Fish might get jealous with my new hobby

[seangee]

If I may offer a word of advice... When you first start riding ALWAYS look for an escape route. At first it will seem like a pain but will soon become natural and you won't even think about it but will still do subconsciously.

That's great advice. Always assume everyone is out to get you, and at best they have no idea you are there. And 100% concentration, even more so if filtering (lane splitting) is allowed in your state.

 

[seangee]

Also a question on UK roads, how do you cope with potholes that's my biggest fear when I begin learning to ride, I know they can easily be avoided if the rider is paying attention, but when a cluster of them turns up what's the best approach? I have a road not far from me that looks like the Somme

Adventure bikes have a definite advantage in this area. Street and sport bikes are great on perfectly surfaced tracks but can be tiring on UK roads . With time finding the best line becomes second nature if you work at it. Best is not always fastest. It is well worth doing an advanced course - RoSPA or IAM in the UK. I joined RoSPA with nearly 40 years of riding experience and still learnt a lot. My 3 yearly test is due and my examiner is a police riding instructor who also happens to be part of the Royal Guard. Riding with those guys is a lesson in itself. The level of control they have and the amount of time they seem to create for themselves is mind blowing.

 

[GaryE]

You're all looking at the bikes. But the point is, we have an individual being unfaithful to his fish.

Whatever happened to morals?

 

[Essjay]

Mothers will always worry. Its their nature I guess.

It's part of the job description. I am very happy that our younger son's motorbike has been SORNed* and sitting in our garage for the last 6 years. Yes, it takes up a lot of space but at least he's not riding it.


* registered as not in use on public roads so he doesn't pay road tax on it.

 

[Back in the fold]

I miss my Kawasaki 750 Spectre I had 35 years ago sometimes but back then the traffic in my town wasn’t near what it is today . I’m glad I rode back then but I wouldn’t hop on a murdercycle for all the tea in England today .

 

[Connershawzz]

I miss my Kawasaki 750 Spectre I had 35 years ago sometimes but back then the traffic in my town wasn’t near what it is today . I’m glad I rode back then but I wouldn’t hop on a murdercycle for all the tea in England today .

Ya I’m in Utah and there’s a name for all the drivers out here , “utards” I thought it was bad in a car but they see a motorcycle and they must think they get bonus points for us or something.

 

[Ed Pursell]

I’m old, this is an old picture sent from my kids a while back, one of my Harleys, picture was from 1987… Things changed but still like my fish hobby! Boy, time flies!

 

[Ceez]

Normal response from a mom.

If I may offer a word of advice... When you first start riding ALWAYS look for an escape route. At first it will seem like a pain but will soon become natural and you won't even think about it but will still do subconsciously. This could possibly save your life as there are people out there that will do just about anything to take you down. I used to even carry half inch ball bearings in my leather jacket pockets. Actually made use of them once. Some idiot in a fast vehicle was chasing me with the obvious intent of taking me down. Tossed a handful of bearings over my shoulder and the chase suddenly ended.

I have around a quarter million miles on a bike and only laid down twice and, both times, I was able to pick up the bike and ride it home. Even though going down twice the ability to get up and ride home was very much due to always having an escape route. Sure I wend down but didn't broadside a car and die. Having an escape route isn't always about not going down. It is often about going down as softly as possible.

Oh, lesson #2... Always remember that a bike steers different than a car. In a car, if you want to go left, you turn the steering wheel to the left. At speeds of 30-35 MPH plus this is totally wrong on a bike. The thing is that the wheel size on a bike is MUCH more dramatic in relation to vehicle weight that they actually serve as gyroscopes. If you are ever in a crisis situation at speed and need to escape by going left +NEVER+ force the steering to the left. Actually steering to the right will cause the bike to go left. At speed you just don't steer a bike, you lean a bike. When you lean the bike in a curve at speed going left the actual front tire will point to the right. This is called counter steering and is a direct result of the wheels on a bike acting like gyroscopes.

I grew up on 2 wheels. Started out racing 80s when I was 9 in 1985-86. Just sold my last dirtbike 2008 CRF450. Went out for a little cruise screwing around and went down. The most fluke thing ever and I tore myself up pretty good.

