Ageing out or The Crossroads

Downeaster said:
It seems that many - most? - of the regular posters here are...ummmmmm..."mature" (at least chronologically) and can see the day coming when riding is no longer a good idea.

So my question is how many of us are <60 years old and/or plan to ride for say 10 more years?
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DE you should run a excel list and record the replies for analysis.

I'm 64 this year and returned to biking about 4 years ago after a 20+ year lay off.
I still get a buzz from riding through beautiful countryside on good roads.
Have to say my bones do feel a little pained after a longish ride with a full face lid on; especially my neck.

Like Bob (@Mailman) I have fear of the myopic older generation in cars that always say "I didn't see you" after an accident.
Also the 'Chav Youff' that thrash the bejesus out of small engined barely legal hatchback cars, and have no regard for road manners & rules.
Then there are the local drug delivery runners on electric bikes covered head to toe in black clothing, a right PITA.

I am an advanced driver & rider, police trained many years ago; so I tend to ride in a 'safety bubble' on the road. But as a former car rally driver and motorbike track day funster I still get a bigger buzz from speed.
Here's to another ten years of fun I hope.
 
I'm 79 now and my balance /stength ain't so good anymore. I have been thinking for the last 2-3 years about when I'm going to 'hang up my helmet'. I only rode about 500 miles the last 2 years. I don't want to tempt/fool myself anymore. I think this is the year and I will 'wake up my sleeping '77 though as I still enjoy working on them. Just not gonna ride anymore.
 
70 still riding, Got to keep in mind my reduced reflexes, attention span, vision.
It helps that I'm in a rural area and don't need to fence with city traffic.
As so many I know are coming up on serious health, life span issues it makes yah think.
On the other hand: there are lots worse ways to go out than a spectacular explosion of chrome motorcycle and body parts..........
 
Brings to mind Colter Wall’s song “Motorcycle”.
I’m in my 30s…just had our first daughter and she’s partly responsible for my hiatus. Makes me think differently about riding but I plan to be at for many years to come. I also have every intention of using those little hands to turn hard to reach fasteners!
 
Well crap. Good a place as any I guess....

As some of you already know from the idle banter in my resto thread, I have vertigo issues from my Air Force days. I've had 'em under control for over 40 yrs now... until last fall. I almost dropped my Beemer 3 times in the span of one short ride. The last time, the guy in the car behind me actually jumped out of his car to help.

I'm 70 right now and was actually thinkin' I could make 80. Apparently not. The vertigo/balance issues persist. My doc tried a few drug combo's to see if that helped. It didn't.

The annual on the Beemer is done and ready to ride. The SG is almost done. Today is sunny with 60° expected. Perfect for riding... and here I sit. I still have the odd day when my balance is OK, so maybe I'll chance a ride here and there? Dunno...

DE, you shoulda named this thread "The Crossroads." I'm at the crossroads. I know which road I "want" to take and I know which road I "should" take. Quite the dilemma, eh?
 
Jim said:
Well crap. Good a place as any I guess....

As some of you already know from the idle banter in my resto thread, I have vertigo issues from my Air Force days. I've had 'em under control for over 40 yrs now... until last fall. I almost dropped my Beemer 3 times in the span of one short ride. The last time, the guy in the car behind me actually jumped out of his car to help.

I'm 70 right now and was actually thinkin' I could make 80. Apparently not. The vertigo/balance issues persist. My doc tried a few drug combo's to see if that helped. It didn't.

The annual on the Beemer is done and ready to ride. The SG is almost done. Today is sunny with 60° expected. Perfect for riding... and here I sit. I still have the odd day when my balance is OK, so maybe I'll chance a ride here and there? Dunno...

DE, you shoulda named this thread "The Crossroads." I'm at the crossroads. I know which road I "want" to take and I know which road I "should" take. Quiet the dilemma, eh?
Click to expand...
Damnit Jim. I'm sorry to hear about your balance. We should all be so lucky as to make it to the crossroads but I have no doubt it's a tough choice.

As long as the pinstripes don't start coming out crooked nobody here will advocate putting you out to pasture.
 
