Have you ever considered giving up riding?

**McJim** · 23rd August 2008, 09:19

Selling one bike. If I get enough I won't have to sell the other bike.

Not giving up - selling up.

Rather than give up though I think a lot of riders should just buy a slower bike. I'm happy with my choice f'rinstance. 53hp at the wheel. It really is enough for the open road. For decades bikers lived on 50hp bikes and enjoyed them. all these race bred 750's thou's and more are too rich for my blood. Too easy to go far too fast. My rush is cornering though - not straightline speed.

**old git** · 23rd August 2008, 14:24

I'd rather be dead.

**Blackshear** · 23rd August 2008, 16:47

Originally Posted by McJim

Selling one bike. If I get enough I won't have to sell the other bike.

Not giving up - selling up.

Rather than give up though I think a lot of riders should just buy a slower bike. I'm happy with my choice f'rinstance. 53hp at the wheel. It really is enough for the open road. For decades bikers lived on 50hp bikes and enjoyed them. all these race bred 750's thou's and more are too rich for my blood. Too easy to go far too fast. My rush is cornering though - not straightline speed.

YES!!!
I know i'm a squid and all in this game, but 45hp is enough for me! (At least for a year and a half

) And far too often find myself creeping up to 70, without noticing. Far too much concentration on the road to listen for changing engine notes. Even in my *considerably* short 6th gear, it takes all of 2 seconds to lose my license if caught.
How the hell do you guys keep so much power tucked away (Most of the time).

I hate you all, secretly.

**dino3310** · 23rd August 2008, 19:12

Originally Posted by Blackshear

YES!!!
I know i'm a squid and all in this game, but 45hp is enough for me! (At least for a year and a half

) And far too often find myself creeping up to 70, without noticing. Far too much concentration on the road to listen for changing engine notes. Even in my *considerably* short 6th gear, it takes all of 2 seconds to lose my license if caught.
How the hell do you guys keep so much power tucked away (Most of the time).

I hate you all, secretly.

it's not the size its how you use it.

**Pogo2** · 23rd August 2008, 19:26

Originally Posted by smoky

NO

But my wife has considered it on my behalf

Must be the twin of my wife. She's forever trying!

**Blackshear** · 23rd August 2008, 20:15

Originally Posted by dino3310

it's not the size its how you use it.

With my forefinger and thumb.

**Slingshot** · 23rd August 2008, 23:49

I've only seriously considered giving up riding once.

After the untimely death of Uncle Bruce. At the time, my wife was about 6 months pregnant and I did some real soul searching. In the end, it was her that convinced me not to sell the bike and give up.

It's funny how non-riders don't understand the passion that motorcyclists have for riding (speaking generally).

At the moment I'm pretty much just commuting but I get my fix from racing buckets once a month.

**scumdog** · 24th August 2008, 00:19

Every time I go to a fatal/serious bike crash it flits through my mind, once I've ridden about 10km the thought has flitted out of my pea-nut brain and I cease to worry about it.

**scumdog** · 24th August 2008, 00:22

Originally Posted by Blackshear

YES!!!
I know i'm a squid and all in this game, but 45hp is enough for me! (At least for a year and a half

) And far too often find myself creeping up to 70, without noticing. Far too much concentration on the road to listen for changing engine notes. Even in my *considerably* short 6th gear, it takes all of 2 seconds to lose my license if caught.
How the hell do you guys keep so much power tucked away (Most of the time).

I hate you all, secretly.

Meh, after a bit you get to 'know' your bike and get into the zone, then you never have to consciously think about what speed you're doing etc.

Of course I ride a cruiser so it's easier for me.

**saul** · 24th August 2008, 07:20

Used to take my lad out on the back with me, I dont do that anymore.

Always good to reflect and see what is important.

**FJRider** · 24th August 2008, 08:05

Originally Posted by scumdog

Every time I go to a fatal/serious bike crash it flits through my mind, once I've ridden about 10km the thought has flitted out of my pea-nut brain and I cease to worry about it.

