Get off the bike!

[Graydog]

Was going to run some errands on the little thumper today. Within a few blocks of the house I knew I didn’t need to be on the bike.

I’ve intended to ask this for a long time now. Anyone else have these “get off the bike days”?

Here are what mine are like.

1. Things just don’t feel right (very general…but enough said. I think everyone here has had that feeling.).
2. “Stop first then turn situations” are done as if I have only been riding for 6 months. Even though the speed is slow I have to make corrections during the turn. ie. The turn is not smooth natural feeling.
3. Curves. Uncomfortable feeling as if I’m in my first year of riding. Readjustments in speed and lean made during the curve that I don’t normally do on THAT curve or any other.
4. Stops. I have to think about it. My “feet on pavement” pattern is different from normal. Doesn’t feel right. Tend to use the hand brake more than usual at last second. May even twist front wheel and lean forward to rebalance bike.
5. “Long run”. During long runs between stops I think something is wrong with the way the bike feels. I tend to try to find things wrong with the bike.

Now in my case this could just be Alzheimer’s disease. (Or for those of you older than me “old timer’s disease.) But actually it has been present for me since I was in my 40s.

Does any one else experience this? Do you listen to “the inner voice”?

I have blamed this on inner ear infections, sinus infections, etc. But in reality when I have these medical conditions I stay off the bike anyway.

I am talking about days when you feel great. Yet nothing goes right on the bike and you know you should get off the bike.

[alanmcorcoran]

With the exception of the "days when you feel great" part, I recognize these symptoms. I haven't had them too much on the bike yet, but I have had them doing other activities that require focus, concentration and some coordination (skiing, playing the piano, racquetball, lifting weights.)

For example, one day I just could not get 185 pounds back up into the rack. I'd been lifting that much (6 reps) and more for a year, but, for whatever reason, I just didn't have anything. Had to dump the weights off. Ended up lowering my whole routine since then cause you don't know when it will strike. There are days I just get up and walk away from the piano cause I just don't have it and I'm not only wasting time, but practicing (learning) bad habits. There are days on the mountains where I can ski anything at full tilt and others where I am afraid to get off the lift.

I chalk it up a little to age and a little to a natural waxing and waning of one's abilities. It's sort of the opposite of being in the zone. When I was training for marathons, there were days I could run nine minute miles (fast for me, slow by most standards) for 15 miles. On other days, I struggled just to get through 8 miles at any speed. Over time, I've learned to do less and spend more time resting and recovering.

I ride the bike almost every day, and, yes, there are days I probably shouldn't be on it. On those days, I just lower my envelope of operation and raise my level of consciousness. In truth, for my commute, you don't need to be very adept to get through it. It's very short and very easy.

I have had whole days (and weeks) where I couldn't do anything right: stub my toe, hit my head, miss a meeting, can't remember my phone number, etc. I expect these will come more frequently in the future.

McCain fans, take note! (I am "only" 50.)

[music man]

I have wierd days sort of like that, mine is mainly riding highway speeds. Some days I will ride down the highway and will be just as comfortable as I am in a car, then there will be those days where I just can't shake this kind of nervousness that can only be compared to the first time I got up to highway speed on the GZ, I just feel like I am holding on for dear life the whole time I am riding, Sometimes I listen to this feeling and not ride or go back to the house(if I can), other times I just force myself to ride through it(not really such a good idea IMO) but I sometimes do it anyways. I have yet to figure out where this feeling comes from, but it is very wierd.

Like Graydog said, it is just this "something doesn't feel right" feeling, that I just can't shake for that whole day, then the next day everything will be back to normal.

[sidenote] I live out in the country, so any ride I take requires me to ride 8-10 miles at highway speed, which makes this problem all the more serious.

Later

[Dupo]

I had the same feelings the first year of owning my Shadow (after owning the GZ). I had 'weird' days that i just did not feel like i should be on the bike. Funny you bring it up because i totally forgot about it. There were a few days i just felt like 'wtf am i doing ... i know how to ride a dam bike' lol. Those 'off' days ... yep.

I havent had them since. I cant recall a day in the past year that ive had that problem. I guess it just wears off.

[Easy Rider]

I’ve intended to ask this for a long time now. Anyone else have these “get off the bike days”?


Yes. Like you said, for whatever reason, there are days when you feel like crap and KNOW that you shouldn't be on the bike. That's one thing.

The "other" thing is really pretty strange.....for me, at least. An otherwise normal day when I feel fine and nothing usual has happened.......until I get on the bike and it's almost like I have NEVER ridden before; kinda seems like the "bike" cells in the brain aren't firing right. I park the bike and take the car.

This has happened to me once or twice a riding season for a LONG time.....maybe 15 years. That would mean that it started about 45.....or maybe that's just the first time I remember it.
Now I am in the habit of taking a 3/4 mile "test" run right at the beginning, including a sharp turn-around and 3/4 mile back. If things don't feel right, it goes back in the garage because in the past I have tried to "ride through it" and it just doesn't seem to work.

Oddly enough, those incidents don't seem to be getting any more frequent, at least for me. I've only had one this year, early in the season. I did stop smoking about a year ago, tobacco, that is. :cool:

[Sarris]

Everyone has an off day every now and then. When you ride daily it's bound to affect your riding. There are some days you should not be on a bike (and probably should have stayed in bed). Thank god I don't get them very often because those are the days when I could commit a first degree whoop-shit.

