I know,odd topic title.I don't know how to put things into words..the stuff going on since I've been riding this new season.Something is changing...the way I'm riding.
I have this majorly intense motorcycle.Fastest thing on the road..stock.Performancewise...never skips a beat.EVER.From a mild city cruise,to this insane top end blast...
I keep saying to myself..."okay,let's just cruise now and enjoy the bike and life".Sounds good.Ya.But I get out there,rollin smooth and clean...and the curves start comin up....I can't seem to ride through em anymore at 70.Or 80.Or 90.I know I'm breakin the law....
I look down at my speedo...she's at 130,140.I'm leaned in,focussed.Bike's planted and driving itself it feels like.I'm only along for the ride."Just a bit more push on that left bar end.Ya...that's it....she'll lean...trust yer tires.There...set up now,that right hander comin up.Look ahead,Not too far.Lean in and get up on the tank there.Lower...ya....lean over.Get yer torso off the side there,look through...lean.Push.Power out.Lefty comin up...you're good....you"re set,power in.Push.She'll hold.Just a tad more...there,now she's diggin.Perfect.140...set up now for that right hand sweeper.Ya...that's it.Lean in,let the frontend track...don't fight it...light touch...let up...light touch.Lean.Push.Ya....THIS is how this bike is supposed to roll"
Is it?How can it be so "right" feeling,when I'm doing so much WRONG.One patch of gravel.One oil spill.One Deer jumpin out.That's it.Over.Done.I don't know WHAT I'm gonna do.I love this machine.Never had this kind of joy in my entire life....never so brazenly broken the law consistently either.
I could never at this point be happy with a Cruiser.I've thought about it.But nah...no way.I love my sportbike...this badazz vehicle that begs to be opened up.I've no idea how to ride this thing.That's the truth.I don't know if I'm getting it right,or what.Going on my 4th year now with this "creature".It does seem alive to me.
I can hear the 600's out there...out on the highway here that goes through my city.Couple of 750's.Suzuki's.Two or three big highway arteries runnin just a ways from my house.
I hear em....windin out.WAY winding.They must think they'll be able to blast away here and never get pulled over.Maybe they won't.But they're here...REALLY openin em up...if only for "short bursts" and such.
There's one now...I hear him...over across town.He's haulin.That 600 or whatever it is....peakin out.
THEN...I'm out there again....it's tomorrow already.I'm cruisin...thinkin about those 600's and 750's.Someone here mentioned about RPM levels and performance.Lately I've been runnin the curves and stuff in the upper rpm range...like 7,8,9.Carving and rollin through the sweepers.My shift feel seems so much more "easy" when she's runnin "up there".Downshifts,clickin right in.No clutch.Too slow for what I need to do.Keep er settled.Stay smooth.8,9 grand.Downshift....gas her.Comin up on that sweet left hander again....I know this curve.Been here a bunch of times.This time.....faster...I'm gonna go faster.And I do.And just like that,I'm settin up again for that right hander...that open and LONG right hander.The one I used to feel unsure of as I hit the first part and she began to drift.That's not happening now.I'm confident about my bike.She IS carrying the apex...and she IS following my directions.Ya...okay....I'll dig a bit deeper.You know that's the key.Deeper.Stay on the gas.Lean.Get my body off the seat,lean.Looking through the gunsight of the fairing/windshield/mirror apex.Right there.That's the spot.Line that up.Dig in.Power through.Let er track,push a tad more...there,now yer set.
I'm asking for disaster.I am.NOBODY rides this way on the highway.WHAT is wrong with me?
The strange thing....I'm a VERY careful driver.I am.I pay attention to the other drivers.I give em the right of way....I don't try to "race" em off the line.I'm respectful while driving.I let em go ahead when they think they should.I don't tailgate.I don't try to "scare" em with my bike.I follow the city and small town speed limits to a tee.
But I can't seem to just "cruise" out there with this machine that just talks to me and tells me..."ya...let's carve.Let's give me my fun and watch what I do.I'm faster than you imagine.I can handle these curves and all....just trust me"
I know....sounds crazy.Maybe I am.Maybe I just need to grow up.But it's just me and my motorcycle and those sweet open curves and all.I can't resist rollin through em and feeling ALIVE.There will be a time when this will be over for me.No remembrance of this.
A smaller bike just wouldn't do it for me.She's PERFECT.Just right.Transitions great.Rolls dead on.Life is GOOD.