Too old to ride?

too old to ride mehh just like fine wine gets better with age and insurance gets even cheaper.There is no replacement for experience
 
I have a buddy who turned 81 a few weeks ago, he put 8,000km on his Vmax last summer and 3 or 4,000 on his Harley. I ride with him once in a while, he's still a good quick rider.
 
AGS said:
I am 65, a high miler since I returned to the pastime in '03, and have forgotten why I opened this post
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ha ha as the joke goes: it's not, as you get older, that your legs go.

It's that you forget the word for legs.
 
My goal is to do a track day, after riding to the track, when I'm 92. Then maybe after that I will consider hanging it up. Told my daughter, she laughed and said what would anybody do to stop you?
 
i'll keep riding until it kills me.
 
Saw a guy in his late 50's riding a gsxr, couldn't help but think he should be riding a cruiser instead. Ride whatever you want, but I'll probably retire the sport bike and buy a cruiser for my 40th.
 
Zerbz said:
Saw a guy in his late 50's riding a gsxr, couldn't help but think he should be riding a cruiser instead. Ride whatever you want, but I'll probably retire the sport bike and buy a cruiser for my 40th.
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To each there own Zerb.
 
Don't get me wrong I think its awesome, I'm just thinking of the strain a sportbike would have on an older guy.
 
Zerbz said:
Don't get me wrong I think its awesome, I'm just thinking of the strain a sportbike would have on an older guy.
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You make a good point, but I dont think cruiser is the way to go. I have my beloved SV1000S and I'm hitting 56 but find it too hard on the knees for day trips any more. Last year I thought of selling it and getting a cruiser, but any I rode gave me a sore back way earlier than my knees started aching on the SV. So I kept the Suzi. Last fall I got a chance to ride a KLR650. No sore knees, no sore back.... thinking a big duallie is the ticket for old guys like me. Except I'm a short bastard too, so not a lot of options... might be time for a V-strom. Or, god forbid, a Burgman!
 
Hehe - haven't been on a Burgman eh....:D
Short might be an an issue but you won't miss much in the twisties or off the line with a 650.
Many including me think the 650 Burgman the finest around machine they've ever owned....have a look at the Big Scoots thread.
http://www.gtamotorcycle.com/vbforu...u-were-wondering-about-those-big-scoots/page9

The Burgman 650 is a cross between a scooter, Goldwing and bullet bike. It's fast, comfortable and very manuverable. Braking is outstanding. Storage is terrific. I've owned many, many bikes of all brands and models, but the Burgman 650 is the best two wheeled vehicle I've ever owned.
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I would agree. These Canadian reviewers were also shocked at the handling and the fun factor.

http://www.onewheeldrive.net/2006/10...uzuki-burgman/

snip
Giovanni Di Marino is accompanying us astride my own VFR800 and it seems these “scooters” may have taken him by surprise on the Duffy’s chop and bump.
In the twists the Burgman, surprisingly despite its mass, is having an easier time of it, with its power mode Kevin can make better use of the engine’s compression braking and then torque out of the corners with better pickup. If this were a race, rather than a frolic there would be no losing the Suzuki.

Eventually things settle down and we pull into a rest stop for a bike switch, gales of laughter, and conversation as to how the scooters, an advised use of the term, fare when thoroughly “tested”. Giovanni puts it best, “I’m shocked. I’d say you were doing 80% of a sportbike’s pace.”
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Now that is against a VFR800 - but the 650 is on the tall side as well and heavy bike tho feels light because of the weight being down low.

I find the knee bend on the ST1100 annoying - the upright riding position on the KLR is very sweet.

My inseam is 30" - I can handle the KLR650 with the Sargent lower seat on - you get some sag ( at least I do ;-) ).
There is a 650 single BMW called the Scarver if you can find one that really caters to shorter riders and would be very nice ride - they can be had around $4-5k nicely equipped.

bmw_f650cs.jpg

That is storage up top - not a fuel tank.

Getting on the seat you realise it sits a lot lower that it looks – a real plus for novice riders or anyone who hates tall bikes. If you like your gadgets, this is for you because this thing is a gadget with a donk attached to it. Special attention has been given to every bit to make it as practical as possible.
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http://www.roadcarver.com.au/2005/11/bmw-scarver-review/

Vstrom is tall and top heavy....buddy is short tho strong and dumped his twice on one ride AND he had the the bike lowered and a lower seat on it.

The other upright contender that might work is one of the new Honda 500x - it can be is a quasi dualie that looks very sweet.

2013-Honda-CB500F_001.jpg
 
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Zerbz said:
Saw a guy in his late 50's riding a gsxr, couldn't help but think he should be riding a cruiser instead. Ride whatever you want, but I'll probably retire the sport bike and buy a cruiser for my 40th.
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Zerbz said:
Don't get me wrong I think its awesome, I'm just thinking of the strain a sportbike would have on an older guy.
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Yer right...for my 50th I'll be on an adventure tourer instead of my sport bike. :D


I'm liking the 650 VStrom...but the 500x would be nice for short range.
 
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That's always a headache in Ontario - big enough for distance, agile enough for traffic.

I was impressed with the speed and suspension on the Vstrom on our ride up The James Bay Road...but I think you need a decent length inseam for it. Looked very comfy as it floated over bumps the Burgman would be jarring on ( worst aspect of the Burgman is the suspension - it's very stable even at speed, even bottomed out but not a gentle float the way a duallie does on the pavement.

Even the KLR is reasonable tho the knobbie makes it squirm on corners.
 
Zerbz said:
Saw a guy in his late 50's riding a gsxr, couldn't help but think he should be riding a cruiser instead. Ride whatever you want, but I'll probably retire the sport bike and buy a cruiser for my 40th.
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Suppose I could be this guy.....turning 57 this summer, but in no hurry to trade my GSX-R750 for anything else. For now, my body can handle the SS ergos....with plans to resume a weight-training/fitness regimen, I don't see why this can't continue on for a good number of years.
 
socially distorted said:
...Or, god BLESS, a Burgman!
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Fixed. Despite having somewhat cruiser-looking ergos, the big scoots are actually quite different. Thanks to the lower seat bolster, you can brace against the running boards, which is stable and comfortable. In fact, you can sit however you like. UJM style (90 degree bend)? No problem. Sportbike crouch? Sure, if you really miss sore knees. Like any Suzuki streetbike, the suspension is one-size-fits-none, but I don't remember ever losing control or being injured while riding Toronto's abused roads. Cornering? No scraping yet and my previous bike was a zx6e. Bought that one when I turned 38.

Plus, once you own any sort of scooter, it's easy to justify buying a motorcycle too. Since, you know, they're TOTALLY different things. Just look at all people on the internet who say so!

Disclosure: I belong to the Church Of Burgmantology.
 
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I'm a few weeks away from 72. Sold my F650 last October and thought that was the end of riding for me.
HOWEVER, decided I should try off-roading so I am keeping my eyes open for a used Yamaha TW200 and then I will be riding the abandoned rail line trail just up the street from me.
So it's not the age so much as being fit and having the ATTITUDE!!!
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