11-07-2020, 01:59 PM
(11-07-2020, 01:45 PM)teamvisegrip_imp Wrote: I will admit that riding a motorcycle on the street is not like it was maybe 15 years ago. The people of today drive with more distractions than ever. The worst being a cell phone of course. There have been times when riding I see a car waiting to come into my lane from a side street. The driver will appear to look right at me and yet still turn out causing me to brake to keep from hitting them. Do not get me going on the lane changers. I never ride in the blind spot. Loud exhausts, reflective riding gear and others do no good. Be defensive. Treat all drivers as a hazard. Never ride in the blind spot. Which part of the lane should you stay in? As far as I am concerned each one has its downfall. If I am on a single lane road coming to a light I will tend to hang to the right to keep the car behind me from pulling alongside to do a right turn. Yes this happens a lot right! LOL! Makes me so mad.
But riding under these conditions does not seem to be relaxing anymore. I will never stop riding on the street but tend to get off the beaten track as fast as possible to less traveled roads. Seems to be more relaxing.
But what I have found to enjoy more? Trail riding. My prefered ride is to hit the dirt roads, fire trails or anything that is not paved. It is way more relaxing and enjoyable for me. This is not the type of road the CB1100 can handle but my enduros can.
As with other topics like "How long will you keep your CB1100" or "How long will you ride" I am sure I will be riding trails and backroads way after I am done with the streets.
I have had 2 accidents in my life. One I was young and stupid following a car to close. I should not have been there. They braked quickly to avoid an accident and I could not avoid them. Hit the car and went over the top Superman style. Not a good day for me. Broke bones that day but got right back on the moment I was able. Next I was not paying attention to the surroundings. Made a turn on a sunny day and the road was covered in standing water from a fountain at that corner. The wind was so strong it blew the water into the road. Tires lost traction and I went down. Just a bruised ego on that one. The bike suffered way worse. Again a simple case of not paying attention. After those accidents many years ago my, riding techniques have changed. Those changes have saved me numerous times and will continue to long into the future.
RE off road: Yeah, riding for miles upon miles standing up sometimes feels sooooo liberating. Even on roads surfaces - sometimes forget that I am standing. In any case, you see so much!