grey hair vtr riders
03-12-2005, 05:28 PM
#1
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grey hair vtr riders
hey guys, im new to the forum, but have been ridin since i was a kid with my xr100 to s3 thunderbolt to my 8 day old vtr ... granted , not nearly as much as you guys.... partially because im only 25. i was reading the speeding ticket post (highly recommended) , and someone replied by saying they think old age has gotten them out of tickets... and then several people replied to this post concurring with the comment. i kinda like the idea that im the only youngin with a vtr in this forum it seems. all of us ride for different reasons, and all of us picked the vtr for other reasons as well.... one reason i picked it was cus its different... no one i know has it... but looking at the posts and seeing people's ages.... you guys are rockin for being 40+ ! ! ! this is one mean kitty to ride! just wanted to put my 2 bits in. any other younger riders feel the same? just askin, gentlemen.... my hat is tipped to you too.
03-12-2005, 06:23 PM
#2
Hmm?
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25? That's not much younger than me (26). :P Given a large enough sample size, I'm sure you'll find lots of older riders along with new ones.
I think the VTR appeals to mature riders because it can be had for a great price and isn't as much of a rack as the current crop of sportbikes. It's still every bit as capable as most bikes. And the difference is made up with the modifications you can purchase with the money you've saved.
I think the VTR appeals to mature riders because it can be had for a great price and isn't as much of a rack as the current crop of sportbikes. It's still every bit as capable as most bikes. And the difference is made up with the modifications you can purchase with the money you've saved.
03-13-2005, 07:32 AM
#3
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hey ClevelandSuperhawkRumble,
i couldnt agree more that this is a sweet ride. and my hat is off to you for making the mature decision that midrange grunt is far more valuable on the street than top end power could ever be.
i can tell you that, around here, my being 37 did not help my last ticket!
i couldnt agree more that this is a sweet ride. and my hat is off to you for making the mature decision that midrange grunt is far more valuable on the street than top end power could ever be.
i can tell you that, around here, my being 37 did not help my last ticket!
03-13-2005, 08:13 AM
#4
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Re: grey hair vtr riders
well i got my first ticket last year for passing 4 cars on the right side.... then again, got it thrown out cus my brother is a county prosecutor and he looked it up, and in most states, like ohio, if you dont move into the outer margin past the white line and can fit..... its not illegal! ! ! couldnt believe it. again, this was at a stop light and i could squeeze by to turn right. check out the revised code for your state.. youde be surprised.
03-13-2005, 08:58 AM
#5
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Re: grey hair vtr riders
I am also a younging as some would say (26).
I picked the superhawk because its one of the bikes that I lusted after a few years ago. I love the 916/996/998 and the TL-S's. The used 996's were still way out of my price range, and they weren't that compy to sit on. I was looking for a TL-S as well. But I couldnt find any used TL-S, let alone any in the price range that I wanted or with lower miles on it. I really like the fact that they were fuel injected! I love the sounds of the V-twins.
I look at riding from a use point of view.
Where do I use the bike? For me I use it on the street, so thats where I want the power, not at 15K rpms. I run back roads, highway, and stop light to stoplight. So I may not have 150hp at the top end, but how often do I ride at or near red line.
My first bike was a 600CBR F1 (The hurricane) and I loved the bike except for the fact that you wouldnt get any decent power out of it until it hit 5K. From 5K to 11.5K it was a hell of a ride, but it was a lot of work getting the engine to stay in that powerband.
Although I may not the leader of the pack I am right on the heels of the newest generation of bikes, the superhawk is still a heck of a bike. I love that I can spend hours on it and still be comfortable. With a jet kit added the bike pulls much stronger and with a pipe to soon be added I will have the sound that I love too.
I know that I lot of the riders are 40+ and I think thats great. I give you props for still riding and still riding one mean machine.
