Riding motorbikes, is it 'different' for you nowdays ?

[weeksy]

There was a thread somewhere else and a guy was saying he doesn't necessarily 'enjoy' the road stuff now.

I replied with this

I think honestly that's a time and age thing. I certainly don't ride as fast as i used to, so you don't get the adrenaline buzz in the same way you would have 20 years ago when doing 150+ everywhere. So for me it's small wins of getting a nice corner right at 70-80, or just being out and about without anything else to think about other than the bike, the air, the roads and the open spaces. I think it's just 'different' now in terms of enjoying and different aspects. I think a lot of people get hung up on what it was in the past being what it should be now and that's not the case, we're all a bit older, wiser and more responsible. But that doesn't mean it's not enjoyable... it's just maybe a bit less exciting ?

Which kinda sums up where i am with bikes. It's still enjoyable, but in a compltely different way. I don't have to hit 150+ every ride serveral times, i don't have to drag a knee every time. Sometimes i'll sit behind a car for 2,3,4 miles until i like the gap and just cruise along looking round....

[dern]

I did an IAM course a couple of years ago and it transformed my road riding and I enjoy it an awful lot more. I enjoyed it a lot then but I wasn't a very good rider and frequently came back with a sense of that. I just go out for a ride now and really enjoy it.

I also started doing track days and absolutely love that. I've not got out of novices yet, even after four years (I'm a really slow learner), but absolutely love it.

I also started riding green lanes last year and really like doing that. I don't go out often and it's more like I go for a walk then any kind of enduro stuff but I like going out.

Finally, I no longer have to commute as I've been working from home for more than a year and a half and that makes me a lot happier.

In short, much better these days even though I probably do less miles what with that lack of commuting. I've been riding for about 30 years now.

[Count Steer]

When I was a kid I used to ride everything as fast as it would go (which wasn't very). Then, in the 'commuter years' it was about getting there and back, in all weathers, in one piece.
Then came the 'touring and ride for fun years' when it was about covering distance and enjoying travelling or riding roads that were not fast but challenging. All the bikes can go faster than me. Did some training with Rapid and improved my riding. Occasionally went quite quickly but have never enjoyed being on the edge all the time on public roads, particularly as 90% of travel inc. a pillion.

One of the things we've lost with a lot of riding is a bit 'Zen and the art of...' In a car you see the world in isolation and 'on screen', often with a sound track. On a bike you were more part of what you were riding through. Now it's more like the car in terms of isolation and view with earplugs/music, full face helmets, armoured gear etc...it's like the screen got smaller than the one in the car and we keep reducing our senses. We end up at a point where it doesn't matter much where we are. Which is probably why green laning/open face lid is a rather attractive option.

Kerrching. My 2d.

[Taipan]

Yes, very much so. I used to love to keep changing bikes and doing things to them and of course going for rides on them as well as using them as a commuter. Now they hold very little interest for me from an ownership point of view. They are purely functional now. I can't even remember the last time I went for a ride on one just for the hell of it. Don't get me wrong, I still love bikes, and love the new bike threads, but can't see me buying anything over than practical and functional now?

[Skub]

A couple of years ago,my enjoyment of road riding was becoming greatly diminished,to the point I rarely used the bike. Every time I was riding I wanted to have things my way,no traffic and no limits. On a sportsbike all my rides were stressful adrenalin rushes. I had zero tolerance of other road users. For the sake of my enjoyment and indeed well being,something needed to change.

You have to be less rash as you age,but hopefully by then you've learned enough to maintain a 'pace' without being a danger to yourself or others. It always used to be game on with me when I encountered other road users,but the last year or so I've made an effort to change that mentality and let it all go. I'm conscious now that at 66 I will no longer bounce as well,if things go wrong,so I do my best to ride within my 'acceptable risk' zone. I'm not all in like I used to be.

Not having to commute has also helped me. My way of spicing up the work run was to play games with the traffic,more than once with bad outcomes. If you can't stop being a dick,then don't put yourself in the situations likely to cause such dickness. Worked for me.

A change of bike away from a sportsbike has helped implement the changes,but I as a rider needed to be in the place to accept change,changing bike by itself won't work. If you RLAC,you'll do it on any bike,the RLAC attitude needs to change.

Anyway,I'm all chilled and cuddly now and enjoying riding more than ever. It'll be 50 years on the road next year.

