Does it have to be fast to be fun?

[yambabe]

Just musing really, following today's events.

I am not a fast rider. My bike isn't that powerful and I am not mega-confident, so I tend to be fairly cautious most of the time. However, that doesn't mean I don't love riding my bike. Doesn't mean I don't get a thrill for getting a corner or an overtake "just" right, doesn't mean I don't come in from a ride with a big big smile on my face etc.

Is riding all about speed? I'm not necessarily saying I always stick to the speed limits but for me there's much much more to it than just speed and power.

It breaks my heart to hear about accidents like young Andy's. It's worse if it's someone you know well. I can't say his accident happened because he was going too fast because I wasn't there and from the accounts that we have heard there could have been all sorts of reasons for it. But I just can't help thinking that his speed was a major factor, and he may not have been so bad or may have had more control if he'd been going just a little slower.

So am I wrong? Is the thrill of riding just about speed and power? If it is, why bother with the road, why not just take it to the track?

Sorry if I'm rambling a bit. This has really affected me tonight.
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[Kickstart]

Hi

Speed is a thrill, but not the only thrill. Hence riding a small bike can still be fun.

All the best

Keith
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[NSR-Rulez]

No speed does not contribute too a good ride, just enjoying what you do is, for me it's the sense of freedom, and responsibilty for my self that make a good ride.

In my oppinion speed should be kept for the track, there is also the whole ban factor due to excessive speeds, why risk your licence.

All the best


NSR-Rulez
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[Aikman666]

I think theres a thin line between "not fast enough" and "too fast". For instance, my little 50cc is an example of what i'd call too slow, for obvious reasons...and thats slow in just about any situation. Whereas dodging in and out of traffic on a motorway at 140mph is probably a bit too fast. But i guess its the thrill of speed, do we always want to go faster? I do, but thats only because i cant get over 55mph
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[phantomtek]

I agree babyyam. I don't like high speed, I prefer winding it on or getting that corner just right. Maybe because high speed on my bike is rather windy, I don't know. Things like this affect us all, as you can see by the community donations, but some in a different way, seeing how much damage was done to the bike, and the condition Andy is in, really brings it home to some people.

I wish him a speedy recovery and not to be too put off bikes.

[Huambo81a]

No, i`m sure its not all about speed, but having said that i can`t honestly say i would be a rider if there were no bikes above 125cc! I think its a combination of things, the thrill of acceleration, the feeling of being connected to something that reacts to the slightest physical input, the satisfaction in knowing that you are improving your abilities in what is essentially a skill to master.

Anyone can drive a car, bikes are different because it takes time to learn and master, for me its a little at a time. I talk to people who have been riding for longer than me and i`m keen to pick up on tips and information, in a car i couldnt give a damn i just turn the wheel whilst yawning and eating a sandwich.

Speed is part of it, an important part yes but not the only reason i ride. I`m part of an exclusive group of people, and i know that the people in this group all 'get it' and a nod and a wave is all i need to see to know this.

I use my car to reach a destination, i ride my bike for no reason in no particular direction for pure raw pleasure, two wheels and me with an engine under my ass.
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[G]

[stinkwheel]

Fast is not a function of speed. That is why I bought babyyams H100. I ride it fast but it has a low top speed.

To be honest, I do enjoy riding my bike fast and that's what makes it fun, but that doesn't necessarily go hand in hand with high speed.
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[Sparks!]

I'm a really slow rider... slow is where it's at.. slow as possible but on 1 wheel of course I can't corner for shit and rarely go over 100mph ever.

[EuropeanNC30R...]

I like getting along on the bike, and occasional high speed bursts... but it isn't really my thing.

I prefer trying to be smooth and linking corners together, get more enjoyment out of that. Guess that's why I've stuck to lower powered bikes for this amount of time.

[instigator]

Riding my 33bhp sv is more fun than riding it full power.

However, it is capable of speeding, at 95mph.

So, if you classify that as speed then yes it is a thirll, but it's more about maintaining momentum more than anything. Thrashing the thing, great fun. Suddenly I see the appeals of two strokes.

[Nath]

[tatters]

Speed power and torque is one of the main things l enjoy about bikes l,ve rode crusier style and british bikes before and have hated not being able to go fast they could,nt give me the raw adrenaline that a sports bike gives , which is why l now own a 1000cc superbike (though once doing 180mph on a public highway before was stuipd).
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[G]

[EuropeanNC30R...]

[Mockey]

I love my bike! (Kawasaki EN500) Even though its a cruiser I can still get up to speed quickly(due to the engine) and to a pretty fast top speed (approx 125 mph) but also enjoy flat out cruises at comfortable speeds with the engine rumbling beneath me
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[Visitor Q]

I quite like the ego to be honest.

I think if more people were honest they would realise alot of the 'fun' of one night stands and going fast on bikes is about ego. Proving you are in control, and you are beter then x//z.

Thus i really enjoy seeing cocky cunts in 40k impretza's etc, and being able to beat them from the lights, one handed, whilst gesturing rudely at them, with the front floating in the air.

