View Full Version : Thinking of giving up road riding
mister c
02-11-08, 08:42 AM
Well, after my track day on Wednesday & going off the circuit at Druids at Oulton & staying upright & healthy, it has put doubt into my mind about riding on the road.
A lot of you know that I had a serious off in January which has left my pelvis held together with a metal plate. I lost control on the road & in an instant I hit a fence & nearly died. I made a mistake on track & pushed the bike out of the gravel trap & continued on my way.
It has just made me think more about the dangers of riding on the road & has put doubts in my mind.
I wanted to race this year, but the crash put paid to that, so it set me back 12 months. I am going to race next year with an FZR400 & I must admit that I feel a lot safer on a race track & seem to have more fun on track.
That is one thing that is lacking in the road riding - FUN. I never thought i would see myself thinking this, as I've been riding since I was 17 & have always been a massive supporter of bikes, but I think it's getting time to hang my road boots up.
xXBADGERXx
02-11-08, 08:52 AM
Colin .... Noooooooooooooooooooooo :(
If it's any consolation I'm right behind you on this one, Colin. For about a year i've been thinking exactly the same thing after 30 years of road riding. A lot of the enjoyment I used to have on the road has gone. The condition of road surfaces has deteriorated so much that I don't have the confidence I used to have, and then there's the ever present danger of losing your licence on the few occaasions you can use a bike properly.
On track I feel secure in the knowledge that there's no blind car driver around the corner backing out of a driveway, and even if it does go pear shaped there's a St John Ambulance crew waiting just for me to crash. Track tarmac may sometimes get a slating from some top class racers, but it's always 100 times better than your average A road.
Only last week I was considering flogging my car, my SV and my CBR and buying a GSXR600 and a decent van to transport it to trackdays in. I'd keep my little 250 for those times when I want to commute to work by bike to beat the traffic.
Tracks are where the fun is at nowadays - I say it's not a daft idea at all.
gettin2dizzy
02-11-08, 11:46 AM
Both of you, stop being a fanny ;)
thefallenangel
02-11-08, 11:55 AM
I can see you problem, Winter Blues. Good Obs generally will deal with any cager and i'm with you on a 250 for work and back which is why i now walk as it's a lot cheap than a 250.
It's bad weather out there which doesn't help either. Stay careful and the roads will look after you.:riding:
It's not winter blues, I've had this feeling all year. The roads around our way are shocking and there's no pleasure to be had from them. Tracks are much more fun
I still really enjoy roadriding, but what you're saying has real validity. Don't stop riding, take to the track, see how you feel about it all. You could be right.
I was going to say track riding would be far more expensive, but that's probably not the case. You're not paying for tax and insurance so that leaves a fair sized budget for track days. I agree with Lozzo, good roads around here are few and far between :(
You're not paying for tax and insurance so that leaves a fair sized budget for track days
My road tax and insurance combined would only just cover 1 day at Oulton, possibly 2 at cheaper tracks. :confused:
Dangerous Dave
02-11-08, 12:28 PM
I still enjoy road riding, to be honest its what keeps me going I guess. I can see Lozzo's and Mister C's point, the roads are now getting into a terrible state, more cars are on the road and more of them are poorly trained/experienced and have no 'look for bike' logic anymore. The Police are failing to catch the dangerous road criminals, how can a Gatso spot and evaluate a drunk/drugged driver? I have a track day blast at least once a year, it is more fun and you can push the bike and yourself closer to the limits and at corners you see once every 1-2 minutes and not every 1-2 days so not much changes.
The decision is yours guys, no one elses....
I'd still keep a small bike on the road though, I wouldn't give them up altogether. I have worked my way down the bikes from a Gixer Thou to the SV, but even that can be a liability on our roads.
