Switching riding styles

[OneSickPsycho]

My next bike will most likely be a cruiser of some sort... Though, I would love to get a sport touring bike... Busa with some Heli's and hard bags, but I'll probably end up with more of a cruiser/tourer...

[G-Rex]

Quite a few people have mentioned wanting a Busa for sport-touring. Makes me wonder if there's actually a market for mine out there. LOL

There probably would be if it didn't have 70,000 miles on it. Well, not for what I'd want to sell it for. haha!

[CasterTroy]

I rode my first dirbike back in 81. Rode that bike until I was 15.

I've ridden streetbikes (standards) since 1990

I switched to Sportbikes in 1999 after I met Brian.

He had a Ducati 916 and drew me into riding fast.

Very fast

I then stepped up to a TLR and modified the hell out of it.

From there a CBR1100XX to do some touring (Brian had a BMW K1200RS and I wanted to tour as well)

After that I got a busa, then an R1, then the motard and the GSXR 750

In the same time I got a BMW R1150RT

I LOVED street riding...especially FAST street riding.

That all changed on Sept 5 2009. I know you’ve heard this story…but it’s part (not all) of the reason I no longer ride street….so I’m telling it again.

I was rolling thru the mini deals gap with Brian on our motards. I had a lead on him and was cutin a great groove when I looked back and didn't see him.

I stopped and killed the engine to hear when he was coming. I head a limb crack in the woods and my heart dropped.

I cranked up and rolled up to the previous curve to see a black mark going off the road and over the side of the cliff.

I parked and ran over to see my best friend 50 ft down the side of the mountain laying on top of his bike...eyes open, visor broken.

I ran down and tried to wake him up. Gave him CPR and when I blew in his mouth blood spewed from his nose. I knew he was gone.

Later that afternoon my wife and I told his wife Julie of his death. I saw her crumble.

That didn't stop me from riding street. Actually I got faster. Took it more to the track but still loved street. That was until October 14 this past year. That's when I was riding the RT at a good clip in the mountains with some buddies when I rounded a corner and hit some sand and fine gravel from a flooding washout and tucked the front tire.

As I was going down time stopped......I saw the bike sliding across the street. The bike my wife and I rode quite often, as well as my kids. And while she nor the kids weren't WITH me that day, all I could see was her helplessly trapped on that back seat as the bike crossed into the oncoming lane on it's side.

What if she WAS with me that day?

What if a car was coming?

What if SHE was killed?

What if it were my son?

The thought of me killing my wife, or one of my kids on a ride shook me to an unimaginable level.

The thought of one of my friends having to deliver the news to MY wife that I delivered to Julie....I can't do that to my wife....or my friends

I rode the RT home that day 150 miles without a windscreen, mirrors, and with tattered fairings….but I was shook beyond believe.

I decided at that point I’d NEVER ride the open roads again. I sold the GSXR and the BMW and bought a dirtbike to ride offroad and to do motard trackdays….and I’m a much happier person.

[tached1000rr]

Originally Posted by CasterTroy

I rode my first dirbike back in 81. Rode that bike until I was 15.

I've ridden streetbikes (standards) since 1990

I switched to Sportbikes in 1999 after I met Brian.

He had a Ducati 916 and drew me into riding fast.

Very fast

I then stepped up to a TLR and modified the hell out of it.

From there a CBR1100XX to do some touring (Brian had a BMW K1200RS and I wanted to tour as well)

After that I got a busa, then an R1, then the motard and the GSXR 750

In the same time I got a BMW R1150RT

I LOVED street riding...especially FAST street riding.

That all changed on Sept 5 2009. I know you’ve heard this story…but it’s part (not all) of the reason I no longer ride street….so I’m telling it again.

I was rolling thru the mini deals gap with Brian on our motards. I had a lead on him and was cutin a great groove when I looked back and didn't see him.

I stopped and killed the engine to hear when he was coming. I head a limb crack in the woods and my heart dropped.

