Your moto regrets

Getting mixed up in the party lifestyle as an 18 year old (clean and, sober since 97). 
I was never a racer but, more of a play rider who’d look for jumps while my friends and, I tried to outdo one another in the desert. Those awesome days dwindled to nothing as I was occupied being a f*** up. 

I took a 10 year break from riding. Didn’t watch any racing from 98-08. I missed out on a lot of things moto related which is why I’m often out of the loop on things around that time period. I was busy trying to establish myself in the construction industry, go to school and, get accustomed to living in the PNW after leaving Southern California. 
 

I regret getting out of the sport.  Mid 80’s bad back and working all the time.  I quit the sport, sold my Yz250.  I came back and starting riding a few years back.  Realized how much I missed it.  Hard to come back as you get older.  

As a young guy(21) racing all the time, i've tended to stay far away from the girls i've met at the track....for good reason.

Moving from South East Queensland to Mackay really put a stop to my riding mx. Not many opportunities here except riding in the state forests (which I have grown to appreciate). I would love to have the riding choices again to keep motivated!!

Not racing more. Practicing non-stop does make you fast and it's incredibly fun to do with a group of guys but race craft and the ability to race in all dirt and conditions can't be overstated.

I threw away so many races when I was young by rushing things early on instead of letting the race come to me or freaking out because the track looked nothing like it did in practice when I got to moto 1 and nothing like moto 1 when I got to moto 2 

Being a homebody and skipping out on long weekend trips riding out of state with the crew. Some trips they might not even remember that much about, or even think about much. I just remember not going. 

Multivitamin everyday, I spent the time from ~14 to 35 years old being crazy sore from riding, working out, jetski, work, ect. My quads, hamstrings, calf's, and back were constantly stiff and sore. I could run, lift, or ride and get loosened up, but after sitting down or getting up in the morning it was awful. I always thought vitamins weren't needed because I have a pretty good diet (lots of fruits, veggies, eggs, and chicken). After my daughter was born my wife had a bottle of multivitamins that made her smell like a moose, so she said she wasn't taking them anymore. Me being frugal wasn't going to throw them out, so I took them. Several days later I haven't been what I consider sore since 😅. 

Wrist braces at night. I'm a side sleeper and apparently it's common for us to do weird things with our hand positioning while sleeping. I've had issues with numb hands since around 23ish. It had gotten so bad that by the time my daughter was born my hands would go to sleep while driving my work van. Riding mountain bikes, dirt bikes, or my jet ski were done in 5-10 minute increments because my hands would go numb. While off on paternity leave my wife made me go to the doctor, he recommended wearing wrist braces while I slept. Said give it a couple months and see if there was improvement. 3 weeks later I went riding and made it several hours with no numbness. Something I had put up with for 12 years and was stupid easy to fix. I occasionally still get a pins and needles if I haven't ridden in awhile, but if I push hard and shake it out several times then I'm good to go! I also don't wake up with the pins and needles in the middle of the night anymore. I've got several sets, one at home, one in the motorhome, and one in my travel bag so I don't forget them.

No ragrets

although, I wish I’d bought a rower when I was in my 20’s. 

Getting sober makes you a Champ Willy. You are young enough to achieve many great things in your life. Proud of you bud.

Me too!! Havnt rode a bike properly in over 20 years! Man I miss it!

You've got to do, what you've got to do.  Family is the most important, by far.  When all is said and done, you'll regret selling your stuff far less than not doing your best for your family.

I kept a bike while raising my family and building my career, but only rode sometimes once or twice a year.  Finding a track with lights so that I could ride at night during the week, keeping the weekends open for family helped a lot.  I also rode within my limits (mostly).

For me, no matter how successful someone is, even if they're a billionaire, I only have respect for them if they're taking care of their kids.

Wish you the best.  I hope you're able to ride occasionally during this next season of life.

Good on you for putting your family first.

Trying to jump stuff without being able to really imagine how it was going to go is probably my biggest regret. Also not being able to find a way to ride more loose all the times my dad took me racing. 
 

My biggest win was actually at the practice track when my dad came outside and was like “Jesus dude you were ripping”. I remember leading a couple of races and getting so pumped up that I couldn’t feel my grips and getting passed on the last lap.