It's looking more and more like trackbikes are the way to go
For those of us who always ride two-up, track isn't an option.:(
Besides we like to actually go somewhere, not just round and round the same bits:p
tanis34
02-11-08, 01:14 PM
i must admit road riding is more and more dangerous , but the ride to and from work makes me feel very alive and awake just keeping one step ahead of the cage drivers 90 % of whome seem to be trying to kill me
My road tax and insurance combined would only just cover 1 day at Oulton, possibly 2 at cheaper tracks. :confused:
Ah, I forgot we're talking about oldies here, my tax and insurance would cover a fair few track days :p
I wouldn't give up road riding, I enjoy it far too much. Besides, I don't have a c*r. :p
dizzyblonde
02-11-08, 01:35 PM
good roads around here are few and far between :(
Your living in the wrong place then:smt102 move ooop norf and we've got bags of em:riding:. Yes riding is a bit of a nightmare these days about town, but I only have to ride a few miles up the road and I get a big grin on my face......don't need a track...not that i use the road as my personal track!
Mind you I've never experienced a track day:(
Your living in the wrong place then:smt102 move ooop norf and we've got bags of em:riding:. Yes riding is a bit of a nightmare these days about town, but I only have to ride a few miles up the road and I get a big grin on my face......don't need a track...not that i use the road as my personal track!
Mind you I've never experienced a track day:(
I should think I'll end up somewhere around your way eventually, what with my good lady heading up north for university come september ;)
I've never done a trackday either, maybe I'd change my mind if I did one :p
charlie13
02-11-08, 02:18 PM
Deffo think lozzo and all have the right idea. I'll be keeping a bike on the road for commuting and rideouts, but for the full on flat out fun it's trackdays and maybe racing. Riding fast enough to knee down on the highways and byways freaks me out too much now, just seems like the margin for error is too small and the consequences too great when it goes wrong.
Riding fast enough to knee down on the highways and byways freaks me out too much now
But surely that's the point - they are 2 entirely different things.
Sometimes it is nice just to go out for a pootle - take your time, enjoy the scenery, see different places etc. Sometimes you want to make progress.
I did it - April was my last outing on my road bike. It replaced it with trackdays and greenlaning*. Safer and arguably more fun.
* Ok so technically its still road legal and I fall off more than ever. But I still think its safer than riding in and out of London.
Seriously though. There is still fun to be had off the roads and there are plenty of bikers out there doing the same as you are thinking but adapting it to their circumstances. I'll probably keep a road registered bike same as Loz but was thinking an older clunker just to polish and shine.
I can see where Mister C is coming from. Margin for error is small on the road due to the things that get in the way. The faster you go, the smaller the margin. Track riding isnt cheap though and at £100+ every track day, 1 a month would be £1200 alone which is more than what most could afford.
Lozzo is spot on too when he talks about bikes and their power. We all know there is a fast/slow thing called a throttle, but as a lot of us like to grab and twist it, it can get us into trouble. An SV has more than enough power to get you into bother.
Mini Moto is about the only racing I could afford, that or racing mopeds.
gettin2dizzy
02-11-08, 10:52 PM
Bah,
You just need to differentiate your need to ride fast, from the need to ride on the road. It's about the journey. I find myself falling in to this trap too; I sometimes get no pleasure because I don't feel the ride was quick enough, or that police were 'haunting' me. The next day I take the back roads, take my time, enjoy the 'journey', and don't look back.
Britain is beautiful. Enjoy it.
BanannaMan
03-11-08, 05:52 AM
Besides we like to actually go somewhere, not just round and round the same bits:p
You just need to differentiate your need to ride fast, from the need to ride on the road. It's about the journey.
It's about the journey for me as well.
It's fun to go fast (for an hour or two) but I quickly get bored at the track.
The scenery never changes...and their food is well...less than restaurant quality. ;)
(Ride to Eat - Eat to Ride)
And while there are a lesser number of "serious" injuries per accident at the track...there are more spills....
And people do get hurt and die at the track, just as they do on the road..
But....all that being said.....That just goes for me....and how I feel.