:whistle: :skull: :whistle:

[Water Warrior 2]

Interesting topic and one that should concern all riders. I too have had "OFF" days which are pretty scary when you think of all the bad things that can happen. Too much sleep, not enough sleep, medical condition, just a general feeling of not enough awareness and coordination today. I stayed off the bike one day b/c the air didn't smell right. Good thing too b/c the cage was a challenge that day.
Might even be a day off for the Angel who flies along side of me while riding. Rather be safe than sorry.

[prof_stack]

I think the "inner voice" is good to listen to, but don't stress over it too much if your "hearing" is not as good on some days.

14 months ago I was in a motorcycle accident that has heightened my perceptions on the road, and that includes deciding not to ride on days when "things" just don't feel right.

If you commute by motorcycle, maybe you need to take a weekend (or day off) ride to a not-too-crowded road you haven't been on for awhile. Don't be in a hurry and enjoy the ride.

Good luck.

[Badbob]

I listen to my inner voice. After 26,000 miles on my GZ250 if something doesn't feel right something is wrong. So far, every time this has happened I found something. A bolt loose, the chain needing adjustment, or something not fastened.

[Chris]

This happens occasionally to me also. If I'm already out then I pull in somewhere for a cup of coffee. Seems like me and the bike both settle down a bit with a 15 minute break.
Who said they were 50? I can't even remember 50! I've got shoes older than you are. The 60's are the new 30's.

Chris, retired and active near Atlanta

[Water Warrior 2]

This happens occasionally to me also. If I'm already out then I pull in somewhere for a cup of coffee. Seems like me and the bike both settle down a bit with a 15 minute break.
Who said they were 50? I can't even remember 50! I've got shoes older than you are. The 60's are the new 30's.

Chris, retired and active near Atlanta


Yup, been there done that. I went through a stage where nothing would feel right half the time. Stopped for coffee and a smoke to get it together. Climbed back on the bike and everything felt just so darn good it was amazing. Must be a "DO OVER" kind of thing. Also 60+ and retired.

[alanmcorcoran]

There's damn little I do that I don't do better with coffee. When I gave up the cigs, I just doubled my coffee habit.

It's not only legal, but you don't even need a prescription!

[BigIron]

When I took the MSF course they talked about this. They said you should be in the right frame of mind when riding. Never ride when sick, angry, sad, stressed out, etc.

[prof_stack]

When I took the MSF course they talked about this. They said you should be in the right frame of mind when riding. Never ride when sick, angry, sad, stressed out, etc.
That sorts of limits the riding days a bit, don't you think? All for the good, I guess.

With summer safely behind, I try to pick the days to look forward to my next ride. Weather permitting and the chores done, its a great reward to get out and ride. I just returned from an awesome Autumn 111-mile ride in the sunshine and temps in the low 50's. It all felt good and the Guzzi ran great (57mpg).

[alanmcorcoran]

I think, to a certain extent, the more you ride, the more comfortable and capable you get. I was a bit late today for a friend's concert, so I pushed myself to hit the freeway in spite of my general discomfort with it. I did about 13 miles and was pleased to discover:

1) I am starting to be able to maintain 60 plus.
2) I'm getting a little more used to the wiggle waggle of the rougher patches. Not real comfortable, but less on edge.
3) It's not all the same - there are concrete parts that are not too bad and there are paved parts that are a welcome relief.

I'm finding the riding rough roads at speed is a little like airplane trubulence. You are as good as your worst previous experience. With the plane, eventually you realize that it apparently takes something pretty heavy duty to cause a problem. With the bike, I guess you start to be able to ignore all the wiggling, waggling and bouncing around and realize the bike is going to stay upright for the most part. I'm going to keep on hitting the freeway periodically until I get used to it.

[Moedad]

I think, to a certain extent, the more you ride, the more comfortable and capable you get...I'm going to keep on hitting the freeway periodically until I get used to it.

I'm finding that to be the key for me. Saturday's ride back from Elsinore was my longest stretch of freeway driving yet-some 55 miles on 4 different freeways: I-15 to the 91, to the 55 to the 22. Interstate 15, which you'd think would have the lightest traffic, was the worst with the 4 accidents in 8 miles that I mentioned in the other thread. Coming west on the 91, I was trying to decide if I wanted to try and and merge over through 80+ MPH traffic to get on the 55 south or just stay on the 91 to Buena Park. By the time I actually got to the 55, traffic had slowed down enough that I was able to merge over with no problems.

[bigred1964]

Yes, I have had those moments or days. Some days I just really don't feel like going for a ride and my husband really wants to go so I go anyways. On some of those days I just feel like I have been hit by a case of dumbshit. I know I haven't been riding long but more often than not I feel pretty confident when riding. I think it is just a bad day or a lack of confidence kind of day. When the ride is all said and done I am glad I went because I overcame the dumbshit feeling and I am all about succeeding at what ever I do.

[theneanderthal]

Biorhythms! When you're hot you're hot, when you're not you're not! Sometimes you just feel like you're snakebit and sometimes you'll feel ready to throw Lucifer himself on his ass.

When I'm not in the groove and climb onto one of the rodeo horses he will let me know, conclusively, my head aint in the game.

My quarter horse stud will shamelessly toss my ass when his empathy tells him I didn't bring my A game.

I try to listen to those inner voices and adjust my behavior accordingly. Some days recreation is the scoot, some days it's the MR2, some days it's the diesel dually.

There's safety in mass and danger in ignoring those inner voices.

[alanmcorcoran]

Biorhythms!

