Does every biker consider

[A500leroy]

giving up at some point?

What with the people in cars trying to kill you, the thieves trying to strand you where ever you are and the incoming stting weather,we must be mad to do this for pleasure!

[RichTT]

I only managed about 1300 miles since I bought my Bobber at the end of last summer.

Change of location means that I moved away from some biking friends. Change of bike meant that I'm less inclined to go for long rides. Local friends that I do know that ride all tend to err towards litre sportbikes and I can't be arsed worrying about keeping up. Means that my biking habits have changed drastically over the last year or so towards 30-60 miles routes near home, on my own.

I'm almost inclined to sell up and invest the cash in upgrading the car. But then you get the combination of the perfect dry day, quiet roads and you remember why you bought a bike in the first place.

[MrAverage]

I gave up about 5/6 years ago, due to 2 bike thefts. I swore off of them until I had a secure place to store them, I kept a bike at my mum's but found I couldn't be arsed to use it as it was too much faff. Every time I saw a bike out I wanted another.

Fast forward to last month and I'm back on 2 wheels... I'm not sure how I feel now though. I've lost my confidence in the bends but will keep the bike until the nice weather and make a proper decision then.

My biggest thing with bikes is, nothing can do what they do. I have a fun, nippy car but I can't open the taps when I want and ultimately you just get stuck behind the next dawdler.

[A500leroy]

This is the thing, would an mx5 get near the feeling of a bike then id consider swapping, but that moment when youve just got into a ride you suddenly think this is why i do it.

[mikedxb]

I’ve recently given up on track days. After several training courses, probably tens of track days, I realised I’ll never be the quick rider I want to be and found it just too frustrating... I wasn’t enjoying it. Selling the STR to buy something that will interest in a different way for more street riding (currently thinking GPZ900R).

[PurpleTurtle]

Although I'm an all year round commuter rider, having worked from home for the last 6 months and been on the shielding list I haven't done much in the way of riding at all lately, other than to take my VFR800 for its MOT, which it passed but then fried its indicator fuse on the way back from!

I am considering a post-Covid change of bike though. My parents are 100 miles away, Dad beginning to suffer from dementia, they are needing to rely on me more to do practical stuff for them - Dad is a retired 80yo engineer but really shouldn't be going up ladders etc.

I think over the next few years I am going to need to be doing lots of quick trips up to see them to sort trivial things out, with the bike being a quicker and more fun option than the car, so I am looking for something Kawasaki GTR1400-ish - a bit more comfy/better weather protection/more luggage capacity than the VFR.

Which means my much loved ZX7R will probably be on its way at some point, once I've repaired its clutch ....

[Gee68]

My PCP deal finishes next month and I’m thinking about calling it a day for road riding,just got fed up riding around for the hell of it.
Got an MX and trials bike and thinking about a supermoto pit bike as well so will concentrate on off road for now.

[Tribal Chestnut]

Yes!

After really enjoying a few track days last year I thought I’d spend more time doing that and only ride on the roads occasionally.

Then I had a tumble on track (fell off last year, but actually got ridden into this time), really hurt myself and didn’t enjoy the next day I attended once I was almost better.

This all left me feeling like not very much of a motorcyclist, but a recent contract meant a 50 mile commute each way, only on the M25 & A3, but I’m really enjoying it, even with the recent rain and lots of filtering due to crashes, so am now thinking of bike shopping and buying some new winter kit.

[V8RX7]

A500leroy said:

This is the thing, would an mx5 get near the feeling of a bike then id consider swapping, but that moment when youve just got into a ride you suddenly think this is why i do it.

I have a (supercharged) MX5 too, the MX5 is great as you don't have to wear a load of gear or a helmet and can stay warm and dry and I can push it beyond it's limits of grip in safety but bikes on the right roads have another dimension to them, although there is a lot more risk / hassle.

For me bikes are purely toys, cars are generally transport.

[Alex@POD]

A500leroy said:

giving up at some point?

