Wadadli
Well-known member
I’ve been on this forum for a few years and this seems to be a popular question and a topic of great debate and even ridicule.
Here is my 2 cents for what is worth.
We call riding a motorcycling on the street a “Sport” and perhaps it is but I think of it more as a “Passion”. The first time your successfully negotiate a turn, roll your right wrist or have someone say “cool bike” most people are hooked for life. Whether you plan to ride, race, wrench or polish who cares. Do what you like.
After learning the basics and having confidence to balance, accelerate, brake and FOCUS, I don’t think the size or power of the street bike is the question. Considering all street legal bikes are safe to ride on the street, it’s not the bike that is the question it’s your ability to avoid the temptation to ride beyond your abilities. If you are a bit of a show off or easily distracted then I’m afraid the odds are against you for having an incident free experience. Often big bikes are actually easier to ride than smaller ones as they accelerate and brake smoother and are more stability. Big bikes actual instill confidence in your abilities which in itself can be a problem.
Consider this: If one day instead of walking a single step you ran, people would certainly notice and think you were annoying and perhaps a bit of an idiot. You might even run into unsuspecting people who were not expecting you to be moving so fast. To me this equates to riding on the street like you are at the track. Time and place people time and place.
This may all sound a bit patronizing but I don’t mean to be. I myself ride a bike that is way more powerful than it needs to be for riding on the street and I don’t have the desire to take my beauty to the track. This is my dream bike and I enjoy all aspects of ownership. I have toured on it, I have meticulously cleaned and shined it just to ride to a bike meet and I have on occasion ridden it faster than perhaps I should on a country road or an off-ramp. My point is, I respect the machine and I have the will power not to run when I should walk.
I hope the weather warms soon and we can all get out there to enjoy our bikes.
Here is my 2 cents for what is worth.
We call riding a motorcycling on the street a “Sport” and perhaps it is but I think of it more as a “Passion”. The first time your successfully negotiate a turn, roll your right wrist or have someone say “cool bike” most people are hooked for life. Whether you plan to ride, race, wrench or polish who cares. Do what you like.
After learning the basics and having confidence to balance, accelerate, brake and FOCUS, I don’t think the size or power of the street bike is the question. Considering all street legal bikes are safe to ride on the street, it’s not the bike that is the question it’s your ability to avoid the temptation to ride beyond your abilities. If you are a bit of a show off or easily distracted then I’m afraid the odds are against you for having an incident free experience. Often big bikes are actually easier to ride than smaller ones as they accelerate and brake smoother and are more stability. Big bikes actual instill confidence in your abilities which in itself can be a problem.
Consider this: If one day instead of walking a single step you ran, people would certainly notice and think you were annoying and perhaps a bit of an idiot. You might even run into unsuspecting people who were not expecting you to be moving so fast. To me this equates to riding on the street like you are at the track. Time and place people time and place.
This may all sound a bit patronizing but I don’t mean to be. I myself ride a bike that is way more powerful than it needs to be for riding on the street and I don’t have the desire to take my beauty to the track. This is my dream bike and I enjoy all aspects of ownership. I have toured on it, I have meticulously cleaned and shined it just to ride to a bike meet and I have on occasion ridden it faster than perhaps I should on a country road or an off-ramp. My point is, I respect the machine and I have the will power not to run when I should walk.
I hope the weather warms soon and we can all get out there to enjoy our bikes.
