Quitting voluntarily

[MFGUSA_imp]

..and all compelling reasons to keep riding.

I told my wife last January that I was hanging it up after almost 50 years of riding. She of course asked why. Well, lack of focus and dexterity for one, vision and strength as another... not to mention the explosion of drivers who expect their cars to do the driving while they chat on their phones. I feel it would be selfish of me not to consider her life without me. Then she (not me) spotted the CB1100 and all that empathy went out the window.

[Cormanus]

This has happened to me twice in my life.

My first riding incarnation was as a 16-year old and went along happily until a car turned across my bows and took me with it. I broke a leg and spent a bit of time off the bike and in a plaster cast. All the time I was looking forward to getting back on the bike and maybe even upgrading it. Then, finally, more than a year later, I was able to ride and had to admit to myself that I'd lost my nerve. The whole business seemed terrifying and I found myself waiting to be knocked off again. Then there was the business of cold and girls ...

Years later, I bought a scooter as a cheap commuter. It was great and I loved being out there on two wheels again. But a couple of years later, the same things happened: the sense that the moment of being knocked off again was getting closer and closer got to me. I traded the scooter on a car that was far more likely to kill me (it had, shall we say, character) and took another long holiday from riding.

So, Ferret, while I have no idea what has motivated Jim, I understand it can happen, and for a range of reasons—see MFGUSA's post above. CIP, too, [url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=3475&pid=51145#pid51145]had a moment. There's no point being out there if it's a torment; particularly when you remember what pleasure riding has given you.

I'm very, very glad to be back in the saddle, and hope my nerve never again deserts me. The CB1100 is just too much fun to stay off.

[Todd-badebiker_imp]

I have been on a motorcycle since I was 6 years old when my dad got a used CB175 twin. He moved up to a CB750K? and then to a naked '78 Goldwing. I got my first bike the CB125s at 13 and progressed to the '83 650 Nighthawk which I wrecked one nice Sunday afternoon near Poulsbo, WA in 1990 totaling it and luckily only breaking my arm.
I was ready to get another bike immediately except for funds, living in the ship yard in Bremerton, WA(no place to store) and an impending transfer to who knows where. So it just was not the time to get one.
As it turned out I got married, transferred to a ship in Pearl Harbor (where the news reported people on scooters and m/c being involved in wrecks), and having our 1st child. My wife was not keen on me getting a bike, she once told her friend she was more afraid of me leaving her for a bike than another woman.
Finally after moving to Denver area she actually suggested I get a bike to save money after only 17 years of patience. Which brings me to getting a new CB11 when she offered/suggested I could get one when we sell our house.

[the Ferret]

I had forgotten all about this thread and there's an update. Jim and I of course stayed in touch and I was always sending him riding updates and pictures and stuff, AND he lurked here a bit. In the meantime, Jim bought a drag race car. He loved cars and drag racing in particular. He raced the car a few times and decided he missed motorcycle riding. The race car was fun one day a week. He could ride a motorcycle every day. At first his wife was against Jim riding again, but eventually she saw how much it meant to him and acquiesced. He sold the race car and about a month ago Jim picked up a used FJR. Been riding it about every day. We went riding the other day. he seemed happy again.

Here's Jim with his new to him FJR (and the flo yellow jacket he had given me when he gave up riding. I was saving it for his return and finally got to give it back...washed, but never worn by me) at one of our meeting places...his favorite restaurant... Sonic, in Nelsonville, Ohio lol

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/June%2011%20ride%20with%20Jnor%20003_zpsahfbyi5b.jpg.html]

and some pics I took of him happily motoring along on St Rt 78 near Burr Oak State Park in SE Ohio. We had a great day of riding that day. A little over 450 miles for me.

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/June%2011%20ride%20with%20Jnor%20013_zpsb9frpgoe.jpg.html]

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/June%2011%20ride%20with%20Jnor%20009_zpsxqeydrwo.jpg.html]

welcome back, Jim!



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[silverbub_imp]

So...this thread had "impact" for me in that I did not pay attention to the initial date of the thread & just started reading as if it were a "current" thread...then...I came to Post#9 and was "snapped" to the realization that I was reading our deceased contributor's musings on the subject...WOW!...his response took on importance to me in a somber way...particularly his last sentence: "There may come a day when I make the choice to park it but not for now."...That day he spoke of never really came for him to "park it"...and to me, upon some reflection,...perhaps that is what I would choose...Guess I will pay more attention to the starting time-stamp for Threads!
Oh,...glad Jim got back into riding...and spread his adrenaline drip over joint riding outings with you, Mr. Ferret, instead of having an adrenaline cascade over about 9-10 seconds in 1/4 mile drag run!

