Why I like to ride alone

[Goddess of Goof]

Don't get me wrong, it's great to have comrades on the road, especially when you arrive at chosen destination, and want to swap survival stories, share information, etc.
Or when things go bleh blarh bleeeeeer.... oh sheeet.


The point I want to make is that the best part of motorcycling
is the process of getting along the road. The physical melding of man (which includes woman in this case), machine, and road, as well as the mental process.
The process of synthesing all that sensory input
into one long and continuous stream of decisions ......
Thousands of decisions, large and small.

When you're riding well, these are automatic, and then your
over-all concentration can allow for:
admiring the long distance view
enjoying the short distance view - farm animals,
or kids looking up to watch you pass
or the lovely smell from summer-heated pine trees
and so on.....

I have actually slowed down on fast stretches just to enjoy the process, and the outdoors-ness of it all ........ and being there, on a lovely day, in a beautiful country, open road, bike singing, and so am I. And I will admit to slowing down or even God Forbid STOPPING to take in a particular view ....

We pass this way but once.

Slower rider ? Last in ? Where were ya ? What kept me ?

Bugger off.

[twistymover]

I agree.Go at your own pace. I'm a born again biker. I've been 3 months on the road again.I sold my last bike 10 years ago(GS450).Its been great getting back into it.I'm a bit slow with a group at the moment anyway.But if I want to look at the scenery,then 100-110kph or less is best.And what's wrong with that? Nothing of course, so it's" bye- byes"to those in front, but they wait at the next corner and everyone is together having a natter at the cafe anyway, which is great,so no probs.

[wkid_one]

Whilst I can certainly empathise with what you're saying - being someone to stop mid ride and whip the camera out etc....I disagree with not riding in a group because of it.

With all the riders I have ridden with, no one gives a damn who comes first and who comes last and which piggy was in the middle!

To me, riding is about a few things:


This one-ness of riding and the total escapism of doing it
The fact you DO see and smell more on the back of the bike than you would in a car
Doing it with friends - the laughing about cocked up corners, the ones you did well, how fast you went........
Scaring myself consistently


To NOT ride with friends to me is to miss out on one of the best parts of riding!!  The comaraderie!

D

 

[wkid_one]

It is moments like these when it makes you gald you are riding in a group

 

 

[Slim]

Originally posted by twistymover
... so it's" bye- byes" to those in front, but they wait at the next corner and everyone is together having a natter at the cafe anyway, which is great, so no probs.
Ditto.

So long as everyone knows where we're going, and by which route, and regular stops for coffee or fuel or enjoying the sights (and doing head counts) are scheduled, then riding at your own pace is a much less stressful venture.

[Redstar]

:o
Rideing alone? well I tend to disagree its a bit like sex really
there are times when you might want an intimate moment with yourself but bikes are all about family the comradeship. the common enemy weather and other road users.
We a have all been on a rally or to a meet and felt to power of combined brotherhood? I get a bit confused in a group like should I let the CBR 600 lead just because its a 6 and I have a 4 or should I piss on it like I know I can?.
I enjoy both on my one or in group.. yep :done:

[wkid_one]

I agree Red....check out my post on the flat tyre......here is why it is good to ride in a group.....I know it is doom saying, but when (if??) something goes wrong.....you will regret riding by yourself.

And isn't it always good to have someone else see you 'fuckups'......and even better we they do it on the same corner (you don't feel so bad if someone else also cocked the corner up)....

But most important....that feeling riding off someones back wheel, knowing someone is off yours is the ultimate feeling of both freedom/individuality and comraderie at the same time....

Who wants to go to the fish and chip shop in Kaiaua or Coromandel Hotel and have a meal by themselves.....

I agree with riding your own ride, and stress my earlier point - no one I know even notices who came first or who came last - but only if you DON'T come at all.

[Goddess of Goof]

Maybe I'm feeling a bit jaded or something. I didn't mean my post to sound quite as cold-shoulder and unfriendly as it came out.
What I mean is that sometimes it's enough to have your own experience of your ride, without any judgment or label from other rider(s). Or others' expectations, eh.
I'm not a misery gutz.... really, truly.
Of course I enjoy a group get-together and all the biker camaraderie. It's great, and bikers have the best jokes in the world.........
Heard the one about the two fleas and the sportsbiker's moustache ?
Luv yas all.