[KungFooBob]

90% of my riding these days is with a pillion.

The other 10% is on the GSXR, but then the wife makes me feel guilty that I'm not taking her

I should sell it and the KRS and buy one proper tourer (although the £1800 KRS does it very well, but I worry a little about reliability).

Strangely, I seem to ride a lot more in Autumn and Spring. Winter is too cold and Summer I seem to spend sitting in the garden drinking beer.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I passed my test in 1985, and from then until 2004 I was an aggressive, flat out everywhere rider, I then became a father and lost interest in motorcycling for about 10 years, when I started riding again I found that I'd slowed down considerably.

I still really enjoy riding, both on road and track, I've realised I'm never going to be genuinely fast and that nobody cares whether I'm fast or not, which has made motorcycling a lot more enjoyable, as I no longer have the self induced pressure of "having" to ride fast, if I want to go fast I will, if I want to ride slow I will.

[Skub]

I've realised I'm never going to be genuinely fast and that nobody cares whether I'm fast or not, which has made motorcycling a lot more enjoyable, as I no longer have the self induced pressure of "having" to ride fast, if I want to go fast I will, if I want to ride slow I will.

Nail/head.

It has taken me soooo long to work that one out for myself.

[Scotsrich]

90% of my riding these days is with a pillion.

Ditto.

It used to be out with the mates, going as fast as we could, visiting bike shops, pubs and generally just having a laugh.

Now the only time I’m out solo is if it’s a bike club run or weekend away.

I find I’ve slowed down a lot, even the wife has noticed and commented on it. It’s never been an issue with how fast I go as far as she’s concerned so it must be a getting old thing. I won’t go for the risky overtake now with her on pillion and just hang back a bit.

In retrospect I don’t think my riding has changed in so much as my life has changed. I no longer go out at weekends and get plastered in the same way as I don’t ride my bike like a nutter.

[Dodgy69]

I still enjoy a weekday ride because roads are quieter. Today it seems, you've really got to have the radar on. Probably making us a bit twitchy when we see car's at junctions. Never used to be like that.

[v8-powered]

I'm a lot slower than I used to be. Checked the max speed recorded on my bike since I purchased it nearly 2 years ago - 99mph

[Cousin Jack]

I never was a balls-out rider, and in the early days of riding my bike was very 'pedestrian' (think dog slow and prone to expire). I re-started riding in my 50s, and was acutely aware of my own mortality, and modern faster bikes are always far more capable than I am.
I ride because I enjoy seeing new places, and because riding is a much more immersive experience than driving. I always want to see what is around the next corner, or see where that road goes to. I don't mind riding in small groups, but I detest and avoid big groups, and TBH I am quite happy being Billy No-Mates
I also like getting a nice technical set of corners absolutely nailed, although probably a good 25% slower than someone else could achieve. I do go fast(ish) at times, but I try to confine it to low risk situations.

[Noggin]

I've only had bikes for 19 years, so much shorter riding time than most of you! I was lucky to have two really good riding buddies over the years who helped me learn 'how' to ride. Both were ex racers and way faster than I've ever been, but also they taught me to ride the road fast, not to ride the road like a track. So although we did go fast, it was also following the road rather than straight-lining everything.

As a result I've always Loved getting a set of corners 'right' and if I can get them right and fast, I'm a very happy chick. But I've always known I wasn't as fast as them on the roads. TBF, faster than lots, but not one of the fastest!!

I've barely ridden in the last four years and also found out that actually fat bikers don't bounce as well as expected, so I really don't know the answer to 'what are the differences'. Add to that that not only do I have to relearn to ride (without either riding buddy) I also have to relearn on the other side of the road!! LOL I have done 10's of 1000's of kms on the other side, so I figure that won't be too freaky, but till I go out in the summer on good roads, I won't know


I suspect that once I can physically ride well and mentally have the ability back, then there's a good chance I'll go back to being a bit of a twat on a bike. Probably depends on who I find out here to ride with. But I did notice that when I was on the main road (which is still pretty twisty!), well, damn it felt good to go a bit faster round the series of bends!! Ok, fast over here isn't that fast. I think I was doing 60-70mph on the bendy section on the day there were no other vehicles there. Sounds much better in kph!! The limit on most roads by me is 80kph/50mph, so it's all a fair bit slower than over there!!

