How Old is too Old?

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I imagine you know this from your bicycling.

The behavior of the average automobile driver is a lot less attentive since screen reading has been instilled into cars.

Beware the texting driver, as bad if not worse than the drunk one.

You should ride your motorcycle...pick a low traffic time and get your confidence in gear.
 
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Go for it - I’m 68 and still kickstart my 750 high compression Combat - still surf in the northeast till the water gets below 55 degrees and still chase my beloved Brittany through the woods frightening quail . You will know when you should quit .
 
Welcome Dan, your age and interest will fit well in this forum.

A quote from Malcolm Forbes:

"I used to think people who rode motorcycles had a screw loose. But the public image of motorcycling is all wrong. The bad guys are the exception, not the rule. What people don't understand is that motorcycles are not dangerous. I mean, they are dangerous, but you compensate by being infinitely more aware, more alert, more careful. You're more anticipatory of what others are doing."

Forbes rode from age 41 to near his passing.

People approach me and will say something like: "I rode a (insert make and model) up until I got married, had children, was told my life insurance premiums would go up, had a friend that was killed while riding, yada, yada, yada...."

Further, I'm thinking about getting another bike, but I worry about: people on cell phones, drunken drivers, yada, yada, yada. What do you think I should buy? The words translate to facts, but his body language is telling me that he is saying his words are what he thinks I want to hear. I tell such people to stick to fishing, hiking, tennis, yada, yada, yada. Don't buy a motorcycle! Your perception of what going on, on the road will quickly become self fulling prophesy.

Where I'm going with this mirrors a good deal of the responses above. A rider safety course is a great idea, but if you carry any fears or concerns onto a full blooded motorcycle they tend to become reality rather quickly. And, don't forget that the throttle is as effective at avoiding traffic issues as the brakes.

Best.
 
Dan1950 said:
If I didn't feel that I was physically capable I wouldn't consider it. I was hoping to hear from rider of similar age. I have had both knees replaced (2013) and get around better than I did in my late 40s. Just wondering how long rides might affect me. I live in the Northern Adirondacks and might want to do 200 miles in a day round trip.
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Get a CNW e-start. you wont regret it. I am 58 and am in relatively good physical shape. But, I used to play catcher and my right knee is starting to grind when I go up stairs. I have done ~five hundered miles in a day, no problem - you just need the right seat foam.
 
RoadScholar said:
Welcome Dan, your age and interest will fit well in this forum.


Where I'm going with this mirrors a good deal of the responses above. A rider safety course is a great idea, but if you carry any fears or concerns onto a full blooded motorcycle they tend to become reality rather quickly. And, don't forget that the throttle is as effective at avoiding traffic issues as the brakes.

Best.
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Well as I said in an earlier post, I used to ride with reckless abandon well into my 30s. Some of the reasons that I did survive was an insistence that my bike was in as near to perfect working order as I could achieve. Even my '64 Panhead stroker only left me walking on rare, occasions in the 20 years I rode it. I always made sure that form followed function and my stripped down Hog was often mistaken for a Sportster by the less informed members of the public. It was lean and mean and built to be ridden hard and fast. It had good brakes, a dependable electrics system (unlike my BSA) and it handled very well for what it was. It weighed 525# wet and had a decent lean angle capabilities. On more than one occasion it saved my bacon when I did push the envelope near the limits. The other reason was that when I rode a motorcycle, it seemed to become part of me and that instilled confidence on the verge of fearlessness but perhaps reckless was a bad choice of words.. I don't perceive riding with the same "enthusiasm" as I did 35 years ago but I also don't think fear will be riding with me. I think I will be able to show the new generation of Harley Davidson "posers" how a real "biker" rides.

If I do get myself a '73-'74 Commando, I plan to upgrade the electrics in the hope that it can be as dependable and easily kick started as my '64 Panhead hotrod. I also hope it can give me a thrill when I twist the wick.
 
gortnipper said:
Get a CNW e-start. you wont regret it. I am 58 and am in relatively good physical shape. But, I used to play catcher and my right knee is starting to grind when I go up stairs. I have done ~five hundered miles in a day, no problem - you just need the right seat foam.
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I have "2013" knees and always had my motorcycles tuned for easy kick starting. I used to win money on bar bets that I could start my 86 cubic inch Panhead with my hand.
 
Let me just say that there is nothing quite like a well sorted Norton. Going down the road, it is like floating. In the twisties, it is almost telepathic.

Good luck starting it with your hand, unless you are built like a gorilla. A well tuned Commando will start with one kick, every time, but it is a very healthy kick - launch yourself into the air and come down with your full weight on the lever. The AMC transmission uses the first gear set to transmit kicking torque, so you get the most engine revs from each kick - which also means it take the most effort to kick over.

The good news is there are electric start options when the kick-start novelty wears off. I installed mine more for safety than anything. When stalls do happen, it always seems to be when you are in a left turn lane on a stale yellow, riding two up.... your average modern motorist is always so understanding and patient when your 50 year old classic gets pouty....

Now it is just pull the clutch, mash the button, and motor on.
 
Welcome Dan, Shoot, when I readthe title of your thread I thought you meant how old of a Norton Commando is too old a '75 or a' 68.? But since that is not your topic, I will just say that there has never been a better time to build /own a commando! There are so many upgraded parts/systems available to us now it's amazing. I suppose I'm a little younger than some others here, at 59 and since I am a retired U. S. Navy sailor, I gotta quote our Admiral Farragut and say "damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead". Or---maybe just my High school motto from the class of '80---"Go for it!" Either way, I say, get the bike and ride on. Cj
 
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"Remember, you don't quit riding because you get old. You get old because you quit riding-"
VERY good Ken......

