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Interesting you bring this topic up at this time. A little history, I have been riding on the street since I was 17 and I will be 60 this week. Always had street bikes and I also rode dirt for a time. When my kids were little the bike collected dust, I maybe rode 1000 miles a year. Once my last kid said he wasn't going to play college sports (2007) I bought a new bike because I always wanted to ride more miles. New bikes are so much better than 80's bikes, safer with better brakes and handling, ABS along with TC. Here is my dilemma Doc, after having a bad heart attack (37 minutes without a pulse and 8 days in a coma plus artic/sun protocol) I have had a miraculous recovery. According to every medical doctor or nurse I encountered I am a very lucky man. In less than three months I went back to work (flew to Mexico) last week. My cardiologist told me I would not be allowed to ride a motorcycle for 6 months to a year. I have gone through physical, speech and occupational therapies and brought up riding a motorcycle with docs and therapist and not one would even consider allowing me to ride. What I have found is the medical community encounter so many negative results of riding, I do not believe anyone will say "go ride." I am back to lifting weights, elliptical and walking 5 miles almost everyday. I talked to my wife and I will consider riding in December because the medical field wants reduce health risk and this is a very risky hobby. I understand their position, but most doctors, unlike you Ninja Doc, can not understand our love of riding. This sport is in your blood or it isn't.

The one area where I felt my skills were not up to par on the track was hard braking. It's just not something I practice. If I brake hard on the street it means I misjudged something. Ideally, I'll never need to hard brake on the street.

Derek, you brought out one of the major reasons why I ride..... when you are riding into a curve trying to hit the apex, pushing the edge of speeds you are capable riding or just avoiding people in cars, these factors force you to focus like a laser on riding and all of life problems move aside. This is helpful in reducing the stress we encounter in our normal daily lives.

got out Saturday after work great ride.

When I got divorced in 2010, I sold the the bike I had and didn't ride at all for about 5 years. I borrowed friends bikes for an occasional ride here and there when the itch would hit me. It wasn't until 2016 that I got another. I don't ride nearly as fast as I used to. Too many other things in life aren't worth me dying over by riding over the limit. But I still enjoy a good curvy road. It's more of an escape for me. Like others have said. It's a way to clear your mind of distractions and think of nothing else but the road in front of you or where you're headed for the day. If you feel you need to take a break, then take a break. No harm in following what your gut says to do.

.........polluting the waters.

Why has it become a race issue if you appose knelling for the flag you are immediately labeled a racist? Sorry but this has nothing to do with racism at all they just chose the wrong banner to use and for those of you who do not understand here is how most of us old veterans feel Take a little trip to Valley Forge in January. If you don't know where that is, just Google it from the sidelines. Hold a musket ball in your fingers and imagine it piercing your flesh and breaking a bone or two. There won't be a doctor or trainer to assist you until after the battle, so just wait your turn. Take your cleats and socks off to get a real experience. Then take a knee. Then, take one at the beach in Normandy where man after American man stormed the beach, even as the one in front of him was shot to pieces...the very sea stained with American blood. The only blockers most had were the dead bodies in front of them, riddled with bullets from enemy fire. Take a knee in the sweat soaked jungles of Vietnam. From Khe San to Saigon... Anywhere will do. REAL Americans died in all those jungles. There was no playbook that told them what was next, but they knew what flag they represented. When they came home, they were protested as well...and spit on for reasons only cowards know. Take another knee in the blood drenched sands of Fallujah in 110 degree heat... Wear your Kevlar helmet and battle dress... Your number won't be printed on it unless your number is up! You'll need to stay hydrated but there won't be anyone to squirt Gatorade into your mouth. You're on your own. There are a lot of places to take a knee. Real Americans have given their lives all over the world. When you use the banner under which they fought as a source for your displeasure, you dishonor the memories of those who bled for the very freedoms you have. That's what the red stripes mean. It represents the blood of those who spilled a sea of it defending your liberty. While you're on your knee, pray for those that came before you, not on a manicured lawn striped and printed with numbers to announce every inch of ground taken....but on nameless hills and bloodied beaches and sweltering forests and bitter cold mountains...every inch marked by an American life lost serving that flag you protest. No cheerleaders, no announcers, no coaches, no fans...just American men and women...delivering the real fight against those who chose to harm us...blazing a path so you would have the right to "take a knee." You haven't inkling what it took to get you where you are; but your "protest" is duly noted. Not only is it disgraceful to a nation of real heroes, it serves the purpose of pointing to your ingratitude for those who chose go defend you under that banner that will still wave long after your jersey is issued. Unknown I know this site is mostly Liberal and I thought a long time about posting this here but this is important to me. I have 2 season tickets on game days I will be finding other thing to do and places to go those seats will remain empty this year..