[twistymover]

Two fleas....sportsbiker's moustache....yes, carry on.

[MikeL]

Originally posted by BestFun
sometimes it's enough to have your own experience of your ride, without any judgment or label from other rider(s)
I agree. I enjoy riding in a group but however relaxed you are about it there's always some subtle pressure or temptation: to keep up, prove yourself, not be the last to arrive or whatever. And so you often ride on when you might have stopped to admire the view, or take a corner too fast because you don't want to be tail end charlie. It's just human nature. So when I think about it, the best rides I've had have been on my own. But it's not just about the physical ride. The companionship of a club or group outing is a different kind of pleasure and equally valued. So a balance is necessary.

[MikeL]

P.S. Of course I've heard the one about the two fleas and the sportsbiker's moustache - who hasn't? But just for the record (and those people who remember all of a joke except the punchline) perhaps you'd better tell us. :D

[Goddess of Goof]

Ok Ok Ok
Are there any of you out there who have not heard
this joke ?
Make a post and let me know.
I don't want to bore anyone.
If you say you want to hear it, I'll tell it again.

SPMan told me this one.
Heh heh heh He's got good taste...

Anyone heard from SPMan lately ?
I heard his computer was ill and the doctor said
take it to hospital. Sore tummy apparently. Needs an op.
Aw.

[Kwaka-Kid]

You lost me @ Anyone sorry buddy. :P haha.

Well my personal opinion/preference is to ride in a group, i dont just ride the bike ever, infact im actually struggling to think of anytime (apart from when i first buy a bike) that i efver just ride a 100km by myself for no apparent reason, and if i did, shit  i wouldnt go spend money @ a cafe on food or anything, id rather go home, the whole idea i feel is the social side of things and the comraderie is great! even ifi am @ the end riding by myself, having a group is like my excuse to get out on that ride, but its always in my mind that i will catch up to them no matter what.  Mind you i do prefer to ride actually within sight of eachother, when i ride with my old man and his mates, on their big old GS1000's and that, beleive it or not they can leave me for dust between any lights or anything in city, that blimmin GS with smoothebores just carves anything from 1000 rpm - 3000rpm, so much low down torque.  Anyways what im trying to say is he will always wait for me @ the next set of lights, or if we get split by more then one car, hell pull over and let it overtake if i cant find a line around it (on the most underpowerd 400 youve ever seen).  So personally id far rather be riding beside sombody then anything, but the next best thing is at least being on the same ride as somebody else and having a common goal/meeting point.   Just cant do it alone, its most likly because i jet between my 2 jobs every single day of the week clocking up so many lone-km's.

And even then, if i see a bike ahead, or behind, ill slow or speed just to keep with it and give them a wave, see how long we can ride together till my offramp etc :)  Thanks to whoever the other day was on the Suzuki RGV250 if you read these forums, but we both knew i blew you away going onto the waterveiw 240degree onramp! :P (more bullshitting about how far ahead i got/etc, its just so much fun)

anyways thats my rant, off to work, hope to see a bike on the way.

TTYL

[750Y]

I prefer to ride alone. for my own reasons.
As for that photo that showed the bikes lined up at the Coromandel pub. That don't impress me much. That's a bad look in my book, but then hey each to their own. I hope it was OJ all the way.
If You like the comoraderie etc. ride in a group. Riding is about riding. socialising is about people. some like both at the same time. some don't.
It's all personal preference and it's all good:D

[merv]

The look is fine with me because that doesn't tell me what the guys drink. On our rides down this way we regularly go to Hotels like Lake Ferry, Buckhorn (Carterton), Herbertville, Tinui and others - food is fine and I normally drink Sprite, Coke or have a hot chocolate. No one forces me to drink alcohol and I never do when I'm riding the bike.

