Going slow

ST1100TX

ST1100TX

Joined
Aug 1, 2024
Messages
321
Age
67
Location
Kerrville, Texas
I'm slowing down. There I said it. Never thought I would, but since getting another ST1100 I've rediscovered how nice it is to just take it easy and cruise around out in the country at 55mph or even 45mph depending on the road. Honestly, that isn't easily done as many of you know since the bike seems to encourage speeds of 70mph+. It's just that the ST also doesn't mind going slow and is very comfy doing it.

Today, I rode for a couple of hours at a leisurely pace and saw so many things that I never see riding around like I normally do. That really was enjoyable. Also, there were several occasions on the ride when danger suddenly presented itself and they were non-events at the speed I was going.

I'm finally starting to understand the cruiser folks. Do I need an intervention?
 
Daboo said:
If you're thinking of going to the "darkside" of cruiser land, yes, an intervention may be required. :D

Chris
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I'm in no hurry to get cruiser. (I think there's a pun in there somewhere.) But I do get the value of slowing down to smell the roses. Or the dead deer as the case may be. I'm sure that also has something to with age.

As for the dark side...I did ride a buddy's Harley last year and was very surprised at the way it felt. The torque would be addicting. 114 cubes can really move a bike forward in a way that's difficult not to like. If someone put a Harley Ultra Classic in my garage while I wasn't looking I would gladly ride it. I hope someone brings cookies to the intervention.
 
ST1100TX said:
I'm slowing down. There I said it. Never thought I would, but since getting another ST1100 I've rediscovered how nice it is to just take it easy and cruise around out in the country at 55mph or even 45mph depending on the road. Honestly, that isn't easily done as many of you know since the bike seems to encourage speeds of 70mph+. It's just that the ST also doesn't mind going slow and is very comfy doing it.

Today, I rode for a couple of hours at a leisurely pace and saw so many things that I never see riding around like I normally do. That really was enjoyable. Also, there were several occasions on the ride when danger suddenly presented itself and they were non-events at the speed I was going.

I'm finally starting to understand the cruiser folks. Do I need an intervention?
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Yes.
 
I've a different take on this...

Started driving at 18, riding at 28...
Ages where you still have really fast reflexes and reactions... which you'll rely on rather frequently as you're still quite hot-headed in your youth... ;)

These days, pushing 60, I might not have such fast reflexes anymore, but being more experienced I wouldn't need to rely on such that often to compensate errors...
a broader observation, awareness, calmness, analyzing, thinking ahead...
Interestingly such doesn't make me slow per se, but it results in a smooth pace, which is actually quicker as the aggressive, edgy style of the young dudes in their Power Rangers outfits...

Another positive effect: a higher threshold to provocations by other road users and resulting frustration...
 
Mainly for _____ and giggles I bought my 1100 VStar five years ago. With 3,000 km and the owner selling it for less than half of what they paid two years earlier I thought I'd try a cruiser sort of bike, at that price nothing to lose.
Adequate power on most freeways [for one up], big comfortable seat, floor boards, heel toe shifter, quiet, smooth, zero vibration, I remembered thinking if this ends up being the last bike I could probably happily ride it to the end.
But then a guy on his cell phone driving a Tesla came speeding up past me and ruined everything.
 
Ah, yes. Smooth is what I aim for and admire the most. I make a game out of seeing how little I have to use my brakes. That requires a slow in fast out approach to corners that I don't always get right.

I have no intention of slowing down on every ride. Yesterday, I just realized that every ride doesn't have to be ridden at my usual brisk pace. At least on the ST. The Blackbird can't be ridden slow. It just was not designed to.

Yeh, I could not have a cruiser-style bike as my only bike. I admit, I like to feel like the shark in the water when I ride. It's one thing to want to go slow and it's another thing to have to go slow.

Fear plays a big role in my slowing down from the 150 mph stuff I constantly did in Florida. I just don't bounce like I used to and I've some bad wrecks. I don't like being busted up or the expense of rebuilding bikes.
 