Hey guys, Planning a ride for Saturday 10/14. Weather looks to be almost perfect: 80 and partly cloudy. With it being late in the season, I’m planning to really get a good ride in....in case it’s the last. Hopefully the warmth holds out for another month...but it may not. Route will be flexible. But I’m hoping to get to the roads up and down the river near Marietta. As we figure out who’s coming along, I’ll make a meet time and place. But I’m thinking we’ll meet as a group around 10-10:30. Anyway....post up and let’s get one last good one in.

Hell yeah. Need to be back in Baltimore (near buckeye lake) around 2:30. I can get in a little ride and 90% pace. That start time is good for me.

It took me 2 hours with all my tools. I'm particular, but reasonably capable of following directions. 20 minutes and you should be a semi pro pit bitch. Nice job!

If you can't find one,I can make you one at my machine shop. I made myself a 22 mm for my zx6 axle.

I've been getting into this a bit lately, but have not fully committed. I rode about half of the Kentucky Adventure Trail a few weeks ago. I did things on 2 wheels that I'd never attempted before. I was in mud and water above the tops of my wheels with the throttle wide open...riding up steep grades trying to carry speed where the entire trail was covered with rocks the size of softballs...riding down slick muddy hills with zero traction for braking. Some if it was challenging and fun, some was extremely difficult to the point it was risky and not much fun. I think every experience on 2 wheels will teach you something. That one definitely tested limits.

Same thing goes for women.....

This. Where you practice is where your skills are going to apply most. In all my years and miles, I've only met just a small handful of riders that I'd say are truly excellent on both street & track.

Before everyone gets all butthurt, yes the track is cool, yes it helps hone certain skills. I want to do a track day. It's just not for some people, much like dual sport riding or touring. I hone my skills out riding the dangerous and spooky mountain roads, where a perfect apex is laughable in most cases. It's not ideal, but I have fun. The skills I've gained from riding on the street works great for the street. To each their own, just don't look down from your high horse when someone thinks different.

We're just street peasants, we wouldn't understand.

I did a KTM track day at mid Ohio on a RC8R. I liked the bike, it felt pretty similar to the 1125R I owned at the time. I saw more crashes that day than I did in the previous 5 seasons on the street...not just in my group. After doing that track day, I've never had the slightest interest in doing another one. Not because of the crashes...I just found going around the same track over and over to be less fun than a street ride. I know lots of people get the track bug. I didn't. We all ride for different reasons.

All depends on the itch you want to scratch. The feeling of it being more risky may have been due to the people in your group. If the only day you did was a Novice track day, you need to give that another shot because Novice track days are a crap shoot more often than not. Huge difference in riding abilities. There's hardly anything better than rolling out of hot-pit with your buddies and chasing them around with your knees on the ground. I still get the butterflies when I'm taking my warmers off for a session. For @NinjaDoc, I think track riding is a great option. You can find a cheap track bike for cheap that will keep you more than entertained riding the hell out of it on the track. You wont feel bad about that sitting in your garage while you aren't riding it because it was cheap and you don't have to put insurance on it. Since the bike is cheap, you wont care when you drop it. You wont have a bike payment, or an insurance payment to pay when you aren't riding. The environment you ride in is safer than street riding although some in this thread may argue this. You can push yourself harder than you ever did on the street and feel better about doing it because of points 2 and 3. IF there were something to happen, medical professionals are closer than they ever would be on a SEO ride. Having a dedicated track bike as the only 2 wheeled vehicle in your garage may re-ignite your passion for riding because it's something new, you cant do it whenever you want so your riding is even more carefully planned than it is now, and there are completely different challenges. The only thing with Nivin is, you need sleep damnit! Don't pull a 12+hr no-sleep shift and show up to the track the next morning! You need to be sharp and on your A game for your safety and the safety of others.

My main hobbies are Motorcycle, shooting guns, and playing pool. My interest level, energy, and available time fluctuates. I've taken breaks from all of them, but I always come back. When hobbies start to feel like a responsibility then I know it's time to take a break.