This page of photos sees us parked outside Lake Ferry and the Buckhorn and not a drop of alcohol was consumed by the team I was with http://bikemerv.topcities.com/road0502.html

[750Y]

Good on You Merv.
I'm not preaching or anything, just making a point which I'm sure You can understand. Enjoyed the photos. Lake ferry's a nice spot too, good ride over & back. I'm from the Bay by the way. small country eh.

[Kwaka-Kid]

If i could i would go to every single pub on the way of my ride and get absolutly slaughterd at each one and keep riding to the next... all day and night long...

But i cant, and i spose thats why the Drinking Age is 18.. damnit, so you mean i have to mature in 5 months? hahaha never! :)


Please note i am only being sarcastic, and that i feel that pic is fine, and personally wont drink b4 riding or anything, and think that going to a pub isnt always about drinking.  Socialising doesnt have to be done under the influence, altho it helps :P

Have a good weekend yall, wish me luck, im aobut to ride out to a party out piha.  Then ride back @ about midnight if i dont drink and cant sleep there, if i can ill drink and sleep and come home @ 6:00am ready to concrete all day tomorrow.  Well planned for a 17yo huh? :)

 

Nite!

[wkid_one]

Funny how everyone assumes - in front of pub - must be drinking.  It was a hot day, they were serving lunch and the Americas Cup was on telly.......PS - some pubs actually serve soft drink now too....

Why do some people have to pick holes in things - like pillocks who sit at home and write letters to the NZBSA about ads on telly and how they are offended.  The picture was merely meant to suggest that riding is as much about the stopping, talking, bullshitting and general socialising as the balls out riding.  However, feel free to take the moral highground - just page me when you are off your soap box.

[Kwaka-Kid]

well ill admit you are a streight up dude wkid_one :)

and good on you, i wouldnt have put it so bluntly myself, but i feel the same way. My only remaining question is... NZBSA? Sounded more like a bike group to me :/

[wkid_one]

NZ Broadcasting Standards Authority

[750Y]

nice weather on the weekend. Got in 2 rides to the coromandels.
No pubs, just me, my bike, and 1 stop (for gas & visor clean).

[SPman]

Whats the big deal about pubs?  Most pubs realise sportbike riders in particular dont drink much, if any, alcohol. Lemon,Lime and bitters is real good on a hot day . The owner at Puhoi does it real well........

[750Y]

nice weather on the weekend. Got in 2 rides to the coromandels.
better?

[SPman]

Sorry 750Y - just a general comment - not directed at your post.:confused:

[750Y]

:D haha at last someone round here has a smile on.
who knows it just might catch on.
none taken dude

[Motu]

I prefer to ride alone,it's important to me,just me and the bike,some roads I know,some roads I don't - shit,I'm lost...wonder where this road goes...bloody hell,I'm getting low on gas,hope this comes out close to a gas station.

Riding with a few mates is good fun,we know each other and our abilities,been doing it for years.But riding with a bigger group is a pain in the arse,I like to maintain a certain rythum,and get upset if someone breaks it.They all pass me on the open stretches,I'm no speed freak,but then when we come to a few corners I don't slow down,and end up riding through the whole bunch,then we get to a straight again and they go flying past - they think I'm an idiot,I think they are idiots.Just leave me alone.

[Kwaka-Kid]

yeah, but that adds to the fun if you ask me... An extra challenge, trying not to hit all those idiots ;)

meh, ill say it again, i just cant go for long blasts by myself, and never have.  Every morning i ride from west aucks into town, okay its not a long ride, but thats enuf solo riding for me, and even then im constantlysearching for another bike to catch up to or slow for, just so i can be riding with them.

[750Y]

im constantlysearching for another bike to catch up to or slow for, just so i can be riding with them

You are displaying the classic Auckland sheep mentality. Stay well away from me thanks.

[wkid_one]

It is surprising tho.  KiwiDan and I were out for a ride to Warkworth (yes to another pub funnily enuf) - when we struck two riders at the top of the hill by the lookout.  We stopped and got chatting - they were heading in the same direction...ra ra ra.  We made to all tottle off together and they said 'No'....strange. 