[furious_blue_imp]

I had forgotten all about this thread and there's an update. Jim and I of course stayed in touch and I was always sending him riding updates and pictures and stuff, AND he lurked here a bit. In the meantime, Jim bought a drag race car. He loved cars and drag racing in particular. He raced the car a few times and decided he missed motorcycle riding. The race car was fun one day a week. He could ride a motorcycle every day. At first his wife was against Jim riding again, but eventually she saw how much it meant to him and acquiesced. He sold the race car and about a month ago Jim picked up a used FJR. Been riding it about every day. We went riding the other day. he seemed happy again.

Here's Jim with his new to him FJR (and the flo yellow jacket he had given me when he gave up riding. I was saving it for his return and finally got to give it back...washed, but never worn by me) at one of our meeting places...his favorite restaurant... Sonic, in Nelsonville, Ohio lol

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/June%2011%20ride%20with%20Jnor%20003_zpsahfbyi5b.jpg.html]

and some pics I took of him happily motoring along on St Rt 78 near Burr Oak State Park in SE Ohio. We had a great day of riding that day. A little over 450 miles for me.

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/June%2011%20ride%20with%20Jnor%20013_zpsb9frpgoe.jpg.html]

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/June%2011%20ride%20with%20Jnor%20009_zpsxqeydrwo.jpg.html]

welcome back, Jim!



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Luv it !

[the Ferret]

So...this thread had "impact" for me in that I did not pay attention to the initial date of the thread & just started reading as if it were a "current" thread...then...I came to Post#9 and was "snapped" to the realization that I was reading our deceased contributor's musings on the subject...WOW!...his response took on importance to me in a somber way...particularly his last sentence: "There may come a day when I make the choice to park it but not for now."...That day he spoke of never really came for him to "park it"...and to me, upon some reflection,...perhaps that is what I would choose...Guess I will pay more attention to the starting time-stamp for Threads!
Oh,...glad Jim got back into riding...and spread his adrenaline drip over joint riding outings with you, Mr. Ferret, instead of having an adrenaline cascade over about 9-10 seconds in 1/4 mile drag run!

That was not lost on me either silverbub

[Cormanus]

An ST and an FJR, eh? Brings back a memory or two.

Welcome back, Jim.

[JustPassinThru_imp]

Interesting. I hadn't seen this thread before...seems it lay in the back pages before the update.

I'm actually not far removed from those who're considering quitting. Maybe it's just that the combination of over-saturation of riding (put 6000 miles on the CB already) and some age-related things, are just adding up to my enjoying it less.

Take road trips. Those days of getting a bud to drop everything for a week from Cleveland to Pittsburgh, doing the clubs...long gone. I don't drink on road trips; part of aging is that alcohol hits harder. And guys my age are mostly otherwise occupied.

Then...camping out is becoming more a chore. I noticed this two years ago, when I bought an elaborate tent/cot because my back wouldn't do ground sleeping anymore. It folded up compact...for what it was, a cot. A burden to carry.

Since then, I've gone on a CPAP machine. Camping out is out. Unpacking all the junk at a motel...a pain.

I noticed that when I'd take pics of beautiful vistas...back home, I'd enjoy them less. The back would hurt more, too...takes a couple of days to recover from three days of riding.

That AND the added danger of texting drivers AND that I got incredibly lucky when I dropped...and had a couple other close calls...that is new to me. Something tells me...it was good I got all the riding in, from 2008 when I went back on it, to now...because now I'm near the end of cycle-touring.

That's not to say I'll give it completely up. I have that little Yamaha, get around town with, and it makes errands...if not a joy, at least not a drag. There's moments when I still feel the rush.

I have the CB. With the miles I've put on it, I'm not going to lose much by hanging onto it for a few years...but I think this is where I slow way down.

[4 Paws_imp]

One of the reasons I bought a sidecar rig was so I could extend my riding "time", both in terms of road conditions (snow, gravel, dirt) and also age. I'm actually noticing that my reaction times slowing and my "high speed touring" is now on two lane back highways at about 55 mph.
I sold my two wheeler and was considering not replacing it since I couldn't find something "right", then I heard about the geezer glide. Yep. Power, low center of gravity, lack of tupperware encasement. Good bike, style and simplicity plus solid engineering.
Retired three years ago at 58 to spend more time riding, and I do. Usually 4 -5 days a week, go somewhere I've never been and come back. The sidecar rig gives me freedom to camp comfortably, take my dog, get groceries, or just wander. Long term plan is to probably put a sidecar onto the CB1100 when I decide to thin the herd, bike has the torque and frame to handle it. Mostly ride solo these days, several buddies "aged out" or got health issues. My 40 plus year riding buddy moved to the coast, lucky for me he has extra rooms.
Not sure when I'll give up riding, learned to never say never but sure hope it isn't soon. Attended a rally along the Blue Ridge over the weekend, lots of the riders were in their 60's and up.
When your heart and brain agree, listen to them.