Generally, I pride myself on being a pretty scientific sort, but I have to admit, there is definitely an ebb and flow to the mind/body connection. I'm also a little bipolar and, during the all-too-brief "euphoric" stages, I'm definitely a different person than the rest of time.

[mr. softie]

A very good friend was killed on a club ride one day. He had said he wasn't feeling well and later lost it in a corner and was run over by a truck.

yesterday was the first day I did not ride to work since June. I wasn't feeling well and so I drove the truck. Some lessons are hard.

[el cheapo]

Wow! You guys really got me thinking. I never noticed this kind of thing when I was younger, but with age and experience (and brains) I know you are right. Some days i go to shoot pool and everything just lines up. I can see every shot before I make it, and I am actually surprised when I miss. Other days I find myself missing a lot, and really having to force myself to concentrate. If you don't feel right its probably better to stay off the bike :cool: . Ditto on the inner voice too. I have learned that I ignore it at my peril. Fortunately I have been able to stay alive and learn from my mistakes. I have been in plenty of hairy situations. Most of them were my own fault, I was an idiot kid looking for trouble. If you look for trouble you will find it. Anyway, they waived my criminal record and let me join the military. I was sent to Desert Storm, and this really forced me to grow up. The old saying that there are no atheists in foxholes is the truth. One time a guy in a semi truck was coming toward me on a two-lane road, and a little voice said, "MOVE OVER". Fortunately I did, because he swerved over so far that I had to get off the road to avoid him! I think the bottom line is that God loves you and doesn't want you squished. :)

[burkbuilds]

I know this is a really old thread, but as someone, Patrick I think, pointed out recently, it's okay to re-open them when there is good stuff in them and we could all use to revisit the issues again. Strangely enough, I've noticed something similar to this recently when I drive an automobile. I ride the bike almost exclusively now and a few weeks ago I got home and needed to take the truck to Lowe's, man did it feel weird and I was having trouble driving, but I couldn't figure out how to carry plywood on my bike so I toughed it out. O_o

Humor aside, yeah, if you don't feel "right" on the bike, don't push it if you have a choice. :rawk:

[JWR]

Yes, I think we all have those moments.

I have not had any in a long time.

Just back it down and ride safe, the next ride, you will wonder what was going on.

[Water Warrior 2]

I had plans for a ride today but called it off. After yesterday's bike checks, crawling around, a slightly sprained wrist and various old guy symptoms this morning I thought "NO WAY". I swear I have pain where there are no body parts. Tomorrow is another day.

[mole2]

I had plans for a ride today but called it off. After yesterday's bike checks, crawling around, a slightly sprained wrist and various old guy symptoms this morning I thought "NO WAY". I swear I have pain where there are no body parts. Tomorrow is another day.

Old dude pain? Are there any days without it? :retard:


:)

[Water Warrior 2]

I had plans for a ride today but called it off. After yesterday's bike checks, crawling around, a slightly sprained wrist and various old guy symptoms this morning I thought "NO WAY". I swear I have pain where there are no body parts. Tomorrow is another day.

Old dude pain? Are there any days without it? :retard:


:)
Actually most days are pain free. I did go through a period after retirement and a new bike where I hurt big time. It was mostly bike related and I was able to make adjustments to the bike. I still hurt from all the activity of bike checks 2 days ago. My legs mostly. All the get up, get down, half crouch kind of thing. There is a reason for bike lifts in dealer shops.

[RuffStuff]

i get this stuff all the time, im not even 30 yet, some days i can ride like a complete nut and other days im barely avoiding an off, ive had a few bad smashes and put half of this down to the confidence knock and some self preservation kicking in, i caught a pot hole badly the other night and for the next 20 miles to see my mate i was riding like a tool, just couldnt get my head back into it after getting flustered

before my really bad smash at 22 i was a loon on the road, i raced but was faster on the roads, i was planning on entering the manx, i could happily sit at 160 all day long, now i barely touch a 100

i must say dropping back to a small bikes started to get my confidence back quite quickly and im just taking my time with it all again now, relearning step by step

i guess these feelings are just self preservation and some primitive part of the brain interfering with riding, i used to have them as a kid but they were easy to put to the back of my mind then
now its more i cant afford a crash, break my arm again lose use of my hand kinda stuff, if i get them i just roll it down abit or go find a nice lit road n just bimble for a while til my heads back in the game

on another note tho, does anyone feel like they have an angel watching them ??
on many occasions ive been about to jump a bridge or full chat a blind bend and have had a voice in my head screaming slam on to me
round the bend etc and theres been an accident all over the road, which if i hadnt braked for would of been game over for me
all these times you couldnt know it was there and must of just happened moments ago
is it just me am i a bit nuts like hahaha ??

[Water Warrior 2]

Guardian Angels do exist in our lives. My Angel also has a cousin called Common Sense and a friend named Self Preservation. When I first started driving many years ago I would ignore all 3 but then Blind Luck stepped in to save my butt. I have since learned to make their jobs easier.

[dannylightning]

well i get those days where i get on my bike take it for a spin and something tells me just drive it back home and park it, something about riding does not feel right today, it happens to the best of us i think. maybe your just tired or feeling kind of week or lousy that day or something along those lines.

if you feel like that constantly, not a good sign but on the occasional day it happens just park the bike and try again tomorrow.

[dhgeyer]

I certainly have some days when I'm more "there" than others. I don't leave the bike home unless I'm actually sick. I always keep a second self monitoring the primary self, keeping track of how "there" I am. On the not so "there" days I compensate - slow down, force myself to pay attention to the most important factors, not worry so much about being in the best form.

