Love and probably prefer the look of sports bikes, I've owned 996, 851, SS and a few SportClassics but I've always found them incredibly uncomfortable, being 6'3 doesn't help, my neck always kills after 20 mins and get cramp in my knees. I've now got a Scrambler which is great fun ( although thinking of buying a Monster 1200 ) stick on a pair of jeans and a wind proof jacket and I'm away..just need an SP4 in the garage as well and I'd be happy....
I wasn't having a go Andy just making a point that some occupations can affect long term health and therefore affect there ability to keep riding sports bikes. We all age differently. After 48 years in the building and haulage industry the manual work has taken its toll. Steve
Its ruined me. Its the lower spine in my case that's knackered. Sport bike posture doesn't necessarily aggravate it though. They're no more or less uncomfortable than they always were. Weight on the hands at least keeps some of it off my spine even if its not great for creaking neck and shoulders. Upright bikes are OK as long as its not sit up and beg upright. I need to be able to take some weight on my feet. The worst thing for me is feet forward cruisers. Feet back arms forward is OK but feet and arms forward I know would cripple me. Though I'd like a blast on one just for a laugh, an XDiavel would not be viable for me. A 1299 might be uncomfortable but an XDiavel (like an HD Sportster) would cause serious pain.
Steve, I think I know you well enough to know that you weren't having a go, . I always enjoyed being outside using my hands to build stuff rather than straining the grey matter but sadly over time my managers thought my experience should be passed on to a new generation and I became desk bound. Still, my sister's untimely passing is hastenng my decision on full retirement so my aim is to give the 1098R a good thrashing and the 853 is pining for more track time ......... although admitedly in shorter bursts . Andy
I'm very glad to hear that a good decision has come out of such a sad situation. More and more now-a-days I find myself saying "We'd better hurry up and enjoy ourselves". We'd better had.
Now that I like. More pics please. I also love the fact that so many people on here have a selection of bikes. At what point did God say "Thou shalt have only one bike"? It's amazing how many 'non believers' say "Why do you want more than one bike?" "Why not?"
For what i enjoy id pick a Ducati Monster or the new Xdiavel because it gives me the grunt of a sports bike but it allows me to cruise in an up right position. This is my taste and what i believe.
God didn't say it, but most SWMBO's probably have. I'm lucky enough to have two bikes, but SWMBO did ask why I needed two when I only have one arse to plonk onto one at a time.
Yeah.. I get that but just winged another one but the 4th (supermoto) is definately going.... Even I've got to draw the line somewhere!
When Chris told me he had 22 I said "It's good to cut back isn't it. Just the 22". Exige has a similar number I believe. I feel quite abstemious. We'll have to think of an answer for SWIMBO. Maybe that's a whole new thread. Answer No.1: One arse, but it requires different things at different times.
If I didn't have the bikes ive got I think I would be buying and selling once or twice a year....you (me) always look at another bike and think...I definitely want some of that....and then sell (sometimes lower, more often than not) to get it, then see another bike and the same thing happens again....ill look at say, an R1m and think if I didn't have my rsv4 and just had, say my zed id be hatching a plan to get it....and then see something else but, as ive got my RSV4 I think "ive already got something like it..." so theres no need to change. As I said once ive got a hyper back in the garage I think I'm done. Over the last 8 years or so (the latest stint on bikes) ive seemed to have gravitated back to certain bikes....im on my second zed (had an 04 gen 1) 7 years ago....so it would appear that naked bike fits me. Same for the hyper (on my third) and the rsv4 is my first foray into liter sports bikes and ive owned that 4 years now and feel no need to change so once the supermoto has gone I think ill be settled with the buying and selling (probably to very much delight of my wife).
Yep - definitely a better way of putting it....I really don't think id bother to be honest...id probably just keep what ive got but drive them slower...if anything that's what I'm looking forward to come next Tuesday (pick up day) pulling away from lights with an open throttle to about 50....cant wait..!
63, 6', cranky neck and unfit but no problem with riding my 999 for a few more years hopefully. Higher clipons made a big difference a few weeks after I got the bike in 07. Can do several hundred miles in a day without too much grief. Anti inflam tabs sometimes reqd.
I will post pics soon as its back together! I decided against restoration apart from recovering a split seat - just cleaning it basically and polishing a few bits up.It is untouched and 100% original
When I am no longer able to ride a sports bike I will do what I have been doing for the last 5 years.:Angelic: I will go out and buy another sensible bike I just havn't got to grips yet with what makes a bike sensible.
