How will you decide when it's time?

Speaking of it "being time"...

Don't worry, it's not yet, in fact I just got back from a nice ride.

Wife saw some sort of sporty-car and (in jest...I think...) said "You should get one of those." I said "Well, when I get too old to ride the motorcycle, I think I'll get a Miata convertible like Melanie (used to be our local postmaster) has."

"Oooo, that'd be neat, then I could go along!"

Hmmmmm. Tractor will be paid off next April, that'll free up $500 a month...
 
Downeaster said:
Speaking of it "being time"...

Don't worry, it's not yet, in fact I just got back from a nice ride.

Wife saw some sort of sporty-car and (in jest...I think...) said "You should get one of those." I said "Well, when I get too old to ride the motorcycle, I think I'll get a Miata convertible like Melanie (used to be our local postmaster) has."

"Oooo, that'd be neat, then I could go along!"

Hmmmmm. Tractor will be paid off next April, that'll free up $500 a month...
Click to expand...

That would be such fun! I keep looking longingly at MGs on Craigslist. Oh I know......I’m a glutton for punishment.
I tried to convince my wife a while back that a Triumph Spitfire would be a fun car to have. She took one look at it
( and correctly ) said, it would be a money pit!

Ah well.....maybe I’ll try to sell her on a Miata! :D
 
...buy her the new corvette...mid engine supercar only $60,000...
...top comes off...
 
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Mailman said:
That would be such fun! I keep looking longingly at MGs on Craigslist. Oh I know......I’m a glutton for punishment.
I tried to convince my wife a while back that a Triumph Spitfire would be a fun car to have. She took one look at it
( and correctly ) said, it would be a money pit!

Ah well.....maybe I’ll try to sell her on a Miata! :D
Click to expand...

A used Miata is an excellent choice for several reasons:
  • Fundamentally, they are, like all Japanese cars, well designed and well built from high quality materials (a TOTALLY different ownership experience from a British or Italian - or even a German two seater sports car);
  • The electrical systems are robust and everything normally works, and keeps on working;
  • Mechanically, they have few known weaknesses and there is an excellent web forum for technical support plus parts are widely available should you need anything;
  • They are essentially very simple cars and routine repairs such as brakes, belts and hoses are easily done by anyone who can fix a motorcycle (plus they use the same fasteners as our bikes);
  • These cars are not teenybopper cars so it is unlikely that they have been abused or neglected.
  • They are generally purchased by older folks who have a little dough so it is unlikely that maintenance has been skipped plus, they have usually been garaged and never winter-driven and (except for my two cars) they seldom build-up very high mileages because they are usually driven only occasionally; BTW - high mileages don’t hurt them at all.
  • They are about the most fun you can have on four wheels with your clothes on.
I have had two Miata:
- a 1994 BRG with ABS, A/C and a limited slip differential which I bought in 2000 with around 107,000 km (about 70,000 miles) on it. This car went to 315,000 km with no serious issues at all and I sold it in 2015 for a couple of thousand to a pal who is still enjoying it.
- a 2006 which I bought in 2012 with about 40,000 km. I still own this car and it’s up over 160,000 km with NOTHING done (not one single repair that required a tool) except routine maintenance and tires. I haven’t ever even replaced a light bulb on it.

My former neighbour was the VP of Engineering and R&D for a major auto parts manufacturer so he had skills and some bucks plus he was very methodical. He used to have an MGB that he rebuilt from a basket case and it was perfect when he had finished it.

I once asked him if he was going to drive it to work across the river over in Southfield Michigan and he looked startled and said, “ Sh!t no Pete, I have to get to work every day!”
 
