Are sport bike riders wimps?

[NCDave]

Originally Posted by Frenchy

Sportbike guys:

This isn't about cruiser vs sport. There are pro's and con's on both sides. Let's play nice...

I ride both...where does that leave me? I hate myself!

ok...the opinion below and 2 bucks will get you a cup of coffee:

whether you ride sport or cruise, I always thought the idea was to just get out and do it. Maybe you have to ride a little slower, but that doesn't mean you don't enjoy it. The only thing that ever stops me is the temperature itself. I just ride according to conditions...like I would in rain or anything else.

If you don't ride your bike just because your tires won't grip as much, I feel sorry for you because you're missing more fun riding.

[stefano]

Originally Posted by JTpaintball70

Yay for you. You use race tires. I guess that must make you an instant expert.

Part of what I said comes from my experience on my old 500R, although that was sport touring tires.
The other comes from the riding I've been doing on my 650R. I use Sportec M3's and have ridden down below freezing, and ridden hard. I have yet to have any problems. Part of that is I do my best to keep the tires up to temp. You can do that by weaving in your lane some, which helps. Hard braking also helps

I guess everyone has their own experience, but I also disagree with you.

I ride Bridgestone Battlax 014s, and from MY experience, grip levels change A LOT with temperature. As I wrote in my post, riding the same pace as I always ride, with warm temperatures (plus 60) I have my bike totally under control and experience no tyre slippage. The SAME route, riding the SAME pace, in sub 60 weather I was losing the front into the turns and losing the rear out of them. After a couple of scary moments I backed off because if I'd kept up my pace, I would have seriously risked falling off the bike. I do not and CANNOT weave inbetween the turns because there ain't no space to do that, it's one turn after another - so no problem keeping the tyres warm. And I brake hard

You may have a different experience, but you're going to have trouble convincing people that grip does not decrease with low temperatures. Maybe you're not pushing as hard as you think

[Averitteg]

Originally Posted by NCDave

whether you ride sport or cruise, I always thought the idea was to just get out and do it. Maybe you have to ride a little slower, but that doesn't mean you don't enjoy it. The only thing that ever stops me is the temperature itself. I just ride according to conditions...like I would in rain or anything else.

If you don't ride your bike just because your tires won't grip as much, I feel sorry for you because you're missing more fun riding.

Amen to that.

[JTpaintball70]

Originally Posted by Averitteg

Amen to that.

That's what I say to that as well. Only thing that will stop me from riding is ice/snow on the road. then it's time to break out the Heep and have fun

[NCDave]

Originally Posted by JTpaintball70

That's what I say to that as well. Only thing that will stop me from riding is ice/snow on the road. then it's time to break out the Heep and have fun

AMEN to that one too. But sometimes out on the bike I get caught on curves that are shaded and the water has iced over that is still in the shade. Gotta be careful sometimes!

[Averitteg]

I love riding on a bike because you're not canned up in some car. You can feel the breeze...the gusts of wind from semi-trucks...the annoying rocks that ding off your helmet on the freeway...and you can 'see' everything around so much better...and another thing I enjoy in particular is how when riding, most bikers acknowledge each other with a nod or a wave...but if you're in a car...you get nothing...except a finger from somebody who just cut you off...

[JTpaintball70]

Originally Posted by Averitteg

I love riding on a bike because you're not canned up in some car. You can feel the breeze...the gusts of wind from semi-trucks...the annoying rocks that ding off your helmet on the freeway...and you can 'see' everything around so much better...and another thing I enjoy in particular is how when riding, most bikers acknowledge each other with a nod or a wave...but if you're in a car...you get nothing...except a finger from somebody who just cut you off...

You need to try driving a Wrangler. Top off and doors off is great! And Jeeps wave as well to each other

[Averitteg]

Originally Posted by JTpaintball70

You need to try driving a Wrangler. Top off and doors off is great! And Jeeps wave as well to each other

Really? I've never heard of that before. I was going to get a wrangler, but all the ones I looked at were hunks of junk that they were trying to sell for $5 grand. But I still want one...just not with gas prices right now.

[stefano]

Originally Posted by NCDave

If you don't ride your bike just because your tires won't grip as much, I feel sorry for you because you're missing more fun riding.

I disagree with you. As I wrote in my first post, the general mentality behind riding a cruiser and riding a sportbike is different. Riding a cruiser is more about the feeling of freedom and enjoying the scenery, sportbiking is more about adrenaline. Some people look for both, others look for one or the other.

