Does the type of bike change your riding?
Discussion
I'm thinking about getting a different bike for commuting, and was wondering if a different style of bike would change my style of riding?
I'm currently riding an MT-09 on a 40 mile commute, half country lanes, half motorway. I tend to find it makes me ride pretty quickly, and in my advancing years (early 40's ha ha) and with two young kids I'm thinking slowing down a little might be a good option.
Now I don't want to go the whole hog and give up on life and get a cruiser. But I'm thinking something like the new Triumph Tiger 1200, which seems to have had some decent changes for the 2018 model year to make it a pretty good bike. I also do a bit of touring and mild off-roading which it would be great for. Plus I think I could get the missus on the back more as I don't think she likes the MT.
What are your thoughts? Do you ride less like a loon on a different style of bike?
I'm currently riding an MT-09 on a 40 mile commute, half country lanes, half motorway. I tend to find it makes me ride pretty quickly, and in my advancing years (early 40's ha ha) and with two young kids I'm thinking slowing down a little might be a good option.
Now I don't want to go the whole hog and give up on life and get a cruiser. But I'm thinking something like the new Triumph Tiger 1200, which seems to have had some decent changes for the 2018 model year to make it a pretty good bike. I also do a bit of touring and mild off-roading which it would be great for. Plus I think I could get the missus on the back more as I don't think she likes the MT.
What are your thoughts? Do you ride less like a loon on a different style of bike?
My personal experience is yes it does. I swapped from a Street Triple R to a Thruxton T / Africa Twin, one for cruising on sunny weekends and one for the commute to the station. Both are bigger displacement, torquier, less revvy and so on. The bikes seem to suit a more laid back riding style with less wringing of their necks! Maybe just me as I’m a relatively conservative biker having come to it less than 10 years ago (in my 40s).
It was specifically why I bought the Thruxton last year actually. I test rode one and liked the more laid back power delivery and the chuggier noise. I’m sure it’s as fast, but it feels happier and “appropriate” to take it a bit easier. It was also an excuse to buy some new gear as the Thruxton NEEDS a retro leather jacket
It was specifically why I bought the Thruxton last year actually. I test rode one and liked the more laid back power delivery and the chuggier noise. I’m sure it’s as fast, but it feels happier and “appropriate” to take it a bit easier. It was also an excuse to buy some new gear as the Thruxton NEEDS a retro leather jacket
If you're looking to change your bike to calm you down and/or slow you down then you're looking in the wrong place. You really need to be looking at yourself!
While there is the "discomfort at speed" characteristics of a naked, they can still travel at some very high speeds which are well above both the speed limit and what's likely to be safe on UK roads. If you're regularly travelling above the speeds a naked is comfortable in then you really need to get some help.
There is nothing wrong (other than the illegality of breaking the speed limit) with an occasional blast into some serious speeds but the when and where should be very carefully considered. Regular riding should be at sensible and safe speeds and in a safe and defensive way, regardless of the bike you are riding.
While there is the "discomfort at speed" characteristics of a naked, they can still travel at some very high speeds which are well above both the speed limit and what's likely to be safe on UK roads. If you're regularly travelling above the speeds a naked is comfortable in then you really need to get some help.
There is nothing wrong (other than the illegality of breaking the speed limit) with an occasional blast into some serious speeds but the when and where should be very carefully considered. Regular riding should be at sensible and safe speeds and in a safe and defensive way, regardless of the bike you are riding.
I don't think changing your bike will change your riding, not in itself, but it probably will help. When I had the Blackbird I was always riding quite fast, but that's partly because that's where it felt really good and I didn't enjoy riding it slowly. I felt I was missing out and I bought the Africa Twin partly for that reason, nowadays I tend to ride a lot slower, purely because I enjoy it. It's still good when riding fast, mind!
Likewise, the position and power delivery on a supermoto will probably incite you to ride like a hooligan everywhere.
In short, if you are trying to ride differently, a more suited bike may help, but that's down to how you want to ride, not the bike.
Likewise, the position and power delivery on a supermoto will probably incite you to ride like a hooligan everywhere.
In short, if you are trying to ride differently, a more suited bike may help, but that's down to how you want to ride, not the bike.
I completely agree styles of bike do change how you ride.
