I feel left out..

[superjohn]

I have been known to drop almost 30 minutes behind the pack with my somewhat less than stellar pace through traffic. I just happily putz along and catch up at the gas station.

[Privateer]

Why is it that all your sport bike friends just want speed speed speed?? Why can't they just cruise sometimes?
I honestly bought my bike to cruise in. When I say cruise I mean putting around at 65-75 mph. I'm all about soaking in the scenery and the experience of the ride and not how fast I can get to point A to B.
Am I alone here?

you're not alone.  I have the same problem. 

they always say "what took you so long?"  and I always reply "I didn't know it was a race."

/shrug


Andy

[psycledelic]

I find there are times for both riding fast and for cruising. I think I tend to want to cruise a little more than most of the guys I ride with.
But my 1098 does not like to be ridden slow. (if you've ever been on one you know what I mean). That bike is really at home accelerating above 80mph. If I ride it I know I could get in trouble and sometimes I think about selling it because it cannot be ridden at legal speeds. But god is it fun!

My monster is at home in any situation and I too like to ride by "the pace"
Most of my friends don't abide by it though

I noticed that on the CBR.  At lower speeds, you seem to have to wrestle with it to manuver.  But as soon as I nailed the throttle all was forgotten.  (oh yea, heavy throttle on a S2R800 = big smile on face, heavy throttle on a true sportbike = face facing sky)
When I returned from my test ride and took my monster home, I really appreciated the positioning, the control, and the forgiveness that my Monster offers.   I must be more of a "pace" fan then I thought.

[zLoki]

+ on the Pace and the sause 

the Big Four riders almost always want to race at the lights.  I just like to enjoy the great weather and scenery we have here in SoCal...  At a pace somewhat faster than the speed limit  [moto]

[Danmack_98]

This is my first year on a duc. ('09 m696 dark)  Said hi to two sport bike guys in a parking lot (gxsr and ninja) and we admired each others bikes for a while.  Both said they liked mine and asked if it was fast.  I said fast enough.  Next question from them,  "you wanna race?".   Did I mention we're in the middle of town and have just met on the first "rideable"  day of spring.  Why are so many sport bike riders in such a hurry to kill themselves? (and others)  Anyway, I told him I'm too old for all that (only 28)  and rode off.  I prefer to stay at my own pace and stay alive long enough to enjoy many riding seasons to come!

[DoubleEagle]

I find a " Pace " that I'm comfortable with and go with it. I ride alone so I'm not concerned about someone Else's " Pace." I'm most likely riding a 1098R.

I would say that my " Pace " is a fast one. I enjoy the " Hills " and the twisty roads that run through them. 

Since I tend to ride a lot of the same roads , I sort of feel like I'm on a track ( in that I know the corners ) . I have at least 100-150 miles of roads layed out on my " country track."

It's not uncommon for me to " cruise " through the " Hills " at speeds of 100 mph in the short straights or longer sweepers.

My mission is to try and improve my skills and to me , improvement means running a stretch of road faster than before .

The only time I " Cruise " is when I happen to be on the slab and then it's the speed limit on some Highways and 4 lanes I run about 70-75.

My number 1 Rule is"  Don't loose focus from what's in front of you for even a second. That way you are always preparing yourself for what's about to take place . "   Dolph   

[RBX QB]

Usually ride alone. I like to go fast thru the twisties, but only as much as I can handle, and never in traffic. When I group, I ride with a buddy on a Triumph Tiger. He has more power, but rides slower. Craziest guy I've ridden with was riding a V-Rod... he's no longer allowed to lead when we group ride, because he's crazy. I don't like passing columns of cars via the turn lane facing the other direction at an intersection.

[scoprire]

I don't ride w/ the guys from the local shop because they all seem to want to race the straights and slow way down for the curves.  I'd rather ride a consistent and comfortable pace.  The few groups rides I've been on... when we had a new guy w/ us, they put me leading since I ride slower than the rest of them.   

