Can you get too old for a sports bike?

[Evo1132]

Went riding with a friend of mine yesterday.
He was really feeling the cold, kept getting up off his arse when going ova the smallest bump, and then he wanted to cut the ride short. He is over 50 now on a TL, is he gunna have to lean more towards a tourer or will his off days just become more frequent? Anyone have any experience with this?

[NZsarge]

I traded my '02 Thunderace in on the 06 FZ1 i'm currently riding, loved the Ace as it was a great machine to ride out on country roads when I was in the mood for a play but more and more I found it painful to ride at legal speed particularly on long straights ofcourse.
The the FZ1 is a great bike as it has a faster motor than the Ace and about 90-95% of the sportyness without the prone riding position meaning I enjoy my rides more and don't suffer the next day when I go on longer rides.
It's a comfortable sportsbike really.
Sooo, yes I feel I can't deal with sport bike prone riding positions anymore, at least not for long periods of time and i'm not 50, no for a few years yet.

[James Deuce]

We all get older and we all conciously and unconciously adapt. I don't get on with Sportsbikes because of all the bits I've broken.

It's not the end of the world as you seem to be intimating.

[98tls]

Im an oldish bugger and have a TL,dont ride as much as i did when young but still like packing it up and heading off for big trips.no problem riding 7 or so hours a day with the odd smoke stop.For me anyway its the short rides i cant be bothered with anymore.Theres ways to make his TL more comfortable ie higher bars and different pegs,maybe a Corbin or Gel seat.

[Ixion]

Tell him to switch to the SV1000S. Quite similar to the TL, but acknowledged as an old man's bike. And certainly it gives me no problems and I'm some few years older than your friend.

[Badjelly]

Went riding with a friend of mine yesterday.
He was really feeling the cold, kept getting up off his arse when going ova the smallest bump, and then he wanted to cut the ride short. He is over 50 now on a TL, is he gunna have to lean more towards a tourer or will his off days just become more frequent? Anyone have any experience with this?

Why you whippersnapper! You need to respect your elders and betters. "Will his off days become more frequent?" indeed. Harrumph. Why, if I were 30 years younger I'd put you over my knee and spank you!

[MIXONE]

I think it's a bit like sex.When you are young you just want to rush at it and score as high a number as possible but when you mature more you want comfort and to be able to relax and enjoy the ride.

[Motu]

Had my one and only head down arse up bike in 1973.I've thought about it a few times,but they are just too narrow focused for me,I expect a bike to do a lot more for me than go around a few select corners fast.

[slowpoke]

Went riding with a friend of mine yesterday.
He was really feeling the cold, kept getting up off his arse when going ova the smallest bump, and then he wanted to cut the ride short. He is over 50 now on a TL, is he gunna have to lean more towards a tourer or will his off days just become more frequent? Anyone have any experience with this?

Not that I'm over 50, but none of the symptoms you mention seem to be bike specific. Off the seat over the smallest bump? Suspension is adjustable. Feeling the cold? Buy the appropriate gear or ride in the appropriate weather.

[homer]

you seem to get a change of mind about the type of bike you get in to later .
i went from a more sports bike to a bandit as its a lot easier ride position.
I also tryed riding a gsxr1000 only a couple years old and i definately couldnt go back to a true sports bike .

[Mr Merde]

Ask Korumba,

I know for a fact that his current ride is a Honda Goldwing and 3 months ago he was on an R1





p/t

[pritch]

It's not a function of age so much as health. One person might be fine at fifity someone else may be suffering from arthritis and be in pain.

Not to ride at all is not the only option, there is also the option to choose a more comfortable ride. There is a whole range of bikes to suit people with health problems, and if all else fails there's some damn decent maxi scooters around now :whistle:

[CookMySock]

He was really feeling the coldHeated jacket, heated grips.


kept getting up off his arse when going ova the smallest bumpOhlins it.

Nah the cruiser wont be much better. Then he will get a sore ass as well.


Steve

[yungatart]

Went riding with a friend of mine yesterday.
He was really feeling the cold, kept getting up off his arse when going ova the smallest bump, and then he wanted to cut the ride short. He is over 50 now on a TL, is he gunna have to lean more towards a tourer or will his off days just become more frequent? Anyone have any experience with this?

Are you suggesting that 50 is old...cheeky whippersnapper.

I am not old, even though I am "that age"
Just go and wash your dirty little mouth out, and stay in your room until you can behave!:bash:

[Jerry74]

The answer is NO hahahahaha I plan on riding mine as long as I can

[MSTRS]

...., kept getting up off his arse when going ova the smallest bump, and then he wanted to cut the ride short. ...

I is that age, and don't have any issues with the Gixxer. Short rides, long rides, touring, solo or with a pillion...it's all the same.
Perhaps he has the dreaded piles ?

