Back to the dirt
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From:
Back to the dirt
Well, after a short foray into street riding, I've decided it's just not my style. Today I bought a YZ450f and sold my F4i. I loved the little Honda, had some fun on it too, I just don't like street riding. High speeds don't excite me as much as I thought they would. After all, I may be doing 140, but I'm still doing it on the same road the lil old ladies are riding on.
Traffic laws had much to do with my decision. That constant nagging voice in the back of my mind saying, "Keep an eye out for cops," really took all the fun out of street riding. It's hard to concentrate fully on charging turns when you're concerned you may lose your licence to drive a car if you get caught doubling the speed limit. It's instant jail for that here in Texas and I'm too old and have too many responsibilities to screw around with my licence, so back to the dirt. But first, allow me to say a few things about streetbiking. It's all in good fun...
If one more dipshot on a sportbike asks me if I can wheelie, I'm going to join the ranks of those who want to have these bikes banned. Jeez, like a friggin' wheelie proves you have any skill on a motorcycle. In the motocross world, I loved the wheelie guys; they were the traction. You'd see them trying to perfect their masturbatory moves off at the end of the pits, then you would see them flounder through turns because they didn't learn how to GO FAST. On the street, wheelie riders get movies made about them...stupid. There's a video in a catalog I had called "Streetbike Mastery." On the cover of the vid, there is a guy jumping a sportbike over a single car. Pffft...I've seen miniracers jump 30 foot double before the age of ten years old. Granted, that one guy I keep seeing on TV has some skills I don't have, I can't wheelie circles, but it's still JUST A WHEELIE!!! Evel Knievel did them 35 years ago, and they were done 10 years before him...or more. Obviously I have a beef against "stunters." I just think the idea of such a category is stupid. Skateboards do bigger tricks than any of the stunters.
The aftermarket really screws the streetriders. The piddliest little thing for a streetbike, say a brake lever, is like fifty bucks. And while on the subject of the the streetbike aftermarket, it's completely flooded with crap analagous to curb feelers. Spiked fairing bolts? You have got to be kidding me...and they actually sell stripes for rims.
Oh, and if any of you guys are thinking you have the latest in racing tech just because you have a brand new R model bike, forget it. The bolts on a works bike are more expensive than most street bikes available for us. Take the Ducati works bikes for sale :75 grand! That's a real race bike, not a pedestrianized bike like we get. Motocross bikes are closer to works bikes off the showroom floor...
But, I did meet some really cool people who ride sport bikes, a couple of them in here. Demon RR helped me out with links to road racing info (decided against it after doing the math...too much $) VoodooChyle always posted some great stuff. Also I got some great tech advice from the CBR forum. I'd like to thank all who took the time to answer my posts. In the outside world, I met some cool riders, mostly older guys, who I enjoyed riding with and talking about bikes with. That moto-community is a beautiful thing and I was glad to experience it outside my dirt world.
I sold my F4i to a friend, so I'm keeping membership to this forum so I can help him if he has to work on the bike. Anyone who buys a bike from me gets lifetime support. That was the way I was raised. It's that whole Zen thing...or maybe I just like to see people enjoy bikes I've worked on.
Well I'm done with my soapboxing here. As I finish up, I remembered a sticker I once saw, "Street is for racing, dirt is for planting potatos." I'm going back to the spud farm my friends. Take care my fellow two wheelers...except you stuntdouches,
Traffic laws had much to do with my decision. That constant nagging voice in the back of my mind saying, "Keep an eye out for cops," really took all the fun out of street riding. It's hard to concentrate fully on charging turns when you're concerned you may lose your licence to drive a car if you get caught doubling the speed limit. It's instant jail for that here in Texas and I'm too old and have too many responsibilities to screw around with my licence, so back to the dirt. But first, allow me to say a few things about streetbiking. It's all in good fun...
