How old are you? Are you still riding?(Poll)

If you are still riding:

  • Less than 40 years old

    Votes: 16 4.8%

  • 40-49 years old

    Votes: 14 4.2%

  • 50-59 years old

    Votes: 41 12.3%

  • 60-69 years old

    Votes: 178 53.5%

  • 70-80 years old

    Votes: 80 24.0%

  • Over 80 years old

    Votes: 4 1.2%
  • Total voters
    333
71, sold five of my Brit bikes last summer, my 73 850 is going and my 74 850 is up for sale. Problem is I can only start the 850's on the centerstand by standing off to the right side. Both are new rebuilds with high compression. Had two experiences recently where the bike died in the middle of an intersection both while making left turns. Had to get the bike over to the shoulder while dodging traffic to get it up on the stand to start it. I live in the Houston area and traffic is pretty unforgiving. Even getting it up on the centerstand is about all I can do anymore. Almost had one topple over on me. I could probably go electric start but I hate to put out 3 grand for maybe only a couple more years. If I only had one bike to ride I would probably do it but for now I still have my Z900rs to ride. I think even in a year or two I will sell it. My balance isn't what it used to be. Also have tendonosis in knees which makes squating down and working on them painful. I've been gifted with three grandsons in the last couple of years. Time to quit taking chances and be around for them.
 
htown16 said:
71, sold five of my Brit bikes last summer, my 73 850 is going and my 74 850 is up for sale. Problem is I can only start the 850's on the centerstand by standing off to the right side. Both are new rebuilds with high compression. Had two experiences recently where the bike died in the middle of an intersection both while making left turns. Had to get the bike over to the shoulder while dodging traffic to get it up on the stand to start it. I live in the Houston area and traffic is pretty unforgiving. Even getting it up on the centerstand is about all I can do anymore. Almost had one topple over on me. I could probably go electric start but I hate to put out 3 grand for maybe only a couple more years. If I only had one bike to ride I would probably do it but for now I still have my Z900rs to ride. I think even in a year or two I will sell it. My balance isn't what it used to be. Also have tendonosis in knees which makes squating down and working on them painful. I've been gifted with three grandsons in the last couple of years. Time to quit taking chances and be around for them.
Click to expand...
Until recently, similar issue. Put on center stand, stand on the timing side, kick with right leg, once started go around to drive side, take off center stand, put on side stand, climb on, pull in side stand and go. Can't afford to stall at a traffic light!

Just had my right hip replaced so can't do any of it now. For now, I'm keeping my 850, a Trident, and my Triumph T100R. The T100R is the easiest to start, lowest seat height, and lightest so if I'm able in 6 to 12 months, it will be the first I can ride. Everything else will be sold as soon as I get them ready which I also can't do right now but will get back to building bikes in a few weeks.

I'm lucky that my stepson can do my test riding for me when I finish a bike and my three grandsons are all over 21 and all want to learn to ride so there's a home for some bikes with them.
 
75, haven’t ridden in over three years after being hit by a red light runner, but I am rebuilding it, my way, and plan to ride again. I will add an electric starter for convenience as I hate it stalling in intersections and I am saving my knees for pickleball.
How old are you? Are you still riding?(Poll)
 
72 next week. Have four old bikes. First time I've really thought about selling them, or rather one, and which one.
Well the Trident is the heaviest . The Commando can be a starting problem when hot which means a stall in town
means a drag to the kerb and put up on its stand to start if I am lucky. The Enfield is less tuned so easier to start but weighs in the same as the Commando. The Rickman Enfield is the lightest of the bunch and the lowest seat.
Prices realized are not good right now and I suspect they aren't going to improve.
Just looked at the graph of riders age....not appealing. Physically I am actually far better than most my age but
if I fall down and get hurt it will be a lifetime problem.
I think the sh_t has hit the fan....:-(
 
This is what my coffee group calls the 'organ recital' and it's one of the four things that must happen every meeting. That said, I'll be 67 this year, with an artificial left hip and the usual aches and pains. My Commando has a CNW e-start (highly recommended) so that's no problem. Like Onder, I have a Trident (also with e-start) that is just getting to be too tall/heavy for comfortable use, so it will move on this year. The rest of my bikes are lighter/lower and easy to kick, so I don't have to sell them yet. First world problems.
 
I posted here a couple of years ago when I was 79. Now I'm in the over 80 category at 81, so it seemed reasonable to post again. I still ride regularly, at least once a week, sometimes more, mostly spirited rides with friends in the local twisties. I'm slowing down a little with age, but not enough to be a drag on my riding companions, although I do catch up on the straights now more often than in the corners. I try to ride well within my limits, so I expect I'll continue to slow down more in future. I also cheat a bit by riding modern bikes more often than the Norton, but it still gets regular use.

