Start up rituals.

**FROSTY:Me** · 7th January 2005, 07:18

Watching a cd the other night made me wonder about other bikers pre and after ride rituals.
I always sit and thank my bike for the ride we are about to enjoy. It helps me focus i think.
Do any of you lot do anything similar?

**riffer** · 7th January 2005, 07:22

Originally Posted by XJ/FROSTY

Watching a cd the other night made me wonder about other bikers pre and after ride rituals.
I always sit and thank my bike for the ride we are about to enjoy. It helps me focus i think.
Do any of you lot do anything similar?

I always check my front brake, after an interesting incident going out to Martinborough one time. My brakes are a bit spongy so I always give them a number of pumps to get them going. And I wiggle my bike from side to side to check there's fuel.

I think I might add check my oil filter cover to the list too now...

**FROSTY:Me** · 7th January 2005, 07:26

and look for bits of viffer embedded in your radiator

**toads** · 7th January 2005, 07:29

Originally Posted by XJ/FROSTY

Watching a cd the other night made me wonder about other bikers pre and after ride rituals.
I always sit and thank my bike for the ride we are about to enjoy. It helps me focus i think.
Do any of you lot do anything similar?

I always check the fuel, and then pat the tank and warn the bike to behave itself!! And then I say to her, come on old bitch lets go, but then I'm definately bonkers!

**Sparky Bills** · 7th January 2005, 07:34

On the starting grid I always pump the front brake a couple times, and push down on the forks.
Before I get on the bike I do a bit of a stretch, then when on the dummy grid, I try to have some time to myself, just to get focused and switched on.
After a race, I look at the tyres. I dont know why.. I just want to see how they have been wearing.

**avgas** · 7th January 2005, 07:37

Had an ineresting ritual with the Kwaka 100 i had. Try start 3 times, then drop it on the ground, kick it till i eventually hurt myself, pick it up, Try start 3 times.............
Oh yeh and the GB, 1/4 choke, pump the kickstart, no choke, 1/4 throttle, kick it.
Called my bikes some horrible names when they didnt start too.

**Riff Raff** · 7th January 2005, 07:41

I sit on her for a minute or so and try to merge minds with her so to speak... and transmit thoughts of an enjoyable, safe ride. And then I give her an affectionate pat on the tank and off we go....

**Blakamin** · 7th January 2005, 07:47

Roll her out of the gargre (backwards).... have a few quiet words (good morning etc) and fire her up.... choose 1st, ride to the front door, select neutral.... let idle while get gear on.... have a listen...mmmmm... open gate and hit the road!

**Racey Rider** · 7th January 2005, 07:48

Originally Posted by Sparky Bills

then when on the dummy grid, I try to have some time to myself, just to get focused and switched on.

When I'm on the dummy grid, I often seem to be sitting on the bike, rocking it back and forward on my toes. Helps to relieve tension before "Go TIME"
Probabley looks really dumb. But just wait till I start winning come this winter series,, then everyone will be doing it

**Coyote** · 7th January 2005, 08:00

How to start the KX: Kick, kick, kick, kick, kick, kick, kick, break your leg, curse, kick, kick, it starts, you stall it, curse, kick, kick, it starts, you tug to hard on the throttle, you wheelie, you stall it, curse, kick, kick, it starts, it goes, much jubilation, crash

**Gasman** · 7th January 2005, 08:01

I pray that it will start!

**Sparky Bills** · 7th January 2005, 08:03

Originally Posted by Racey Rider

When I'm on the dummy grid, I often seem to be sitting on the bike, rocking it back and forward on my toes. Helps to relieve tension before "Go TIME"
Probabley looks really dumb. But just wait till I start winning come this winter series,, then everyone will be doing it

SWEET!!
Ill try it this year.
If you dont mind me copying??
Am looking forward to top place finishes this year!!
All going well, will even have a nice new machine!!

**Hitcher** · 7th January 2005, 08:06

I'm developing a new ritual now that I own a bike that doesn't have a manual choke to tit around with. One part of the new ritual that will have to be dispensed with is the tooting of the horn whilst reversing off the car deck (and into bike parks in town as well ) as the horn button gets squished by the tank bag. Tres naff.

**vifferman** · 7th January 2005, 08:08

You guys are all weird.

I turn the key, wait for the fuel pump to prime the injectors, and press the starter.

That's it.

Sometimes I make sure there's still some air in the tyres or summat sensible like that, but otherwise I just take it off the stand, wheel it out, and ride. But then, I'm not really into rituals, apart from the daily ritual at work of turning on the PC, logging on, checking my (private) email, then coming on here to see what the day's offering of bullshit and tales of woe is. Are. Is are is.

**NordieBoy** · 7th January 2005, 08:10

Get gear on.
Hop on bike.
Turn fuel/ignition/choke on.
Give kickstarter a good push.
Ride away.

Unless there's an airlock in the fuel line dammit...
In the last 2 weeks the ritual has been extended to adding 15-20psi to the rear tyre to compensate for the air that the nail embedded in there has let out and to shake the front wheel a bit to see if the collapsed wheel bearing has got any worse

It's a good thing I have a spare bike.
No wait, this is my spare bike