I don’t think a adventure style bike is necessarily the right bike though, I had a tiger as a courtesy bike once and was very surprised how well it hid it’s speed, I’d look at a bonivellie or street cup, those are the kind of bikes I find enjoyable just to plod along on.
I don’t think a adventure style bike is necessarily the right bike though, I had a tiger as a courtesy bike once and was very surprised how well it hid it’s speed, I’d look at a bonivellie or street cup, those are the kind of bikes I find enjoyable just to plod along on.
I regularly ride a cruiser style bike and a fast naked. You need something quite different to notice that much.
Just going from 1000 to 600cc to "slow you down" does not work....and 160bhp nakeds still do 150mph very quickly, at least for a second or two...your neck muscles get a workout on every ride
If you want to steady up your riding something like a Triumph bobber or one other other 80bhp variants will help. You can still cut through traffic for commuting on 2 wheels as normal, but you wont be doing 0-100mph in a few secs with the odd 150mph here and there......
Just going from 1000 to 600cc to "slow you down" does not work....and 160bhp nakeds still do 150mph very quickly, at least for a second or two...your neck muscles get a workout on every ride
If you want to steady up your riding something like a Triumph bobber or one other other 80bhp variants will help. You can still cut through traffic for commuting on 2 wheels as normal, but you wont be doing 0-100mph in a few secs with the odd 150mph here and there......
Definitely but mine are quite different and require totally different approaches to riding, one being BMW S1000R and the other a Gasgas TXT250 trials bike.
One will pick the front wheel up in 3rd & 4th, gets a bit slippy & slidey and needs much muscling around. The other I ride off road.
One will pick the front wheel up in 3rd & 4th, gets a bit slippy & slidey and needs much muscling around. The other I ride off road.
I used to have a proper hooligan of a CRF450R supermoto. I don't know why but I really rode like an utter t
t on it, braaaaap braaaaaaaaap wheelies, weaving in and out of traffic etc etc. Never had a bike have that effect on me. All my other bikes have been sportsbikes and I have no problem whatsoever riding those at the speed limit and in a very responsible manner.
It was odd.
t on it, braaaaap braaaaaaaaap wheelies, weaving in and out of traffic etc etc. Never had a bike have that effect on me. All my other bikes have been sportsbikes and I have no problem whatsoever riding those at the speed limit and in a very responsible manner. It was odd.
Bob_Defly said:
I'm thinking about getting a different bike for commuting, and was wondering if a different style of bike would change my style of riding?
I'm currently riding an MT-09 on a 40 mile commute, half country lanes, half motorway. I tend to find it makes me ride pretty quickly, and in my advancing years (early 40's ha ha) and with two young kids I'm thinking slowing down a little might be a good option.
Now I don't want to go the whole hog and give up on life and get a cruiser. But I'm thinking something like the new Triumph Tiger 1200, which seems to have had some decent changes for the 2018 model year to make it a pretty good bike. I also do a bit of touring and mild off-roading which it would be great for. Plus I think I could get the missus on the back more as I don't think she likes the MT.
What are your thoughts? Do you ride less like a loon on a different style of bike?
BMW R1200GS. A bike that does everything.I'm currently riding an MT-09 on a 40 mile commute, half country lanes, half motorway. I tend to find it makes me ride pretty quickly, and in my advancing years (early 40's ha ha) and with two young kids I'm thinking slowing down a little might be a good option.
Now I don't want to go the whole hog and give up on life and get a cruiser. But I'm thinking something like the new Triumph Tiger 1200, which seems to have had some decent changes for the 2018 model year to make it a pretty good bike. I also do a bit of touring and mild off-roading which it would be great for. Plus I think I could get the missus on the back more as I don't think she likes the MT.
What are your thoughts? Do you ride less like a loon on a different style of bike?
Yes, different styles of bike create different tendencies - mostly as they reduce your capabilities of being able to do something.
Edited by BobSaunders on Wednesday 10th January 14:19
Type of bike definitely changed how I rode...
Used to take my Triumph Daytona to the local dealership for servicing and would normally get a courtesy bike or demonstrator for the day.
Tiger loaner - generally rode at speeds 30% lower than on the sports bike, did more wheelies and went exploring less local B roads and single track country lanes.
