Hey BARFers, I've had this question for a while but i never knew any riders before i got a motorcycle. It's very common to hear about the typical young male on a sportbike performing unnecessarily dangerous maneuvers on busy public roads, but not too much is heard about the responsible, mature young rider. Is there even such a thing?
What is the preferred mindset? It's best explained given my background, but there is a condensed version at the end.
I had never had any interest in motorcycles or cars up until a year ago when i hung out with this guy that was the same age as me (20) who had a sportbike. I, being a curious person, questioned about the bike and the feeling as i never had the chance of riding any sort of motorized vehicle besides a car and a rented ATV at pismo. He mostly talked about the triple digit speeds he frequently rides the bike at and how he wheelies a ton after not even riding bikes for too long. It sounded interesting. He described the feeling as "having a rocket between your legs that can stop, turn, and speed up whenever you wanted".
After he mentioned the agility of the sportbike, I began having an almost uncontrollable desire to purchase one myself.
As i began the slow process of deciding on the bike i wanted, I looked more towards safety and the consequences of riding a motorcycle, much less a sportbike given it's twitchy-ness and capabilities. After buying all the gear i wanted: helmet, jacket, knee/shin guards, gloves, etc and the optional MSF course where i rode a bike for the very first time. After accepting the consequences and feeling very confident in my reflexes and situational awareness, I decided i was ready for the motorcycle.
Now i watched countless videos and read many pages regarding motorcycle control beforehand, and wound up purchasing my current 600cc sportbike.
I let the bike sit in front of my house for 2 months starting it occasionally until i had enough money to buy new tires, brake pads, and full coverage for the bike before i took it off my street. I first started off riding very slow on uncongested roads until i felt a little more comfortable riding in town slowly rarely getting above 7k rpm, let alone the 14k redline. I never rode without full gear either. Fast forward 2 months later, i now have 1750 miles on the bike and have full confidence riding in town and have even ridden up to San Jose for the weekend to ride the busier city streets. I believe i have much to learn and will always have more to learn.
As for my mindset on the motorcycle, I looked at the motorcycle as something that was capable of matching my mind when it came to agility on the streets to avoid accidents (not reducing the damage). Now ever since i literally transformed from a rebellious, immature child, i have never once been called immature in any sense since i turned 21, besides my inability to grow a full beard yet
I am, however, told many times that i am incredibly mature for my age. I take this as a verification in my decision to buy and operate a 600cc spr0tbile without an urge to speed everywhere and make unwise choices on the road. Every single i have made was not done without safety first in my mind: "should i pass this car to be ahead of traffic, or slow down to allow a larger bubble of space?"
Given the somewhat stereotypical mindset of young sportbike riders, am i thinking the best way possible in order to have a long, injury-free riding career?
Condensed version:
I am a brand new rider and I believe i have a higher maturity level than the typical young sportbike rider. I accept the consequences and always think safety first when going for a ride. Is my view on riding motorcycles the best in order to ensure a long-lived riding career? I don't see myself ever retiring from a motorcycle.
...after 30 uniterrupted years of riding...urban, communting, twisties, touring and only 1 at fault incident in 1989 {knock on wood!})
