Tutored track days have some big advantages: 1. You find out (if you didn't already know) that you are faster than some people, and some people are faster than you. This means that on the road, it is unwise to try and race people. You might have come across someone faster than you and proving it on the road is stupid. Equally, you come across slower people and just overtake them normally. 2. You find out that you can go so much faster than on the road that there isn't any point trying to duplicate that on the road. 3. You learn a lot about big braking, extreme cornering and massive acceleration. You shouldn't be doing any of that on the road, really. The conclusion is that the track is the track and the road is the road. This knowledge helps keep you sunny side up.
I'm 59 and been riding for 42yrs. Did the IAM Advanced Rider Programme last year and the Ron Haslam Race School this year. Definitely improved my riding skills. I doubt it's the bike (or your age) that's the issue, more like a bad day, confidence and too many years riding (like me) without analysing how you're riding and therefore not improving. It is possible to ride quickly and safely. Health and fitness have a lot to do with it too. That's why I'm in the gym 3 times a week and can still win some of the monthly gym challenges against kids a third of my age! It's about keeping fit to ride for as long as possible.
And, sometimes when I have arranged to go on a ride with mates I simply do not feel at one with myself or the bike as I cock my leg over. Other times, I cock my leg over and feel like I am on a par with Rossi. Anyone else get this?
I ride with two guys, one is 60 and on a fireblade and the other is 78 an rides a sprint 1050. They're the best riders I have EVER ridden with. Period.
Maybe the bike just isn't involving enough and perhaps that, combined with the silly speeds it's capable of, makes for a dangerous mix. As others have said, the solution is probably to swap it for something that feels every bit as fast but actually isn't. You can't get much more involving, or beautiful, than something like a 916...
Have a refresher course, there are enough about. Worst riding I ever did was overtaking cars queued (stopped) on a main road. The reason was someone turning right but they were tucked in to the left of the road. Cars coming the other way so they were waiting to turn. I buzzed past the stationary right turner. It happens but I can't imagine what they thought.
When you get old, you have good days and you have bad days. The older, the more so. Everybody knows this.
now im 53 see this thread is still going ,,so am i , i did sell the zzr due to the original incident but have a multi 1200 s now did over 6,000 miles on it since feb ,nice tour of Skye and the highlands had one massive near miss, lorry pulled out on me abs and traction control saved me ..i didnt ride for a month after that incident ,,, i did the Ron haslam race school this year, didnt get much out of that. but at the end of the day i'm still riding and enjoying it its in the works carpark now looking forward to the ride home dry and mild december 23rd a touch
I don't want to invite a problem but I do think that by the time you're in your 50's you should have a degree of experience that means you are more likely to anticipate risk and ride accordingly. I'm sure my reactions are not what they were in my 20's but the way I now ride doesn't hopefully just rely on those to get me out of trouble. I also have the luxury of only riding when I want to and not as my daily commute. The bikes we ride and tyres, are also of a much better performance and despite all the extra power, tend to be safer. That said, training is very important to keep you in the right mindset. If anyone out there feels they are not in full control of the bike they are riding and get themselves into close encounters, please book a Bikesafe course. Merry Christmas and happy and safe riding in 2016!
I once followed what I thought was a young hooligan on a stripped down rat bike. It was raining heavy and about 4•C. The slippery road was North bound to New lands corner. I was riding my MTS1200S and the rider that pulled out then away from me eventually stopped at Newlands. After grabbing a coffee I returned to the 80year old wipper snapper on his antique single to have a word on safety. He said he'd been riding the bike for years, knew the road well and his own limitations. I never want to follow him on a damp day out....there was no way I could keep up and feel safe. On another note on track days....you are always you fastest....just before you fall off. Don't watch the other guy run off in the bend.....as we all know what happens next. And I've been humbled on the track as I was flying around like Ron when a one armed man over took me in the bend. I really miss motorcycling at the moment....
You're not missing much: horizontal rain, tree-snapping winds and roads slick with liquid filth. Living out in the sticks, even when it does stop raining my bikes are marooned in a sea of shite. There isn't a road within 5 miles of me that doesn't look like a farm track. You're better off where you are. Concentrate on recovering, spring is on the way..
Try a day out on the roads with Rapid Training. They're very good. Much better than IAM of RoSPA in my opinion. I'm older than the OP.
When I started racing three wheels in the 80s, there was a club solo racer called, I think; John Ansell........he was close to 70 IIRC......and was still winning trophies for 250cc races.............To see him in civvies, you might have thought he was the owner of a hardware shop or even a solicitor on a day out of the office. PS.........I'm possiby older than most on this forum, but if it wasn't for health issues making me think about riding a sports type bike; I might even be considering to go back to racing three wheels........but I would want to drive it now rather than being the monkey.
