Yep I did a 70 mile each way commute in all weathers for 5 years. Snow, ice, low sun, pissing down sideways with rain, to getting blown across three lanes of a motorway in the wind. It undoubtedly makes you a better rider but as soon as you stop that routine you’re back to square one with most riders and worried about going out on cold tyres and getting too wet/hot/cold. It’s nothing to have dark thoughts, be ashamed or embarrassed about. Quite the opposite I would say (and I’m still here!).
I can totally relate to that as I commuted daily from Steyning in West Sussex to Wrotham in Kent for two years before I passed my test and can remember riding on snow with both feet out as stabilisers and stopping every now and again to warm my hands on the engine. In those days (early 80s) we just did it because we had to get to work. After I passed my test in Maidstone and bought my CB 750FB I got transferred to a job in Totteridge North London and commuted every single day for a year which was about 60 miles each way. I just got on with it and never felt vulnerable but looking back on it I was in my 20's and always felt bullet proof. These days I'm a pussy and see every possible danger just lurking around the corner. It is definitely not a breeze getting back into motorcycling as a mature gent.
I was riding out of Alresford on the Winchester road one very windy day. As I went down the hill into what I suppose you'd call a valley, the cross wind was so high I was riding straight, but more or less canted over about 45°. At about the middle of the dip I was bemused to note a box van laying on its side on the verge.
Well, I remember Alresford well as I used to shoot Archery near Fourmarks. Is East Tisted near there? A beautiful part of the world and the old 272 used to be the best bike ride in the south of England.
I believe so. Not that I've been there in a quarter of a century. Do mean to go that way next year, specifically for Steep, Petersfield way.
+1 for that, I love my Husky 300tpi, I live 50 metres from single-track, forests and mountains, the only time I ride in tarmac now is to get gas or ride briefly between trails
My wife banned me from bike trips in the month before my daughters wedding. I used to commute to London all year when I was younger but nowadays it needs to be a nice dry winter day with no salt on the roads to tempt me out
As a new rider some years ago, I was so keen to get away from my family at Xmas that I went for a ride on Boxing Day when it forecast snow!
Riding in heavy snow was magical. Not for the winter wonderland aspect but for the way you appear to be riding along a white tunnel.
I have been thinking about my anxiousness at riding my (new to me bike) and having sat on it a few times and manoeuvred it in an out of my shed, I am beginning to wonder if this worry is coming from the physical size of the bike. I have never owned a faired bike before; they have always been naked and somehow a naked bike feels a lot smaller, irrespective of cc. As most Ducati's are faired do many of you feel that a faired bike takes quite a lot of getting accustomed to?
I’ve been out today, greasy roads but ok if you’re steady, chilly at 6 degrees but heated jacket and all is well. Went to Revs but they were closed so ended up at the Piston Club.
Well I would advise getting a naked 125 and get back into practice. Or a KTM RC390 or a CBR 500r they feel like a small bike. What Ducati did you buy?
Response appreciated and understood but since returning to motorcycles I have been regularly riding my Honda 350 four so Im not a complete novice and in my earlier days I have been across europe and around the TT course many times on my 750, I bought the Ducati because I wanted to do so much more with it but was hoping that maybe some others had had similar experiences going from naked to faired and thought there might have been some tips and guidance.
Used to ride all year round. Courier in London then commuter from Brixton to Highbury, later St Albans to Highbury and later still St Albans to Watford. Came off in the snow a couple of times, once trying to get home for my infant daughter's birthday, that didn't go down too well with the then wife or the in-laws who were there for the occasion... These days the bike remains in the garage over winter. Mainly because I value it's condition. Wish I had the time and spare cash to run something like one of my old VFRs that seemed to be pretty good at shrugging off the ravages of winter.
the 899 is the easiest bike to ride i have owned, low torque makes is easy to pull away, the throttle is crisp and precise, the brakes are excellent (and i have ABS disconntected), below 3 or 4000 revs its a pussy cat when i got mine it was in race mode and i struggled to change gear (old foot injury), honestly scared the shit out of me and thought i was going to have to get rid. it got so hot as well. adjusted the gear lever and went out again, did 50 or so miles and its felt better, much better. took a few hundred miles for the penny to drop how good they are, the engine noise is fantastic. rev matching is an effin joy. i have a monster which i was out on over crimbo and i afraid its got to go, compared to the 899 it like comparing a diesel 1980 golf to 2012 audi tts. its shit compared
