What will it take to slow you down?

[quickbuck]

Remember doing 240 something clicks down conrod straight (over the coast) thinking fuck this is boring...speed needs to be taken in context...doing 100kms around a twisty road is much more fun than warp speed down a straight...any muppet can do that.

Amen to that.

What would slow me down?
Loosing a cylinder will do it. I tend to ride well within my limits on the road in any case.

The race track is the place to find the limits. Even then I keep it tame, as I have to ride home again.

[GIXser]

Well, I think this is a very serious question and one we all need to look at closely.

I like to think I will and make it in one peice but we sure are pushing the odds against it. Comes down to our own human mortality.

Hmmmm, you almost took the words out of my mouth, after my last serious bin, i kept waking up in the middle of the night, asking myself if i was alive, this lasted for about a week, towards the end of the week, i seriously questioned me getting another bike, (as we just had another baby") i had feelings of selffishness, irresponsible etc, however after another week, i felt the urge to get on a bike, and was missing the adrelinen buzz, and couldnt wait to go for a ride, im insured up to the hilt, should (touch wood) something occur, i do every now and again get flashes in my mind, of what could happen? and like beyond said , it might slow me down a tad, for a few kms, but then that buzz sets in again, the chase, pushing the limits,
but like mentioned" its only a matter of time for anyone ridin a bike,??
then the question is, how lucky am i when i do come off??, will i hurt myself, will i be unfortunate, or walk away with a few bruises?
time will tell for anyone!!!!!!

[slowpoke]

Well, I think this is a very serious question and one we all need to look at closely.

As you know, I saw a very good mate come to grief on Saturday's Coro loop and he is a top rider and knows his stuff. If I had been in front, it would more than likely have been me.

I have been thinking the same as R6_kid. I have seen four of my mates go down this year and three didn't get off lightly. I've been offroad twice this year, once becuase for no reason my rear decided to overtake the front on a corner at speed (140) and the second time a brief lapse of concentration, too busy looking at the scenery and got a closer look than I wanted. (170)

The good think about a naked bike, you have no fairings to total so all the damage was superficial, except the last one took me a while to walk properly after clouting the road with my knee.
When I was young, I was a hoon on bikes. I love speed and always have. But I also love twisties and go as hard as my bike will allow.

After 25 years of not riding, I bought my 1400 last year January as I figured that seeing I'm knocking on 50, I will have settled down, so a sports cruiser would do the trick and my missus would be comfortable as we tootle of to Whangamata for lunch. But guess what, one month after owning the bike I'm up to my od tricks. Bitten by the bug again and just can't help myself go hard or speed.

Often I think, what will it take. Before I head out on a ride I think, this time take it easy, enjoy the scenery. That lasts about five minutes. Also, I don't just ride hard in a group or with others either. When on my own I really push the envelope hard for the sheer thrill.

You actually become immune to adrenaline surges when facing close calls and many times I have brought the bike out of a loss of control situation and you think, you egg, pull back some and then 10kms later away you go again.

Biking is addictive. I can't help myself. I could not stand to see a friend or fellow biker die in front of me. I know others who it has happened to and they have never ridden again.

It would be great if normal sensible riding gace you the rush you get from balsting along, but it doesn't. As a day out progresses, you push harder and go faster.

So what to do?? Lets all book in for counselling classes and speed addiction therapy.

proble is, all the people I ride with regularly, have gone down this year and for all of us, if we ride hard and fast, it's a mater of time isn't it?

None of us are invincible and none of us have a ticket to say we are guaranteed to live to 70 or 80 whatever happens.

I like to think I will and make it in one peice but we sure are pushing the odds against it. Comes down to our own human mortality.

Bro', you gotta go and read the thread from that guy with the shortened Aprilia RS250 (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...d.php?t=35773).

There are some disturbing similarities, like "for no reason my rear decided to overtake the front". What's with that? You think the arse end has got a set of handle bars and a brain and decided to take an alternative route? Get real. You've returned to biking after many years away and now you are going through the same learning curve as any other new biker. The short, sharp, shock that makes you reassess is just around the corner you've just gotta hope you live through it. Sorry, not meant as a personal attack, just concern from someone who doesn't want to read another RIP Kiwibiker.

I'm not preaching here, it's just common sense. I don't mean to sound all holier than thou either, 'cos we've all done things that that we shouldn't and we've just got to recognise those situations and learn from them. What's that old saying: a fool is not a person who makes mistakes, it's someone who repeats them.

Back to the thread, finally. I've found that I'm my most relaxed riding is just after a track day. After blasting around a track for a day nothing compares on the road so I'm just in cruise mode for a week or so. There's a lesson in that for the authorities: provide alternative avenues for people to safely get their "fix" and they'll be less inclined to take it out on the streets. Think "methadone program" for speed addicts.

[The Pastor]

The option "am already slow" isnt on the list.

[ManDownUnder]

Growing up slowed me down.

I'm quick enough when I want to be... I used to be too fast all the time.

Big difference.

[Motu]

Obviously the wrong options on the poll,''other'' is well ahead.The missing category is probably age - with age comes experiance,and with experiance the need to test yourself against others diminishes....but not entirely.

What do you get out of riding your bike - fun or thrills? If it's thrills a wake up call is coming your way,a bigger thrill than you want.I've never been a speed freak,going fast has never interested me...just the shear enjoyment of being on a bike is enough.I still push a bike pretty hard,getting several scares per ride,the oops factor....but the roads I ride mean the speed is low,traffic non existant,and although I may get caught out,I'm expecting it and I hope well prepard.

