For the (motorcycle) riders among us older folks

[LuvMyE92]

I started riding at 10, with a minibike, and then at 19 I bought a real motorcycle (Honda 360) then a 400 then a break to buy my first house, and then around 30 I got a Kaw Concours and then moved in to BMWs, with RT, RS, GT, R, LT and GS, one of nearly everything except F bikes. My last one was pre-Covid, a Honda CB1100 (retro styled) bike, but my tendonitis flared up and limited my rides, so I got rid of it.

Now I've got the itch again. Now that I'm old, it's going to be the big K1600GTL, which has cruise and a great riding position and low seat so that I can actually reach the ground with my toesies. It's a heavy sucker.

I posted a bunch of questions on one of the K1600 forums, and I'm kind of accepting the fact that it's just normal for someone of my senior age to break up (or just limit) the ride into less-than-an-hour long segments. Plus these bikes are so comfortable, and with the cruise and upright position, the wrists shouldn't give me much trouble. I'm going to go for a test ride this week and probably buy one. The wife says that it's OK.

So I thought I'd start a thread here to see how many are like me, who are back into (or never left) riding as we enjoy our senior years. Experiences, thoughts, concerns, etc. please share!

[BMWCCA1]

Old? You don't say how old. Not that it matters, since you are only as old as you feel—until your body starts answering that question for you!

I'll be 71 on my next birthday and I've been riding BMW bikes (and cars) since 1971. I never learned on little bikes or dirt-bikes because my father said I'd never own a motorcycle while I lived under his roof. The day I graduated from high-school, he dropped me off at the BMW dealership, figuring he'd put it off as long as he could. My first bike, and my first time operating a motorcycle, was on that BMW R50/5.

I'm currently selling my newest BMW simply because I don't like the weight. It's a wonderful and lovely bike, an R1150RS with ABS, etc., but if I drop it in my driveway I'm no longer strong enough to pick it up. I know, I've been to seminars where younger women adventure riders demonstrate how to pick up their bikes by themselves, but I ride bikes with short bars and the leverage isn't in my favor.

So, I'm sticking to what brought me this far, which are BMW Airheads. I bought two new ones this year in honor of BMW's 100th Anniversary of their first motorcycle. I've ridden one, a 1984 R100RS Last Edition, to two celebratory events this year, and I still like to ride until I have to switch to fuel reserve which is usually around 200-miles. The last ride was about 11-hours round-trip including the first four hours of the return in driving rain. The previous trip was six-hours round-trip through the mountains, each leg without a stop, and a return in driving rain for about two-hours. The RS did just what it was supposed to do in protecting me from the deluge. No ABS, and a very tall ride height that still seems to suit me.

The other bike I purchased this year is a '94 R100R Mystic, the real "Last Edition" airhead in BMW's production history. But its short ride-height made me very uncomfortable on my first trip and I had to wait until last week for a modified seat to arrive from Germany before I can really enjoy this bike for its lightweight and nimbleness. With a total US production on the Mystic of around 254, there aren't a lot of seat pans around to modify!

So, I'm not a Luxury Cruiser type like you apparently are, but I still intend to enjoy riding for as long as I can. Before I headed out on my last trip, one of my customers said, "You're too old to ride a motorcycle!" My answer to him was, "No, but some day I will be!"

Part of the current collection:



The one I'll be selling:

[Llarry]

I haven't had a two-wheeler for over 40 years, but for years I wanted one -- but my passion for four-wheeled BMWs kept them out of financial reach. Where I live now has three-four months of perfect riding weather each year but the rest of the time would require rain gear, etc.

Good for you for planning to get back into riding!

[LuvMyE92]

Originally Posted by BMWCCA1

Old? You don't say how old. Not that it matters, since you are only as old as you feel—until your body starts answering that question for you!

62.

That's a great collection that you've got there! I started riding BMWs with the oilhead RT, never had an airhead. I've always been tempted, as I have read that they are really great bikes, but I kind of got hung-up on having ABS.

[HFW003]

I’m 59 and have been riding since I was about 8.

Only one bike now, a 2018 Panigale V4S.

[cbpip]

67, still riding a K16gtl and a VFR 800. Can still do 13 hour rides if the destination calls for it.

[Oldgixxer]

I'll be 54 this week and I've been riding since I was 4,learning to ride on a '74 Honda Trail 50. Rode dirt until I got my license in 1986 and bought a new 1985 Honda 500 Interceptor(bought it about a year before I got my actual license) and have racked up about 8-10k a year on the street ever since.

Got into drag racing motorcycles in the early 90's,got my NHRA license and had a '87 FZR1000 w a wet nitrous set up. Strictly a Japanese bike owner,Suzuki specifically as they've proven highly reliable when heavily modified. Ive had GS1100's/1150's then onto the 1st Gen GSXR when that came out in 1986(sold the Interceptor for a new '87 GSXR 750 as a HS graduation present to myself). Have owned every model of GSXR1100 since,then onto the Hayabusa's when they came out. Wife bought me a mint grey market 1986 RG 500 Gamma as a wedding anniversary present back in '01. Have always had at least 5-6 bikes in the stable until my back surgery in 2016 then I sold off a few of the GSXR-1000's I had but kept my K5 turbo 1K and my '00 Busa turbo which I've had for 23yrs.

Considering a comfy Harley in the near future however since moving to Hilton Head Island South Carolina vicinity 3yrs ago,I've found the drivers(tourists/elderly folks who shouldn't be driving regardless) to be so horrible & flat out dangerous I'm very apprehensive about riding down here even with all the street miles under my belt and commuting to/from NYC on the bike regularly.

[BMWCCA1]

Originally Posted by LuvMyE92

I started riding BMWs with the oilhead RT, never had an airhead. I've always been tempted, as I have read that they are really great bikes, but I kind of got hung-up on having ABS.

Remember: Brakes just slow you down!

[floridaorange]

I’m still at the mini bike stage but she was a very fun covid project for my boys and I.

[UncleWede]

I've ridden dirt bikes on grampa's farm (power-shifting, since the levers were always broken) since I was around 10 or so. 57 now, with my current custom '99 FXD-based softtail. I still enjoy the acceleration and the wind, but having a softtail makes me *THINK* I look cool.

People who see me in my gear, basically just leather jacket or vest and Oakleys, think I look like some bad-ass biker. I just laugh at them.

I try to ride once every week or two to work, just to keep the battery charged and me balanced. Starting at 0630 make sit tougher, I just don't trust falkers in a cage that early in the morning.

Remember, there are two types of bikers:
Those who have been down
Those who are waiting their (next) turn