slofox
24th March 2009, 16:02
Well as I found out this morning when I realised the warrant had expired four days ago, I have been a Born Again Rider for a year now...and so far I have killed neither myself nor anyone else (that I know of anyway), despite the bad press accorded to Born Agains in recent times...AND I haven't had a ticket...yet anyway
To be honest it has taken most of that year to feel fully confident again after a twenty year hiatus - even though I never did "retire" from riding - just took quite a long time to get my next bike. So in that sense I don't think of myself as "born again" anyway.
However, the reality of it all is that the technology has changed a lot in that time and the bikes are indeed fiendishly more powerful than the ones I used to ride. Course, I did think a little before buying this time (took 20 years actually haha) and made sure I did nothing too silly. I didn't buy a Harley Fergusson. I didn't buy a GSX1000R nor even a GSX750R...I avoided inline fours completely. But that was mostly because I wanted a V Twin - always did want to own one once. So without knowing much about the machine apart from what I had read, I bought a respectable SV650S. Which has proven to be plenty for what I want to do and quite easy to ride in a not very respectable manner after all...(cough cough). Most importantly, when I do drop it, it is not too heavy for me to pick up. Very important point, that. Ya gotta be able to pick it back up. But it is also not that much heavier or bigger than what I was used to all those eons ago. So I have had a blast on it and fully intend to continue so to do.
The confidence has taken a long time but I was happy to let it happen at its own rate. And part of that was the machine itself - well the tyres actually. Changing from the OEM Dunlop D220's to Pilot Road 2ct's has completely transformed that machine as did treating the front to emulator kits and springs. But the tyres made the biggest difference - I was surprised at that.
And the modern bikes are so much more capable than those I used to ride. It takes quite a while to realise that and to begin to exploit that capability. Which I am nowhere near fully realising anyway. But that's OK. I don't have anything to prove. I don't have to ride on the ragged edge and put myself and others at risk just to prove some macho competitive point. If I want to do that I will go to the track. I love to ride - it is a transcendental experience for me. I want to be able to do it every day. So I try not to bust my arse and stop the fun.
So to all those who slate us older "returnees" I say :bleh:. We are not all stupid. We are not all dangers to ourselves and others. Some of us are aware of our own limits. And stay within them whilst fully enjoying the exhileration of cranking it through a sweeping corner or threading it through a twisty section or even pootling gently along beside Kawhia Harbour on a still bright clear early autumn morning when there is not a ripple on the mirror of the water and not a soul in sight. Biking gives me a freedom I had forgotten I could have. It has been worth the wait. And for the support of the KB forums I say thanks all - you are a great bunch - (usually...:devil2:)
I cannot express it any better than did Madbikeboy in my signature quote..."even Born Agains come full circle to embrace the freedom and thrill again – the decades between a blur of normalcy with the release of riding again..."
To be honest it has taken most of that year to feel fully confident again after a twenty year hiatus - even though I never did "retire" from riding - just took quite a long time to get my next bike. So in that sense I don't think of myself as "born again" anyway.
However, the reality of it all is that the technology has changed a lot in that time and the bikes are indeed fiendishly more powerful than the ones I used to ride. Course, I did think a little before buying this time (took 20 years actually haha) and made sure I did nothing too silly. I didn't buy a Harley Fergusson. I didn't buy a GSX1000R nor even a GSX750R...I avoided inline fours completely. But that was mostly because I wanted a V Twin - always did want to own one once. So without knowing much about the machine apart from what I had read, I bought a respectable SV650S. Which has proven to be plenty for what I want to do and quite easy to ride in a not very respectable manner after all...(cough cough). Most importantly, when I do drop it, it is not too heavy for me to pick up. Very important point, that. Ya gotta be able to pick it back up. But it is also not that much heavier or bigger than what I was used to all those eons ago. So I have had a blast on it and fully intend to continue so to do.
The confidence has taken a long time but I was happy to let it happen at its own rate. And part of that was the machine itself - well the tyres actually. Changing from the OEM Dunlop D220's to Pilot Road 2ct's has completely transformed that machine as did treating the front to emulator kits and springs. But the tyres made the biggest difference - I was surprised at that.
And the modern bikes are so much more capable than those I used to ride. It takes quite a while to realise that and to begin to exploit that capability. Which I am nowhere near fully realising anyway. But that's OK. I don't have anything to prove. I don't have to ride on the ragged edge and put myself and others at risk just to prove some macho competitive point. If I want to do that I will go to the track. I love to ride - it is a transcendental experience for me. I want to be able to do it every day. So I try not to bust my arse and stop the fun.
So to all those who slate us older "returnees" I say :bleh:. We are not all stupid. We are not all dangers to ourselves and others. Some of us are aware of our own limits. And stay within them whilst fully enjoying the exhileration of cranking it through a sweeping corner or threading it through a twisty section or even pootling gently along beside Kawhia Harbour on a still bright clear early autumn morning when there is not a ripple on the mirror of the water and not a soul in sight. Biking gives me a freedom I had forgotten I could have. It has been worth the wait. And for the support of the KB forums I say thanks all - you are a great bunch - (usually...:devil2:)
I cannot express it any better than did Madbikeboy in my signature quote..."even Born Agains come full circle to embrace the freedom and thrill again – the decades between a blur of normalcy with the release of riding again..."