Well this some what has to be put into story form in order to ask my question so bare with me.

Alright well last October or so two of my friends (we will call them A and B) were all hyped up about buying bikes and claimed that me and another friend(C and D) should get them so we have something to do in the summer. We also always wanted bikes, but no one ever made seemed to want to be the first to buy a bike. Well A and B went out and bought bikes. Myself and my friend decided that we would now get one also. I have always wanted one but just never put forth the effort to actually buy one.

So about a month ago we are out riding and A gets a wind drift and slams into a wall going about 60mph or so. He was ok, the cement went through his jeans and ripped his jacket and destroyed his gloves. About 2 weeks later a friend that D has been riding with has a van slam the brakes on him and he went through the back of the van at 70mph. Luckily he was also ok after awhile but was originally in critical condition.

So A fixed his bike and me and him went out riding 2 weeks ago and he just couldn't do it. He is VERY scared and we had to stop short and I had to ride his bike home. He decided earlier this week he was going to sell his bike and buy another one next year (yeah right). Then friends of B have been going down, some one pulled in-front of one and off the bike he went, another just went down in the city. He hasn't really wanted to ride lately at all. Then tonight I ask D if he wants to go out for a ride on sat. since it will be nice and we aren't doing anything and he says maybe.

I am to the point where I HATE riding alone. I get bored ever so quickly. Although I absolutely love riding. I understand the risks and ALWAYS have my eyes open for others on the road (the process they teach in the msf class) so people going down does not bother me to much, just makes me more aware of the risks out there. The thing though is like I said, I hate riding, and I don't want to sell but for the bike to sit and collect dust is just stupid. So I guess I am looking for a little push in a direction. If you really did not have anyone to ride with would you sell or hold off and find people that do ride.

 

thats my situation I moved from where i went to college where i had about 10 or so people i rode with when i moved now i know absoutley no one i alwas ride alone which sucks because i dont ride as often just for pleasure there is a purpose or intended destination. While this sucks for me anyway it has its ups and downs good because I don't have to worry about the people im riding with doing something that would put my safety in jeopardy and keeps miles, maintenence costs low and saves gas. Bad b/c yes its completley boring especially since i always see other bikes i come close to flippin a bitch and introducing myself but im to shy. All that aside I still like it its fun and relaxes me taking my mind off all of life's BS and focusing on the ride. Its personal pref. if you can't stand to be alone then getting rid of it will suit you but if you enjoy riding in general keep it

 

I am kind of in that position. I always wanted a bike, and my friends constantly said they want one too....Im the only one with one. I ride alone 100% of the time, it does get boring but I am still in the learning stage so I like testing new things out, but I see how that would get old fast once you become better. I would personally start doing trackdays and meet up with abunch of people there

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ep_Kevin &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Although I absolutely love riding.

I hate riding</TD></TR></TABLE>

both of these statements were pulled from your text. So first of all, make up your mind. I don't think you can love riding but hate riding alone. That doesn't sound like you love riding at all. You just love the feeling of riding with other people because you get to feel like you're a cool group or something. I don't know how to describe it without coming off negative, but i know what you're talking about. My friend's family all rides. 3 sons, the dad, and the mom, all ride. One son is the guy with the silver full faired SV i always post pictures of. I love riding with them. When we're all together we look for any excuse to ride together. I don't know what it is about it, i just like the feeling. Sometimes the attention can be nice.

But not having them around does NOT keep me from riding. I ride alone 90% of the time. Down here at school i don't know a single other rider so when i go out riding every day i go out by myself, usually for at least an hour. I have no problems with this. This is because i love RIDING, not "riding" which implies going with people.
I'm sorry you're surrounded by people that have been having bad experiences on motorcycles, but if you want to give up riding just because they're having a bad time you need to reevaluate why you ride.

 

I haven't had friends to ride with in years. It was still always fun for me. Probably for the best anyways I suppose...

 

my best friend in riding was the good ole sunshine beatin down on the smooth asphalt road. 90% of my 25,000+ miles of riding has been solo and i've loved every minute of it. sure its great to ride in groups and its really fun... but a lot of the times i would go out to ride would be to get away from the world and be alone and have complete freedom from everything.

 

riding with a group always adds something to the ride, comradery, shared joy, etc, but it never takes the place of the ride itself.

 

I ride 100% alone.

 

let me introduce you to the track

 

i ride by myself 75% of the time. my dad, brother, uncle and a few friends ride so theres always someone to call and go out for a lil cruise. i actually prefer to ride by myself but on long weekend journeys i like a pack of 2 or 3.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ngng &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">let me introduce you to the track</TD></TR></TABLE>

This is where you may find the deepest camaraderie for sure, but not everyone wants to test the limits, some want to simply explore and tour around. There are outlets for that, but the underlining issue is loneliness, and it is a drag. You need to get some new friends to ride with kevin, and make sure they are friends that can ride. Hanging out with dudes(or girls) that are heat seeking missiles for concrete walls is even more of a drag than riding alone

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ninja 6 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I ride ~98% alone.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

Did any of you bother to get some proper riding instruction / training?

 

I think I remember you saying you were in the Chicago Suburbs..

I got some buddies that ride, plus my father and all his Harley/cruiser buddies if you mind being the odd ones in the group

Riding in a group is great, it's not only fun but if you're with experienced riders, but you also feel safer because you're much more visible. Although, I love riding all together so...