If one more dipshot on a sportbike asks me if I can wheelie, I'm going to join the ranks of those who want to have these bikes banned. Jeez, like a friggin' wheelie proves you have any skill on a motorcycle. In the motocross world, I loved the wheelie guys; they were the traction. You'd see them trying to perfect their masturbatory moves off at the end of the pits, then you would see them flounder through turns because they didn't learn how to GO FAST. On the street, wheelie riders get movies made about them...stupid. There's a video in a catalog I had called "Streetbike Mastery." On the cover of the vid, there is a guy jumping a sportbike over a single car. Pffft...I've seen miniracers jump 30 foot double before the age of ten years old. Granted, that one guy I keep seeing on TV has some skills I don't have, I can't wheelie circles, but it's still JUST A WHEELIE!!! Evel Knievel did them 35 years ago, and they were done 10 years before him...or more. Obviously I have a beef against "stunters." I just think the idea of such a category is stupid. Skateboards do bigger tricks than any of the stunters.
The aftermarket really screws the streetriders. The piddliest little thing for a streetbike, say a brake lever, is like fifty bucks. And while on the subject of the the streetbike aftermarket, it's completely flooded with crap analagous to curb feelers. Spiked fairing bolts? You have got to be kidding me...and they actually sell stripes for rims.
Oh, and if any of you guys are thinking you have the latest in racing tech just because you have a brand new R model bike, forget it. The bolts on a works bike are more expensive than most street bikes available for us. Take the Ducati works bikes for sale :75 grand! That's a real race bike, not a pedestrianized bike like we get. Motocross bikes are closer to works bikes off the showroom floor...
But, I did meet some really cool people who ride sport bikes, a couple of them in here. Demon RR helped me out with links to road racing info (decided against it after doing the math...too much $) VoodooChyle always posted some great stuff. Also I got some great tech advice from the CBR forum. I'd like to thank all who took the time to answer my posts. In the outside world, I met some cool riders, mostly older guys, who I enjoyed riding with and talking about bikes with. That moto-community is a beautiful thing and I was glad to experience it outside my dirt world.
I sold my F4i to a friend, so I'm keeping membership to this forum so I can help him if he has to work on the bike. Anyone who buys a bike from me gets lifetime support. That was the way I was raised. It's that whole Zen thing...or maybe I just like to see people enjoy bikes I've worked on.
Well I'm done with my soapboxing here. As I finish up, I remembered a sticker I once saw, "Street is for racing, dirt is for planting potatos." I'm going back to the spud farm my friends. Take care my fellow two wheelers...except you stuntdouches,
Retired Moderator
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,524
Likes: 0
From: Fort Awesome
RE: Back to the dirt
Hey Dork,
I admire you 100%! Riding has NOTHING to do with an image, and (in my opinion) has everything to do with your soul. You weren't feeling this medium of riding, and that is fine. Do what makes you happy. If it is cruising, touring, playing in the dirt, track days,or streetriding. NOBODYcan tell you what to enjoy. Street riding comes with alot of luggage, and many people don't have aclue as to how much they are at risk...soccer moms, blind spots, old farts, maintenance requirements, etc, etc, etc...You figured out that is wasn't your cup of tea. So what if you want to do something else...or nothing at all. Please stick around. I speak for all the Admins and Mods when I say, "We love our members!" We would hate to lose such a valuable member. Thank you for your honesty in this thread, and I hope you get your Daytonafor Christmas
...hope to see you soon.
I admire you 100%! Riding has NOTHING to do with an image, and (in my opinion) has everything to do with your soul. You weren't feeling this medium of riding, and that is fine. Do what makes you happy. If it is cruising, touring, playing in the dirt, track days,or streetriding. NOBODYcan tell you what to enjoy. Street riding comes with alot of luggage, and many people don't have aclue as to how much they are at risk...soccer moms, blind spots, old farts, maintenance requirements, etc, etc, etc...You figured out that is wasn't your cup of tea. So what if you want to do something else...or nothing at all. Please stick around. I speak for all the Admins and Mods when I say, "We love our members!" We would hate to lose such a valuable member. Thank you for your honesty in this thread, and I hope you get your Daytonafor Christmas
...hope to see you soon.
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
RE: Back to the dirt
I have a cbr 1000 and I think riding the dirt in 3rd gear plus is way harder than any street riding. On a dirt bike you have to drift around corners and your tires are gonna slide out. On the street your tires stick but you have grandma pulling out. As far as adrenaline i like riding fast on dirt any day over street. Enjoy the 450 i have a crf 450 and they are beasts. 50 hp out of 200 pounds is always a fun time
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post