But that said, because i know i can do that, and i know i can overtake pretty much any vehicle on the road, i dont always feel compelled to try.

Same as with pulling, if you KNEW (and i mean 100%) that you could shag any girl in the pub/club/town, i doubt you'd bother. If you're honest with yourself.
The challenge has gone.

So for me, i suppose i just enjoy the superiority.

Top speed is abit pooh. Ive maxed every bike ive owned and most ive ridden at some point or other, and to me, 160 on the cbr feels the same as 120 on a ratty rgv 250.
Flat out feels flat out.

The engine is screaming, you're wedged on the tank desperately trying to tug your beergut laden body into the bike to get that extra mph. And you know you've pushed it as far as possible.

I enjoy getting the cbr flat out as much as i enjoyed getting the goose flatout, the divvy flat out, and anything else. However what i hated about the aforementioned bikes (bar the cbr) was, if someone overtook you, you didnt KNOW you could 'get them back', thus enticing you to try.

With the CBR, if i want to play i do, if not, i casually carry on in the slow lane.
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[Bendy]

[Johnny GSX-R]

I enjoy the flexibility that my bike gives me. I can pootle along in the countyside looking at the scenery and taking in the sights and smells or i can crack it open and make some progress.

Speed is relative to the surroundings and conditions, what would you class as FAST?
30MPH where i live would be fast but 30MPH where i WANT to live is not.

I haven't bought my bike solely for speed, its for a mulitude of different tasks and variations of journey.
Some days i want to go out and ride on the edge, others i like a chilled mooch with my G/F on the back. I couldn't have a bike thats only good for one task hence a Gixxer 1000 would not suit my req nor would a CCM R30.

[craigs23]

For me, no, I don't need to be going hell for leather to have fun on a bike. I can happily pootle around at the speed limit and enjoy the scenery, or to ride with mate's in a formation, in the same way as Johnny state's - it's about flexibility. One of the reasons I went from RVF to Blade was because the RVF lacked some of this - it put me in the notion to thrash the thing everywhere (open roads only of course) and seemed a little pointless and uncomfortable if I didn't. Sounds weird, but I actually bought the Blade so I can ride slower in more comfort - but then open her up and thrash down the backroads if I felt the need.

[map]

IMO I think bikes and bikers have an image as a fast piece of transport. I remember telling people I had a bike and their reaction was that it'd shorten my journey time or that I'd get a speeding ticket. There's also, IMO, a pressure on bikers to always be 'making progress'. That's what's taught on the advanced courses and to be honest there are times when I just want to kick back and go with the flow (of traffic).

In reality, for an extended trip, the journey times aren't that much faster than a car. By the time you factor in stops for petrol, numb bum and toilets (especially on a more sports oriented bike) the difference can be counted in minutes. It's the roads you can take and the experience that makes it different and worthwhile.

I like going on the bike for the journey, not always for the destination. As Bendy says, just because I can go fast it doesn't mean that I have to. For me, the acceleration is the important bit, it gets me past the traffic onto the next interesting bit of road.

Like what has also been said above there is a special kind of pleasure to be had from getting the approach and execution of a corner just right. Getting the combination of gears, brake, lean and acceleration hitting the sweet spot. Then also being able to link the straights and bends together in a sweeping, flowing way. The same with planning and timing that overtake. However, that means being switched on and concentrating 100% all the time. Do that on a long trip or where the roads are unknown and you'll finish the journey knackered. Sometimes you need a rest, put yourself in autopilot and cruise for a while.

Just my thought
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[ajacobs]

yes, yes it does.

[dodsi]

It really does depend on my mood.

When I commute on a bike I pootle down the duel carrigeway at 80mph, just going around slower moving traffic and go steady in town.

However, if I am wanting to get in the outside lane and people are not "letting" you in, I drop a gear or 2 and just give the bike a fist full INSTANTLY I am at their speed and in a flash I am infront of them.

Same as when I get to a set of lights and a cocky young boy racer/guy with a "fast" car try and race me off the lights, I can give the bike a good old turn of the throttle and their £20K+ cars are dust.

Then I can pootle along down country roads (loads around here) at 70mph just taking it back, or I can hoon down twisties at 90+mph .

Its the flexability a bike like mine gives you, its a sports bike but its also happy to pootle along as its not as "focussed" as the latest R6 etc.

but also when you get stuck behind the 56mph national club drive out you can zoom passed them so quicly and carry on making progress.

Get to a busy ring road and filter around it saving probably half an hour plus of queing.

[colin1]

there was another thread where there was a poll on what was more important, acceleration or handling

speed isnt that important to me as i dont ride that fast, but handling is very important and acceleration is good to have. for me handling is a lot about maintaining speed around bends.

there are different ways of riding, and different bikes are better suited to different ways of riding

i take in the scenery more on a sit up and beg type bike.

head down sports bikes are better for going fast and id probably only go fast on roads i know quite well
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[Visitor Q]