How slow is too slow for a bike?

[smoky]

Everybody gets into, or back to, riding for their own personal reasons which are as varied as the people themselves so I can't answer your question on their behalf. As for me however, when I came back to riding I bought a bike which was considerably more capable than than I was (and still is) for two reasons; firstly, the throttle has more than one position and works in both directions and, secondly I needed something to aspire to. Even at 57 it is my goal to narrow the gap between my bikes ability and mine, preferably by improving my skills (Superbike School is next on my list for this summer......if we actually get one). I took this approach with my motorsport and most other things I have done in my life and for the most part it has worked well for me. Been bitten a time or two because of it but its just my way and I"ll stick to it.

If they can handle it fair enough, but most can't (ACC statistics tell us that); they have the ability to ride a hardly hog but go out and buy an R6 or GSXR1000 and proceed to fall of it, or scare themselves into riding it at pootle pace - why? where's the enjoyment in that for them?

[trumpy]

If they can handle it fair enough, but most can't (ACC statistics tell us that); they have the ability to ride a hardly hog but go out and buy an R6 or GSXR1000 and proceed to fall of it, or scare themselves into riding it at pootle pace - why? where's the enjoyment in that for them?

Again I wouldn't presume to speak for someone else, irrespective of what stereotype they may fit into, but for me I did scare myself a time or two ( as do ,by their own admission quite a number of riders on this site much more skilled than I am) but the trick is to sit down and try to work out why, and I have been more than happy (and still am) to ask someone considerably younger but obviously much more skilled than me for advice on what went wrong. I suspect that a lot of older guys feel that at their age "they know" even if they actually don't but that's just a supposition since I don't live inside their heads ........I have enough trouble dealing with what's going on in mine......

Perhaps as a closer answer to your question, I do have a client who came back to riding on a Hyabusa, which I thought was pretty ambitious but it was his choice and he's a consenting adult and it's not my place to tell him otherwise. It took him a good year to figure out that this bike was WAY different from any big bike he'd ridden in his younger days and he ended up hating it. He sat down and had a good think about HOW he really wanted to ride and the fact that his wife was keen to go riding as well. So deals were done and he and his wife now ride a Harley, tassles and all, all over the country and just love it. That's their story and theirs alone and I accept it as such without putting any label/box on them or their experience... it just is.

[BoristheBiter]

If they can handle it fair enough, but most can't (ACC statistics tell us that); they have the ability to ride a hardly hog but go out and buy an R6 or GSXR1000 and proceed to fall of it, or scare themselves into riding it at pootle pace - why? where's the enjoyment in that for them?

What a complete arse. who are you to say how people are to enjoy there riding. i don't tell you you should ride like Rossi all the time because if not where's the fun in that.
who cares what acc say's or anyone else for that matter. if you want to get a GSX1000 and fall off so what. But if you want to talk statistics most accidents happen when the rider just drops the bike on a corner are old riders (ones starting out again) on crusiers

[dipshit]

Going to the brass monkey a couple of years ago, I came up behind about a dozen to 20 bikes in a tight bunch all travelling along at 90 km/h. Front rider had a safety vest on and was obviously setting the pace for the group. Trouble was there was also a long line of cars behind them as the big tight group of bikes would have made it very hard for cars to get past. It was a very inconsiderate and arrogant way for the group to travel.

[smoky]

What a complete arse. who are you to say how people are to enjoy there riding. i don't tell you you should ride like Rossi all the time because if not where's the fun in that.
who cares what acc say's or anyone else for that matter. if you want to get a GSX1000 and fall off so what. But if you want to talk statistics most accidents happen when the rider just drops the bike on a corner are old riders (ones starting out again) on crusiers

Well you're a complete tosser and bit of looser arn't you - try reading & comprehending??

Where did I say anything like that - ya dumb arse
Touch a raw nerve did I?

[smoky]

Going to the brass monkey a couple of years ago, I came up behind about a dozen to 20 bikes in a tight bunch all travelling along at 90 km/h. Front rider had a safety vest on and was obviously setting the pace for the group. Trouble was there was also a long line of cars behind them as the big tight group of bikes would have made it very hard for cars to get past. It was a very inconsiderate and arrogant way for the group to travel.

I've been on a couple of group rides like that, I find them very boring

[BoristheBiter]

Well you're a complete tosser and bit of looser arn't you - try reading & comprehending??

Where did I say anything like that - ya dumb arse
Touch a raw nerve did I?

