Sport Touring - The Future of the Sport

[MrCrash]

It's kind of funny how many people associate sport riding with pushing the envelope. That sort of riding collects far too many tickets (or worse) for a rider to have any real future in motorcycling.

To me, sport riding *is* sport touring. Fluidity of motion through visually stunning environments. It involves achieving a zen-like sensation, rather than a pucker-induced adrenaline rush.

I'm a control freak. Adrenaline doesn't go too well with that.

As a result, I'm also not too big on "pushing it". I tend to think of it as widening the boundaries of my performance envelope through knowledge and applied skill, rather than a borderline-reckless display of bravado.

I've met a number of people who do trackdays, and claim "the street just doesn't do it for them anymore". I'm betting most of them tried to get the same "rush" out of street riding that they do on the track. Sport touring offers different rushes and sensations that are just as great in their own way. I doubt most of the adrenaline junkies have ever really tried it.

I know some racers and track addicts who no longer street ride, and don't really miss much about it. The one thing they do miss? The adventuresome sport touring rides.

Sport Touring is probably the only way to have anything resembling a responsible future in motorcycling. A few generalizations (with notable exceptions in each case), based on my observations in the last decade:

- Racers will eventually lose their competitiveness, or the ability to be competitive. Or they just flat out go broke.

- Trackday junkies eventually become racers, or grow tiresome of pouring money into the pursuit of an infrequent adrenaline rush.

- Aggressive canyon riders eventually destroy their machines, their bodies, or their driving records too much to continue riding.

Many will get married and procreate, forcing them to pursue more conservative and responsible activities.

Sport Touring, you can do forever. My hat's off to all of you who have chosen to go that route.

[RydTher]

Originally posted by MrCrash907
. . . Fluidity of motion through visually stunning environments. . . .


absolutely brilliant.

All that was Well said. :thumbup

[spdt509]

Originally posted by MrCrash907
It's kind of funny how many people associate sport riding with pushing the envelope. That sort of riding collects far too many tickets (or worse) for a rider to have any real future in motorcycling.

To me, sport riding *is* sport touring. Fluidity of motion through visually stunning environments. It involves achieving a zen-like sensation, rather than a pucker-induced adrenaline rush.

I'm a control freak. Adrenaline doesn't go too well with that.

As a result, I'm also not too big on "pushing it". I tend to think of it as widening the boundaries of my performance envelope through knowledge and applied skill, rather than a borderline-reckless display of bravado.

I've met a number of people who do trackdays, and claim "the street just doesn't do it for them anymore". I'm betting most of them tried to get the same "rush" out of street riding that they do on the track. Sport touring offers different rushes and sensations that are just as great in their own way. I doubt most of the adrenaline junkies have ever really tried it.

I know some racers and track addicts who no longer street ride, and don't really miss much about it. The one thing they do miss? The adventuresome sport touring rides.

Sport Touring is probably the only way to have anything resembling a responsible future in motorcycling. A few generalizations (with notable exceptions in each case), based on my observations in the last decade:

- Racers will eventually lose their competitiveness, or the ability to be competitive. Or they just flat out go broke.

- Trackday junkies eventually become racers, or grow tiresome of pouring money into the pursuit of an infrequent adrenaline rush.

- Aggressive canyon riders eventually destroy their machines, their bodies, or their driving records too much to continue riding.

Many will get married and procreate, forcing them to pursue more conservative and responsible activities.

Sport Touring, you can do forever. My hat's off to all of you who have chosen to go that route.
i'm going to print this and hang it on the wall as a reminder to my-
self and for those who question why i still ride on public roads,but
don't do trackdays instead......

[donoman]

Hey,

The deal about becoming trackday addicts and not wanting to ride on the street is true... Why ride HWY 9 if you can ride Thunderhill or Sears 2x a month...

However, no matter how much I was going to the track this summer, I still wanted to take a trip to Arizona (which didn't happen) for the adventure.

