Everything profound and true has been posted by my fellow forum dwellers! but you recognised the problem and did the right thing mate. If you aint enjoying it...dont do it! This rule applies to Bikes, alcohol and women! enjoy your blade mate, and feck your neck of the woods is stunning!
I agree with jimbo on this that you are all grown men and you can all ride how you want to, I dont want this to sound harsh but I think maybe you were the rider in the wrong here as you were the 1 who was pushing beyond your comfort zone and putting your self in danger but well done for deciding to slow down and carry on at your own pace. I also agree with what arthur says. Some riders are fast but dangerous by doing stupid overtakes and most probably feel pushed into these moves to keep up. For a relatively young lad I think I ride in a very sensible manor. I wont be pushed into doing stupid things and especially on roads I dont know very well. I would certainly find a few new boys/girls to ride with who will ride at a similar speed as yourself
Mo .. You're getting some quality advice here and theres a good chance we've all been in similar situations at one point or another.... But you can learn a lot from swift riders.. .Your photos are just beautiful,i love Scotland... at lot.
Thanks to everyone who posted, its seems you lads get up really early on a Sunday! Lots of good advice has been posted....but the take home bit is learn at my own pace, which is the reason i stopped as i wasn't comfortable with the pace being set by those guys yesterday. Yes foolishly i did try to go at that pace but i soon found out i was out of my depth and struggling badly, but in future i wont be making that mistake again. The guy that was with me at the back of the line txt'd me and said if me and him want to go out today by ourselves at our pace, and i said yes...he rides at sensible speeds, more my type of riding. I also value my life highly, not saying those that ride at fast speeds dont, but to me biking is about fun & freedom and at the end of the ride going home in one piece and telling my family of how awesome it is. I also want to be there for my 2 kids and not be a statistic....so not into taking unnecessary risks....i will look into advanced riding or tack days to help build up my confidence and skill, but being up here there isnt that sort of facilty being offerred for 100s of miles....maybe next season. As for wanting a Hayabusa, it wasnt for the speed but more for the comfort....its like having a sports saloon, good for taking the family and for a quick blast when you fancy Thanks for all the advice lads, one of the reasons i joined a biking forum as to learn
Being somewhat Nobby no-mates anyway, I tend to latch onto anybody that's in front of me and pretend they're my friends. Unfortunately, where I live this tends to be Micra Biffers, looking for a garden centre that'll still take their ration books, agricultural vehicles driven by the 12 year old, idiot son of meglomaniacally paranoid farmers, dragging and pushing equipment that looks like a facelift for Optimus Prime (remember we can be done for bodywork that may possess surfaces that can be dangerous to other road users) and scattering cow shit and mud in their wake, rear seat, child pressured, 300 mile drive veterans frantically searching the over signposted verges for any clue as to the whereabouts of toilets/ice cream/campsite/qwik-fit/coffee etc, the 'frightened ones', embryonic biffers, these, the ones that drive at 35 in a national limit area, brake for any twitch in direction of the white line, any oncoming vehicle, regardless of lane width, and fill their Tena Lady's at any hint of a 'sharp deviation' chevron. With all of the above as my riding companions, the most dangerous risk I take is falling asleep at the bars. I'm surrounded by some of the most beautiful countryside and one or two half decent roads, but being God's waiting room, the country's abattoir and one end of the M5 means other bikers are the last of my worries. You have done exactly the right thing. You have chosen your own path. While I completely disagree with some of the decisions your 'riding mates' are, regularly, making, the advantage to the rest of us and yourself is that they are pretty easy to spot, nod to in fraternal acknowledgement and the peel away from at the next junction to make your own mistakes and face your own consequences and get better photo ops.
You did the right thing by riding within your limits,guys who ride like that eventually pay the price,shame they weren't riding in my neck of the woods,unmarked police Hyabusa's and helicopters appear from nowhere,I'm sure the fixed penalty tickets and section 59 notices would have gentled them down some.
I have only had my full licence for just over 3 years - my first big bike was a Blade - I choose my riding buddies carefully. I don't (IMO) hang about but I have met and forgot some people who just look dangerous (again IMO) Last weekend me and a good mate (on a GSXR1000 K4) went for a blast and I admit at some points I was at the edge of my comfort zone but it helped me as I was pushing harder - nowhere near the limits of the Blade as at no point did it feel loose but it felt good - I think it improved my confidence, and finally I think you did the right thing as its your bike,gear,licence & life - ride another day
I ride with the forum guys from time to time and I'm usually the slowest ride, however no one has ever commented or left me too far behind, you must never try to keep up, in my view when you are with a group rideout the slow guys should be in front anyway, a slow rider doing 80 would need the followers to do 120 to catch up on the road so everyone gets the ride they want. Don't assume all the rideouts would be with these type of riders, there are some decent guys out there that know they are quick but don't need to prove it all the time, there the guys you can learn from and need to ride with.
