02-14-2019, 03:14 PM
As a guy who started riding at 49 and is now 56, I'm probably not representative of most riders my age. Most riders my age have probably been riding since they were younger or returned to riding later in life.
As a new rider, I approached the challenge of learning to ride very comprehensively. For me it was less about the acquisition of mechanical riding skills than it was about understanding safe road strategy. I was fortunate to be mentored by some very competent and safe lifelong riders where I work who take safe riding very seriously. I read numerous books and resources about safe riding and riding proficiency and watched hours of DVD and YouTube safe riding videos before I even thought about enrolling in an MSF course. I did not even purchase a motorcycle until after I'd successfully completed the MSF course.
So, while an advantage to starting young might be better eyesight and quicker reflexes, an advantage of starting older might be a more studied, methodical approach to the craft of riding. I'm not sure that that advantage necessarily follows a guy who started young without every really learning about motorcycle dynamics or safe road strategy, but has nevertheless accumulated substantial miles and years of riding experience on the road in the ensuing decades. I think it might be these riders who encounter elevated risk as they age: the advantages of youth are gone but they never really acquired fundamental safe riding techniques and strategies. As an anecdotal example, when I was in my first month of riding a lifelong rider knowingly cautioned me: "Only use your rear brake. If you use the front brake, it's very likely to cause you to wreck."
I'm now entering my seventh year of riding and I'm confident that I'm riding at lower-than-average risk by avoiding / eliminating the known risk factors. I do have proper training, I am familiar with how to operate my motorcycle, I do avoid riding at night, I do not drink and ride, I do understand how to safely negotiate a curve, and I do practice emergency braking.
All that being said, I can tell that age does work against a rider. Reactions are not lightning-quick. Eyesight is not optimal. Attention lapses occasionally. Securing the chin strap is sometimes forgotten. Fatigue sets in earlier.
Regarding bike size/weight vs. age, I think this has more relevance in terms of low-speed handling and maneuvering. There are a lot of guys on the F800riders.org forum who are well past 70 and have down-sized to the 800cc bikes from the larger 1200cc models to feel more confident moving the bike around in the garage and managing it at low speeds or at stoplights.
As a new rider, I approached the challenge of learning to ride very comprehensively. For me it was less about the acquisition of mechanical riding skills than it was about understanding safe road strategy. I was fortunate to be mentored by some very competent and safe lifelong riders where I work who take safe riding very seriously. I read numerous books and resources about safe riding and riding proficiency and watched hours of DVD and YouTube safe riding videos before I even thought about enrolling in an MSF course. I did not even purchase a motorcycle until after I'd successfully completed the MSF course.
So, while an advantage to starting young might be better eyesight and quicker reflexes, an advantage of starting older might be a more studied, methodical approach to the craft of riding. I'm not sure that that advantage necessarily follows a guy who started young without every really learning about motorcycle dynamics or safe road strategy, but has nevertheless accumulated substantial miles and years of riding experience on the road in the ensuing decades. I think it might be these riders who encounter elevated risk as they age: the advantages of youth are gone but they never really acquired fundamental safe riding techniques and strategies. As an anecdotal example, when I was in my first month of riding a lifelong rider knowingly cautioned me: "Only use your rear brake. If you use the front brake, it's very likely to cause you to wreck."
I'm now entering my seventh year of riding and I'm confident that I'm riding at lower-than-average risk by avoiding / eliminating the known risk factors. I do have proper training, I am familiar with how to operate my motorcycle, I do avoid riding at night, I do not drink and ride, I do understand how to safely negotiate a curve, and I do practice emergency braking.
All that being said, I can tell that age does work against a rider. Reactions are not lightning-quick. Eyesight is not optimal. Attention lapses occasionally. Securing the chin strap is sometimes forgotten. Fatigue sets in earlier.
Regarding bike size/weight vs. age, I think this has more relevance in terms of low-speed handling and maneuvering. There are a lot of guys on the F800riders.org forum who are well past 70 and have down-sized to the 800cc bikes from the larger 1200cc models to feel more confident moving the bike around in the garage and managing it at low speeds or at stoplights.