I picked the superhawk because its one of the bikes that I lusted after a few years ago. I love the 916/996/998 and the TL-S's. The used 996's were still way out of my price range, and they weren't that compy to sit on. I was looking for a TL-S as well. But I couldnt find any used TL-S, let alone any in the price range that I wanted or with lower miles on it. I really like the fact that they were fuel injected! I love the sounds of the V-twins.
I look at riding from a use point of view.
Where do I use the bike? For me I use it on the street, so thats where I want the power, not at 15K rpms. I run back roads, highway, and stop light to stoplight. So I may not have 150hp at the top end, but how often do I ride at or near red line.
My first bike was a 600CBR F1 (The hurricane) and I loved the bike except for the fact that you wouldnt get any decent power out of it until it hit 5K. From 5K to 11.5K it was a hell of a ride, but it was a lot of work getting the engine to stay in that powerband.
Although I may not the leader of the pack I am right on the heels of the newest generation of bikes, the superhawk is still a heck of a bike. I love that I can spend hours on it and still be comfortable. With a jet kit added the bike pulls much stronger and with a pipe to soon be added I will have the sound that I love too.
I know that I lot of the riders are 40+ and I think thats great. I give you props for still riding and still riding one mean machine.
03-13-2005, 04:09 PM
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Re: grey hair vtr riders
I am 33, and first rode a chicken when I was 30.
the next day, I had convinced my friend to buy a hawk(I had no money, and he was looking for a new ride).
Now I have one too.
the next day, I had convinced my friend to buy a hawk(I had no money, and he was looking for a new ride).
Now I have one too.
03-14-2005, 01:45 PM
#8
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Thanks for "the love" ClevelandSuperhawkRumble!
You're like 5 years younger than my son (not to mention the 2 grandkids).
Yeah, the 'Hawk is an awesome bike. When I'm out on the back roads & up in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mtns., I'm just amazed at how satisfying it is to ride a bike fast & well. I just hope I'm able to do this for a lot of years to come; I can't really imagine life without this exhilaration in it!
You're like 5 years younger than my son (not to mention the 2 grandkids).
Yeah, the 'Hawk is an awesome bike. When I'm out on the back roads & up in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mtns., I'm just amazed at how satisfying it is to ride a bike fast & well. I just hope I'm able to do this for a lot of years to come; I can't really imagine life without this exhilaration in it!
03-14-2005, 02:03 PM
#9
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Re: grey hair vtr riders
I luv my Firestorm cause of the torque, its a Honda, and it has LOTS of character. I'll take a big block over a small block anyday. The kind of real world power people lust after, even though they may not realize it, is torque.
One of the surprising revelations of getting older, other than older women can be hot too, is that my character hasn't aged. I figure I have the maturity lvl of my low - mid twenties, the only mental difference being more knowledge.
Teenager - "I'm going for it. If I die, I die."
Mid twenties - "I'm going for it but I'm not going to go crazy"
Mid thirties to now - "I'm going for it, but carefully."
As you can see, the will is still there however sooner or later the lucky ones learn that reality and concequenses can bite....HARD. Some call it fear, I call it hazardous concequence avoidance.
One of the surprising revelations of getting older, other than older women can be hot too, is that my character hasn't aged. I figure I have the maturity lvl of my low - mid twenties, the only mental difference being more knowledge.
Teenager - "I'm going for it. If I die, I die."
Mid twenties - "I'm going for it but I'm not going to go crazy"
Mid thirties to now - "I'm going for it, but carefully."
As you can see, the will is still there however sooner or later the lucky ones learn that reality and concequenses can bite....HARD. Some call it fear, I call it hazardous concequence avoidance.
