Well, in less than 4 months I have logged about 2,300 miles on my moto and I have say that I am enjoying pretty much every minute of it. I'm getting comfortable with the SV and I have really developed an affinity for the distinctive power delivery of 90degree V-twin. I can hear them a mile away.
The 20 odd years of bike racing has really helped me acclimatize to riding a moto, but there is a downside to that. Initially, I was very cautious with the bike. However, now that I am pretty comfortable I am noticing that I am in a somewhat precarious state since the moto feels like my bike. I sometimes forget that I am on a 400lb bike instead of a 15lb one and it takes a lot more effort to make it do what I want. I am getting too comfortable for how much skill I have. I am starting to ride my moto as if I was on a racing bike and that's is dangerous.
I find that I am now on a somewhat shallow learning curve with normal riding on the street. Street riding is just too chaotic and dangerous to really push my skill limits. I am finding that I actually seek out stop and go traffic so I can practice my lane splitting.
The challenging bits that I encounter during my commuting are too few and far between. They sneak up on me and they are over before I realize it and I don't really learn that much from them, which is bad since I am doomed to repeat my mistakes and that can get you killed.
I am a little afraid since the low lever motor control part of me can't tell the difference between a motorcycle and a bicycle and I am getting lulled into a false sense of confidence.
A good friend of mine who has spent about the same amount of time being a motorcycle guy as I have spent as a bicycle guy encouraged me early on to take my moto to the track.
He said that it will rapidly increase my skill and make me a much safer rider.
Funny thing is that after hearing a conversation about riding motorcycles and going to the track, Suzy (my girlfriend) actually said she wanted me to go to the track since she's a little worry about me being out on a motorcycle.
Darn! I guess I am going to have to go to the track then. I hate when that happens.
So, I guess I am going to have to go buy some more leathers and stuff. You know how much I hate leather. (Everybody who knows me knows this is blatant factiousness: I love leather).
But the other thing that happening is my moto lust is kicking in. I was at the Peet's in Hillcrest and there was a bright shiny red Ducati in the parking lot. Suzy said my eyes started twinkling what I saw it.
Lusting after a Ducati isn't the bad thing, lusting after another bike after only 4 months of riding is.
I need to cool my jets and put some more time on the SV before I start thinking about a Ducati or any other bike, no less.
But look at this!!! This thing is fvcking beautiful!!! How can you not lust over it?
The other thing is a used 748 goes for about $6000-7000. I can do that. I have to resist though.
The 20 odd years of bike racing has really helped me acclimatize to riding a moto, but there is a downside to that. Initially, I was very cautious with the bike. However, now that I am pretty comfortable I am noticing that I am in a somewhat precarious state since the moto feels like my bike. I sometimes forget that I am on a 400lb bike instead of a 15lb one and it takes a lot more effort to make it do what I want. I am getting too comfortable for how much skill I have. I am starting to ride my moto as if I was on a racing bike and that's is dangerous.
I find that I am now on a somewhat shallow learning curve with normal riding on the street. Street riding is just too chaotic and dangerous to really push my skill limits. I am finding that I actually seek out stop and go traffic so I can practice my lane splitting.
The challenging bits that I encounter during my commuting are too few and far between. They sneak up on me and they are over before I realize it and I don't really learn that much from them, which is bad since I am doomed to repeat my mistakes and that can get you killed.
I am a little afraid since the low lever motor control part of me can't tell the difference between a motorcycle and a bicycle and I am getting lulled into a false sense of confidence.
A good friend of mine who has spent about the same amount of time being a motorcycle guy as I have spent as a bicycle guy encouraged me early on to take my moto to the track.
He said that it will rapidly increase my skill and make me a much safer rider.
Funny thing is that after hearing a conversation about riding motorcycles and going to the track, Suzy (my girlfriend) actually said she wanted me to go to the track since she's a little worry about me being out on a motorcycle.
Darn! I guess I am going to have to go to the track then. I hate when that happens.
So, I guess I am going to have to go buy some more leathers and stuff. You know how much I hate leather. (Everybody who knows me knows this is blatant factiousness: I love leather).
But the other thing that happening is my moto lust is kicking in. I was at the Peet's in Hillcrest and there was a bright shiny red Ducati in the parking lot. Suzy said my eyes started twinkling what I saw it.
Lusting after a Ducati isn't the bad thing, lusting after another bike after only 4 months of riding is.
I need to cool my jets and put some more time on the SV before I start thinking about a Ducati or any other bike, no less.
But look at this!!! This thing is fvcking beautiful!!! How can you not lust over it?
The other thing is a used 748 goes for about $6000-7000. I can do that. I have to resist though.
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