Back after 15 years of not riding
Discussion
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KurtFlew said:
What a great looking bike! What's it like being back on a bike after that long?
It is gorgeous in the flesh/daylight imo.It’s been weird, had to risk buying all my gear online no trying on.
Being older now I’ve gone for a zipped 2 piece set of leathers rather than a single piece suit. Too old to faff that much.
Honestly, I was crapping myself. My last bike was a 2003 600cc sports bike. Jumping on to a 1000cc superbike was nerve wracking.
But the weight is about the same, it was my low speed corners, setting off etc that was my real worry.
After a 10 mile ride it was like I’d never been off a bike, albeit I’m 40 now so even swinging a leg over it something creaks or cracks.
Performance wise, I’m taking it easy. It has new rubber on it and I need to get some road craft back before I even open her up.
I have it on max traction/wheelie control and lowest power setting until I get used to brake sensitivity and just overall control of the bike at all speeds.
Needless to say it freaking well goes like, like well a missle!
I had a 16 year gap. Although my road riding was ended by a pensioner in a Renault 5. I had done a few track days in the intervening period. Was a bit nervous at first - particular of cars at junctions. But didn’t take too long to get back into the swing. I started with a KTM 390 but that only lasted about six weeks before I swapped it for an S1000R.
Might be worth doing some advanced lessons or joining your local IAM group. I did the IAM bike test and did some rideouts. I stopped after I got the test as found it too slow but it was good to go over all the defensive riding and observation skills.
Might be worth doing some advanced lessons or joining your local IAM group. I did the IAM bike test and did some rideouts. I stopped after I got the test as found it too slow but it was good to go over all the defensive riding and observation skills.
Esceptico said:
Might be worth doing some advanced lessons or joining your local IAM group. I did the IAM bike test and did some rideouts. I stopped after I got the test as found it too slow but it was good to go over all the defensive riding and observation skills.
+1 for advanced, and I hugely recommend a day with Rapid Training – utterly brilliant 
Incidentally, Ryan-nunm9 of this parish is one of the Rapid instructors.
Just to be clear, full no claims and the last sp30 I had was 15 years ago, 56 in a 50 on the A1.
15 years off a bike hasn’t helped to be honest and all my NCB on the cars, plus the wife’s NCB on them.
Having a garage bought the cost down but it is understandably pricey. I expect next year it will go down to a reasonable level.
15 years off a bike hasn’t helped to be honest and all my NCB on the cars, plus the wife’s NCB on them.
Having a garage bought the cost down but it is understandably pricey. I expect next year it will go down to a reasonable level.
I was partially asking due to another thread where someone in London who's been away from biking for years was warned about insurance and then found out for themselves.
Using quote screen scrapers there seems to be a lot of variation in quotes.
I am more interested on how your return to biking goes and your cars. I've seen those two Ulsterman brothers who race them being interviewed by Fagan on 44 Teeth but such a bike is way beyond my abilities and needs. I can still remember staring at Fireblades in the 90s.
You seem to have collected a Hare on your pillion.
Using quote screen scrapers there seems to be a lot of variation in quotes.
I am more interested on how your return to biking goes and your cars. I've seen those two Ulsterman brothers who race them being interviewed by Fagan on 44 Teeth but such a bike is way beyond my abilities and needs. I can still remember staring at Fireblades in the 90s.
You seem to have collected a Hare on your pillion.
Sounds like a few of us have been here! 
.
I had a 15 year gap, then bought a Fireblade. For the first 20 miles I'm honest enough to admit that maybe I'd made an expensive mistake.
However, as mentioned above, just a bit of rusty skills. Putting some prudent miles allowed that rust to be removed and for me to be reminded that it's one of the best things in the world (to me). Kept it for three years, then an s1000rr for two years. Now looking at a 2020 s1000rr.
.I had a 15 year gap, then bought a Fireblade. For the first 20 miles I'm honest enough to admit that maybe I'd made an expensive mistake.
However, as mentioned above, just a bit of rusty skills. Putting some prudent miles allowed that rust to be removed and for me to be reminded that it's one of the best things in the world (to me). Kept it for three years, then an s1000rr for two years. Now looking at a 2020 s1000rr.
Salted_Peanut said:
Esceptico said:
Might be worth doing some advanced lessons or joining your local IAM group. I did the IAM bike test and did some rideouts. I stopped after I got the test as found it too slow but it was good to go over all the defensive riding and observation skills.
+1 for advanced, and I hugely recommend a day with Rapid Training – utterly brilliant Incidentally, Ryan-nunm9 of this parish is one of the Rapid instructors.
Lovely 'blade. I bought one in that spec for work when they first come out. Love the matt black look, all bar one of my bikes have been matt black. I keep trying to move away from it to a brighter colour scheme, but it just looks so good.
