How Old is too Old?

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MexicoMike said:
I have an 80 year-old friend who last year went to "Wheelie School" so he could perform more impressive wheelies then he could prior! I agree with others that, assuming you can physically handle the bike, it will just be a function of getting familiar again with actually riding. I have another friend -early 70's - who rides a 220HP V4 Panagali and will leave most folks behind in the twisties, regardless of their age. ;)
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....and now my Rocket III needs fork seals:cool:
 
Dan1950 said:
All that being said, I don't see me riding with the reckless abandon that I relished in my 20s and 30s. To be quite honest, I don't know how I survived.
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Welcome to the forum.
That realization is important.
At 70 you should now have the maturity to ride like an adult.
Then obviously you need the mental acuity, focus and situational awareness to avoid idiots on the road.
As stated before, you have to be able to handle the weight of the bike, and pick it up if dropped.

Just remember, you may feel 35, but you'll bounce like a 70 year old.
Keep the rubber side down.

P.S. if you don't like to tell folks that you're 70, just switch to hexadecimal and tell them you're 46.









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cliffa said:
Cycling 112 miles in a day, respect, I hope I can do that when I'm your age
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Taken about a year ago along the St Lawrence river. I will have plenty of beef to romp on the kick starter and I don't see a problem being able to pick up a 400# motorcycle. In fact, I could stand to lose about 35 pounds.
cliffa said:
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How Old is too Old?
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Hi Dan
My late friend Sid rode until he was 83. He had a Mk3 electric start, a bit heavy he said & you have to plan arrival home & into the garage but on the move it's fine.
 
Young man, 70 is not too old to take up riding again. Hopefully you'll enjoy riding a motorcycle for the years to come. Less exhausting than cycling.
Foolish I bought a Gold Star 52 years ago. Never able to kickstart it. Now at 75, with some 35 pounds more weight, I have no problem to kick start the Vincent, the Velocette and the BSA Victor Specials. Impossible to kick start the Manx as it don't have one. But it is a four steps run and bump. So I think you will have no problem starting a Commando.
 
EstuaryBoy said:
If you can pick the bike up and have no infirmities that impede control 'control' (!) then go for it..
But if you're a liability to yourself, you WILL be a liability to others....
Totally your call....
(Mind you, I can jump into bed like a 20 year old, but sometimes crawl out of it like I'm 120..)
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I think we all have that, but it may vary depending on other occupancy!
 
I have heard this: 'you need to be able to pick it up'.

Not sure if I agree with it 100%, but of course you do need to be able to manoeuvre it and put it on and off the stand!

I recently had a ride out on a '97 ST1100 with a view to purchase. I have had one before, but I sold it 10 years ago at 58.

I was in no doubt about my ability to pick up a 700lb motorcycle even at the age of 48 that I was when I bought the first one! No way!

I enjoyed the ride but in the end I decided I didn't need the complexity of a 25 year old CBS/ABS/TCS braking system with the 'Controle Technique' being applied to motorcycles in France from next year!
 
Me and bike went horizontal last year, so after nursing my shattered pride I needed to get everything vertical again asap to ride off as if nowt had happened!
(I think it's in the Japanese motorcycle test, too?)
 
Welcome to the asylum, Dan.

I'll be 80 years old in January, and I still enjoy riding, mostly with friends in the local scenic SoCal mounttins and canyons. I plan to keep doing so as long as I feel comfortable on the bike. I do try to avoid the interstates or other really congested roads, but only because they aren't much fun. And I am moving towards smaller, lighter bikes. I'm fine with heavier bikes on the road, but they are now a little too challenging to push around in places like inclined gravel parking areas . My current go-to rides are a Triumph Street Triple 675R and a modern 961 Norton Commando (a bit heavy, but hey, I'm a Norton guy, so I need one). I also occasionally get to ride my grandson's 1975 MK3 Commando, and am rebuilding a couple of my own Commandos for regular use. The Commandos weight is similar to the Street Triple, and I'm comfortable with that at this point. Might have to look for something a little lighter in the future, though.

I've done a couple of rides with a local Vincent owner who is older than I am, and who flies on his old Rapide. Like several others have said above, it's more about how comfortable you are physically and mentally about riding, not your calendar age. I would suggest that you kit up with really good protective gear, though. Bones are much more fragile with age, and take way longer to heal. Trust me, I'm an expert on that. :(

Remember, you don't quit riding because you get old. You get old because you quit riding.:D

Ken
 
EstuaryBoy said:
Me and bike went horizontal last year, so after nursing my shattered pride I needed to get everything vertical again asap to ride off as if nowt had happened!
(I think it's in the Japanese motorcycle test, too?)
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I fell over with the Pan in the snow one evening on my way home from work. I was doing fine until the idiot in front over braked, and put his car sideways; I had to lay it down. I walked up to him and knocked on his window, he tried to ignore me and looked terrified, but I managed to persuade him all I wanted was, that having helped me put it on the floor, I wanted him to help me pick it up again, or I was going to be there all night! Even with his assistance, it wasn't easy.
 
SteveA said:
I fell over with the Pan in the snow one evening on my way home from work. I was doing fine until the idiot in front over braked, and put his car sideways; I had to lay it down. I walked up to him and knocked on his window, he tried to ignore me and looked terrified, but I managed to persuade him all I wanted was, that having helped me put it on the floor, I wanted him to help me pick it up again, or I was going to be there all night! Even with his assistance, it wasn't easy.
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All I suffered was a slight leak from the elbow, but from my prone position on the tarmac, the bike looked more vulnerable and I'm thinking oil/petrol egress......
AGM battery, so no worries there.
 
I think Ken has it right on many counts with his post. I had a friend come by yesterday, I wouldn't call him a motorcyclist, but he enjoys riding out, normally shortish rides but most days most weeks. He came on his 500 Honda twin, which has a power and weight in Commando territory, he is 74.
 
The bicycling is what most of the really fast kids riding GP bikes do for exercise. It can give you a slight advantage jumping back on a motorcycle at 70. Eye sight and reaction times won't be like they were when you were a kid. Just don't ride like you are 18 years old for a few months. :)

I'm 70, but have been riding two wheel motorized vehicles since I was 12, so my perspective is a little warped.

I ride a bicycle 3 times a week, but on a trainer in my garage. No way will I get out on the road in Washington state. It's the it's all about me get out of my way or I'll run your ass over state.

Short answer is "Just Do It!"
 
I learned on a 1969 Lightning, I can appreciate your comment about the buzzing handle bars at speed. Next was a 1971 Commando I still have. Fast, smooth and still able to ride as well as any modern motorcycle. Commandos just need a front brake upgrade to make you feel more confident with riding. Minimal would be master cylinder upgrade to increase feel and quality pads. Beyond that, a better caliper and larger rotor to decrease fade from multiple hard braking.
As you will see from reading more posts, front fork rebuild/ upgrades along with a good set of rear shocks and a better headsteady pretty much are all you need to make the rides through twisties with a grin ;-)

You are on the East Coast, so the stock 850 20 tooth gearbox sprocket is fine for all around riding. Top end excursions unnecessary
 
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