No more road riding
Discussion
It's been a hard decision but after 24 years riding, and 21 of those on the road with a full license I'm knocking it on the head. I started off with school boy motorcross, then went onto the FS1E stage, then sports bikes, then super bikes by my mid twenties I was always one of the quickest in the fast group at track days and had enough money to go racing, I completed five or so seasons and got to a pretty good national level before realising that I would never really "make it" as the I was too old, too fat, and had a realisation of what pain fealt like, so went back to my roots and started doing a few local enduros and having weekends away in the mountains and over seas.
However during all that time I never quiet lost the road riding itch and would occassionally scratch it with another new 1000 but that's it now I'm calling time. I lost another friend last week in a no other vehicle involved rider error accident which brings the lifetime count to 3 people I would have classed as friends (as in proper friends with the benchmark of if you were getting married would they get an invite) I've done silly things and had some great experiences I've ridden the twisties in the alps, to the south of france, and the nurburgring, I've seen nearly 200mph several times and been banned from Le Shuttle for pulling wheelies in the train all good fun and what riding is all about. But I've also been off, I've stuffed it under a Renault Leguna so hard it lifted the back wheels off the ground, I've snapped handle bars with my chest, and I've been through the rear screen of a toyota celica and surfed on my arse at over 100mph. Now I've always been lucky and walked away with a few breaks and bruises but nothing serious, but I just feel that I've pushed it far enough now.
I know some of you will say "when your times up it's up" and "live life to the full" and these are exactly the things I've said to others in the past and heard this time off other motorcylists, well actually no, now those comments make me smile and realise that the search for adrenalin and adventure is a powerfull thing. But for me I think I've done it, the glory years are over, you might be able to buy a faster bike next year but you'll never be able to ride it (on the road) faster to a significant degree. I've done the european adventures when you could still ring the neck out of a bike without the risk of fines to make your hair curl and I look at it and think, actually there are only very few 2 wheeled adventures I still want to achieve and none of them involve 1000cc's of yamasakida's finest so the leathers are staying hung up for me from now on.
The following exclusions however still apply: The race bike is staying for track day playing, the enduro bike is staying for weekends away in the mud, and I'll still ride a Royal Enfield across the Himalayas for 2 weeks and a Harley on Route 66.
However during all that time I never quiet lost the road riding itch and would occassionally scratch it with another new 1000 but that's it now I'm calling time. I lost another friend last week in a no other vehicle involved rider error accident which brings the lifetime count to 3 people I would have classed as friends (as in proper friends with the benchmark of if you were getting married would they get an invite) I've done silly things and had some great experiences I've ridden the twisties in the alps, to the south of france, and the nurburgring, I've seen nearly 200mph several times and been banned from Le Shuttle for pulling wheelies in the train all good fun and what riding is all about. But I've also been off, I've stuffed it under a Renault Leguna so hard it lifted the back wheels off the ground, I've snapped handle bars with my chest, and I've been through the rear screen of a toyota celica and surfed on my arse at over 100mph. Now I've always been lucky and walked away with a few breaks and bruises but nothing serious, but I just feel that I've pushed it far enough now.
I know some of you will say "when your times up it's up" and "live life to the full" and these are exactly the things I've said to others in the past and heard this time off other motorcylists, well actually no, now those comments make me smile and realise that the search for adrenalin and adventure is a powerfull thing. But for me I think I've done it, the glory years are over, you might be able to buy a faster bike next year but you'll never be able to ride it (on the road) faster to a significant degree. I've done the european adventures when you could still ring the neck out of a bike without the risk of fines to make your hair curl and I look at it and think, actually there are only very few 2 wheeled adventures I still want to achieve and none of them involve 1000cc's of yamasakida's finest so the leathers are staying hung up for me from now on.
The following exclusions however still apply: The race bike is staying for track day playing, the enduro bike is staying for weekends away in the mud, and I'll still ride a Royal Enfield across the Himalayas for 2 weeks and a Harley on Route 66.
I phased my riding down a few years ago for similar reasons, but then started commuting out of necessity and caught the bug again to a degree, but no live a "bikers" lifestyle. It's an enjoyable mode of transport now and it's very rare that I ride at weekends or do anything bikey.
Your goals on the Enfield and Harley sound pretty cool and it sounds like you've ticked more biking boxes than most, including me, so you can always look back with fond memories and great anecdotes.
No point pushing your luck any farther when the danger outways the passion in your mind. You also still have the mud and tracks for the adrenelin hits
Good luck and stick around as it sounds like you have a wealth of knowledge
Your goals on the Enfield and Harley sound pretty cool and it sounds like you've ticked more biking boxes than most, including me, so you can always look back with fond memories and great anecdotes.
No point pushing your luck any farther when the danger outways the passion in your mind. You also still have the mud and tracks for the adrenelin hits
Good luck and stick around as it sounds like you have a wealth of knowledge
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