To me, one of the things I like about riding is the inherent commaraderie.  You wave at others because you are both on bikes.  You chat if you stop at the same place because you are on bikes etc etc.  However, some people aren't comfortable in riding with either others or strange rider(s). Why is that?  Provided you ride your own ride there is nothing to risk? 

My experience shows (and this isn't limited to motorbikes - but all sports etc) - that in order to improve you need to 'practice' with people who are better than you......yes you can get gains by yourself (provided you are disciplined) - but the best gains always come from learning from people who are BETTER than you.  Why do the best sports people in the world (Tiger/Rossi/O'Sullivan) all still have performance/technique coaches - for objective advice and because they can learn from people.  I believe the same applies to riding - testament was the Open Day at Puke - I tried about 5 different lines through the hairpin following other riders - and learnt a lot (and am glad no-one followed my line through the esses).

Remember when riding in a group with others it is your right hand that is the risk meter!

PS - If Kwaka was trying to ride me down - I would be concerned to.  Shit Tyres, Chain Slapping, Old Bike, No Fork Oil in Left Leg, Rear Tyre on the Front....hells bells give him a wide bearth thru.....LOL

[750Y]

You make some really good points there wkid. Y'know like riding with better riders than yourself to improve. Also riding by Yourself You are very insulated and often You form bad habits too which You only realise are wrong when You watch or talk to others. And this talking to myself has got to stop.(eh? what's that?) LOL. Funnily, I too have carved a big fat straight line across the paddock to castrol corner (in 6 inches of mud on a rainy test day a few years back) man that gave me the heebies. My glove was holding the gas open and I hadn't realised it while braking). I joked with the marshall that I shoulda tied the lawn mower on behind me. They all had a good chuckle up in the tower at my expense. Oh the track is so humbling.

[wkid_one]

Yeah - mine was a case of the following.......My thought went like this-------don't brake in to first right hander, stay on power as long as possible, roll off power, sight braking point, hold hold hold hold, brake - Feck too late.......shit, feck, shit, feck, bump, stay upright, aim for concrete, stay off brake, bump, hammer brake, chop two gears, hey this right hander on to the back straight is much more fun as a hairpin, accelerate, go to pits, change undies!

Nothing quite like ploughing spuds on a race track - LOL

 

[Kwaka-Kid]

Hey hey now dont be mocking my means of transportation! They damn well told me that the rear wheel drove the motorcycle right? so i figured if i slap a rear on the front she becomes a 2 wheel drive! :)

And i keep telling people i like the left leg to have no oil, it feels better to me damnit, helps me go faster.

And those tyres are racing slicks i tell you! I bought them that way.

P.S bob haldanes son (cant remember his name sorry) put that rear tyre on my front rim and told me he didnt even wanna put it on :P hahah but he said you either gotta have some pretty bigs balls to want to ride like that, or just no brains... So you see, i figure that i must fall into the first catagory :)

[750Y]

dude, is Your front Tyre shagged? what size is it, I have a couple spare tyres floating around, 17 inch tho. if You need it. You know if You put two fronts on Your bike would turn wicked fast.

[Coldkiwi]

Geez man, don't be giving him ideas like that!! Next we'll see KK's bike/s with some old Hoosier drag slicks on!

KK, I think you'd like the Boss Hoss. Its got a V8 chevy engine in it and from what I understand, it has NO gears! But best of all, its got a car tyre on the back to make for thrills into the corners. you'd love it mate! :)

[wkid_one]

I'm surprised Chris actually put the rear tyre on the front rim in all honestly - that is one I intend to give him shit about.

This raises an interesting question - given motorcycle tyres are application built (front and rear) - is putting them on the wrong rim voiding your WOF??? ie putting a rear on the front.

Is putting a direction tyre the wrong way round the same thing?

