I really enjoy riding, after 20 years of riding a Harley I miss it. Being new to the sport bike, I really don't know if it is who I am. Met some very cool people along the way and am now at the point of making a decision, do I sell my beloved 2000 CBR 600? I have logged on quite a few miles and learned a lot about the bike but 1) the inner demon could leave me hurt or killed, the speed is a huge problem. I like it to much. 2) I feel like I ride with the wrong people, the pure pressure is hard to resist and nobody wants to stay back for a new sport rider. 3) Family... Not much more to say about that, they are my everything.
So fellow riders I am asking, have you been faced with this? What should a person do? At this point buying another Harley is out of the question due to cost. I feel like I need to ride to feel alive. As I ride alone there is a serenity within, also keeping the power tamed is alot easier, but riding with others is about half the fun.
Really need some help with this one guys and gals, seriously torn..

Thanks,
Eric

 

I have by far the slowest bike out of the group I ride with. When they gun it, ill go probably up to about 100. I catch up with them in a couple of minutes. They don't care that I let off.

And neither should the friends you ride with. If they do, I hate to say it, but find some new friends to ride with.

I myself have a two year old girl at home, the risks involved for me to truly take advantage of the bike are far too great for my right hand and left foot.

The worst accidents Ive seen are riders riding with their friends that try to go past theirs and the bikes skill levels.

 

You know what the problem is, you need to figure out how to address it.

Take it to the track, if you want the "real' thrill. I hope there's one near you
that does track-days. If not, make it an event. Buy a trailer, if you have to.
There a lot cheaper than a harley. The track is the only place you should be
running at unlimited speeds.

Yeah, the urge to speed can be a bitch. If you're exercising it on the street, though,
you are being extremely, irresponsible. I won't advocate exceeding the speed limit, even if we all do.
But, if you are running more than 20 over, you are putting others, as well as yourself, at risk.
Strangers, not just your grieving family. Not to mention, if you live, the potential for a ruinious,
financial burden of medical expenses.

As far as "buddies" that run at track-speeds on the street, if you can't find
responsible folks to share with, ride alone. Or, take the pace that YOU feel comfortable with,
if they keep blowing you off, THAT says something about their respect for you.
It does not make you a "*****", to ride within your comfort zone.
"*****" is you letting others tell you how to ride.

If these things don't make you pause and re-consider, I don't like saying it, but I
will...you need to get rid of the bike and find a different way to scratch the itch.
One that doesn't put you and innocents at risk.

I'm hoping, you just learn to ride responsably. Especially as a new rider,
focus on the slow-speed crawl/braking control. Now there's a challenge.

Impress your buddies with razor-sharp stops, while never putting your feet down.
Slow turning in a circle, with the bars locked to the tank. And then, blipping the throttle
and slamming her over in a reverse circle with the bars locked again.

Now that's a stud!

Ern

 

If that didn't tell you everything you need to know then nothing will. Well stated, Ern.

 

Maybe you'd like something like an Interceptor. Still pretty quick, but more tame and grown up. I imagine that if I ever own another bike after my F4i, that's what I would want.

As far as riding with people, don't ride with people you feel uncomfortable with, or who aren't willing to ride at a pace you're comfortable with. The group I first started riding with was pretty good, but still had some knuckle-heads in it. I didn't like being passed by guys riding wheelies or supermans, so I stopped. I found out later that summer that a couple guys caused a pretty bad accident in the middle of the pack. Glad I wasn't there to see. You don't need to ride with people who have the same kind of bike as you to have fun. Sometimes being on two wheels is all that matters.

 

Same thing happend to me. It was a nice ride down these back roads then we got on the highway and all 7 of them left me. Speed limit 55 I did 80 and felt like I was the coolest thing on wheels. We pull into a gas station ( well I pulled in minutes later) and they start boasting about doing 140 blah blah bs and started cracking jokes about me and I just smiled. Then asked how many accidents they have? All of them have had at least 4 from being stupid. So do what I do and just enjoy the ride and don't try to be another "sport bike a**hole". I live near Philly and people can't drive then on top of that jersey overflows into here and then my friends want to go fast around them, not my style

 

I have a "harley" as well as my 929. The harleys came before the sportbikes. I love my chopper. I built it from the ground up. Every bolt, every part, every piece of that motor was selected or made by me on mills and lathes. I rode that bike everywhere until a 929rr erion fell into my lap. Now it sits... The 929 opened my eyes to learning how to really ride. I was scared at first of its potential, but maturity prevails. Now when I take the harley out, it scares me because it cant be ridden like I can ride. ive drawn away from the harley culture, most of those guys are so full of it that i cant listen the crap for very long.

I love to ride. There is nothing fun about riding city streets, to meet at a bar, or resturant, just to get drunk and look at parked bikes with shinny chrome for 3 hours then ride home. Im done with that, I have a bike that screams for canyon roads.

I know what your going through, been there done that.

As for your friends... Get new ones to ride with. I ride with friends that almost always are less experienced than I am, and thats okay. I may pull ahead and ride at my pace, but I wait up for them. I tell them that there is no pressure to keep up and I have no problem waiting. "whoever gets there first, has to wait the longest."

My advise... Since a harley is not in the plans right now, stick with what you have right now and address this again when you actually have to make the choice of which way to go. find new people to ride with that respect you, and remember this when you are the experienced rider of your group.

 

Ern (MadHatter) said it very well.

Ride your own pace, don't be pressured into riding beyond your comfort zone. And by all means, if the group is boasting of track speeds on the street, find a different group to ride with.

I'll go further. If you don't feel comfortable with your ride and decide to give it up, that decision is yours to make. Do what you feel is right for you and your family.

 

Well the CBR went away, I just couldn't leave well enough alone... ended up buying a 2011 KTM RC8 1190 (ugh, what was I thinkin?). Riding all alone for now till I feel comfortable to take on riding with others. Bike is a blast and HAVE NOT even considered really rolling on the throttle. Maybe by next summer I may be OK with it, for now just logging some miles and working on being smooth through the gears and learning the stopping power as well as (thanks Ern) slow figure 8's.

 

Woahhhh. Nice

now lets see some pics ASAP