The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

General Category => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: marcmax on March 10, 2017, 09:08:38 PM

Title: Not riding much
Post by: marcmax on March 10, 2017, 09:08:38 PM
Anyone else have a period where you "fell out of love" with your bike, be it an R65 or something else?

I have only ridden maybe once a week so far this year and I usually ride daily. Still enjoy it when I do go out but just don't feel the desire to go out like I used to.

This week is Bike Week in Daytona, FL, which is only a few hour ride away, yet I have no desire to attend. Granted it is typically a V-twin gathering but I have always enjoyed myself and have always found airhead riders to spend time with. This year I am just not feeling it.

Just curious if others go through spells where the desire to ride just kind of falls away. (I hope it comes back!)

Title: Re: Not riding much
Post by: Justin B. on March 10, 2017, 10:20:42 PM
I didn't ride much last year and have only ridden a couple times so far this year.  The R1150RT is a bit heavy for these aged bones to be putting around town on and doubt I'll be doing any more touring.  My last long distance ride was an Iron Butt attempt with Suraklyn which ended for me with a shredded rear tire at about the 600 mile mark.  That kind of de-motivated me and I don't know if I can get the "itch" back, or not...

I need to finish putting the R100RT back together and maybe convince the 1150 to go live somewhere else...  :-/
Title: Re: Not riding much
Post by: skippyc on March 11, 2017, 02:47:16 AM
I only get out about once a fortnight but i won't be sell any of my bikes.
Title: Re: Not riding much
Post by: Barry on March 11, 2017, 06:31:02 AM
I find putting the bike to bed for a long winter sleep is a big mistake and leads to loss of mojo. Haven't done that since the late 80's though. I try to keep riding as long as possible and only have a few weeks off. This time I've ridden right through and not used the car for work once.  I only work 2 days per week now so I got lucky and missed some of the worst days. I don't do much riding just for pleasure in the winter but it's all fun isn't it as long as you mange to stay upright. Commuting is a routine that keeps me going. I rode one day in some light snow which was interesting or would have been if some of the car drivers had accepted that no faster than the 30 mph  speed limit was more than good enough in the conditions.

I'm 63 this year and hope to keep going for a few more years yet.
Title: Re: Not riding much
Post by: wilcom on March 11, 2017, 07:43:59 AM
I started riding in the early 60's. Commuted to work on a Honda 50  and later on a Honda 305 Super Hawk. The trail of bikes continued..... Suzuki 125 twin. Honda 450. Norton 650, Norton 750 Atlas. The Nortons were not reliable enough for commuting.

I then discovered BMW's. Fast forward to the 70's and I looked in the local classifieds and saw a 1963 BMW R50 with Earls forks for sale pretty cheap. I said to myself, "That's one of them old mans bikes".

I went over and bought it because it wasn't leaking anything. ( I still had a Norton at the time and anything that didn't leak stuff was pretty impressive).I rode that bike for 5-6 years.......

AND THEN ONE DAY.............. I looked at the ground and looked at the bike and back at the ground and said to my self that it was too dangerous to ride anymore and sold the bike and stopped riding............

I hadn't fallen off the bike or any close calls that I can remember, but at that point in time, fear had gripped me and I got off. Don't know why to this day...... some premonition of death or something told me to get off.

Naturally, I got back on a couple of years later, but at that point in time , I HUNG IT UP!
Title: Re: Not riding much
Post by: Lordcargo on March 11, 2017, 10:36:35 AM
Since I now live in Arizona (since 2003) I don't think I've gone more than a week without riding.  Back in Ohio maybe 3 months during winter. Even now the R65 is calling to me in the garage but I have other chores presently and it will wait until this evening. Tmw I'll ride the Goldwing F6B on a 200 mile lunch run. Can't have her getting too jealous ! ;)
Title: Re: Not riding much
Post by: clonmore1 on March 11, 2017, 01:07:01 PM
I have ridden throughout the winter but not on the 65 as it is only just back on the road.

Modern bikes make it very easy to ride throughout the year with FI and ABS.

I rode the 65 today for about 65 miles and loved every minute, test rode a Triumph Tiger 800xc (with the 21" front wheel) in Sheffield with a pal who wants to buy one, but loved the 65 more!

Keep riding as much as you can, keeps you young at heart[ch10084][ch65039].

