Any 60+ Year Old Bikers Out There?

[ohioglfr]

I rode pretty steadily between 1970-1985.  Eventually, work and family became priorities and I haven't owned a motorcycle since.  Still have the MC endorsement on my drivers license, though.  I've been looking at Triumph Thruxton (pre water cooled), Ducati Night Shift Scrambler and Guzzi 850 V7.  I'm not a canyon carver anymore but I do like light and lively mid-displacement bikes.  I'd just like to go on Saturday morning rides in the country with a stop in the coffee shop.  I don't feel I have any health issues that would keep me off a bike, but of course my reaction time wouldn't be as good as in my youth.  Any old farts out there still enjoying riding?  If you have concerning health issues, are you dealing with it okay?  Thanks!

Edited May 23, 2021 by ohioglfr

[MtlJeff]

I am convinced every biker over 60 in the Americas knows my Dad LOL....He lives on his bike in the summer, goes to every rally / show etc...

 

I tell my dad in April "Ok see you in November"....and that's that

 

He has a Goldwing with somewhere around 80 trillion miles

 

[jholz]

My dad always told me that if he saw me on a motorcycle, he'd kill me before the bike did. I've had too many friends and relatives killed on those things to ever have much interest. 

[ohioglfr]

On 5/21/2021 at 4:04 PM, MtlJeff said:

I am convinced every biker over 60 in the Americas knows my Dad LOL....He lives on his bike in the summer, goes to every rally / show etc...

 

I tell my dad in April "Ok see you in November"....and that's that

 

He has a Goldwing with somewhere around 80 trillion miles

 

I'll bet his bike looks pristine, too.  

[sunbeltgolfer]

I sold my last one when I retired in 2002. Miss it all the time, especially living in a mountain community that stays cool all Summer with great roads for riding. I had too many close calls with drivers that either don't see you or want to run you over. Several of my friends were involved in bad accidents and couple didn't survive. I've owned Harley's and Victory twin crusiers. I've moved on to cars for entertainment. Not always as much fun, but a lot safer.

[ohioglfr]

On 5/24/2021 at 7:42 PM, sunbeltgolfer said:

I sold my last one when I retired in 2002. Miss it all the time, especially living in a mountain community that stays cool all Summer with great roads for riding. I had too many close calls with drivers that either don't see you or want to run you over. Several of my friends were involved in bad accidents and couple didn't survive. I've owned Harley's and Victory twin crusiers. I've moved on to cars for entertainment. Not always as much fun, but a lot safer.

That's the rub, isn't it?  And it's all subjective with regard to risk/reward.  I live on the outer fringe of town with easy access to quiet country roads.  While that's no guarantee of safety, I feel it's worth the risk.  I have a coworker my age who was laid up for six months from a horse riding accident.  He couldn't wait to get back in the saddle.  Maybe we're both fools.

[sunbeltgolfer]

8 hours ago, ohioglfr said:

That's the rub, isn't it?  And it's all subjective with regard to risk/reward.  I live on the outer fringe of town with easy access to quiet country roads.  While that's no guarantee of safety, I feel it's worth the risk.  I have a coworker my age who was laid up for six months from a horse riding accident.  He couldn't wait to get back in the saddle.  Maybe we're both fools.

Not foolish at all. I could get run over walking across the street to my mailbox. Especially, considering the way my neighbors navigate the road. The desire to ride is still strong, but I have moved on to cars and have a couple fun/fast ones that we drive and tinker with instead. The comfortable riding season here in the mountains is really mid May to mid October at best. That also weighed in on my decision. One thing for sure, I can't walk past one that is parked without stopping to look over and admire. We now do our cruising in an SL550 and and E63s AMG. Not the same, but still fun.

[ohioglfr]

Thanks for the few responses here.  It's rather telling that there aren't many 60's+ bikers, at least in this discussion forum, and I get it.  I suppose I should appreciate the fact that I'm relatively healthy at my age and should try to stay that way.  It wouldn't be good for my wife to end up caring for me if I ended up in a debilitating accident.  I have to think of her as we age together and I suppose it would be selfishness on my part to do otherwise.  We're both in our late 60's.  Discussing the matter with my wife and kids produced stronger pushback than I anticipated, in a kind of loving way.  I was disappointed but also felt valued by them.  So, I've given up on the bike idea.

 

A neighbor down the street is my age and has a Harley V-Rod.  He fires it up probably twice a month, rides it for maybe twenty minutes all through the neighborhood then parks it back in the garage.  He's diabetic and has balance issues, but he won't sell it or trade it for a trike.  Sort of like when a guy gives up golf but keeps the bag in the garage.