I have known many riders to turn to "track only" riding and they love it.
Not everyone marches to the same drum.
Go with what makes you happy/feels right for you.
charlie13
03-11-08, 12:53 PM
But surely that's the point - they are 2 entirely different things.
Sometimes it is nice just to go out for a pootle - take your time, enjoy the scenery, see different places etc. Sometimes you want to make progress.
I can pootle to work and still make progress, and have a decent pace on a rideout and still enjoy the ride without too much risk being evident.
But it's those days when you really want to give it a fistful, personally, I don't find it too enjoyable to do it when i'm always wondering what's around the next bend or dropped on the road surface (which round here is generally a sheep / sheep plop). I know if i push it i'm going to fall off eventually so I'd like to do it somewhere there'a a medical crew on standby, not halfway across a deserted moor. Just think if you can stretch to it, the track is the best place to play.
mister c
03-11-08, 12:54 PM
People used to say to me when the weather was garbage that I must be mad to be riding my bike, but I used to really enjoy it, it taught me a lot, but the passion for road riding is dwindling & it's not just down to dark nights etc.
There was nothing better than donning your gear & going for a ride - whatever the weather, I used to ridicule people for only riding on sunny days, but now I'm thinking, who is the fool? I used to teach people to ride, but that passion has gone.
The road surfaces are garbage, there are still a lot of drivers who have this "dont give a toss" attitude towards bikers & will pull out on you, or make it difficult to overtake.
I will see how I feel, but once the passion is gone, then it becomes a chore.
plowsie
03-11-08, 12:58 PM
I agree with Lozzo, good roads around here are few and far between :(
Bullsh1t! Theres a good road everywhere, people just too ghey to get out and test ;)
Colin, I'm in the same boat, my bike is up for sale, I'm still in two minds whether to get another but more fun on the road bike, orrrrrr, get out on track.
mister c
03-11-08, 01:39 PM
Bullsh1t! Theres a good road everywhere, people just too ghey to get out and test ;)
Colin, I'm in the same boat, my bike is up for sale, I'm still in two minds whether to get another but more fun on the road bike, orrrrrr, get out on track.
Well, I have booked the 6th December, Oulton Park, £59 :D:D:D. Have put the CB500 track bike up on Ebay for next to nothing so I've got the cash to buy the FZR400 I used at Oulton last week & I can't wait :)
Crusty Snippets
03-11-08, 04:46 PM
Well you guys do have a bit more traffic over there, but your traffic is generally more aware of bikes than over here.
If you are going to fall off, do it in the dirt. That way you can fall off as often as you like. Next is the road race track. An ocassional tippy insident can happen. We used to do it too often when the two strokes would sieze. If your body can not handle the odd off, I suggest you do something else. Try to never crash on the public roads, there are to many solid objects. I have zero offs on public roads when I could see the pavement. I slipped once in the snow on a dirt bike, and I was in a prang in the snow back in 72 with my small lorry. Was towing the bike trailer and that is what made the difference with stopping.
I expect other drivers to do stupid things. We go so fast and are so small, and they are confused, so I am extra careful. But I will not quit riding. My license dates back to 1962. Thinking back I almost dropped the 71 Norton on the railway tracks in Liverpool on the way to the Island. Was following a Rickman framed bike, which handled the track crossing at an angle fine.
Crusty
Well then Mister C, if you managed to enjoy last Wednesdays track day at Oulton then you could probably enjoy any track day! To enlighten those who weren't there, it was very cold and very damp (circuit didn't open until about 10.30am due to ice) with numerous fallers. A full dry line failed to appear all day, despite the last sleet shower being before 8.00am.
Good luck for the December track day (I suspect you may need it - weather wise), a tempting price I admit.
