Tank Slap - Motorcycle Forum

Do you remember those? A whole day out just riding.

I was driving back from Doncaster yesterday. I saw loads of place names i remember going to on our bikes. Seems so long ago.

They take a certain level of commitment. The lad who used to plan our Triumph group rides got a little overly ambitious at some point with his dark-to-dark forays into the California deserts, mountains, etc., and I had to call it a day until he scaled them back a bit. 400-mile outings become tedious at about the halfway point.
Proper hardcore rider though....his beat-up old Thruxton was his daily-driver, his weekend hobby, and probably his home & office for all I know.

I don't miss organising the big ride outs. We used to get some big numbers back in the day when this site was busy. Having to organise a route, meeting times and places and trying to keep people together was a pain in the backside.

I just mean being out on the bike all day, for the sake of it. I guess life keeps getting in the way. My lad needs ferrying to and from boxing 4 times a week. My wife is working every other Saturday, so I end up spending my Saturdays doing housework and taxi duties and Sundays I just want to rest before the working week starts all over again.

The roads are so crowded these days, I am not sure that big number ride outs are viable like they used to be.

the last few weeks, the traffic on the roads has been as bad as i have ever known.

Think I had about 3 "days" out on the bike in 2 years. I pop out for an hour or two on my own, but it's just not the same.

Give me some dates for Wales and I'll organise a Cambrian Mountain route

PS almost zero traffic

PPS or coppers!

I used to go out for 300+ milers every weekend. One time I got home, took my helmet off and thought, "I don't want to stop yet". I got back on the bike and did a smaller 150 mile route on some of my favourite Welsh roads. 3 tanks of fuel and big smiles later I felt so refreshed. I went out the following day and did another 250 miles. This was all on my Ninja.

So yeah... I do miss those days. Would I want to do it all again? Not on my Ninja! I'm too old and injured to tolerate that at road legal speeds! If you offered me the Africa Twin for the day then abso-bloody-lutely!

Throw some dates up mate and I'll make it happen. I need to make some time for myself. I can't make next weekend and the first and last weekends of July are out but otherwise I think I'm free.

It isn't practical for me unfortunately.. No MOT for 5 years, tax, etc. Insurance doesn't cover road use. It's just a pipe dream. I have previously looked into rentals but that money needs to start getting my credit debt down.

Kwacky wrote:Throw some dates up mate and I'll make it happen. I need to make some time for myself. I can't make next weekend and the first and last weekends of July are out but otherwise I think I'm free.

The cottage is free on the 10/11 July.

I enjoy 150-200 miles in a day with a couple of friends, any more than about 6 bikes gets too hectic and someone always gets held up.

It has been a couple of years since I just went out alone for a day.

Stick a thread in the events section. I'll double check but I think I'm free that weekend

Stonesie wrote:I enjoy 150-200 miles in a day with a couple of friends, any more than about 6 bikes gets too hectic and someone always gets held up.

It has been a couple of years since I just went out alone for a day.

Small groups are always best! Even 5 can get a bit much. 2-4 is ideal in my experience