RantyDave
24th July 2008, 19:47
Nearly three years, four bikes, three drops and exactly one thousand posts later, I find myself here. Technically I've found myself here before except Spank did the big SQL query to say that Rant & Rave doesn't count and that took me back under the big one-oh-oh-oh.
I thought I would take the opportunity to reflect a little.
Once upon a time I bought a scooter. During it's tenure I experienced three events which would turn out to be prescient: One, I joined a CBR600 at the lights one fine evening. Upon turning green the CBR fucked off into the distance in a style I had previously imagined to be the realm of fighter jets being launched off ships. Two, I had a conversation with a work colleague who pointed out that for the price of my scooter I could score a second hand bike like his. He proudly motioned towards his motorcycle. It was a GN250. Even then it looked like a shitter. Third and most importantly, the scooter was nicked. Up until that point I had imagined it as being too girlie to nick, but apparently I had not factored in teenage hoodie scum from Porirua.
I had decided to replace it with a *bigger* scooter, and this meant getting the motorcycle "L" ticket. After a most awesome day trundling round a car park the idea of "maybe I should get a bike" took hold. At the time I had just had a company go arse over tit and was doing the depressed thing in quite a big way (no, not another KB 'depressed' thread). Learning a new skill sounded great so a few test rides later I wheeled my SR250 out of TSS. The side stand then fell off, but some fixing later I took my 'car park' grade motorcycling down the fucking motorway because sometimes you just have to grow a pair and ... I was in.
Since then I guess my biking life has been mostly commuting. It just doesn't work financially unless I use it as daily transport and besides, buses suck arse. I've been pretty regular on TCWNR - tailing off this season for reasons ... I don't know why. I did a few weekend group rides (my first group ride was the huge one organised by UncleB) and would like to do more. I've done a couple of track days (w00t!). I've not done any touring whatsoever - time, more than anything else. My pretentions to Rossiness were whisked away prompty at the cliffhanger - the desire remains but the ability to take weeks, months or possibly my entire life off work is simply not there.
No buckets. Yet. Shame.
But I also got to meet all these awesome people. From (and this is the best bit) all walks of life. I had no idea that bikers were almost exactly a 'core sample' of the population, brought together by their love for this insanely dangerous but just totally awesome pastime/lifestyle/whatever. And this, curiously, is the bit I want to do more of. You guys have to help me with names though: I'm crap at names, everyone on KB has two of them and I find myself just paralysed by the fear that I'll get ... say ... Hitcher and Katman confused in real life. Like, can you imagine.... Shudder.
Ok. I'll stop now, but first a summary. The bikes:
* 200x Yamaha SR250. Spanish, not Japanese. A better GN250. Shitty suspension. Looked great but a bitch to keep clean.
* 2004 Triumph Speed Four. Beautiful noise, expensive suspension components that can be used to tune out some potentially shite handling. Loved being caned witless. Great bike but not without it's flaws.
* 2004 Honda VTR250. The biggest piece of piss in the entire world to ride. Hysterical fun round town, trouser filling above 100k's.
* 2008 Triumph Street Triple. I rode a Daytona and had to have that engine. A great ride in the dry but I've had a couple of colourful moments in the wet. Already. I don't think the tyres are scrubbed in properly yet. Will cause absence from family in the summer.
And drops:
* The SR. Walking speed, car park on the way to do my restricted. Seriously. Broke the clutch lever off.
* The Speed Four. The first day I rode it - leaves on a mate's (steep) driveway. Dinged.
* The Speed Four again. Some considerable velocity. Written off. Rider fared better.
OK. Awesome. As you were.
Cheers,
Dave
I thought I would take the opportunity to reflect a little.
Once upon a time I bought a scooter. During it's tenure I experienced three events which would turn out to be prescient: One, I joined a CBR600 at the lights one fine evening. Upon turning green the CBR fucked off into the distance in a style I had previously imagined to be the realm of fighter jets being launched off ships. Two, I had a conversation with a work colleague who pointed out that for the price of my scooter I could score a second hand bike like his. He proudly motioned towards his motorcycle. It was a GN250. Even then it looked like a shitter. Third and most importantly, the scooter was nicked. Up until that point I had imagined it as being too girlie to nick, but apparently I had not factored in teenage hoodie scum from Porirua.
I had decided to replace it with a *bigger* scooter, and this meant getting the motorcycle "L" ticket. After a most awesome day trundling round a car park the idea of "maybe I should get a bike" took hold. At the time I had just had a company go arse over tit and was doing the depressed thing in quite a big way (no, not another KB 'depressed' thread). Learning a new skill sounded great so a few test rides later I wheeled my SR250 out of TSS. The side stand then fell off, but some fixing later I took my 'car park' grade motorcycling down the fucking motorway because sometimes you just have to grow a pair and ... I was in.
Since then I guess my biking life has been mostly commuting. It just doesn't work financially unless I use it as daily transport and besides, buses suck arse. I've been pretty regular on TCWNR - tailing off this season for reasons ... I don't know why. I did a few weekend group rides (my first group ride was the huge one organised by UncleB) and would like to do more. I've done a couple of track days (w00t!). I've not done any touring whatsoever - time, more than anything else. My pretentions to Rossiness were whisked away prompty at the cliffhanger - the desire remains but the ability to take weeks, months or possibly my entire life off work is simply not there.
No buckets. Yet. Shame.
But I also got to meet all these awesome people. From (and this is the best bit) all walks of life. I had no idea that bikers were almost exactly a 'core sample' of the population, brought together by their love for this insanely dangerous but just totally awesome pastime/lifestyle/whatever. And this, curiously, is the bit I want to do more of. You guys have to help me with names though: I'm crap at names, everyone on KB has two of them and I find myself just paralysed by the fear that I'll get ... say ... Hitcher and Katman confused in real life. Like, can you imagine.... Shudder.
Ok. I'll stop now, but first a summary. The bikes:
* 200x Yamaha SR250. Spanish, not Japanese. A better GN250. Shitty suspension. Looked great but a bitch to keep clean.
* 2004 Triumph Speed Four. Beautiful noise, expensive suspension components that can be used to tune out some potentially shite handling. Loved being caned witless. Great bike but not without it's flaws.
* 2004 Honda VTR250. The biggest piece of piss in the entire world to ride. Hysterical fun round town, trouser filling above 100k's.
* 2008 Triumph Street Triple. I rode a Daytona and had to have that engine. A great ride in the dry but I've had a couple of colourful moments in the wet. Already. I don't think the tyres are scrubbed in properly yet. Will cause absence from family in the summer.
And drops:
* The SR. Walking speed, car park on the way to do my restricted. Seriously. Broke the clutch lever off.
* The Speed Four. The first day I rode it - leaves on a mate's (steep) driveway. Dinged.
* The Speed Four again. Some considerable velocity. Written off. Rider fared better.
OK. Awesome. As you were.
Cheers,
Dave