Not enjoying biking as much for some reason, thoughts...
Discussion
A question to the gallery from a out of sorts biker...
I'm going through a bit of a dilemma tbh and I'm gauging the opinion's of the fellow bikers on here...
So when I decided to get into biking a few years ago I had it in my head I wanted something nice looking to ride just for a run out to a few coffee shops with mates or on my own, nothing excessively fast and something where when I got off the bike it would give me a smile when I looked back as its a stunning looking bike and it would be mine.
Over the years I think I've gone away from that and I've bought bikes for the wrong reasons (i.e Triumph Street Triple RS, looked great in yellow and was fun, Adventure or Sports Touring bikes as I thought I'd be going all over on tours and wanted something comfortable and even a Thruxton which I will still say is one of the nicest looking bikes ever made but I don't think it was the most comfortable bikes ever made, although I should have had the suspension tweaked.).
Now the last few rides out I've not enjoyed it as much, and I think its because I've got the wrong bikes and I've pushed the riding a little too much (i.e speeding too much and being aggressive overtaking cars). This wasn't what I had intended to do when I passed my test years ago, I basically wanted something to jump on, comfortable, good looking and then go out steady away, take in the views and call in coffee shops then turn round and go home and park the bike back up (in the nice weather I may add).
Last year I got extremely lucky with a stupid overtake of a tractor on a corner where I nearly came a cropper and I also had a let off by a Police camera over 3 points, now the last few times I've been out (by myself) I've again found myself rushing to coffee shops for a quick stop then off again, speeding and not taking in the scenery and not clearing my head like I used to and tbh I'm finding I haven't enjoyed the last few runs out.
Now, if I mentioned the near miss to my OH I know she'd want me to give it up, my problem is how do I get back to what I originally wanted the bike for, i.e a steady scenic run out to somewhere for coffee, fish & chips or cake then a nice scenic run back keeping my spending in check and getting back to what I want from a bike.
Do I give it up or should I just change my bike to something like a Triumph Speed Twin or go back to a Kwak Z900RS SE???
At the moment I'm running a 2024 BMW S1000XR, something I thought would be perfect due to its ability to tour and a decent pace (don't know why I say tour as I've only ever been away on a tour twice in 5 years for a few days each time). I'm thinking maybe I should get rid of the sporty inline 4 and maybe get another Thruxton or maybe a Speed Twin, something retro looking and the perfect bike to get out on, steady runs out, nothing to aggressive and then go back home and put it back in the garage...
Thoughts...
I'm going through a bit of a dilemma tbh and I'm gauging the opinion's of the fellow bikers on here...
So when I decided to get into biking a few years ago I had it in my head I wanted something nice looking to ride just for a run out to a few coffee shops with mates or on my own, nothing excessively fast and something where when I got off the bike it would give me a smile when I looked back as its a stunning looking bike and it would be mine.
Over the years I think I've gone away from that and I've bought bikes for the wrong reasons (i.e Triumph Street Triple RS, looked great in yellow and was fun, Adventure or Sports Touring bikes as I thought I'd be going all over on tours and wanted something comfortable and even a Thruxton which I will still say is one of the nicest looking bikes ever made but I don't think it was the most comfortable bikes ever made, although I should have had the suspension tweaked.).
Now the last few rides out I've not enjoyed it as much, and I think its because I've got the wrong bikes and I've pushed the riding a little too much (i.e speeding too much and being aggressive overtaking cars). This wasn't what I had intended to do when I passed my test years ago, I basically wanted something to jump on, comfortable, good looking and then go out steady away, take in the views and call in coffee shops then turn round and go home and park the bike back up (in the nice weather I may add).
Last year I got extremely lucky with a stupid overtake of a tractor on a corner where I nearly came a cropper and I also had a let off by a Police camera over 3 points, now the last few times I've been out (by myself) I've again found myself rushing to coffee shops for a quick stop then off again, speeding and not taking in the scenery and not clearing my head like I used to and tbh I'm finding I haven't enjoyed the last few runs out.
Now, if I mentioned the near miss to my OH I know she'd want me to give it up, my problem is how do I get back to what I originally wanted the bike for, i.e a steady scenic run out to somewhere for coffee, fish & chips or cake then a nice scenic run back keeping my spending in check and getting back to what I want from a bike.
Do I give it up or should I just change my bike to something like a Triumph Speed Twin or go back to a Kwak Z900RS SE???
At the moment I'm running a 2024 BMW S1000XR, something I thought would be perfect due to its ability to tour and a decent pace (don't know why I say tour as I've only ever been away on a tour twice in 5 years for a few days each time). I'm thinking maybe I should get rid of the sporty inline 4 and maybe get another Thruxton or maybe a Speed Twin, something retro looking and the perfect bike to get out on, steady runs out, nothing to aggressive and then go back home and put it back in the garage...
Thoughts...
