Why own a bike far beyond your abilities?

**Funkyfly** · 5th July 2004, 15:47

I know even some of the experienced/fast/talented riders on here dont think they ride their bike to it limits, but im more interested in hearing from those who cant ride ANYWHERE NEAR theirs bikes limit as to why they brought it?

People like me who have mimimal years riding/miles under their belt yet like to ride some big ol nasty machine that only the seasoned race vetran can ride how its supposed to be ridden.

Im guessing some of it is ego, i know i like that fact i own one of the fastest bikes out there, but with that comes the shame of not even being able to pull a wheelie, or not being able to keep up with some dude on a 400!

Some of it may be future proofing - buy a fast bike now so you wont lose money upgrading in a the future.

whateva ur excuse is lets hear it - or am i the only fool in here?

Funky Fly

**duckman** · 5th July 2004, 15:54

Good question - I bought my TL knowing full well that I can't ride it to it's fullest capabilities but I don't think it matters. If I could ride it's arse off then I'd be looking for a faster bike to buy. I like having a machine that has more power than I would care to exploit.

Guess it might be a power trip thing ... ???

**jrandom** · 5th July 2004, 15:58

People buy bikes that they like riding.

If you enjoy riding a GSXR1000 or R1 and can afford it, why *not* buy it?

The converse also applies. Just because you may be a very skilled rider does not imply that you somehow 'should' be riding a bike that is as close as possible to an open-class circuit racer. Perhaps you don't have much spare cash, or you prefer something with more luggage capacity, or something with better fuel efficiency, or something dungy that you don't mind dropping on the way to work in the morning, or ...

**vifferman** · 5th July 2004, 16:03

No, FunkyFly - you're not the only fool.

I guess for me it comes down mostly to ego, as most of my riding is mostly commuting so a 250 would probably do me. But then again, I don't think I could drop down to a less grunty bike after owning 2 500s and a 750 before the VTR.

Ideally I would have a stable of bikes: a commuter, a dirt bike, a tourer, a sports bike, and a track bike. And mebbe a cruiser. But I can only have one bike, so I made sure it had some future-proofing built in, and that I could use it for commuting, sports riding, and the occasional medium to long trip. It also had to be summat that feeds my needs as far as sound, performance, handling, etc. go - all that visceral stuff that makes biking a real experience. I couldn't afford a Ducati 998, my wife didn't like my second choice of bike, so I bought the FahrtSturm, and I'm slowly getting it the way I want it. I may never get the pipes, the custom seat and screen and the hugger, but at least I've dealt to the brakes, bars, gearing, lighting, etc.

**Bandito** · 5th July 2004, 16:05

Good question, I bought my Bandit to slow me down after being told by some long term and very experienced riding buddies that I was riding too fast (read stupid) for public roads on my zx6. My point is that a sports 600 is too much of a weapon for public roads that are littered with unforseen dangers so an R1 or similar must be total overkill!

**Funkyfly** · 5th July 2004, 16:14

Originally Posted by jrandom

If you enjoy riding a GSXR1000 or R1 and can afford it, why *not* buy it?

Well from what i have seen and heard there are plenty or reason not to.

biggest reason being that its dangerous - now i always thought that line of reasoning was a load of rubbish, and that you had total control over the speed you did, and to a certain extent its true, but big powerful bikes are certainly more likely to make you pay for your mistakes! its just so much easier to get into trouble.

Heh, i remember an old dude telling me a 250 was too fast, certainly my first couple of rides on the open road freaked me out! just like the first couple of rides on a litre bike (TL1000s) a year later, and just like the 1st couple of rides on the GSXR a year after that!

**Funkyfly** · 5th July 2004, 16:26

Originally Posted by Bandito

My point is that a sports 600 is too much of a weapon for public roads that are littered with unforseen dangers so an R1 or similar must be total overkill!

Sounds like you were riding the bike like it was designed!

