I ride too fast-thinking about quitting

[skater69]

Been riding nearly 10yrs now.  For the past 3 years it's been almost entirely commuting.....which is year round here in So Cal (sorry snowy states).  Great commute with twisties and little traffic.  
I just cannot ride my Blackbird calmly though.....never have been able to in the 4yrs I've owned it.  
I can't ride an upright bike either.....I've owned a few (cruisers, weestrom..etc). My back couldn't stand it after awhile.  Love the SPORT-touring ergo's.

But I'm starting to wonder how long I can cheat death or a bad accident.  I have a blast riding the XX but now just married and over 40, I'm wondering how smart my hyper-commutes are.  But I really have a hard time "cruising" on motorcycles.  I get bored....and wish I was in a car.

The reason I only use the bike for commuting and not on weekends except occasionally:
1-wife is not into riding....or riding 2up (and neither am I)
2-I run/train in the mornings on weekends.  By the time I get back from that, wife and I usually do something together or with our dogs..etc.
3-I don't want to invest the money or time into track days either.  With my work, running, home life....not much time.  And I really don't care that much about it to be honest.  

So I don't know.  I love my hyper-commute but much of it is how I can pretty much fly to work and pass everybody.    Even when I had a much less powerful SV650 I rode the same way.
Part of me thinks, if this is what 90% of what riding has become for me, then maybe I'm safer driving my car......which I drive MUCH MUCH slower.  I always worry about injuring myself and not being able to run....and how devastated I would be.  But not having the XX is also kind of unthinkable at the same time......although a bit less so now than in the past.

Anyone else have a similar predicament/dilemma?  Anyone been able to slow down on a Blackbird?  

[Rogue]

I'm just like you and live in SoCal so I can totally relate.  I do a lot of commuting on my 1125R too so you can imagine how hard it is to ride slow.  Which is me saying I don't ride it slow.

However, I have a personal limit on speed that I won't exceed when commuting in urban areas.  It changes with road conditions but you get my drift.  I do drive slower in the car, much slower than I do on the bike, but I wouldn't consider it slow for car standards.  I still drive briskly.

I've come to the realization that I'm just too addicted to speed to do anything about it.  There are days when I drive with the flow of traffic, but most times I drive slightly faster than the flow.  

I've stopped worrying and thinking.  I just ride, because if I don't ride to work, I always regret it.  I love riding too much to give it up any time soon.  I've thought about quitting though, seriously I have.  But every time I hop on the moto, I love it so.

[nater]

Don't get rid of the bike.  You will miss it way too much.  The thought of a fine and jail time slows me down when commuting.  When riding twisties, I just keep it at a speed where I don't have to slow down for the corners.  For me, it is much more satisfying and thrilling to lean off and rail a corner than it is to twist the throttle and go through the gears in a straight line.  It sounds like you may need to get to the drag strip once in awhile to get it out of your system.  

[Giaka]

Funny we are pretty much opposites. I do not like to ride fast for the commute (speed limit or slightly faster), I love the seating position of my Versys and ST. I love to take the time to look around and enjoy the ride, I have NEVER wished I was in a cage at any point during my commute. My wife loves to ride, either on her bike or 2 up with me (which I totally enjoy). Having said all that do you really think one of us is in more danger than the other one? I don’t think so but you need to go with your gut feeling on it.

[jbs80106]

You've touched on my own devil that rears up when I think about getting a faster toy such as the S1000RR or a GSX-R.  I know the top limits of my K75 (~125) and do like to twist the throttle when appropriate.  Knowing that, I would probably feel the need to exercise the 190+ hp of a super bike.  However, little/no traffic where I live and ride in Colorado as compared to SoCal like you.

If I was feeling worried about the safety of my riding habits however, I think I be admitting that perhaps I'm riding beyond my abilities.

Ever had a close call or lots of close calls to make you consider hanging the helmet up?  

[Capirex]

Anyone else have a similar predicament/dilemma?  Anyone been able to slow down on a Blackbird?  

A lowside in a construction area helped me to scrub some speed off on my commute.  Ive also heard smoking weed suggested as a speed deterrent here a few times.

[skater69]

If I was feeling worried about the safety of my riding habits however, I think I be admitting that perhaps I'm riding beyond my abilities.
Ever had a close call or lots of close calls to make you consider hanging the helmet up?  