Edited by Martylaa on Sunday 19th April 20:01
Slightly different to you OP as I had a supermotard type bike and found myself ragging it everywhere, had a couple of close ones and decided to look around at other bikes.
My head was turned by an Africa twin but I also had an uncomfortable liking for certain Harleys, which in the end I didn t succumb to but it did make me notice Indian scouts.
After some test rides I found that the Indian bobber was the one that made me happy to cruise along at normal traffic speeds, but could open it up for a bit more of a rush (including wind rush, which doesn t half help keep your speeds down) and so that s what I bought.
I won t tell you I won t ever have another bike, or that I don t want an enduro and a litre naked, but it didn t half make me slow down and enjoy the ride.
My head was turned by an Africa twin but I also had an uncomfortable liking for certain Harleys, which in the end I didn t succumb to but it did make me notice Indian scouts.
After some test rides I found that the Indian bobber was the one that made me happy to cruise along at normal traffic speeds, but could open it up for a bit more of a rush (including wind rush, which doesn t half help keep your speeds down) and so that s what I bought.
I won t tell you I won t ever have another bike, or that I don t want an enduro and a litre naked, but it didn t half make me slow down and enjoy the ride.
Edited by FNG on Sunday 19th April 20:54
Get something that makes you slow down, smile when you open the garage, and enjoy a Sunday ride without feeling the need to prove anything.
Of the options you mention, I would lean Speed Twin or Z900RS SE over another Thruxton.
But first spend a few weeks proving to yourself that you can ride in the calmer way you say you want.
Of the options you mention, I would lean Speed Twin or Z900RS SE over another Thruxton.
But first spend a few weeks proving to yourself that you can ride in the calmer way you say you want.
The way you’re riding, isn’t the bike’s fault. It’s you. Sorry if that’s blunt, but it is. You need to get something out of your system. I’ve no idea what that is, but I can give you my experience.
I passed my bike test in my mid-30s. It was supposed to be a way to cut down on my commuting time. Within 18 months I’d bought an R1 amd was the slowest rider in the U.K. on it. 2 years later I did some trackdays, made it to the sharp end of fast group, went racing, was dog slow, got quicker, got my National licence and then quit riding completely. Sold my road and race bikes. That lasted two years. I came back and bought an MT-10 as sensible bike to slow me down. It didn’t work. I rode it hard. Sold it and bought an M1000R at the turn of the year.
I know I can’t slow down and be sensible. I know it’s not the bike. I know it’s me.
If your mentality is that you want to go fast, then you will. It doesn’t matter what bike you buy. You will either ride it fast, or you’ll be bored of it8 because it feels too slow / you want more. Whatever it is, you need to find a way to satisfy that need. It might not be bikes, it might be jumping out of a plane or bungee jumping, or whatever. One thing that won’t solve it is trackdays. That will just make you want to go faster and you probably will.
Other people will have different views. That’s mine at nearly 60 and refusing to be sensible.
I passed my bike test in my mid-30s. It was supposed to be a way to cut down on my commuting time. Within 18 months I’d bought an R1 amd was the slowest rider in the U.K. on it. 2 years later I did some trackdays, made it to the sharp end of fast group, went racing, was dog slow, got quicker, got my National licence and then quit riding completely. Sold my road and race bikes. That lasted two years. I came back and bought an MT-10 as sensible bike to slow me down. It didn’t work. I rode it hard. Sold it and bought an M1000R at the turn of the year.
I know I can’t slow down and be sensible. I know it’s not the bike. I know it’s me.
If your mentality is that you want to go fast, then you will. It doesn’t matter what bike you buy. You will either ride it fast, or you’ll be bored of it8 because it feels too slow / you want more. Whatever it is, you need to find a way to satisfy that need. It might not be bikes, it might be jumping out of a plane or bungee jumping, or whatever. One thing that won’t solve it is trackdays. That will just make you want to go faster and you probably will.
Other people will have different views. That’s mine at nearly 60 and refusing to be sensible.
hiccy18 said:
I did IAM four years ago, volunteer now, I find I'm more in control and aware of my behaviour. I can still ride like a cock, but that's by choice... and I'm better at it. 
I think this is the answer and working on self control.I overtake a lot but do try to do it in the IAM way
I don't think a z900 rs will slow you down , it's a fast bike . Like many motorcycles are .
You need to change what you do and how you ride or face the consequences.
Your current bike can be ridden well, gently, cautiously and safety by the rider who wants to do that .
I am over 60 and have had over 30 bikes, definitely ride slower now by far ,for a number of reasons. Foremost is I want to ride slower and I can. I absolutely recommend IAM as mentioned, albeit I hated the process, it helped with my riding.
You need to change what you do and how you ride or face the consequences.
Your current bike can be ridden well, gently, cautiously and safety by the rider who wants to do that .