I think it comes from a couple of factors. First is all the motorcycle touring I've done. Unless I want to sit around a motel all day, I have to ride, so I adapt to the internal conditions just as I would to less than ideal external conditions such as weather or traffic. And, of course, after 6 or 8 hours riding (with breaks every hour or so), no one is as good as they are at the beginning of the day. If you want to tour, you just have to accept that. But, with experience comes the instinct to be aware of your limitations and work harder at survival skills.

The other factor is I just tend to ride so much, so many miles, even on a bad day I'm not all that bad. I do need to be aware of it, and adjust accordingly.

[Easy Rider]

But, with experience comes the instinct to be aware of your limitations and work harder at survival skills.

And it's a good time of the year to mention that NOBODY who takes a few months off should ASSume that they can jump right back on the bike like they never left.

Sweeping turns gave me a problem on my Shadow for a few months right after I got it. The actual turn went OK but I had a VERY nervous feeling while IN the turn......just because the feed-back I was getting was different than what I was used to. Finally got over that BUT..........here we are after a few months off and that nervous feeling is BACK.

Got to find some low traffic, sweeping turns and re-train my mind/muscle memory again. :roll:

[patrick_777]

Your muscles have Alzheimers.

Good point though. Everyone should re-acclimate themselves with their bikes before doing any long or twisty rides in traffic. People's lose their balance and feel for the movement of the bike - not to mention gain weight - during the winter months.

[Water Warrior 2]

Well that explains it. My bike gets fat over the winter months with lack of exercise. :roll:

[BusyWeb]

For me,
even after changing the gears; especially with boots and gloves, I felt differences when riding. ^^;

:blush:

[dhgeyer]

Well that explains it. My bike gets fat over the winter months with lack of exercise. :roll:

Mine just asked me the other day "Do these saddlebags make my butt look fat?".

But seriously, this is also the time of year for sand in the corners, very bad road surface, people not used to seeing bikes, colder road surfaces (less traction), etc. etc. I'm talking about places North of the Equator that have Winter, of course.

[Water Warrior 2]

I finally got out riding yesterday. Last ride was a month ago and a short one too boot. Rode 130 km (80 miles) total. Did a concentrated effort on handling the curves and smoothness of control. Must have worked b/c I was able to do a downhill left hander at 2x the posted limit. This was near the end of the ride when muscle memory was working with me. I continue to be amazed at the handling of this Vstrom. Although it is far from a sport bike it is all I do need. It's abilities are greater than mine.

[diffluere]

I take the same route to school every day. I think my muscles remember what to do! Sometimes if I go a different way I get a weird feeling, like I'm going to 'wrong' way, or if I make a stop at the bank or the store it's really weird for me. Also, after days of riding the bike I feel SO WEIRD getting back in my Jeep. The steering is okay but my braking skills are damaged, haha! I forget that it takes like 3x the distance to stop at a light in the Jeep.

I think a lot of this stuff has to do with being slightly dehydrated, the weather, not having enough coffee, and just weird stuff that happens on the road. Today I got caught in the rain for the first time in months and I had to consciously think "stay out of the middle where the oil is!" I almost stopped at a red light in a huge puddle of it. Ugh. Sometimes when I go to stop at lights I have to talk to myself, like downshift. keep it straight. front brake, back brake, foot down. It's weird. Most days I just do stuff without even thinking about it. I'm still a n00b though (it's only been like 9 months!) so maybe that's it.

[Water Warrior 2]

Talking to yourself is good. Just don't do it in a crowded mall. Don't ask me how I know. :whistle:

[bonehead]

Talking to yourself is good. Just don't do it in a crowded mall. Don't ask me how I know. :whistle:
Just don't answer yourself. O_o

[Water Warrior 2]

Talking to yourself is good. Just don't do it in a crowded mall. Don't ask me how I know. :whistle:
Just don't answer yourself. O_o
Ooooh, never thought of that. How well does it work for you ? :whistle:

[bonehead]

If I don't like the answer, I usually wind up arguing with myself. And that really looks stupid.

[Water Warrior 2]

You will never be accused of being a YES man.

[dannylightning]

I'm still a n00b though (it's only been like 9 months!) so maybe that's it.

after 9 months you should be riding around on that bike and shifting like a pro, at least i would think. maybe it is just me but have never had a problem shifting and things like that. after a month of riding i was going as fast as i could around super curvy roads trying to learn how to take the curves better and figure out the best ways to shift body weight and lean the bike so i cold go around the curves as fast as the other guys on bikes did. after 3 or 4 months i was able to take those curves just as fast as every one else.. and i was bored with the bike, it was time to upgrade by the end of summer i did upgrade to a much bigger bike with a lot more power, after 2 hour on that than hopping back on my gz i never wanted to ride the gz again.

when i upgraded to the new bike it was only after about 6 or 7 months of riding. if you still feel weird and things like this after 9 months i would probably think about giving up motorcycle riding. not trying to be mean or any thing but if you are not comfortable by now and still feeling weird you are probably never going to be comfortable on the bike. don't want any one to get hurt.

if any one disagrees with me or it took them a long time to really get the hang of it pleas step forward and tell me that i am wrong and this guy should keep riding, maybe i ought on faster than most people do. i don't know. i really feel after nine months he should be riding that bike around easy as it is to ride a bicycle

[Water Warrior 2]

Well said BB. We have to remember not everyone will ride as much as others and may not have the life style to allow it. The real biggy is the fact that us boys have more aggressive genes and willingly put ourselves in harm's way more readily. As a result we may develop skills faster and have more confidence but we also have a tendency to fall down more in the process of learning.

