I just like riding bikes. Especially my beautiful Honda. Getting to the basics, how do you ride a vehicle, that is capable of going really really fast relative to the typical, at the mundane speed limit pace or how do you avoid getting tickets after riding 100k or so? This year alone, I have racked up 3 speeding tickets, accumulating 11 points. How do you deal with riding really really slow all the time on the street or how do you avoid the police? Also, what are your thoughts about stunts, such as wheelies, stoppies, etc.? I like doing wheelies and not so much stoppies. I know they are a lot of fun, but are they worth it?
JBuzz assuming you're serious, here are my thoughts... I live in Atlanta, so I ride roughly 5-10 mph ahead of traffic so usually about 80-85, that's not really slow, but keeps me in a "safe" zone ahead of the idiots in cages. I try and keep an eye out for cops, but I don't draw attention to myself by weaving and lane hopping. I also try and ride side streets less traveled, so I can go up and down the gears and lean a lil bit. again, not at breakneck speeds, just trying to have a "spirited" ride. I don't do the mountain thing often, it scares the hell outta me, even more so than slab riding. too many sightseers and "Fast n Furious" types in Mustangs and Nopi cars. just watch youtube and see all the lane crossing that goes on. I used to do wheelies a lot, til I flipped one on I75. escaped with some bruised knees, no broken bones, and no ticket or jail, so I learned my lesson there. NOT WORTH IT to answer that part of your question. so, these days I spend 75% of my time at the track, and 20% wishing I could be there. the 5% of the time I ride the street, I find myself wishing it was as fun as it used to be.
I ride to work whenever the weather cooperates and in the mountains every chance I get (not as much this year). As Muffin said, ride a little faster than traffic but don't go crazy or draw attention to yourself. Always ride like every one on the road is trying to kill you. The most important part is to save the speed for the track and go to the track as often as you can! Riding on the track caused me to ride slower on the street, because I don't need the street to learn proper riding technique.
And there lies your problem you Southside Slabber!!!!!:woot: On a serious note.... Dont forget to wrap that torque wrench up for me tonight!!
you just blew any chance of getting that torque wrench this year, and for your info, I live on the north side now, not as far as you, but north damnit!
Because in order to get the same thrill as taking a corner at race pace, i would have to double or triple the speed limit, and that isnt safe. When i ride on the street, it isnt about the "rush". It is just about enjoying being on a bike, getting away from everything and everybody etc. I don't necessarily ride the speed limit. I actually feel safer going a lil faster than the ambient traffic. So on the interstate, i will stay around 80 or so. Around town, i will stay about 5-8mph over the speed limit. Basically i just make it so i am driving "offensive", instead of passing a few people and also having people passing me. I make it so i am doing most of the passing. But i dont ride like an asshat, therefore i dont draw needless attention to myself. So i dont get tickets. I dont rev my bike for no reason at red lights. I dont do wheelies or stoppies. I dont swerve around, whipping in and out of traffic. Believe it or not, most cops don't have the hard-on for "us" like a lot of people think they do. The majority of my miles are on "crotch rockets" on the street and i dont get pulled over...because i dont ride like an asshole. It might sound cheesy, but i try to do my part to counteract the asshattedness of others by riding sensible and respectful. I get it out of my system on the track. I dont need to ride like an asshole on the street. People who do so give all of us a bad name.
^This I find equally as important and you stated it perfectly. I don't ride much on the street anymore, or at least didn't this past season since I did so many track days but still like going for short rides after work or little road trips on the weekends. I find that going a bit faster than traffic and taking that "offensive" position helps rather than allowing everyone to take advantage of you.
I rode about 25 miles on the street in 2013 - to drop my bike off at a friend's house for my first time being on a track. The bike never made it back to street trim for the rest of the year and I ended up doing about 5 or so additional track days the past couple of months. The additional two bikes I currently have in my garage have been doing exactly the same the whole year - sitting there. They are gorgeous to look at though. :eyebrows: I somewhat lost interest in street riding after kissing the asphalt twice within 800 miles (not for the triumphant reason Rossi does it) and I am not sure whether I will get back into it much as I am just having too much fun at the track. Having said that, I did a mountain trip back in 2012 and had an absolute blast (you riders in the TN/GA/NC area are blessed), I just wish the smartphone would have never been invented as apparently it is more important to update your Facebook status than watching your surroundings.
Yes I still ride on the street,but only because I can't afford the track every weekend. The bike is my decompression chamber.
I find it tough lately to go out on the streets for fun. Mostly because it's just so much more fun at the track. I do try and go out though whenever my buddies go for a group ride. Then it's alright. Sometimes though, you kinda just wake up and know you're going to ride that day..
I like that feeling early in the morning when you know you're going for a ride. I've been dealing with a vertigo/inner ear problem and didn't ride much last year. I'm finally feeling better and can't wait for warm weather. Nothing compares to the track, but I still enjoy a street ride. I do my best thinking inside my helmet.
I do both but don't think if you move out to the sticks its safer to ride. Two years after moving from city to stickville some asshat pulled out in front me (cell phone)...Then you have the Deer so you really need to know when to ride in Stickville..... More Track Time.. :thumb:
In 2009 I got a wild hair and bought an FZ1 (first sport bike) and enjoyed street riding until I met you track addicts. Street and track ROCKS! Street just rocks at about 6 or 7/10 now.
I still ride everyday.... my bike is my daily commuter, has been for the past 9 years and change now (along with long roadtrips, mountain fun, etc). I'm still fairly new to the trackday scene.... only done 6 so far. But riding is pretty much my entire life (see siggy, LOL), I don't think I could give it up and have to wait for trackdays to be able to ride... I'd go nuts, lol
After my first track day I never road on the street again. I took my bike and converted it to track only. I get my fill of riding all year with the 6-10 TD's I do in a year and after my wife got hit by an 80 year old man on the street it was easy to make that decision as well.
I hear you on that. It only takes one time of being hit by a car going 40mph when you're stopped to make you reconsider street riding. :crutch: Almost lost my leg in that accident.
i ride every opportunity i get, espically when in chicago, in ny not soo much, i walk. but whn im here, i ride to work with my computer, printer and files in one bulky backpack. 8 miles one way, totally 16 miles a day. 3 times a week then some track days when im in chicago.
I'm mainly a road rider, putting in typically 6,000 to 10,000 miles touring on the BMW, usually with my wife in back. Track is a minor hobby, I try to hit 6-10 track days a season. I don't really have an issue with riding a legal pace on the road, we're in it for the views and travel experience. So the track thing has been fun to have a chance to ride fast and approach it as a sport.