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Falling out of love with road riding. Any suggestions?

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Slacker24seve...
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PostPosted: 17:45 - 18 Aug 2014    Post subject: Falling out of love with road riding. Any suggestions? Reply with quote

I am concerned. Over this summer I haven't really been inclined to ride as much as I have over the previous three. I had a day off today and rode on some of my favourite roads through the Herefordshire and Worcestershire countryside, it put a smile on my face towards the end but for the first hour or so I wasn't really into it.

My last ride before that, I didn't enjoy at all. Too much traffic and on virtually every good bit, the council had surface dressed the road, leaving gravel and shit everywhere. Other good stretches, like Fish Hill, the A44 into Wales and other decent roads branching off it are crawling with pork.

I've had a couple of decent rides with Tot off here recently but whereas over previous summers, I'd have thought nothing of going to Aberystwyth for breakfast I just don't fancy it.

I've only done two track days this year but loved both of them. I'll be doing another before the end of the season but recently I've realised travelling at track day speeds on the road is idiotic. I value my licence too much (I need it for work) and my accident last year where I had an unaviodable accident with a Frenchman I've lost a bit of confidence too.

So, what does BCF suggest to cure me of this ennui? I love my Daytona, it suits me quite well. I've toyed with the idea of turning it into a track bike and putting the money from selling road bits and my insurance premium into track time and tyres. I've also thought about selling it and maybe getting two cheaper bikes, something fun for the road and a more disposable track bike. I don't really want to part with it though!

TL:DR I had a moan, want ideas to get my mojo back.
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Knacker
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PostPosted: 18:06 - 18 Aug 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Different Style of Bike?

I'm getting bored of Sports Bikes and Fancy a Off-roader type or a Big Naked V Twin
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gavbriggs
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PostPosted: 18:10 - 18 Aug 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Stop whineing, man the fuck up and ride slowly, I enjoy riding slowly, you get to see the surroundings.

Why do folk think motorbikes are purely for riding at ridiculous speeds? They are for transportation, use that time inside the helmet for thinking and looking, you will soon realise how relaxing it can be. I've sorted a lot of problems out when I've had time alone to think. Not major problems as far as problems go but solutions were found inside the helmet!

Don't get me wrong tho, some days only speed will do!
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neeklondon
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PostPosted: 18:19 - 18 Aug 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Off-roading...check out whether there's any local green-lanes that you can ride...it's so much more fun than road roading Smile
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gavcarter
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PostPosted: 18:19 - 18 Aug 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Go exploring. Load backpack with sarnies, drinks, a jerry can ( full) and a map.

Quick glance at map - to see where the "green stuff" is from you, north south east west etc and head in that direction until lost. Admire scenery, find way home

Go out early on morning. Come home after tea either cured or very frustrated
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Copycat73
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PostPosted: 18:25 - 18 Aug 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

get on a bus ... Rolling Eyes
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Supermoto_Fan
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PostPosted: 18:37 - 18 Aug 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Book up a European tour, or even one in the UK. Always rekindles my love for biking.
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stevo as b4
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PostPosted: 18:38 - 18 Aug 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

I feel the same a lot, and I'm burned by all the great memories of road rides on 600cc+ bikes I had from 6-10years ago. I can't see anything on todays roads, or the meet ups or the general biker's enthusiasm living up to those days TBH!

The fun for me now comes from small bikes, and tinkering with them. Maybe you need a re-build project or something small or ridiculously fun or impractical like a Supermoto, low capacity lightweight, Monkey bike, or an off road competition bike with lights?

Your not alone in your feelings either. Other's like CHR15, and Blue have said much the same thing too! And there's other members on here doing totally fun stuff and projects that are not serious or practical road bikes like Binge with his 125, the Chaly, Custom swanky transit, and off road jeeps etc. CHR15 with a drag bike, People doing camper van projects, Kit car projects, and electric bike builds, even diesel bike builds.

Anything different and interesting basically from having big fast sports bikes on the road for all your enjoyment.

have you done much off road riding lately?
It does sound like the track day thing really interests you, so how about selling your nice Triumph, and getting a track day bike and an old van or trailer to spend your time and cash on so that you can do more track riding, instead of having frustrated road rides on a big capable bike that's never fulfilling it's potential, and the worry of speeding/license issues, or your old fave routes being clogged up with traffic and idiots.

Worth having a think over I'd say!
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clancy
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PostPosted: 18:45 - 18 Aug 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

I recently got fed up of road riding, didn't enjoy it anymore, can't go fast anywhere through fear of losing licence and just not that fun

Sold my gsxr and bought a klx endure style bike. Great fun Smile go green laning or local motocross tracks etc. I wish I'd done it sooner, literally is so fun and cheaper!
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Musketeer
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PostPosted: 18:47 - 18 Aug 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Get a track bike - do more track days. Quite many people who do track days don't ride on public roads anymore. I cannot say I don't understand that. Track days are so much fun.
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hellkat
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PostPosted: 18:53 - 18 Aug 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

O.P. wrote:
"Fallen out of love with road riding. Any suggestions?"


Ride on the pavement?
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Howling TerrorOutOfOffice
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PostPosted: 18:53 - 18 Aug 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sell it and get into something different.
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chickenstrip
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PostPosted: 19:06 - 18 Aug 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lots of good ideas here. And the overriding theme seems to be, "CHANGE". Do something different to your usual approach. Whether it be a type of bike you've never tried, different areas to explore (whether that be touring in different countries or just a Sunday ride in areas you haven't been to before), or, if track days are where you've had most fun recently, well yeah, get a dedicated track bike. No one says you have to ride on the road.

