Road riding - do you still enjoy it?

Stuno1 · December 05, 2013, 05:10:10 PM

I have only been riding for 2 and a half summers but ever since going on track I don't really look forward to road riding any more. I can't really use my 750 properly for obvious reasons,
Loads of crud on the roads, always conscious of cameras and possible dangers etc

I really think tracking my bike has killed road riding. I intend to give it one more summer then see how I feel but didn't see this coming so early on!

Stu

Millhouse · December 05, 2013, 05:11:49 PM

not been on the road for several years now for the very same reason

looking at getting a dirt bike now though!!

MOzZereLLa · December 05, 2013, 05:27:50 PM

Quote from: Millhouse on December 05, 2013, 05:11:49 PM
not been on the road for several years now for the very same reason

looking at getting a dirt bike now though!!

I'd seriously reconsider that until you have ascertained just how many green lanes are fairly close to where you live and that your local authority supports the continued use of BOATs.

Alzo · December 05, 2013, 05:31:45 PM

Love road riding...we have cracking roads to keep.us entertained.

Millhouse · December 05, 2013, 05:34:05 PM

Quote from: MOz on December 05, 2013, 05:27:50 PM
Quote from: Millhouse on December 05, 2013, 05:11:49 PM
not been on the road for several years now for the very same reason

looking at getting a dirt bike now though!!

I'd seriously reconsider that until you have ascertained just how many green lanes are fairly close to where you live and that your local authority supports the continued use of BOATs.

Green lanes all the way to salisbury plain and loads of mx/enduro events locally.

Stuno1 · December 05, 2013, 05:37:30 PM

Quote from: Millhouse on December 05, 2013, 05:11:49 PM
not been on the road for several years now for the very same reason

looking at getting a dirt bike now though!!

Yeah just figured it would take 5 years or so not just under 3!

Sounds fun! Won't have time for that and track days though.

MOzZereLLa · December 05, 2013, 06:31:41 PM

Quote from: Millhouse on December 05, 2013, 05:34:05 PM
Quote from: MOz on December 05, 2013, 05:27:50 PM
Quote from: Millhouse on December 05, 2013, 05:11:49 PM
not been on the road for several years now for the very same reason

looking at getting a dirt bike now though!!

I'd seriously reconsider that until you have ascertained just how many green lanes are fairly close to where you live and that your local authority supports the continued use of BOATs.

Green lanes all the way to salisbury plain and loads of mx/enduro events locally.

Lucky bastard.

Quote from: Alzo on December 05, 2013, 05:31:45 PM
Love road riding...we have cracking roads to keep.us entertained.

Same here. You need the right bike to enjoy road riding these days - sports bikes ain't it.

Green_Ninja · December 05, 2013, 07:39:27 PM

Yes definitely but not on a sports bike any more, the Speed Triple was excellent and the Street R is just bloody superb for road use, light flick able, comfy, good in town or out and will tour as long as you keep the sensible speeds.
The ZX10R is arguably a better bike, nearly twice the power at about the same weight etc etc, but it's not a patch on the Street for normal road riding.

Alzo · December 05, 2013, 09:01:59 PM

Agree with Moz and GN...Sportsbikes are no use on public roads...so many good Naked/Adventure bikes out there and will provide miles more fun.

big gav · December 05, 2013, 09:15:21 PM

I think you need to have a different appreciation for your surroundings when road riding.
I enjoy riding on the road and track but i behave completely differently when one or the other.

Stuno1 · December 05, 2013, 09:19:13 PM

Quote from: big gav on December 05, 2013, 09:15:21 PM
I think you need to have a different appreciation for your surroundings when road riding.
I enjoy riding on the road and track but i behave completely differently when one or the other.

Issue is can't ride sports bike on road the way you need to for enjoyment.

big gav · December 05, 2013, 11:33:07 PM

I'm not being funny but if you are riding hell for leather all the time on the road then its only a matter of time
before things go very wrong mate. I enjoy riding on the road but i know i have to pick and choose my moments when/where to be a bit silly. A lot of people i ride with know i'm not the slowest but often on a rideout i will be the one at the front backing off a bit......because i know its not worth it and i dont want to be the cause of an accident.

Stuno1 · December 06, 2013, 05:55:10 AM

Quote from: big gav on December 05, 2013, 11:33:07 PM
I'm not being funny but if you are riding hell for leather all the time on the road then its only a matter of time
before things go very wrong mate. I enjoy riding on the road but i know i have to pick and choose my moments when/where to be a bit silly. A lot of people i ride with know i'm not the slowest but often on a rideout i will be the one at the front backing off a bit......because i know its not worth it and i dont want to be the cause of an accident.

lol. This is my point. I don't ride like info on track (I obviously) which is how the bike is designed to be ridden and as such don't derive the same pleasure from road riding. Maybe a naked is the way forward.

Steve R1 · December 06, 2013, 06:12:36 AM

Quote from: big gav on December 05, 2013, 11:33:07 PM
I'm not being funny but if you are riding hell for leather all the time on the road then its only a matter of time
before things go very wrong mate. I enjoy riding on the road but i know i have to pick and choose my moments when/where to be a bit silly. A lot of people i ride with know i'm not the slowest but often on a rideout i will be the one at the front backing off a bit......because i know its not worth it and i dont want to be the cause of an accident.

Totally agree.

I ride on both road and track, R1 for summer and track R6 for winter, rain and wet track days

Up until recently I used to do 30 to 35k miles a year but now I only do about 20k miles a year, use the bike for commuting and ride outs. Road riding is completely different to track riding ( assuming I can actually reach the reach before binning the bike lol) on track you can push yourself more than on the road see what you can do with your bike, assess your skill against other riders in a semi controlled environment. The road is completely different. Far more idiots about on all manner of wheels people not seeing you, pot holes, mud, chippins pedestrians, people in tin cans in a world of their own road furniture, traffic coming the other way..animals .. Need I say more ....

But for me I love the road and track but for very different reasons....... I just love riding and would find it difficult to give them up. Your 750 will only go as fast on the road as your right wrist tells it to. I don't want to loose my licence so I get my need for speed on track.... And like big gav pick your places sensibly when on the road

Steve

David W · December 06, 2013, 06:52:52 AM

I think riding a fast bike on track at a good pace ruins road riding to a certain extent. It makes you realise that when you think you're going fast on the road, you're really not, and if you rode at the same intensity on the road as you do on track you're going to kill someone or get put away. British riders have been brainwashed over the years to consume big sportsbikes and I'm glad that's finally changing. Luckily I've had my bike bucket list but if I get another one it will be a roadbike rather than anything with Sportsbike pretensions.