I'm pretty sure I was the only SV owner mad enough to venture out at Oulton that day (Yellow SV650S curvey with CBR600 wheels)
mister c
03-11-08, 09:39 PM
Well then Mister C, if you managed to enjoy last Wednesdays track day at Oulton then you could probably enjoy any track day! To enlighten those who weren't there, it was very cold and very damp (circuit didn't open until about 10.30am due to ice) with numerous fallers. A full dry line failed to appear all day, despite the last sleet shower being before 8.00am.
Good luck for the December track day (I suspect you may need it - weather wise), a tempting price I admit.
I'm pretty sure I was the only SV owner mad enough to venture out at Oulton that day (Yellow SV650S curvey with CBR600 wheels)
Did see you in the Inters mate, you were going quite well. I did put something in Border Patrol to see if it was anybody on here. I always put the mockers on track days, every one I have done has been wet, or icy, or cold. Must have something to do with me doing them in winter lol.
I want to do some test days at 3 Sisters next year once I have got my ACU licence, done the course, just waiting for the New Year - roll on January :):cool:
northwind
03-11-08, 10:47 PM
I always used to wonder how people who don't ever ride on the road stay fresh for trackdays. Then I saw some people who don't ever ride on the road wobbling around in inters on race-spec R1s while going slower than me, and all became clear :mrgreen:
It was so cold that day that people with a tyre choice mainly stayed on full wets all day, despite it at most being mildly damp and then a drying line appearing. I have to ride to and from the track on my bike and stuck with my Conti' Road Attack tyres, but was really struggling to get any heat into them. I have a pair of Supercorsas on spare wheels but have to make a decision the day before the track day on which wheels to fit. Based on forecast temperatures alone, I stuck with the Conti's. The ride to the circuit was very risky with black ice. At one point I had a Volvo estate which was braking coming down hill starting to spin its rear end towards me and we passed a badly smashed car on the A50 just past Manchester Ducati.
alan pasfield
03-11-08, 11:11 PM
sorry guys you wont last youve got that bug and just settleing for track days wont be enough you wont be gone for long as for me the days are not long enough bu the scottish weather has not been so good l8ly and thats the only thing stopping me at the mo six months down the line your both be buying new bikes when the sun comes out as for the roads the more you complain you might get something done about them you never know
I always used to wonder how people who don't ever ride on the road stay fresh for trackdays. Then I saw some people who don't ever ride on the road wobbling around in inters on race-spec R1s while going slower than me, and all became clear :mrgreen:
And then you get people like my mate Danny who has never ridden on the road since he sold his Honda MT-5 50cc pile of crap 18 years ago and now doesn't even have a CBT, he jumps on his race bike twice a month and puts in faster laps than you or I could ever imagine.
Bullsh1t! Theres a good road everywhere, people just too ghey to get out and test ;)
I have tried virtually every road within 100 mils of this place, and the state of them has declined badly in the last 5 years. Time was I could ride a few miles into Bucks, Northants, Cambs or Herts and be greeted by racetrack smooth tarmac throughout the whole county, but they're all as bad as Bedfordshire nowadays. Even 'The Alps' from Baldock to Buntingford is in a terrible state.
northwind
04-11-08, 01:16 AM
And then you get people like my mate Danny who has never ridden on the road since he sold his Honda MT-5 50cc pile of crap 18 years ago and now doesn't even have a CBT, he jumps on his race bike twice a month and puts in faster laps than you or I could ever imagine.
Yup. Why I said "some". But most people's riding goes downhill fast if they're not constantly using the skills. Mine certainly does ;)
The ride to the circuit was very risky with black ice.
My mate Ratty (Blue tanked ZX6R B1H with black fairings) was there as a No-Limits instructor, he said he slid the van across the paddock area when he arrived as it was just a sheet of ice.