This is a picture of me and my 961, taken earlier this year on my birthday ride. I already posted it on an earlier thread, but it's the only one I have of me and the bike since I turned 81. If you look closely, you'll see I'm wearing an air bag vest under my jacket. Old bones break too easily, and injuries take a lot longer to heal now, so I decided it was worth the cost.

How old are you? Are you still riding?(Poll)


Ken
 
lcrken said:
I posted here a couple of years ago when I was 79. Now I'm in the over 80 category at 81, so it seemed reasonable to post again. I still ride regularly, at least once a week, sometimes more, mostly spirited rides with friends in the local twisties. I'm slowing down a little with age, but not enough to be a drag on my riding companions, although I do catch up on the straights now more often than in the corners. I try to ride well within my limits, so I expect I'll continue to slow down more in future. I also cheat a bit by riding modern bikes more often than the Norton, but it still gets regular use.

This is a picture of me and my 961, taken earlier this year on my birthday ride. I already posted it on an earlier thread, but it's the only one I have of me and the bike since I turned 81. If you look closely, you'll see I'm wearing an air bag vest under my jacket. Old bones break too easily, and injuries take a lot longer to heal now, so I decided it was worth the cost.

View attachment 105887

Ken
Click to expand...
Good on ya Ken! It's nice that you live where you can get out and go pretty much all year long. Keep it up! In Ohio, not so much, but the winters are not as severe as they used to be, so I can get out more often than in the old days. Still, at 72 years young, I can still kick over anything pretty much, even though 2 of my 4 Nortons have electric starters.
 
Likewise. I start my bikes on the [ modified ] centre stands, using right leg and standing beside it on the RHS. Its a bitch to start if you stall at traffic lights so I am glad there are none in the greater area where I live. I remember in the late sixties and seventies, riders of Brit bikes use to rev them at the lights to keep them going. Thats me as well unless I fall asleep. Mostly it idles well but every now and again it doesn't, and usually when you need it to.
 
lcrken said:
I posted here a couple of years ago when I was 79. Now I'm in the over 80 category at 81, so it seemed reasonable to post again. I still ride regularly, at least once a week, sometimes more, mostly spirited rides with friends in the local twisties. I'm slowing down a little with age, but not enough to be a drag on my riding companions, although I do catch up on the straights now more often than in the corners. I try to ride well within my limits, so I expect I'll continue to slow down more in future. I also cheat a bit by riding modern bikes more often than the Norton, but it still gets regular use.

This is a picture of me and my 961, taken earlier this year on my birthday ride. I already posted it on an earlier thread, but it's the only one I have of me and the bike since I turned 81. If you look closely, you'll see I'm wearing an air bag vest under my jacket. Old bones break too easily, and injuries take a lot longer to heal now, so I decided it was worth the cost.

View attachment 105887

Ken
Click to expand...
Nice picture! Where was that taken?
 
Nice bike. Wise move as we age to go modern. Lots of hassles neatly removed. And yes, once under way, little problem with the bike but at the car park or worse in the garage, disaster awaits!
 
Last edited:
jamesp said:
Nice picture! Where was that taken?
Click to expand...

Boccali's Italian restaurant, just outside Ojai, California. It's an 82 mile round trip from my house, and the most common lunch destination on our Thursday morning rides. Some very nice two lane roads with a variety of corners, from tight hairpins to fast sweepers. I posted a link to my first on-board video here a few years ago, showing the last part of the ride. This is the part of the route from just outside Santa Paula to the restaurant. It's not much of a Ricky Racer sort of video, just a fun ride, but it does show what the road is like, and why we enjoy riding it.

My First Youtube Video - A Ride on CA Hwy 150

This is my first try at creating a video and posting it on Youtube. This is a ride I took on my 961 back in January with my grandson (on his Ducati, not his Norton:() and a couple of friends. I got blocked by a car they all managed to pass (braver than me), but we ended up at the restaurant...
www.accessnorton.com www.accessnorton.com

I also have some videos of the the first part of the ride, from my house to Santa Paula over Grimes Canyon, which is very twisty, but I don't think I ever got around to editing and posting them.

Ken
 
Last edited:
lcrken said:
Boccali's Italian restaurant, just outside Ojai, California. It's an 82 mile round trip from my house, and the most common lunch destination on our Thursday morning rides. Some very nice two lane roads with a variety of corners, from tight hairpins to fast sweepers. I posted a link to my first on-board video here a few years ago, showing the last part of the ride. This is the part of the route from just outside Santa Paula to the restaurant. It's not much of a Rick Racer sort of video, just a fun ride, but it does show what the road is like, and why we enjoy riding it.

My First Youtube Video - A Ride on CA Hwy 150

This is my first try at creating a video and posting it on Youtube. This is a ride I took on my 961 back in January with my grandson (on his Ducati, not his Norton:() and a couple of friends. I got blocked by a car they all managed to pass (braver than me), but we ended up at the restaurant...
www.accessnorton.com www.accessnorton.com

I also have some videos of the the first part of the ride, from my house to Santa Paula over Grimes Canyon, which is very twisty, but I don't think I ever got around to editing and posting them.

