Use a bike or bust
Discussion
I've just put an order in for a 2020 r nine t. I've struggled to use road bikes over the past few years, I'm af the point where If I don't use it, I might give up road use and just do a couple of track days etc.
My plan is to use it for early morning runs at the weekend, so out at 06.30ish and back by 10.30.
Anyone else feel similar or have been in a similar position? I'm hoping this bike is the right mix of relaxed but fun so sub 100mph stuff is fun and a little more relaxing to ride.
My plan is to use it for early morning runs at the weekend, so out at 06.30ish and back by 10.30.
Anyone else feel similar or have been in a similar position? I'm hoping this bike is the right mix of relaxed but fun so sub 100mph stuff is fun and a little more relaxing to ride.
I had an off recently, I can't have been doing 4mph, small roundabout just finished drizzling, and no clue that the road was oily. Greasy obviously, but I didn't spot that as I tiptoed 'round I'd suddenly feel the rear go very light, and next thing I'd be picking myself up from the inside roundabout kerb.
Have to say that motivation has left me a little.
So, your thoughts are where I'mleaning (boom boom) now, too.
Have to say that motivation has left me a little.
So, your thoughts are where I'mleaning (boom boom) now, too.
Lee540 said:
Over the past few months.. seems around every corner is a copper with speed detection equipment. Caught twice in 8 weeks. Haven't been on the bike for ages (ZX10R)
Use Waze. It should alert you to camera vans or coppers with lidar guns. It won’t help with police in moving traffic cars though. Iminquarantine said:
Use Waze. It should alert you to camera vans or coppers with lidar guns. It won’t help with police in moving traffic cars though.
Thanks. I have it now for the car but I don't use phone when I'm on the bike. I just lock it under the seat. Perhaps I should get one of those quadlock things. Speed not overly excessive, a copper in a car wouldn't bother. (79 in a 70 and 70 in a 60) I can't get out every weekend, nor every sunny weekend, so the bike can just end up sitting there for weeks. Then I find that because I haven't ridden for a while, the first ride out again is a bit crap. The other day I had the back start to come round on corner entry due to dirt in the centre of my lane, which doesn't help when you're already not quite as assured as if you were riding daily.
So although the commute is boring, and it takes time getting gear on before and taking it off after, but it's a 10 minute walk from the car park or a 2 minute walk from the bike parking, so as long as it's dry I'm trying to take the bike to work.
Won't work for everyone but I have found that riding it on the commute is better than nothing just for it staying familiar. Then when you have time to get out for a decent ride you're not warming yourself back up or getting your eye back in.
I'm on a naked supermoto v-twin so 100mph is plenty most of the time, I hunt out the bendy routes and stay away from wide open straight roads. It's all about the grunt and engine braking and slightly pushing my comfort zone in the corners. Yes you can nip up to 120, 130 occasionally but there's not a fat lot of need IMO and you can end up just catching the next line of bimbling traffic that much sooner.
So although the commute is boring, and it takes time getting gear on before and taking it off after, but it's a 10 minute walk from the car park or a 2 minute walk from the bike parking, so as long as it's dry I'm trying to take the bike to work.
Won't work for everyone but I have found that riding it on the commute is better than nothing just for it staying familiar. Then when you have time to get out for a decent ride you're not warming yourself back up or getting your eye back in.
I'm on a naked supermoto v-twin so 100mph is plenty most of the time, I hunt out the bendy routes and stay away from wide open straight roads. It's all about the grunt and engine braking and slightly pushing my comfort zone in the corners. Yes you can nip up to 120, 130 occasionally but there's not a fat lot of need IMO and you can end up just catching the next line of bimbling traffic that much sooner.
Lee540 said:
Iminquarantine said:
Use Waze. It should alert you to camera vans or coppers with lidar guns. It won’t help with police in moving traffic cars though.
Thanks. I have it now for the car but I don't use phone when I'm on the bike. I just lock it under the seat. Perhaps I should get one of those quadlock things. Speed not overly excessive, a copper in a car wouldn't bother. (79 in a 70 and 70 in a 60) Also it's not really in line of sight and I have to look away from the road to check the phone, which isn't ideal any time let alone at speed.
jason61c said:
I've just put an order in for a 2020 r nine t. I've struggled to use road bikes over the past few years, I'm af the point where If I don't use it, I might give up road use and just do a couple of track days etc.
My plan is to use it for early morning runs at the weekend, so out at 06.30ish and back by 10.30.