I can only speak from my experience. I bought a sportbike because I want adrenaline. If I only cared about the freedom factor, I would have bought a cruiser - those things are 100 times more comfortable

So again, it all depends on what you want out of a bike. If I take my 636 out for a carve in the Alps because I want to get a rush, I don't feel like I'm missing out at all - on anything. Because that's what I want out of my bike.

Having said that, I'm not saying it aggressively, but your sorrow is pretty much lost on me.

[NCDave]

Originally Posted by stefano

I disagree with you. As I wrote in my first post, the general mentality behind riding a cruiser and riding a sportbike is different. Riding a cruiser is more about the feeling of freedom and enjoying the scenery, sportbiking is more about adrenaline. Some people look for both, others look for one or the other.

I can only speak from my experience. I bought a sportbike because I want adrenaline. If I only cared about the freedom factor, I would have bought a cruiser - those things are 100 times more comfortable

So again, it all depends on what you want out of a bike. If I take my 636 out for a carve in the Alps because I want to get a rush, I don't feel like I'm missing out at all - on anything. Because that's what I want out of my bike.

Having said that, I'm not saying it aggressively, but your sorrow is pretty much lost on me.

I still take my 650 out when it's cold, so don't see the need for someone to park their bike just because of that. I do understand that you can't ride it AS hard, but the curves are still fun.

...and no aggression read into your post either!

[Sepist]

Originally Posted by stefano

I disagree with you. As I wrote in my first post, the general mentality behind riding a cruiser and riding a sportbike is different. Riding a cruiser is more about the feeling of freedom and enjoying the scenery, sportbiking is more about adrenaline. Some people look for both, others look for one or the other.

I must be a freak breed, I bought a sportbike because my hips get very uncomfortable and hurt when I'm in the seating position of a standard or a cruiser

[NCDave]

Originally Posted by Sepist

I must be a freak breed, I bought a sportbike because my hips get very uncomfortable and hurt when I'm in the seating position of a standard or a cruiser

Your back obviously isn't as old as mine!

[Averitteg]

I'll admit that I LOVE riding no matter what it is...I prefer sportbikes because of the way they feel when going around corners, but just going out for a spin along the beach on a cruiser is awesome. Both are comfortable for me, but the sportbike normally makes me stop for a break much sooner.

[Frenchy]

Originally Posted by NCDave

I ride both...where does that leave me? I hate myself!

ok...the opinion below and 2 bucks will get you a cup of coffee:

whether you ride sport or cruise, I always thought the idea was to just get out and do it. Maybe you have to ride a little slower, but that doesn't mean you don't enjoy it. The only thing that ever stops me is the temperature itself. I just ride according to conditions...like I would in rain or anything else.

If you don't ride your bike just because your tires won't grip as much, I feel sorry for you because you're missing more fun riding.

You can get a cup of coffee for $2?

I agree also.

Ice and snow is the only thing that stops me, and I don't have long. It's coming really soon.

[Averitteg]

Originally Posted by Frenchy

You can get a cup of coffee for $2?

I agree also.

Ice and snow is the only thing that stops me, and I don't have long. It's coming really soon.

One of the reasons I love living in Southern California is because I don't have to worry about weather all too much...rains once a month and doesn't snow...kinda sucks for Christmas time though...

[NCDave]

Originally Posted by Averitteg

I'll admit that I LOVE riding no matter what it is...I prefer sportbikes because of the way they feel when going around corners, but just going out for a spin along the beach on a cruiser is awesome. Both are comfortable for me, but the sportbike normally makes me stop for a break much sooner.

Is that cause you have to check your pants?

[Averitteg]

Originally Posted by NCDave

Is that cause you have to check your pants?

...maybe...

[Saki.Girl]

Originally Posted by Averitteg

One of the reasons I love living in Southern California is because I don't have to worry about weather all too much...rains once a month and doesn't snow...kinda sucks for Christmas time though...

oh man i wish we only had rain one time a month we will have rain now until april LOL
i so need to move to cal

[NCDave]

Originally Posted by Saki.Girl

oh man i wish we only had rain one time a month we will have rain now until april LOL
i so need to move to cal

Send some here...we're in a drought!

[Averitteg]

Originally Posted by Saki.Girl

oh man i wish we only had rain one time a month we will have rain now until april LOL
i so need to move to cal

C'mon down! We'll go out for a spin.