12 months after retiring from riding

[Blackbird]

Well, it's been almost exactly a year since selling the Duke 790 and retiring from riding at 75. A loose plan to safely extend my riding career started 12 years ago. Happy to say that it worked out a bit better than expected. In case it's of any interest to anyone who's thought about what to do when the time comes, this is how it worked for me.

https://geoffjames.blogspot.com/2023/04/12-months-since-retiring-from-riding.html .

Cheers,

Geoff

[FLUB]

Happy riding retirement anniversary.

[Blackbird]

Happy riding retirement anniversary.

Thanks Flub - time flies when you're having fun :laugh:

[Oakie]

Pleased it worked out for you. I'll be facing manageing that situation in two or three years.

[Black Knight]

When I turned 80 I figured it was time to sell my 100HP wheel lifting monster,but not give up riding.My ride now is a 50 plus year old Honda S90-10HP 80KPH flat out,cruise all day at 60 and so easy to handle.
Definately not a long distance cruiser but real fun terrorising the neighbourhood.When I can no longer get my leg over the seat,I will then give up riding,in the meantime.

[pete376403]

When I turned 80 ...

THere's hope for me yet!

[F5 Dave]

By that definition perhaps a C50 next. No leg swinging leg required.

[george formby]

By that definition perhaps a C50 next. No leg swinging leg required.

What about a Piaggio MP3? Absolutely grouse on wet roundabouts.. :whistle:

[george formby]

I'm only a young guy at 61 . 250 hours + under the belt riding the 500 two stroke MX bikes and , I took the KX500 '04 out a few months ago but it it didn't light my fire like it used to. Gets along Ok but . Guess I'm more concerned about keeping my body intact now, self preservation in my book.

Just sold my Gen 2 Hayabusa I've had from new ( 2011 ) too a few months ago. Nice Bike and plenty fast but, 12 years down the track...Time for a change ?

Probably won't be a Piaggio.

:laugh:
Give it another few more years..

[FLUB]

I'm only 60 but have already started re-evaluating. I suffer from peripheral neuropathy in my legs, with not much feeling, except constant pain, from my knees down. Recently I've started to get restricted movement in my left foot, making gear changing difficult.

So I've just moved from a Rocket 3 to a Burgman 650. Just slightly different! Having a fully automatic bike (scoot) with the rear brake where the clutch should be has brought back the pleasure of riding without worry. Of course a scooter that can do 180kph helps the fun, especially when it's like sitting on a comfy chair.

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[caseye]

I'm only 60 but have already started re-evaluating. I suffer from peripheral neuropathy in my legs, with not much feeling, except constant pain, from my knees down. Recently I've started to get restricted movement in my left foot, making gear changing difficult.

So I've just moved from a Rocket 3 to a Burgman 650. Just slightly different! Having a fully automatic bike (scoot) with the rear brake where the clutch should be has brought back the pleasure of riding without worry. Of course a scooter that can do 180kph helps the fun, especially when it's like sitting on a comfy chair.

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Welcome to the club!
Anytime you wanna check out the Africa Twin with it's amazing DCT, you just call.
Good excuse to catch up aye mate.

[SaferRides]

Well, it's been almost exactly a year since selling the Duke 790 and retiring from riding at 75. A loose plan to safely extend my riding career started 12 years ago. Happy to say that it worked out a bit better than expected. In case it's of any interest to anyone who's thought about what to do when the time comes, this is how it worked for me.

https://geoffjames.blogspot.com/2023/04/12-months-since-retiring-from-riding.html .

Cheers,

GeoffThanks for the update and the link, Geoff. It is an issue we all will face, unless other circumstances intervene.

For a number of reasons I didn't ride for about 4 months over the "summer" period. I was a bit nervous about getting back on a bike, which I did on something a little more sedate than the R1. That went well, but riding the R1 again was a little more of a challenge. Things can happen very quickly...

What did surprise me was that the challenge was more mental than physical. It reminded me of a conversation with an adventure bike rider a few years ago. She was in her 40s and had bought a Tiger 800 when riding a sports bike had become too hard on her body.

She kept the sports bike for short rides, but eventually found that it was too difficult readjusting to it after predominantly riding the Tiger. So I'll keep riding the R1 as long as I can, in fact I'm looking for a newer one!







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[Blackbird]

Thanks for the update and the link, Geoff. It is an issue we all will face, unless other circumstances intervene.

For a number of reasons I didn't ride for about 4 months over the "summer" period. I was a bit nervous about getting back on a bike, which I did on something a little more sedate than the R1. That went well, but riding the R1 again was a little more of a challenge. Things can happen very quickly...

What did surprise me was that the challenge was more mental than physical. It reminded me of a conversation with an adventure bike rider a few years ago. She was in her 40s and had bought a Tiger 800 when riding a sports bike had become too hard on her body.

She kept the sports bike for short rides, but eventually found that it was too difficult readjusting to it after predominantly riding the Tiger. So I'll keep riding the R1 as long as I can, in fact I'm looking for a newer one!