03-14-2005, 03:58 PM
#11
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Re: grey hair vtr riders
My buddy and I stopped into this old style motorcycle shop (very small independant hole-in-the-wall) where lots of bike lovers of all ages hang out. Anyway, I'm in the helmet section holding an $1,800 helmet, carefully, when this old guy (old to me - 70+) in very worn and unique full leathers starts chatting to me. My buddy and I make it outside with the old dude still chatting following us. He admires our bikes, talks about them with alot of knowledge. Conversation is getting a little tired and I pop my helmet on looking around for his ride, some naked Goldwing, Nighthawk or cruiser. He turns around and throws is leg over an R1. I look around at the other people in the parking lot, fully expecting someone to yell at the old guy to "get off my bike" when he fires it up. My head spins to my buddy and we are locked wide eye'd on one another and then back to the skinny, short, white haired, WW2 vet disappearing down the road on an R1 with no chicken strips. Riiight effen ON!
It felt really good at 42 to still be a mere punk.
It felt really good at 42 to still be a mere punk.
03-15-2005, 05:41 AM
#13
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I am 47 and bikes are still the best therapy that there is
If more people rode bikes , there would be less need for the " shrinks " out there
I say ride while we can . Even the younger groups cause life's short and uncertain
If more people rode bikes , there would be less need for the " shrinks " out there
I say ride while we can . Even the younger groups cause life's short and uncertain
03-15-2005, 09:09 AM
#14
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Re: grey hair vtr riders
wow, i thought you older gents would have taken my post the wrong way and thought i was bashing you ! ! ! glad your havin fun at that age still . yeah, at 25, i ride the hawk cus i like to get away, love the scenic landscapes in Ohio's valleys, and love the girls loving me . heh heh . hope im still bobbin and weavin when im 45 . maybe my bike will be fuel injected with no flat spots in the power range ! ! see ya
03-15-2005, 09:49 AM
#15
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Re: grey hair vtr riders
43 Here ,heading to tracjk day soon on the SuperChicken. Just think you got years of riding left. When you get to 43 i hope i am still twisting a throttle on some bike.
My real ride is a CRF450R motocross, bike, yes we guys still can do it in the woods with the best of them at 43.
Think about it this was, we are just seasoned riders with loads of real life experience.
i have been riding/racing dirt bikes for 30 plus years, which is a load of experiencce when it comes to terrain and conditions off-road as well as on road.
Old enough to know better, young enough to still do it anyway..........
Keep the rubber side down, unless of course in the dirt where crashes are just a laugh and pick it up and go. No $1000.00 worth of plastic damage.......
My real ride is a CRF450R motocross, bike, yes we guys still can do it in the woods with the best of them at 43.
Think about it this was, we are just seasoned riders with loads of real life experience.
i have been riding/racing dirt bikes for 30 plus years, which is a load of experiencce when it comes to terrain and conditions off-road as well as on road.
Old enough to know better, young enough to still do it anyway..........
Keep the rubber side down, unless of course in the dirt where crashes are just a laugh and pick it up and go. No $1000.00 worth of plastic damage.......
03-15-2005, 11:05 AM
#16
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Ditto on the track day thing. I've done a couple over the past 3 years & hope to do a couple more this year @ Virginia International Raceway.
I'm a bit nervous about doing it with this bike. Part of it's because I just got the 'Hawk in Oct. & partly because I crashed in Turn 1 at VIR South on my first trackday. I'd told my wife I was gonna take it easy since it was the last session of the day...yeah, that worked 'til the "control rider" on the R1 flashed by & motioned for me fo follow him. Neither my brakes, rubber, judgement or skills were up to the task as I tried to pursue him into "the Bitch" (actual name of the turn) at the end of the back straight.
Fortunately it was the last session of the day & the lowside just caused cosmetic damage...to the bike. I broke a shoulder bone at the rotator cuff.
All in all, not too bad. Physical therapy...not that IS a bitch!
I'm a bit nervous about doing it with this bike. Part of it's because I just got the 'Hawk in Oct. & partly because I crashed in Turn 1 at VIR South on my first trackday. I'd told my wife I was gonna take it easy since it was the last session of the day...yeah, that worked 'til the "control rider" on the R1 flashed by & motioned for me fo follow him. Neither my brakes, rubber, judgement or skills were up to the task as I tried to pursue him into "the Bitch" (actual name of the turn) at the end of the back straight.