I cranked up and rolled up to the previous curve to see a black mark going off the road and over the side of the cliff.

I parked and ran over to see my best friend 50 ft down the side of the mountain laying on top of his bike...eyes open, visor broken.

I ran down and tried to wake him up. Gave him CPR and when I blew in his mouth blood spewed from his nose. I knew he was gone.

Later that afternoon my wife and I told his wife Julie of his death. I saw her crumble.

That didn't stop me from riding street. Actually I got faster. Took it more to the track but still loved street. That was until October 14 this past year. That's when I was riding the RT at a good clip in the mountains with some buddies when I rounded a corner and hit some sand and fine gravel from a flooding washout and tucked the front tire.

As I was going down time stopped......I saw the bike sliding across the street. The bike my wife and I rode quite often, as well as my kids. And while she nor the kids weren't WITH me that day, all I could see was her helplessly trapped on that back seat as the bike crossed into the oncoming lane on it's side.

What if she WAS with me that day?

What if a car was coming?

What if SHE was killed?

What if it were my son?

The thought of me killing my wife, or one of my kids on a ride shook me to an unimaginable level.

The thought of one of my friends having to deliver the news to MY wife that I delivered to Julie....I can't do that to my wife....or my friends

I rode the RT home that day 150 miles without a windscreen, mirrors, and with tattered fairings….but I was shook beyond believe.

I decided at that point I’d NEVER ride the open roads again. I sold the GSXR and the BMW and bought a dirtbike to ride offroad and to do motard trackdays….and I’m a much happier person.

I did not know that you went down on the RT, glad you are okay dude....

[CasterTroy]

Thanks.....yeah I hit gravel rounding a curve up on Mt Rogers near Damascus VA on a Shady run

[Gas Man]

I started on a Ninja 500... it was great and I packed a bunch of miles on it. upgraded to the Ninja 9R. Loved that bike and I grew more with it. Grew in skills and in danger.

nearly every weekend I would go out into the twistys with friends... pushing it harder and harder. Doing insane speeds thru corners marked at 25-30mph. Then to top that, I got to really like high end speeds on highways. Doing 125+ thru traffic, splittin lanes, etc. Riding home from Toledo bike night to my house in Flint... a 2hour drive in an hour or less.

I would do all the above and then get home and it would start to bother me. Those few mins of fun could cause a lifetime of headache.

Tried to go slower but it didn't work. So I knew I would have to sell the sportbike and go to something else. Looked at bunch of things and loved choppers so that's the way I went.

Later switching over to my HDs for touring and still have the nightster for around town coolness. Each switch I did I have gotten happier. I think my Ultra has been the best yet. It has taken me to such great places, meet super people, and allows me to put on lots of miles. I love it.

What are you thinking of switching to Racedoll?

[racedoll]

Originally Posted by Gas Man

What are you thinking of switching to Racedoll?

I am not planning on switching to anything. The thought came up because Erik bought a dual sport last fall and seems to enjoy it more than the sport bike. He is very excited about riding again, which is good. I know several on here also switched and wanted to hear/read why. After all, this is a motorcycle forum

There are some good stories that go along with switching. Very interesting reading!

[tached1000rr]

Originally Posted by CasterTroy

Thanks.....yeah I hit gravel rounding a curve up on Mt Rogers near Damascus VA on a Shady run

Dude I'm saddened, one of my goals for this riding season was for us to hook up for some riding since you had picked up the GSXR up off and around 421/Shady Valley etc....

[CasterTroy]

Originally Posted by tached1000rr

Dude I'm saddened, one of my goals for this riding season was for us to hook up for some riding since you had picked up the GSXR up off and around 421/Shady Valley etc....

Either NESBA Patriot days, and still trying to determine the perfect Barber weekend

[racedoll]

Originally Posted by CasterTroy

Either NESBA Patriot days, and still trying to determine the perfect Barber weekend

Sounds perfect tached1000rr, since I recall you wanting to do a track day.