The child in me wont grow up? I blame the bike.

[MD]

99% of the time I consider myself an intelligent, sensible, responsible and now (unfortunately, thank you bloody Father Time) a mature person. But there lurks a real Chekyll and Hyde aspect to motorcycling. Motorcycles continue to bring out the irresponsible child in me that came out to play way back in 19 bloody seventy something. He refuses to go away. I just can't outgrow him with age? He wont fuck off and grow up. I have asked him too.

I went for a blat this afternoon. It involved riding in a manner likely to annoy certain poofta type people. I did make sure those sorts of people were out of harms way.

Here's the question for today. At my age I should know better. I should be a responsible boring member of society too scared to breach the 19th century speed limit imposed upon us, fully aware that to do so could destroy the very fabric of the universe as we know it. Yet still I love speed. My front wheel refuses to stay on the road, lofting poetically and may I say gracefully, floating through the air like a symphony celebrating euphoria. Today I had evil thoughts of how to disable the ABS as well so I can pull stoppies - so immature. I hear wimps fart off on how wrong it is to get your knee down on public roads. Yet it is such an awesome feeling. Like saying sex is bad, yeah right that holier than thou preaching caught on. I know ever corner I can caress with my knee, feeling it's way through a bend on my favourite roads- it genuinely feels safer! By the way any tips on disabling the ABS on a MT09 welcome. If you know you are a reckless wanker, rot in hell - but first please send a private message on how. Thanks

Seriously though, I am struggling to reconcile why such riding enjoyment can be wrong. Oh yeah, hurt someone and I totally see the point. Time and place is the absolute rule. Never cross the centreline is rule number 2 for me.

Am I alone? At what age do we lose the urge for silly behaviour. Disclaimer time- I have never in 42 years on the road crashed a car, never injured another person, just me and my bike .. lets not count the times. Like my age it's just a number. Alone in a car or bike I speed. Add a passenger, a pedestrian, a horse rider, populated area, anybody in the near vicinity and it's Captain Sensible rocks.

There are people out there that deliberately hurt other people. Intentionally do horrible things to other people. But are we motorcyclists that enjoy the excesses of our machines and appreciate what they can do really that bad. And before you say 'take it to the track' Been there. Done that. Fuck off, I like to enjoy every ride.

Ultimately my excuse is bike manufacturers keep making such kick arse machines I feel it would be rude to ignore their efforts.

[Dogboy900]

Well I am 50 and getting my knee down still makes me grin like an idiot. I agree with pretty much everything you say there. Lunacy in small doses, and choose the time and place to minimise the likelihood of injury to others. Also racing is expensive and it is difficult to just pop down to the track for a quick blat while the weather is nice.

[Blackbird]

Sorry, there's no hope . I'm 70 later this year and the passion remains undimmed. Don't even ride a sensible bike.

Good for you and may you have many more years of misbehaving

[rastuscat]

God for you and may you have many more years of misbehaving

God for you? What's he done to deserve that?

[oldiebutagoody]

I suppose you are talking about the difference between actively riding the bike to maintain best control, versus "coasting" on two wheels.

I think we all "get" that. Physics rulz.

Its not the speed that hurts, its the abrupt stop eh. Avoid that, and speed traps, and all is peachey.

Also callow youth; remember life is not a race.........you don't win anything if you finish first.

[T.W.R]

If you've got the machine use it how it's designers meant it to be used

I had a friend on the back of the 12 a few months back and they'd kept at me about how quick the damn thing would go so gave them a taste of what the old girl could do.....took her upto an indicated 290km/h and before we pulled in to a stop I could hear them laughing their arse off...waxed lyrical for days about how it was the most exhilarating thing they'd ever experienced

back in the 80s Bob Burns (Vincent sidecar speed record fame) rolled in home to see the old man one afternoon on a 1400 intruder as he was off for a ride to the west coast and wanted see if the old man wanted to tag along, he not long turned 80 and was keen as mustard.
Bikes keep you going

You can live more in 5mins on a bike than some people do in a whole life time

[nzspokes]

MD, you sir are a hooligan!