Fortunately it was the last session of the day & the lowside just caused cosmetic damage...to the bike. I broke a shoulder bone at the rotator cuff.
All in all, not too bad. Physical therapy...not that IS a bitch!
03-15-2005, 04:41 PM
#17
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Re: grey hair vtr riders
37 here, and have been riding since teenage years (had an extended absence from riding, but back on it for the last 5 years).
I don't think I will ever stop riding, unless of course I physically can't anymore. The beauty of riding is that you can have almost the same amount of fun, riding a $1500 fixer upper or a $20k 05 999. The "fun' part remains the same.
I love the v-twin engine. Had an F4i before, and even though I liked it enough that to date I still beat myself for selling it, I had to rev the **** out of it to get the power I wanted, and I never liked that. The vtwin does a great job starting from 4k, and that is what I like on the street..
I look at this sport as something I will be doing for the rest of my life. That, alone, makes me better understand where I am right now (newbie still in the grand scheme of things), and in no rush to get too fast too soon, which leaves me enough time to learn before trying... something that has kept me out of any type of accidents on my bike all of my life.
I don't think I will ever stop riding, unless of course I physically can't anymore. The beauty of riding is that you can have almost the same amount of fun, riding a $1500 fixer upper or a $20k 05 999. The "fun' part remains the same.
I love the v-twin engine. Had an F4i before, and even though I liked it enough that to date I still beat myself for selling it, I had to rev the **** out of it to get the power I wanted, and I never liked that. The vtwin does a great job starting from 4k, and that is what I like on the street..
I look at this sport as something I will be doing for the rest of my life. That, alone, makes me better understand where I am right now (newbie still in the grand scheme of things), and in no rush to get too fast too soon, which leaves me enough time to learn before trying... something that has kept me out of any type of accidents on my bike all of my life.
03-17-2005, 08:47 PM
#18
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Re: grey hair vtr riders
I have been riding since 1964 (10 years old) and have my sixth grandchild on the way. Both my sons (27 and 31) ride too.
Motorcycles have been a part of my life since I can remember (my dad rode a 47 Harley until I was 8 ). I have done about every kind of riding/racing at least once except for ice racing. Last year, I finished 2nd place in points at our local drag strip with a 77 GS 750 I threw together. These days, at 51, I commute about 1200 miles per month on my Ninja 250 (http://www.ninja250.org/Phil%20in%20San%20Diego ) and ride my Superhawk on those "special" occasions and weekends.
After owning over 60 some odd motorcycles in my lifetime, the Superhawk is the cream of the crop! The Ninja is great for what I bought it for (60 miles per gallon, 12 mile daily hiway -each way- commute and daily in town traffic/parking situations) I used my Suoerhawk at first for commuting, but the tires wore really fast and I got tired of getting fuel every other stinking day.
Anyway, I hope I will always be able to ride, no matter what my age. We have a 78 year old man that leads or monthly CMA rides and he looks like he's got alot of years left. I hope all true motorcyclists will be like that!
Take care and God Bless!
phil
Motorcycles have been a part of my life since I can remember (my dad rode a 47 Harley until I was 8 ). I have done about every kind of riding/racing at least once except for ice racing. Last year, I finished 2nd place in points at our local drag strip with a 77 GS 750 I threw together. These days, at 51, I commute about 1200 miles per month on my Ninja 250 (http://www.ninja250.org/Phil%20in%20San%20Diego ) and ride my Superhawk on those "special" occasions and weekends.
After owning over 60 some odd motorcycles in my lifetime, the Superhawk is the cream of the crop! The Ninja is great for what I bought it for (60 miles per gallon, 12 mile daily hiway -each way- commute and daily in town traffic/parking situations) I used my Suoerhawk at first for commuting, but the tires wore really fast and I got tired of getting fuel every other stinking day.