Yup. Why I said "some". But most people's riding goes downhill fast if they're not constantly using the skills. Mine certainly does ;)
I seem to go better on track if I haven't been riding on the road much beforehand. Not a clue why, but Danny thinks it's because I haven't got the road hazards thing in my head.
mister c
04-11-08, 06:44 AM
Mate of my son's had only ridden a scooter before going into racing, he came 3rd in the Crewe & Nantwich 600 steel frame championship this year beating some very fast riders. It is his 1st year of racing, but he has taken to it like a duck to water.
mister c
04-11-08, 06:46 AM
It was so cold that day that people with a tyre choice mainly stayed on full wets all day, despite it at most being mildly damp and then a drying line appearing. I have to ride to and from the track on my bike and stuck with my Conti' Road Attack tyres, but was really struggling to get any heat into them. I have a pair of Supercorsas on spare wheels but have to make a decision the day before the track day on which wheels to fit. .
I must admit that most of the people in our pit garage were out on wets.
I tried my road tyres & my eldest son said that mine had a lot more heat in them than his wets when I came back in. Ok I pootled around the corners a little more upright than them, but they seemed to keep their temps.
plowsie
04-11-08, 09:01 AM
I have tried virtually every road within 100 mils of this place, and the state of them has declined badly in the last 5 years. Time was I could ride a few miles into Bucks, Northants, Cambs or Herts and be greeted by racetrack smooth tarmac throughout the whole county, but they're all as bad as Bedfordshire nowadays. Even 'The Alps' from Baldock to Buntingford is in a terrible state.
I've found some very good roads throughout Northampton, no-one is willing to come out and try them with me though, see here (http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=117690) for that. Yes the condition of some roads can be rather bad, butttttt, learn the roads like the back of your hand like I have and you forget about the condition, you know whats the best line to take because of that bump there.
I think about doing this alot......infact the first time I drop the 600rr it wont be reborn road legal.
There is LOADS of nice roads around me, Lincolnshire, derbyshire etc.....but for me its purely because the chances of loosing your licence on the roads are so big nowdays......and without a licence I'm without a job.
For me riding a bike is about having fun, and I dont have fun pootling about at the speed limit, its a challenge but not the sort of challenge I enjoy.....dont get me wrong I dont speed in numbered areas 30's/40's but if its a national speed limit its fair game if its reasonably safe.
BUT, only last week I was in derbyshire and there was an unmarked blue camera van AND a man with a speed gun within 3 miles of each other........to me its not fun when your constantly wondering where the next mobile trap is......and its game over if I hadnt spotted them early.
Thats the main reason why I'm considering it....bidding on a two bike trailer at the moment and a tow bar for Kerry's car is only £150.......
vardypeeps
04-11-08, 01:25 PM
It's each to their own really. I love getting up knowing I'm saving 40mins to travel time by getting on my bike than the bus (25mins if a car). Best bit is getting up on the weekend checking the weather online and then loading up Google Earth. Find the twisty bits on the map and plot a route their on Google maps! Gear up and put your ear plugs in after giving the bike a quick wash and that's it gone for the day.
I like the challange of riding to work without having a crash i.e. looking out for everyone else on the road as well as myself. I will say that I have yet to do a track day but I am unsure of the cheapest one's and don't want to have to travel for miles to get there?
Take care whatever your dicision but you should stick with it.
kwak zzr
04-11-08, 04:57 PM
ive try'd to give up several times but its only ever lasted 3-6 months :( i need a bike even if its just sitting in the garage not getting used.
I got rid of my mint gsxr1000 in july after doing the mick boddice school at darley and a trackday at mallory. Just didn't seem any point tempting fate and wrecking it. Bought a gsxr600srad off ebay for £1300, fairly tidy,t+t till09 with nearly new tyres. Ready to start my track day plans..... then came the rest of the british 'summer'. I have only had chance to ride it 4 times due to work and weather! Complete waste of money. Just bought a CR125 mx bike off ebay while off sick with broken ribs from mountain bike crash. Cannot even ride it but I was bored! Wife is just talking to me again!! Don't know the answer to the dilemma unless you can afford one of everything (which I cannot) oops!!! Anyone for a gsxr600??
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