Long before I got into this nutty game of laning I have always had a road bike, im a big fan of triumphs and have always had something special for when the summer comes along. I often go to BSB or bike meets during the week on it and I do get a real pleasure from taking it out when its dry.
HOWEVER, the last summer as we know was pretty much non existent. Now im not someone whos particularly bothered by taking my road bike out in the rain, I would just say "I just dont enjoy it". I have basically told myself that im definately not upgrading my road bike at all, if anything il be upgrading the laning toys from now on because I get soooo much more use out of them.
Is anyone else having this issue, I have contemplated selling the road bike but I know as soon as I do the sun will be out and il miss it like crazy, its just justifying the cost of keeping it on the road.
Hardly ride my 'road' bike since I took up laning - only keep it now as swmbo likes going out on the back from time to time. If not for that I would have flogged it long ago and got a bigger 'laner' for the longer trips
I gave up on road bikes a few years ago, state of the roads and the weather in this country consigned my bikes to the garage for all but a few months of the year. Lots of BSB teams unhappy wth a foreign test ban this year and for good reason, lots of time and money wasted in the last few weeks at Donny and Brands. PBM had the right idea and got round the ban though..
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"I would rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on earth."
I gave up on road bikes a few years ago, state of the roads and the weather in this country consigned my bikes to the garage for all but a few months of the year. Lots of BSB teams unhappy wth a foreign test ban this year and for good reason, lots of time and money wasted in the last few weeks at Donny and Brands. PBM had the right idea and got round the ban though..
this is it, alot of it bears on the fact we dont get decent weather here, not for safe enjoyable road riding in my eyes. this is maybe one of the reasons the old man big adventure bikes have taken off so much, they look very comfy.
I know what you are saying, and as soon as you get rid of your road bike you will get loads of invites for ride outs and trips away, and the lanes will dry up and not be so challenging and then you will miss your road bike, the best thing i like about a road bike is you can dig your bike out go for a ride put it back in the garage till the next time, i like being on the lanes a lot more and more so deep in mud and covering who ever is behind me in shat, but as you know a days laning can be a weekend of maintaining which of course comes at a price and part of having an off road bike. I think as a biker you will always be thinking of your next bike and what to sell to fund it, its all part of a good focus
Tracks days from may 1st till end september Weds at combe. sats at Landow and if lucky Mallory or some where thurs friday Laning on the other days Mx on sundays
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I know what you are saying, and as soon as you get rid of your road bike you will get loads of invites for ride outs and trips away, and the lanes will dry up and not be so challenging and then you will miss your road bike, the best thing i like about a road bike is you can dig your bike out go for a ride put it back in the garage till the next time, i like being on the lanes a lot more and more so deep in mud and covering who ever is behind me in shat, but as you know a days laning can be a weekend of maintaining which of course comes at a price and part of having an off road bike. I think as a biker you will always be thinking of your next bike and what to sell to fund it, its all part of a good focus
I do miss the buzz that a litre bike can give but very much doubt i'll ever get a road bike again..track bike yes..
Save the pennys and spend some quality time here..
Or enjoy a ride on the TT course..Kirkmicheal..yesterday..
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"I would rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on earth."
Bang on JT..a truly epic circuit, just pips Thruxton as a trackday venue..mainly for the better weather and also for the fact they dont do bike days at Thruxton anymore ! Count myself very lucky to have ridden Thruxton, church corner is a true ass clencher.
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"I would rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on earth."
Bang on JT..a truly epic circuit, just pips Thruxton as a trackday venue..mainly for the better weather and also for the fact they dont do bike days at Thruxton anymore ! Count myself very lucky to have ridden Thruxton, church corner is a true ass clencher.
Whats Portimao like to ride? I have an aunty with an apartment an hour from the circuit, might be on my hitlist!!
Bang on JT..a truly epic circuit, just pips Thruxton as a trackday venue..mainly for the better weather and also for the fact they dont do bike days at Thruxton anymore ! Count myself very lucky to have ridden Thruxton, church corner is a true ass clencher.
Whats Portimao like to ride? I have an aunty with an apartment an hour from the circuit, might be on my hitlist!!
Scary, fast and undulating..! Lots of blind crests and tricky cambers. Bloody knackering as well, no places to rest at all. Start finish straight is a fast entry, so youre on the brakes for turn 1 before you know it.
The straight..and some weapons..
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"I would rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on earth."
Considered doing a track day on my R6 a few times but ive always been put off incase i drop her =/ .. The bikes a minter so the thought of dropping it is enuf to keep me away from the track. . . Is abit of a shame tho because i rode it 3 times last year and one of those was to get the m.o.t done!!
One option . . Supermoto Rims, then i can ride off road and if its a nice sunny day and i fancy the road i can change the rims on the kTm and away i go. Does anyone else do this?
One option . . Supermoto Rims, then i can ride off road and if its a nice sunny day and i fancy the road i can change the rims on the kTm and away i go. Does anyone else do this?
You know what this is exactly what I've been thinking, how manageable are the big cc super moto KTMs off road anyway, are they still relatively light, compared to say an adventure bike?! Could do a few trackdays on it then too, superbike killer :)
Considered doing a track day on my R6 a few times but ive always been put off incase i drop her =/ .. The bikes a minter so the thought of dropping it is enuf to keep me away from the track. . . Is abit of a shame tho because i rode it 3 times last year and one of those was to get the m.o.t done!!
One option . . Supermoto Rims, then i can ride off road and if its a nice sunny day and i fancy the road i can change the rims on the kTm and away i go. Does anyone else do this?
Yep do it £300 it cost me, wheels tyres, discs etc etc.....cheaper than 2 bikes an a right larf....
For the Summer I've recently acqd a VFR800i pre v-tec it's the 50th anniversary model a little tatty around the edges but generally sound recovered the seat £35 plus a back tyre and she's ready to roll ,it's taken a week or to for my Brain to catch up with acceleration but I'm nearly there now confidence is growing , the v-4 motors very flexable 6th gear down to 30 mph up a silly 12000/13000 rpm ? And a hundred and what ever ? Nice little scoot to poodle around this coming winter opps summer lost
ps £750 heeeeee
-- Edited by Lost on Tuesday 26th of March 2013 09:32:29 AM
You know what this is exactly what I've been thinking, how manageable are the big cc super moto KTMs off road anyway, are they still relatively light, compared to say an adventure bike?! Could do a few trackdays on it then too, superbike killer :)
Well i've got the 450 exc (117kg) and its no problem weight wise, corect me if im wrong but i think the 525 weighs about the same but you get more grunt lower end. After that the 690 which i dont know much about but just checked weight wise and the 2013 690 SMC R is Approx 139.5kg (dry)
Jt: £300 thats pretty good! I was watching a set on ebay two weeks ago but they went for over £450 =( so i didnt bid on them. Gunu have to keep my eye out i rekon!