To Ride Fast or Not To Ride Fast, That is the Question?

YC, can you spare a seat over there in the corner?

Straddlers, a very good post, very well written. Hopefully your intentions have been realised, and some people reading that have taken heed of your warning.

I'm firmly of the opinion that the pilot is in control at all times, no-one else.

I've ridden rings around weekend warriors on supersports machinery for fun (mainly because they didn't have the experience to handle their bikes), but I've also sat at 30mph in NSLs to accompany more nervous riders.

The last ride I had with a mate, I clearly warned him that I wasn't in the best of moods, and if I rode faster than he felt comfortable, don't try to follow me, I'll pull up & wait at the next turning.

Straddlers, perhaps all your friend did was miss the conversation from my last paragraph?

Great post,

I expect that many if not all of us have had that "Oh ****" moment and have got away with it. I know that i have, several times.

I remember well the first ride on my SV, about 40 miles home from the dealer. Nice and steady flowing along with the traffic. Coming up to a nice right hander, looks a bit tight, still the cars are getting round Ok, just keep up with them it'll be ok, no this is a it too fast, no its not dont be a wuss, **** **** **** **** SHHIITTT.

I now take that corner at 70 -75 mph with no worries. The day I try it at 85 We'll be back to OH ****.

I suppose the point of the story is to say to the OP it does not matter how good, or bad, a rider you are if you ride at 10/10ths you will have OH **** moments.

Keep a bit in reserve and all will be OK.

Unfortunatly I really enjoy pushing towards the limit of my ability, I still have moments but I do try to listen to the voice that says "thats to fast SLOW DOWN YOU T..T".

More training and or experiance will move the limits upwards, more self control will stop you getting too close to them.

Danm good fun though!

Thankfully my biking friends are all pretty smart riders - my first ride out with my workmate was when I had my 125 and he was on a GSX-750, even for the 125 I wasn't very fast. However he never complained for a moment and kept pace behind me, never pushing and then when he lead on the way back having seen my riding speed he kept the pace at a similar level. I have to say I think it was very dangerous of your friend to encourage you like that.

I did crash my 125 when I was getting too confident and not being nearly cautious enough, I came round a corner, hit some gravel and the bike went down. Luckily aside from a large friction burn I was absolutely fine and it was a very valuable lesson, now on the SV I just take it very easy if I can't see the corner properly as now I know what it's like to drop the bike I don't want to go through it again. At times it's hard not to be a little frustrated when I know I could be taking the corners far faster in the car but then bearing my crash in mind I just keep it easy.

I did almost get caught out by the dipped headlights though...I'd heard they were bad and was riding along on the dipped lights then flicked to full beam once the car ahead was round a further corner only to find there was a corner right ahead of me which I thought was slightly later. I was sure I was going to come off the bike but thankfully the SV made it no bother. Now on dipped headlights I just let the throttle off completely until I can get my full beams back on.

John

[Bibio]

Motorcycling is about what YOU want out of it. Everyone has a different idea as to what they want. Some people cant stop themselves from twisting the grip further and further because they like the adrenaline of speed. Other just want to get from A to B as safely as possible.

I’m glad you have come to the sensible conclusion on your riding abilities and not given in to the temptation of ‘peer pressure’ which unfortunately a lot of people don’t.

Well done Stradders.

When I was younger I used to go everywhere with the twisty bit as far as it would turn round, until someone I knew said ‘if you keep riding like that you are either going to die or end up in hospital for a long time and besides slow your pace down and you will get there less tired.’ And you know what he was right I got there less tired.

Originally Posted by metalangel

Well said the OP, I've only been riding just over a year so am slowly building my confidence, the thing I've seen from some experienced riders is they see the speed limit as more of a suggestion. I just don't have the confidence (or indeed the bike, an SV can't really accelerate to take you through a small gap like the litre bikes can) to try it all yet.

Today, hovis & co. (blade, gixxer, gixxer) headed off from Abergavenny with me following behind. After a few miles a line of cars was ahead, and they managed to overtake a few before the road became unfriendly, so sure enough I got past a few cars and then there were no more opportunities and I found myself going the rest of the way home alone. Frustrating, but better frustrated than through a Ford Mundano's windshield I guess.

just go at your own pace, your SV is plenty quick enough too keep up, and confidace will come in time.
normaly we would be doing drop offs, but as there was only 3 of us, it doesnt realy work.

which way did you go? we waited at the petrol station for a bit

[fizzwheel]

This is why I go out by myself. Then I dont have anybody or anything else to worry about. I can just concentrate on the road and my observations and work on my technique. If I want to ride slow I do, if I wan to go faster I can without having to worry that somebody is riding out of their comfort zone to keep up.

YC and co are correct.

You control the throttle, whether it be following a mate, a random biker, bigger or smaller engined. There is no absolute yardstick. A guy who knows the road on a GS 500 can be quicker than a lesser experienced thou rider. The SV is a very capable bike but you just need to plan ahead and be in the right gear.

If you don't ride with others it's very difficult to improve. You can pick up hints but also see where they make mistakes and learn from that too.

I wouldn't be as quick as I am today from the times I've followed riders like Mike, Baph, Pete & Lissa, those guys have given me so many tips from just riding in front of me, improved observation, corner speed, cornering technique etc. Needless to say, I haven't rode with many people for a while and IMO ride like a bit of a tw@ now, nobodys fault but my own.

EDIT: BTW, just to clarify, my tw@ish riding is no fault of theirs.

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by petevtwin650

If you don't ride with others it's very difficult to improve.

I'm not so sure about that. It depends I think on who you are following and whether they know what they are doing or not. If they dont all you may be doing is learning somebody else's bad habbits.

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

I'm not so sure about that. It depends I think on who you are following and whether they know what they are doing or not. If they dont all you may be doing is learning somebody else's bad habbits.

That's so true.