Anyways, if you wanna ride just hit me up

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by falcongsr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Did any of you bother to get some proper riding instruction / training?

</TD></TR></TABLE>what do you mean?

 

go to the track!

 

Join your local sportbike message board and make new riding buddies!!

That's the absolute best / easiest way to get in on group rides. Meet new people, ride new roads, etc.

 

indeed... I've met some really GREAT people that I otherwise would have never crossed paths with. As soon as I get a hint of them being a squirrel I am out the door. To me it sounds like your ready to step out of the game and carry on with your life in other areas, nothing wrong with that. You've tried cycling and it wasn't for you, probably for the best if you are uniquely aware of your mortality.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bad-monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">riding with a group always adds something to the ride, comradery, shared joy, etc, but it never takes the place of the ride itself.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well said. IMO opinion if you are questioning if you should ride or not, you don't truly love it, and shouldn't be on a bike. Sell it.

 

I don't care for riding with others. I would much rather commute to and from work and enjoy my own time and space.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by immortal &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">my best friend in riding was the good ole sunshine beatin down on the smooth asphalt road. 90% of my 25,000+ miles of riding has been solo and i've loved every minute of it. sure its great to ride in groups and its really fun... but a lot of the times i would go out to ride would be to get away from the world and be alone and have complete freedom from everything. </TD></TR></TABLE>

+1

My only advise to those of you in question is DON'T ride with people who are out to show off. Ive been rear ended on the freeway due to dumb asses reving at girls. ive been driven off the road because someone was doing a wheelie up behind me and almost hit me. and worst of all i find myself riding stupid when i ride with others who are. Ride with mature riders and for those of you who haven't, take the MSF course! I can tell you right now, that class has downright saved my life on more then one occasion. Everyone or at least 99% of people go down. make sure you have the right gear on so when you do, you can get back on the bike. I hope that one day when i go down, I learn something and dont just stop riding.

 

i'm the same way. it sucks. i ride alone. none of my friends at school have bikes. and all my friends at home arent interested in riding.

i might sell mine soon too

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mookie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i'm the same way. it sucks. i ride alone. none of my friends at school have bikes. and all my friends at home arent interested in riding.

i might sell mine soon too</TD></TR></TABLE>

Sounds like you're riding for the wrong reasons then...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bad-monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">riding with a group always adds something to the ride, comradery, shared joy, etc, but it never takes the place of the ride itself.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

I dont know. I just get bored alone. Most of the miles I have put on so far have been my commute to work which is somewhat a pain in the ***. When I go out on weekends alone I just get bored and end up home rather quick.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by falcongsr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Did any of you bother to get some proper riding instruction / training?

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes I have my license, yes I did the msf, yes I have gear, yes I have insurance. My closer friend that hit the wall didnt have his license.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GermanHondaSlayer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Well said. IMO opinion if you are questioning if you should ride or not, you don't truly love it, and shouldn't be on a bike. Sell it. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Well I just don't like riding alone like stated. Bikes arent what I "love" in general, but rather toys in general. Before this is was the four wheelers constantly and then when gas got high we stopped going because ever place is 5+hours away and some sold their trucks. I sold that for this. I have always been into the "car" thing.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MSchu &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">To me it sounds like your ready to step out of the game and carry on with your life in other areas, nothing wrong with that. You've tried cycling and it wasn't for you, probably for the best if you are uniquely aware of your mortality. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I will step out of any "game" when the time comes. Im not going to keep a motorycle to make myself happy by just watching it sit there.

Who knows maybe I will sell now, wait till next season and get something a little more agressive (r6) and jump back in. In all reality I dont think the yzf that I have is much of a fun bike. Its just hard to throw in the turns and seems like its a porker.... I dont know how its weight compares to other bikes.

I will not do track days. I do not have the money, time, nor materials to do it. I work full time and go to school full time. Cleaning the house up on the weekends and washing the bike and the car basically take all my time.

Also I do live in the chicago area. South elgin to be exact. I know people with harlys and it is weird riding with them. I like the turns and bends and well they dont.

 

If the bike is just a toy to you, and riding is only fun when you're with other people and that's not happening, then sell the bike. I got rid of my truck at one point so i could afford to keep the bike through the winter once. Yea the bike was in storage, but i still obsessed and thought about it every day.
For me, and alot of other people on this board, riding is my life. I love motorcycles and everything that comes with them. My desk is adorned with about 10 motorcycle toys. My walls have motorcycle posters on them. I have motorcycle t-shirts. My truck has like 15 motorcycle stickers on it, just so people know the only reason i don't wash it is because i'd rather be riding. I do all of this because i love motorcycles. Yea, i was in to the "car thing" too. I used to obsess about my integra. And it was fun. But nothing compares to the joy i get from riding. Even my little 20 minute ride today just to do some errands was pure bliss. I used my RC51 to commute 45 minutes each way last summer and i loved it. It practically over heated and i spent alot of time in traffic, but there was no way i would have rather been in a cage.

Point is, if you're going to keep the bike, do it because you love to ride it, not because you love to ride it in the presence of other riders. I understand the feeling of comraderie and being part of an elite group, but that's not the point. If that's what you're in to, buy a harley and $3k worth of harley brand gear.
If you really do love hitting the curves and leaning the bike over, then do it, and be ok doing it by yourself. I'm much happier doing aggressive riding by myself as apposed to with others.