Or just SORN the bike for a few months, and come back to it at another time.
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Pigeon
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PostPosted: 19:21 - 18 Aug 2014    Post subject: Re: Falling out of love with road riding. Any suggestions? Reply with quote

Slacker24seven wrote:
over previous summers, I'd have thought nothing of going to Aberystwyth for breakfast I just don't fancy it.


HERETIC! Smile


wrote:

I've only done two track days this year but loved both of them. I'll be doing another before the end of the season but recently I've realised travelling at track day speeds on the road is idiotic.


Sounds like you've already got an answer. More trackday shenanigans.

wrote:

I love my Daytona, it suits me quite well. I don't really want to part with it.


I've got limited experience + only had a Daytona for 1 day. But it was a ridiculously capable bike. And really only made sense to me at pace. I found the Street Triple to be more "fun". It has a silliness to it that was somehow lacking from the Daytona which felt more serious.

I found my short holiday in Wales was brilliant and returning to the crowded roads of Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire a bit depressing. I didn't crave to take the bike out.
This weekend, searched out new roads, not my normal routes. That worked. Grinning like an idiot again and can't wait for the weekend to come round Smile

The age old saying. A change is as good as a rest....or something.

Change your bike, or change what you do with it.

Keep the Daytona for the track, get a Striple Smile Or a supermoto maybe.
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Rogerborg
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PostPosted: 19:23 - 18 Aug 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

hellkat wrote:
O.P. wrote:
"Fallen out of love with road riding. Any suggestions?"

Ride on the pavement?

Have you been watching my commute? Thinking

I'd agree with trying something slower. I do genuinely prefer my Enfield to my GS, and it's actually a quicker bike on my commute as well because pavements.

Decent as it is, I'll probably chop the Beemer in for something smaller. Ninja/CBR 250/300, maybe, or I'm still moderately intrigued by SMs.
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Last edited by Rogerborg on 19:24 - 18 Aug 2014; edited 1 time in total
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scorps
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PostPosted: 19:24 - 18 Aug 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

I hardly got my gixer out over the period of a year and felt the same way, I got rid of that and bought a bobber style bike, I have put over 7000 miles on it over the past two years, bear in mind I live in Scotland and decent riding days are few and far between. I will just sod off and go wherever the mood takes me, breathtakingingly beautiful scenery helps as well Very Happy
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Fowlersrs
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PostPosted: 19:42 - 18 Aug 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

This is a very interesting topic, I have exactly the same bike and the same feeling for road riding ATM, there's just no fun in it.

I'm planning on keeping the daytona though as track days are something I've bought my cheap van for, just need to look at different, cheap ideas for the road and getting the all important approval from her indoors to have 2 bikes again.
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smegballs
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PostPosted: 19:48 - 18 Aug 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

gavbriggs wrote:
Stop whineing, man the fuck up and ride slowly, I enjoy riding slowly, you get to see the surroundings.

Why do folk think motorbikes are purely for riding at ridiculous speeds? They are for transportation, use that time inside the helmet for thinking and looking, you will soon realise how relaxing it can be. I've sorted a lot of problems out when I've had time alone to think. Not major problems as far as problems go but solutions were found inside the helmet!

Don't get me wrong tho, some days only speed will do!


I use the time to howl out country songs in my very best southern accent as I plod along at a stately 50mph.
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chickenstrip
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PostPosted: 19:48 - 18 Aug 2014    Post subject: Re: Falling out of love with road riding. Any suggestions? Reply with quote

Pigeon wrote:
Slacker24seven wrote:
over previous summers, I'd have thought nothing of going to Aberystwyth for breakfast I just don't fancy it.


HERETIC! Smile


I found my short holiday in Wales was brilliant and returning to the crowded roads of Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire a bit depressing. I didn't crave to take the bike out.


Heh heh. Another Wales convert Smile

Actually OP, how much of Wales have you explored? There's more to it than just the A44 to Aberystwyth and even aaaarrrgh! no, dare I say it? the A483 from Crossgates to Newtown. Shocked There' I've said it!

It may not work for you, but when I head for Wales, I don't just go for the fast A roads but try to mix in those with some of the smaller mountain lanes and also have places of interest in mind to visit, so it's not all just about the riding itself. Those little mountain B roads can be real fun in their own right - a different kind of challenge on a bike that is more usually considered suitable for the open A roads.

Although lately I've started to think that Wales will be the death of my license too, but at least it'll die doing something I enjoyed Twisted Evil

Oh, and this summer's trip to the Dales was planned cos it's somewhere I hadn't had much chance to explore, and the change of scenery was a real breath of fresh air. If I move up north somewhere soon, as I hope to do, I'll be looking forward to still more new areas I haven't seen much of before. By then, I may even have had my fill of Wales.
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Rogerborg
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PostPosted: 19:53 - 18 Aug 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Damn you, you've just sent me off to eBay and Gumtree. I'm definitely feeling that twitch again. So many bikes, so little time to try them all. Very Happy
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Pigeon
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PostPosted: 20:06 - 18 Aug 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rogerborg wrote:
Damn you, you've just sent me off to eBay and Gumtree. I'm definitely feeling that twitch again. So many bikes, so little time to try them all. Very Happy


hehe. I keep sinning by coveting thy ox, ehh I mean Enfield.

But I also need to get my hands on a GSXR750 K8 or L4, ohh and a 954 blade, and a Ducati 998, and an 899. And a Honda XR400.

So little time, so few funds.
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1cyl
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PostPosted: 21:01 - 18 Aug 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

+1 for buying SM/OR.
+1 for owning at least 2 bikes.
+1 for greenlaning.

IMO theres enough traffic and fuzz out there now to warrant highpower/speed supersports increasingly wasted.
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Diggs
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PostPosted: 22:22 - 18 Aug 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

As others have said, get something older and slower. Other than the odd breakdown its 'win' all the way...
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