Posts
41
Joined
5/8/2015
Location
South Shore, MA
US
DawnPatrol
5/8/2018 3:29pm
5/8/2018 3:29pm
Guys:
Quick summation: "Like wrestling a Python!"
This weekend I got up the nerve to ride my recently purchased, lightly used (6 hours) 17' KTM 350 SXF. Call me a P_SSY, but a few details may help. I am 57, in good shape (run, lift, mountain bike,ski) but a "paper-pusher" and haven't ridden since I was 21. Not even a road bike. What got me back was 10 years of watching supercross/ motocross on TV, reading every magazine I could find. Then I rode on a half day tour on the desert during a trip to Las Vegas in 15'... Most fun I had in 32 years! And that was that... I had to get back... Took me a couple more years to get my employment back in shape, to get the greenlight from my wife of 30 years... See my first topic on VitalMX, "First Bike After 35 Years, need help!"
So yes, until this past Saturday, I can admit now I was a bit nervous. I should also say I rode with a good friend on trails/ fire roads on his sons Kawi KX250F a couple of times last summer. Problem was I went down real hard during my third ride with him. Broke my shoulder blade, along with bruises and scrapes.
So deep down, I was tentative. My buddy offered to take me on those same trails, but I thought the best thing would be to go it alone and do a track-day at a local track. Off to Wareham MX in southeast Massachusetts... Pissaa!
I can remember every turn, bump, rut, jump but to cut to the chase, I took two laps, fell three times and felt like I was wrestling a freek'in Python!!! The track is a true sand track, so probably not the easiest starting point. It got better, the next 10 laps had no falls, and I started to figure it out. Need a lot of work on the jumps... And yes, I am hooked! Can't stop thinking about it, reading stuff on technique, etc.
And for the past three days I feel like I just...wrestled a Python!!!
So are there any older guys like me, who have gotten back after a break with similar tales worth a laugh or two ?
Quick summation: "Like wrestling a Python!"
This weekend I got up the nerve to ride my recently purchased, lightly used (6 hours) 17' KTM 350 SXF. Call me a P_SSY, but a few details may help. I am 57, in good shape (run, lift, mountain bike,ski) but a "paper-pusher" and haven't ridden since I was 21. Not even a road bike. What got me back was 10 years of watching supercross/ motocross on TV, reading every magazine I could find. Then I rode on a half day tour on the desert during a trip to Las Vegas in 15'... Most fun I had in 32 years! And that was that... I had to get back... Took me a couple more years to get my employment back in shape, to get the greenlight from my wife of 30 years... See my first topic on VitalMX, "First Bike After 35 Years, need help!"
So yes, until this past Saturday, I can admit now I was a bit nervous. I should also say I rode with a good friend on trails/ fire roads on his sons Kawi KX250F a couple of times last summer. Problem was I went down real hard during my third ride with him. Broke my shoulder blade, along with bruises and scrapes.
So deep down, I was tentative. My buddy offered to take me on those same trails, but I thought the best thing would be to go it alone and do a track-day at a local track. Off to Wareham MX in southeast Massachusetts... Pissaa!
I can remember every turn, bump, rut, jump but to cut to the chase, I took two laps, fell three times and felt like I was wrestling a freek'in Python!!! The track is a true sand track, so probably not the easiest starting point. It got better, the next 10 laps had no falls, and I started to figure it out. Need a lot of work on the jumps... And yes, I am hooked! Can't stop thinking about it, reading stuff on technique, etc.
And for the past three days I feel like I just...wrestled a Python!!!
So are there any older guys like me, who have gotten back after a break with similar tales worth a laugh or two ?
Time In between comebacks!!
I can some what relate though
I haven't raced a dirt bike since 1992
And Ridden Very little in between
I am also very passionate about the sport
And read every thing I can , never miss a pro race etc
And want a New bike really BAD
But what's kept me away is finances .
Any way good story and glad to see your having fun
Take it slow getting hurt ain't fun lol
The Shop
To start back up at 57....after breaking a shoulder? Respect!
Welcome back...Go Fast, Have Fun, Be Safe....and oh yeah - Dress for the crash, not the ride
Sand is easier the faster you go.
I'm 58....took time off for some life stuff from 85-1999. Came back to moto on a 1996 xr 600r. Took the lights off and hit it. Racing and riding since....it's all good.
Ride safe and have fun gentlemen.
As for advice, it’s orobably too late now but from the sound of it a 350 is probably too much bike for you. Personally i see no reason to move up to a larger displacement bike until i reach the point where I’ve maxed out the capabilities of my 250f and the bike is the limiting factor in my performance not my riding ability. Needless to say I’m no where near that point and most likely never will be.
Other than that just be safe and have fun!
Pit Row
I went on a mission once I got healed to get in really good shape. I did , but I stayed off the bikes more do to mental stuff , and really didn't want anything to do with them.
FFWD to now.....I really wish I came back sooner , because of how much fun I've had since I came back. Don't regret it at all. It's my escape.
And to the OP.....welcome back man , have fun with it and stay safe.
It was rough at first. Like waking up next to a hot, Italian model, but not man enough to satisfy her! I was getting killed in the sand, could barely turn, bumps were like a jack-hammer. 2 laps in I was whipped-out and my fore arms were swollen. Slowly I loosened up, began to anticipate, learned how to gas it, brake, lean, slide and fall...it got better, I improved, which kept the faith. Then an epiphany...
Two weeks ago, I was chatting with a fellow 50 something rider at my track. He has a 17' KTM like mine'. He took one look at my forks, and asked if I had a problem turning? The forks were at the last line down in the triples and the bike didn't want to turn at all. I just didn't know it.
He then asked what PSI I was running in the AER forks. I told him I went up to 152, on the reco of an article on sand riding. And yes, I was getting killed in the cho and bumps.
He said he too learned the hard way, but other guys like us run the forks high in the clamps and soft with the air. we moved the forks to the forth groove up and went to 132 air. He said go out and let me know what you think...
Well, it was like night (wrestling Pythons) and day (sleeping with Sophia Loren)!!!
The bike turned effortlessly. Everywhere. With confidence. I was starting to gas it, close to the apex out of corners and felt great.
Bumps and chop? Well, I could have gone 6 laps and would have still felt less beat up. No arm pump after 4 and the bike felt stable, even on the straights. In the sand I may go up a few PSI, but the combo changed my level of confidence and the fun factor.
Conclusion: After a few tough first dates, I am back in love with riding.
Also, thank you Kenny #44 for paying it forward.
Post a reply to: First Trackday after 35 Years, can anyone relate!?