Evening guys I've thought long & hard about posting this.... So here goes Now I know my ride is from the dark side, but I've stayed on here because you a great bunch and a far better forum. Two years ago out of the blue I was diagnosed with MS, I've had loads of treatment to try to stop it in it's tracks ( not cure it ) and it seems to be working . However it has left with some damage, ie slower vision, and responses , I had to prove to the DVLA that I was safe to carry on riding, ( which I did ) However I am slower than I ever was, I look the part with state of the art bike, and leathers, but I look like I should be faster, but my new state won't allow me without being safe. So forgive me for going on ...but I feel a bit of a fraud really on a super bike . Should I give it all up, but I love it and this bloody disease has taken so much of me already. So sorry for rambling, but I do value your opinion
Mate the only person that can decide is you really. I have various mental scars from a major life changing accident 10 years ago, these scars stop me from being fast but I love the look of my bike and couldn't give a feck who thinks my chicken strips are too big or that my knee sliders are too shiny etc. I enjoy riding at a pace I feel comfortable with and you should be the same mate. Feck everyone else and what they think, if your happy what else matters
Hi firstly sorry to hear how you are, I would keep going and as long as you are safe don't worry what others think , I think if you give up it could make you feel worse , so what if you go slow as long as you are happy there are no medals or prizes for being quick not even BSB riders get paid! It's not just riding the bike it's the time cleaning it etc etc what you could do is tone the leathers down so not a full factory effort- stick with it or trade to something with less grunt so you don't feel like you have to blitz it . All the best.
Hi, Gray Never give up mate, not till you physically can't do something. If you ride a superbike and feel it's not right for you( or your condition)trade it in and get something different, there's always something that will give you that buzz we all get from riding. It's not all about speed, I get more of a thrill on the twisties, than going flat out on an open piece of road. Your profile say's you're in Cornwall, so am I, If you want to meet up for a natter or a spin just give me a shout. Maybe go to the bike meet at the new Cornwall services on Thursday nights? Take care.
Hi Gray, I feel your pain I too have similar symptoms to yours following spinal trauma after a diving accident. These days I struggle just to climb aboard and weight tranfering during cornering is not what it once was, weak legs also make rear braking and gear changing difficult, I'm currently in the process of fitting a thumb brake! But I will keep riding as long as I am physically able to safely because for me nothing comes close to the rush and the feeling of riding a motorcycle. Keep fighting
Aren't we all frauds on super bikes in reality. I don't know any Rossi's or Marques's. Keep on with the super-bike if possible.
for me my bike is a release from all the everyday crap and stress going on with work and home life and while I'm riding I'm happy if it's the same for you then keep going,as long as you can ride safely which you have proved to DVLA then your certainly no fraud!
Keep going as long as its safe.....I'm sure a positive state of mind is as important as any other treatment.
Bollocks to what anyone thinks ... As long as you feel you are safe you carry on... Ride at a pace you are comfortable with...
Gray, you are not rambling mate but just saying how you feel and I'm sorry to hear about your diagnoses. Only you know how you feel when you get on your bike and whether you feel safe. There are riders in their 80's their vision/responses may be slower than someone in their teens, but they still ride and enjoy every moment. Owning/riding a bike, for me, is more than just the riding, it's going into my garage and just looking at it, cleaning it, being with friends, joining forums and talking to like minded people and sometimes it's where I go to clear my mind. Your bike may be your therapy and you might lose that carthatic process if you give it up but only you know mate. Me, I would keep it, if needed, go on a 'road bike only' track day if I needed a blast but at least I could ride no matter how fast or slow. I sincerely wish you the best both for now and the future, be safe.
Gray.. stay on it pal. Who cares what anyone else thinks. You have a beautiful bike and if you want to ride around at 30mph who cares.. stay as young at heart as possible and keep that bike turning heads.. never give up
Gray you don't need sympathy at a time like this, nevertheless I am truly sorry to hear about your diagnosis, as others have said stick with the bike for as long as you are able to. You have nothing to prove to anyone else just get out as much as you can.
As long as you like it and it's safe then keep riding. Only you will honestly know when either of those change.
Keep going Matey! I actually find it portrays a quietly confident stance cruising on a Suberbike when Billy Boy Racer try's to goad you in to gunning it. I often cruise at BMW GS1200 speeds on the ZX10R and it visibly pisses off some sports cars who would like to race. They seem to interpret it as 'they are not even worthy of being recognised by you as even a remote threat' when you do this!
Do you consistently feel like giving up on the biking because of your MS? If you're having a bad week, or a bad month, (I can only but imagine that living with MS must have lots of sh*t moments) please don't rush to put away the leathers/get rid of the bike in case you regret it later. I'm wondering something.... there must be bits about biking you still enjoy (otherwise you would have chopped in the bike a long time ago). What things do you still enjoy, or think you might still enjoy about biking? It must be horrible knowing that you can't still ride as fast or throw a bike around in the same way you could earlier in your life. If you absolutely feel comfortable stopping riding, and having memories of good times on a bike, then go for it. I can imagine the draw of a decision like that. I'm biased, so I hope you can find a way of feeling comfortable to keep riding, even if its not quite as fast as you used to ride! Best wishes whatever your decision is.
Mate I don't feel like giving up ever, yea I get bad times and don't get on the bike then, Just feel riding a super bike I should be faster than I am now, feel a bit stupid really.
Thanks guys for all the great responses, your comments mean a lot, Really don't want to loose anymore to this bloody MS....
