Riding on the street...

[Mr Sunshine]

The tragic accident of Aaron Lephart has me wondering something about us club racers as a group. Does alot of you still ride on the street and if so what sort of bikes and style do you have?

I personally love to "sport-tour" around. Since getting in the track I've definatly slowed down as I rather ride fast out on the track than on the street where I'm more scared about what is around the corner.

What say you?

[Wubbie]

I have had a couple street bikes. My first was an F4i, then a 954RR. I liked to ride on the streets however people don't really look for you in the Seattle area. I would like to have another street legal bike, but had to sell my 954 to get the funds to race this year. For the most part I get my fix on the track these days!

[timk]

Even after nearly a decade of racing I still love to ride on the street, whether it's touring, a nice afternoon putt in the hills, or just running errands. But I do find myself riding more sanely on the street since I can get my high speed jollies on the track.

I have a variety of street bikes, mostly vintage stuff, but I do have one street sportbike. I ride it less and less because it seems silly to be riding a "racebike with lights" at street speeds and street lean angles. The bike I ride most often on the street is a DL650 (appliance).

So, for me, yeah I'll acknowledge that street riding is dangerous but the risks are worth it for the joy of riding. I expect to keep street riding after I quit racing, and I can see myself at age 75 riding a new 2040 Goldwing.

Two wheels good.

[shematt145]

CBR600F4 daily commuter when I don't have to haul anything bigger than my messenger bag will carry.

I get a little wimpy when it gets colder than 45 degrees but too many days commuting in the auto gets me cranky.

I also find that I'm a safer and better street rider as a result of racing. I don't feel the need to go crazy fast and anything that happens on the street happens so much slower than on the track that I find I don't panic, etc.

I agree with Tim, two wheels are good.

Shellie

[Mr Sunshine]

Good info people. Lets keep it coming.

I so agree with the things happening slower so I don't panic. Its interesting how being used to doing things at a high speed makes things different when you slow down.

[Steve]

I only ride/race on the track. Sold my 04 R1 6 months ago mostly due to the fact I just wasn't getting anything out of riding on the street plus with all the track time, there was little time left TO ride on the street.

[skidmarx]

My street riding ebbs and flows depending on my track time. More track time, less street riding, and visa versa. Sometimes, in rural areas, I will ride my R1 too fast for the street, but in each of those instances, it's only myself that I (try to) expose the added risk.

[tarheel]

Track only for me right now. Severe close call awhile back. Haven't ridden on the street since April 2005. Might again one day....won't have a race replica type sportbike for the street again. To tempting to ride stoooopid! Maybe a nice comfy Buell or a sport tourer. When I'm not at a Track Day or race I get my fix on my dirt bike. No cell phone using grannies out on the dirt. Plus it is a great workout and in my opinon makes a better racer/rider out of you all around.

See you guys this weekend.....Stooopid Rain!!! hehe

[AndrewN]

I still LOVE riding on the street - especially medium lenght trips. My R1 is a little un-comphy at times but i still love it. Seattle summers is awesome and i would much rather be out in the open than in a car. Racing has giving me more confidence on the street, but it has also made me more comfortable at higher speeds... in turn wanting to go even farther above the speed limit to get a little rush. I ride mostly at night due to working evenings so traffic isn't to bad. I'm no squid and don't pull wheelies or weave in and out of cars - but there is still something exciting about crankin it down on a long dark open strip of freeway - probably exciting because you're not supposed to do it -- maybe i have some straight line speed junkie in me, but whatever .. i love them both and won't give up street riding any time soon... especially with gas prices the way they are - my R1 is gettin some miles this summer.

[Team54]

I still ride my 02' ZRX1200R for commuting, touring, and the occasional sport ride in the twisties around Couer d' Alene about 1,000 miles a month (when I'm not in Afghanistan or Iraq).

But, I definitely ride a lot slower on the streets than I did about 6-8 years ago before my first experience with the track in Italy. I might be getting old, but it's just not worth death, serious injury, or the financial and legal risk to ride "fast" on the road. Too many variables totally our of our control.

~Branden

[geddyt]

It's funny the little psychological tricks that your mind plays on you. For instance, if I put earplugs in, my commute magically takes five minutes less without me knowing it ("But Officer, I had EARPLUGS in! Can't you cut me some slack!?").

It didn't take but one track day for me to experience the "removing the earplugs" effect. Suddenly, when on the street, I'm just in less of a rush. I'm much more wary of things that aren't pointed in the same direction as me. And, really, what's the point? I could go to jail for doing things on the street that STILL don't even come close to the fun of the track.

Having said that, though, there's still no beating two wheels on the track OR street. I have the good fortune of commuting between Bellingham and Anacortes every day for work. That's Chuckanut Drive on tap and North Cascades Highway to Winthrop when I get the urge. Wouldn't give that up for the world. And for me, I don't need a tourer on the street. I've never found a bike that felt more "right" than a good literbike: plenty of power, brakes, handling, bigger/lower seat than a 600, multiple seating positions, and tall gearing for great gas mileage on the freeway. I've ridden straight from Chelan, through Winthrop, and on to Bellingham in a single trip without feeling tired or sore at all. Whereas 45 minutes on my old SV650 and my ass and head wanted to fall off.

Nope, there's no substitute for two wheels anywhere. Besides, you can't throw your girl on the back at the track!

[ewok]

i could not imagine only riding on the track. i started racing to improve my street riding. I love buying selling and riding all kinds of two wheel rides. There is a place in cda idaho that has a bunch of motorycles in a very concentrated area. 3 or 4 racebikes and i am not sure but i think more than 20 street mounts in two garages/houses and less than 150 feet. it is as good as it gets. guinness on tap.
i respect people who decide they only want to race, but i guess i don't feel like that is all there is. touring with my wife is at least as much fun as racing. for me.
today i have an 05 vfr and an 04 gsxr750 as street bikes. the 750 is going to a son in louisiana. i am currently trying to decide wheter to replace it with a cool bike or a state of the art sport bike. current choices are the triumph 675 or a 1992 zx7r. feel free to weigh in with opinions or suggestions.