Is age going to stop you from riding?

[Damfino_imp]

Wait....Why do I feel a 'Wild Hogs' moment coming here....

[redbirds_imp]

Just turned 66 in April and hope to be riding when I'm 86. Diminished capacity to operate a bike safely would be the only reason to stop. None of us know what tomorrow may hold. Last January a very close friend, not a rider but physically active and in seemingly excellent health, got pneumonia and passed away within days after being hospitalized. I like to live each day to it's fullest, thanking God for each day I'm allowed. Besides, riding makes me feel younger and happier.

[CIP57_imp]

I'm 56 and in decent health, I've been ridding since i was a kid ( 10 ) i don't want to think about not being able to ride anymore, but i guess my body and mind will tell me when to stop I HOPE

[Rocky_imp]

I'm a newbie to the forum, having just purched a Canadian 2014 CB1100A, but I was delighted to read this thread and see that many of us here are up in years.
Age is many things to many people. Some of my friends have already mentally made themselves old. In their minds they can't cut it anymore and are content to sit in front of a TV - and they're years younger than I am!!!!!
Not his spring chicken! I'll be 77 this year and feel more like 27.
I came back to bikes in 1992 after raising my family.
At age 70 I rode for three weeks through the deserts and Andes Mountains of Chile and Peru.
At age 72 I rode for two weeks through the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
At age 74 I toured the province of Newfoundland for ten days.
Granted, I've been blessed with good genes and excellent strength and health. But it's not all good luck. I take care of myself, eat right and stay fit.
I belong to a bike club but often ride alone because many of my younger friends can't keep up with me. After about two hours they're finished and ready to head home while I'm just getting started.
But you never know what might be around the corner regarding your health. So many things are out of your hands. You can only do the best you can do and carry on.
I think (hope) I have enough common sense to know when it's time to get off two wheels. At my age I hope that's not in the near future because I'm having one heck of a good time - and I'm over the moon with the new CB.
Whether this will be my last new bike remains to be seen.

[ss2wheels_imp]

Rocky you are the man, keep it up brother, and enjoy that CB to the max!

[The Spaceman_imp]

I just hope there's someone there to tell me I can't ride safely anymore if I'm too senile to realize it myself. There are a stunning number of old peopje who live in nearby Cemetery Village (or is that Century?) who should have stopped driving years ago but persist.

But to the question of age: hopefully I'll die of something before I get so old I have to stop riding.

[MFGUSA_imp]

Rock, your everything that's right about this sport so keep it up! Not many hero's left in this world.

I'll bet you ride in the winter too.

[the Ferret]

Rocky you are the man, keep it up brother, and enjoy that CB to the max!

+1

I've often said anyone over 70 riding is a hero of mine. Rocky you sound like a super hero!

[DAC]

Rocky, your post was good for me to read just now. Rock on! I have a similar story - coming back to riding after taking care of other obligations.

However much time we get will have to do.

This morning, I watched someone else ride away on my VFR. It was hard to sell that bike. This wasn't a sentimental thing, it was just a stunner in so many ways. But I don't have time right now for two bikes so it was time to let one go. So now it's no longer my VFR.

I don't know if the CB will be my last bike. But it will be in my garage a long time I hope. For right now, I'm looking forward to a great riding season with a great new bike. The rest will just have to take care of itself.

[CeeBeeMe_imp]

I thought about all this, what everyone said in earlier posts and it is all so true.

Wasn't sure what else could be added... We all have personal reasons.. which keep us going.

Many members are long time riders, very experienced and speak a lot of wisdom..

It sits in the back of our minds, that moment... when the time comes and we will have to give up.. doing something we love doing.. AND THE TIME WILL COME BUT WHY WORRY ABOUT IT..

The age does not matter when you can still do it and are able to enjoy it..
If you want to do something.. if you can... do it now ...don't wait till tommorrow.. you never know what happens tommorrow.

Here is the quote by George S. Patton Jr.

“Now if you are going to win any battle you have to do one
thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the
body tell the mind what to do. The body will always give up.
It is always tired morning, noon, and night. But the body is
never tired if the mind is not tired. When you were younger
the mind could make you dance all night, and the body was
never tired... You've always got to make the mind take over
and keep going.”