Needless to say it tore some muscles all the way up into my abdominal area and I couldn't walk for about 2 months. LOL, it's not a matter of if but when. You're gonna go down. I've always told people that want to learn how to ride, if you have the option learn in the dirt first and at the very minimum take the MSF course. You make a mistake in the dirt and you live, you make a mistake in the street and your chances of living go way down.

I still ride to this day





2017 Deluxe




2020 CVO Road Glide


Ill never stop until my motorcycle comes to a sudden stop....

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Ah, motorbikes. Conner, that's a nice one. Have fun but be super safe.

What is it about motorcycles that sets us more seasoned people to reminiscing? The bike of my youth was a Honda Trail 90 my dad and I fixed up. Looked like a moped, because it was built so you could step off it in a hurry. Wasn't fast, but man, that thing would go ANYWHERE. Steep trails, wild canyons, creek crossings, boulder fields, high sagebrush, you name it. In low gear it would just about climb trees. And if you got stuck, you could just pick it up and move it. My great uncle used one on his ranch to move cows and horses around. Not the best rig for packing an antelope out, but it worked for that too.

Sometimes I think about getting a road bike, but Mrs. Badger would never go for it; perhaps she realizes better than I do that reflexes aren't quite what they used to be. Besides, I reached the age about ten years ago where a motorcycle screams "Midlife Crisis!" I look terrible in gaudy gold chains, and I like Mrs. Badger far too much to pursue a younger mistress, so I'll just stick with my pickup and walking shoes.

 

[Back in the fold]

Wasn't fast, but man, that thing would go ANYWHERE. Steep trails, wild canyons, creek crossings, boulder fields, high sagebrush, you name it.

Years ago before the Wilderness designation the Beartooths had the Beartooth Primitive Area that started about four miles up all the major trails . You could ride a Trail 90 to the Primitive area boundary but had to leave it there and go on foot the rest of the way . The trails to that point were , and still are , rocky and steep . Guys would ride to the boundary and go fish the high lakes and still be able to make it back to the trailhead before dark . Sometimes you’d see a couple dozen Trail 90’s stashed at the boundary . The good old days .

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Years ago before the Wilderness designation the Beartooths had the Beartooth Primitive Area that started about four miles up all the major trails . You could ride a Trail 90 to the Primitive area boundary but had to leave it there and go on foot the rest of the way . The trails to that point were , and still are , rocky and steep . Guys would ride to the boundary and go fish the high lakes and still be able to make it back to the trailhead before dark . Sometimes you’d see a couple dozen Trail 90’s stashed at the boundary . The good old days .

Oooo, taking the Montana side of the Beartooth Highway on a road bike would be an absolute hoot!

 

[Connershawzz]

All this talk of riding and Utah is bipolar as all heck and went from 50s and sunny to snowing all this week so the bikes been parked and probably will be till next week

 

[Willow 123]

Started riding again last year at the age of 68, now own 3 bikes, a BSA Bantam, an AJS 250 lightweight thats awaiting a rebuild and My daily is a Voge 300 rally. My rule thats kept me safe and alive on my motorbikes is, ride like everybody is trying to kill you.

 

[Back in the fold]

Oooo, taking the Montana side of the Beartooth Highway on a road bike would be an absolute hoot!

You better believe it is . I made that trip on my 750 Kawasaki Spectre years ago . Every time I see guys on bikes up there I remember and wish I was doing it again . A good rider can do those hairpin turns at 40 miles an hour .

 

[jaylach]

You better believe it is . I made that trip on my 750 Kawasaki Spectre years ago . Every time I see guys on bikes up there I remember and wish I was doing it again . A good rider can do those hairpin turns at 40 miles an hour .

One of the best bike roads I've seen is the Cascade Pass between Spokane and Seattle Washington. Sigh I even seem to remember a lot of curves even being banked.

LOL! If I took the northern route between Ft. Worth Texas and Cottonwood Arizona There were times when I'd get well over 70 MPG.. Going down mountain I'd just shift to neutral and coast down the big hill.