Such things should not be done on public roads!

We should go for a ride sometime.....

[Laava]

You have an MT09? It would be very disrespectful of you towards Yamaha, to own such a machine and not use it for the purpose intended!

Nice that you are discerning enough to also do it wisely...no doubt that will be continuing.
This thread is useless without pics/vids!

[schrodingers cat]

Blame goes outwards
Responsibility comes inwards

You've obviously chosen how you're going to behave so no need for justifications or seek endorsement.


So welcome to the lottery.
In this lottery you don't have to pay to play, only to level the debt when you're chosen

[Shadowjack]

I read somewhere that if you haven't grown up by the time you're 50, you don't have to.
Words to live by, this last decade.

[george formby]

I read somewhere that if you haven't grown up by the time you're 50, you don't have to.
Words to live by, this last decade.

Thank you, I will backing into that milestone with tires screeching and motor roaring, very, very, soon.

Bearing this in mind I have decided to avoid riding peaky 2t's on twisty roads after making a complete arse of myself recently, oh, the embarrassment. Oh how easily I'm persuaded off the mature path...

[Katman]

I blame the child.

[tigertim20]

99% of the time I consider myself an intelligent, sensible, responsible and now (unfortunately, thank you bloody Father Time) a mature person. But there lurks a real Chekyll and Hyde aspect to motorcycling. Motorcycles continue to bring out the irresponsible child in me that came out to play way back in 19 bloody seventy something. He refuses to go away. I just can't outgrow him with age? He wont fuck off and grow up. I have asked him too.

I went for a blat this afternoon. It involved riding in a manner likely to annoy certain poofta type people. I did make sure those sorts of people were out of harms way.

Here's the question for today. At my age I should know better. I should be a responsible boring member of society too scared to breach the 19th century speed limit imposed upon us, fully aware that to do so could destroy the very fabric of the universe as we know it. Yet still I love speed. My front wheel refuses to stay on the road, lofting poetically and may I say gracefully, floating through the air like a symphony celebrating euphoria. Today I had evil thoughts of how to disable the ABS as well so I can pull stoppies - so immature. I hear wimps fart off on how wrong it is to get your knee down on public roads. Yet it is such an awesome feeling. Like saying sex is bad, yeah right that holier than thou preaching caught on. I know ever corner I can caress with my knee, feeling it's way through a bend on my favourite roads- it genuinely feels safer! By the way any tips on disabling the ABS on a MT09 welcome. If you know you are a reckless wanker, rot in hell - but first please send a private message on how. Thanks

Seriously though, I am struggling to reconcile why such riding enjoyment can be wrong. Oh yeah, hurt someone and I totally see the point. Time and place is the absolute rule. Never cross the centreline is rule number 2 for me.

Am I alone? At what age do we lose the urge for silly behaviour. Disclaimer time- I have never in 42 years on the road crashed a car, never injured another person, just me and my bike .. lets not count the times. Like my age it's just a number. Alone in a car or bike I speed. Add a passenger, a pedestrian, a horse rider, populated area, anybody in the near vicinity and it's Captain Sensible rocks.

There are people out there that deliberately hurt other people. Intentionally do horrible things to other people. But are we motorcyclists that enjoy the excesses of our machines and appreciate what they can do really that bad. And before you say 'take it to the track' Been there. Done that. Fuck off, I like to enjoy every ride.

Ultimately my excuse is bike manufacturers keep making such kick arse machines I feel it would be rude to ignore their efforts.

never crossing the centreline is rule #1 for me, Ive always thought that if you cant stay in your own lane, you're riding outside your ability.
If you wanna use the whole surface, do a trackday!.

that aside, we're all old enough to know better, but we still do it. Im not innocent either

[Swoop]

I don't see a problem.

Keep up the good work.

[caseye]

Jeez, you lot IT will be here in a nano second preaching it's usual BS about restraint and randon animal interferences.
For the record I'd ride with you any old day OP.