Ride safe everyone...
Title: Re: Not riding much
Post by: Bob_Roller on March 11, 2017, 04:27:34 PM
I ride  every day it doesn't rain here, but, I don't put a lot of miles / kilometers on the bikes .
Can't remember the last ride over 100 miles, 130 km .
Work has gotten in the way the last 20 years, I average 70-90 hours a week .
Doesn't leave much time for rides .
But for the last 24 years that I've lived in Aridzona, I have not put the bikes away for winter, it's great not to park them for 5 months of the year .
Title: Re: Not riding much
Post by: clonmore1 on March 12, 2017, 01:41:11 AM
Wow, Bob 70 - 90 hours a week! What do you do for a living?

Title: Re: Not riding much
Post by: Bob_Roller on March 12, 2017, 01:34:08 PM
Aircraft mechanic / engineer for an airline .

Coming up on 38 years of a work schedule like this .
Title: Re: Not riding much
Post by: wilcom on March 12, 2017, 01:47:04 PM
Quote
Aircraft mechanic / engineer for an airline .

Coming up on 38 years of a work schedule like this .

ching, ching, CHING!!!!!
Title: Re: Not riding much
Post by: clonmore1 on March 12, 2017, 02:08:48 PM
Impressive!

I am trying to 'semi-retire' soon to spend more time with my wife and riding my 65 more.

Well done, you must love your job very much.
Title: Re: Not riding much
Post by: Bob_Roller on March 12, 2017, 02:18:43 PM
Well, I got out of high / secondary school and went to a local university to get my aircraft mechanics license .
Got it the first week of June, 1976 and have been in aviation since the third week of June, 1976 .
It's all I've ever done .
I wouldn't know what's it's like to have a ' real ' job !!!!! ;D
Title: Re: Not riding much
Post by: clonmore1 on March 12, 2017, 03:39:01 PM
If you enjoy it, what's not to like?
Title: Re: Not riding much
Post by: marcmax on March 12, 2017, 08:00:05 PM
There must be something about working on aircraft that gets in your blood. My brother got out of high school and went in the Air Force to work on jets. 30 years later he retired and what did he do. Relax? No he went to work for Sikorsky, working on developing the next generation of helicopters. He doesn't put in near the hours that Bob does but a 60-70 hour week is not unusual.
Title: Re: Not riding much
Post by: Matt Chapter on March 13, 2017, 10:35:37 AM
The longest I've gone without riding since I started has been a few months, back when I was getting the R65 transmission rebuilt.  My wife swears that I'm happier and more pleasant to be around when I'm riding relatively often.  I mostly commute 3 days a week, but I try to get out with a friend or two monthly for longer rides.

So next time I've got some serious downtime, I'm buying another bike to get me through it.

This August will mark 18 years of riding, and also the tipping point of owning and riding motorcycles for more than half my life!
Title: Re: Not riding much
Post by: decorn33 on March 18, 2017, 11:13:18 AM
Been battling cancer of the prostate sort diagnosed last summer. It was actually uncomfortable to sit on the bike so I wasn't riding. Had surgery in January. All good now except for the physical therapy and healing up. I'm actually looking forward to getting back on. I miss the bond and the adventure.
Title: Re: Not riding much
Post by: Monman on March 18, 2017, 02:45:15 PM
Hope you have a speedy recovery Decorn33.
Hopefully you'll be back on that bike very soon.
Title: Re: Not riding much
Post by: wilcom on March 18, 2017, 07:02:18 PM
Quote
Hope you have a speedy recovery Decorn33.
Hopefully you'll be back on that bike very soon.

+1 on that !

Send us some pics when you get back on, Nothing like documenting those rides for your friends here.
Title: Re: Not riding much
Post by: clonmore1 on March 19, 2017, 03:33:16 AM
Decorn,

All the very best with your recovery, looking forward to seeing those images of your rideouts!

Chris
Title: Re: Not riding much
Post by: JJH on March 20, 2017, 01:56:48 PM
I find riding is somewhat of a habit.  I find myself not even thinking car or bike.  If the habit is car, then I just walk to the car, if it is bike then I walk to the bike.  I have often found myself with too many groceries somehow "forgetting" that I was on my bike and didn't have the car.  A gallon of milk will fit (barely) inside of my riding jacket, but the ride isn't that fun!  So yeah, I sometimes don't ride, but more out of habit than choice.