 18 - 20 months, but ultimately I couldn't live with the sit up and beg style, it ripped my arms off when I tried to use all that power (72 BHP at Flywheel!!), so did a swap, CB750 and cash for a CBR1000F about 5 1/2 years ago. I'ts so much easier going quickly on a bike with a fairing. Then almost 4 years ago I bought the Falco and I'm totally in love again!
Whenever I go out I don't want to come home, when I do finally come home, I just get off and think "Shit I love that bike". Still gets me this way after every ride, I can't do cruising, speed is still the thrill, might change eventually, but not old enough yet.
I've always owned fast cars and everying I've owned for the last 14 or 15 years would hit around 140 or more, but can't remember the last one I had anything like flat out. Whatever tin box you're in you soon get stuck in traffic, most fast cars round here even Italian and Austrian seem to just wave bikes through these days as soon as they see them in the mirrors, because they know they can't keep up in traffic.
Any fast bike will get well into three figures on any short stretch of road and this plus the accelleration is where you get the hit, you just can't do this in a car, even in an Elise.
I'll not give up now whilst I can still climb on one, but do take more care than I used to and tend to let the latest one litre Jap fours go by without chasing em too hard, still like to use the torque to play with the latest 600s though!
The choice is always down to the individual, but I couldn't get the fix any other way.
Whenever I go out I don't want to come home, when I do finally come home, I just get off and think "Shit I love that bike". Still gets me this way after every ride, I can't do cruising, speed is still the thrill, might change eventually, but not old enough yet.
I've always owned fast cars and everying I've owned for the last 14 or 15 years would hit around 140 or more, but can't remember the last one I had anything like flat out. Whatever tin box you're in you soon get stuck in traffic, most fast cars round here even Italian and Austrian seem to just wave bikes through these days as soon as they see them in the mirrors, because they know they can't keep up in traffic.
Any fast bike will get well into three figures on any short stretch of road and this plus the accelleration is where you get the hit, you just can't do this in a car, even in an Elise.
I'll not give up now whilst I can still climb on one, but do take more care than I used to and tend to let the latest one litre Jap fours go by without chasing em too hard, still like to use the torque to play with the latest 600s though!
The choice is always down to the individual, but I couldn't get the fix any other way.
I suppose it was a daft question to ask on a bike forum - anyone who was happy to give up bikes wouldnt be here, would they?
I'm still not sure. Went out on the bike today (KTM990) and quite enjoyed it. But was as usual irritated by all the dressing up and then undressing at the end, not to mention the cold drafts down the neck, up the trousers. To me one of the problems of biking is that its only really enjoyable in spring and autumn. Full summer is far too hot for comfort, winter too damp and dirty - though I do ride the whole year round.
Maybe the magic has just faded for the moment and I need to try something new.
I'm still not sure. Went out on the bike today (KTM990) and quite enjoyed it. But was as usual irritated by all the dressing up and then undressing at the end, not to mention the cold drafts down the neck, up the trousers. To me one of the problems of biking is that its only really enjoyable in spring and autumn. Full summer is far too hot for comfort, winter too damp and dirty - though I do ride the whole year round.
Maybe the magic has just faded for the moment and I need to try something new.