[burkbuilds]

Thanks WW, but I decided that I probably came on a little strong in response, so I deleted my post after I'd considered it for a few hours. I guess I should just say that we all have different goals, abilities and we all ride different amounts in the course of a year. I'm currently putting about 14-15,000 miles on my bike, and I've got a cousin that puts over 25,000 on his each year, but a lot of people only get an opportunity to ride a few hundred or a few thousand miles each year and so just measuring how many months someone has ridden doesn't really tell much about their experience level. I hope diffluere and any others won't become discouraged if they feel a little awkward some days, so do I.

Hope you are having some nice weather to ride in out your way. It's been wonderful here for the last week and a half. Low to mid 80's and sunny for the most part. The only bad thing is the pollen count is extremely high and if you park your bike outside for a few hours it turns yellow!

[BillInGA]

For what it's worth, BB, I don't think your response was too strong. I, for one, share your sentiments.

And you're not kidding about the pollen!

[Water Warrior 2]

Oh yes Oh yes, real spring weather is here. Does my heart good to ride without all the heated gear and extras that I pack along just in case.

[diffluere]

1. I am a girl. Thanks.

2. I only ride about 3 miles to school every day, and sometimes I get the treat of a nice long cruise. In the past 9 months I have only ridden like...2200 miles total. That's only an average of 244 miles per month. That's not a lot of practice. Plus - have you been to Florida?! Try to find curves here worthy of mastering! Everything is long, flat stretches, with maybe a hill or two thrown in. I've managed to master skills like maintaining speed, riding around with one hand, stretching my legs out without swerving, and other fun things to do while you're basically going in a straight line. Plus, I'm a girl! It wasn't my first instinct to take the bike out and see if it really will do 90mph. Even on my friend's Ninja I only hit 80 on the highway I think. I don't want to die, I just want to have fun. I'm not a risk-taker and that's probably why I've never been in any type of accident, car or otherwise.

Almost all of my motorcycling takes place in town, with traffic and 50 million stop lights, stupid college kids that cross the street without looking, drunk people in the street (at night), football game tailgaters, etc. I've just developed a city skill set: watch for idiots. I'm glad you get to ride around like a macho man taking curves at ridiculous speeds. I wish I could do that (sometimes) but here in Florida it's just not possible. I'm taking my bike up to South Carolina soon so we'll see what happens up there in the mountains.

3. My first time riding a motorcycle was in the MSF course. So I had 0 experience. No dirt bikes or 4-wheelers, and I can only BARELY drive a car with a stick shift (no one in my family owned one - i learned from friends). I just was never around that stuff. I can drive a boat though, haha! I'm pretty good at shifting gears, and almost all of the time I know what gear I'm in based on the sound of the bike and the speed I'm going, which I'm pretty sure everyone on the GZ is capable of.

I don't feel 'weird' all of the time, it's only on 'weird days' like the others here are describing. Most of the time I get to school and back just fine with 0 'oh shit' moments. I just realized how many times I said 'weird' in my last post. Omg I am so lame! =P

Anyway danny, I think your response was really rude. Luckily I don't care much for the opinion of the internet. My real-life riding buddies say I'm doing 'better than they did as a newbie'. Get the whole story before you tell people to stop doing something they enjoy because of one little message board post. From my other posts here, you could have determined that I'm doing pretty well that this two-wheeling thing. This is a post about people that get a strange feeling on a bike sometimes, which apparently happens to everyone here.

Here's an analogy: we are all at work, sitting in the break room bitching about our jobs. You walk in and tell us all that if we hate it so much, we should just quit! Everyone at some point bitches about their job, (including posts i've read by you) but that doesn't mean we want to quit. It's just something people do so they don't go crazy.

/end rant


IN OTHER NEWS: It's sunny and beautiful here in Florida!!! I went on a 120 mile adventure through Ocala National Forest with my mom's boyfriend. I managed to keep up with his Harley the whole time, with 20mph wind! And, after reading that countersteering post, I was playing around with that on the moderate road curves that happen to be in the forest. Pretty nifty!

[diffluere]

holy shit that was long! sorry guys.

[alantf]

I can only BARELY drive a car with a stick shift

This seems to be something that's unique to America. In every other country in the world, it would appear that vehicles with manual transmission are the norm, with only a few automatic transmission vehicles being around. In England, if you pass your driving test in an automatic, that's all you're allowed to drive. You need to pass the test on a manual (stick shift) before you are allowed out on the road with one, on your own. :)

[Easy Rider]

holy shit that was long! sorry guys.

Yes, that was really rude.
(JUST KIDDING. See follow up reply.) :whistle:

[Easy Rider]

Anyway danny, I think your response was really rude.

IN OTHER NEWS: It's sunny and beautiful here in Florida!!!

What we have here is mostly a bunch of guys shooting the shit. Guys tend to be crude and insensitive.......some more than others......but I think "rude" implies a certain intentional put down and I don't think that was intended in his post at all. Maybe it came across that way but not intended. Might want to read it again; there were some "disclaimers". :)

As for the sunny and beautiful, yes here too; highs in the mid 80's which is 15 above normal.

I'm planning on coming down to scout around G'ville in late May-early June.
Might see you then. Promise to try and not be rude !! :biggrin:

[Water Warrior 2]

holy shit that was long! sorry guys.
Long can be a good thing. A long explanation of the facts tends to clear things up and we also get to know you better. We sometimes forget others have different kinds of roads to ride and different schedules that aren't the norm.
Now I am off to find a coffee at the end of a curvy stretch of asphalt.

