Sealed the Deal!

R

R6F4orR1

New Member
I have been reading these forums for a few weeks now, keeping an eye on things to see how I felt about spending the money to join. I wasn't quite sure if dropping $200+ for a day or two of riding was worth it...until this past Sunday.

I went out riding with some friends when it started to rain, so we decided to head home. We were cruising and I went brain dead and didn't pay attention to my speedometer. Well, we got busted for 80 in a 55. Luckily, the officer wrote it up as just a speeding ticket and not a reckless driving ticket. I teach motorcycle safety and I'm always preaching to guys at work about staying alert and paying attention while riding, and I made the mistake I tell them about. It's been 9 years since I received my last ticket, or even since I was last pulled over. This one is probably going to cost me around $200 for the ticket itself, and who knows what it will do to my insurance. :doh:

After this incident, I am definitely giving up the weekend joy rides and looking to start doing track days. I have one trip left to Deal's Gap on 6 June, but after that, VIR here I come. I wasn't sure if I wanted to post this, but I felt it might help someone else down the road that isn't sure about sticking to the streets or going to the track.

Me and a guy from work (not part of the ticket club) are looking to do VIR-South 22-23 Aug. I'm looking forward to it. :D
 
bigkaley

bigkaley

Control Rider
Deals Gap was part of the "final straw" for me to take it to the track. I was only there twice, both within a couple of months of each other in '05. I was dragging hard parts and going way to fast on a public road. The other factor was that 2 people died the one week that I was at Deal's Gap. I did not witness the accidents, but realized that I was pushing way to hard on the street. ( I also happen to be a Paramedic)
The track is so much better of an environment in more ways than just the riding. The friendships, etc. are a huge plus. I'm sure you'll enjoy it and probably end up asking the same question I did "What took me so long to try this??"
 
R

R6F4orR1

New Member
Yeah, the only reason I'm still going to Deal's Gap is that I've already passed the deadline to change my hotel reservation, so I'm stuck paying for it anyhow. Plus, my mom lives pretty close to there so she has been looking forward to me leaving my son with her for the weekend while we ride. If it wasn't for those reasons, I wouldn't even go.
 
Meat

Meat

Member
Darn, I thought this was another thread about porn :(

I learned to ride a motorcycle in the canyons outside LA and realized the extreme and senseless danger it was to try to go fast on the street. The more I am on the track, the slower I go on the street. I just don't get the same thrill out of going fast on the street. It is a more relaxing ride on the street now.

Great to hear you are making the switch. You really will love it and nesba is a great group to join. The people are really some of the best I have ridden with (I have only ridden with 4 track orgs).
 
funkm05

funkm05

New Member
I'll echo what meat said ... last year, after a handful of track days, I finally decided I'd had enough with the street on a sportbike. I sold the R6 and picked up one as a dedicated track bike. As soon as you realize you have the freedom from even having to think about your speed, or oncoming traffic, or gravel in the turns (in general) you can really start to enjoy the bike for what it is. My wife has even commented on how much calmer I am when driving since I began riding the track.
 
jfeagin

jfeagin

New Member
I'm generally with you guys on street riding. But I keep doing it because I can't not ride everyday. However, it is precisely a form of meditation in which I force everything else out of my head and think of nothing but the situation. There's nothing like the threat of imminent, violent death to focus the mind. :idea:

The track, on the other hand, is like the ultimate playground. It's just pure fun. Wish I could get more time in.
 
smack28752

smack28752

Member
Thanks for the post. You will love the freedom that the track offers... No gravel, no Armco, no SUVs and no LEOs (well except for the CRs doing their job, I guess!).

I tried to use my head on the street but like many, was riding way too fast at times. Last year my son and I witnessed the aftermath of a sportbike crash & fatality which dramatically caused us to to rethink how we ride on public roads.

I still love riding on the street but in a different way. Sport touring beats riding around in a car and is a terrific way to see the country. I also got a dirtbike and am getting back to some trail riding.

It has been three years since I was at Deal's Gap even though I am only a couple of hours away. The road is so congested with cops, cruisers and cars that I stay away from it now.
 
R

R6F4orR1

New Member
smack28752;58132 wrote: I still love riding on the street but in a different way. Sport touring beats riding around in a car and is a terrific way to see the country. I also got a dirtbike and am getting back to some trail riding.

It has been three years since I was at Deal's Gap even though I am only a couple of hours away. The road is so congested with cops, cruisers and cars that I stay away from it now.
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Marion? You're not too far from my family in Asheville, which is where I spent most of my life before the Air Force.

