Slower bike maybe?

[Big Dave]

Agreed. The 'bird is the best bike I've ever owned (had it for 8 years and it's still nearly mint) but by and large, I've got past hyper-velocities for a number of reasons. A lighter weight naked with a more upright riding stance is the way I'll be going in about 12 months. At present, a Thruxton Bonnie or Street Triple are my "fitness for purpose" front runners.

I have the Thruxton in my top few best looking bikes. But the racing crouch isn't the best ergonomic for road use either.

My choice of the Bonnie range would be a Scrambler. Same cool - much greater versatility.

It tours great and does real well on ADV rides too.

Street triple is a minta. Get the upgraded suspension job. Worth every cent extra.

[Big Dave]

You could get a set of those big ape hangers the Harley guys fit - that will slow you down.

I've said before, there is an age limit on them. A man gets to an age where this giblet action starts happening under a raised arm. Flapping is not cool.

[denefoster]

+1 for naked bikes.. +2 for big single trail bikes. When I had my DRZ geared for 160 or so, 100 was alright, 150+ got freaking scary. Big front fender, and big single piston going up and down. Geared for 130 or so was alright at 100, and didn't have a choice of license losing speed.

The husky is apparently geared for 200, but again, gets really scary at 150. 120 is about right for high(ish) speed antics.

Both are well fun up to 120, can't beat a motard around town and it ain't no slouch in the curvy bits. Wouldn't want to tour on it, but commuting is the bees knees

[Blackbird]

I have the Thruxton in my top few best looking bikes. But the racing crouch isn't the best ergonomic for road use either.

My choice of the Bonnie range would be a Scrambler. Same cool - much greater versatility.

It tours great and does real well on ADV rides too.

Street triple is a minta. Get the upgraded suspension job. Worth every cent extra.

I grew up on the "original" Trumpys so would have to agree about the looks. I'd imagine the ergos on the Thruxton aren't any worse than the 'bird. At 61 years of age, the bar position on the 'bird is still ok but I'm thinking ahead a bit as I tend to keep bikes for a while. Unlike you, my greatest problem is short legs and that's an issue with the 'bird whilst stationary or low speed manoeuvring and a lot of care is needed. The Street Triple has a lower seat height and is mucho lighter. The Bonnie is a little lighter but still lower. Now that we live permanently in Coro and maybe 70% of my riding is on the Loop, a high top speed is largely irrelevant.

[jrandom]

Unlike you, my greatest problem is short legs and that's an issue with the 'bird whilst stationary or low speed manoeuvring and a lot of care is needed.

Interesting comment. Everyone's different.

My biggest ergonomic issue is fucked ITBs, dreadful hip flexibility, etc. I have to have leg room on a bike if I'm not to be in pain after 30 minutes. High seats and low pegs are my holy grail.

My favourite ever ergonomics were on the Ducati Multistrada, funnily enough. I suppose it'd be futile to try and convince you to test-ride one...

[Highlander]

I grew up on the "original" Trumpys so would have to agree about the looks. I'd imagine the ergos on the Thruxton aren't any worse than the 'bird. At 61 years of age, the bar position on the 'bird is still ok but I'm thinking ahead a bit as I tend to keep bikes for a while. Unlike you, my greatest problem is short legs and that's an issue with the 'bird whilst stationary or low speed manoeuvring and a lot of care is needed. The Street Triple has a lower seat height and is mucho lighter. The Bonnie is a little lighter but still lower. Now that we live permanently in Coro and maybe 70% of my riding is on the Loop, a high top speed is largely irrelevant.

Love the look (and sound) of the Thruxton.
Can't remember which magazine it was in but they said it is "like a pretty girl who has forgotten to put her top on. Every body looks, the young ones can't work out why it is so apealing and the old ones just smile and nod." I guess that implies I'm old.

[Blackbird]

Interesting comment. Everyone's different.

My biggest ergonomic issue is fucked ITBs, dreadful hip flexibility, etc. I have to have leg room on a bike if I'm not to be in pain after 30 minutes. High seats and low pegs are my holy grail.

My favourite ever ergonomics were on the Ducati Multistrada, funnily enough. I suppose it'd be futile to try and convince you to test-ride one...

Thanks for the comment but yep, the Multistrada just doesn't do it for me at that all-important emotional level, irrespective of it being a superb bike.

Getting the perfect ergonomic bike often involves a lot of tail-chasing. When I switched to a Rider seat conversion for long distance riding, I had the seat lowered and that fixed my leg length issue but it put a bit more stress on my stuffed knees. Lowered the pegs a touch and fixed that problem. Raised the rear ride height to transform the steering and the leg length problem was back with a vengeance. Probably close to the time to stop dicking about and get something well under 200kg that isn't super tall, ergonomically comfortable and steers fast as standard!

[beyond]

The lose your licence aspect of riding effects everyone, no matter how big or how small their bike is.

A scooter will get your licence lost if you happen to be doing more than 75km in a 35kmh area.

