Didn't take...

Well, despite all the best wishes here and a really good result on my BRC course (great score on the road test, perfect written test) I've decided that commuting by bike in Denver rush hour traffic ain't my ball of wax. I really love the bike, and thoroughly enjoy riding it around locally, but am feeling worse and worse about riding it in rush hour traffic. I expected it to feel better and better, and instead it's feeling worse and worse. I shouldn't br trying to convince myself that this is a good idea. I should be focused on riding...

I just wanted to thank you all for the help and information you've provided, and to let you know that a good one is coming up on sale in Colorado- http://denver.craigslist.org/mcy/785578731.html.

Ride safe. I'll keep an eye out for you.

 

wow - if i was out west, i'd jump all over this - gorgeous bike

 

Sorry to lose you. I agree jgb, I would love to have my bike looking like yours. Somebody is going to be lucky to ride and own it.

 

Thanks for the thought. I'm not the type to believe in fate, or omens, or other supernatural phenomena, but I do know that if your head is not fully engaged in the game, and the cosequences are as brutal as they can be when crashing a bike in traffic, then you need to step back and think about other options. I may not be done with riding, but for now being out on the highway isn't a good idea, for me.

 

So keep the bike and work your way up to rush hour traffic. GET AWAY from the city, go ride where there is hardly any traffic and get your confidence up. I would not recommend rush-hour city traffic to anyone with less than a year or two experience on street bikes in a non-rush hour (non city?) situation...that's no place for a novice.

 

Sorry to hear you’re giving up your bike, it is sweet and is perfect for those trips thru the mountains from Steamboat Springs, down thru Leadville and Buena Vista then sliding down to Durango. These bikes love the mountain passes, at least mine does or is it I love heading up into the mountains on a beautiful day.

I hear on the Denver traffic even if it is not rush hour with 4 to 6 lanes wide, in each direction sure makes for a lot of cars around you. And now that the T-REX project is complete traffic moves at 65 to 75 mph thru the city. It's scary even in my truck heading to the Rookies game.

BR

 

I hate rush hour in Denver, almost as bad as Chicago....I wouldn't ride through there on a bike on a bet. However,with an Springfield XD40 close to my hip I would be a little more willing. The traffic in Denver isn't the biggest problem in my view but the car jackers. They were out in force a few summers ago when I was there.

 

I hope you aren't acting in haste after a bad experience.
Hitting the road in rush-hour is nerve-wracking for even the most experienced rider.
But, you can learn to handle it once you gain the confidence that comes with time in the saddle.

Why don't you go for a ride and pretend you are in rush-hour.
Practice the slow-creep. The 5-yard gain. The quick brake and the sit there a minute.

All of those skills take some time to develop to the point where you do it second nature.

 

I don't blame you, rush hour traffic is crazy in a big city. Personally, I wouldn't do it (I speak from experience having lived in the Atlanta area for 25+ years)

Now I live in SC, have a nice 12 mile back road cruise with virtually no traffic to work. Perhaps this is my payback after all those harrowing commutes in Atlanta (and that wasn't even on a bike).

 

your right, unfortunately, commuting on a bike just ain't fun & riding should be just that, it would be a real shame if you can't keep the bike for pure pleasure, I fear if you let it go you won't ever be back. Good luck, whatever. Wiz.

 

Again, thanks for the kind treatment, everyone. Not every group of enthusiasts would be so understanding. I'm taking the bike up into the hills on Saturday to pick up a new windscreen from Clearview, and will further assess things then.

As a tool for getting to work, I just don't think it's going to work, short of gettng a new job closer to home. If I do manage to sell it, I'm pretty sure another bike is not far off- I've put a lot of myself into developing some skills, and I hate to leave any skillset behind, especially when it's as fun as riding can be (without the hounds of hell riding your back, that is).

 

If I had to ride thru Seattle traffic every day, I think I would change jobs before I'd sell my bike. It's bad enough in my work truck, but at least I'm getting paid for it then.
I don't know what Denver has for mass transit, but that might be a better commuting option. Although you seem to have made up your mind, my advice would be to give it time if you can. The more you ride, the easier and more enjoyable it gets, and if the commute is still stressful after a year or two, it's not your fault or the bike's. Take the train to work and save the bike for pleasure cruising. Just my .02.