Not questioning my abilities......more of just the "what if's".  No close calls either.  I ride pretty fast but never squidlike or reckless.  Although I have been known to overtake/cutoff abruptley the 10mph-under-the-limit-left-lane parked-statue when there's no traffic.

[bubba zanetti]

About 5 years ago I really slowed down. I think it was directly related to a couple of painful injuries and how slow my healing was. In other words a big dollop of mortality. I will occasionally wick it up a bit but nothing like I used to and so over time I have lost that feeling for high speed and simply do not miss it. The adrenalin rush has been replaced by savouring the ride instead. Scenery, places and even the planning.

I now equate the high speed dash with quantity and the measured pace with quality. I think it is developmental in nature and somewhat natural.

[skater69]

Another option is to just slow down. If you recognize the issue, you can fix it.

And I do.  I drive my Ford Focus.  

[Papa Lazarou]

Always, always obey urban speed limits. You won't like yourself much of you hit a child.

Next-get a cafe racer. They feel much faster than they are and tick many boxes. Better still, base it on a Guzzi V7.

[SuperHans]

I understand what you're saying. I don't like to ride slowly, but then again I don't drive slowly either. I'm not saying I ride full throttle at all times, but I do often ride considerably higher than the speed limit and also ride fairly aggressively.

We can’t lane split in PA so I find myself taking extreme advantage of gaps in traffic to filter through whenever possible. I often think later that I could have been one pissed of cager away from meeting my maker. Ultimately I get such a thrill out of riding like this that I continue to do so.

I try to mitigate the risk as much as possible by wearing the proper gear and always looking for ways to extricate myself should someone pull out in front of me or do something stupid. It’s not fool proof, but it’s the best I can do if I’m going to continue to take these chances.

[st2sam]

Holy sh!t, my long lost brother!
You've got the same problem I have except I don't ride year round, at least very little riding in the winter.
When I owned a ZX14, had the same problem your having with the XX. I now have a C14 with a top speed of about 155mph down from 180mph or there about on the ZX14.
Trade the XX on a C14 ASAP, you'll slow down.
  
Problem solved.

[bomber]

if commuting is boring you as much as you indicate, don't commute -- being bored will eventually catch up to you in the form of not paying enough attention

as for how long you can continue to "cheat death," that's entirely up to you -- you're likely on the low end of riding experience around here, and, if nopthing else, the riders on this site are a good indication of how many year you can, in fact, enjoy motorcycling.

if you simply don't WANT to slow down, sell the XX and get a track bike . . . . .

it's your head, your right wrist, and your choice . . . . changing bikes will alter nothing else.

[skater69]

Always, always obey urban speed limits. You won't like yourself much of you hit a child.

Next-get a cafe racer. They feel much faster than they are and tick many boxes. Better still, base it on a Guzzi V7.

I'm riding back country like roads....and about 7 miles of freeway.  Whatever the speed limit  I'm well exceeding it usually.  Then again I go at least 10mph over no matter what I'm driving....unless I'm in a neighborhood.

[skater69]

if commuting is boring you as much as you indicate, don't commute -- being bored will eventually catch up to you in the form of not paying enough attention

Not sure where I ever communicated my commute was boring.    
Far from it......it's country like back roads for most of it.....and I'm flying.

[bomber]

You wrote:

"I'm wondering how smart my hyper-commutes are.  But I really have a hard time "cruising" on motorcycles.  I get bored....and wish I was in a car."

[rgbeard]

I've found the best cure for this is a good accident.

(sorry, not kidding.  In my case I survived it, and I commute slower).

[Busa@11K]

It's hard to learn how to make the brain control the throttle sometimes ... I've had my share of riding way faster than I should.  Learning how to slow down can be done without having an accident to snap you into a better riding behavior.  Thinking of the danger risk and circumstances if a bad crash occurs can certainly help bring riding behavior back into reality most of the time.  I still ride fast sometimes, but I chose more carefully when to do it.

Learning how to keep your speed reasonable is like trying to quite smoking cigarettes.  It's an addiction that must be controlled by brain power.

[pcrdude]

Trade the XX in on an FJR.  It is much too heavy to ride fast.  If you don't believe me, just ask county.

[Rogue]

I do believe that riding a slower, less powerful bike WILL help you slow down.

Seriously, maybe get a smaller, slower bike.  You will like it better in the twisties too.  I went from my Hayabusa to a Buell Firebolt.  It slowed me down big time when riding in the big, wide open roads.  Not so much in the urban areas though.