Has anyone else given up road riding and not regretted it?
Discussion
I’m getting to that point at the moment, thinking about calling it a day on the road after this summer as I’m just not enjoying it as much as I used to at all.
Roads are so busy and just don’t feel comfortable riding to anywhere near the potential of the bike.Ifeel like the bike is wasted doing a couple of k a year on the road and it would be better to track convert it and enjoy it for what it’s actually made for and good at plus get the going very fast out of my system in a much safer environment than country roads!.
Don’t know if it’s just that I’ve not ridden all winter but feel pretty unmotivated to get on it at the moment, I was thinking about taking it out today but decided I couldn’t be bothered.
I don’t know maybe I’d be better off track converting the R1 and getting something more sedate on the road for the nice weather?, I’ve always quite fancied the idea of a supermoto or green lane style of bike.
Roads are so busy and just don’t feel comfortable riding to anywhere near the potential of the bike.Ifeel like the bike is wasted doing a couple of k a year on the road and it would be better to track convert it and enjoy it for what it’s actually made for and good at plus get the going very fast out of my system in a much safer environment than country roads!.
Don’t know if it’s just that I’ve not ridden all winter but feel pretty unmotivated to get on it at the moment, I was thinking about taking it out today but decided I couldn’t be bothered.
I don’t know maybe I’d be better off track converting the R1 and getting something more sedate on the road for the nice weather?, I’ve always quite fancied the idea of a supermoto or green lane style of bike.
Your not alone, turn left or right at the end of the road and take the same old route . Over the years I've compensated boredom buy buying a ridiculous amount of bikes and had a garage full. A new bike in the stable makes the same route a buzz again for a bit.
Last march I spunked 18k on another new bike
Yep, I am now bored lol. Its covered 1800 miles and I really cant be arsed. Maybe my mojo will relight but for now i get more enjoyment from this.
Push bike w
ker, just thought id get that in before BN gets chance 
Maybe I'm just old and miserable. O no wait, I am old and miserable
Last march I spunked 18k on another new bike
Yep, I am now bored lol. Its covered 1800 miles and I really cant be arsed. Maybe my mojo will relight but for now i get more enjoyment from this.
Push bike w
ker, just thought id get that in before BN gets chance Maybe I'm just old and miserable. O no wait, I am old and miserable
I gave up road bikes years ago because of busy, potholed roads,speed cameras and especially Speed Vans.
Bought an ex race bike from Rob Barber and just started doing Track Days.
Three or four every month in the Summer.
No fun when it's cold because you think it's going to hurt more when you crash.
Racetracks tend to be Barron places when the sun goes away!
Not really bothered about a 2 or 3 grand bike getting wrecked. Unlike a new road bike which cost silly money nowadays.
Worked for me, as all of my mates did the track days as well.
Bought an ex race bike from Rob Barber and just started doing Track Days.
Three or four every month in the Summer.
No fun when it's cold because you think it's going to hurt more when you crash.
Racetracks tend to be Barron places when the sun goes away!
Not really bothered about a 2 or 3 grand bike getting wrecked. Unlike a new road bike which cost silly money nowadays.
Worked for me, as all of my mates did the track days as well.
A few years ago. Once you get your head into track riding, roads become laborious and you begin to push your luck to mix it up. That will only end in 2 ways, one of which happened to me.
I got within a nats chuff of a very long ban or custodial, that was all I needed.
I'll never ride the road again, it's been at least 4 years. I even bought a harley thinking that would quench my thirst, it was hideous. Haven't ridden it since.
I got within a nats chuff of a very long ban or custodial, that was all I needed.
I'll never ride the road again, it's been at least 4 years. I even bought a harley thinking that would quench my thirst, it was hideous. Haven't ridden it since.
I’ve significantly changed the bike I ride and the roads I ride on but still enjoying it.
I don’t see the point of track days. If I could get on track in a less busy more relaxed way I would but the way they work in the uk just isn’t for me.
I kind of think I will just keep downgrading the bikes I ride on the road to suit circumstances and then pack it in if the bike / riding environment trade off stops working for me.
I don’t see the point of track days. If I could get on track in a less busy more relaxed way I would but the way they work in the uk just isn’t for me.
I kind of think I will just keep downgrading the bikes I ride on the road to suit circumstances and then pack it in if the bike / riding environment trade off stops working for me.
Surely much of this decision depends on where you live ?
In the south east of England its one of the most densely populated areas on our planet...2/3rds of population live in about 15-20% of the area.