[grandpa nate]

I must say it is nice to have access to a forum with adults.  I am not saying I won't twist the throttle a bit from time to time, but I don't see the point in racing everywhere.  Twisty road good.  Downtown Phoenix bad.

A few weeks ago Some friends of mine and I were riding to the Pavilions (car / motorcycles show) and were trying to enjoy a little bit of the curviness ahead.  I noticed some squids on gsxr's that we were about to turn in front of.  Well long story short....they did not disappoint.  One cut under one buddy and the other almost met the front of a truck.  Boy what skill!  What talent!  What assholes.

[gh0stie]

What a timely topic!

I went for a group ride in the Hill country with some Sport bike riders this weekend and got a serious case of bike envy!

The guys in my group are a very responsible bunch so no squiding allowed, but they do like to "get on it" when the road opens up, and whenever they did, I was left in awe.......sputtering along a few hundred yards behind.

Don't get me wrong I got my monster BECAUSE I typically like to take it easy and enjoy the scenery, but I'm starting to think I wouldn't mind having a bit more zip

Of course I only have a puny 620 so it may also be a factor.

Does it mean I want to give up the monster? hell no! it's perfect for my commutes and bags way more compliments

but I wouldn't mind finding a nice used 600 for those zippy weekend rides

[the_Journeyman]

Does it mean I want to give up the monster? hell no! it's perfect for my commutes and bags way more compliments

but I wouldn't mind finding a nice used 600 for those zippy weekend rides

This is part of the reason I picked up my 900SS.  2-up my fianceé and I were on a group ride and it took everything my M750 could squeeze out to even keep the group in sight.  I didn't want to give up my Monster though.  It's loud, obnoxious and just plain fun to ride ~

JM

[swampduc]

Where I live, we've got very limited selections for curvy roads - a grand total of 2 of them. Therefore, on a pretty day like yesterday, everyone is on them. I keep a self - imposed top speed limit on the straights. One could easily ride them at over triple digits, but I do 80 max in the straights and crank it in the twisties. Why? Because drivers are idiots. Had 2 separate pickups come the other way with two wheels in my lane yesterday. Some of the squids screaming by the other direction weren't leaving themselves much of a time/space cushion if something like that happened to them. Also, stopped at a gas station, mentioned gravel in one of the turns to a couple of them who were riding in t-shirt, jeans, sneakers, and no gloves. They looked at me like I was some kind of wuss for caring about it. Oh well, it's their ass, and they have every right to body surf through a pasture or into a swamp if they want to. That's why there are a few white wooden crosses by the road. Always a sobering note as I get ready to brake for one of the tighter turns that's bordered by trees and then swamp.

[Le Pirate]

I've gone riding with some squids here...once.

we left the parking lot we met at, and they hit 150 imediately when getting on the highway. my 620 tops out around 110 or so, so I rode the loop and met back up with them a couple hours later at the same meeting spot.


Even if I wanted to go that fast, I couldn't of kept up...

I learned that day, that, at least living where I do now....I'm probably destined to be a solo rider forever  [moto]


atleast until I get my wife on her own bike

[hypurone]

I hardly ever group anymore. Our group got up to 6 at one time and was the limit for my taste (this was after many months of "training" them). Now, me and a wingman is perf!  A group tends to bring out the testosterone too much and bad things tend to happen as a result. There is nothing like riding with someone you know & trust. Plus it is waaay easier to adjust the "pace" to something tasty for just 2 of us.

[gh0stie]

This is part of the reason I picked up my 900SS.  2-up my fianceé and I were on a group ride and it took everything my M750 could squeeze out to even keep the group in sight.  I didn't want to give up my Monster though.  It's loud, obnoxious and just plain fun to ride ~

JM

[homer simpson drooling]

hmmm, tempting

http://austin.craigslist.org/mcy/1067291765.html

[/homer simpson drooling]