Yeah, it's fun to go out there and ride with people I know, but I have found myself riding harder on the open streets than I should be. I would like to find a sport-tourer to ride as a daily use bike. I would love to get my hands on a Honda ST1300, they are very nice motorcycles.
 
smack28752

smack28752

Member
R6F4orR1;58150 wrote: Marion? You're not too far from my family in Asheville, which is where I spent most of my life before the Air Force.

Yeah, it's fun to go out there and ride with people I know, but I have found myself riding harder on the open streets than I should be. I would like to find a sport-tourer to ride as a daily use bike. I would love to get my hands on a Honda ST1300, they are very nice motorcycles.
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Marion it is and we spend a bunch of time in A-town! We have a good core group of Marion guys that have been riding with NESBA for a while and we have a large time.

I found a great '98 VFR800 Interceptor with only 5K on the clock a couple years ago and it will do about anything I ask it to on the road. I have a buddy that rides an ST and loves it, kind of a big brother version of my bike with hard bags...
 
PJZOCC624

PJZOCC624

New Member
bigkaley;57840 said:
( I also happen to be a Paramedic)
QUOTE]

Can you imagine the fear an accident victim must have when they see BigKaley coming at them to give them mouth-to-mouth?????

:wow::eek::puke:
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PGood

PGood

New Member
I am on the verge of giving up street riding as well. The track is just soooooooo much better.

Also, get a lawyer for your ticket. Lots of times they can get it reduced to improper equipment and no insurance points. Should cost less than $500 total. GL.

-P
 
AU_R1

AU_R1

New Member
OK, so long as we are all raving about how awesome riding on the track is I'll chirp in. There is a lot of road construction going on in Auburn this summer, it is flipping everywhere. Yesterday I was riding my R1 on a road around school about to go up a big ole hill so I gave it a little gas before I started up. What I didn't notic was the HUGE patch of loose dirt under my tires. The rear slid out about 30-45 degrees to the left and I was sure I was going to drop it when suddenly it occured to me this was no different than what happens when I gas my R6 too much coming out of a corner on the track. Instinct took over and I saved the bike. That right there probably just paid for all the track days I've done so far this year.
 
bigkaley

bigkaley

Control Rider
PJZOCC17;58276 wrote:

Can you imagine the fear an accident victim must have when they see BigKaley coming at them to give them mouth-to-mouth?????

:wow::eek::puke:
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You should see their eyes when I put the XXXL gloves on! :wow:
 
PJZOCC624

PJZOCC624

New Member
bigkaley;58366 wrote: You should see their eyes when I put the XXXL gloves on! :wow:
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"Sir, you've been in an accident. I am your emergency medical technician, Ben Dover. Please don't be alarmed, the KY jelly is standard procedure. Now, please take a deep breath......"
 
bigkaley

bigkaley

Control Rider
PJZOCC17;58375 wrote: "... I am your emergency medical technician..."
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Oh no you didn't! :banghead: Oh jeez, why not just call me an "Ambulance Driver"! Here, I'll go slower....PARAMEDIC.... I don't suppose you'd get upset if I'd call you a "Pill Counter"?! :p


Oh, and far as the rest of the "quote", you could also add: "Don't worry, your prostate and tonsils both seem to be intact."
 
Quickone4u

Quickone4u

Member
bigkaley;58416 wrote: Oh no you didn't! :banghead: Oh jeez, why not just call me an "Ambulance Driver"! Here, I'll go slower....PARAMEDIC.... I don't suppose you'd get upset if I'd call you a "Pill Counter"?! :p


Oh, and far as the rest of the "quote", you could also add: "Don't worry, your prostate and tonsils both seem to be intact."
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Haha! that's hilarious! I get the same crap. I'm a radiologic technologist and do MRI,CT,and Diagnostic X-ray and get called a nurse by frigging patients sometimes:argh: I can't stand that crap, my badge says RT (R)(CT)(MRI). No where does it say RN or Nurse morons:doh:
 
Bossgobbler

Bossgobbler

Member
Back on topic, Ted you will love the track. You will be grinning ear to ear after your first session. Once you get to explore the true capability of your bike and find out what it really means to ride fast, you will be hooked. You'll find that on the track, the edges of your tires wear out faster than the centers. Cool! You can give your take-off's to your street buddies to finish off the centers.

Don't hesitate to mingle in the paddock. I think you'll find our club to be welcoming. Folks are happy to share knowledge and help out.

Cheers,

Steve
 
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