You're overthinking it. Sounds like you are feeling guilty when you DON'T ride. If you wake up on a beautiful Sat morning and don't feel like making it to the meet point and making up reasons not to go, then don't go. If the morning of you commute you are indecisive on bike or car, take the car. However, if you feel like I've got to get to bed early and need to get up to make the ride, then go. If those days you decide not to go end up stringing up to a few weeks, months, years, then so be it. I've gone through times where I hardly ride and use that one cloud in the sky as an excuse not to take the girl out. I've take a season off. My passion came back the following year. probably stronger. But my mentality changed. It wasn't just to rack up miles and speed, but it was to meet friends, wander mindlessly to detox my brain, go down half a mile to get some milk, slab it 3 hours to visit a friend for 30 minutes. purpose changed, reasons changed, but passion was same...yet different. Ride your own ride.

I want to work less that 70 hours per week....

I absolutely loved riding, it was my favorite thing for several years. I was never the best rider but typically enjoyed myself riding with people much better and faster than me. Deals Gap area and the south ruined me because it was always way more fun down there and I worried less for some reason. Then up here was out riding solo one day and had the 2nd closest near miss in my years of riding and that's when the love started fading. It didn't help that around the same time several other things changed in my life which caused less and less time and desire for the long rides I enjoyed. It's been 2.5 years now without the bike and bought the fun car to replace it because it was slightly more practical and gets used way more in the 6 months I've owned it than I used the VFR in the last year I owned it. I honestly only miss it when it comes to the Epic rides and the Gap Trip. Otherwise I don't miss riding that much. Now hanging out and seeing most the asshats I've made friends with over the years I definitely miss.

This sport or hobby, however you want to classify it, is such a physical and even more so mentally demanding activity. I've always thought that the moment you are riding and not truly focusing on what you are doing because you are disinterested, scared, preoccupied, or for any other reason, you probably shouldn't be riding. If you are 'forcing' yourself to get out on your bike, what's the point? Riding should be fun and maybe even give you a nice adrenaline high, irregardless of the pace you are running. If it's no longer fun, put it aside and try other things. Maybe the passion will come back. This is usually the discussion I see as we enter winter. You start to burnout from the entire riding season. For those who have payments on their bikes (or high insurance premiums) start to question whether they want to make payments through months they can't ride. It's all cyclical cause once March hits, I see a ton of people jumping at the bit to get back on their bikes. Personally, Nivin, I can see the track fixing a lot your issues. You've got a boy now and that's put a lot of things in perspective for you. The dangers of the street, which you've always known to exist, become that much more real. The track eliminates A LOT of that nonsense. You can go as fast as you want with no fear of the traditional street issues. For me, bikes is only part of the passion for me. I enjoy the camaraderie of riding with others and enjoying it together. Some of my most fun is when we get off the bikes at a stop and the discussions that are had. I enjoy the motography (motorcycle photography/videography) aspect of it too. I enjoy trying to put something entertaining together for others to enjoy. Just my .02. I'd hate to see you leave the community Nivin, as you are a great person for this community.

I slept on this last night and with what I said and with what I have seen other say here is what I came up with. (Just my opinion/ Not a professional just a UNpaid spokes person/I did not stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night{@Tonik says I'm too cheap for that}) If your looking for a thrill or an Adrenaline rush by all means keep it off the streets. Not saying hang it up but do the track days and or closed course stuff. I think it's been proven a few times this year that the street is no place for that, if that's all your after. Not saying an occasional spirited pace is frowned upon just saying if that is your goal is (a thrill) maybe the track is the best option. If your looking for a get away and or an escape, that's what the streets are for. Afternoon rides and weekend meet ups are great to explore hang with friends or just go out on your own and clear your head. I think a few of these rides this year have gotten a bit out of hand, I bit my tongue and didn't say anything just went out and did my one thing like your supposed to. One ride in particular I was supposed to be in a medium-fast pace group and I round the corner and the leader was leaving me in the strait like I was standing still, I look down and I'm already doing 85 and the chaps behind me were nowhere to be found. So maybe we all need to step it back a notch and reevaluate what we have and what the cost are for what we do. Not saying give it up by any means but in a way I think things seem to get out of hand pretty quick anymore and sometimes becomes a dick measuring contest with out us even realizing it.

Happy B-day.

Happy birthriding days ahead guys

I would suggest trying out the track before making any decisions. It's a totally different animal from street riding, with different goals and priorities.

I quit riding, sold my bike for almost a year. Probably the most miserable year of my life. I had other hobbies but nothing was like riding. I also found out that riding for the adrenaline rush was a toxic way of riding for me. I now ride for stress relief, travel to see new things, and of course meeting great people. I still like the adrenaline rush every now and then, but in moderation so it doesn't get out of control. I think everyone hits that rut of not riding, it's how you cope with it and move forward.

@RonStopable may disagree

This may be my new signature

You guys give me a headache.

Here we go.