Are you scared to ride? (sport bike)

are you guys scared to ride your sport bike?

I'm thinking of getting a bike again for the summer, and I'm scared!

It's good scared, as in this fear will keep me on my toes, and keep me from being a jack ass and speeding.

What about you?

 

I love riding mine! What scares me is people who just don't pay attention. You could be doing everything right and all it takes is some jackass not looking when he changes lanes to mess you up. I just try to avoid cities and traffic congestion as much as possible.

 

yea that's definitely what gets under my skin.

I'd like to use my bike to commute to another city thats about 60km away, but it's so damn busy on that road!

 

Yeah.

Drivers have their heads up their @sses nowadays. And on a bike an accident of any kind can result in death, maiming, etc.

I had one 20+ years ago and did some crazy stuff. Glad I lived through it.

Between texting, talking, using ipod, etc. it's very different now.

Or maybe I'm just getting older

 

I work in Boston and am debating riding my motorcycle in (when it gets warmer). I saw someone reading a book while driving in this morning... it's things like that that completely turn me away from wanting to commute on a motorcycle. I'd probably get something lighter for a city commute though, like a dual-sport or an SM.

 

I gave up riding street bikes years ago. I don't worry so much about my ability or the bike but the dumbasses that change lanes without looking and blow through lights. And now with cell phones and texting I'm terrified.

 

I wrecked mine (05 GSX-R 600) in 2006. Took me about two years to put it back together (just because I had no time) and then another year to actually get on it.
The first time getting back on it, I went out for a thirty min ride. Within five min. someone slammed on their brakes right in front of me to make a turn (no signal given), I locked the rear tire up, killed the engine and slid past them.
Ten min. later, I was stopping at a red light and went to downshift and couldn't find the shift lever. I eased off into a parking lot and noticed that the lever was hanging down because I had lost the shift linkage. I rode the rest of the way home in second gear.
I felt like an ass cause I was riding at around 10k RPM with people passing me the rest of the way home. I think I'm gonna sell it and use the money to mod the truck. Starting to feel like it is cursed.

 

I definitely wouldn't ride in so cal either!

Problem for me is I live in a tourist community, and the population doubles in the summer!

texting or being on the phone is illegal where I live, but don't think that stops people.

so frustrating!

 

smart man. it's simply not worth it. that's why i ride offroad - and originally why i used to have a jeep cj, so i could get some of the fun of a convertible, etc. without ending up a drooling vegetable.

 

Talking/texting without a handsfree device is illegal here in NY also. Now instead of a handslap and fine, they are adding 2 points on your driving record. That should help alot!

FWIW, the last street bike I rode was one of the first 600CBR's. I lifted my head to look around at 135mph. Thought the bike was gonna leave me. Brought it back to the owner and never got on one again. Speed is an issue with me. Got rid of a WS6 Trans AM for the same reason. No more speed toys for me.

I do agree...there are WAY to many distractions to drivers these days, too much competition for road space!

God Bless you guys/gals that do ride!

 

I started riding again about 4 years ago, after a 15 year hiatus. I live outside of Houston and do commute regularly, but I attempt to control my riding situations as much as is possible:

o doesn't matter who is at fault, if you're on a MC and are in an accident, you will lose
o ride with a sense of fear of the other drivers,,, this is good as you've said, keeps you on your toes
o try to ride during as much off-peak hours as possible
o dress for the crash, not comfort
o avoid blind spots and make sure you're seen, i.e., I don't pass another car on a mutli-lane highway until I can go from being seen in their rear-view, to past their front bumper in one quick pass
o watch the other drivers for hints as to where they're going, this is more reliable then turn signals
o watch for on-coming traffic that can turn left in front on you
o etc., etc., etc.

None of this makes riding perfectly safe, but if you ensure you're riding with a hightened sense of your surroundings you do minimize the risk some.

 

That must have been some bike, you rode back in time! Did you meet yourself?

 

Sport bike so fast it went back in time?? DAAAAYUM!!!

I took mine to a track and saw high triple digits on the speedo at several points....Realized I don't know nearly enuf to go that fast...Haven't broken 100 since. It's a respect more than scared.
I am scared of the people out there with no situational awareness or driving skills. My bike got 12K miles the first year...2007...and I have since put about 4K more on it...It's sad really...can't find anywhere good AND safe to ride.

 

I miss riding my R1. I gave up riding due to the idiots around here. I've had a few close calls and it's not worth it.

 

i love to ride and i ride as much as i posibly can. thats one of the best parts about riding a sport bike is being a little scared about taking it out there on the streats with all the crazy people that dont know how to drive.

 

Disclaimer: I don't own a bike, and never have. My only riding has been my roommate's Ninja 250 and 600 F4i. I have a license and have taken a course.

Riding sport bikes is a lot of fun, but yes, I'm scared. I'm scared to the point that I don't think I can ever buy one and make it a worthwhile investment. Every time I'm out I feel on edge, like I can never really be comfortable, and that's not a feeling I like. In a fast car, I feel completely in control, but not on a sport bike. Too much to worry about, etc.

I think if I EVER got a bike, it would be a big cruiser, just for the fact that I feel I could better control that throttle wise than a twitchy (read: good for handling) sport bike. I'm just too fidgety.

 

It's a healthy scared I maintain with mine. I love riding it! It won't scare you from not speeding. Sport bikes have so much power and it's easy to get them going fast.

But like everyone else has said, keep your head on a swivel, be aware of surroundings.

 

In that case- I was 2. Just thought you'd like to know.