If you live in Scotland or some northern counties traffic is very light or non existent outside of major towns and you can enjoy riding in the countryside just as you did 20 or 30 years ago.
In the south east of England its one of the most densely populated areas on our planet...2/3rds of population live in about 15-20% of the area.
If you live in Scotland or some northern counties traffic is very light or non existent outside of major towns and you can enjoy riding in the countryside just as you did 20 or 30 years ago.
bogie said:
Surely much of this decision depends on where you live ?
In the south east of England its one of the most densely populated areas on our planet...2/3rds of population live in about 15-20% of the area.
If you live in Scotland or some northern counties traffic is very light or non existent outside of major towns and you can enjoy riding in the countryside just as you did 20 or 30 years ago.
Quite. I live in London, and ride for a commute. I'm considering getting a much sportier bike than my Fazer. The commute isn't long enough for comfort or economy to a serious issue. I have to ride for ages just to get out of town, and then it's all potholes, 40s where it used to be NSL, hordes of cyclists, etc. In the south east of England its one of the most densely populated areas on our planet...2/3rds of population live in about 15-20% of the area.
If you live in Scotland or some northern counties traffic is very light or non existent outside of major towns and you can enjoy riding in the countryside just as you did 20 or 30 years ago.
I'd rather do track days. My spare time is pretty limited so a disappointing, or very long, day on the road had less appeal.
Nope, I've given up a couple of times but it hasn't lasted long, I'm fortunate to live in the north of England and have Yorkshire, Lancashire, Northumbria, County Durham and Scotland less than an hour away, plus I'm surrounded by amazing roads with little traffic, and very few police, I do still have to think where I'm going to go some days as I must have ridden every road within 50 miles countless times, unfortunately there's more groups of lycra clad knobheads 'racing' in unsuitable places since the tour of Britain happened which makes it frustrating at times and rules parts of N Yorkshire out for me these days, I have nothing against cyclists individually but 'peletons' of them can fk off into the sea, I generally park my bike in the middle of them given the opportunity
k off into the sea, I generally park my bike in the middle of them given the opportunity I still enjoy riding on the road, but like a few people have said, I've changed what I ride and where I ride. I try to stay off the busy popular biker roads in Surrey - they're just too busy and on a sunny weekend are full of police catching anyone riding like a knob.
So I tend to find my fun on narrow 40s and 50s, and that's sort of why I bought a Hypermotard, and because it makes every ride fun without going much above 50mph. I don't miss riding a sportsbike on the road, but I wish I had space for a Daytona 675 for trackdays… as well as the time and money to do them.
So I tend to find my fun on narrow 40s and 50s, and that's sort of why I bought a Hypermotard, and because it makes every ride fun without going much above 50mph. I don't miss riding a sportsbike on the road, but I wish I had space for a Daytona 675 for trackdays… as well as the time and money to do them.
TimmyWimmyWoo said:
So I tend to find my fun on narrow 40s and 50s, and that's sort of why I bought a Hypermotard, and because it makes every ride fun without going much above 50mph. I don't miss riding a sportsbike on the road, but I wish I had space for a Daytona 675 for trackdays… as well as the time and money to do them.
Isn't this the answer for everyone?That and probably not living down South of course, but that's true for just about everything too.
TimmyWimmyWoo said:
I still enjoy riding on the road, but like a few people have said, I've changed what I ride and where I ride. I try to stay off the busy popular biker roads in Surrey - they're just too busy and on a sunny weekend are full of police catching anyone riding like a knob.
So I tend to find my fun on narrow 40s and 50s, and that's sort of why I bought a Hypermotard, and because it makes every ride fun without going much above 50mph. I don't miss riding a sportsbike on the road, but I wish I had space for a Daytona 675 for trackdays… as well as the time and money to do them.
I tend to go further out into Hampshire/Sussex or Dorset now as riding in Surrey is pretty crap. So I tend to find my fun on narrow 40s and 50s, and that's sort of why I bought a Hypermotard, and because it makes every ride fun without going much above 50mph. I don't miss riding a sportsbike on the road, but I wish I had space for a Daytona 675 for trackdays… as well as the time and money to do them.
I still enjoy the odd day riding on the road but after having done a few trackdays I think they're much more fun.
I'm not going to rush into anything, definately going to ride this year on the road and see how I feel after, got a trackday booked in a couple of months though, going to be my first one on the R1M and can't wait
.VonSenger said:
A few years ago. Once you get your head into track riding, roads become laborious and you begin to push your luck to mix it up. That will only end in 2 ways, one of which happened to me.
