The older I get, the less interested I am in speed and performance and more interested I am in touring and seeing new things.  Is this what happens when you age or is it a function of maturity level or low testosterone levels? 

Don’t get me wrong, I still like performance, but not cutting edge.  And, I still like speed.  Only, I am MUCH more careful these days about when I apply more throttle out on public roads. 

Given the addition of the RT two years ago and the Ural just over a year ago, I look forward to getting on either and taking a trip.  As most of you know, before I picked up these two rides, I had a brief stint with another track bike.  My buddy was retiring from racing and I could NOT pass up the deal he offered me on this GSXR 750.  I did a hand full of track days with it, including a race school where I earned my provisional license.  But, I realized I actually enjoyed touring to getting out on the track.

One passion I whish I could explore more of is trail riding on a 250 dirt bike.  But, that takes riding partners, trailering to places far away just to ride < 100 miles, and more logistics which makes it less accessible to me.  I was just starting to get the bug of trail riding when I moved to NC from WV.  If only I had moved to the mountains of NC, I’d most likely still be riding in the dirt and would have traded the 530 EXC for a smaller bike. 

But, I got the Ural instead and have zero regrets as I get to ride with my lovely wife of > 20 years.  A day doesn’t go by that I don’t pause to think about where and when will my next trip be on two wheels or on three?

My question to you wily veterans out there is as follows:  Is this a normal course of riding?  What is causing me to enjoy doing this.


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Over this?

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Sent from the Moto X. A wicked awesome phone.

The older I get, the less interested I am in speed and performance and more interested I am in touring and seeing new things.  Is this what happens when you age or is it a function of maturity level or low testosterone levels? 

I don't heal as quickly or as thoroughly any more. I've also matured and have nothing to prove to anyone. Fun is paramount in my riding, but arriving alive is certainly creeping way up the ladder, quickly and with determination.

Grandpa Doug has a nice ring to it.

He's already got the hat.

Sent from the Moto X. A wicked awesome phone.

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I think for me the 'slowing down' is just part of maturing.  I'm 46 now and about 4-5 years ago is when I bought my cruiser.  It is a great bike for when I go riding with my wife.  I can ride at a slower pace so she can keep up easily and I still enjoy the ride.  Although the last couple seasons, when I'm out riding alone, I have wanted something better handling, smoother and with better brakes.  Finally got out on my new bike this past Sunday, '14 Z1000, it is still in the break in period, so I can't really ride it quickly yet.  But I don't think I will be riding as hard on the street as I did when I was younger.  I think I'm past the phase of riding too close to my skill limit now, and will enjoy riding at a brisk pace.  Quick but not crazy.  I guess for me its age and maturity.

Quote from: open sore on April 08, 2014, 02:32:36 PM

I'm 46 now

Damn, that's old.

The second half has been a lot rougher than the first.   

Quote from: open sore on April 08, 2014, 03:16:17 PM

Quote from: Scratch on April 08, 2014, 03:11:20 PM

Quote from: open sore on April 08, 2014, 02:32:36 PM

I'm 46 now

Damn, that's old.

The second half has been a lot rougher than the first.   

Hear hear!

Wut? 

I am actually leaning the other way as I have become that old guy with the sport bike. I know the clock is ticking but I still have that desire for the modern sport bike technology.  That is where is pays to have a couple of bikes in the garage as we can go where the mood strikes.

I wish I had a GSXR750. And the money and time to enjoy it. 

The definition of sport bike IMHO.

Quote from: kneescrubber on April 08, 2014, 06:00:02 PM

I wish I had a GSXR750. And the money and time to enjoy it. 

The definition of sport bike IMHO.

It certainly does seem an excellent extension of the original CB750's intention. 

That's a pretty far stretch.

It becomes a matter of perspective.  At this point, there are a lot of things a like to do.  Taking a chance of getting a reckless driving conviction or worse, diminishes the upside potential of excessive velocity on public roads.    To me, as you approach twice the posted speed, the risk of a bad outcome starts to rise exponentially.  Distracted drivers are not watching for fast moving vehicles, hell most of the time they have no idea what's directly around them

Quote from: chornbe on April 08, 2014, 06:55:01 PM

Quote from: kneescrubber on April 08, 2014, 06:34:49 PM

Quote from: chornbe on April 08, 2014, 06:27:01 PM

Quote from: kneescrubber on April 08, 2014, 06:00:02 PM

I wish I had a GSXR750. And the money and time to enjoy it. 

The definition of sport bike IMHO.

It certainly does seem an excellent extension of the original CB750's intention. 

That's a pretty far stretch.

Not really. Many regard the CB750 as the first super sport; the seminal "sport"-ier bike (as we know them today - high-revving I4 with good torque). The whole CBR line is an extension and refinement of that original design. The Gixxer 750 maintains that balance of original intent with a larger, torquier engine that maintains the lighter weight of the 600s.

