Topic: my inner speed demon

[Klark Kent]

i was attracted to the utilitarian and functional/sustainable nature of the UJM.  the sohc honda was the most visually appealing and simple to keep going, so thats what i ened up with.  550 being on the 'small' side didnt matter to me, I had no interest in going real fast.  just a to b on a simple machine that would last forever if maintained properly.  who needs a bike that doesnt feel dangerous until 110mph, when you can ride a thirty year old honda thats fun at 40? 

so you can imagine my surprise when i found myself chasing the ton on my poor 550k1 yesterday.  I quit as soon as the bouncing needle touched 100, as if a spell had been broken, and found myself singing the last bit of the chorus to arlo guthries motorcycle song as i came back down to cruising speed. 

and i
don't want to die
i just wanna ride my motorcy...

cle.

it occured to me that i am entering the period when most accidents happen, when initial jitters give way to overconfidence in a new found skill honed to its first dull point, so i dont think i will be seeing a lot of my inner speed demon anytime too soon, but i thought i would remark upon it here as it seemed remarkable to me.
-KK

[mkramer1121]

Yeah, that sounds like me on my 550F.  Took it out this year for its first high speed/highway run.  Looked down and I was at 98MPH....She wouldn't go any faster w/ me on it, but at that point it was "oh...Shnikes...uhhh, ease off the throttle....."

[scunny]

been there done that, went on the need for speed trip culminating(in it's time) the fastest production motorcycle Suzuki GS1000, when the Katana's came out, a bike that actually went round corners I got one of those and ended up wrecking it after 2 weeks on the track. I then took up fishing.

[tsflstb]

it occured to me that i am entering the period when most accidents happen, when initial jitters give way to overconfidence in a new found skill honed to its first dull point, so i dont think i will be seeing a lot of my inner speed demon anytime too soon, but i thought i would remark upon it here as it seemed remarkable to me.

The fact that you realize this puts you in a good place.

My first wreck was after about four months of riding.  Just like you said...I was feeling comfortable on the bike...I could work the clutch and throttle and thought I knew it all.  Boy I was stupid.

I went on my first group ride on my old GS750 with a bunch of grizzled guys on Ducatis and BMWs and was left behind after one curve in the road.  The competitive instinct kicked in and I started riding over my head, completely blew a turn and ended up crossing the opposing lane and crashing in the ditch.

Second wreck was about 3 years later...my skills had improved and I was on a VFR this time.  So I crashed at a much higher speed.  Chasing a much better rider in the mountains of N. Georgia I did the same damn thing, rode over my head and took a turn too fast.  I still limp a little when the weather changes, but I was damn lucky.

Hopefully I'm past that stage now.  Like Clint Eastwood said, "A man's got to know his limitations".  I'd like to think I'm a better rider today, but I don't ride fast at all on the street.  I bought the 400 for the same reasons you bought your 550 -- riding without feeling like I need to go 130 mph.  There are an abundance of open track days around the country to get a speed fix in a safe, controlled environment.  I wish I'd known about those sooner.

[medic09]

Klark, that was really well put.  And the rhetoric was worth keeping!

You may have tapped into a little something that, I suspect, makes many of us ride.  We don't even no it.  Some of us are plain, up front speed demons.  But alot of us think there's a 'more reasonable', acceptable expalanation for why we ride.  Can you spell 'rationalization'?  When we get down to it, there a qualities about riding that make it fun, inspiring, thrilling, and relaxing (no, that's not a contradiction) unlike almost any other mode of transportation.  I ride my Honda down the interstate each day (well, not now with the snow on the ground) because it's a rational way to save on gasoline and find better parking.  Yeah, right!  Though I keep saying it.   

I think most fortunate folks find this feeling in some occupation.  My Chief Flight Nurse is requesting to rotate to Iraq.  Asked me if I think he's crazy, or being irrational; especially when he's approaching 40.   I told him I think folks like us went into combat medicine not only for the noble, admirable qualities of the trade; but because it allows us the thrill and uniqueness that we didn't know we were seeking.  We're just lucky to find it in something we can be proud of, as well.

I don't know, but I bet the thought of chasing to the ton will come to you again; this time more consciously.  I'm not suggesting you do it, but I'll bet you think about it.  It's happened to me.

Stay safe. Stay sane.  Keep yourself and your bike healthy to ride for many years and many miles.

[BobbyR]

When you decide to ride a bike you cross a line. Then you draw a line at a point you feel comfortable. In time if you ride enough the line moves. The trick is to know when to stop moving the line.

[ProTeal55]

I remember this past summer I was on a charity/midnight ride on the CB750, along with my buddy Danny on his hardtail Triumph bobber, and my other bud steve on his VTX1800.

We were cooking thru some lonely country road and everyone decided to open it up.
I flew past my buddy steve on the VTX, and then Danny on the Triumph flew past me.
I later found out that when I zipped past the VTX he was showing 100mph on his speedo !

The scarry part is that the Triumph flew past me, and that bike is a Hardtail with drum brakes !

[cb650]

I keep my speed demon in check by asking him to split the cost for going faster.  Also the pics of bumps and bruises slowes him down.


