When should we stop riding? -- perspectives of an older rider

[paddyofurniture]

I met a guy at the rockstore a couple of weeks ago and he is 82 and just bought a BMW k1200 and he is enjoying it.
Remember, age is a number, it doesnt mean you have to stop riding at a certain age.
Just remember your comfort zone and when you get too nervous to ride, then its time to hang it up.

 

[donjumpsuit]

So there is an old adage .....


Get busy living or Get busy dying.



What it means is, if your even pondering this .... you are getting busy dying. You are taking a childrens asprin every day, along with dozens of other medication, and listening to every pulse that gives you advice on how to live longer. Focusing and stressing out on these minuscule opinions on how to prolong your life is just depressing as it sounds. Years ago, weight lifting for seniors was HIGHLY discouraged, this year a new report came out that directly correlates muscle -loss with aging, and suggest seniors MUST lift weights to preserve healthy muscles and bones.

Focus on squeezing every joy out of life every moment, and try not to second guess your sensibilities.

 

[Shakli]

Ride safely with in your limits. If you are getting old and cant physically do what you use to then don't push it as hard as you use to. Push it as hard as you can now.

Riding is about being in the moment that is THIS moment not the moment 10 years ago.

 

[masameet]

You know, the neat thing about "The World's Fastest Indian" was that Tony Hopkins was about the same age as Burt Munro was when Munro set that class record on his Indian -- 68 years old.

'Course it's often said that anyone can go fast in a straight line.

 

[oldapeman]

I appreciate all the comments thus far, and am interested in whatever anyone else has to say on this topic. Here is some feedbajck on people's comments thus far:

1. I agree that I should stop when I no longer enjoy riding. Thus far, I continue to enjoy it immensely, and know that if I quit now I will long for it everyday.

2. I don't see me becoming part of the Goldwing set. A new Concours 1400 would be far more interesting.

3. A big part of the fun of riding is the responsiveness and reaction of the bike in the turns, as the g forces pull you down into the seat as you lean through a turn. That would be gone with a trike, or a sidecar rig. Maybe when I am 85, but not before then. I am slightly old, not dead.

4. Reducing the motorcycle commuting is something I might consider, when the time is right. Right now, I still enjoy that.

5. Yes, this is all related to the angst I feel after reading about Craig Hightower's untimely death. While that situation may have been entirely the sole fault of a careless SUV driver, and thus outside of Craig's control (a fact which we may not ever be able to verify), I cannot help but wonder if even the slightest amount of physical degredation that comes from ageing might make the difference between life and death if I were in his place.

6. Despite the attitude that some may have picked up from my original post, I am by nature a highly positive person, who generally lives in the moment in order to fully enjoy the experience of life. I motorcycle, I ski, I enjoy time with my children, and I fight intense battles in the courtroom. That said, I also owe it to my family not to act like a maniac. I am trying to determine the appropriate balance between risk and benefit, and am honestly facing the fact that in motorcycling the risk measurement changes as I age. I face situations in life head-on, and see no reason to go forward in denial of the facts.

Please keep this discussion going -- I am sure others have things worthwhile to contribute.

 

[motomaven]

I can't imagine not riding, although I'm a newbie! I took the MSF class last July, bought a ninja 250 and a month later bought a ninja 650. I love to ride and do as often as I can. Oh did I mention I'm 53 and often ride the twisties with my son and his friends. Keep riding as long as you can I know I will!

 

[aciurczak]

I'm a youngin' but ride often with folks of all ages, and two in particular are well into their 70's but would likely show taillights to the vast majority of folks reading this post. They are both safe, skilled, fast riders who show zero outward signs of having to hang it up any time soon.

I have no idea if I'll be of the mindset or have the physical wherewithal to still be riding at their age, but I can dream.

 

[oldapeman]

P.S. Dying while making love to your wife at a very old age is WRONG! First, you should never make love to your wife once you become very old. Old people sex is disgusting! Second, what would possess you to want to die during this act? That'd be a funny story for the mortician.

I am often amazed at how ignorant and wrong I was at a younger age, and at how wise and right I am now. Someday, you too will know this.

I know you were just joking, but I couldn't let this go without a response. One of an older person's purposes in life is to embarrass the ____ out of those that are younger, who strangely think that living life to the fullest is just for them. My 16 year old daughter finds it strange that I sing and dance, and cringes if I do it in front of her friends. Someday, she will get used to it. Or not.

I will stop motorcycling when it ceases to give me pleasure. The same is true for sex. I expect I will stop motorcycling before I stop having sex.

 

[rama]

When you feel the risk outweighs the rewards, its probably time for a change. If you continue to find riding a ton of fun, then you should keep going. Whats the point of living otherwise?

Would you feel comfortable limiting your motorcycling to weekend rides, limiting your exposure to the hazards of daily commute riding?

Funny- I find weekend riding riskier, at least during the summer. Too many squids on the roads I like to ride. I find commuting safer.
:wow

 

[V4]

I can't imagine not riding, although I'm a newbie! I took the MSF class last July, bought a ninja 250 and a month later bought a ninja 650. I love to ride and do as often as I can. Oh did I mention I'm 53 and often ride the twisties with my son and his friends. Keep riding as long as you can I know I will!

