Rog

Over the past year and especially 6 months I have had to watch my best friend and biking companion suffer and die at the hands of Cancer. What makes it worse was the fact that he was only 38, its just not right to see someone of that age to wither away and die over 12 months.

Anyway, as you can imagine I havent got out as much, my last ride with my friend and probably any ride of distance was late last summer. I took it out a few more times in the Autumn to my friends house, but it felt like I was rubbing in the fact that he was to ill to ride, so I stopped riding while I helped him as much as I could in my spare time.

After he departed I went out a few times and felt the magic had gone and all I could do was think of my friend and how it wasnt the same without him. I also realised that the bike I had bought to try and keep up with him was not really delivering the fun I wanted anymore.

With all this in mind I went to the local bike shop with the intention of asking them if I could sell my bike through his shop (They let some customers do this from time to time for a small fee). I really didnt want to do this, as I felt awful about giving up what is an important part of who I am, but thought, no I must persist.

It was here I saw the little XJ6N, power about the same as an SV650 more importantly 0% finance and with trading in my Daytona 675 I could get it for a song. So I took the little thing out for a test ride...............and I must say what a brilliant little bike it is. It really took me back to why I got into biking in the first place and the fact that it didnt take all my ability to ride it to it's potential, something I never did with the Daytona. before I new it I had traded in my Daytona for an all black brand spanker. It comes next weekend and I am really excited.

I know some may not understand why I would go from the Daytona, which I consider to still be the best sports bike I have ever riden, to what is for all intense and purpose is considered a new riders bike. But I think I have finally realised why many of you stick with the SV for so long. Yes there are more powerful bikes outthere with better suspensions and set ups. I now think however, that these supposed starter bikes sit perfectly where most of us as riders never actually move from in terms of ability or speed. Yes my Daytona could push 150mph but I hardly ever hit it, yes it could corner on rails but I never pushed it like that on the road, yes the brakes where awesome but I never had the guts to see what they could really do. In short, the bike was far better than me and by trying to focus on going faster and getting the most out of the bike I found more frustration in my lack of ability rather than enjoying the ride. This was never more apparent than after my friend had gone and I was riding mostly on my own, rather chasing him down and talking about how both of us were riding.


So this little bike I can bang of the limiter and not feel itimidated. It doesnt make feel a 103 when I get of it due to cramp. But most of all, I'm smiling again about riding and cant wait to run it in.