Change - everything is change

[Paul in NZ]

I'm always amazed how much change actually occurs in life. Little things and big things. Like I never thought I would be happy with a modern bike but frankly I'm as happy as a clam despite the fact it scares the living shit out of me at times and some rides are just a semi controlled panic... I don't mind, I'm adapting and getting more skilled every time I ride it and its more a case of me saying what others won't admit to anyway. Every day I see people riding that are barely in control... I needed a good two up bike and its definately getting there. Sure, I'm not looking forward to getting Triumph to service it but.. I can do the basics which helps and its only to get the valves checked etc.

We had a great ride on sunday but I find myself getting weary after a days riding. I'm getting older and wondering how much longer I can keep doing this and if I will get around the south island one more time ;-)

Changing the bike has changed me and at the same time i think KB has changed a lot over the last 24 months too. The site is dominated by a regular group who post loads and its quite entertaining. I suppose thats never changed but the trolling definately has increased. Its like the ST is taking me one way and KB is the other way. The elastic joining us is broken and nothing much draws me back now... Its a very strange feeling and I wonder if its the bike or me?

Oh well, upwards and onwards... The one shocking habit I need to stop is dragging the rear brake (from the Guzzis linked brake system)... Gah!

[Edbear]

The only constant in life, is change... We all get older, hopefully wiser, and our values and interests diversify. As long as one can still enjoy living and still have fun things to do, we simply must accept the aging process. Although I am resisting it as long as possible...

[F5 Dave]

I
We had a great ride on sunday but I find myself getting weary after a days riding. I'm getting older and wondering how much longer I can keep doing this and if I will get around the south island one more time ;-)

Start earlier, end earlier. Nice lunch but 'light' and not too much or you'll get sleepy.

What's this 'Service' you talk of?

[Paul in NZ]

Start earlier, end earlier. Nice lunch but 'light' and not too much or you'll get sleepy.

What's this 'Service' you talk of?

Well we left home at 9am....

The reason I'm so tired (I was reminded) was I had a large hypo that morning which always leaves me a bit whacked... In retrospect it probably wasnt the best day to be in charge of a large bike with Vicki on the back so took it easy. Lesson learnt though...

It needs a service because the nice people at Motorad have offer to check if any recalls have been done and represent a claim to Triumph. They are optomistic about some of them if they have not... (remember its a Japanese import) I would like the valve clearances checked and any efi service done (throttle bodies balanced TPS adjusted.) Yes I could learn all this but I seriously dont have time. If I had to I would probably just give up riding any distance and buy a BSA B31 for farting around Kapiti..

[ellipsis]

The only constant in life, is change...

...there are more than that Edbear...you forgot tax and death...

[James Deuce]

...there are more than that Edbear...you forgot tax and death...

And 99.9% of people judging you and finding you wanting.

[Gremlin]

Everything is changing, just whether you notice or not, and sometimes it happens slowly, but when you reflect a year or two later, you realise how much has changed.

[Akzle]

KiwiBiker Facebook sure is interesting today.

know what else? the fucken grass grows, and if you think back, it used to, aswell. and if you think waaaaaaayyyy back, you might remember playing on it in bare feet.
but now you've got some different grass. and now that you're grown up you have to mow it and shit.
and in a few years yet, it might be different again.

definitely the bike.
but please, feel free not to tweet here.

[Paul in NZ]

KiwiBiker
but please, feel free not to tweet here.

Yes - this is the truth spoken.... I'm just gutted you didn't offer a bag of crisps for me to fuck off... Things are changing

[MD]

Hey Paul the ST does look like a heavy bike and add a passenger and that's a fair handful for any rider. No wonder a days ride leaves you weary.

I was offered a spin on a Rocket III once and as much as they fascinated me, I declined based on the simple laws of physics. Only those weighing 100kg or more should head off down the road riding a bike with enough mass to generate it's own gravitational force.

[SPman]

And 99.9% of people judging you and finding you wanting.

You're obviously doing something right, then!

People just can't take that.........!

[Paul in NZ]

Hey Paul the ST does look like a heavy bike and add a passenger and that's a fair handful for any rider. No wonder a days ride leaves you weary.

Well I dont enjoy riding it downhill for sure. Rest of the time its acceptable but nose down and you feel the weight. I HATE the new Paekakareki Hill road intersection where you have to stop on a steep downhill bit. I just dont go that way anymore with a pillion. Still, given the limited budget its a lot of bang for my buck and I'm still ahead $$ wise. I doubt anyones made a perfect bike...

[Banditbandit]

I'm getting older and wondering how much longer I can keep doing this and if I will get around the south island one more time ;-)

Jeez mate .. mid life crisis time is it?

[Paul in NZ]

Jeez mate .. mid life crisis time is it?

No - I'm well past mid life and just being honest about the jump from the elderly Guzzi to the Triumph. It thrills and scares me in equal measure. Also for the first time I'm having to think that all the various medical defects that I carry around do mean that I might need to think about a different bike sooner than i thought. I'm not wildly experienced in fat tyred multis and its taking longer than I thought to get into the groove.

I'm hoping we will do the Burt Munro thing this year although I've not booked anything yet. I hope its not too late.

[Edbear]

No - I'm well past mid life and just being honest about the jump from the elderly Guzzi to the Triumph. It thrills and scares me in equal measure. Also for the first time I'm having to think that all the various medical defects that I carry around do mean that I might need to think about a different bike sooner than i thought. I'm not wildly experienced in fat tyred multis and its taking longer than I thought to get into the groove.

I'm hoping we will do the Burt Munro thing this year although I've not booked anything yet. I hope its not too late.

I know they're not everyone's idea of a good thing, but we thoroughly enjoyed our C50T. It was a very relaxed and neutral riding position, plenty of grunt and Mrs. Bear loved the pillion seat where she could lean back against the Givi backrest and relax. More upright position helped with sight seeing and low to the ground for paddling around on. Good carrying capacity with the bags and light enough to have confidence in the twisties.

Cornering? We would simply walk away from the Harley's through the Waipoua Forest Loop, and have to wait for them at the lookout. Had fun touring with mates on GSX1400's and Bandits, too, all two-up. No trouble keeping up and even outriding the Bandit. Mind you he wasn't such a good rider...