Bonneville loaner - tried pottering along for a bit but it got boring, rode it nearer the edge of its capability for brakes/tyres/conditions and it was a hoot, strong back brake was great.
Thruxton loaner - as above but with more joint pain and didn't feel quite as naughty doing daft stuff on something that was notionally more sporty.
Speed Triple loaner - wheelies, lots of wheelies. Did a lot more urban riding than I normally would too, took the bike when I'd have otherwise have walked or gone in the car.
Used to take my Triumph Daytona to the local dealership for servicing and would normally get a courtesy bike or demonstrator for the day.
Tiger loaner - generally rode at speeds 30% lower than on the sports bike, did more wheelies and went exploring less local B roads and single track country lanes.
Bonneville loaner - tried pottering along for a bit but it got boring, rode it nearer the edge of its capability for brakes/tyres/conditions and it was a hoot, strong back brake was great.
Thruxton loaner - as above but with more joint pain and didn't feel quite as naughty doing daft stuff on something that was notionally more sporty.
Speed Triple loaner - wheelies, lots of wheelies. Did a lot more urban riding than I normally would too, took the bike when I'd have otherwise have walked or gone in the car.
Dog Star said:
I used to have a proper hooligan of a CRF450R supermoto. I don't know why but I really rode like an utter tt on it, braaaaap braaaaaaaaap wheelies, weaving in and out of traffic etc etc. Never had a bike have that effect on me. All my other bikes have been sportsbikes and I have no problem whatsoever riding those at the speed limit and in a very responsible manner.
It was odd.
This. t on it, braaaaap braaaaaaaaap wheelies, weaving in and out of traffic etc etc. Never had a bike have that effect on me. All my other bikes have been sportsbikes and I have no problem whatsoever riding those at the speed limit and in a very responsible manner. It was odd.
KTM 690SMCR = Ride like a bell end trying to hoik mingers everywhere compared to a GSXR1000 where it would be fairly sedate other than the odd high speed blast. I tend to thrash the 600 naked everywhere but that's geared down a bit for more acceleration. The bigger, lazier engines with more torque tend to produce more sensible riding from me.
rapide said:
I find quickshifters are terrible for egging you on. It’s hardly a chore changing up without, but the temptation of just pinning the throttle open (and the noise ) is hard to resist.
I’ve actually switched mine off for road riding. Slowing myself down being part of the reason
That's an interesting point, as the QS and auto-blipper on the Tiger sounds like it's really good. Doh!) is hard to resist.I’ve actually switched mine off for road riding. Slowing myself down being part of the reason
So... Looks like we're all agreed then!
Don't get me wrong, I don't ride that quick (100 leptons +/- a few), just a little faster than I would like, and probably way slower than some people on here. The MT-09 really makes you want to hoon it around, and it sounds wonderful, but I deliberately got a naked so that I could feel the wind resistance to stop me going too fast. And it does.
I don't think I could ride a small bike with a smaller engine, as like I said, half my commute is motorway and that would make it a pain in the bum.
I can't listen to music or the radio, I prefer just earplugs.
At one point recently I was thinking of replacing the MT with a Super Duke, god only knows!
Will have to give it a think...
obscene said:
Dog Star said:
I used to have a proper hooligan of a CRF450R supermoto. I don't know why but I really rode like an utter tt on it, braaaaap braaaaaaaaap wheelies, weaving in and out of traffic etc etc. Never had a bike have that effect on me. All my other bikes have been sportsbikes and I have no problem whatsoever riding those at the speed limit and in a very responsible manner.
It was odd.
This. t on it, braaaaap braaaaaaaaap wheelies, weaving in and out of traffic etc etc. Never had a bike have that effect on me. All my other bikes have been sportsbikes and I have no problem whatsoever riding those at the speed limit and in a very responsible manner. It was odd.
KTM 690SMCR = Ride like a bell end trying to hoik mingers everywhere compared to a GSXR1000 where it would be fairly sedate other than the odd high speed blast. I tend to thrash the 600 naked everywhere but that's geared down a bit for more acceleration. The bigger, lazier engines with more torque tend to produce more sensible riding from me.
Yet, on a loaned Triumph, cafe racer slow thing, I was just purring about, shocked at how limited, yet safe it was.
Yes, the type of bike changes how you ride.
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