Just a question - I don't know the answer - Spankme - you may wish to move this to the FAQ thread I don't know

 

[bluninja]

WKID, to go in the FAQ section it needs an answer :D

 

BTW I have some tyres kicking around that I'm not using........a front pirelli supercorsa 120/70 ZR17 that's seen about 1300 kms and is in really good nick; would that fit KK???? You cold try fitting it on the rear:p

 

TTFN

[Kwaka-Kid]

Well the tyre was the right specs for the front of my 750, i just took the rim in, and did say it was off the back of an old 500 single, never used but purchased in about 1987 for race use, so its a racing tyre you see! :)

Secondly i went in there today, they WANT FUCKING $560 for a set of Bridgestone Bt010/bt020 front /rear, 120/60/17 front and altho my rear is ment to have 150, they only have soft 150's, hard tyres are only madein 160, so im putting 160 on, it will fit the 4.5inch rim, and the bike currently has a 160 on it.  BUT JESUS!  and the guy said ill be lucky to get around 10000k's outta them, FOR THAT MUCH I WANT BLIMMIN 30,000k's!  Who do they think i am? Mr. Rich?  Stuff that man...  and i got a speedo cable for my gpz 750 as on our last kaiaua ride the speedo was going right around just past 200kmph mark, and then bang down to 0.   i knew it had to be that, and sure enufi finally got around to checking (got sick of seeing it @ 0 all the time) and the bottom end bit has snapped, $35 later @ mt eden i had myself a brand newey :)

sorry about that language up there, and sorry if this post is confusing, i switch between 2 bikes, 750 and the zxr400.  

cu 4 now, 

[SPman]

Welcome to the real world of M/c pricing, Logan. There is a price to pay for staying on the road:done:

[Kwaka-Kid]

stuff that matey, i cant afford that!!! far out., im running my current tyres till they pop, or i see the canvas, mark my words.

[Motu]

Originally posted by wkid_one
I'm surprised Chris actually put the rear tyre on the front rim in all honestly - that is one I intend to give him shit about.

This raises an interesting question - given motorcycle tyres are application built (front and rear) - is putting them on the wrong rim voiding your WOF??? ie putting a rear on the front.

Is putting a direction tyre the wrong way round the same thing?

Just a question - I don't know the answer - Spankme - you may wish to move this to the FAQ thread I don't know

 

It would have to say ''front'' or ''rear'' with a directional arrow for them to be deamed in the wrong place.Front or rear makes no difference.Motorcyle tyres often have a directional arrow with a symetrical tread pattern,this just means it has a scarfed joint,it can run backwards no prob.

[wkid_one]

Not exactly - it also has to do with the capability of the tyre to disperse water correctly.

[SPman]

As I found out at the back of Taumaranui one wet evening with a couple of lurid slides. The rear  ME1 had been put on backwards and was pumping the water forwards and out instead of rearwards and out!  It seemd OK in the dry though..... Well it was fitted on April 1st........:argh:

[Kwaka-Kid]

bugger! :(

well, this tyre was teh perfect size for the front, just a lower profilethen i was currently running, and he told me that the tyre is rear but in this case mainly just means its made of a harder compound.  So what? even a 15year old front tyre would be just as hard wouldnt it?

[Motu]

Originally posted by wkid_one
Not exactly - it also has to do with the capability of the tyre to disperse water correctly.

That means it's a directional tyre,a non directional tyre will disperse water in any direction.And beleive it or not - a directional tyre pumps the water forward not out the back.

[wkid_one]

Ummm, yeah Motu - that's why I said is it a WOF issue to put directional tyres on the wrong way???

<B></B>&nbsp;

[Motu]

As I do WOFs,cars and bikes,yes,direction,front and rear etc are important and very much a WOF issue.But each case is taken seperatly.I have seen car tyres which are directional and yet have the direction arrow the reverse of what you would expect,as I said,the tyre pumps the water forward,not to the rear as everyone thinks,maybe these pump to the rear - the arrow is how I see the fitting,not what I expect it should do.
What about a tractor - we have a herring bone tyre fitted to the rear,no prob,we know how they go - but what about the front,are they fitted the same as the rear,or reversed? depends if it's front wheel drive or not.Can get complicated eh? Depends on my mood on the day and how you are dressed.

[Kwaka-Kid]

so what your saying is if i walk in wearing&nbsp; a mini skirt and lipstick, ill get my wof? :)

&nbsp;

thats just perfect, i dress that way on sundays anyways! hope ur open then? :P hahahaha! :) ewww no.

[bluninja]

KK, didn't realise you had a tractor as well as 4 bikes and a car??

