Who here has retired from motorcycling?

[flatbutt]

I am 70 seriously gimpy and looking at needing to give up my two wheeled adventures and the reality of it is messing with my head more than I'd have imagined.

I've been riding since I was 16 (dirt) and getting my first street bike at 18. It is a huge part of my life. It wasn't a hobby for me but rather a sort of manifestation of my outlook on life. I rode my 2 stroke triple all through college year-round and that year-round habit stuck with me right up to retirement (as long as there was no snow or ice).

When I was recovering from my spinal injury I spent a lot of time figuring out / conjuring up ways to keep riding. I was successful in that endeavor and those here who have ridden with me know what that meant to me.

Now age and my fading physicality have sent a clear message. "dude you're gonna die" and yet my mind is countering with "bull cocky you can still do this".

Ego? Desire? As the adage goes "for those who understand no explanation is needed".

Did it mess with you when you decided to give it up?

[zakthor]

I commuted for years on urban freeways. I never had s close call but quit at age 49 because twice in two months there was a car in my blind spot, luckily saw them with the head check.

Two strikes and I felt i wasnt aware enough to be safe for my kids. I needed to trust that i was aware of all cars and i warnt.

I miss it but… liter sport bike was really too fast to be ‘fun.’ Power wheelie and 100 in second in no time.

I still mtb in the forests and thats 1000x better than motorbike ever was, i feel like a fish swimming through the air and the only sound is my lungs.

I miss the motorbike but… doubt my attention has improved, so ive no intention of riding again.

[Scott Douglas]

I found myself splitting lanes on the way home one day from work. 405 Fwy going south thru Carson, traffic moving at 50 mph which wasn't fast enough for me since it'd been stopped up solid at the truck scales just north of there.
I got home and realized what I'd done. I decided then and there I'd quit riding so I could grow up to see my kids grow up.
Do I miss it, now some 35 yrs later?
Sure.
Now, I don't have enough trust of all the idiots behind the wheels around here to even think about getting on a motorcycle again.
I'd love it if my brother would have room and desire to store a couple of bikes up at his place on the central coast. I could ride there. Here, not so much.
Ending up dead or incapacitated in some way is too great a risk.
Now I want to live long enough to see my grandkids grow up.

[Tim Hancock]

I still have streetbikes and dirt bikes but rarely ride them. I started on a Honda Z50 when I was 5.... I am 56 now and can't imagine not having my old bikes out in the shop just in case I feel like going for a spin. The words "retired from motorcycling" just do not compute with me. "Seldom ride my motorcycles" is a much more palatable phrase.

[ckcarr]

Such a timely thread Flatty.

I'm starting to find myself more a "collector" of bikes than a rider anymore. A money losing collection! Seven bikes in the garage, and I look and don't have that much interest anymore. I keep trying to re-kindle it but so far no luck.

I do enjoy the TOR rally, and am jealous of all the places Rick & Ralph have traveled over the years on their back road adventures. They do the things riders should be doing, and not making beelines to Moab... They plot the lesser, or never traveled roads, and see parts of America we will never see.

[Zeke]

The family had a motorcycle dealership where I worked for awhile. They ran 2 race teams, flat track and road race. The riders were hired. The head mechanic Russ Collins owned some drag records. I rode all over the place, even to college, but was never good enough to compete.

I did though, practice and went off road a few times. My bike got stolen and that was pretty much the end of it. I had cars by then. So age 25. Good thing too because I was crazy.

[herr_oberst]

flatty, as with anyone who retains passion for a single hobby for decades, I'm impressed that the thrill is not gone for you. I can't offer advice, only the hope that you can find the outlet you crave out on the road.

(I quit street bikes in my mid 20's. Most likely lucky to be here.)

[wdfifteen]

Flatty, I get it. At our age giving things up is like watching your life slip through your fingers like a handful of sand. I struggle with it every day on a number of things.


I quit riding about 10 years ago. There are too many deer on the roads at night. About once a month someone hit a deer on our road. Deer are insane. One damn near jumped into me once. As it was he passed behind me, but if I had been going a mph slower he would have hit me. Not much later I came over a rise and there was a heard of cows in the road. It kinda takes the fun out of it.

What sealed the deal was my wife bought a BMW Z-3. Man - top down motoring in the open air with no ballistic suit and no helmet.
The R1100RT was gone in a couple of months.

[Chocaholic]

I've quit on a few occasions, but it never "takes". Been bike-less for almost a year, but now that we've moved, I'm actively looking for a bike. At 64 and in reasonably good health, it's hard to simply go cold turkey. Took up golf for a bit, but for a few reasons, I gave my clubs to my son and easily walked away.

The only thing I'm finding now is that it's not so easy to decide which direction to go. My wife is willing to ride along, but I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to her...so I've resisted.

