Road riding video

[shilka99]

I actually had a chance to ride a friends ZX-14 while I was in Sydney last month (before the surgery to screw my knee back together). I recorded some observations while I was riding on the most famous canyon road in Sydney. First installment is here:

If anyone has any feedback I'd love to hear it.

[fixxervi6]

First things first, your on the wrong side of the road

[shilka99]

LoL, I dont even notice it anymore. I've now spent almost exactly the same amount of time driving on the left as I have on the right

[Polokid69]

I get what you are saying about the street being dangerous but you will never get the beautiful scenery on the track like your video shows.

[fixxervi6]

I get fairly offended from people saying "the street is too dangerous I'd rather be on the track"

My first reaction is usually "why are you riding like that on the street" I've seen many more crashes and bad injuries on the track than I have on the street and I ride TONS more street than track. If your riding on the street like your on the track, your an idiot, straight up. Even the fastest rides I put on on the street, don't come close to me taking it easy on the track in level 1 in terms of aggressiveness.

I compare it to like a street peddle bike and a mountain bike, they are both bikes, they both provide different risks and rewards (I've been put in the hospital from a mountain bike more than any other recreational activity).

Track is one version of entertainment with it's own risks (and there are plenty), it's where I go to learn and push myself to my limit for a session here and there for fun, I can't compare it to street riding, it's simply not the same, I don't get the same rewards as I do on the street - it's different.

Street is where I go to "get away", get out of the city, see trees, hills, the country side. Do I tend to go to fast? hell yes, but I do the same in my truck and my car and even my GS1200, but I don't go near as aggressive as I do on the track, because it's not the track, and I couldn't do that even if I wanted to, I hit my comfort limit well before I hit track aggressiveness. The risks are different, cars, animals, gravel, liquid road, the list goes on and on, the rewards are different as well. If your riding on the street for track style rewards, your riding for the wrong reason and should probably take up knitting.

When I used to be a cave diver the rewards were off the chart, the risks, well your risking it all, an "accident" was near 100% fatal, and it was worth it every time my head went under the water, knowing each time that could be it - I managed my risk as best I could to get my reward. During my buddies training, they pulled one of their groups bodies out of the water (he had an accident and it cost him his life), it wigged people out and the instructor said gear up, if you can't face the reality of the risk you are taking you have no business getting in the water. I completely agree (I have lost friends) and I would do it again in a heartbeat if my body would allow me.

When I street ride I manage my risk to get my reward

When I track ride I manage my risk to get my reward

Anyone that thinks the track is safe, talk to Ignacio, talk to the guy that lost his foot (forget hit name) talk to Saughter and look at his xrays, poll random track riders and see how many of them have metal in their bodies. Talk to some of the club guys and ask them where they got their scars.

Your sitting on top of an engine with a jug of gas between your legs traveling at high speed with the only thing between you and the pavement is a thin layer of animal skin, some plastic, polystyrene and a couple other goodies, that's it, your taking risks with your life every time you throw your leg over a machine no matter where you take it and what you do with it.

If someone says they refuse to ride the street because it's too dangerous and they only feel safe on the track, my advice would be re-evaluate your riding, it's not the street that's dangerous, it's you.

[LonestarCBR]

I have to say, it was a little disconcerting when that first bike rounded the corner and my first instinct is that he's in my lane.

[Polokid69]

I agree mostly Rick, and I find city riding dangerous because of traffic and animals that's why I prefer riding our rides in the country away from cages. I also understand why some people prefer the track but you are just trading one danger for another regardless of how good you skill level is. I've been riding the streets since the 1970's and they have only become more dangerous with the cell phone and other distractions we did not have back then. My first street riding was in the inner city of Houston and other than a helmet, I had no safety gear. I think all of us decide what an acceptable risk is by riding a motorcycle. Riding is something I have come to enjoy more as I've gotten older and especially since I've met the fine people of FWMR.

[shilka99]

You're absolutely right Rick - the people I mentioned were all riding like ass-hats on the street, treating a stretch of public road like a race track. And nothing has changed since I last went for a ride on that particular road. Each and every person I mentioned should have had the maturity and intelligence to evaluate their riding and minimize risk based on the environment.
I wasn't trying to say that riding on the road at any time in any conditions is intolerably unsafe. On the contrary, at the end of the first video I was saying that I hoped someone would come past me so I could prove that I have matured enough to ride my ride and not be influenced by the behaviour of others. This would establish that the risk of riding in uncertain conditions is manageable with the right attitude.