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Input from the 70 year Old and Plus Riders Please

9K views 82 replies 46 participants last post by  Tricky-Dicky 
#1 ·
I turned 70 yesterday (turkey day) and i am getting a new knee on Dec 1st. At my last meeting with the doctor he asked me if I had given any thought to giving up riding, he said that there really can't be that many people that still ride into their 70's and above. I told him I thought about it for about 2 seconds and decided against quitting. I know there is a bunch of riders in this age group. Just how many of us fall into this category.
 
#4 ·
I'm not there yet, but know many riders in the 70's and 80's. Some with knees and hips replaced. They may not push the way they used to, but enjoy the ride none the less. There was an owner of a Guzzi dealership in CT that rode up into his 100's. He switched to a moped, but still rode. He lived until 103. It really depends upon your physical and mental health. The most important aspect of a knee replacement is the therapy after the operation. If you don't get that new knee moving to its full angle of swing and rotation, you will have limitations and not be successful in your recovery. Hopefully your surgeon or others have gone over this with you. I'm 64 and have constant pain from a lower back herniated disk. I ride regardless, pain be damned. The day you give up on physical activity within reason, is the day you give up on life. Good luck with your knee and keep on riding. You got years to go.
 
#5 ·
Not there yet but knocking on the door, I'm 69. Like you I'm going to need a knee replaced and my doctor has scheduled me for February 2017. I've had both hips done and a separated shoulder put back in place by my bone doctor. I have no intention of giving up riding. We have five or more riders in our RAT Pack that are 70 plus. I saw an article in the AMA Magazine about a rider who went to a Spyder who was 82. The gentleman stated he knew he could no longer safely stay on two wheels do to leg and arm strength issues. As long as you can safely maintain holding the bike up your good to go. I will say the older I get the better I like lighter motorbikes. Current rides 2001 Bonnie and 2013 Monster EVO. Good luck with the surgery.
 
#6 ·
I'm not there yet but can second what felony said. A friend who lives across the street from me is a good guy but doesn't listen to anyone. It's always been his way or no way. When he had his knee replacement of course he knew better than the doctors and therapists did. He didn't follow their advice w/r/t the physical therapy and now after the surgery he's worse than before. Pronounced limp, limited motion, and has fallen around his house and yard a few times. The experts have done this before and know what it takes for patient success. Good luck with your surgery. I know you'll be good to go next riding season.
 
#7 ·
Grump

Belated Happy Birthday

I am going to speak up even though I am only 65. Tell your doctor to stifle himself on things other than medicine.

Once a month I go to a Brunch with a group of motorcyclists. This is an older group of people some I have known for over 35 years. A finer group you will not find some have been riding since the 1940's. My wife and I are usually the youngest in attendance. The organizer of this Brunch is 78 or 79 years young and it was started a number of years ago. Last Spring one of the guys announced he was giving up riding as he turned 81. I believe the oldest rider is a lady who has a sidecar outfit and I believe a trike. I am not crude enough to ask her age but when her husband passed in 2003 he was 83 years of age and I understand they had been together since '46. My opinion is to keep riding as long as you can safely and be aware of any medications side effects. The gentleman I mentioned that passed at 83 was involved in a minor accident. What got him wasn't the accident but the internal bleeding from taking the blood thinner Coumadin.




K
 
#10 · (Edited)
I turned 71 last week. The day before my birthday I put in 85 miles on my America. I rode with two friends. One guy I have known since we were teenagers is 73 and just bought himself a Kawasaki after being "without" for 15 years. The other guy is just short of 60. Myself? I have three Triumphs. I try to ride one of them every week at least once, and rotate them. I don't put in a lot of miles. I mostly ride to the hardware store, ride over to the corner market for the Sunday paper, or the doctor's office etc. But I still ride. ...J.D.
 