Anyone else feel similar or have been in a similar position? I'm hoping this bike is the right mix of relaxed but fun so sub 100mph stuff is fun and a little more relaxing to ride.
Sounds like exactly the right tonic, perhaps the roads you use is part of it as well? Easy to get on dead-straight Lincs roads and end up doing silly speeds.My plan is to use it for early morning runs at the weekend, so out at 06.30ish and back by 10.30.
Anyone else feel similar or have been in a similar position? I'm hoping this bike is the right mix of relaxed but fun so sub 100mph stuff is fun and a little more relaxing to ride.
Krikkit said:
Sounds like exactly the right tonic, perhaps the roads you use is part of it as well? Easy to get on dead-straight Lincs roads and end up doing silly speeds.
I use to live there, it was easy to do 1.6 leptons on my work commute each way every day.Now in the southwest, so i'm thinking Exeter(home) to somewhere for a coffee, take in the journey a bit more, coffee at a destination, ride home.
I'm hoping the new bike should be the ideal thing(nice looking/enough grunt/nice riding position).
Lee540 said:
Thanks. I have it now for the car but I don't use phone when I'm on the bike. I just lock it under the seat. Perhaps I should get one of those quadlock things. Speed not overly excessive, a copper in a car wouldn't bother. (79 in a 70 and 70 in a 60)
That’s damned unlucky. If you had been doing 78 and 67, you wouldn’t have got a ticket. I’m paranoid about cameras so I do t go anywhere without some kind of warning device. If you get a quad lock, get the anti vibration mount module or the vibes can kill the phone camera. Waze has its problems with audible warnings. It will always give a visual warning, but:
The audible warning volume seems to turn itself right down if you adjust the volume for anything else off the bike when not even using Waze
It doesn’t transmit to a helmet speaker
It won’t give an audible warning of a fixed speed camera unless you are going over the speed limit (visual warning still happens)
At least that applies to an iPhone.
The audible warning volume seems to turn itself right down if you adjust the volume for anything else off the bike when not even using Waze
It doesn’t transmit to a helmet speaker
It won’t give an audible warning of a fixed speed camera unless you are going over the speed limit (visual warning still happens)
At least that applies to an iPhone.
I’m in a sell/don’t sell quandary. I’ve got a lovely Speed Triple in the garage that barely turns a wheel these days. It seems I can always find something else to do instead of getting the bike out. The first ride out is never great as I’m “getting my eye in”. I was riding fairly regularly until Lockdown V1.0 & now I’ve moved in with the Mrs the bike sits idle. I sometimes feel like I’m forcing myself to like riding it??? I was a bike nut for 20 odd years, trips abroad, TT, track days & general hooning but after a 10 year lay off I’ve never rekindled anything like the enthusiasm & the skills or confidence I used to have, which tbh frustrates & drives the wedge deeper twixt me & the bike. I need a few good rides to get me into the idea but likely as not something will conveniently get in the way.
If I'm planning a ride out after not having ridden for a few weeks, I always try to go for a short ride the evening before the serious journey. Even if it's just a few miles I feel I've got my eye in the next morning. Without that, I never feel quite right on the bike until after the first coffee stop.
Similar, love my bike when i do ride it but i keep finding excuses not to use it when the sun is out.
We bought a VW T4 in late 2020 and have used that instead to go places as its more comfortable and we're never in a rush.
Tempted to change the bike for something more comfortable and usable but i just don't know if it will make a difference.
I dont see myself getting rid completely as we love rallies but something bigger and more comfortable will at least make getting to those a little easier on the ass.
We bought a VW T4 in late 2020 and have used that instead to go places as its more comfortable and we're never in a rush.
Tempted to change the bike for something more comfortable and usable but i just don't know if it will make a difference.
I dont see myself getting rid completely as we love rallies but something bigger and more comfortable will at least make getting to those a little easier on the ass.
I'm doing my IAM course, it means I have to go out training every other Sunday and I've signed up for my first ride out with them - I suspect it will be a bit slow but I mostly joined to slow myself down a bit.
A slow ride in the countryside is still better than none and the fact you've booked on means you make yourself go.
Same with the TRF Green laning, I've had some cracking days out, in iffy weather where I wouldn't have gone if I hadn't pre agreed to go
A slow ride in the countryside is still better than none and the fact you've booked on means you make yourself go.
Same with the TRF Green laning, I've had some cracking days out, in iffy weather where I wouldn't have gone if I hadn't pre agreed to go
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