I woke up to my own stupidity many years ago - whatever steps I took back then must of worked.

[ajturbo]

what will slow me down??

if (when) i fuck up a corner.. and make it around, i slow and think, fuck that was lucky... then the pace gets back up...

or more likely... i go to put it on to reserve... to find that it already is

[Kjell]

I ride to the conditions, bike, me, and road. In context I ride at the imposed limits, to most I will be slow, to others impaitent, some fast.

Only ever been on the track once, on a mates 600 (ridden before) and leathers. Not sure if it was the leathers that were tight, or the cornering and accerlation onto the straight, and hitting top range of six that made me pucker up.

On the Road, I actually stay around the limit, slip past cars probably a bit close by their reackoning, but what I consider safe, my current bike is only good to about 140kms (going uphill quicker), but has enough to past most moving obstacles.

Had a few close calls, taken a couple of wing mirrors off cars due to evasive action. No serious bins, have managed to keep the rubber side down.

Have lost a few close mates, a couple associates, some I know have just given up riding altogether after having/seeing an accident or the aftermath, or having a kid.

I ride for me, and like riding with others, you don't have to be fast or slow, you just need to look out for each other.

[The_Dover]

Friction.

It's a bitch.

[DMNTD:Me]

If i slow down anymore, then i would lose any respect i have, from crashe...

No...you'd fall over
I agree with everything Beyond posted earlier...it's a bug,an addiction even.
I have no intention at THIS stage of slowing down as I feel that I ride within my bike's and my limits. I do back off when I'm uncomfitable as I know what it's like bouncing down the road....not nice at all.
For me Life's too short not to enjoys one's passions

[Paul in NZ]

Not wanting to loose my license and becoming a burdend to others slows me down a little but... realising I'm actually not that great a rider slows me down a lot.

We all like to think we could have been a contender but... The sad fact is, most of us are pretty average and only make ourselves appear fast by taking stupid risks and once you are locked into that pattern the odds shorten with every ride...

I've ridden with very good riders and yet these guys are distinctly second tier when it comes to serious competition, some not even that. Without fail, these guys could kick my arse any way, any time, any place any bike... Yet I'm not a bad rider myself, better than some I've ridden with here some of whom think they are pretty hot...

So I ride real....

[dawnrazor]

we all say we have the ability to make life or death decisions in the blink of an eye....the truth is humans are nortoriously bad decisions makers or make decisions based on all the wrong reasons. Our personal history is littered with dubious decisions.

Add to this the over inflated sense of security that modern riding clothing affords you, and you damn near think your invincible - further clouding your decision making abilities.

Its a wonder more of us aren't killed everyday...and thats probably down to dumb luck, good fortune and a smidge of skill applied at just the right time.

So often I see folks here recounting a tale of woe and then not take responsibility for it.

Heres the thing, if you ride down a road at 70K and a car pulls out in front of you...its your fault, regardless of the posted speed limits.

If you take ownership for your behaviour and actions, then chances are you might respect the decisions you make instead of blaming someone else when it all goes pear-shaped.

Just like that guy who wrote off his RS250 the other day (with no insurance) at no point did he even consider that he was to blame, take that step and you might stop crashing.

Everytime I get on the bike, consious of it or not, I put my life in danger - I don't mean this in some safety nazi kinda way either - thats life in general.

Just because you've slipped on a $1500 set of leathers and assorted other riding gear, doesn't mean you won't be split in two if you hit a tree at 150KPH.

[petesmeats]

In my mind the pursuit of becoming a better rider involves starting off slow and learning cornering lines and how a bike handles in the wet and how gravel at 80k feels....
BUT
I think that once you have a feel for the bike in all conditions it is natural to want to stretch yourself and an important part of growing as a rider... I am yet to have my first track day (summer fingers crossed) but i know that if i don't get out there soon i will probably crash on the bumpy as s*** summit road up the port hills. This is because i now think i have some degree of 'control' of my bike and i need to push it.... to become a better rider.

And i agree with people on here who reckon that there is no substitute for experience. (This does apply to me having only 4 years of riding under my belt...) How else does one learn what the hell your meant to do if you are carrying too much speed at the apex of a corner, or if you are in wet and start to slide.... You can read all the posts on here until you go blind but until you actually experience it you really don't know how to react or how you will react.

I will let you guys in on a little secret... LIFE IS DANGEROUS...
Yup i know it shocks you guys but it is. And there is often not a hell of a lot that we can do about the dangerous situations. There are things that will minimise some of the risk but not all of it... I only ride fast where it warrants it... and never around heavy traffic. but i still ride fast.... and whos to know that there isn't a huge cow/sheep s*** right in my line on the blind corner???
But i will not slow down and wait around to die... I like to have my fun and understand the risks... what is the point of living in fear of the D-WORD???

Why else do i snowboard off cliffs, stand on a skateboard and go fast enough to cause me damage, ride motorbikes, play rugby against boys that are twice my size??? It makes life fun...

[Karma]

Friction.

It's a bitch.

Mate, you got any idea how much fun friction can be?

Just a small amount applied in a certain area works a treat.

[nudemetalz]

Not meaning to gripe but this poll assumes that we all need to slow down.
I've had all of my go-fast-on-public-roads days. I ride to enjoy and survive not risk and barely survive.

Interesting though.