Hard-Core

In preparation for my day at the racetrack next week, I've been preparing, which consists of both upgrading my motorcycle and honing my riding skills.  I've been wanting to do these things for a while, so I welcome the opportunity.

There is riding and there is RIDING.  Hard-core sportbike riding is as challenging and athletic as any Olympic sport.  It's physically and mentally demanding.  There is no substitute for time in the saddle.  I've been grabbing hours lately and devoting them to serious riding.  Honing my skills like sharpening a knife.  Riding harder, faster and with more smoothness than ever before.

My daily ride, a BMW touring bike, feels like a school bus compared to my Yamaha.  The Yamaha can accelerate like a bullet out of a gun and is so light and nimble you can lean it all the way over in turns.  It has racing capabilities which I'm learning to exploit.

I put new rubber on last week.  Special tires designed for racing.  They grip the road much better than ordinary street tires and traction is the name of the game when you want to race.  They don't last as long as street tires but that's the tradeoff you make.

In normal riding, I keep the rpms at a low level (3-5,000rpm) but, pushing the bike, I take the engine up to 9-11,000 rpm.  At that level, the engine roars with noise.  The exhaust-note is so alluring, as it tells the world you're pursuing the peak of performance with a machine designed to go fast.  It's intoxicating.

Is there anything in your life that gives you as much joy as motorcycles give me?