Well, in less than 4 months I have logged about 2,300 miles on my moto and I have to say that I have enjoyed 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 and they call to me. As anyone who has heard or ridden these kinds of V-twins know, it's pretty much inevitable that you will start to develop a taste for the European variety of V-twins: Yes, I am talking about Aprilias and most famously...Ducatis. Yep, those Italian sirens are calling my name (more about that later).
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. This 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 worried 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 recently 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. This 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 worried 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 recently 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.