[diffluere]

I don't see how telling me to give up motorcycling isn't 'rude'...okay maybe 'insensitive' is a better word. I didn't intend to start a flame war so I'm willing to drop the whole thing. For some reason message boards have this unique ability to offend or annoy people when someone doesn't intend that to be the case. Maybe when danny sees my reply he will feel the need to respond, maybe not. Maybe he thinks i'm rude for calling him rude. Without the benefit of tone it's hard to really tell what someone meant or if they are joking. Anyway, I love to ride a motorcycle and I plan on continuing said activity. =)

Easy - see ya soon! Are you bringing a bike? I know some good country roads, they aren't very interesting or curvy but they do have nice green grass and horses to look at. You can be rude to me in person, I deal with that shit all the time at work and I'm likely to throw it right back at ya. =P (I work at home depot, and guys are often offended that a "little girl" wants to help them with plumbing instead of some old dude).

Damn, I'm on a roll with these ridiculously long replies today! My apologies to all of your eyeballs for forcing you to read my nonsense!

[dhgeyer]

Damn, I'm on a roll with these ridiculously long replies today! My apologies to all of your eyeballs for forcing you to read my nonsense!

Long? Long you say??? Young lady, your posts are not long! Have you read some of mine lately? Easy used to complain about my long posts, but now he's found other things to complain about. :poke2:

Really, it's good to have the point of view of a new, young, female rider here. I like what you write. I think you have a lot of sense. Remember, motorcycling is one of relatively few things you will do in life where your life literally depends on how well you do it. Therefor, learning is a lifelong experience, and riding is best approached with that attitude. By the questions you ask and the comments you make, it is obvious that you are aware of this, and are actively trying to improve all the time. Sometimes young males think they have to know it all already. Dishearteningly few riders I know really try to learn more on a continuing basis as part of the whole riding "deal".

The people who really should consider giving it up are the ones who think that they have nothing more to learn, and have no need of improvement.

[Easy Rider]

Easy - see ya soon! Are you bringing a bike?

Yes. Wouldn't be coming othewise.....probably.
I made that trip last year on the GZ and had a good time but I think the Honda will handle it just a bit better.

I have a small Shadow riders meet in southern Illinois on May 22.
That puts me about 1/4 the way to Atlanta where my daughter and her "fir farm" lives.
And THAT puts me just a few hours from N. Florida........where we hope to start "wintering" next year.

An excellent excuse for a nice long bike trip, wouldn't you say ??
And it gets me out of the house for about 2 weeks which makes my wife happy too.
Win....win !! :tup:

[diffluere]

dh - thanks for the compliments. =)

To be honest, aside from motorcycling I'm a bit of a know-it-all in most subjects. I am what you call a "nerd" and I LOVE proving people wrong, especially at work when boys think they know more than me about "fixin' shit" or whatever. I assure you in a few years I will be a know-it-all about motorcycling and will sit around here schooling n00bs on what to do when there is a GINORMOUS amount of pollen on your driveway.....(seriously. I am going to take a pic tomorrow to show you guys. You can't see where the driveway ends and the road starts.)

Easy -see PM. Illinois -> Florida sounds like one hell of a trip! No way I'd make that on the current seat on the Babybike (what I call my GZ). I barely made it to Crystal River and back with lots of breaks, man that thing is NOT comfy!

[dhgeyer]

GINORMOUS amount of pollen on your driveway.....(seriously. I am going to take a pic tomorrow to show you guys. You can't see where the driveway ends and the road starts.)

You're complaining about pollen? It was in the 80's here the end of March for crying out loud. Oh well - Spring in New England.
http://s4.postimage.org/gqpMi.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aVgqpMi)

[music man]

GINORMOUS amount of pollen on your driveway.....(seriously. I am going to take a pic tomorrow to show you guys. You can't see where the driveway ends and the road starts.)

You're complaining about pollen? It was in the 80's here the end of March for crying out loud. Oh well - Spring in New England.
http://s4.postimage.org/gqpMi.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aVgqpMi)


That picture of your snow, is what the pollen here looked like until about a week ago when we got a good rain storm to wash some of it away.

[dannylightning]

I don't see how telling me to give up motorcycling isn't 'rude'...okay maybe 'insensitive' is a better word.

sorry doll, i was not trying to be rude, i see you saying if you make a stop that is not on your normal daily motorcycle rout you start feeling strange and get confused (or something along those lines) than you say going from the motorcycle to your jeep messes you up and you cant break the jeep correctly cus your breaking skills in a car are damaged from riding a motorcycle.

when i read that the first thing that came to my mind is wow that is scarry, if that were happening to me i would not be riding a bike but i was under the impression that these kind of things happen to you all the time, maybe i missed something in there saying that this was just once in a blue moon.

i actually do not fly around curves super fast like a macho man all that often :lol: my new bike is not made for that, it is a pretty big bike and i do try to make sure i know the bikes limits, how fast i can take curves on it and i feel that is important to know., my gz on the other hand i could take sharp curves much faster,

when learning to ride and you get comfortable on a bike i feel you should definitely work on taking curves fast, pick a road and to know the curves on that road like the back of your hand and see what you can do on that curvy road, why do i feel this is necessary, well you never know what is going to happen out there on the road, there is always the chance that you are going to come up on a sharp curve when not expecting it. or halve to make a emergency sharp turn out of the blue. so yes you should be able to take corners at fast speeds encase you ever need to.

when i first started i did not know how to take a curve well at all. other guys were taking them much faster than me and staying in the center of the lane, where i was taking them slower and not able to stay in the center of the lane so i practiced and practiced on curvy roads and ill tell you want it made a huge difference in my riding abilities.

i feel it is good to push your riding abilities a little more and a little more at a time but only push as much as you are ready for.