I am over 60 and have had over 30 bikes, definitely ride slower now by far ,for a number of reasons. Foremost is I want to ride slower and I can. I absolutely recommend IAM as mentioned, albeit I hated the process, it helped with my riding.
Edited by cliffords on Sunday 19th April 22:22
Martylaa said:
So what does IAM generally have involve then?
Briefings, going over minutes, more briefings, did i mention briefings?Work out what you ENJOY doing on the bike and get something that'll make that easier. Go and test ride a variety of them if you cab l can and try to avoid your ego taking control.
You can do IAM training without taking the test, bike safe if like a very condensed try it out for a day.
I think you are experiencing some anxiety after the event of riding and replaying the mistakes, my friend did this….each time we rode he was very fast but after he seemed to torment himself. He sold his bike in the end.
Do try a slow bike but I think you need to reset the way you ride or learn to deal with the anxiety
I think you are experiencing some anxiety after the event of riding and replaying the mistakes, my friend did this….each time we rode he was very fast but after he seemed to torment himself. He sold his bike in the end.
Do try a slow bike but I think you need to reset the way you ride or learn to deal with the anxiety
Got my full fat licence in may 1996 and I've never not had a bike on the road since.
I've chopped and changed many times sometimes only owning a bike for 6 months sometimes owning 3 of the same model as they improve / change over the years.
I've never had an off (riding dirt bikes is not included in this) and only had my collar felt once but got away with it.
I still ride like a tit sometimes but as with enjoying a quick car its all about time and place.
I'll have occasional days when the weather is just right and I get a bike out but 5 miles down the road I'm just not feeling it so go home and do something else.
I have 2-3 bikes at any one time (3 at the moment) so have choices.
Riding with a group you know is fun but that's more a social thing for me, my best rides are solo ones be they 1 hour or a long 500 mile day in the saddle.
Try different things, off road experience days, track days, plan a weekend away on the bike somewhere with interesting roads and a random hotel / B+B to stop at.
Get the riding in whilst you can, I've got maybe 20 years riding left in me if the powers that be don't ban it or legislate it into oblivion first and I intend to get as much in as I can.
Remember your'e a long time dead so live whilst you can
I've chopped and changed many times sometimes only owning a bike for 6 months sometimes owning 3 of the same model as they improve / change over the years.
I've never had an off (riding dirt bikes is not included in this) and only had my collar felt once but got away with it.
I still ride like a tit sometimes but as with enjoying a quick car its all about time and place.
I'll have occasional days when the weather is just right and I get a bike out but 5 miles down the road I'm just not feeling it so go home and do something else.
I have 2-3 bikes at any one time (3 at the moment) so have choices.
Riding with a group you know is fun but that's more a social thing for me, my best rides are solo ones be they 1 hour or a long 500 mile day in the saddle.
Try different things, off road experience days, track days, plan a weekend away on the bike somewhere with interesting roads and a random hotel / B+B to stop at.
Get the riding in whilst you can, I've got maybe 20 years riding left in me if the powers that be don't ban it or legislate it into oblivion first and I intend to get as much in as I can.
Remember your'e a long time dead so live whilst you can
In 2022 I passed my test and in that year rode a 2013 R1200RT but it looked so uncool and changed it. Since then I’ve been through some cool bikes but not enjoyed them at all.
I’m back on a 2017 R1200RT and ride at the legal speed limits I.e 60 on a country road and love it.
I was close to throwing in the towel for good but where exactly are we all rushing to on a bike?
I’m back on a 2017 R1200RT and ride at the legal speed limits I.e 60 on a country road and love it.
I was close to throwing in the towel for good but where exactly are we all rushing to on a bike?
Biker9090 said:
Martylaa said:
So what does IAM generally have involve then?
Briefings, going over minutes, more briefings, did i mention briefings?Work out what you ENJOY doing on the bike and get something that'll make that easier. Go and test ride a variety of them if you cab l can and try to avoid your ego taking control.
Understanding what you really want from biking is key. Only you can answer that but you need to be really honest with yourself. Make a list of the bits of biking that make you feel good and another list of the bits that don't. Make time to maximise the bits that work for you and look at ways you can reduce the bits that don't.
Being unhappy about "not riding well" is often more of an issue than many people admit. Riding like a cock is something we all do, a lot to start with but less as we "grow up". Knowing how to ride well (different to just not being a cock), in a way that can be externally evaluated, is something that advanced riding qualifications can give. IAM or RoSPA (who I'm with) will teach you how to ride well and why riding that way will not only make you safer but also smoother and faster. There is a lot of satisfaction in knowing your last ride was "up to standard".
The training I did was a 25 min ride with an observer then pull over and have a 5 minute discussion about what was good and what could be better, then repeat. It was 1 to 1 and my observer picked some nice roads. I'm not sure I'd call that "briefings, going over minutes, more briefings, did i mention briefings".
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