Till What Age Do We Ride ?

[the Ferret]

I'm not sure I could go the trike route. I could see getting another scooter. It's got to lean for me.

[SportsterDoc]

A few months ago, 3 wheels was not under consideration.
But the advent of the Can-Am Ryker changed that for me.
The Ryker is to Can-Am what the Sportster is to H-D.

When the option is not riding or riding on a Y configuration 3 wheeler...

Fuel economy (33 MPG) is poor, but wind in the face is worth it.

I did 467 miles on the Extraterrestrial Highway last Monday.

Maybe I will ride it until age 77 (3 1/2 years away)?

[the Ferret]

Doc why is the Stryker ok for you to ride and not a regular motorcycle. It was a vision problem you had wasn't it? Not a strength or stability problem, right?

[dave]

It's very encouraging to hear most of us continue riding as long as we can. At 61 I hope I have MANY years to go - my plan is to continue to ride as long as I can do so safely. (My wife asked me to add that she rides with me on the CB1100 - we still go for our Sunday afternoon rides at least twice a month). I still have a 250cc MX bike, but I don't get to the track very often any more (only twice this year). My coworker just sold his BMW adventure bike at age 80 because it was too heavy for him, but he still occasionally rides his BMW 650 (the dual-sport model).

[Bheezy27403_imp]

I'm currently 47. Been on the street since '91. The thought at which age to hang it up hasn't really crossed my mind yet. I did, however, give it some thought when I had my son a couple years back. My girl told me she wouldn't want me to stop riding as she knows how it positively affects my life. I have a daughter coming in 3 days and the thought crept up again but only in passing. I hope to be able to be on the road for many years to come. When i get a few more miles in one day I suppose it will be something I need to ponder but as of now I can't really put a number on it.

[Rocky_imp]

I think it's a wise person who knows when it's time to quit.
That decision should be made on the basis of physical and mental capacity rather than an age number.
I'm sliding down to age 83 and still have a keen mind and good physical health and strength. I have no plans to quit anytime soon, but that day will come and I'm sure I'll know that when I realize the bike is getting too heavy, lack of strength, stamina, etc.
When it starts to no longer be fun and an effort to enjoy yourself, then you may soon become a danger to yourself and others.
That's when you need to ask yourself the hard questions.

[alprider]

i have my lightweight bikes already for my old(er) days..........hope they are still in function in 17 years...if is 70 a magic border

[Gone in 60]

I feel like a youngster at 52 here. I can't see an end to riding any time soon, of course. I think about the future, like anyone does, and have a neighbor who's 70 and can't swing a leg over any more, and recently went to a Harley trike. A short time back, I was admiring a new Ducati Monster in a parking lot, and a woman walked up to it. She said she just turned 72, and had to "trade down" from a fast bike because she's getting older.

So, guess it's just relative. Hope I'm still deciding on what kind of bike I want when I'm 72.

[rboe]

66, went dirt (mostly dual sport, but we hit some knarly back "roads" in the desert east of San Carlos on the way to 191) riding with two buddies. 83 & 81 respectively. Age really is just a number, it's the mileage that can kill you. And bad genes. A lot of the Guzzi riders I know are "old" and still riding like they were in their 30's or 40's. Last weekend I joined a younger buddy to take the 650L (he was on his DR350) up to Mnt Humbolt - age is just not a factor. Your health is. I find that too many folks simply don't take care of themselves, and when they were younger their bodies could handle the abuse. But it adds up.

Remember the old saying, "If I knew I'd live this long I woulda taken better care of myself!" - really starts to ring true now.

[Inhouse Bob]

Some y'all met my friend Jim at the last rally. He is 85 now and is still riding his KTM 1290 Adventure. I have to say that I wish he would retire that bike, though. It is fine when under way, but slow maneuvers are getting hard. I have suggested several times that I think he needs to downsize but he is happy, so what is one to do? He doesn't ride it much without my company so I think he is moving toward the tough decision. It's sad, but on the other hand he has a thousand great stories of past glories. He drag raced bikes in the early 60s and has ridden all over the world. So I don't think he will have any regrets when he's done. I just don't want to see him hurt before then.