Retirement

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Al's#5

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Well I've spent the day rearranging the shed, checking tyre pressures, rearranging dust sheets then sat down and thought, what the hell am I doing? Had bikes since I was 13, just one or two at a time but since retiring can't seem to make my mind up. First idea, fit a chair to the Triumph Scrambler. Interesting to set up, enjoyable but hard work to ride, kids love it. Then treat myself to a CCM Spitfire thinking, something light and fun, box ticked. Then came a trials bike to encourage the grandkids with there's, ongoing. Next I came across a lowered Sportster, always fancied a v twin, missed out on a Norvin in the 70's and after saying "never a Harley", love it. Lastly, after panicking when I heard of their imminent demise, a 961 before it was too late. Never had a Norton before, it's a cracker. Life's too short, need this bloody curfew to end.
 
Now you need an old Norton to occupy your spare time and teach the grandkids pure magic.... Perhaps an old Bonnie to go with it. Curfew shall then become the least of your concerns.... A Vincent in boxes?
 
I'm liking my retirement for the most part, but sure thought I'd be riding more. Tomorrow should be 250+ blissful miles in the relative cool & dry. Meeting up with some folks I've never ridden with...
 
Al's#5 said:
Well I've spent the day rearranging the shed, checking tyre pressures, rearranging dust sheets then sat down and thought, what the hell am I doing? Had bikes since I was 13, just one or two at a time but since retiring can't seem to make my mind up. First idea, fit a chair to the Triumph Scrambler. Interesting to set up, enjoyable but hard work to ride, kids love it. Then treat myself to a CCM Spitfire thinking, something light and fun, box ticked. Then came a trials bike to encourage the grandkids with there's, ongoing. Next I came across a lowered Sportster, always fancied a v twin, missed out on a Norvin in the 70's and after saying "never a Harley", love it. Lastly, after panicking when I heard of their imminent demise, a 961 before it was too late. Never had a Norton before, it's a cracker. Life's too short, need this bloody curfew to end.
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I haven’t ridden a 961, but being a recent inductee to old Commandos, I can say without reservation that it is the sweetest looking, sounding and feeling bike I’ve ever ridden. No retirement should be complete without one.
 
Slightly different twist on the retirement theme... one thing this lock down has made me realise is I don’t want to retire for a good while yet!

Maybe I’m just some kinda sad ‘rain man’ type, but I miss the routine and the ‘busy-ness’ of normal working life...
 
Scout63 said:
I haven’t ridden a 961, but being a recent inductee to old Commandos, I can say without reservation that it is the sweetest looking, sounding and feeling bike I’ve ever ridden. No retirement should be complete without one.
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My wife just asked today, if i had to keep only 1 bike which one would it be. 961 vs the 850 was the response and after a few moments thought decided the 850 would win. I've only have it 36 years, and like grandads axe it is not entirely what i bought all those years ago, but i do love this bike.
 
Al's#5 said:
Can't afford it!
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A Vincent Comet is reasonable cheap when thinking o f what you get. Started riding mine when I was 67. The second best touring motorcycle from that period, only one better is the twin. Riding it is exactly as riding a Shadow except easier kicking it, acceleration and comfortable cruise speed (65 vs 95 Mph). Will keep the Comet as my road bike when too old for racing the Manx. Besides, turned out to be a much better investment than any pension fund. And enjoying riding it while the value grows.
 
Do not ever retire!

I did, ...... now I only work 1/2 a day ...... 11, 12 ,13 hours, ...... works out to 1/2 day on average.

Slick
 
I've got 994 days to go (not that I'm counting!) and frankly I can't wait. Just hope those in high places don't decide the covid deficit will be best repaid by upping the retirement age.
 
Last edited:
Mike40M said:
A Vincent Comet is reasonable cheap when thinking o f what you get. Started riding mine when I was 67. The second best touring motorcycle from that period, only one better is the twin. Riding it is exactly as riding a Shadow except easier kicking it, acceleration and comfortable cruise speed (65 vs 95 Mph). Will keep the Comet as my road bike when too old for racing the Manx. Besides, turned out to be a much better investment than any pension fund. And enjoying riding it while the value grows.
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No room left, didn't mention the 3 cars .
 
Not had a ride in a week due to GL resurrection.... Don't ever let one lay fallow because the task is endless... Back to it now.. Mounted 850 for first in a week and took off for an hour or so... Now With the Norton love overflowing again I'm wondering why I'm working on the GL... Must be retirement blues.

English scoots be perfect partners for retirement. Highly rewarding relationship, want/needs mutually communicated, neither partner really gives a damn about cost, fun is mandatory, acceleration over braking essential.... Some insanity required.
 
I took a redundancy from my GOVT. job of 31 years with a good pay out and was able to get my supa pension at 55, was one of the best things that has happened to me, that was 6 years ago I draw a fortnight pension, have money in the bank still from my pay out, I own everything including my house, have my big bike workshop up the back and all my bikes to muck around with, my pesion covers all bills, regos, have good food on the table, my beer on the weekend and the best thing I don't have to answer to no one (not even the wife lol) I can take the bikes out anytime I want and can pack them up and go for as long as I like, I do a few paid jobs every so often working on other peoples Norton's or some other bikes, yes life for me couldn't get any better for me, yes there is life after work its how you set it up before you retire and every day I always got something to do and the good thing some of my riding mates are retired as well, there is more to life than working.
With this lock down I have been busy doing reno work inside my old house, so far have fully reno 2 rooms and 1/2 way through the 3rd room only 2 more to go and the house will be like new again, these jobs I have been putting off for over 30 years so in away this lock down has made me pull my finger out, the secret to retirement is to keep busy and have things to do everyday and yes I do get my lazy days as well, just enjoy it while you can.

Ashley
 
I stopped paid work in 2005 after 30 yrs outside .... today I can’t figure out how I ever made time to go to my job , weird how this happens , still get out of bed early and hit it at same time , guess the hours have become shorter ....
 
It took me a year to figure out how much I liked being able to actually choose how my day shall be spent without having to put up with any BS from another party. Was called for work three times in past two months... My 1st question is what/where? Answer was NO. Told them didn't care what it paid because I wasn't doing it. Old age giveth your freedom at last.
 
The last permanent job I had was in 1997. I retired but kept working doing teaching and contract work until I had a heart op and three strokes in my 60s. At that time I had raced the Seeley 850 a couple of times. I recovered from the ops and raced a couple more times. I enjoyed it greatly. However my friends started dying around me as well as my mother. My father died back in the 1970s around the time I stopped racing regularly. These days I suffer from a grief thing which kills my motivation. I am 78, yet still intend to have another ride, even if it is only on a club day. The opposition will still get upset and try too hard, so it should be fun. It surprises me that I can still ride OK.
If I was going to buy a road bike, it would be a Mk2A 850 Commando, not a 961. A 961 would be excellent, but I don't need to go fast on public roads and the original is just that - genuine. If I was going to buy a Jaguar car, I would not buy the one with the Ford V8 engine. The experience would be too different.
 

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