08-14-2018, 12:53 PM
It sort of surprises me really. Most of the "older folks" around these parts that I come across are actually very technical in their riding....at least the ones I know. And although it's counter intuitive, people around here just seem to get more risk averse in their riding as they age (counter intuitive to me at least because younger people have more to lose.) I'm also a pilot (for fun, not work) and I'd fly all sorts of single-pilot hard IFR in my 20s that I wouldn't dream of doing now.... This in spite of how much easier it is today with technology, and in spite of the fact that I'm way more competent today with knowledge of weather and how to take advantage of the air traffic control system than I was then. It's not that I couldn't do it just as safe today...just that my risk tolerance has gone down.
Having said that, I see no reason why a fit 60-something couldn't safely take up riding. It's not like you need ninja like reflexes to keep a bike upright.
The ones I worry about? Young lane splitters that I see on the roads in SoCal. Get on the 405 between LAX and the Valley any day in rush hour and you'll encounter a couple of dozen young dudes riding between lanes upwards of 40 miles per hour between cars going about 5. And the cars are constantly deciding to try to move lanes whenever they feel like the adjacent lane is moving better. The older guys seem to be much slower, deliberate and safer about it. I've been doing some riding in the LA area recently, and since it's legal, I figured I'd give it a go on my little SR400 that I keep there. If there ever was a perfect lane splitter, that's the bike. Scared the bejeebees out of me. There is just too much unpredictability in terms of when cars decide to move lanes without signaling.
Having said that, I see no reason why a fit 60-something couldn't safely take up riding. It's not like you need ninja like reflexes to keep a bike upright.
The ones I worry about? Young lane splitters that I see on the roads in SoCal. Get on the 405 between LAX and the Valley any day in rush hour and you'll encounter a couple of dozen young dudes riding between lanes upwards of 40 miles per hour between cars going about 5. And the cars are constantly deciding to try to move lanes whenever they feel like the adjacent lane is moving better. The older guys seem to be much slower, deliberate and safer about it. I've been doing some riding in the LA area recently, and since it's legal, I figured I'd give it a go on my little SR400 that I keep there. If there ever was a perfect lane splitter, that's the bike. Scared the bejeebees out of me. There is just too much unpredictability in terms of when cars decide to move lanes without signaling.