My previous road trip bikes were unfaired, toss-over bags, with an occasional bag strapped to the luggage rack. Noise levels...engine, wind, road....always correlated with my speed so I did precious little gage watching.
Then, I got sucked into ST's. Both ours are quite comfortable and quiet, likely due to the windscreens and fairing design. I found myself surprised at my speed on more than one occasion as the external indicators I had grown used to are gone. My wife once pointed to the speedometer while we were riding through SW Texas.....95 mph, 20 over the posted limit and no traffic to give me the ultimate clue. I finally got a bit concerned over constantly watching our speed so I put throttle locks on both which made trips a lot more predictable....
Early on, I was taught to watch other drivers, not just the vehicles. Saved my rear end more than once. Kind'a hard to drive responsibly while playing with the cell phone, reading a book, watching movies on an illegally modified dash display, turned around talking to rear seat passengers, playing guitar (encountered two of those over the years). One driver was knitting at highway speeds while still maintaining following distance and not weaving. Watch the driver when you're close enough.....that has saved me from three intentional attempts to wreck me.
So long as I can still see more than adequately and get it up (the ST) I'll continue riding.
 
I do those riding games too, Chris. Feet- up stops, right turns, using engine rpm instead of brakes, all of that.

Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.

But i have to use speed and lean to use the rubber on the edge of the tire. I hate wasting sandpaper.

150? Even on the 'bird, I never tried to get there.
 
drbuzzard said:
" I'm finally starting to understand the cruiser folks. Do I need an intervention? "
maybe not, i always thought the cruiser folks went slow because their bikes wern't built for speed
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I've ridden with some pretty fast cruiser riders. Cruisers aren't built for top speed, but it's surprising how fast a fast guy can go on one when the road turns twisty.

My style would probably be more Honda Fury than your typical cruiser. I don't own a Miata or a pink shirt so I could get away with that.
 
ST1100TX said:
I've ridden with some pretty fast cruiser riders. Cruisers aren't built for top speed, but it's surprising how fast a fast guy can go on one when the road turns twisty.

My style would probably be more Honda Fury than your typical cruiser. I don't own a Miata or a pink shirt so I could get away with that.
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my style would be not to own a cruiser
what i use to do when i felt i was riding my ST 1300 too fast was to take the Goldwing and now i have the ultimate go slow bike, the IceBear :)
 
Sadlsor said:
I do those riding games too, Chris. Feet- up stops, right turns, using engine rpm instead of brakes, all of that.

Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.

But i have to use speed and lean to use the rubber on the edge of the tire. I hate wasting sandpaper.

150? Even on the 'bird, I never tried to get there.
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I forgot about the feet-up stops. I have to practice that more. Coming to a red light, I try to see how long I can keep my feet up before the light turns green, but I haven't ever come to a complete stop with my feet up for more than a second or two. Maybe some unicycle training is in order.)

Lol. Sandpaper. You, too? I put my ST on the center stand, get it idling in first gear, and use a flap wheel to get rid of those embarrassing chicken strips on the rear tire. The front tire is more work, but the end result is worth it. A little touchup with a propane torch never hurts, either. I also make sure I rough up the underside of those plastic tip-over covers on either side of the bike and the outside edge of my boot soles. The devil is in the details.) Worrying about a lowside while leaning the bike over far enough to generate admiration from your peers is for rookies.

I used to go at least 150 on almost every ride I did on the Blackbird. I've even had the wife on the back at that speed. But that was in SW Florida where the roads are long and straight. As you know, the 'Bird can get to 150 very quickly and back down to 70 just as fast. Passing a half dozen cars at a time is a cinch. After 150, though, the 'Bird starts to hit a wall of wind resistance and at 170 acceleration really slows down. I only crawled to 180-something indicated once and that was on a little country road. At that speed, I was running out of road in a hurry. I never tried to go that fast again. Here in Texas Hill Country, I don't think I've had the 'Bird over 130. Usually, not even over 90.

The ST is like the 20' long Caddy I had once with a 502 in it. Going too fast is too easy because you don't feel the speed. But that same cocoon makes it very enjoyable to just troll along in third gear and take in the sights, too. It's a lovely motorcycle.
 
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