I got within a nats chuff of a very long ban or custodial, that was all I needed.
I'll never ride the road again, it's been at least 4 years. I even bought a harley thinking that would quench my thirst, it was hideous. Haven't ridden it since.
I completely get where you're coming from, except buying a Harley, what possessed you I got within a nats chuff of a very long ban or custodial, that was all I needed.
I'll never ride the road again, it's been at least 4 years. I even bought a harley thinking that would quench my thirst, it was hideous. Haven't ridden it since.
.I go through phases of thinking this - even recently - but a good ride then changes my mind.
I think it depends upon where you live. Here in NZ there are some great roads. I did an amazing 800 km trip from Auckland to New Plymouth a week ago and apart from the first and last 25 km it was pretty much all twisty, single track road.
I like riding on track but there is as much, if not more, pleasure for me in riding unknown and challenging roads. You aren’t pushing the bike as hard but the mental effort is just as high as you have to deal constantly with the unexpected and weigh up the risks.
Track days are great but they take up at least one whole day and you can’t guarantee the weather in the UK. Also, when I went through a period of not owning a bike I would do the odd track day but only doing a couple of year it was difficult not to get rusty.
If we move back to the U.K. I’m not sure whether I would continue biking. I had some half decent roads near me in the U.K. - by southern standards - yet looking back they seem really dull compared to here. The state highway 22 I rode was about 70 km of constant corners. Didn’t come across another vehicle in my direction and only saw a dozen cars/vans in the other direction - plus 3 bikes. Was so mentally knackered towards the end I almost stopped for a rest.
I think if we do move back to the U.K. I might try restoring a bike. I have zero experience and no tools but I suppose both of those can be fixed. Could be a good way of keeping bikes as a hobby even if I do less riding.
I think it depends upon where you live. Here in NZ there are some great roads. I did an amazing 800 km trip from Auckland to New Plymouth a week ago and apart from the first and last 25 km it was pretty much all twisty, single track road.
I like riding on track but there is as much, if not more, pleasure for me in riding unknown and challenging roads. You aren’t pushing the bike as hard but the mental effort is just as high as you have to deal constantly with the unexpected and weigh up the risks.
Track days are great but they take up at least one whole day and you can’t guarantee the weather in the UK. Also, when I went through a period of not owning a bike I would do the odd track day but only doing a couple of year it was difficult not to get rusty.
If we move back to the U.K. I’m not sure whether I would continue biking. I had some half decent roads near me in the U.K. - by southern standards - yet looking back they seem really dull compared to here. The state highway 22 I rode was about 70 km of constant corners. Didn’t come across another vehicle in my direction and only saw a dozen cars/vans in the other direction - plus 3 bikes. Was so mentally knackered towards the end I almost stopped for a rest.
I think if we do move back to the U.K. I might try restoring a bike. I have zero experience and no tools but I suppose both of those can be fixed. Could be a good way of keeping bikes as a hobby even if I do less riding.
It’s complicated
I don’t much enjoy riding on my own which means I have a big bike so my wife can go pillion.
But...the big bike is a pain in the arse to manoeuvre, and solo isn’t as enjoyable.
If I was on my own I’d have a smaller bike...but as said I don’t enjoy riding on my own and half a dozen times a year I ride with mates isn’t enough justification for a bike.
Theoretically I could give up riding but I’ve had bikes for near on 50 years and I think I’d miss having one in the shed.
So to sum up.
No.
Guess it just depends upon available finance for me. If I was financing a bike I would probably have given it up as I don’t ride much, rarely without a pillion and maybe the odd commute of the weather is nice.
I have a 2008 Fatbob which I own outright, it can still be huddled a bit but it obviously doesn’t allow for much in the way of street lunacy so it’s probably a safe option for me. I’m in the north of England, traffic isn’t that bad... if it was then I think I would be looking at other options.
I have a 2008 Fatbob which I own outright, it can still be huddled a bit but it obviously doesn’t allow for much in the way of street lunacy so it’s probably a safe option for me. I’m in the north of England, traffic isn’t that bad... if it was then I think I would be looking at other options.
For various reasons I haven't had a bike for over 18 months. If I don't buy something soon my full no claims bonus will probably lapse. I've looked for a Ducati 1198 on and off for the last 6 months, but decent ones seem few and far between or silly money. I've been thinking about a GSX-R1000R too, but I moved recently, and the local roads are rubbish compared to where I was before..
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