A Harley would be an easy choice...reliable, service support everywhere, etc...but I'm just not a Harley guy. Have owned several and never kept any for very long. Perhaps another Guzzi or a BMW, but not rushing into it.

Honestly flatty...if there was question about my ability to ride safely, I'd do exactly what you're doing. There's more at stake than your life alone. Consider picking up a vintage bike and fix it up. I can see a "upfixing the XXX" thread now. Bikes can still be in your life...just a matter what you do with them. I think you're on the right track.

At one time you were considering three wheels. Is that still an option?

[Eric Hahl]

I'm 56, close to 57 and have been off and on the last few years. Like Tim, I started on a Z50 at age 6. Had dirt bikes, 3 wheelers, quads, sport bikes, now a big r1200GS that I seldom ride anymore. I've ridden about 40 miles so far this year. Not sure if I'm losing interest or just concerned about my ability. Seems I don't have the concentration required anymore and I've lost my comfort while riding and that doesn't help with the thrill anymore.

The GS is currently for sale. Been toying with the idea of a small dual sort bike for mostly off road use but who knows at this point. Is it messing with me? Nah, not really, there are other things in life.

[Baz]

Flatty - respect to you for looking at the big picture - EXTREMELY important in this area.

Maybe you could just find a smaller size (125-250cc) enduro to putt around town in? They are fairly easy to ride and a whole lot of 2 wheel fun.

That's where I see myself one day.

Think Honda Elsinore.....

[Mike Andrew]

I quit about 8 years ago, Realized that it was just getting too dangerous in my suburban area with all the distracted drivers texting, playing with in car displays, etc. A girl texting and almost putting me into a tree planted island on a major street here sealed the deal. Vintage Kawi was gone the following Spring with no more than an additional 5 miles.
Every now and then the urge comes over me and I think back to that morning and the rugby mate who has half a leg due to similar circumstances. The urge passes.

[pwd72s]

Used to dirt bike...gave it up in my 30's...after an MD told me to quit while showing me an xray of a spine problem: "Paul, I'm saying you could become paralyzed if...". But maybe I was ready anyway. Street bikes didn't interest me, and it was taking longer to recover from the spills than it did when I was in my teens and 20's. (edit) That combined with the added responsibilities of having a wife, child, and business to think about...they being more important than the fun of dirt bikes.

Yeah...as physical things change, having to quit things you love doing really sucks. Old age is a cruel monster. Eventually, he takes everything.

[cstreit]

54 and still ride a lot - but I only ride on busy streets just long enough to find dirt roads in a forest or field.

Why are you thinking about giving it up? Physical pains or mental acuity? Perhaps there's a solution that helps and causes less angst?

[oldE]

It has been 39 years ago I came to a decision that I could not trust the nut holding the handle bars. Sold the bike that week and have missed it ever since. In the decades since there have been Porsches, convertibles, etc. But every now and then I think about picking up a Yamaha 750 triple, restoring it with a hand formed "period " sport touring faring. In JPS colors. If nothing else, I could look at it.

Best
Les

[ramonesfreak]

51. gave it up about 10 years ago when i developed vision issues from a nerve problem. my left eye twitches backs and forth causing double vision. i can stop it if i tilt my head at a certain angle. not good for riding

i miss it but got over it. my 911 is just as much fun. i definitely don’t miss worrying about accidents.

if i’m to be honest, i miss the machines more than i miss the actual riding…so many bikes i would live to own.

where it started…got my snowmobile helmet on. RM60 wheelie machine. 12 YO and happy



Manhattan Bridge NYC used to commute in suite and tie everyday on this Sportster. 29 YO and having a ball



where it ended…I miss this bike very much. A big heavy thing but so stable. 40 YO. Getting old

[Rusty Heap]

The old adage,


"With Age comes a Cage"

[Chocaholic]

Originally Posted by ramonesfreak

51. gave it up about 10 years ago when i developed vision issues from a nerve problem. my left eye twitches backs and forth causing double vision. i can stop it if i tilt my head at a certain angle. not good for riding

i miss it but got over it. my 911 is just as much fun.

Not sure Id agree. No automobile can replace the feeling of leaning into a turn or countersteering your way through some curving blacktop. Two wheels delivers a sense of flight that four wheels simply can’t do.

[Bill Douglas]

As Baz said. How about a small capacity Enduro/trail bike. Something like a Honda 250. Good, reliable, 4 stroke.

Or of you really want an excuse to be going slow on the trails, an electric trail bike such as a Sur Ron, or even a four stroke trials bike.

My Honda trail bike only gets ridden about once a year LOL It started up third kick with year old fuel n the tank. That's Honda.

[Evans, Marv]

I don't think about getting rid of mine, although I don't ride nearly as much now days. I don't push it as hard as I used to either, although I live in an area with nice roads. Every time I get on it for a short ride, I enjoy being out in the air, turning the throttle a bit, and feeling the open air flow over me.