If you wanted to do a Rapid Course OP Vince would be the local coach, to Cambridge. Vince is BMW S1000XR rider, Rapid and British Superbike School coach and one of the few of us who coach the Bauer media journos (MCN, Bike mag etc) so more than qualified to help you get more out of the 'blade on road and track, whilst keeping you safe. Check out the website, Facebook etc for more info, or PM me on here if your interested.
Ryan-nunm9 said:
Cheers SP,
Lovely 'blade. I bought one in that spec for work when they first come out. Love the matt black look, all bar one of my bikes have been matt black. I keep trying to move away from it to a brighter colour scheme, but it just looks so good.
If you wanted to do a Rapid Course OP Vince would be the local coach, to Cambridge. Vince is BMW S1000XR rider, Rapid and British Superbike School coach and one of the few of us who coach the Bauer media journos (MCN, Bike mag etc) so more than qualified to help you get more out of the 'blade on road and track, whilst keeping you safe. Check out the website, Facebook etc for more info, or PM me on here if your interested.
Perfect.Lovely 'blade. I bought one in that spec for work when they first come out. Love the matt black look, all bar one of my bikes have been matt black. I keep trying to move away from it to a brighter colour scheme, but it just looks so good.
If you wanted to do a Rapid Course OP Vince would be the local coach, to Cambridge. Vince is BMW S1000XR rider, Rapid and British Superbike School coach and one of the few of us who coach the Bauer media journos (MCN, Bike mag etc) so more than qualified to help you get more out of the 'blade on road and track, whilst keeping you safe. Check out the website, Facebook etc for more info, or PM me on here if your interested.
Thank you will get in touch with him this week and sort out some tuition!
So went out yesterday for an extended ride, did motorways and back roads.
Full transparency I have the bike in low power, full traction and engine braking.
First observation is I am rusty, I creak and crack just swinging my leg over it.
Once on it and going after the slow stuff which was a little wobbly (I just didn’t control or own that very well) it was ok.
Ever since I did my lessons and test I’ve always done my shoulder looks in the cars so making sure things are clear was easy.
Muscle memory for braking, throttle control and clutch kicked in fairly quickly. But rusty.
Biggest issue was with gear changes, in the upshifts I had 2 problems, the first was just getting my boot in the rear set comfortably and intuitively felt like my boot is bigger than the gap!
The second was positivity in upshifts. I’d give it a good shove but still be in the same gear. No false neutrals just no upshifts and it would take a few tries which is distracting at slow or high speed. It was more pronounced at high speed but better when not using the clutch on the upshifts. Not using the clutch seemed to combat the problem a little.
Other than that, it’s on brand new tyres and I’m
Just easing myself back in to riding which for the life of me can’t understand why I paused so long.
Stay safe.
Glen
Full transparency I have the bike in low power, full traction and engine braking.
First observation is I am rusty, I creak and crack just swinging my leg over it.
Once on it and going after the slow stuff which was a little wobbly (I just didn’t control or own that very well) it was ok.
Ever since I did my lessons and test I’ve always done my shoulder looks in the cars so making sure things are clear was easy.
Muscle memory for braking, throttle control and clutch kicked in fairly quickly. But rusty.
Biggest issue was with gear changes, in the upshifts I had 2 problems, the first was just getting my boot in the rear set comfortably and intuitively felt like my boot is bigger than the gap!
The second was positivity in upshifts. I’d give it a good shove but still be in the same gear. No false neutrals just no upshifts and it would take a few tries which is distracting at slow or high speed. It was more pronounced at high speed but better when not using the clutch on the upshifts. Not using the clutch seemed to combat the problem a little.
Other than that, it’s on brand new tyres and I’m
Just easing myself back in to riding which for the life of me can’t understand why I paused so long.
Stay safe.
Glen
glencooley said:
Other than that, it’s on brand new tyres and I’m just easing myself back in to riding which for the life of me can’t understand why I paused so long.
Stay safe.
I'd imagine having a bike stolen is a downer. Due to the returning London biker getting insurance quotes thread I was wondering whether I'd get another bike if I had one stolen. Besides the upset it would be all the additional hassle.Stay safe.
I wish I'd got back on a motorcycle sooner too.
I had a reminder at the weekend to be cautious of traffic from the left intent on turning right cutting the Give Way line at T-Junctions. Both times it's been youngsters in small hatchbacks not slowing down much for the junctions. The incident this weekend could have been avoided if I'd used a different side turning to turn left to turn around in. I'd perhaps not learnt from the previous time it happened. Different junction but I could chosen a better junction with better visibility to take to turn around in and come back on myself.
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