But, different to many of you guys, I have no kids or other dependants, so that's a balancing act I haven't had to deal with. I will have a responsibility as a business owner (hopefully!) but as long as my brain works, I can employ people to drive!!

I also no longer have a bike that goes at mad speeds, so I will be slower regardless!!


So, differences I expect for next year -

relearning physically and mentally so might take a while to get back to 'stupid'
different side of the road - and very different type of car driving here to deal with
very different bike, slower/less powerful

Of course, good chance is that with the different bike I'll just build up to riding it flat out everywhere!!! But probably not in the first season! LOL Mostly depends on how I feel as I build up to it - if I still love RLAT, I will; if I don't, I won't!!!

[Dickyboy]

For me a bike is a tool rather than a toy, so I've never been into just "going for a ride" and the sportiest bike I've had is a Guzzi lemans, so I don't think my riding has changed that much but certainly my life has - can't see me going on a rally, camping and getting pissed in a field anymore for sure

[Couchy]

I enjoy my MT07 for an occasional road ride, I don’t go slow or too fast tbh but I like to keep a pace up and enjoy the bends, it’s satisfying to get them right and get some proper lean angle. Rarely see more than 90mph and usually a lot less. I do like the odd wheelie too which is good fun. But I don’t ride much, my mtb gives me more freedom and freedom from any rules. It also gives me fresh air, scenery, exercise and more adrenalin than road riding. It’s replaced my motorbike for all those reasons but I’ll always have a motorbike for every now and then when I want a motorbike ride, that includes the occasional Trackday although I had lost enthusiasm for them but having done a classic day recently that has reignited the interest as it wasn’t full of 200hp bikes and reminded me of how it used to be taking a 60hp bike out

[Skub]

I no longer go out at weekends and get plastered

Hand in your tartan credentials immediately.

[singlesman]

I’m sure the change in riding attitude has a lot to do with age, but wonder if it is also, if not more about road traffic conditions and the sheer volume of traffic out there.
I guess many of you are lucky enough to live in parts of the country where the roads are a bit quieter, but around our way (vale of Weeksy) it’s getting so overtaking just means progressing up bit further up the queue.
Pretty pointless and you just feel like a bit of a plonker for bothering.
Have I reached Harley Davidson time?

[asmethurst99]

I was never that fast to begin with.
I try to ride further if less often.

[Nordboy]

The only difference in my riding now, is that I'm training others to ride how the organisation wants them too. So I normally have two 'students' with me. My riding can no longer just be my riding, I have to ride, watch the road ahead etc etc but also have the massive responsibility to ensure that they are safe, whilst encouraging them to make suitable progress, watching everything they're doing so I can analyse any 'issues' they may have. I guess I'm lucky in that I don't really have to worry about such things as speed cameras or being pulled over, which is quite nice.
I rarely get to enjoy my own rides, and when I do, I do struggle to keep things at a reasonable speed.
I suppose that's the very short answer, the long answer would be far more in depth than that if I really thought about it??

[Trinity765]

I've ridden intensely for fun for the last decade clocking at least 15k pleasure miles a year. My ability sky rocketed when I became friends with an IAM observer who referred to his riding/teaching style as Roadcraft - so a bit of whatever as long as it was safe and there was an advantage. I went through a stage where I thought the sun shone from my arse and there wasn't anyone I couldn't keep up with or beat and luckily I got away with it. People started to crash. You come out of a corner, look in your mirror and the person who was there a second ago is gone Some of them picked their bike up and carried on, others got a trip in an air ambulance and that brought me back to earth. My friend also crashed and when someone who you think is a riding god crashes it has an impact on you. I had a couple of years where I was a cautious again.

I've since done my IAM and carried on with advanced riding. I go for a check ride with the IAM once a quarter and I've done some advanced riding with the police in Wales and a day out on the road with an ex track instructor. I lead rides and tours and I don't want my standard to drop and bad habits to develop. I want to be neat, tidy and controlled. While I enjoy leading, it's a huge commitment as everyone else can wake up on the day and say "I don't feel like it" where as, come rain or shine, I'm going out there.

I wasn't a natural and struggled at first, but I understand why that was now (long story omitted) and have since got better and better both in ability and attitude. I have a healthy competitive nature which keeps it fun but also I appreciate more than ever that it's about having a good time, going home with a smile and being there for my family.