[burkbuilds]

Danny,. . . quit while you are behind.

[dannylightning]

Damn, I'm on a roll with these ridiculously long replies today! My apologies to all of your eyeballs for forcing you to read my nonsense!

motorcycling is one of relatively few things you will do in life where your life literally depends on how well you do it. Therefor, learning is a lifelong experience, and riding is best approached with that attitude.

The people who really should consider giving it up are the ones who think that they have nothing more to learn, and have no need of improvement.






your life does depend on how good you are on the motorcycle, i feel i am very good on my bike, but there are others that are much better and yes you are always learning when out on the road. speaking of learning, here is a site i came across at some point in time and bookmarked, lots of good tips and some good information here. http://www.msgroup.org/default.aspx

[BillInGA]

I second dl's recommendation of msgroup.org. It has a wealth of information and tips about riding safely. It really helped me when I was learning to ride.

Come to think of it, it's been a few years since I've been on the site. May be time for a refresher.

[bonehead]

Now how many of us have tried to take off from a stop light/sign in 2nd/3rd gear. Sometimes the brain just does'nt engage.

[burkbuilds]

Now how many of us have tried to take off from a stop light/sign in 2nd/3rd gear. Sometimes the brain just does'nt engage.

Or in neutral, like I did the other day, felt pretty stupid, then I got flustered, put it in 1st and killed it, had to crank it back up and then pull out. Pretty embarrassing! :whistle:

[BillInGA]

I found myself following a little to close the other day when traffic suddenly stopped. My emergency stopping skills were a bit rusty and I ended up locking the rear wheel a couple of times. I managed to stop in time and stay upright.

At least I got myself headed toward the clear space between the cars.

[diffluere]

At first, I would start from a stop sign in second gear like once every two weeks. Back then, I was taking a back road to school which only had stop signs every few blocks, no real traffic lights, so I'd only make it to 2nd gear before I had to stop. Now I take a much busier but faster route to school so I make it to 3rd gear, so starting in 2nd seems to happen less often.

dh - luckily i'm not allergic to pollen! My car/bike went from being black to being green overnight! And that stuff is slippery, I have to turn into my driveway and there's a little slope, and if I turn too sharp the front tire doesn't like it very much. But I imagine it's nothing like driving on snow. I haven't seen snow in like......12 years!

bill - I locked up my back tire trying to stop at a yellow light a few weeks ago. Now, I just look around and see if it's safe really quick, and go through the yellow light. That was scary but I stayed upright and remembered (yeah, talked to myself again!) back brake - take your foot off!

danny - no problem dude. I think I have mild OCD and I like to drive to school/work the same route every day, I walk to class the same way every day, and I even do my morning routine the same every day. If anything different happens it kinda throws off my whole day, like if one of my roommates gets up before me and makes coffee first, and I can't make coffee at the correct point in my morning sequence! So if I have to drive a different way it just feels wrong. It's a weird feeling but it's not scary and I don't feel like my motorcycling is really affected; I've managed to not crash or drop the bike so far, so I'd say that's good. It's just my OCD is affected, haha! =)

If I could find a curvy road to practice on, believe me I'd be out there all the time. The closest one I know of is the Ozello Trail in Crystal River and that's an hour and a half away. There might be some in the surrounding countryside but again, that's far away. Gainesville is laid out on a grid system so the roads are all flat, straight and boring. The only way to go around a curve is to get yourself into a roundabout and stay there! I do try to make left and right turns at more exciting speeds each time I do one though.

Thank you for reading Volume 4 in the Get Off the Bike saga...

[alantf]

At first, I would start from a stop sign in second gear like once every two weeks.

It's not just noobies who do silly things. I've been riding for many many years, & the stupid thing I do when I'm not thinking is to set off in first, then instead of click click into second, going click, and finding that I'm reving up in neutral. :??: :cry:

[dhgeyer]

David L. Hough's second book "More Proficient Motorcycling - Mastering the Ride" deals a lot with "mental motorcycling". We all know that, even though our very lives depend upon being sharp and 100% focused at all times, we're not. We are human, and at least parts of our minds drift to other matters when not needed for the job at hand. But one can learn to monitor one's self so that you know at least how focused you are at any given time, and force yourself to adjust as needed. It's a very important skill for any kind of driving, especially a motorcycle, and it is just as much a learned technique as the physical skills like cornering and braking.

The scariest lapses for me have been the times I have seen a sharp curve coming, and have been aware of it on some level, but have failed to take any appropriate action whatsoever, like slowing and moving to the outside. Suddenly I have found myself in mid curve at straightaway speeds, and in the improper lane position. The only things that saved me the two or three times it's happened have been good physical skills, and the fact that I tend to ride fairly slowly anyway, so my straightaway speed was survivable in the curve. I once asked a much younger rider I know who is a very active track racer if he had ever done the same thing, and he admitted that he had on more than one occasion. I haven't done that in a few years now.

The basic idea I'm trying to get across is that it's not enough to master the bike - you have to master yourself, and your human mental state.

[Easy Rider]

The only way to go around a curve is to get yourself into a roundabout and stay there!