Anyway, I hope I will always be able to ride, no matter what my age. We have a 78 year old man that leads or monthly CMA rides and he looks like he's got alot of years left. I hope all true motorcyclists will be like that!
Take care and God Bless!
phil
03-18-2005, 09:24 AM
#19
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According to the official birthdate calculator, I'm 43, although I'm not quite sure I buy that.
I dreamed of owning a motorcycle for about 25 years before I owned one. My first was an '87 CBR600F Hurricane. I rode that for a year, then crashed it not paying attention. It sat in a crate for a couple years before I put it back together, not really sure I wanted to ride a street bike again.
Then I discovered the Super Hawk. I became obsessed and had to have one. I bought it used with some cosmetic damage. I haven't been the same since. It and sport riding have become the central focus of my life. My wife wishes it wasn't so, but I can't change it. When I'm not riding it, I'm working on it
Well that's not entirely true. I have an 11 year old son. We ski a lot and ride bicycles, too.
I plan to ride forever!
I dreamed of owning a motorcycle for about 25 years before I owned one. My first was an '87 CBR600F Hurricane. I rode that for a year, then crashed it not paying attention. It sat in a crate for a couple years before I put it back together, not really sure I wanted to ride a street bike again.
Then I discovered the Super Hawk. I became obsessed and had to have one. I bought it used with some cosmetic damage. I haven't been the same since. It and sport riding have become the central focus of my life. My wife wishes it wasn't so, but I can't change it. When I'm not riding it, I'm working on it
Well that's not entirely true. I have an 11 year old son. We ski a lot and ride bicycles, too.
I plan to ride forever!
ehhh i dunno
03-25-2005, 03:54 PM
#25
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Re: grey hair vtr riders
you are right! this was the point of my original post! heh heh. though, my lady friend has plucked 2 or 3 of those white buggers out of my head this past year.... must be from me waiting for the spring to ride! grrrrrrrrr 
03-25-2005, 06:31 PM
#26
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Re: grey hair vtr riders
03-26-2005, 02:46 PM
#28
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Re: grey hair vtr riders
There were a couple (thats cdn funds btw - about $1200 US). They looked like Shoei's but had limited edition signed graphics on them.
*pops cheek with index finger and wiggles it in the air*
*pops cheek with index finger and wiggles it in the air*
03-26-2005, 03:59 PM
#29
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I turn 40 on April 24th. I have been a legal motorcycle rider since the age of 16 and have never been without a motorcycle. My last bike was a gsxr 2000 750. I was riding a standup wheelie over a hill one day and a harsh wind caught me and I flipped the bike. The bike cartwheeled at least 12 times and I slid 300+ feet on my face. I can't say enough about wearing full gear, the dragon jeans and the joe rocket gear saved a lot of skin on me. I was able to crawl out of the ditch, have the bike loaded onto a truck, and I was home watching the video with 1/2 hour. By the next weekend I had already bought the 98 1k superhawk. One week later I had it at deals gap, I really wasn't expecting much, after all I was a die hard gixxer fan and this bike was just going to get me by until I bought another gixxer.
Well, after the 318 turns at deals gap, (tail of the dragon), I knew where my new loyalty was. The bike is so much easier to ride, and so much more comfortable then the gixxer. Honestly though, what really sold me was when I got to the bottom of the mountain onto a pass called "wheelie hell" and noticed how easily this bike can hoist up a wheely. I can be rolling 60 mph, grab second gear, clutch that sucka up and stand up at the same time. Torque kicks ****! Woot!
Well, after the 318 turns at deals gap, (tail of the dragon), I knew where my new loyalty was. The bike is so much easier to ride, and so much more comfortable then the gixxer. Honestly though, what really sold me was when I got to the bottom of the mountain onto a pass called "wheelie hell" and noticed how easily this bike can hoist up a wheely. I can be rolling 60 mph, grab second gear, clutch that sucka up and stand up at the same time. Torque kicks ****! Woot!
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