Yes they are (IMO) I have had a couple of intimate affairs with the tarmac over the years and without exception they did not end well. My mate with the tricked 1098s is a perfect example of what you are talking about. I solve the problem by agreeing the first one to the pre agreed stop buys the bacon rolls & coffee. Then wave as he screams off. I haven't had to fork out a penny all year. A fool and his money are easy to part, is the old saying. In his case it's not only his money he is risking. Oh, and he is a bit of a c@!t. Just do your own thing and never feel you need to otherwise.
Good sunny day here...might head out on my bike and take my camera...need to get permission from the boss as ive been out a lot this week.
Thanks...just waiting on the guy that txt'd me yesterday to see if he is going out or not...trying to enjoy the weather as much as possible before its non stop rain, wind and more rain....wifes got the hump too, so will see if im let out.
Not sure if ALL your mates are C**ts its just maybe your in the wrong company ! The reason I am being slightly defensive is this ,like most of us we are hard working and live to get out on the bike at weekends ( some poor sods even have to get a permit ) for some reason ( perhaps the wife's should get off there arses and get themselves a hobby ) ASH being an extreme example but one all the same.So everyone's chomping at the bit and have the ability to ride that bit faster and have more confidence this is not being an arsehole bike / fuel and time are all valued and maybe these guys are just being on top of there game and enjoying themselves .I don't hang about but a few weeks ago I was out with Andy and The Firebloke and we where having a decent run .Prior to going over Denbigh moors we had a chat and as I don't really know the road and have less confidence I said get yourselves off and I will catch up which we did we all had a fast run and yes I may have been 20 seconds behind at the next stop but we stopped had a chat and got on with it the reason I added this was I think you need stronger company to bring you on or you will always be at the same level which is ok on a Harley but not on a 12 k sports bike .I don't really agree with the wobble around and hope you get some nice camera shots day out its not what its about .May I suggest you pick a decent mate with more experience who will have time to bring you on (safely) but to the level required to really enjoy your sports bike and then you will also be chomping at the bit but for a quick safe ride and not the next photograph .
I ride with a mixture of riders too.Some are fecking quick which comes with experience.Some are on slower bikes, some are naturally less confidant. At no time have I blasted off into the sunset and left them to it.Nor the faster guys doing the same to me.We go as a unit and come home as a unit, unless someone needs to get home earlier then they find their own way home.I gained most of my confidence through riding on my own learning to go fast at my pace without being pressured or held back.Mileage on bike has done 10k in 18 months so I'm more confidant with it than over a year ago. In your case fella I would have done two things back off and let em get on with it or push on to pass them if there are others to ride with in front.These riders are putting you/others at risk by riding dangerously and not looking out for the rest of you.Its better to come home in one piece and enjoy the ride at your own pace.
I would say in our group I would be the fastest rider (no not being big headed) But if we are doing a group run with new or slow riders myself and another rider Try to keep the others speed down.my mate takes the lead and I to tail end Charlie So if there is any problems I can race to the front and stop everyone. But one ride it Was me on my own with the others and the pace slowly got faster so I backed off And led the last two slower riders, soon the others were gone, didn't wait an junctions Or anything and of course they took another route and we all got split up.the slower Riders didn't enjoy it all, they felt pressured to keep up and said only because someone Waited in them they would have just went home,to say i was raging would be An under statement .one never came out with us again And I basically did call the main instigator an arse (well something like that) for his riding that day As it was giving our group a bad name if our ride outs were just a racing session. You were just right to turn around, hopefully if you do ever go out again they might Show a bit more respect to the slower riders.
as many have already said great pictures! as for rideouts, had a few bad experiences years ago which knocked my confidence quite a lot. nowadays on the few occasions I get a chance to ride I generally either meet up somewhere with some mates for a cuppa (usually fish suppers) then go on my merry way. don't have the confidence or ability to push the blade too hard so stay in my comfort zone and push it a bit when I feel up to it. did find when I could commute on the blade I felt loads of confidence though, probably just because I was using it constantly then. I,ll be a bit rusty now as it hasn't turned a wheel in months.