What with the people in cars trying to kill you, the thieves trying to strand you where ever you are and the incoming stting weather,we must be mad to do this for pleasure!

I think you have the wrong outlook (probably due to inconvenient circumstances). No cars drivers try to kill me because I always ride defensively and the traffic isn't that bad, my bike has been on the drive for 6 years and nobody has ever lifted the cover, and I have goretex clothes that keep me dry.

That being said, I live in the North, in a nice enough area.

[Drawweight]

My bike didn’t move for 2 years and I was seriously thinking of just getting rid of it and not bothering to replace it.

Then my wife persuaded me to buy another bike for my retirement, sell the old one and go out with her on pillion for decent runs.

So it was her that really kept me biking.

[Jazoli]

No, not really anymore, it gives me a lot of pleasure for the 4k a year I do over 6 months, I can handle people trying to kill me, you just have to be on your toes.

[Krikkit]

Like a lot of people who are soft, sunny weather riders like me, I think life has got in the way a bit this year.

On a st day it makes me think "why did I bother?"

But.

On the right day there is absolutely nothing as easy to enjoy as a bike on a good road.

[outnumbered]

A500leroy said:

giving up at some point?

What with the people in cars trying to kill you, the thieves trying to strand you where ever you are and the incoming stting weather,we must be mad to do this for pleasure!

I've been riding for 20 years and have never considered giving up for even a moment. Even commuting on a bike in winter is fun compared to the alternative !

[Kent Border Kenny]

A500leroy said:

giving up at some point?

What with the people in cars trying to kill you, the thieves trying to strand you where ever you are and the incoming stting weather,we must be mad to do this for pleasure!

I had a couple of years out in my 30s, but since then, no.

I scooter as much as biking now though, as I use it for urban transport, and I’m not into the long trips in crappy weather.

[jackh707]

Mountain biking has more chance of replacing motor biking for me.

Same thrills at lower speeds, risks are breaking collar bones and grazed knees, good fun in all weather all year.

And if it’s not exciting enough you just need to find a steeper hill.

[Walter Sobchak]

I’ve thought about only riding on track in the next few years and giving up on the road, I have enjoyed going out on the bike most weekends recently though.

[Pit Pony]

A500leroy said:

giving up at some point?

What with the people in cars trying to kill you, the thieves trying to strand you where ever you are and the incoming stting weather,we must be mad to do this for pleasure!

I gave up mid air in 1988, after attempting to brake whilst leaning over on sheet ice, and having to push my very twisted RD350LC 2 miles home. (It hit a lamp post, I just skated on my arse across the road in front of a bin lorry, and ended up standing on the pavement. No idea how.
So I've had a couple of occasions when I've planned to go back to biking.
And chickened out.
The first was in 2001. I'd got a job which involved driving 33 miles to the wrong side of Runcorn, which meant crossing the Runcorn Bridge over the misery, and passing through switch island. I found a GSX750R in a dealer for £1000. I was going to take my wife to look at it, and the day before, I wrote off my car. In a way that would have killed me on a bike. Although to be fair, I woukd have been in a different lane.
Then in 2017, I was looking again. I'd priced up back to biking courses, decided which helmet, which leathers, and which classic Gpz900R in which Welsh dealer I could afford. And my wife was ready to do the pillion thing. Until she got serious problems with her back. She could barely sit in a car seat for 15 mins without being in pain. I dropped the idea.
I still would like a bike, but can no longer really be bothered.

[WarnieV6GT]

A500leroy said:

giving up at some point?

What with the people in cars trying to kill you, the thieves trying to strand you where ever you are and the incoming stting weather,we must be mad to do this for pleasure!

Never had anyone try and kill me or knick my bike. Is this a London thing again?

[the cueball]

outnumbered said:

A500leroy said:

giving up at some point?

What with the people in cars trying to kill you, the thieves trying to strand you where ever you are and the incoming stting weather,we must be mad to do this for pleasure!

I've been riding for 20 years and have never considered giving up for even a moment. Even commuting on a bike in winter is fun compared to the alternative !

This.