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I'm 62, just got back to riding a few months ago on a R1100RS after about 22 years. It's a challenge since all the bikes I owned before were much smaller, but I bought it and rode it 100km home.
It's now feeling more natural but I don't treat the road as a racetrack like I did at 17.

Jeff Highland wrote:I'm 62, just got back to riding a few months ago on a R1100RS after about 22 years. It's a challenge since all the bikes I owned before were much smaller, but I bought it and rode it 100km home.
It's now feeling more natural but I don't treat the road as a racetrack like I did at 17.

Allow me to compliment you on your impeccable taste in motorcycles

I started this thread tongue in cheek, but clearly it's a sensitive subject.
I recently met a guy at a dealers who was still riding in his 80's.
After saying cheerio I watched him pull out straight in front of a taxi with inches to spare.
It was only thanks to the razor sharp reaction of that driver there wasn't a bad crash.
I think we all have to accept that there comes a time for us all, when our road sense, vision and reactions will deteriorate to the point whereby we become a complete liability on the road.
The problem is we don't always realize it.

Here in Australia, you need a medical assessment every year after 75 and a practical driving assessment every 2 years from 85.
Seems to be a reasonable compromise, everyone ages differently.

Golly that`s a wee bit of a generalisation. I think if health issues prevail or the bike is too big to handle then one could consider downsizing. Packing it in is down to the individual. life is full of choices. We have to be more tolerant of the oldies. It comes to us all and it don`t come on it`s own either. Enjoy it whilst one can

boxerscott wrote: Golly that`s a wee bit of a generalisation. I think if health issues prevail or the bike is too big to handle then one could consider downsizing. Packing it in is down to the individual. life is full of choices. We have to be more tolerant of the oldies. It comes to us all and it don`t come on it`s own either. Enjoy it whilst one can

I know when I bike is too heavy for me, or if I have health issues,
However if my reaction times and reflexes slow considerably with age, that's far more difficult to judge.
Most of us don't notice.
Deterioration of the senses essential for safe driving can happen without us realizing.
My Father is 85, and believes he is as sharp behind the wheel as he's always been.
He isn't,
He's dangerous.
He just doesn't notice.

First started riding in 1959 (long story) but legally in '62 and have ridden continuously since. Last July I hit 70 and suddenly realised that at last--------------------I was old enough for a Beemer Sold my Bonnie and bought a R1150 RS, what a splendid machine, and it copes with my arthriticals in a very gentle way too

fontana wrote:

boxerscott wrote: Golly that`s a wee bit of a generalisation. I think if health issues prevail or the bike is too big to handle then one could consider downsizing. Packing it in is down to the individual. life is full of choices. We have to be more tolerant of the oldies. It comes to us all and it don`t come on it`s own either. Enjoy it whilst one can

I know when I bike is too heavy for me, or if I have health issues,
However if my reaction times and reflexes slow considerably with age, that's far more difficult to judge.
Most of us don't notice.
Deterioration of the senses essential for safe driving can happen without us realizing.
My Father is 85, and believes he is as sharp behind the wheel as he's always been.
He isn't,
He's dangerous.
He just doesn't notice.

How I laugh, My old man is just the same, his leg locks up from time to time (not the prosthetic one) worryingly that could happen on the gas whilst reversing out on to the busy main road where he lives. I offered them both a one way ticket to Switzerland whilst mum was in hospital recovering from a fall, thinking that I was protecting other road users , Mum said "we can not ski"

We are duty bound to be tolerant of the oldies, anyone can cause havoc on the road. Who are we to judge?

Corker of a post I may add.

boxerscott wrote:We are duty bound to be tolerant of the oldies, anyone can cause havoc on the road. Who are we to judge?

Corker of a post I may add.

This is very true.
I just found out that my hearing has deteriorated.
A few people have now expressed concerns to me, so I decided that I'd go and get it tested.
Confirmed.
My hearing is well below par.
The point being I didn't realize.
Senses can deteriorate with age, and we don't necessarily notice ourselves.
When the day comes when I become a liability on the road due to old age, I hope someone has the decency and kind heart to tell me, because the chances are I won't be aware of it myself.