                 


                           Terry

[mennedy]

I am sorry. I love the speed. Not in traffic or anywhere the %'s are bad.

However, put me on a 4 - 6 lane highway with the BMW's, rice rockets and pimped out Escalades and I will keep the pace. I just love the look on their faces when they see me in the mirror and the bike's mufflers are trumpetting in my ears.

The rest of the time I am a pain in the ass safety nut - that likes jackrabbit starts!

I look at it this way. I have spent my life in a safety cocoon. If I don't live a little soon when the opportunity comes up, I'll miss the chance.

[sparty]

When I feel the need for real speed, I go to this track which is about 30 minutes from my house. http://www.beaversprings.com/

Of course, I sometimes hit 100 on my way there.

Sparty

[Sam Green Racing]

When I feel the need for real speed, I go to this track which is about 30 minutes from my house. http://www.beaversprings.com/

Of course, I sometimes hit 100 on my way there.

Sparty

It's the best place to do it Sparty life's a drag

Sam.

[Jonesy]

A buddy of mine put it very well. When you start riding you are conservative. Then, you start to push your limits. You do, say, 80 MPH and it's thrilling the first few times, but then it gets to be old hat, so you're on to the next challenge... the ton... going faster in curves, etc. in order to keep it fresh and exciting.

[Jay B]

 I've loved speed my whole life. The fastest I've been on 2 wheels is about 150 on a Duc 916. I live in a rural area, it's easy to go fast with litle risk.  One reason I like my 350f so much, you can ride the hell out of it and barely break the law!

[Chris Schneiter]

I'll admit it, I'm a pussy! I start to chicken out at about 80 - 85!

[medic09]

I'll admit it, I'm a pussy! I start to chicken out at about 80 - 85!

Smart man.

[ieism]

I got beat by a Porsche Cayenne pulling away from a trafficlight the other day. I was in front till 4th gear, then  he left me standing still.  Immideately I started thinking about oversized pistons, flatslide carbs and hot cams.
WRONG!
I should be thinking about broken bones, twisted frames and crying familymembers. Trying to outrun a Porsche or a modern bike on a 30 year old 550 is pathetic really, but how can you stop yourself from trying?
 I thought about racing on a track instead, but i'm afraid the high speeds are addictive.

[sparty]

I got beat by a Porsche Cayenne pulling away from a trafficlight the other day. I was in front till 4th gear, then  he left me standing still.  Immideately I started thinking about oversized pistons, flatslide carbs and hot cams.
WRONG!
I should be thinking about broken bones, twisted frames and crying familymembers. Trying to outrun a Porsche or a modern bike on a 30 year old 550 is pathetic really, but how can you stop yourself from trying?
 I thought about racing on a track instead, but i'm afraid the high speeds are addictive.

High speeds are addictive.

My cousin is a State Trooper, he and his fellow troopers call modern sport bikes "casket fillers".

You can experience high speed adrenaline on the drag strip.  After a few trips down the track and scaring the crap out of yourself, you will ride under control and at a safe speed (most of the time) on the roadways.

Sparty

[medic09]

My cousin is a State Trooper, he and his fellow troopers call modern sport bikes "casket fillers".
Sparty

Donorcycles. Especially the ones without helmets.

[tsflstb]

I thought about racing on a track instead, but i'm afraid the high speeds are addictive.

Most people I know that do regular track days or club race are the complete opposite.  They push their limits on a track where there is no traffic, guardrails, state troopers, etc.  Suddenly the street seems like a much more hostile place to ride.  Even though your skills are improved from riding on the track, the idea of riding 130 mph on a public street seems crazy.

I read an interview with Colin Edwards talking about riding with some buddies on the street after racing a GP bike all year.  He basically said "Those guys are crazy".  There's just a lot that's out of your control on public roads.  I guess going 200 mph at Motegi isn't all the rush is cracked up to be when you don't have to worry about an old lady pulling out of her driveway in front of you.

[Uncle Ernie]

 I did a lock-to-lock tank slapper once, and I'm just now starting to walk again from the last get-off.  I don't heal as fast anymore, and my wife is losing patience, too.
I guess I don't speed much, ever since a guy told me, "Any fool can go fast in a staight line".   I'm more cerebral about it, I think.  I like wringing out the little bikes.  Major fun.  Honing my technical skills in the curves.

[Klark Kent]

yeah-
ive gotta find a track near b more, because there will be a day when i need my fix in a way that cannot be done on the mean streets.  but for now i am happy to wait for the next moment. 

the ride that day was all suck and no truck.  i got to practice illigal filtering, which previously i had the patience not to care about, and become even more cool calm and collected around lots of large metal objects that apparently wish me dead, but it wasnt the slow ride to the water gap i had envisioned with all those fukcers.

thinking about turning home or finding a back road quick i suddenly notice that there is no one in front of me.  for a straight two miles.  the road literally opened up before me red-sea-like and whispered in my ear, " hey mr. biker, why dont you know how fast your bike can go?"

medic you re right, the last time was subconscious, but the next time i am going to be ready for it.  And when the moments start adding up then i suppose i'll be ready for the track. 

thanks to all who shared my psychosis, being schizophrenic and alone is really the worst of both worlds.
-KK