| Author | Message | ||
     Okc99 |
For those riders who have had a bike +5yrs or more, can any of you chime in on whether or not you went through periods where you just couldn't motivate yourself to ride for months/seasons on end and what the solution was. Did it work itself out, did you get a new bike (V-Twin therapy?), or did you stop riding for a while. Maybe it's because I'm in a less 'severe' geography now that the thrill/mystery etc of riding isn't what it was last summer. I'm thinking that after the initial excitement of being on a bike for the first time for the first season or two....that after that it becomes more of a conscious choice to keep riding as opposed to pure adrenaline. (I know someone might make a marriage analogy here) All comments welcome. | ||
| Ronmold |
Sounds like you need some V(twin)iagra!  | ||
| Edgydrifter |
Like most habits, it's self-reinforcing. Winters around here are wet, wet, wet... so not much fun for riding. Still, I try to ride every day if possible because A) once you're geared up and on the bike, even bad weather isn't so bad (usually), and B) riding in lousy weather makes riding in good weather that much more awesome. I find that if I follow the routine consistently enough, it makes me feel weird and unsettled to NOT ride. That's when I know I'm in a good groove. That, and I try to find reasons to celebrate the most mundane aspects of every ride. I know every pothole and manhole cover on my way to and from the office. I invent new routes around them in my head every few days and try them out to see which ones flow the best. I thrill to a little extra lean on an offramp, or squirting between cages to hit all the lights just right. Maybe I can't ride sweepers and twisties every day, but I can always find some point of focus to make each ride the best part of my day. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I would say that because of where you live that your answer may be track days. If I lived in the four state area (particularly SW MO, SE KS, NE OK), I wouldn't be very motivated to ride either. I was in Nevada, MO and Joplin, MO last month. I remember feeling pity for motorcycle riders. I would spend my time on "quality" rather than quantity and have a dedicated track bike:  Hallet Motor Racing Circuit, Tulsa, OK  Ardmore Race Track, Ardmore, OK  KCI Motorsports Park, Kansas City, MO  Heartland Park, Heartland, KS NW AR is also good riding, but you've got to get there from OKC. Any of these options sure beat KS:  OK:  MO:  | ||
| Okc99 |
Ft_bstd, I'm actually in DC now. It's OKC that wasn't too shabby! | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Same prescription. I'd imagine that you'd have to get a ways out of town to get to the good roads. West Virginia? | ||
| Jammin_joules |
I think you could solve your problem by buying a new bike.  | ||
| Werewulf |
i was getting bored with the local landscape.... last week, my dermatologist told me that i might have melanoma, which would require extensive treatment to survive... today i got the call, that i have a clean bill of health... i went for a ride to daytona to celebrate and noticed natural beauty that ive never seen before.... ride when you can, dont waste precious time.. | ||
| Babired |
OKC99 come up to the Frederick HD dealer for Buell fest May 16th and 17th bring your Blue Uly and meet the MD, VA, DC crowd. K | ||
| Xbimmer |
First marriage and resulting three awesome kids "diminished" my riding on/off for some time back in the 80's. Up to then I'd put 20K/year on my Honda 750F and then 30K/year on my R100S. I grew up crazy about machines that had only two wheels with mostly engine between them, I pretty much had become a die hard enthusiast. My interest never waned but priorities are priorities. Being there while the kids were growing up (and the first marriage was failing) put riding in the closet, but I'd still take the squirts to the Rock Store in the car and they in turn grew up with moto-appreciation. After the divorce my kids still were my priority for years as a single parent. It was only three years ago after my kids had grown and left that I was able to take a breath and tell myself "I want a new bike". Thus, my '06 Uly, just at three years with me and 56K. It amazes me daily. When I first got into motorcycling I had a few friends who did also. Most of them faded away from the sport, some for good reason as they just didn't mesh with it. Sure they could ride a bike but it takes more than that. My $0.02 for what it's worth, different grades of enthusiasm for different folks I guess. | ||
| Ratbuell |
OKC - you definitely need to get up to Frederick, hopefully for BuellFest this coming weekend (16/17), but definitely sooner rather than later. We've got quite a few nice rides/roads up this way, and we're only a short blast out of the DC gridlock. I know. I used to live in McLean. Now I'm up here...and in the words of one of my good friends (John Astin) as Buddy Stone on Night Court: "I feel MUCH better now!"  | ||
| Ishai |
One hour each way( or less) out of DC is some of the most amazing riding. Having said that , in my mind the only reason to ride a motorcycle is the fact that you want to. If you no longer want to or do not enjoy it ,do not force yourself- take a brake, come back to it when you are ready and it is fun again. | ||
| Ourdee |
Solution is to sell all your 4 wheel vehicles. I did it for 11 years. | ||
| Andrejs2112 |
Sell your bike and buy a different kind. No, it's not cheating. Good luck. | ||
| Skvarki |
Move somewhere where you have real winter, you'll miss it then. That being said I think a few month break every year can be healthy because it makes me appreciate the times I can ride more. | ||
| Tginnh |
Agreed on the track days idea. I have only been once, but it was the most exhilarating and exhausting day of riding I have ever done. Other suggestion - maybe try some manner of adventure. I hike the White Mts. here in NH. A friend & I go on "bike and hikes." If you have backpacking gear, maybe a couple day excursion with your mess kit and tent. Mix it up. | ||
| Hangetsu |
SELL YOUR CAR! | ||
| Rocketsprink |
