Urban Riding Can Be Fun

[Rogue]

I've been watching these short films on Café Racers.  The films capture these Café Racers being ridden around the CA desert, and cities like Paris, France, London, and L.A., CA, in the early morning hours when there is nobody else around.  Have you ever woken up at dawn and ridden your bike around the city on a Sunday morning?  I’ve done that a few times during the summer and ridden around a downtown area.  It’s a totally different experience and also a whole lot of fun if you change your mindset.  The things that make riding in urban areas a chore—traffic, red lights, slow speeds, are missing during those times so it transforms the ride experience.  It’s especially fun in a downtown area where there are no residents on weekends.  You can go faster.  Most lights are green.  If you’re lucky have roundabouts or freeway entrances you can use those for lean angle.  Or, you can make fast left turns to scrub that side of the tire.  It works better on a sportbike or naked sport though--something lightweight.  Supermotards work really well too.  Try it sometime.  It’s a great way to get some cobwebs out within a couple of hours without spending the whole day out riding.  

My perfect "urban Saturday" is on a sunny day, I wake up at dawn, ride to the business section of Irvine and ride like a hooligan for a couple of hours.  Around 8AM, I pick up some coffee from the nearby Starbucks, carefully bring it to the Cars and Coffee event a couple of blocks away.  I then view the fancy cars and classic cars (and motorcycles) for a bit before heading home.  I’m home before 10AM.  

[atadaskew]

You sound like a candidate for a thcooter.

 

[Rogue]

I am.

But the way I ride, I think I would be better off in a Cafe Racer/naked sportbike.  A Scooter is too "nice".  

[Wockman]

We get out once in a while on weekend mornings.  Here is a shot of the wife and I riding around downtown.  

[Dan K]

I've done that a few times.  Heading into work downtown Chicago on a Sat or Sun early.  Empty.  Zoomed around on my old Tuono trying to activate car alarms and rattle windows with my too loud exhaust in the non-residential Loop.  Fun stuff.

[bomber]

Riding in a deserted downtown area IS big fun -- enjoying the views without the traffic and sucidal pedestrians and cyclists is a joy (as is the occasional exploration of urban acoustics) . . .. .

[rgbeard]

Here's yer bike!

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/mcy/2804378856.html

[Dan K]

Here's yer bike!

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/mcy/2804378856.html

WTF is that?1?!?  

[steve.ski]

Here's yer bike!

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/mcy/2804378856.html

yours for a mere.......








$4500?????

Sheesh...

[Hardware]

WTF is that?1?!?  

Early Goldwing - at least that's the motor (didn't read the ad).

[rgbeard]

Someone who converted a GL-1000 to your dream Cafe Racer!!!

You wanted it, I found it!

You'd be the only one on your block!  

($4,500?  Not likely.  $2,000.  I'd ride it!)

[olderigetfasteriam]

WTF is that?1?!?  

You mean, besides awesome?

I love riding urban areas at dawn or shortly after. Done it in LA, Phoenix and several others. Almost surreal without all the people/cars.

[wibornz]

that gold wing wasn't 4500 new in 79.

[wibornz]

   and yea,  I go and ride in Detroit.  I also like night riding in the cities around midnight and later.

[atadaskew]

I love riding urban areas at dawn or shortly after. Done it in LA... Almost surreal without all the people/cars.

LA at dawn is still full of cars and people going to work.
At least M-F

[Cheddarhead]

+ a bunch...

One of the best times of the day / week to ride.

Add a white scarf to your riding kit and you too can join the "Dawn Patrol".  Out for a few hours / a couple of hundred miles.  A hearty breakfast and back home before 10:00 AM to take on the day.  Zero guilt, as the rest of the household is still sleeping in etc...

[atadaskew]

Add a white scarf to your riding kit and you too can join the "Dawn Patrol".

http://www.aerostich.com/off-and-riding/visibility-protection/scarves-and-masks/aerostich-silk-scarf-standard.html

But you really should be riding a Triumph, Guzzi or BMW air head to pull this off.

[Lasercut]

I ride both Milwaukee and Chicago at dawn.  The best parts are the lack of urban white noise, and the sound of your bike.
Thinking a Bonneville would fit nicely.

[olderigetfasteriam]

LA at dawn is still full of cars and people going to work.
At least M-F

Sorry, I left out "Sunday".