And EVERY time I go to a funeral, with the helmet being lowered down with the coffin (not necessarily caused by a motorcycle accident), I wonder when its going to be my turn. After an off and I break something (on me or the bike) I think about it.
EVERYBODY DOES...for a while, then they go for a ride. The first question to the doctors...when can I ride again ???

**Bruiser** · 24th August 2008, 09:13

After my biggie, almost 3 years ago now, I lost "it". Lying in hospital for a month, and another 2 years recovering at home, I had too much time to think, and those are lonely, painful memories.

You lie there willing yourself to remember the good rides, the exhilaration, the pure joy of laying a 700lb bike around the twisties, the laughs with a dozen othes in the outside cafe as our bikes pink and gleam on the opposite side of the street, passers-by wowing and photographing our steeds.

But you can't help but think, "I could so easily have bought it, this time". Just to remind myself, a mate, who like me, was married, kids, own business, lost his life at a railway crossing. This was a week after he'd visited with others as I lay in hospital. Couldn't even go to the send-off for him!

Two years on, the new gleaming, better-than-new beast glares at me every time I painfully get in the car to attend yet another physio appointment, daring me to get my shit together, lift her off the stand, spin that v-twin and hear and feel the gorgeous throb.

Then I place it back on the stand, wonder if or when I'll ever feel ready to do that bike justice again. Yes, confidence is mistress you can never control. You want to ride, you need to ride, but something deep, brooding, holds you back. You excuse your loss of confidence as just "my leg isn't up to it", or "one day soon", and yes, you wonder if it is all worthwhile.

Yes I considered selling, moving onto something more safe, respectible, start acting my 50-mumble years.

The day I overcame my fears, took a deep breath and rode my bike again, all the fears disappeared. Yes I still have confidence issues, I defy anyone who has experienced such any accident that costs you a lifetime of pain, the loss of your business, pushed your body and mind to limits never believed possible, to not have a gut-wrencher every time you lift the bike off the stand.

But I love riding that bike more than I even realised, and I live for the times where I can ride the wide-open roads. The constant throb in my crushed leg simply reminds me that I am alive, and to enjoy every second!

**Pedrostt500** · 24th August 2008, 10:20

I gave up for about 10 yrs after a bad low speed crash, found I had lost my self confidence in cornering, geuss I thought to much about the bin, and it got to me, back riding, no where as near as hard core, and happy to play at low speeds.

**Duke girl** · 24th August 2008, 10:52

I gave up riding for 20 yrs due to getting married, having 2 daughters and running a business and that was the 1 thing in my life I never ever thought I would do as I have always been around motorbikes my whole life and am very passionate about them. I raced back in the 80's for a few yrs and then gave that up due to fallin pregnant with my first child. That was the start of no longer owning or riding a motorbike. I am now pleased to say that I am now back riding thanks to my wonderful partner and it feels so great to be finally back in the riders seat instead of being on the back. I was amazed at how quick riding a motorcycle comes back to you and I now feel like I have never really been away from it. I hope to get out riding as much as I can once this blessed weather improves as I have alot of lost time to make up for.

**beyond** · 24th August 2008, 11:01

Some bloody good responses on this thread.
I was out of biking for about 25 years due to mortgages, kids etc.
Now that I'm back into it for three years it's exactly like you never stopped riding and it does all come back so soon.

Yep, a bin plays with your mind. It takes a while to get your confidence back or "mojo" as some call it. I went like a nana the first month or so after getting my bike back and my ankle sorted. I've has some real bad ones in my teens and it didn't seem to affect me as much back then as it did the last time recently.

From all the posts it is clear that motorcyling is addictive. If any of us give up we are going to have to go through cold turkey, pure and simple

Hell, the weather has been such crap most weeks I am suffering from cold turkey anyway.