What will it take to slow you down?

[Pwalo]

I just want to see my boys grow up so that I can give tell them 'I told you so' when they have their own kids.

I'm sorry but I think the original question is illogical. I slow down when I need to. I don't ride faster than I need or am able to do. FFS if you're riding on the road you can't control your surroundings.

If you want to go fast try a few track days.

[buellbabe]

On my way to Taumaranui one day I came around a corner to behold a sight of absolute carnage. Real bad car accident and the emergency services hadn't got there yet. There were a couple of bodies on the road and other members of the public had stopped and were doing what they could.
I continued riding to my mates place but my speed was decidedly slower, Why? Well I couldn't see cos my eyes keep filling with tears... It really was THAT horrific.

[Big Dave]

Friction.

It's a bitch.

Tried KY all over your leathers?

[The_Dover]

Tried KY all over your leathers?

Have you been spying on me again Dave?

[Motoracer]

I went on a ride with my old buddies who are well known all around to be the fastest of the fast on the road, on Sunday and that was a lot of fun! I must say I ride very differently to how I used to ride a few years back however...

Back when I was about 17,18,19,20 I used to ride very differently to now. Back then, I had to prove myself to other people I was riding with. When I used to ride my ZXR400 with GSXR1000, R1s etc, I would push way beyond my abilities just to show that I was a "good" rider. Only problem being was that I was riding at 110% of my abilities and I was stepping out of my comfort zone quite often. Sure I did used to get respected for the pace but I also had way too many close calls and actual crashes. Luckily, I only managed to have financial losses and I didn't really injure myself or anyone else in those instances (thank god for that and touch wood!).

Back to Sunday... Even though that was one of the fastest road rides I have ever been on, it felt nothing like it used to back in the days. Back in the days I used to feel exactly what you felt, Gareth. That constant worry of "I'm gunna crash, I'm gunna crash". To tell you the truth, I belive that if you don't get that out of your head, you can easily get into the very same situation you don't want to be in because you are worried about it all the time.

These days, I feel totally relaxed and even though I am pushing the bike much harder than what I used to, I am only going at about 80% of my ability on the road, if that. That's what I call "road pace". I leave the extra 20% only for the track which I call "race pace".

This is because:

A) The road is used by everyone and it is every bit of their teritory as it is yours. Respect their space and safety and allow room for error.
B) Even if it's a piece of road you know, it is still the road and you have to know that the conditions are unpredictable.
C) It's not a race.

On Sunday, we stopped at a crash site of a mate of ours who passed away during that accident and I saw the skid marks and paint marks left by the police on the road. I saw fragments of his, once upon a time "shiney new bike", still laying on the grass by the road side. The wind that was roaring past the trees added to the chilling and eery feeling we got at the site. This guy who I've been on pleanty of road rides with and had good battles at the track with, ended his existance on that spot. After months later, the marks on the road and the plastic bits of his bike were like a timeless reminders of that unfortunate day. A day when we lost our mate, A day when he left his young kids behind, a day when the on coming car's driver and occupants life would have changed forever.

After having a quiet walk back to our bikes, we set off and were riding at the same pace we were previously riding at. Which would be pretty quick in anyones standard, for "road pace".

I've had countless near death experiences in the past and I have lost a few mates and others I know to bike accidents... At the ended of the day, I don't know when I will slow down really... I can tell you one thing though. I am riding a lot safer these days than what I used to. I don't ever take chances when passing vehicles, I don't push harder than what I'm comfertable with, because it's simply not worth risking my life for. The same cliche applies here that you'll hear most bikers say. "You could get hit by a bus the next day so why not just do what you love doing". Just keep one thing in your mind though. Even though you are having fun, you should still take care of yourself and others around you. Ride your own ride. Wear all your protective gear. Ride bikes, safely, forever...

[Big Dave]

Have you been spying on me again Dave?

Call it intuition.

[SPman]

For a while it was the thought of hitting a Roo.............but that quickly passed. Speeds crept back up to normal - just the concentration intensified a little more.
Intensified Police presence has helped - if you see a police car on the road, who doesn't slow, even a little .......following a police car at 110k on the Toodyay road is boooooooring!
Dirt roads slow me down - or rather, they intensify the desire to get a chook chaser and do a Motu - most of the interesting roads out here are dirt and the thought of meandering down some of the local back roads through the bush is most appealing......

[Ixion]

..
Dirt roads slow me down - or rather, they intensify the desire to get a chook chaser and do a Motu - most of the interesting roads out here are dirt and the thought of meandering down some of the local back roads through the bush is most appealing......

Garggh! You'll get eaten by a snake. Don't say I didn't warn you!

[MSTRS:Me]

I look on it per the saying that "Life is a sexually transmitted condition, and it is always fatal". When you encounter your own personal "D-day" is (generally) up to you. Pushing the/your limits is something that most of us do, but pushing past those limits is never a good idea.

[Bonez]

Hmmm the only major accidents I've had involving injuries have had nothing to do with speed. In fact they where in the city limits, under 50 kmh. Oh yeah and the only time I broke any bones was within these limits and I was wearing a one peice leather riding suite that had the same colour scheme as the bike

I will continue to speed when and where I think it is necessary.

Going a godzillion kmh doesn't interest me, nether does trying to keep up with others the want to travel faster. Go at your own pace is all I can contribute.

Oh and most of the snakes live on the main roads and within the city limits.

[phantom]

My recent little tumble was my first for umpteen years and it was at only about 20 - 30 kmh I guess. It certainly has knocked my confidence but has nothing to do with speed just not paying attention

[Street Gerbil]

I am a greedy person. I enjoy a really inexpensive insurance rate after years of ticket-free driving. I am willing to sacrifice a lot, including riding/driving significantly above speed limit to keep it this way.
On the other hand always being on lookout for cops teaches one to be aware of the surroundings, which is a good thing.

[Macktheknife]

The real answer for me is several of the options, I have seen mates die, I have been in an accident and I have said hi to the reaper as I went past him at silly speed.
And I have also decided to change the way I ride, and be a bit more restrained about it.
As soon as the surgeon gives me the ok I will be back on the bike and enjoying what I love, I know that I may one day join my friends and family on the next plane of existance and I am ok with that, I just want to make sure I don't push that date forward too much! lol

[Maha]

No...you'd fall over

I'll have you know that i have fallen over.....twice, and i was stationary at the time........
How to feel like a cock.....Maha style.....
ps: i've got my followers mate......

[Brett]

Getting tyre punctures often slows me down...

But so does the thought of dieing or having to buy a new bike because of writing the one i am riding off.

Also, knowing where your limits are helps to ascertain how far you can push.