#13 ·
Congrats on your Birthday! The 24th was my mother's birthday, and mine is two days earlier on the anniversary of the US Coup. I turned 70 this year, and have just returned to riding after several decades away.
The best way IMHO, is to stay in good physical shape; I ran a 4 mile race last Sat, and finished 7th out of 16 in my age group. I expect to continue riding for several more years.

Maybe 70 is the new 50? lol
 
#15 ·
Here is a ride report on Adventure Rider forum, from a friend of mine who bought a Honda CRF 250 for her 70th birthday to tour South America. http://advrider.com/index.php?threa...old-weed’-is-having-her-longest-ride.1123180/

I met Nina in Texas, where she had ridden her BMW R1200GS on her way from Wisconsin to Mexico about 5 years earlier. I've also shared a couple of other journeys with her and our small group of friends. One in AZ and the other here in CA, where she has also ridden her big GS from Wisconsin. She chose the CRF 250 for the South America trip because it's lower and lighter, and she expected to be riding off pavement much of the time.
 
#17 ·
I'm 73 and still going strong, so to speak. I had a good riding buddy finally give up riding at 82 years old when his legs began to get a bit shaky, and he was riding an older BMW R100 at the time.........couldn't get him to go for something lighter, unfortunately. I know another fellow who's about 85 and his family keeps telling him that he should be thinking about giving up the bikes; he always tells them that he's "thinking" about it..........for years now. As far as the doctor goes, tell him that you'll think about giving up riding when he gives up golf or his boat, or whatever he enjoys!!
Just the considered opinion of the "village idiot": Jim
 
#18 ·
My dads 84 and recovering from a knee replacement he had it timed so he would be fit to ride to the TT next June over the past few years he has had 2 new ankles plus they had to break and straighten his right leg before they could do the joints on that side . Last year he went to the TT with my youngest brother and came back complaining about having to wait for slower riders .
 
#19 ·
Lot of people in their 70's riding these days. I've noticed for the most part it's the mid 80 something year olds that the decision end up having to be made not to ride. You got many more years left. 70's not what it was 20 or 30 years ago. People are healthier just with better air and water alone.
 
#21 ·
Plenty of great comments, insight and words of advice. After the surgery I do 10 to 13 days of in rehab right at the hospital facility with 3 pt sessions a day. When I get home I will be well on my way to recovery. I am a firm believer in therapy and following the doctors and therapists instructions. I had back surgery 4 years ago and have two 4 inch titanium rods running up my spine. Other than not being able to bend over like I used to and limiting any lifting to 50 pounds (most of the time) I have no problems and I attribute it to following their directions and doing as much as my body could stand. I am able to do 400 mile days on the bike, i ride both road bikes and mountain bikes(single track) and i kayak when I am up north. With the new knee I can start hiking again and doing some mountain topping with my ham radios. Of course I will have to fit in some time with the motorbike, I put over 8 K miles on her this year and with a better knee my goal is to hit 10 K.

As the therapist told me, the doctor is going to replace the constant pain in your knee with a greater pain. Then you and I are going to make that pain go away. I can't wait.
 
#23 ·
I'm only 54, but I'm sure you've seen where I went through some protracted hip replacement issues. Besides the surgeons doing their job correctly, the most important thing is your attitude. It appears yours is perfect. Good luck, and can't wait to see pictures of a very active and not-so-grumpygrampy!
 
#24 ·
36 years and counting framing houses has this body feeling used up most saturday mornings and I can't imagine what would me to get up every morning just to live someone by elses rules and drinking brings out the worst of me:)
 
#25 ·
Turned 69 in Oct. this year. Ride quit a bit with two other "elderly" gents , 68 and 70.

We recently rode the Texas Twisted Sisters area for two glorious days and aside from sore butts suffered no problems riding hard 250+ mile days.

Bob rode down from Colo, Rich came home to Texas after a couple 1000 mile days and rode 200+ plus miles just to meet Bob.

We talked at length about how much longer we could ride. Consensus was " till we can't any longer".

Looking forward to our next adventure.
 
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