Who rides motorcycles?

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I've been thinking about getting another bike to commute, but every time I do, I nearly hit something (a big coon hound this morning). I have a 130 mile round trip commute. Down here there are some things you don't want to hit. Black angus cows at night, black hogs at night, armadillos, and there are about 5 wild donkeys that live in the bottomland I have to cross. I pray everyday for safe travels (even though I'm in a car). So many close calls. One time I hit a large deer in a mini van and it launched me like Speed Racer hitting the G button. Another deer totaled my Saturn car. I should have a large pipe bumper out front of whatever I drive.
Whenever there is a "domesticated" animal in the road, even though it's 6:00 AM, I slow down and honk my horn the whole way past whoever is the bad owner that lets their pets or livestock roam in the road. And I call the Sheriffs.

 

[FPGT72]

A real biker.
Congrats on your retirement. How is your commute, is it backroads?

90% of it is back roads, none of it is interstate or even state highway. The largest it gets is county numbered highway at 55mph. Chip n' seal and gravel are a large part of it, one reason I went with the adv bike is all the gravel and craptastic roads. I think we all know what county roads are like.

Also my general "rides going nowhere" are all on gravel. I just never saw the attraction of buzzing along at 70mph down a highway. You can't really see anything. I am perfectly happy in my need to get-a-way is to putz along at 30 down a gravel road somewhere and look at this that and the other.

 

[FPGT72]

I've been thinking about getting another bike to commute, but every time I do, I nearly hit something (a big coon hound this morning). I have a 130 mile round trip commute. Down here there are some things you don't want to hit. Black angus cows at night, black hogs at night, armadillos, and there are about 5 wild donkeys that live in the bottomland I have to cross. I pray everyday for safe travels (even though I'm in a car). So many close calls. One time I hit a large deer in a mini van and it launched me like Speed Racer hitting the G button. Another deer totaled my Saturn car. I should have a large pipe bumper out front of whatever I drive.
Whenever there is a "domesticated" animal in the road, even though it's 6:00 AM, I slow down and honk my horn the whole way past whoever is the bad owner that lets their pets or livestock roam in the road. And I call the Sheriffs.

I have a pretty large kill score as well. I have killed 3 deer, 2 in the car by hitting them. One hit me....I was almost past her and she just ran into the side of the car right in front of the back wheel. I have also run over an opossum, hit an owl and turkey....turkeys are darn big birds to hit on a motorcycle, the owl I just clipped.

What I have done on the bike is two things, first you see enough light to put a dot on the moon. The second is to slow down a bit, even in the car I do this now. 45mph is about max and I really listen to that little voice in my head. Racoon and deer are very active today, I think I had three racoon and one deer, she just stood in the middle of the road not quite sure what to do, turn one way....nope, turn the other way...nope, look at me....turn to the right and hop the fence, ok I will go now.

Slow down, you likely know where they are real active, the spots, so slow down there and take your time.

It is great for the mental health.

 

[Rockbadchild]

Yesterday I did my drive to work (373 miles) it was a lot better then I thought it took me 8h to do the trip, I got hit with rain for the last 1.5h but I was well dress for the trip so it was all ok.

here's are the Highlights...

Yes that's yoshimura exhaust yes it is loud

Nipigon bridge, Anyone going from coast to coast in Canada has to cross this bridge. (yes the bike is on high beam and no I am not blind now)

No I am not sorry

 

[Grumpycat]

I've been thinking about getting another bike to commute, but every time I do, I nearly hit something (a big coon hound this morning). I have a 130 mile round trip commute.

Quite honestly a Prius will be a more comfortable and inexpensive commute vehicle.

 

[deserteagle71]

Quite honestly a Prius will be a more comfortable and inexpensive commute vehicle.

But where's the fun in driving a Prius???

You are absolutely correct, though. I haven't been on a road bike in years but my brother tells me his Honda Goldwing is lucky to break 30 mpg. Airport rental gave me a Prius to drive for a week, it averaged 52 mpg! And it had a roof for when it rains, heat for when it was cold and ac for when it was hot!

 

[Rockbadchild]

The T7 is a predictable beast easy to tame that command respect, more I ride it more I love it... yesterday I did 36km (22.4miles) in 32 minute in a single car wide dirt road full of corners and hills ... the first miles was a quad trail, (first and second gear trail) I did this road with a 450WR in the past and ho boy I am impress of the handling of the Tenere and I am still on stock tires...

'

 

[FPGT72]

But where's the fun in driving a Prius???

You are absolutely correct, though. I haven't been on a road bike in years but my brother tells me his Honda Goldwing is lucky to break 30 mpg. Airport rental gave me a Prius to drive for a week, it averaged 52 mpg! And it had a roof for when it rains, heat for when it was cold and ac for when it was hot!

Just get yourself a ?blue? one.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

But where's the fun in driving a Prius???

You are absolutely correct, though. I haven't been on a road bike in years but my brother tells me his Honda Goldwing is lucky to break 30 mpg. Airport rental gave me a Prius to drive for a week, it averaged 52 mpg! And it had a roof for when it rains, heat for when it was cold and ac for when it was hot!

My FZ09 will average 50mpg, at 120hp and 400 pounds wet.

Pretty fuel efficient, and a lot more fun than a Prius, at a fraction of the cost.

Different tools for different jobs.

 

[FPGT72]

My FZ09 will average 50mpg, at 120hp and 400 pounds wet.

Pretty fuel efficient, and a lot more fun than a Prius, at a fraction of the cost.

Different tools for different jobs.

The AT gets 50's as well, even riding a bit stupid.