See, on a sport-touring ride, you aren't allowed to crash. This places such strict requirements on your actions that it becomes fun. You can't take little chances that you do when you're 40 miles away from home. 400 miles away from home is no laughing matter...

Donovan

[Oz]

Exactly how Donoman put it....

I had a great time riding up from LA. I rode roads that didn't know even existed. I stopped more often than I usually do just to check out the view. And being 300 miles away from home slowed me down a bit... I'll still go to the track as often as I can but sport touring is just as FUN...

[wakked1]

Yup, I went down twice on my TLR 'sport riding'.

Sold it, and I got the 12R coz I knew it was a bike I could still enjoy the occasional track day on, but could also comfortably put on 500 mile days. As much as I enjoy a track day, I enjoy a good ST weekend even more (SF to Grants Pass via 96.. yummy!).

[NoGall]

:cry

I need to find a frame for this:laughing

[lefty]

MrCrash-
What you said was BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank You.

[Deeter]

Spot on, Mike and well said! :thumbup

[tiltedworld]

Yep and yep.

After finding the joy of track riding, I can predict that I won't be pushing it on the street all that much. I do however enjoy longer rides for the adventure, the viseral sensory experiance and the joy of being outside and on two wheels. Sport touring is all that and more.

Now if I could afford that VFR.....soon (I hope)

[Outta Control]

Nice write-up Mike and very true. My only issue is to stop scrapping the hell out of the centerstand.

:toothless

[flynbmw]

Well said!!!

And we can take our wife or "significant other" with us!!!

[V4]

very well written and to the point....:cool

great job , MrCrash:thumbup

[WickedWahine]

:love

Wow, will you marry me? :laughing

I couldn't have said it better...

[MrCrash]

Originally posted by donoman
The deal about becoming trackday addicts and not wanting to ride on the street is true... Why ride HWY 9 if you can ride Thunderhill or Sears 2x a month...

Because Highway 9 is free. Plus, you can do it every day.

Reality's a bitch for everyone who thinks that way. I know they exist...

See, on a sport-touring ride, you aren't allowed to crash. This places such strict requirements on your actions that it becomes fun. You can't take little chances that you do when you're 40 miles away from home. 400 miles away from home is no laughing matter...


You do realize you just jinxed yourself for the next big ride we do. Knock on wood. Now.

Originally posted by WickedWahine
:love

Wow, will you marry me? :laughing


Sure, if you can deal with the following quirks:

- Free tracktime, compliments of trackdaz.com

- Unlimited use of my TZ125 racebike

- A fantasy honeymoon involving a trip to Italy, rental of Italian sportbikes, and travelling the Spanish, French, and Italian countrysides, jumping from one bed and breakfast to the next

- Sharing of perks / sponsorship / industry discounts, ranging from 35-50% off of any motorcycle products

- Multiple trips to Las Vegas every year for new bike intros, with jaccuzzi-equpped suites in the Luxor at my disposal for days at a time

If I ever hook up with someone into motorcycles, I'm betting I can make her a happy lady.

And Donovan, no. You already have someone :)

[WickedWahine]

Originally posted by MrCrash907

Sure, if you can deal with the following quirks:

- Free tracktime, compliments of trackdaz.com

- Unlimited use of my TZ125 racebike

- A fantasy honeymoon involving a trip to Italy, rental of Italian sportbikes, and travelling the Spanish, French, and Italian countrysides, jumping from one bed and breakfast to the next

- Sharing of perks / sponsorship / industry discounts, ranging from 35-50% off of any motorcycle products

- Multiple trips to Las Vegas every year for new bike intros, with jaccuzzi-equpped suites in the Luxor at my disposal for days at a time

If I ever hook up with someone into motorcycles, I'm betting I can make her a happy lady.

And Donovan, no. You already have someone :)

Dude, you realize that your PM box is going to be overflowing now, right?