Might not be a good idea for a rookie but I have done "sweeping curve" practice at a full clover-leaf interchange on an Interstate. You can loop around getting on and off all day if you want. :roll:

It's kind of the opposite of Nascar......as all the turns are right hand. :biggrin:

[dannylightning]

The scariest lapses for me have been the times I have seen a sharp curve coming, and have been aware of it on some level, but have failed to take any appropriate action whatsoever, like slowing and moving to the outside. Suddenly I have found myself in mid curve at straightaway speeds, and in the improper lane position. The only things that saved me the two or three times it's happened have been good physical skills, and the fact that I tend to ride fairly slowly anyway, so my straightaway speed was survivable in the curve.
The basic idea I'm trying to get across is that it's not enough to master the bike - you have to master yourself, and your human mental state.

there was one road in Tennessee i had never taken before, it was slightly up hill and there was a spot where there was a little bump in the road, just high enough you could not see the road past it till you were right up on it. as soon as i went over that bump i was doing around 45-50 and there was a crazy sharp curve in the road, if it were not for all the practice on the curvy roads and quick reflexes i probably would have flew off the road in to the ditch. there was no sharp curve sign or any thing. just a holy shit, hard breaking and flying around that thing. moral of the story, if you can practice taking curves do it and get good at it and if you don't know the road you are riding on be careful, if there is any time where you cant not see the road ahead and don't know what is coming up, slow down. better safe than sorry.

[mrlmd1]

Better safe than sorry means not riding faster than your visibility. If you can't see around the bend of the curve, then slow down before you get there - you never know what lies around the curve, could be a stopped car, someone coming in the opposite direction cutting the corner over in your lane, a fallen tree, rocks, etc, etc., you'll never know 'till you see it. Not good, doing hard braking going into a curve. Sounds to me like more good luck than "skill".

[Water Warrior 2]

Contrary to what many riders say, I can and do brake going into a curve. I'm not talking about race track speeds but speed non the less and I do it with the front brake. A little rear brake to settle the back end but fairly hard on the front end will scrub off speed in a hurry. I also practice this now and again after entering a curve. A little more exciting of course but something we should all be able to do. The wild life around here doesn't wait for you to be riding in a straight line before leaping out and scaring the stuffing out of you.
So many new riders never learn how to front brake for fear of going over the handle bars. Not so in actual life, your are more likely to go over the bars after T-boning a cage because you can't stop properly and in the shortest distance possible.

[dannylightning]

Contrary to what many riders say, I can and do brake going into a curve. I'm not talking about race track speeds but speed non the less and I do it with the front brake. A little rear brake to settle the back end but fairly hard on the front end will scrub off speed in a hurry. I also practice this now and again after entering a curve. A little more exciting of course but something we should all be able to do. The wild life around here doesn't wait for you to be riding in a straight line before leaping out and scaring the stuffing out of you.
So many new riders never learn how to front brake for fear of going over the handle bars. Not so in actual life, your are more likely to go over the bars after T-boning a cage because you can't stop properly and in the shortest distance possible.

i agree, once i ran over a squirrel, he jetted out into the street and went right under my bike, and i ran him over, thank god only my rear tire went over him. not sure what would have happen if the front tire would have ran over him.

i have all kind of practice hard breaking right before going around sharp curves. i have practiced every thing i cold think of that might come in handy some day, practicing hard breaking in all situations is a really good idea, it would be pretty hard to go over the bars using your front break on a cruiser, those crotch rockets on the other hand might flip you over the bars easily, those guys hit the front breaks hard and rid wheelies on their front tires.

mrmld1 my exact words were (if there is any time where you cant not see the road ahead and don't know what is coming up, slow down. better safe than sorry.) it was definitely better to break hard going into that curve that it wold have been to fly off the road into a ditch. and when i say ditch i mean big ditch a good 2 feet or more deep, hard breaking going into a curve is definitely skill, in my case it was a bit if skill and luck. like you said you never know if there is going to be gravel or any thing else there trying to wipe you out.

[mrlmd1]

Maybe I misread or misunderstood the post(s). If you are talking about hard breaking BEFORE you enter the curve, that's fine. If you are talking about hard braking when you are leaned over going too fast once you are already in the curve, that's another story, which I don't think many people recommend, (especially if it could have been avoided), at least to a newbie.
Depending on the amount of room you have and what's in front of you, it may be better to steer straight and stand the bike up and break like hell, vs. brake really hard leaned over and risk a lowside. It all depends, as always.
Read up about trail braking, if that's what you are talking about, braking in the curve.

[dannylightning]

Maybe I misread or misunderstood the post(s). If you are talking about hard breaking BEFORE you enter the curve, that's fine. If you are talking about hard braking when you are leaned over going too fast once you are already in the curve, that's another story, which I don't think many people recommend, (especially if it could have been avoided), at least to a newbie.
Depending on the amount of room you have and what's in front of you, it may be better to steer straight and stand the bike up and break like hell, vs. brake really hard leaned over and risk a lowside. It all depends, as always.
Read up about trail braking, if that's what you are talking about, braking in the curve.

Nope, I was talking about breaking right before I hit the curve. breaking when you are going around the curve could end up bad if you do not do it right, if you do halve to break while taking a curve i believe you should keep the breaks on threw out the whole curve or at least until you slow down enough that letting off the break is not going to effect you and you should mainly use the front break, i know letting off the breaks suddenly when going around a corner fast can also cause your rear end to slide out. as well as breaking while going around a curve if you do it wrong, .