"Is it time to give up, sell my bike, toss my ratty gear and make it a part of my history rather than my future?"
since you asked, yes.
I wish I had taken up dirt bikes when I was younger - I can get all the feels I enjoy from motorcycling, at speeds and in places where I'm unlikely to get killed. I've had a KLR 250 (hard SOB to reach the kickstart on, but I liked it) but the bike in the photo is a Kawasaki Super Sherpa, fantastic little bike. Had KLR 650s too and I like them, but on a loose surface I prefer a lighter bike that I can keep upright - and pick up when I can't.Is that a KLR250!?!?!
So this is making sense to me. I completely suck at dirt riding, did a 3 day tour in Death Valley (in January, got snowed on!) and hated the sand the entire time. Crashed from hitting nothing, the earth just came up and hit me. BUT... maybe if I could ride a hard pack trail it would be like a mountain bike. Slow and steady and just enjoy the ride and not have to stand up and nail the gas and be all crazy like the ADV guys?
I won a lot of motocross races when I was young. Now I have a 1990 Yamaha XT-350 and a 1973 BMW R75/5. Both need work, which I will enjoy doing. But I will not ride them on the road any more. Each and every day I see people on their phones while operating a motor vehicle. It makes no sense to risk riding a motorcycle among them.
I had the classic "Crash and Burn" on my Bultaco Pursang (this dates me)....
Glad you survived it - the crash and the phone call. I gotcher Pursang front end on my TR25W trail bike!I had the classic "Crash and Burn" on my Bultaco Pursang (this dates me).
Got T-boned by another bike between my engine and my front forks. Sheared the triple clamp, ruptured fuel tank, and the main part of the bike (with engine, seat and rear wheel) burned to a crisp.
Since I was on my own and only 17, hospital could do nothing for me other than stabilize me, before getting power of attorney from my parents in Florida , to my friends Dad where I was in New Mexico.
Man was that a fun call to make ("Hi Dad, guess what? Remember that motorcycle you told me not to buy, well................")
I was on an Ossa. I wanted a Maico....the guys winning were riding Bultaco and Ossa.
Prayers sent.I swear I know what a car is going to do before they do.
Glad you survived it - the crash and the phone call. I gotcher Pursang front end on my TR25W trail bike!
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Do it. We ain't getting any younger. Do it now.You have the neatest motorcycle collection. I've been wanting to build a Sportster chopper & am half tempted to run down a KHK to hard tail & either build a tracker or late '60's style bobber.
You will know when it is time. It may be a combination of age,health problems,close calls,or over crowded roads with problem drivers,or just something as simple as it becomes not enjoyable anymore. When that little voice in your head says "it's over" you will know it's time to quit.
I never did race, but I always thought Bultacos were cool because Jim Pomeroy rode one. I always wanted an Alpina for the woods.
Sorry for the hijack.
But a trike is not a motorcycle. I'll go the convertible sports car route when the time comes before a trike. At least you can still go fast in corners in a sports car.No, then you hop on a trike.
A lot of people go to a trike. That was never an option for me. I have zero interest in a trike or the CanAm Spyder or Slingshot. Might as well be in a car.No, then you hop on a trike.
The only three-wheelers that interest me at all are the Morgans, and other similar "cars". I would go convertible before I would go trike.A lot of people go to a trike. That was never an option for me. I have zero interest in a trike or the CanAm Spyder or Slingshot. Might as well be in a car.
I have a Harley that has been collecting dust for a few years = kids.
I might as well sell it.....but it's not just that easy.
Riding hard is like running from the law, you have get away every time, they only have to catch you one time. You’re right though, aggressive riders are on average better riders but there’s always the unknowns that will sooner or later get you. Once met a pickup truck on a two lane highway with a big Dalmatian riding on the toolbox overlooking the cab and just as they met me the truck hit a bump in the road sending the poor dog straight at me airborne! I swerved and ducked at the same time as did my guardian angel, never lost control, turned around to see how the dog was fareing to find him now white, black and red but no broken bones. The owner turned as well and placed the dog in the bed and off he went to the vet. Me?...I gave thanks to my Maker and made a generous donation to the Dickel Foundation.If I give it up, it will be out of boredom for roads around here. I like technical, challenging, and twisty.
Coming from riding in traffic where Jayne and I did, this place is super chill, traffic/cell phone wise. You have to ride aggressively and offensively. This requires speeding and passing where you have to, total 360 degree awareness, and proactive thinking. There is no time for "cruising and enjoying the sights" anywhere close to cagers. You have to be actively watching traffic patterns developing and changing and actively mitigating dangerous scenarios. You have to have good gear and good skills. And you still might eat it.
This is actually what I like about riding. If it were "safe" I probably wouldn't be interested. Skydiving is fun for people because it is the opposite of safe. Motorcycles are awesome because they are very difficult to master, and the consequences of bad decisions or lack or skill are at the least very painful and at the worst, very fatal. Like flying helicopters.
All that said, at this point in my life I hardly ride at all. But I have a payed-off bike in the garage that brings me huge joy when I ride it, so it's not costing me much money to have it there. I could live without it. Quite easily. But my mom often says "motorcycle" was like the first word out of my mouth and I have always had a deep passion for them. I love them. It is waiting in the garage patiently waiting for a blast around town, being a general hooligan and pissing people off. Yeah, I'll probably keep it.
I do not encourage people to ride unless they show this same attitude. If you do not feel compelled to ride...... don't go anywhere near one. I'd never let my girl ride, and will not take passengers. It is a very very selfish thing to do at the end of the day. It has to be.
If I die on one, I expect everybody who knows me to be like "that was not entirely unexpected". They can all act smug and say "we told him so". That is perfectly fine. Because they did, many many many times in my life. Probably thousands.
Riding hard is like running from the law, you have get away every time, they only have to catch you one time. You’re right though, aggressive riders are on average better riders but there’s always the unknowns that will sooner or later get you. Once met a pickup truck on a two lane highway with a big Dalmatian riding on the toolbox overlooking the cab and just as they met me the truck hit a bump in the road sending the poor dog straight at me airborne! I swerved and ducked at the same time as did my guardian angel, never lost control, turned around to see how the dog was fareing to find him now white, black and red but no broken bones. The owner turned as well and placed the dog in the bed and off he went to the vet. Me?...I gave thanks to my Maker and made a generous donation to the Dickel Foundation.