I wonder how many guys here on BARF will now consider a sex change ;)

[GAMBLER]

what they said.(except for the sex change thing)

[WickedWahine]

Originally posted by GAMBLER
what they said.(except for the sex change thing)

Hey, who's "they"?

are you talking about the twins? ;) :boobies

[wakked1]

Jeez, why's it every good conversation ends up degenerating into a marriage proposal. :twofinger

[Ezekiel]

Because good conversation can be so hard to find these days :confused

[rocketbunny]

Whoa!

Can you give Friggin Chi some lessons on how to be stylishly desperate? Cause that pitch will definitely get you some girls. (Whether they're anything but gold-diggers is another story)

;)


Originally posted by MrCrash907
Because Highway 9 is free. Plus, you can do it every day.

Reality's a bitch for everyone who thinks that way. I know they exist...



You do realize you just jinxed yourself for the next big ride we do. Knock on wood. Now.



Sure, if you can deal with the following quirks:

- Free tracktime, compliments of trackdaz.com

- Unlimited use of my TZ125 racebike

- A fantasy honeymoon involving a trip to Italy, rental of Italian sportbikes, and travelling the Spanish, French, and Italian countrysides, jumping from one bed and breakfast to the next

- Sharing of perks / sponsorship / industry discounts, ranging from 35-50% off of any motorcycle products

- Multiple trips to Las Vegas every year for new bike intros, with jaccuzzi-equpped suites in the Luxor at my disposal for days at a time

If I ever hook up with someone into motorcycles, I'm betting I can make her a happy lady.

And Donovan, no. You already have someone :)

[MrCrash]

Originally posted by rocketbunny
Can you give Friggin Chi some lessons on how to be stylishly desperate? Cause that pitch will definitely get you some girls. (Whether they're anything but gold-diggers is another story)

He's PMed you as well, I take it?

If any gold diggers head this way, they have another thing coming.

"Thanks for calling Cycle Gear, this is Mike. Can I help you..."

:)

[rdcyclist]

Mike, you crack me up. :laughing

[MrCrash]

Originally posted by rdcyclist
Mike, you crack me up. :laughing

If anyone can make $11 / hour go as far as I can, I'd love to see how! If I pulled enough strings, I could probably expense report that honeymoon!

Originally posted by rocketbunny
...how to be stylishly desperate...

Desperate? Hell, a hot chick with big cans who rips on a sportbike just asked me to marry her! I can think of far more desperate situations :)

Check out those cans!

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/050/331/735695-cans.jpg

[WickedWahine]

Hahahahaaaaa!

Should we tell them what the t-shirt says?

[GAMBLER]

Originally posted by MrCrash907
If anyone can make $11 / hour go as far as I can, I'd love to see how! If I pulled enough strings, I could probably expense report that honeymoon!



Desperate? Hell, a hot chick with big cans who rips on a sportbike just asked me to marry her! I can think of far more desperate situations :)

Check out those cans!

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/050/331/735695-cans.jpg

yowser.....grrrrrwwwllllllllllllll

[devir]

well said, very close to my own mentality,

I almost felt like you ripped that out of my brain

Devir

[morthrane]

Originally posted by donoman
See, on a sport-touring ride, you aren't allowed to crash. This places such strict requirements on your actions that it becomes fun. You can't take little chances that you do when you're 40 miles away from home. 400 miles away from home is no laughing matter...

Crashing 500 miles away from home when you can ride back isn't too bad... because you weren't alone.

Suffering from major dehydration, afraid the gas might run out since you're been on the reserve gallon well beyond a point of no return, dodging rednecks in Nissan pickup trucks that try to hit you... on a technically challenging road in one hundred degree heat all by your lonesome--

Man, that's some scary ass shit.


Originally posted by MrCrash907
You do realize you just jinxed yourself for the next big ride we do. Knock on wood. Now.

Ouch.

Oh yeah guys... when you're on a ride, never EVER say something stupid like "Wow, that's a great ride, and I'm amazed no one's crashed yet!"... during the middle of the ride. :laughing

RyanB, that one's for you, cause I hope your rear view mirror of me eating gravel was pretty spectacular :twofinger :laughing