I have to admit, since I started racing a few years back, street riding has lost some appeal to me. My Wife started riding about the time I started racing, so that keeps me motivated, to a point, to ride on the street. Biggest issue is it's just boring. I think more because the roads here in S.E. Wisconsin, although twisty, by WI standards, are always full of gravel in the corners, so you usually have to slow WAY down, lot's of potholes...I guess maybe if you don't deviate from your "normal ride" it get's old.....fast. I have a company van for work, so riding to work isn't an options. I guess a change of pace, route wise, could help spice things up again. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Love to ride. Love thinking about it and reading about it. Enjoy planning trips. Enjoy going on trips. Love riding through areas I've never been to before. Love speculating about what Buell has up it's sleeve in regards to new models or upgrades. Have a blast going to Homecoming. How in the heck can anyone in their right mind be bored with motorcycling? I cringe when I hear people discussing how fast their car can go or how much hp it has. Bores me to tears and I just want to puke. Love to hear about bikes though. | ||
| Crusty |
I went several winters without a car; and I found that when my bike was my only transportation, a lot of the magic wore off. Then again, I was riding a BMW that had no personality whatsoever, so it's understandable that the Joy of Riding went away. On a more serious note; I've witnessed the same lack of enthusiasm in several people around this time of year. The best thing to do is get out for a lengthy day's ride over some good roads. I've seen a few people go from wanting to sell their bike to falling in love with it again after a nice ride. There are some really nice roads not too far from D.C.; go out and see if a good ride gets the juices flowing again. | ||
| Royintulsa |
Just get on. Go see the great historical sights in the D.C. area. Use it for transportation, don't think of it as having to go out and enjoy a ride. To be safe you really need to ride on a regular basis. | ||
| Nvr2old |
Take up golf for a while, you'll be back riding, and loving it, in no time. | ||
| Kellaupat |
Take Constitution Ave West out of D.C. Pick up I-66. Take exit 13 Linden, Left at stop sign, Right on Rt.55 to Front Royal, Left on Rt. 340, 1 mile left and you are on Mile Marker 0 on the Skyline Drive. On a weekday morning you will be driving the opposite direction from the D.C. traffic, and in about 1 hour be at motorcycle nirvana! P.S. don't tell anyone that does not have a bike!  | ||
| Od_cleaver |
OKc99, If motorcycling doesn't turn your crank, give it up for awhile. Life is too short to be doing something that gives you no pleasure. You can always come back. I took a 25 year break to help raise our 3 kids. Now I own two bikes. Last year I rode most of Route 66 and took another trip to the west coast. This year I am planning on riding most of the Pony Express route and somewhere else that hasn't been decided. | ||
| Hardlya |
What I've found in 45 years of riding is neither you or the motorcycle really starts talking to each other until your are a couple of days ride from the house. | ||
| Pso |
Sometimes folks just move on to other interests. | ||
| Zane |
Clearly there can be but one answer. It's time for you to leave the motorcycle community and move on to greener pastures. And out of the goodness of my heart, I'm willing to help facilitate you reaching your next stage in life. Just ship me all two wheeled vehicles you own along with any spare parts you've collected over the years. PM me for shipping information. Seriously, motorcycles may be something your done with at this stage of your life. That’s OK. Store you bike and take a break for a year of two. With the perspective of time you’ll look at your ride on day and feel motivated to pull it out of mothballs and begin the love affair all over again or you’ll at it and know it’s time to sell her and that you really are done. Either decision is OK. With time you’ll know your right answer. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Have you lost interest in this thread too?....LOL Did someone say West Virginia?? Same prescription. I'd imagine that you'd have to get a ways out of town to get to the good roads. West Virginia? http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/37/ 432249.html?1241185163 | ||
| Adamd |
I think lust is an important aspect of motorcycling.. If you don't want to ride, sell the bike for this year or put it away. I find that planning big trips is a big help. I have no interest in commuting in day to day traffic in a city with millions of people... www.advrider.com and read some ride reports. | ||
| Hooper |
Good news Werewulf! Tginnh - that is an incredible idea. I love hiking AND biking NH/ME/VT. I understand Okc99’s thoughts...I hadn't ridden in two weeks lately (until this weekend) due to the horrendous weather we've had in the DC area - rain EVERY day. That said, I think about riding ALL the time, but I don't/can’t DO it all the time. I went out on my Harley on Friday night and felt like the King of the World. It was a real high. I went out on the same Harley today (Sunday) because the weather was SO damn good...it just seemed like a "cruiser day". About 10 miles from home, I started to think that I'd prefer to be on my Uly. I thought about turning around and swapping bikes, but I was pretty far along. Regardless, I had a great ride... came across a new road that I'd never ridden (Maryland Route 99). It was essentially my favorite kind of ride...farmy, swoopy curves, quiet, little towns. It connected to some of the other great roads and towns of northern Maryland, especially north of I-70. I love this area, but it really takes some patience to break out of the traffic and stoplights before you can get to what riding is all about. I got home from that ride and jumped on the Uly to go to the store…that’s when I got that “high” again – it had been over two weeks since I’d ridden it and I just smacked my head and said, “I LOVE this bike! I should have taken it today!” So, maybe taking a week or two off would help you. There are weeks when I think I want to take a long Saturday ride, but when I actually get out there, I start thinking that I want to get back home and do “home” things. That’s rare, though. The other solution is to find new destinations in the MD/VA/DC/DE area (and there are plenty). I can list some of my favorite roads for you. Hit the road to Buellfest in Frederick next weekend - some of the most amazing roads I've ever been on are up there, and it sounds like a group ride might be forming. I think that you might be feeling like there just isn’t that much to see around here, but there is. So, in summary, I do NOT think you need to have a “LIVE TO RIDE RIDE TO LIVE” sensibility. If you don’t have that – I think keeping a bike around is a great thing for when the urge hits or when a perfect-weather day arrives. When it does, try this route: http://www.greatroadsgreatrides.com/newone/grgr_sa mple-tz.html |