 

I see the craigslisting is gone. Did you sell it or did you decide to keep the bike?

 

I too stopped riding to work out of fear. Not of traffic but where I live the Deer population is out of control. I'm not afraid of something I can see.
It was those early mornings in the dark to work rides that began to bug me.
I also Liked my coffee and the news on my drive time. There can be a lot of good reasons why commuting by two wheels is not for every body. That is still no reason not to ride for pleasure. If you live in Denver I'm sure that riding is not a year round endeavorer just like my state, Indiana. You have a four wheeled vehicle and maybe you can save gas by carpooling.
If by pleasure you are inclined to take some off road treks then by all means get the bike that fills the bill. Just don't get down on your self about this commuting thing Motorcycling has as many variations as we have imagination. Go and ride, ride, ride. Bob

 

Hey man, one thing to remember is something my brother told me about being on the freeway. "it's a religious experience". He didn't say a good religion, just a religion....lol. I haven't been on the freeway, hell, I haven't even been over 40 mph but I get the feeling his statement is accurate. Maybe it's just not your time. Especially being a new rider in rush hour traffic. Anyway, just my .02. Good luck man, make the decision that feels right.

 

I'll have to check, but I think the ad just got bumped way back- I haven't been exactly pushing to see it gone.

I rode it 162 miles today throught the hills of the front range, and had a generally great time, despite seeing two wrecks. One was a sportbiker who apparently went over a rail (sans bike) and into a small canyon- six bikes were on the shoulder; the other was where a Harley Dude dropped his bike on a corner, leaving parts all over the road and his girlfriend awaiting EMS. I hope they are all OK- hate to see anyone go down. My ride itself was fairly uneventful (apart from the rattlesnake crossing the road that I missed by a foot, and the four elk hanging out inside of a nice sweeping right hander- looked right into the face of one of them) and the weather was perfect.

My larger issue is, since I'm not riding it for the commute, do I need a $3000+ hobby- bike, gear, class, insurance parts, etc. With two kids, a mortgage, a down market that has affected commissions, and a international trip for four planned in the nearish future it's harder to justify. I definitely want a bike, and would love to ride with my son when he's old enough, so I know the opportunity for riding is out there I now that I have some skills. Just a question of how to make it work...

 

How much are asking for the bike?

 

I had it listed at $2400, but didn't pay that when I bought it. I was trying to recoup my registration, fuse block, solenoid, and windshield investments, but in the big picture they're not that significant.

$2k is probably more in line, given the lack of local interest. If you'd liek more detailed photos I'm happy to provide.

Steve

 

Steve,

We all have our stress reliefs, our get your mind on the right track, the focus on the road attitudes. I am sure you will make the best decision for YOU. Thats ashame biking is not for you, but then again its not for everyone. Do whats right and you can never hate your choice.

If I was in your boots, I would garage/work on the bike until better circumstances/location/traffic came around. OR Find a new hobby

 

You might actually be lucky that motorcycling has not "got in your blood" like some of us. Even over the course of the last three years as my Norton sat unridden for lack of funds for a hobby, I couldn't give it up (didn't try too hard, but then again it never crossed my mind.) Seeing my bike sitting there and not being able to ride it was like having a part of me forcefully removed and locked in a cage. Thankfully those times have passed and I'm back on two wheels where I belong and will be until my dying day. You might be lucky that you never caught a terminal case of the motorcycling disease and can approach the situation rationally, weighing your options...I have no choice in the matter.

 

Wish I could but I can't. Sure is purdy. I'm kinda jealous.
Good luck in the sale and hopes for a good home.
The Buff

 

It's awfully decent of you to try to make me feel better about the Seca, but I'm thinking pretty hard about a dual-sport, when the time comes. We've got great terrain, backroads are far less travelled, and it would be a good father/child activity when my boy gets big enough (or my daughter) and their mother allows it. I've been a hiker forever, but this weekend it occured to me that there are a lot of places accessible to a bike, two up, that would be expensive and a serious drag in a 4 wheeled vehicle. Yet another way of getting into the backcountry without having the investment of a dedicated fourwheeler...

I like toys, can you tell? Is there any hope?

 

No worries. We'll see how it goes.