:applause :thumbup

congratulations...:cool

 

[NoGall]

Funny- I find weekend riding riskier, at least during the summer. Too many squids on the roads I like to ride. I find commuting safer.
:wow

Goes to show that we all have different ways of evaluating risks :laughing For me, my commute route and time are not of my choosing... I must cross this bridge to get to the other side... I must be on the road by this time so I can get to work on time... Therefore, I must ride with all other idiots on the road, at this hour.

On the weekend, it's up to me to get to a road of my choice before everyone shows up. I determine the when, where and how -- way more options for the sake of risk management.

I love commuting on bike... Who doesn't like to save some time or a few toll bucks? As much as I enjoy lane-sharing, it's still "going to work". I would be pissed if I couldn't go on a weekend leisure ride because I and my bike got messed up while "going to work". That's just me though.

 

[faz]

great posts, oldapeman. :thumbup

I have been working hard to reduce risks involved after my daughter was born 10 months ago... this, along with my new found love for BMW motorcycles, will hopefully keep me riding for many more years.

I do notice though, that at my current age of 39... I am a lot less sharp than I used to be when in my twenties... I guess too many beers and too many dead brain cells are causing a bit of a damage there... so I have adjusted my driving and riding habits accordingly as well.

 

[CHICKenstrip]

Funny- I find weekend riding riskier, at least during the summer. Too many squids on the roads I like to ride. I find commuting safer.
:wow

Commuting seems riskier to me BUT if I didn't commute nearly every day, my skills would not be as sharp. I think if I was a weekend, seasonal rider only, I'd be in trouble out on the roads.

I've got awhile to go before I'm the thread starter's age but I've thought about the same thing. The problem with people saying to stop when it feels right is, just like with many automobile drivers, we may not be so quick to see when it's time to give it up...or refuse to acknowledge it. I'm giving myself 5-7 years and then I'll probably be a grandma and give myself up to babysitting a lot. :laughing

 

[ChuckBecker]

It's impossible to answer for someone else, just depends on the individual. It sounds like motorcycling has been part of your life for a long time. I'm 56 and no where near ready to quit (but of course one bad get off could change that instantly ... so I make some adjustments to try to reduce that risk). Keep riding as long as you're able, and like NoGall said, adjust your riding to suit your capabilities.

 

[NoGall]

The problem with people saying to stop when it feels right is, just like with many automobile drivers, we may not be so quick to see when it's time to give it up...or refuse to acknowledge it.

Just to clarify... That comment was for the OP and the content of his post -- he didn't come across as the type that would insist on:

"I can't see shit, but you've got to pry those keys out of my cold, dead hand."

:teeth

 

[ScottRNelson]

4. Reducing the motorcycle commuting is something I might consider, when the time is right. Right now, I still enjoy that.

I love commuting on bike... Who doesn't like to save some time or a few toll bucks? As much as I enjoy lane-sharing, it's still "going to work". I would be pissed if I couldn't go on a weekend leisure ride because I and my bike got messed up while "going to work". That's just me though.

One of the things that is helping me keep from aging too quickly is the elimination of the commute entirely. I spent 13 years commuting into Silicon Valley, then found a good high tech job two miles from my home.

Now that I no longer commute, the commuting stress that I used to feel is completely gone. So now I can walk to work when I want to. I ride a bicycle most days, but I decide on a day to day basis whether to walk, ride a bike, ride a motorcycle, or drive my car. And sometimes I'll take one bike in the morning, go home at lunch and swap, then ride the other one in the afternoon. And now all of my riding is for pleasure, not just to get somewhere.

Getting the stress of commuting out of my life has made a BIG difference.

 

[canyonrat]

We have 2 local riders 74 and 75, they ride just fine!

And the 74 year old acts 18ish!:teeth :cool

 

[herrsonic]

if you're thinking about it, you're not ready to quit yet ...

... one day, you will walk into the garage (maybe with a cane), see your bike, and not feel the urge to ride

... on the other hand, if you think that it is becoming too risky to ride, it becomes a personal decision ... lots of young guys come to that decision after seeing their friends go out in flames.

 

[sensei]

I started riding when I was 7. I'm only 36 and have contemplated parking the bike for similar reasons oldapeman mentioned.

Most of it for me is around taking safe measure to make sure I'm there for my wife and two daughters.

 

[Coffae]

Originally posted by flying_hun Like what Tom said, when it no longer gives you enough to justify the risk, walk away. But, walk away knowing that you haven't guaranteed anything other than not riding motorcycles any longer.

Best wishes, [/B]

Excellent point--nothing is guaranteed unless you walk away yourself.

I enjoy your sense of family; not only are you eloquent, but wise. It is obvious your loss would be devastating to your family--but this would be so at any time--so I would have to say to leave that decision to the higher powers and live your life.

...and never stop making love... :rose