So on Sundays do you change your name&nbsp;from Kwaka-kid to Karangahape Kid ?

TTFN

[Kwaka-Kid]

Yes

make that 3 bikes, the 400 is fucked

fuck it, fuck life, fuck fuck fuck,&nbsp; 1 question.

Why do good people crash bikes and die @ 100kmph? Yet somebody bad like me live through more.&nbsp; Why didnt he take me *looks up* damnit! take me!

its all crap. and right now i feel my shoulder much more then usual... :(

[XRNR]

Originally posted by BestFun

The point I want to make is that the best part of motorcycling
is the process of getting along the road. The physical melding of man (which includes woman in this case), machine, and road, as well as the mental process.
The process of synthesing all that sensory input
into one long and continuous stream of decisions ......
Thousands of decisions, large and small.

When you're riding well, these are automatic, and then your
over-all concentration can allow for:
admiring the long distance view
enjoying the short distance view - farm animals,
or kids looking up to watch you pass
or the lovely smell from summer-heated pine trees
and so on.....


Cool Message, suits me to a tee.

No one ever rides the way I do anyway.
Rather than take a gang of friends everywhere I go. I would rather talk to the locals, If I want to talk to anyone at all.

I ride for me!

[simonantz]

Its a personal thing .......The bond of man and machine .Great way to clear the mind ,and when your cutting through the air, its always only you and your bike:rolleyes:

[Dooly]

I like to ride in a small group of about 4-5 all of about the same pace/abilty, which most times is hard to get.
I hate riding in large groups, or packs as there are so many things that can go wrong, plus the pace sometimes gets real slow.

But then again I like riding by myself, and tend to a bit as living 28 kms from town, and about 38 to where we meet for the KB rides, I have to do so anyway to meet anyone.
I find I ride a lot slower and tend to look at the scenery by myself.
Sometimes tho living out wops has its advantages.
I sometimes just jump on the bike after work and go for a high speed country blast of only about half an hour just to unwind.
Its great.

Today, dunno if theres a KB ride, so I might go for a ride myself. Just got my Speed Triple back together after 6 weeks of waiting for parts, and have new rubber on that need scrubbing in, so maybe a leisurely pootle. (Tui):msn-wink:

[BigG]

I like to ride in a small group of about 4-5 all of about the same pace/abilty, which most times is hard to get.
I hate riding in large groups, or packs as there are so many things that can go wrong, plus the pace sometimes gets real slow.

But then again I like riding by myself, and tend to a bit as living 28 kms from town, and about 38 to where we meet for the KB rides, I have to do so anyway to meet anyone.
I find I ride a lot slower and tend to look at the scenery by myself.
Sometimes tho living out wops has its advantages.
I sometimes just jump on the bike after work and go for a high speed country blast of only about half an hour just to unwind.
Its great.

Today, dunno if theres a KB ride, so I might go for a ride myself. Just got my Speed Triple back together after 6 weeks of waiting for parts, and have new rubber on that need scrubbing in, so maybe a leisurely pootle. (Tui):msn-wink:Well Tony I hear your call, It's good to ride alone sometimes and go at your own pace and not have to push it to keep up ( thats a male thing )but its also good to ride with a group as if you come off like I did you got someone to pick you up, specialy around our area lonley country roads. I've been missing our rides but will be on the road again shortly.:clap:

[Dooly]

Well Tony I hear your call, It's good to ride alone sometimes and go at your own pace and not have to push it to keep up ( thats a male thing )but its also good to ride with a group as if you come off like I did you got someone to pick you up, specialy around our area lonley country roads. I've been missing our rides but will be on the road again shortly.:clap:

Hope to see you back soon George, the bike looks like its coming together well.
Went for a ride by myself Saturday arvo, HW50 thru to Patangata. Saw no one at Patangata, first time ever, no other bikes on the road, untill halfway back to Havelock, then saw a guy on a cruiser parked up.
Stopped to see if he was ok, had a yap for a bit then off home.
All sedately of course.

[marty]

Goodness! Dragging up 5 yr old threads! There's even posts from Wkid in there!