Do You Remember When You "Outgrew" Your Bike?

knowledge said:
TL;DR, is it time to quit?
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To keep things fresh, I got a new bike every year, upgrading as I go.
EX500 -- > CBRF4 -- > CBR600RR -- > CBR1000RR -- > Kawi 636 stunt (at least try to lol)

Each bike has different handling and personality, keeps things interesting enough for me.

Had a track day in there too and it was super fun so thats my next thing when I get more money cuz its expensive.

Then eventually, I'll settle down with a nice UJM or something like that.

So no, its not quite time to quit.
 
Dude, you've been riding a 250 for two years... time to evolve. Stop over-thinking it. The first time you pinned the speedo on that thing and didn't give a ****** shoulda been the last time you rode it. As soon as you stop being scared of it, get rid of it.
 
I didn't even think about branching out. This is why I love gtam :D. I've been wanting to check out trials because I love how technical it is. Same with dirt. I've always thought about starting up track riding, but there isn't much of a following for the 250 league and it doesn't seem like good practice to be tracking a 600 when I get the majority of my riding in on a 250. I'll definitely consider taking the intro track course, though.

RedDogDarren said:
It's possible that you just need a new pursuit. I know I wouldn't get this feeling from just riding. I want/need a bike with torque that will compress space and time when I roll the throttle. You could try that before you give it up.
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My problem with upgrading is that (like patw said), I'm driven by mastery. I'd want to push that bike to its edge (which often includes going WOT). With the 250, I had the self control to watch where I did it because I know that running isn't an option on the highway. I had to stop going with some of the most fun people to ride with because eventually it was going to catch up to me.

ItIsWhatItIs said:
I fulfilled that prophecy as I crashed into my 3rd season. What's the next statistic?
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Your guess is as good as mine. They say it's never a question of if you'll fall...it's a question of when :p
 
Yes, I remember outgrowing my bikes but for different reasons. Back in the 80's my 900 Ninjas would cavitate their oil pumps during wheelies and destroy their cranks so I outgrew that design flaw. Then I owned GSXR1100's for 10 years which seemed a little slow after a short time having to live with their 34mm carbs. Punching out to 1139cc (maxed out katana pistons at the time) and adding 38mm RS's helped but boredom would set in again soon after. The next GSXR would be a 1255 wiseco big block, RS's, shock, PM wheels which was light and powerful which kept me happy for a while with its 160 hp at the rear wheel and 100 lb/ft of torque (made 85 lb/ft at 3500rpm!hahaha!), but burning down piston kits and valvetrains grew tiresome. In my despair I, when I wasn't paying attention a 99 R1 stepped in and distracted me with its spirited albeit, less powerful charm. With a bone stock engine 66 000 kms later I sold it after it consumed its 3rd transmission. Despair again, what to do now? The answer in 07 was the new GSXR1000 which I've put 70 000 kms on without any failures. It keeps my attention for now but my thoughts wander to Supercharging...........Sadly, I might have outgrown my bike again.
 
I think for me it was today, when I realized I am growing really tired of the sewing machine sounds my 250 makes :P
 
knowledge said:
... I'm driven by mastery...
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To what degree have you mastered your bike?
- Have you got a knee down?
- How long can you hold a stoppie? Is a wheelie possible?
- Do you know your shortest stopping distance from 60? From 100?
- Can you match the 0-100 times of professional testers? Clutchless shifting?
- How long can you balance at a stand still?
- Can you ride at slower than a walking pace?
- Do you know your smallest turning radius? Can you ride full lock? Pivot about your foot?
- Can you hang the rear out?

Just wondering what you mean by mastery. :)

Edit: the reason I ask is b/c I'm also driven by the idea of mastery. I "outgrew" my bike when I realized how much there was to learn, then I downgraded back to a 250.
 
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I am new to riding. Will be getting a motorcycle soon. Likely a 250 or 500cc. Living in Toronto, it think it does make it tough to enjoy motorcycling. The bulk of my riding will be commuting to work up and down Don Mills. I think buying a bike suited to your riding environment and needs is important. I reckon riding a SuperSport in stop n' go traffic would be tedious and soon enough, you'd grow weary of it. I also think living in Toronto makes it a bit hard to enjoy pleasure riding too, because you have a ways to go to get out of the city first.

I think that if I ever decided to stop riding on the street, I would just pick up trail riding for fun. ATV or Moto.
 
x86ect said:
To what degree have you mastered your bike?
- Have you got a knee down?
- How long can you hold a stoppie? Is a wheelie possible?
- Do you know your shortest stopping distance from 60? From 100?
- Can you match the 0-100 times of professional testers? Clutchless shifting?
- How long can you balance at a stand still?
- Can you ride at slower than a walking pace?
- Do you know your smallest turning radius? Can you ride full lock? Pivot about your foot?
- Can you hang the rear out?

Just wondering what you mean by mastery. :)

Edit: the reason I ask is b/c I'm also driven by the idea of mastery. I "outgrew" my bike when I realized how much there was to learn, then I downgraded back to a 250.
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The way you master everything in your 20's..... you just do.
 