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MaxPete said:
A used Miata is an excellent choice for several reasons:
  • Fundamentally, they are, like all Japanese cars, well designed and well built from high quality materials (a TOTALLY different ownership experience from a British or Italian - or even a German two seater sports car);
  • The electrical systems are robust and everything normally works, and keeps on working;
  • Mechanically, they have few known weaknesses and there is an excellent web forum for technical support plus parts are widely available should you need anything;
  • They are essentially very simple cars and routine repairs such as brakes, belts and hoses are easily done b anyone who can fix a motorcycle (plus they use the same fasteners as our bikes);
  • These cars are not teenybopper cars so it is unlikely that they have been abused or neglected.
  • They are generally purchased by older folks who have a little dough so it is unlikely that maintenance has been skipped plus, they have usually been garage and never winter-driven and (except for my two cars) they seldom build-up very high mileages because they are usually driven only occasionally;
  • They are about the most fun you can have on four wheels with your clothes on.
I have had two Miata:
- a 1994 BRG with ABS, A/C and a limited slip differential which I bought in 2000 with around 107,000 km (about 70,000 miles) on it. This car went to 315,000 km with no serious issues at all and I sold it in 2015 for a couple of thousand to a pal who is still enjoying it.
- a 2006 which I bought in 2012 with about 40,000 km. I still have this car and it’s up over 160,000 km with NOTHING done (not one single repair that required a tool) except routine maintenance and tires. I haven’t ever even replaced a light bulb on it.

My former neighbour was the VP of Engineering and R&D for a major auto parts manufacturer so he had skills and some bucks plus he was very methodical. He used to have an MGB that he rebuilt from a basket case and it was perfect when he had finished it.

I once asked him if he was going to drive it to work across the river over in Southfield Michigan and he looked startled and said, “ Sh!t no Pete, I have to get to work every day!”
Click to expand...

That’s good info Pete! Can I put you on the phone with my wife? :D You can be my representative!
 
Mailman said:
That’s good info Pete! Can I put you on the phone with my wife? :D You can be my representative!
Click to expand...

No problemo Bob!

I’ll call you in 10 minutes.

In fact, drop by our place and the two of you can take mine out for a spin this afternoon!

P
 
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I would like to thank everyone that replied to this thread. I was having trouble enjoying the ride. After reading the posts I realized I needed to get back the basics. That's to ride. When I was younger I never gave a second thought what would happen if the bike broke down on a trip. Usually barely had enough money for gas and beer. Thanks to you guys I started riding with a lot more enjoyment. I have always and still do ride very defensibly. I just had to get the what if the bike breaks down out of my head. The 650 is a very dependable bike, taken care of it always should be.
 
Anywhere I go I have my cell phone and credit card, I always figured that would get me out of most situations. Worse case is , I sit on the side of the road for a few hours. I only recently threw together a little tool kit to start carrying. The best thing I’ve done for myself here lately is rigging up a little charger for my phone, which had a habit of dying when I was out all day.
Of course , I don’t mean to compare my little rides with the journey you just completed.
 
A little introspection and thinking about one’s own capabilities is always a good thing in my view.

Just because we can do something - it doesn’t mean that we should do something - but on the other hand, just because something is a challenge, doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t take it on.

That seems like a lot of waffling, but it can be summed up as follows:
  1. Safety first - and that means your safety AND the safety of those with whom you ride AND that of other road users;
  2. Don’t exceed your own capabilities or those of your bike;
  3. Ride your own ride - it’s not a race.
We all know, or have even seen people who shouldn’t be riding or at least shouldn’t be riding on a particular road - and when its time, if they don’t know, then tough as it is...we should all step up and tell them.
 
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GLJ said:
I would like to thank everyone that replied to this thread. I was having trouble enjoying the ride. After reading the posts I realized I needed to get back the basics. That's to ride. When I was younger I never gave a second thought what would happen if the bike broke down on a trip. Usually barely had enough money for gas and beer. Thanks to you guys I started riding with a lot more enjoyment. I have always and still do ride very defensibly. I just had to get the what if the bike breaks down out of my head. The 650 is a very dependable bike, taken care of it always should be.
Click to expand...

thats a good decision. ;)
I think many of us also come to worry about reliability with these old bikes I know I do. I am so anxious about breaking down somewhere in the sticks that I carry a spare battery a battery booster and extensive tool kit in a big seat bag . Like you I never used to worry about breaking down when I was young but as we get older I think we grow wiser and are more aware of the full consequences , inconvenience and expense of breaking down or having a spill.