I probably watched waaaay too much moto for the amount of time that I was riding which lead me to think was actually racing a national when in reality I was just racing a stupid little local race. 

Sticking my left leg out in the air ala MC for the corner after a table top on the vet track at LACR in 1998. Popped my ACL and that knee has been jacked ever since. There have been plenty of other injuries, but that one has been the most problematic. 

I regret getting old and losing the desire/willingness to risk racing moto. Moto was a major motivating factor to me staying in shape. I'm still in shape, but some days I wonder why. Street is fun, but nothing replaces the rush of moto for me. 

You remember a guy named Ludwig Reinbold?

TM

My moto regret is thinking I needed to be married

This response really resonates for me personally (as I was never a serious racer or really any good).

There have been too many times I let mundane things defer a riding day. Knocking out another few emails, taking an extra conference call I really didn't need to, mowing the lawn, doing an oil change on a vehicle, on and on and on.

We only get so many rides in this life. No 2 ways about.

My battery only has ~ 50% left, at best, so emphasizing what means the most to me, what gives me fulfillment - I am trying to focus here more these days.

Carpe diem!

I did the same thing as Reese95w! Had a new 79 CR250 and traded for a 79 CR125 because I thought the 250 was too big for me. That 125 was the worse bike I ever owned, and I raced it for two years.

Also sometimes regret turning down a team green ride shortly after starting college.

not being fit or strong enough ever,  

staying on the gas into the step up at Taupo at Labour weekend in 97, and shifting to 3rd and trying to jump the triple at Taupiri after a bad run through the whoops in 2001, 

Sounds like great memories with your dad!

I think it's great to dream big, and treat every race as a big deal.  It's where all the fun is .

I have to have surgery to fix an off the bike injury, most likely in February.  Once recovered, I'm going to train to race the 60+ Novice class at the World Vet National at Glen Helen like it's the MxON!

It was 1998,the first and last time the world mx championship  held in greece.the track was 2.5 hours away from home and I didn't  go.it was the race that tortelli battled  hard with everts  and won the championship after everts went down from the immense  pressure of Sébastien. Wish I ve seen it with my own eyes 😑

Same man, work (stuff that really could and should wait until Monday) and the other stuff you mention getting in the way, often a choice I make for little to no reward and with the obvious downside of not going out and having fun...

Need to sort that out, although winter is in full swing here now and I'm still finding my feet (even after a few years back) so riding around in full on British slop isn't ideal 🙄 Still more ideal than not going out and regretting it later I suppose.

Also, one more lap / one more jump when doing anything with wheels is gonna end in a bad time.

Also also, shout out to all the guys beating their demons by going riding, props to you on taking your life back 👍

I regret focusing (in my racing years) so much on bike, upgrades, performance, and looks, and not spending nearly enough time focusing on technique, fitness, and skill.  Simple things like gripping the bike, breathing right (or at all) would have gone a long ways.

Instead of making due with what I had because I was raised to be frugal, I should have pushed to have a better bike when I first started racing. If only I would have gotten an 87 CR 125 or 250 instead of continuing on my old outdated bike. I should have spent more on my bikes to get them setup for me, pipe/silencer and some suspension work.

I should have trained and eaten better and drank less beer. Ride bicycle every day and did something for my upper body. I just rode and ate whatever and thus i was always a bit soft.

If i would have done those things I have no doubt I could have at least been a local pro qualifying for my local national, which at my age would have been cool to say.

I woild say the biggest mistake I ever made  was to buy a YZ80 for the 1984 racing season in stead of a KX 8O. It was a pivitol year for me, last year on 80's. It was a huge set back and switched back to Kawasaki before the year was over to salvage the season. Just one of many stupid things and bad decisions I've made since then.

I wish we would have taken more pictures. My dad never took a camera to the races or riding. We have almost zero pictures. I wish we had pictures. 

I say we take that dude fishing out behind San Clemente Island! 

Trying to get the holeshot in the second race on the 13th of April 2003 haha

Or should I say hooking bars with the guy next to me trying to get the holeshot in the second race on the 13th of April 2003

YOLO !!! 

I regret selling some motocross bikes, hindsight is always 20/20