Being a 250 you should also add the ability to shoulder press the bike at every stop for a few reps as well. That will also have the benefit of showing anyone that is thinking of messing with you that you are insane.

x86ect said:
To what degree have you mastered your bike?
- Have you got a knee down?
- How long can you hold a stoppie? Is a wheelie possible?
- Do you know your shortest stopping distance from 60? From 100?
- Can you match the 0-100 times of professional testers? Clutchless shifting?
- How long can you balance at a stand still?
- Can you ride at slower than a walking pace?
- Do you know your smallest turning radius? Can you ride full lock? Pivot about your foot?
- Can you hang the rear out?

Just wondering what you mean by mastery. :)

Edit: the reason I ask is b/c I'm also driven by the idea of mastery. I "outgrew" my bike when I realized how much there was to learn, then I downgraded back to a 250.
Click to expand...
 
RedDogDarren said:
Being a 250 you should also add the ability to shoulder press the bike at every stop for a few reps as well. That will also have the benefit of showing anyone that is thinking of messing with you that you are insane.
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I found that a compound bow across the shoulders does that last bit rather well, without the need for getting sweaty.
 
Rob MacLennan said:
I found that a compound bow across the shoulders does that last bit rather well, without the need for getting sweaty.
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I'm thinking of calling you Hawkeye.
 
No..
 
x86ect said:
To what degree have you mastered your bike?
- Have you got a knee down?
Gotten pretty close, but like I said above, I wouldn't want to go any lower without leathers...I'd have to wait to hit a track to see if I could
- How long can you hold a stoppie? Is a wheelie possible?
I tried starting up stunting on it but then I realized I might as well wait for a bigger bike.
- Do you know your shortest stopping distance from 60? From 100?
No clue...but it's way shorter than other 250 riders. Apparently, the shortest stopping distance is when full brakes are being applied and your back wheel comes up, but is as close to the ground as physically possible (caboose did the calculations iirc). So I let my back tire come up once and made a note to brake hard enough to get just before that point. I practice panic braking fairly often.
- Can you match the 0-100 times of professional testers? Clutchless shifting?
No clue if I can match their times. Clutchless shifting I can do. No clue what the times are, but it's pretty close to sounding like one, long gear & it gives me a pretty good lead on other 250s when I did it (even back when I had a stock system).
- How long can you balance at a stand still?
Pretty long (although this is more 'cause of my experience on a bicycle) & the 250's easier to ride at a slow speed than a full bike would be. I'd imagine longer if I get into trials (thanks patw:D)
- Can you ride at slower than a walking pace?
Yes. As much as my rear brakes will let me
- Do you know your smallest turning radius? Can you ride full lock? Pivot about your foot?
Yes, Yes, Yes (by full lock, do you mean when the tire is locked up?)
- Can you hang the rear out?
Not sure what this means
Edit: the reason I ask is b/c I'm also driven by the idea of mastery. I "outgrew" my bike when I realized how much there was to learn, then I downgraded back to a 250.
And that's why I took my time to upgrade. And even now, I'm still skeptical about upgrading because I don't need all that extra power. I've ridden with a lot of people and I met a lot of 600 riders who've never pushed their 600s. We'd get to the twisties and they'd catch up on the straightaways. Then I've met the technical riders and the people who are either naturally aggressive on their bikes or have track experience. They'd lose me at the end of the turn when it opened up and we both started powering out/opening the throttle(which is also why it didn't make any sense crashing trying to keep up to riders who were better than me, with faster bikes to begin with). I'm not sure if upgrading's the answer...which is why I was thinking that maybe it was just time to quit..
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NFQ, sorry if I sound that way. It isn't how I meant to come across. It's more of my approach to learning that helps me become proficient very quickly. I'm not denying that I still have lots to learn. But before I rode a motorcycle, I read books on safety, riding technique, watched videos, etc. Then I rode and applied the same things, then began to fine tune. I never rode a motorcycle before but my instructors said it didn't show when I went for my m2. I'm not naturally talented...it's all from learning how to do what and figuring out how to do it as well. I've done that with every hobby that I've ever had.
 
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Nice!

Then the next level for you seems like competition.

Trials is definitely one route to consider on the technical front. At first I thought it was more out west, but it looks like they have stuff out here too. http://www.trialscanada.com/provincial.html
The xiSpa that was up for sale last month is very tempting!

Dirt is definitely a whole other level. Going through a sand patch and just having to put faith that it'll catch somewhere is a high that you can't get on the street.

There's also the new supermoto league starting this year. http://www.supermotoontario.com/
You can keep a 250, but go hooligan style (but it might not be competitive). These are definitely the most under appreciated bikes in North America (judging by most of the manufacturers pulling out their offerings). I read that Reciprocity is the man to talk to.

And, like others have mentioned... the track. Technical plus speed, and a beautiful track like 'bogie will likely bring back some excitement. You can even get started on a 250 through Turn2

I wish they'd start up a Gymkhana league here though!
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