Don't get me wrong. The original CB750 set many standards. Firstly, a 3/4 litre transverse I4. MV had already done that, but not on the scale of Honda. The GSXR750 on the other hand only epitomized the 750 sport bike of its day. The fact that it is still produced after its pedigree racing class was eliminated long ago speaks a different volume.

I just like these big long lines of quotes.

Pics of the hat have been requested.

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He's already got the hat.

Pics of the hat have been requested.

 

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Quote from: Cookie on April 08, 2014, 09:34:06 PM

Quote from: kneescrubber on April 08, 2014, 09:05:45 PM

Quote from: chornbe on April 08, 2014, 06:55:01 PM

Quote from: kneescrubber on April 08, 2014, 06:34:49 PM

Quote from: chornbe on April 08, 2014, 06:27:01 PM

Quote from: kneescrubber on April 08, 2014, 06:00:02 PM

I wish I had a GSXR750. And the money and time to enjoy it. 

The definition of sport bike IMHO.

It certainly does seem an excellent extension of the original CB750's intention. 

That's a pretty far stretch.

Not really. Many regard the CB750 as the first super sport; the seminal "sport"-ier bike (as we know them today - high-revving I4 with good torque). The whole CBR line is an extension and refinement of that original design. The Gixxer 750 maintains that balance of original intent with a larger, torquier engine that maintains the lighter weight of the 600s.

Don't get me wrong. The original CB750 set many standards. Firstly, a 3/4 litre transverse I4. MV had already done that, but not on the scale of Honda. The GSXR750 on the other hand only epitomized the 750 sport bike of its day. The fact that it is still produced after its pedigree racing class was eliminated long ago speaks a different volume.

I just like these big long lines of quotes.

Well let's keep it going.

The Gsxr750 Is A False Idol.  It's Not Comfortable.

The New Ninja 1000 Is A Better All Around Bike

My vote is that you're getting old, Doug!  It's ok, sounds like you'll fit in fine around here. 

My throught exactly.


 

There is a RC51 for sale locally for a fair price, and I'm seriously considering it. Thinking I should get something like that while I'm still young enough to enjoy it. I turn 50 in December.

Ouch. 50 is the new 40, or 35 or something.....

For me, I still like to go fast, I just don't NEED to go fast anymore. What I NEED is sensible ergonomics. And better roads.

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Why do both of y'all have your hands in your pockets?

Quote from: Cookie on April 08, 2014, 09:09:33 AM

He's already got the hat.

Quote from: Cookie on April 08, 2014, 10:02:51 PM

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What a cute couple.

I'm with you. I have my ride hard, ride fast days, and my "go the hell around I'm enjoying the flowers" days. I'm perfectly ok with it. The flowers days are way more numerous than the fast days. I suspect that those are going to be the new norm now that I'm getting some surgical corrections, and may end up having to adjust what kind of bike I ride, anyway.

It's all good... "knees in the breeze" and all that. 

I refuse to grow up. I'm still drawn to riding twisties at a brisk pace. Extra points for nice scenery. It's still all about the roads for me...

 

I refuse to grow up. I'm still drawn to riding twisties at a brisk pace. Extra points for nice scenery. It's still all about the roads for me...

Same here.  Even when I was out west doing my 4 corners loop, I was more concerned about carving up miles of canyons than I was stopping to enjoy the scenery.

I still love a brisk pace while riding.  But, I take less chances now such as aggressive multi car passes.  Also, I have no interest in track days anymore.  That's odd for me.  I've been on and off a race track for the last 16 years (2 and 4 wheels). 

All I'm trying to say is that if offered the opportunity to spend a weekend on Laguna Seca or touring a part of the country that I've never ridden before (or all that often), I'd chose the later.  That one weekend I spent on Laguna was magic and I never thought anything would compare.  I was wrong.  I fun pace on UT12 or US 550 was way more fun.

Quote from: garry on April 09, 2014, 10:43:51 AM

I refuse to grow up. I'm still drawn to riding twisties at a brisk pace. Extra points for nice scenery. It's still all about the roads for me...

Same here.  Even when I was out west doing my 4 corners loop, I was more concerned about carving up miles of canyons than I was stopping to enjoy the scenery.

I still love a brisk pace while riding.  But, I take less chances now such as aggressive multi car passes.  Also, I have no interest in track days anymore.  That's odd for me.  I've been on and off a race track for the last 16 years (2 and 4 wheels). 

All I'm trying to say is that if offered the opportunity to spend a weekend on Laguna Seca or touring a part of the country that I've never ridden before (or all that often), I'd chose the later.  That one weekend I spent on Laguna was magic and I never thought anything would compare.  I was wrong.  I fun pace on UT12 or US 550 was way more fun.

As we get older, we realize we will one day run out of time so try to do new things rather than experience the old ones again.

Now Doug, if you were offered a track day at say, Barber (or equivalent amazing track you've never been to), would you still rather tour?

And for whomever said track days keep you slower on the street, me too. (42 years old, first commute of the season this morning and while I was still passing the slow people, I was far from the fastest vehicle on the road.)

 -Dan