Welcome Dan,
Turning 61 this year, have ridden all my life. Piece of junk for a back and hips, 2 screws in my right tibial plateau (from kicking my shovelhead I've had since '80, kicker didn't engage, hyper extending the damn thing
breaking my knee) a few years ago. The Commando since '77, is ridden and kick started nearly
daily. I've had other health issues, that I've came back from, and they have only made me MORE
passionate about riding til I can't no more. Lineslinger is right on about inattentive distracted driving, damn
scary at times. I find myself riding the white line every time I meet a 4 wheeled vehicle. I too
avoid town/city riding when possible. I get a lot of rounds in communicating daily to work, and go a different
direction every day. RIDE.
 
If you are comfortable riding a motorcycle and WANT to ride a motorcycle, do so. If you are not, don't. No one else can tell you what you should do. Only you know if you are "comfortable" riding a motorcycle. What someone else thinks isn't relevant.

I know plenty of people who rode in their 20's but quit riding in their 30's because they were no longer comfortable with it. Heck, when in my teens - the most 'bulletproof' portion of life - I had friends who refused to get on a moto at all. For that matter, one of my best riding friends' son is a former Moto GP world champion who does not ride motorcycles on the street and regularly suggests that his dad quit riding. He still does "appearance" rides/races at various tracks/Moto GP events but considers riding on the street to be too dangerous.

There are people in their 90's who do things that I won't do and wouldn't have done in my 20's so the age thing per se isn't really of any importance. If you want to do something and are physically/mentally capable of doing it, that's really all that matters. ;)
 
If your bike starts first kick you will never need a electric leg. Mine does and I am 70 and nine stone full kit. But will admit that if you stall it in traffic then is a safety item. At our age it is all about concentration and attention to the job at hand. I moved to the UK five years ago and it is a different traffic world here completely. It wasn't easy to make the change. And it is far less driving on
the LHS rather the intense concentration you must have at ALL times. And I live in the country!
So yes go for a nice 850. Get the 13mm master or if you can swing it one of madass's complete brake mods. After than just make sure the bike is in top shape EVERY time you go out. Preflight it and wipe it down on return looking for trouble. You must even out the odds at our age.
Go forth and have fun!
 
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Dan1950 said:
After 35years of marriage that ended in divorce I ended up with a nice settlement and I think it is time for me to enjoy life again. I'm thinking about getting a pre MK2 850 Commando. I have about 5 years experience with BSA A65 and knew every part on my 1967 Thunderbolt. I never saw any need for electric start on a British bike as long as they were tuned properly and one knew the proper starting sequence. I even preferred kick start on my 1964 86 cu in Panhead stroker.

Is 70 too old to start riding again? I am in b very good health and feel about 1/2 my chronological age.
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starting riding again at 71. don't have the strength and balance i had in my 20's. all i can say is know your limitations and ride defensively - :cool:
 
Dan1950 said:
I ride a pedal bike up to 25 miles without stopping and have ridden 112 miles in one day, but that was a looooong day.
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YES know the feeling of long days well.... so you have no balance issues,
would definatey get bike with es ,simply because it takes the stress out stalling in traffic.. Go for it...
 
Dan,
I am a small 71 year old man with a 74 850 that brings so much joy to me and ridden 3-5 days a week. I agree with all the posts that tell you to improve the front brake,etc. I also can tell you that the e-start I installed was the best money I ever spent on my m/c.
Find a Norton and have a great time!
Mike
 
YING said:
Dan,
I am a small 71 year old man with a 74 850 that brings so much joy to me and ridden 3-5 days a week. I agree with all the posts that tell you to improve the front brake,etc. I also can tell you that the e-start I installed was the best money I ever spent on my m/c.
Find a Norton and have a great time!
Mike
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I'm a LARGE 70 going on 71 year old man. 250# at present, hope to get down to 210# The way I look at it I can always add an electric leg if I want but I don't see that happening. Better front brake sounds like a good idea though.

In my younger days, I viewed kick start as a built in sobriety/roadworthiness test.
 
It is a requirement to do the 13mm master. AN actually sells one ready to go now.
If I can kick it at less than nine stone you will be able to crush it!
andover-norton.co.uk

Motorcycle parts and spares for Norton motorbikes - Genuine Andover Norton Spare Parts - Andover Norton Motorcycles Parts - Original Andover Norton Parts

Motorcycle parts and spares for Andover Norton motorbikes: Andover Norton manufactures and supplies all Genuine Factory Spare Parts for Norton motorcycles built before 2002.
andover-norton.co.uk
Please note that the Norton master limits your choice of bars. You could put on an alternate one and lose that long nose that gets in the way of the fork tops.
 
Onder said:
It is a requirement to do the 13mm master. AN actually sells one ready to go now.
If I can kick it at less than nine stone you will be able to crush it!
andover-norton.co.uk

Motorcycle parts and spares for Norton motorbikes - Genuine Andover Norton Spare Parts - Andover Norton Motorcycles Parts - Original Andover Norton Parts

Motorcycle parts and spares for Andover Norton motorbikes: Andover Norton manufactures and supplies all Genuine Factory Spare Parts for Norton motorcycles built before 2002.
andover-norton.co.uk
Please note that the Norton master limits your choice of bars. You could put on an alternate one and lose that long nose that gets in the way of the fork tops.
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I would probably want standard OEM bars. So the caliper is up to the task with the upgraded MC?
 
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