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When are you too old to ride?

4K views 50 replies 44 participants last post by  Daddy Mac 
#1 ·
I'm 63. Probably older than nearly all of you, but I'm still curious about your thoughts on this topic.

I'm starting to have discussions with my wife as to "when is it time to hang it up"? My opinion: if my reflexes or eyesight have deteriorated to where I shouldn't ride, then I probably shouldn't drive a car, either.

Other than that: as long as my knees let me back up and my hands can squeeze the levers, why not keep riding?

But I'd be interested to hear contrary viewpoints.
 
#2 ·
Lol...you may want to check out the thread on the age of riders around here...you might me surprised to find you are not as far out on the bell curve of the age distribution as you think.

Other than that I think you should ride as long as you want, and when you think the knees cant take it anymore ..... transition to a trike and keep on riding. There are several on other threads that feel like riding keeps them younger than others in the same age range, and I think I would agree with them.
 
#3 ·
63 old? :D Lots of antiques here; maybe more than you'd imagine.

Age is relative. Some of us have very abused bods. Reflexes and eyesight are very important and need to be much sharper than those you'd use to drive a car safely IMO. At least with me though..., the bod will limit me long before the reflexes. YMMV...
 
#4 ·
I'm 68 going on 25.I have two bad knees(meniscus) bad back.Riding keeps me feeling young.
Although every little bump, pothole is painful I suck it up because I enjoy riding.All my senses are intensified. When it becomes
a chore I'll hang it up.
 
#5 · (Edited)
I'm 63 myself coming up on 64 shortly. I've been thinking about this same thing myself as of late.

It's very much an individual decision. I don't think you pull the plug at any given age like a Solvent Green movie.

As far as the reflexes go,,,for me I have not noticed any slowing down.

My skills very much intact and remain the same as far as I can tell. If not probably better because of experience.
 
#6 · (Edited)
I'm 68 and have been riding since my early teens and I ride as well or better today than when in my earlier years. There are a lot of riders here on the Forum well into their 60's and older.

There are a couple of members on here that are 2 years older than me and I have ridden with them extensively and we clock a lot of miles during the year... I average close to 20K miles or more a year and one in particular exceeds that by a large margin. I can out ride, and have out ridden, riders in their 20's... I will continue to ride while I have my health and mental awareness. I believe riding keeps me mentally sharp and the joy and enrichment I get from riding keeps me feeling young even though I am technically an old geezer... :rofl :geezer

Bob
 
#13 ·
Well I'm 68, been riding since I was 8. Started on a Welbike. Yeah, what's that ? Before the Japanese revolution I owned a lot of Brit Bikes. When I got my learners permit @ 17 I had already bought, fixed & sold about 10 Brit clunkers. I taught myself by reading my dealer Dad's bike engineering manuals at night. (No TV) :laugh2: (Still have the manuals too)

For instance, I had a Royal Enfield 125, fully roadworthy, got it for 6 quid. Then this joker started lusting after it:smile2: So I suggested he swap me his rough 37 Ariel Red Hunter for my nice Royal Enfield tiddler. He went for it & the rest is history LOL
That put me on the road to big bangers from then on. I kept the Ariel for a year, sold it for 13 quid & bought another bike (Panther 600 sloper ) an air rifle & marlon jacket.

I find I can still deal with riding in today's traffic snarls if need be but try to avoid it if possible.
 
#14 ·
Its up to the individual, but I think that riding helps me feel younger. I'll be 70 this Turkey Day, and though I don't ride as much as some, I will get in close to 10K miles this year. Most of those miles will be put on between the end of May and next week when I leave the Adirondacks of NY and head south for the winter. I love riding the side and back roads of the Adirondacks and Green Mountains.There is so much to see if you take the time, and at my age, time is the one thing I have an abundance of. As long as I feel I am not a hazard to myself or others and can get on and off the bike without help, I will keep riding. If riding still puts a smile on your face, its not time to quit.
 
#28 ·
#16 · (Edited)
This is one of the more senior members here at 76 and with 60 years of riding, primarily on dual purpose bikes, and having owned about 60 bikes (40 of 'em at one time). I now prefer my 06 Bonneville T100 almost exclusively over the Yamaha Warrior 1700, Gold Wing, and other bigger bikes that used to be the street favorites.

The weight, power, and size of the T100 is currently just about right for the rides which don't much exceed 100 miles any more and are mostly two up. However, given all that downsizing, so far, it seems like one of the biggest physical changes for average street riding has been the amount of lost hair.

The pleasure of riding a motorcycle today is on par, maybe even better in some ways, with how it felt almost 50 - 60 years ago when riding one of my earlier bikes, a Triumph 650 that was a fickle kick starter, stripper in another life time the way it shed parts, and would vibrate the fillings out of your teeth if ridden too long. Great bike in its day, and the Good Ol' Days were good, however, in many ways we ain't got it too bad today with the immense choices of reliable, electrical start, great handling, and powerful bikes -- life is great.

As others have somewhat similarly said, when the reflexes don't seem to be there any more, or I can't reasonably and safely handle the physical size of a Honda 125 any longer, then it will be time to hang up the helmet and spend more time watching reruns of On Any Sunday. Hopefully that day continues to be somewhat in the distant future.
.
 