Ken
Click to expand...
ok, for some reason it reminded me of Boulder Creek in the Santa Cruz Mointains where I used to ride before moving to central coast.
 
62 this year. Still going quite well, but do ache quite a bit after a few hundred miles, especially back, because I broke it in bike accident. Arthritis gradually kicking in. Riding as much as I can while I still can. Got to keep moving. They will have to bury my bikes with me probably.

Ken, you are my inspiration mate!
 
I am in the over 60 category. My biggest fear is flameouts in traffic. I live near Dallas and traffic here is suicidal at times. In my area North of Dallas in Sherman, every road is torn up, under construction or beset with traffic redirections. I have a buddy that's a cop here and he says they are just overloaded with accedents. I don't ride cross country anymore and I have a set route that I ride that is twisty, familiar, slowish and not well traveled except by locals. I do use the kick stand as a backup for my balance issues and as an aid to my naturals clumsiness. I have always been a bit uncoordinated but aging hasn't helped the situation. I do not load or put pressure the kick stand when starting. I only use it as a safety to catch the bike if it falls.

I have been on high blood pressure meds for years but it's stable. (runs in the family.) After COVID (had it twice) I had no endurance and no strength. Walking fast made me huff and puff. I started hitting the gym. I have a workout that includes the rowing machine, the treadmill, and a host of weight machines for upper body strength training. I avoid any exercises that twists my knees. I have a Moto Guzzi Quota that I have to be very careful with when I swing into the saddle. It's pretty tall and the movement adds a twisting motion to my knee that can cause a limp for a week. I have to be careful to twist on the ball of my foot and not on the knee. Then I am fine.

I also started a diet in January. It's not really a diet as much as it is eating like a normal human being. Portion control is key and I have been using an app on my phone to log what I eat. I am a big guy and I always liked my food in huge portions. The app keeps me honest. I have dropped about one stone. I am still sitting at 270 but at least I am not 290! This is really helping how I feel. My sister is taking me to Scotland in July and I really want to be able to walk, carry luggage and drag my carcass off airplanes and out of vans.
 
Big_Jim59 said:
I am in the over 60 category. My biggest fear is flameouts in traffic. I live near Dallas and traffic here is suicidal at times. In my area North of Dallas in Sherman, every road is torn up, under construction or beset with traffic redirections. I have a buddy that's a cop here and he says they are just overloaded with accedents. I don't ride cross country anymore and I have a set route that I ride that is twisty, familiar, slowish and not well traveled except by locals. I do use the kick stand as a backup for my balance issues and as an aid to my naturals clumsiness. I have always been a bit uncoordinated but aging hasn't helped the situation. I do not load or put pressure the kick stand when starting. I only use it as a safety to catch the bike if it falls.

I have been on high blood pressure meds for years but it's stable. (runs in the family.) After COVID (had it twice) I had no endurance and no strength. Walking fast made me huff and puff. I started hitting the gym. I have a workout that includes the rowing machine, the treadmill, and a host of weight machines for upper body strength training. I avoid any exercises that twists my knees. I have a Moto Guzzi Quota that I have to be very careful with when I swing into the saddle. It's pretty tall and the movement adds a twisting motion to my knee that can cause a limp for a week. I have to be careful to twist on the ball of my foot and not on the knee. Then I am fine.

I also started a diet in January. It's not really a diet as much as it is eating like a normal human being. Portion control is key and I have been using an app on my phone to log what I eat. I am a big guy and I always liked my food in huge portions. The app keeps me honest. I have dropped about one stone. I am still sitting at 270 but at least I am not 290! This is really helping how I feel. My sister is taking me to Scotland in July and I really want to be able to walk, carry luggage and drag my carcass off airplanes and out of vans.
Click to expand...
Good for you Big Jim.

Fact is, that as we age past our 40s we lose muscle, year on year, getting weaker and weaker.

Most of us accelerate this by not using our muscles and not eating anywhere near enough muscle building protein.

Doing some resistance training and focusing hard on ensuring we eat enough protein is the only way to fight back and “keep the decay at bay” !
 
Use it or lose it. Advise from a fellow who was 97. But shortly after, he gave up on the daily walk to the shop as it had become just too much. He didn't last long after that. Died a few months ago, age 102. :)
 
I went out yesterday for my first proper ride in 18 months. This morning I am aching so badly between my legs from trying to keep my legs together because the stock pegs are really uncomfortable (and prompted my advert for rear sets).
I’ve also caught a chill on the ride and spent last night coughing and sneezing and I barely slept.
I’ve just done a Covid test and that’s clear thankfully.

The point of my adding to this was also because of a fellow I met yesterday riding a Yamaha MT03, not a big bike but more than adequate for him - his is 89 and still going strong.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top