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Thanks SR! I think we've all had similar experiences to your comments. Funnily enough, two Aussie bloggers with R1s whom I follow still have their bikes but now spend most of their time on adventure bikes. In both cases, it was partially to open up new riding opportunities but
mainly for comfort. As I got older, I found the Blackbird increasingly hard on the wrists on a long haul. Enjoy a newer R1 while you can! ��


Ps, on the average NZ road, a well ridden adv bike is the equal of a sport bike ��

[neels]

Interesting read, although I'm hopefully a while away from that point yet. The ongoing training part sounds like a useful way to keep the brain up to speed when other things are slowing down, unfortunately I can already relate to the previous comments about wrists, legs and ankles not being quite as keen on motorcycling as they used to be.

Maybe that's why all of the riding lately has been on older & smaller bikes around town or an hour or two out and about, to be honest that's been enough to scratch the itch, and the ducati has spent the last couple of years gathering dust in the garage. A few of the older riders I know are spending most of their time on middle aged 250s, just to get out and about and have some fun on something more manageable than their older/bigger bikes.

After having a drz400 for a while I can see the attraction of the adv bike, lots more possibilities for places to go off the sealed road, and riding position that's viable for a reasonable distance on road as well.

Maybe time to see what's out there that might see me through the next decade or so......

[F5 Dave]

Arrfugginbullshite there's an RGV on TM for crazy money. You just know you need it.

And maybe a season pass with the chiropractor.

[husaberg]

When I turned 80 I figured it was time to sell my 100HP wheel lifting monster,but not give up riding.My ride now is a 50 plus year old Honda S90-10HP 80KPH flat out,cruise all day at 60 and so easy to handle.
Definately not a long distance cruiser but real fun terrorising the neighbourhood.When I can no longer get my leg over the seat,I will then give up riding,in the meantime.
S90s are pretty cool.
maybe one of those 150 Chinese motors and a daytona 4v head might make it safer in urban traffic.:2thumbsup
Some of my funest times on bike was on CG125's nifty and DJ1 lead 80 and similar in heavy traffic. getting parts.
i still kick myself i never got on of the 50 Benly dreams when they were affordable
https://www.shannons.com.au/image-library/news/TBUA7YDPLD92C4AN_large/honda-dream-50-collectors-dream.jpg

[FLUB]

Welcome to the club!
Anytime you wanna check out the Africa Twin with it's amazing DCT, you just call.
Good excuse to catch up aye mate.We're still trying to find the time to come and see you both, but it is definitely in the plan.

[Racing Dave]

i still kick myself i never got on of the 50 Benly dreams when they were affordable


I bought one...

[F5 Dave]

I remember seeing you in pit lane and doing a double take.

[HenryDorsetCase]

i still kick myself i never got on of the 50 Benly dreams when they were affordable


Were they ever affordable? They were like $10k years ago.

lovely bit of jewellery though

[Racing Dave]

I remember seeing you in pit lane and doing a double take.

Fast for what it is, and lovely to look at, but my memory is that I finished in 5th place in the 2008 50cc GP, several laps behind your title-winning bucket racer. True (measured) top speed of just over 100 km/h, but that was flat on the tank and after a long wind up. The 'R' model had six gears to the road-going versions 5 speeder.

Again, from memory, the cost new from Blue Wing was $7000. It's now residing with a collector up norf.

[Frodo]

Thanks for the thoughtful article Geoff.
I turn 67 in June and yesterday I enjoyed the Remutaka Hill, Martinborough, Gladstone, Pahiatua Track, Shannon loop as much as ever (though rather frustrated at the slow traffic and roadworks over the Track).
I feel like I'm riding slower, but better and safer than in the past - hopefully not fooling myself.

[husaberg]

I bought one...

i am bloody envious.

[SPman]

S90s are pretty cool.
maybe one of those 150 Chinese motors and a daytona 4v head might make it safer in urban traffic.:2thumbsup
Some of my funest times on bike was on CG125's nifty and DJ1 lead 80 and similar in heavy traffic. getting parts.
i still kick myself i never got on of the 50 Benly dreams when they were affordable

I'd love to find a good Yamaha YL1 - my first bike - little 100cc twin - barrels of fun ..mind you those Honda S90s look so pretty ...

[Black Knight]

I have a S90,the most reliable/fun bike I have owned.Always starts second kick no matter how long it has sat in the shed.Cruise all day at 65kph which is ample considering the state of Northland roads.
Always attracts attention and comments when parked in town.The S90 has a great USA based Owners Club website with some keen enthusiasts.

[BigB]

Interesting read Geoff, I haven’t been here for few years and your post was one of the first that came up. I still have the bird coming up on 160,000km and still love it. Working from home it’s not getting out much these days but it still getting upgrades from Jaws. Glade to see you’re enjoying your retirement and keeping active.

[Blackbird]

Interesting read Geoff, I haven’t been here for few years and your post was one of the first that came up. I still have the bird coming up on 160,000km and still love it. Working from home it’s not getting out much these days but it still getting upgrades from Jaws. Glade to see you’re enjoying your retirement and keeping active.

Hello Brian,

Fantastic to hear that you still have the Blackbird and hope that you're well. Funnily enough, I had some recent dialogue with the editor of Bike Rider Magazine as he's a Coromandel regular for his test rides and talked about age-related riding and retirement strategies. He suggested that it might make a good article for BRM and he asked for a whole load of material and photos. I don't know whether anything will come of it but he sounded keen.

If everything remains on track, I've got a complete knee replacement coming up in Auckland at the end of the month. Not looking forward to it one bit but it should help no end in the longer run.

Take care and every good wish,

Geoff