#22 ·
There is a guy in our riding club who is 83 and still riding as well. He is in the process of putting together a 35 day tour from Denver to Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, etc for the club for next year. I would say he definitely isn't done riding quite yet :)

Edit: I lose track of Roy's age, but this blurb from 2013 on his induction to the Maritime Hall of Fame would have to have him pushing 85...

INDUCTED in the MARITIME MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME
Date: November 16, 2013

Category: Competitor

Division: Motorcycle

PERSONAL
Hometown: Moncton, New Brunswick; residing in Denver, Colorado

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Mr. Blakney's contributions to motorcycle competition are diverse and numerous, including official, promoter, sponsor, media, business, and clubs - offering such assistance locally, nationally, and internationally. His aggressive riding style won him championships and races - between 1951 and 1966 his list of firsts and seconds is nothing less than amazing. It is estimated he has over two million miles under his belt in his 71 years of riding. In 1952 he was instrumental in designing "The Ranch", a track and play ground in Petitcodiac (NB). Besides Canada he has competed in the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand. At 82, he is still an avid cycle rider.


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#18 ·
A few years back I sold the stock pipes off of my Honda Nighthawk 750 to a guy in Dallas. His had rusted out. I remember being impressed that he rode with some locals all on Nighthawks. They were all in their seventies at that time. I lost touch with him, but he was an inspiration twenty years my senior. I intend to do at least that well.
 
#19 ·
I have a good friend who stopped riding his Gold Wing at 90. He rode safely for over 70 years! When asked about his decision, all he'll say is, "It was time."

No two cases will be the same.

There are plenty of young riders out there who will never make it to middle or old age because they lack the judgement necessary for long-term survival. If I had to sum up that survival attitude, I'd say that it boils down to just a few things that must be done habitually:

Ride only on pieces of pavement that no one else wants. Always yield right of way, because then there's no doubt and it puts you in control of the situation.

Stay out of heavy traffic.

Think through every move before you make it, never entering a situation without knowing its outcome.

Slow down well in advance when nearing any vehicle that will be making a left-hand turn across your path.

There are many more but they're just variations of the above.

FWIW
 
#21 ·
I think balance and reflexes are the two major things to keep in mind as we get older plus vision of course. As long as those are good, I think anybody can still riding.

Granted, I'm only 42, but not a kid either. My back hurts sometimes when riding my Street Triple R, so I just started doing more back exercises and that helped a lot. A sedentary life doesn't help with her, regardless of how old you are .


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#23 ·
At almost 69 (20 days or so) I had to quit riding my 675 because my neck just doesn't like that lay over tank, look up anymore.

Main bike is an Explorer, fun bike a Speed 4, solo canyon Carver a RS. Between them about 15-20k every year. No longer able to with stand the pounding of 900-1000 mile days I max out about 550.

In 2002, trailering bikes from DC to Daytona we stopped to help a gent on a rat bike early 70s Suzuki. Bent like a rocking chair, hands curled into claws and pop bottle ends for glasses he said since his wife had passed some years before, he haf simply been traveling around the country.

He lived on a small SS income and his bike was sh!!. We pit his bike in the back of the pick up and took him to Daytona. Suzuki shop said he needed a complete rebuild on the 60k mile bike, new tires and brakes shoes. When asked if he could swing it, he answered, no, I guess I need to check into a nursing home. Asked him how old he was, 88 he said.

The crew of us old (50+55) guys passed the hat but we're short. The dealer came through with a 98-99 Boulevard for the money we had.

Stayed with us 3 days and left for a great grandson's place southern Cal. When I got home he'd left me a message he had arrived. 5 days. I don't know what became of him but he is my biker hero. Hope to still be riding at 88 with Bob and Rich and of course Dog.
 
#26 ·
Hope to still be riding at 88 with Bob and Rich and of course Dog.
If we are still riding at 88 HAP I know one trip we will be doing... We will do a reunion trip to Mexico... :nod At 88 I won't be playing by the rule of, "what happens in Mexico stays in Mexico." I will want the entire world to know what happens in Mexico... :rofl :geezer

Bob
 
#24 ·
What a great story about the guy with the Suzuki!
My Uncle Ruck bought a little Honda 200 for his 70th birthday which I thought was pretty cool.
He was pleased as punch to show up with his new bike and matching helmet on his birthday.

I'd say you're too old when you can't hold the bike up any longer.
 
#30 ·
I hope 63 isn't old. After a 20 year break began riding again 3 years ago (2002 955i.) I am 59 now and this year took MSF advanced course and did a track day last month . There were guys at the track in their 60s racing (unlike me, who was just there to improve.) Keep riding and don't worry about age.

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#31 ·
I'm starting to have discussions with my wife as to "when is it time to hang it up"
When your legs no longer work... at all.

When the doctor asks for urine, semen and stool samples, and you just hand over your underwear.

When your helmet no longer fits due to the oxygen mask and hearing aids.

When you are daily bathed by a smoking hot 19 year old nymphomaniac nurse... but then you don't care anyway.
 
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