I have limited myself to short rides of 30 miles or less usually in a radius of my home because of the fear of being stranded and having to leave my broken down bike unattended somewhere out in the countryside for any light fingered thief to bundle into their van. Perhaps I should make an effort to find a local man-with-a -van that I can call on to recover me home or buy a front wheel tow hitch lift for the Wifes car so I can just enjoy longer rides without that constant anxiety spoiling my enjoyment.
 
Relax, chill out? It's a state of mind, If you don't need to be at work anytime soon, it'll all wash out. Took off on WJL yesterday another shake down run, very rural back roads I've never traveled before, navigating by the sun mostly. Ended up back home after 100 miles. While stopped for photos often as not someone slows, asks if everything's OK ie can I help you?
 
gggGary said:
Relax, chill out? It's a state of mind, If you don't need to be at work anytime soon, it'll all wash out.
Click to expand...

thats rather flippant advice G if you don't mind me saying so !...........:) thats like telling someone suffering with stress or other anxiety issues to 'man up' and get on with it . We tend to treat people, particularly the elderly ,rather differently these days... well at least in the UK we do. ;)

Some of us live and ride in very different environments ........everyone needs to assess their own situation, their capabilities and the condition of their bike and act accordingly. I live in a very remote location with very few recovery possibilities .At nearly 70 with a damaged spine I couldn't push my bike 10 yards these days and it would be hours of waiting to get anyone out to recover me and my bike . We have a very high incidence of opportunistic theft here in the UK and you really cannot leave anything anywhere for even 15 minutes if you want to see it again :(

 
What would concern me enough to give up riding would not be a worry about a breakdown..at least not here where i live..what would genuinely give me good reason to give up riding would be if i can no longer make sound and safe judgements that would affect my personal safety or of those I would be riding with...
While i wont go into details..i have already had a situation where my lack of clear thinking caused great risk to myself and those i was riding with...as a result i am very much considering giving it up entirely..Even though i just got this bike..i cannot forsee allowing myself to continue given what it is I know. This is not an excuse because i dont have the skills to work on a bike past normal maintenence..its about having enough presence of mind to operate a motorcycle in a manner that is most safe. I would never be able to forgive myself if my poor actions resulted in injuries or death of a fellow rider...
 
thats a very important point M. ;)

I too have had numerous incidents where my attention was clearly not as good as it once was and only my quick reactions have saved the situation.
Its a bitter sweet realisation when you become aware that the risk to yourself and others have to be weighed against the enormous pleasure and convenience being able to ride and drive ourselves gives
 
Yes we need to be comfortable performing whatever we set out to do or at least be comfortable with accepting the consequences. As we get older it is quite typical to shrink the box we live in, some of that there is no escaping, but not going out for a walk on a sunny day cuz it might rain later is just wrong. My motorcycling may kill me someday, (could be today) I've realized that for a long time. It may also inconvenience me (frequently) or hurt, maim me. But better those chances than finish my days sitting on a couch with the blinds drawn.
We all must decide what is important and how much we are willing to risk. Can't do that for you. My point is if you ride, ride and enjoy it. Cast aside the doubts. It's been proven that greater than 90% of the things we worry about will never come to pass..... Also worry tends to create problems by distracting you from doing and paying attention to the task at hand.
I want to die happy in my sleep, not screaming in terror like the passenger on my bike..............
 
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“ Don't worry about the future
Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing Bubble gum
The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind
The kind that blindsides you at 4 p.m. On some idle Tuesday
Do one thing every day that scares you“

Lyrics from song Everybody’s Free
 

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