If you are talking about reading and comprehending then all i comprehend is that you are an arrogent dick who thinks the world revloves around them and everyone on the road should get out of the way.

If you can't remember what you have wrote (must be at that age) i think you should look back through the thread.

If you think you have been making a vaild point then why is there no one backing you up on this?

[Pascal]

If you think you have been making a vaild point then why is there no one backing you up on this?

There have been people agreeing with him / backing him up that it is polite to pull over when there is faster traffic behind you.

[smoky]

If you are talking about reading and comprehending then all i comprehend is that you are an arrogent dick who thinks the world revloves around them and everyone on the road should get out of the way.

You obviously haven't read and comprehended what I have written (or should that be wroted in your vernacular)
I don't get stressed or angry, or think they shouldn't be on the road, nor do i engourage people to drive/ride beyound their capability - but I do wish people who choose to do that would think about other road users and not 'road hog'.

I am also interested in finding out why some people choose a bike that is not suitable for their riding ability or perhaps their riding style - a GSXR or R6/R1 is not cruiser and from my experience riding them in such a manner is difficult and frustrating - so i was wondering why they would choose to do it? Why not buy a bike more suitable?
Can you understand that - or did the raw nerve just set you off on an arrogant rant?

If you can't remember what you have wrote (must be at that age)

Excellent demonstration of how well you understand the Queens English (must be at that age)

If you think you have been making a vaild point then why is there no one backing you up on this?

Again an excellent example of your lack of ability to read and comprehend - did you skip a few pages or something?

There have been people agreeing with him / backing him up that it is polite to pull over when there is faster traffic behind you.

[smoky]

According to Winja....about 200k!

Slightly modified - 240 (on the GPS), bit hard on the ol girl though (and of course never done on the public roads, only on the back straight of Pukakohe)

[BoristheBiter]

You obviously haven't read and comprehended what I have written (or should that be wroted in your vernacular)
I don't get stressed or angry, or think they shouldn't be on the road, nor do i engourage people to drive/ride beyound their capability - but I do wish people who choose to do that would think about other road users and not 'road hog'.

I am also interested in finding out why some people choose a bike that is not suitable for their riding ability or perhaps their riding style - a GSXR or R6/R1 is not cruiser and from my experience riding them in such a manner is difficult and frustrating - so i was wondering why they would choose to do it? Why not buy a bike more suitable?

If you had phrased it that way it the first place it would have sounded a lot better, other than your go at newbees, old riders and chicks. what i was going about is you were talking about the lack of manners people show on the road then you go and show the same lack of manners by going on at everyone that doesn't fit into your style of riding.

How do you know by coming up behind some one that the bike is above there ability?

In regards to backing you up i was refering to your rant about this, not the rant about why people don't pull over as i agreed with you on this.

As for your question, I ride a gsxr750, no way have I got the ability of rossi, nor do I ride it to the full. I got and ride it becuse i wanted to and its as simple as that.

[BoristheBiter]

There have been people agreeing with him / backing him up that it is polite to pull over when there is faster traffic behind you.

Not the part i was talking about, it was his go at how/what people ride.

[GOONR]

You obviously haven't read and comprehended what I have written (or should that be wroted in your vernacular)
I don't get stressed or angry, or think they shouldn't be on the road, nor do i engourage people to drive/ride beyound their capability - but I do wish people who choose to do that would think about other road users and not 'road hog'.

I am also interested in finding out why some people choose a bike that is not suitable for their riding ability or perhaps their riding style - a GSXR or R6/R1 is not cruiser and from my experience riding them in such a manner is difficult and frustrating - so i was wondering why they would choose to do it? Why not buy a bike more suitable?

If you had phrased it that way it the first place it would have sounded a lot better other than your go at newbees, old riders and chicks. what i has going about is you we talking about the lack of manners of people on the road then you go and show the same lack of manners by going on at everyone that doesn't fit into your style of riding.
How do you know by coming up behind some one that the bike is above there ability?
In regards to backing you up i was refering to your rant about this, not the rant about why people don't pull over as i agreed with you on this.

As for your question, I ride a gsxr750, no way have I got the ability of rossi, nor do I ride it to the full. I got and ride it becuse i wanted to and its as simple as that.

Been to the pub by any chance?

[BoristheBiter]

Been to the pub by any chance?

no just thinking about it.
One of these days i might proof read what i have writen (or is that wrote)

[Pascal]

Not the part i was talking about, it was his go at how/what people ride.

Ah, ok. Understood. Thanks. Now that pub sounds like a damn fine idea.