I havent meet too many people that have taken advice like that on board and brought a more "sedate" bike. im impressed.

I like to think i have a bit more self control.

**White trash** · 5th July 2004, 16:30

The whole reason I bought a 600 over a thou' is that I can ride it close to it's limits.

I find it very satisfying to wring every bit it's got out of it.

It's also fulfilling giving blokes on 750s and 1K's a hiding.

In saying that, Cycosis just gave me a thumping at Manfield riding, what I consider, an inferior machine. So maybe I can't ride for shit.

**curious george** · 5th July 2004, 16:34

My RGV250 is still faster than I am, but my next road bike I would like a TL1000 purely because they look and sound terrific! If it was a 500cc with the same looks would buy it. The SV650 is probably the closest I will get, but it just don't look the same!!!
I would feel like a complete monkey on a TL, but I don't think it's to show off, just an aesthetic thing. Or maybe it is to show off. Probably is.

**Mongoose** · 5th July 2004, 16:39

Truth being that there is a whole heap of people(me included) who ride bikes way outside their own capabilities. Same would be true of car owners so where is the problem? As long as you accept that this beasty will out handle whatever you throw at it I see no problem, infact it could be looked at as a safety feature. In saying this i mean if you should accidently go into a corner too hot the bike will appear to be a tad forgiving and you stand a chance of coming out the otherside. If, on the otherhand you ride a bike to with ion an inch of its capabilities, and yours, and things go a bit wrong, too late because there is no built in safety factor.

**jrandom** · 5th July 2004, 16:40

Originally Posted by White trash

The whole reason I bought a 600 over a thou' is that I can ride it close to it's limits.

'sfunny. I can't comment properly, because I haven't ridden hardly any Proper Bikes. But certainly in cages, and I suspect in bikes too, once I get on 'em proper, I really enjoy the feeling of having an enormous 'power headroom'. Knowing that I'm just kicking around in the bottom 30% makes me go all goosebumpy.

But then, perhaps riding around on a 20-something HP machine is giving me a skewed view on power over-compensation. Ie, I want a LOT of it. I want a fecking rocket with wheels. I never want to feel the frustration of feeling the bike bang against the rev-limiter in sixth gear halfway down a straight piece of road again. Or have to hurriedly adjust my corner line halfway because the gear I needed to drive into the corner with doesn't have enough acceleration to take me out of it properly.

Originally Posted by White trash

In saying that, Cycosis just gave me a thumping at Manfield riding, what I consider, an inferior machine. So maybe I can't ride for shit.

I bet your arse still looks better in racing leathers, though.

**Motoracer** · 5th July 2004, 16:42

Originally Posted by White trash

In saying that, Cycosis just gave me a thumping at Manfield riding, what I consider, an inferior machine. So maybe I can't ride for shit.

I was just curious. Does Cycosis ever get his knee down or hang off the bike at the track?

**scumdog** · 5th July 2004, 16:51

I've never even looked at riding my bike at 10/10ths of its ability, I bought it because I can ride it all day and not have to "work" it, I liked its looks, style and sound and the fact that out of the Harley range it was the best accellerating/stopping/handling bike available that would be o.k. for touring two-up with a bit of gear.

If I had a bike that I COULD ride to its limits I probably would, but I would also probably kill it (and very likely myself).

I like the seamless torque and the fact I don't have to "wring it out" to pass cars etc.

My 2-cents worth

**Hitcher** · 5th July 2004, 16:58

Depends surely what you mean by "its limits". Modern sportsbikes have many attributes, of which top speed is but one. They generally stop well, track like they're on rails and have stacks of acceleration whenever needed. They also look good, although sometimes at the expense of rider comfort and pillions, well who needs them? If a bike goes where you point it, stops straight and true and has enough whoomf to overtake quickly and safely, that can't be a bad thing? The issue here surely is what goes on in the head of the monkey astride the thing -- the bit that all of the engineers and product developers have absolutely no control over.