YamaHead

May 10

3 hours ago, Otto von Jizzmark said:

To be honest it’s probably time I pushed off anyway, not least because arrangements were finally made yesterday for the sale of my bike. It’s been almost a year now since my accident and my hand is probably as good as it’s going to get, which isn’t anywhere near good enough to ride safely over any distance. I’ve never been into bimbling around locally, and as even the short journey into work last week was agony I have to face the fact that my riding days – and certainly the big European jaunts that I used to enjoy best - are a thing of the past.

I think part of the trouble is that for nearly everything else my hand is pretty much fine, so I just assume that the next time I get on the bike it’ll probably be OK – or at any rate better. But it’s not. The only other thing that has the same effect is some power tools – large angle grinders and demolition hammers in particular, it seems; bloody excruciating until you stop, and then pins and needles or burning in the fingertips a day or so later for however long it lasts. And as much as I love riding, I love music far more, and a bass player with fingers that are too numb to play is no good to anyone. The clincher was that the MOT is due this month, and as the place I go to also sold my last two bikes for me it just seems logical to take it there and leave it with them. It will be a wrench, but I daresay the cash will go a long way towards softening the blow.

I’ll also be honest and say that having lurked on here for a while, a big part of the reason I finally joined (other than to annoy Buckster, of course ) was that after a year away from riding I was really feeling pretty out of it, and I think perhaps I was looking for something that reconnected me to it somehow... I dunno… I realise that sounds a bit wanky. Maybe it was just to annoy Buckster after all…

But at the end of the day this is a motorbike forum, and regardless of any kind words that might be offered to the contrary I really don’t belong here. I have nothing relevant to contribute. The occasional story or daft anecdote might make people smile from time to time, but you’ll tire of that soon enough. Or I will – people always underestimate the effort it takes to be this fascinating. At any rate, the point at which I become boring is the point at which my departure is overdue.

And so, with my sincerest best wishes to every one of you, I’ll quietly pull the plug. To borrow Hunter S Thompson’s last words: “Relax – this won’t hurt…”

Otto.... I get that your passion is playing bass....but don't give up on 2-Wheelin'! I haven't rode a typical motorcycle for 12 years....& make no mistake about it, there's not a day that goes by that I wish I still could....especially after riding DAILY, year-round for 28+ years. I've learned to work with my New Normal....I rebuilt a 5.0 ltr. V8 from the crank up....finished my XT 600 SuperMoto....& am in the process as I type of finishing an XR 80r....to hand both bikes off to my 27 y/o son @ the end of this month....all with these...

My point being, if you enjoyed riding anywhere as much as I do...there's still alternative options to get that 2-Wheelin' Feelin'...that's why I bought my Emtn bike.

If you feel your time here is done, that's your prerogative....just don't be a stranger....NO matter what Buck says....lol