02-03-2018, 03:44 PM
I think that some guys are just much more sensitive to certain aspects of riding than others are. Take the stock seat for example: for some it's way too soft and for others it's way too hard. When it comes to the suspension, I'm guessing that it's much the same. And some guys simply like to change things up while other guys more or less adapt to whatever they happen to be riding without any issues. There is no right or wrong in such cases, these things just are what they are.
I remember going to watch the vintage motorcycle races a number of years ago out at Portland International Raceway. It was a great day as they had everything from road racing to motocross along with a bike show and swap meet (not to mention all of the cool bikes that everyone rode to the event). I saw a lot of memorable motorcycles there that day. I also saw a lot of guys racing a lot of neat old bikes. The most memorable rider that day was a guy racing motocross. The class he was racing in featured a wide span of year models and there were many guys on faster bikes than his with much nicer suspension setups. Yet this guy left everyone in his dust — quite literally in this case. He was just so much smoother than everyone else it wasn't even funny. I'm guessing that had he been on one of his competitor's bikes the difference would have been even more notable. But as it was I think he was already having more fun out there than anyone else. I have no idea who this guy was, but I found watching him to be rather inspirational. I sometimes think about that guy when I'm out riding. Not the fast part, but simply the fun part.
I recently changed out my seat and bars (going a bit lower in both cases). This didn't have anything to do with the handling or my comfort while riding the bike. I simply wanted to better be able to flat foot the thing while stopped or while moving it in and out of parking situations. My CB is already more than capable for how I ride, I figure the rest is up to me to continue to improve and get better. However, if I felt that some part of this machine was holding me back or causing me discomfort then I definitely wouldn't have a problem making a change if it meant the difference between selling the bike or keeping it.
I remember going to watch the vintage motorcycle races a number of years ago out at Portland International Raceway. It was a great day as they had everything from road racing to motocross along with a bike show and swap meet (not to mention all of the cool bikes that everyone rode to the event). I saw a lot of memorable motorcycles there that day. I also saw a lot of guys racing a lot of neat old bikes. The most memorable rider that day was a guy racing motocross. The class he was racing in featured a wide span of year models and there were many guys on faster bikes than his with much nicer suspension setups. Yet this guy left everyone in his dust — quite literally in this case. He was just so much smoother than everyone else it wasn't even funny. I'm guessing that had he been on one of his competitor's bikes the difference would have been even more notable. But as it was I think he was already having more fun out there than anyone else. I have no idea who this guy was, but I found watching him to be rather inspirational. I sometimes think about that guy when I'm out riding. Not the fast part, but simply the fun part.
I recently changed out my seat and bars (going a bit lower in both cases). This didn't have anything to do with the handling or my comfort while riding the bike. I simply wanted to better be able to flat foot the thing while stopped or while moving it in and out of parking situations. My CB is already more than capable for how I ride, I figure the rest is up to me to continue to improve and get better. However, if I felt that some part of this machine was holding me back or causing me discomfort then I definitely wouldn't have a problem making a change if it meant the difference between selling the bike or keeping it.