Once you are 40kmh over any speed limit then that's it.

The bigger and faster the bike the sooner it will happen because of the sheer acceleration.

It's like a loaded gun.... it's only going to kill if somone picks it up and pulls the trigger while aiming it at someone.

It's not the bike that will lose you your licence. That's only going to happen if you swing on the throttle and there's only one person who can control that swing.

Going 200kmh plus is a real buzz, especially on a naked. Mine will go off the clock when tucked in tight at an indicated 260kmh and at that speed it's like riding into a tornado. You make sure everything is tucked in tight and only your peepers showing over the dials.

BUT: you do that only when you know it's safe, can see for miles, have no chance of being caught and even then you run a risk these days because of choppers, spotter planes and long distance radar.

Yes: if you break the limits regularly then you will NEED a radar detector and a good one.

As others have said, it is a matter of time though and luck will run out. A radar detector is not much good when instant on radar is being used unless there's other traffic around to give you some warning.

At that point, once your radar goes off on instant on radar, you can glance down and decide, depending on the speed you are going if a night in the clanger is your cup of tea, or if you have a full tank, know the roads and can ride hard without getting the massive adrenaline rush (doubtful) that you can safely do a runner.

I ride the GSX1400. Bought it for two up touring and taking the missus. She hasn't been on it for over a year though.... no regrets here though. I have more fun on this bike than any other bike I've ridden or owned. It can pootle, it can go hard, it will go on the track and it's handling will suprise the dubious.

I'm on my second one now and have done 61,000kms and loved everyone of them

NAKED ALL THE WAY!!!!!!

[AllanB]

My choice of the Bonnie range would be a Scrambler. Same cool - much greater versatility.

Any word of the gruntier engine going into these yet?

If you like your Ducatis there is the monster range to consider.

Street Triple - hell yes, I just have misgivings of keeping one anywhere near legal speeds, they just bring out the hoon in you. I understand they go really well at 100 on the rear wheel .......

[pritch]

Thanks for the comment but yep, the Multistrada just doesn't do it for me at that all-important emotional level, irrespective of it being a superb bike.

Don't ignore the Monster :-) I've read that it's not the most confortable bike over long distances but thus far I've only done short distances.

I look forward to trying the bike over the Coro loop sometime after the weather warms up... (Thinks, "And this time I will try not to piss any bus drivers off.")

[FROSTY:Me]

A scooter will get your licence lost if you happen to be doing more than 75km in a 35kmh area.

Nahh the cop would be too busy laughing his head off at ya.
But seriously though. have you thought of just taking the fairing off your bike and maybee putting higher bars on.

[Ixion]

Well, I have a couple of different bikes. Naked and semi faired and fully faired. Small and large. Sprots and adventure.

It's certainly true that keeping a faired litre sprots bike legal is very hard . It's not just will power, it's that even a tiny bit of extra throttle will have you way over the limit after a kilometre or so, and the extra speed is quite indetectable (other than looking at the speedo).

A naked adventure bike will almost certainly keep you within vaguely legal speeds. You *can* go faster, but you definately know you are doing so. Ditto really for any naked. The wind over 120kph starts to become quite insistent.

However, naked isn't a total solution. That same wind gets tiring and a pain on long trips. Especially if the weather be foul. And even more so on a smaller bike. Certainly most >250cc bikes nowadays can easily maintain 120kph . But a big one does it more easily.

On a long trip constantly working throttle and gears is tiring and tedious. It's very nice to come up behind a truck on a hill and just give the throttle a tweak to blast past.

MAybe a big cruisier? With a fly screen. But sooo boring.

[Big Dave]

Any word of the gruntier engine going into these yet?

Fix it till it breaks?

[Winston001]

I have the Thruxton in my top few best looking bikes. But the racing crouch isn't the best ergonomic for road use either.

Yes, always liked the Thruxton.

My favourite ever ergonomics were on the Ducati Multistrada, funnily enough. I suppose it'd be futile to try and convince you to test-ride one...

I considered a Multistrada before buying the ST4 but there weren't a lot around so never had a chance to ride one. In truth I'd never owned a quasi-sports bike so I was seduced by the ST4 anyway.

There's no argument that self-control is the primary decision. But as we all know, a quick bit of acceleration passing and you settle into a higher speed without noticing.

I suspect its an adrenaline thing too. Riding fast is simply enjoyable. I'm not talking about 200k - rarely ever gone there, but cruising in the range 140 - 170k can become genuinely normal. It just does not feel like a dangerous speed provided the road is good and eyes are kept wide open for all traffic.

But I've done that. Its in the past. What I want to achieve is sane quasi-lawful riding which is enjoyable. For the moment the Duc is still my preferred bike so I'll try removing the screen and work from there. Raise the bars an inch too.

Its very interesting to learn everyones experiences.

[YellowDog]

Personally I also find Ducati motorcycles difficult to ride slowly.

It's a sports bike that needs to be ridden fast.

That's why I didn't get one