Sixty-eight and it has never occurred to me to give up riding. Been having a problem with my right eye, this week a minor medical procedure which I hope might help. Got to go back for three or four more treatments over the next few months but then, hopefully, back to both eyes working properly and together. In which case I'll have the green light for at least a few more years.

Heck, as I've proved this year, can still ride with one eye working reasonably well.
 
Mrs. Downeaster has bouts of vertigo so I know a little about that Jim. Definitely not something to muck about with on two wheels. Bad enough on two feet.

Deteriorating balance was one of several things that made my decision easier.

A year on, I've decided to sell the Honda as well. Two primary reasons are that I really shouldn't be riding anyway and I have zero motivation to finish it up. Not that far to go - primarily dial in the carbs and put the bodywork back on - and I just can't seem to bestir myself to get to it and I'm getting tired of walking around it.
 
Age is a number. We do have control over our health in the form of diet and exercise. I mean to say we have some control over our years but not necessarily how many years. Many of us find ourselves in unfortunate circumstances we have no control over. I intend to keep riding until I’m not safe to do it. I will do my best to stay fit as long as possible. I want to either ride until I really don’t want to or until I die, whichever comes first. Age 70, 80, 90 doesn’t matter.

AFAIK, Jack Higday is still riding. I know him from a XS650 Society many years. I think he’s 87. I want to be like him!
 
gggGary said:
On the other hand: there are lots worse ways to go out than a spectacular explosion of chrome motorcycle and body parts..........
Click to expand...
My dad is 90. He’s played it safe. Watching his last 30 years I know it’s not the path I wish to follow.
 
I developed glaucoma a few years ago and I have a blind spot, as in no peripheral vision in my left eye, that was a contributing factor for me. My wife has learned to walk on my right side or risk being stepped on and I have a tendency to bump into people in crowded stores. It can be rather disconcerting because my brain doesn’t register it as a black hole, instead, anything that moves into that spot simply vanishes. It’s weird. 😳
 
Mailman said:
I developed glaucoma a few years ago and I have a blind spot, as in no peripheral vision in my left eye, that was a contributing factor for me. My wife has learned to walk on my right side or risk being stepped on and I have a tendency to bump into people in crowded stores. It can be rather disconcerting because my brain doesn’t register it as a black hole, instead, anything that moves into that spot simply vanishes. It’s weird. 😳
Click to expand...
My mother has macular degeneration. She has only peripheral vision. The middle is void. She hasn’t been able to drive for the last 25 years. Otherwise, she runs on all eight at 90. I have been a student of what causes it. She’s third generation with it and her surviving siblings have it. I’m not accepting that it has to happen to me especially with the fair warning I have.
 
71 here. I grudgingly put a car on the road last October and have spent the past six months bike-ride-less, because of the wintry weather. I finally gave up the struggle against it. Rather irksome, but considering I've done my fair share of all-year-round two-wheels-only for decades, I decided to shove it.
The bikes will be back on the road soon, and I'll keep renewing my insurance policy every July for the foreseeable future.
 
Jim said:
Well crap. Good a place as any I guess....

As some of you already know from the idle banter in my resto thread, I have vertigo issues from my Air Force days. I've had 'em under control for over 40 yrs now... until last fall. I almost dropped my Beemer 3 times in the span of one short ride. The last time, the guy in the car behind me actually jumped out of his car to help.

I'm 70 right now and was actually thinkin' I could make 80. Apparently not. The vertigo/balance issues persist. My doc tried a few drug combo's to see if that helped. It didn't.

The annual on the Beemer is done and ready to ride. The SG is almost done. Today is sunny with 60° expected. Perfect for riding... and here I sit. I still have the odd day when my balance is OK, so maybe I'll chance a ride here and there? Dunno...

DE, you shoulda named this thread "The Crossroads." I'm at the crossroads. I know which road I "want" to take and I know which road I "should" take. Quite the dilemma, eh?
Click to expand...
Shit Jim, that’s a crap deal. Let’s pray for more good days. Seems as we get older the more ailments develop.
Keep us in the loop.
 
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