[rainman]

Cruis-ah! Cruis-ah! Cruis-ah!....

:wari:


Naah only kidding, whatever makes his heart beat faster. And if that's better shocks and heated grips and a thick jacket and a thermal vest and... two wheels that he's happy with, then it's all good.

[AlBundy]

I know a guy around 60 that rides a ZX10R, so no, got nothing to do with age...

[Headbanger]

My oldboy is 60 or there about, he's got a GSX 1000.....

[doc]

He either has to HTFU or growup and get an Oldwing. When your hands are the same level as your arse when riding at the age, you need to be friendly with your local physio. :dodge:

[Goblin]

Perhaps he has the dreaded piles ?Aaahhh!! Break out the roid cream!;)

[Evo1132]

Lol, good to hear, coz I love ridin with him, had lots of fun with him yesterday, just noticed things he was doin that I hadnt noticed before.
You'll hav to catch this whippa, snappa, to do any thing nasty, sorry boys, lol

[Ocean1]

*Bunch of grumpy brokenarse old bastards*


over 50 now on a TL, is he gunna have to lean more towards a tourer or will his off days just become more frequent?

50? Yeah, orta be well grown outa sprotsboiks.

Needs to spend a few years on a fookin' big dirt bike, mebe get into some enduro.

Mud's way softer y'know, on the more mature frame...

[AllanB]

Ah hemroids - I'll post pics later :sick:

I may be wrong but I am pretty sure that when you turn 50 you get a letter from the Queen with a certificate for a 10% discount off a new Harley.

[pete376403]

*Bunch of grumpy brokenarse old bastards*



50? Yeah, orta be well grown outa sprotsboiks.

Needs to spend a few years on a fookin' big dirt bike, mebe get into some enduro.

Mud's way softer y'know, on the more mature frame...

+1 to that. Get him to try a new KLR650. (when you've all finished laughing...)

[Crisis management]

+1 to that. Get him to try a new KLR650. (when you've all finished laughing...)

Should I suggest a DR?


I finally figured out why you ride a KLR Pete....you're 3 years older than me!

[rocketman1]

I am in my mid 50s and still hoon around on a SV1000S, hey some people never grow old aye.
Why should I ride a ST1300 or a FJR1300 or a VFR800 all good old mans bikes when I can still go for it on sports styled bike.

I know a guy in his 70's that rides a R1 Yamaha, go for it I reckon,
If your mind and body is still active, buy whatever bike you like.

[Goblin]

He was really feeling the cold, kept getting up off his arse when going ova the smallest bump, Maybe he just had a full bladder? I lift my arse off the seat for every little bump when I need to pee too. It's when they start stretching one leg after 15 mins, you know they're too old for a sprotsbike.

[Gareth51]

Didn't ya know life begins at 50,kids are gone,and its time to injoy life
whats a few stiff joints etc,the ride always worth it.

[pritch]

Ah hemroids - I'll post pics later :sick:


No hurry!!!

[pete376403]

Should I suggest a DR?


I finally figured out why you ride a KLR Pete....you're 3 years older than me!

You could suggest a DR. I have no experience with them, so can't offer an opinion.

[Swoop]

when you turn 50 you get a letter from the Queen with a certificate for a 10% discount off a new Harley.
With the amount of crusiers on the Boobs on Bikes parade, I think the letter might come from A queen...

[kevfromcoro]

Old..chickens breasts..
iam in my mid 50s and still ride a honda xl 600 r
mind you ,,i did arse off the other day....hooning around on the beach

[dpex]

I think one of the best things Frosty has taught me is to remain aware of any diminution in riding assets. Cold and fatigue have a greater impact on we 'slightly' older specimens. And so it seems the advice from several that comfort is paramount for us. As Dangerous asserts, heated grips and heated jacket, or at least grips and very warm clothes are essential during the cold/wet times. A comfortable seat and seating position are also essential at all times.

As Frosty made it clear to me, the loss of just one external factor (eg: cold protection, or a sore arse) will soon erode more than one internal factor (eg: concentration and 4-quad scanning rates). Personal experience has now had me understand what he was on about.

But, unless a biker of any age has some specific issue which either seriously attenuates or even removes an essential skill set, then no, I don't think age should be considered a barrier.

Perhaps the biker first mentioned has just had enough but is, perhaps, just a bit too embarrassed to hang up his gloves. That's an ego thing, and God knows, I am well acquainted with damage unbridled ego can cause.

[Ocean1]

There's a recognised effect, whereby ongoing health, even into very old age, is adversely and dramatically affected by some mini-crisis.

Often an old timer lives on for years and years at a certain level of activity/ability. One day they fall down, incurring some minor damage. The sequelae of that minor damage prevents them carrying out their normal daily routine, and that causes a dramatic deterioration in their general overall health.

The outcome is seemingly out of proportion to the original problem, but it's the trigger for a number of minor systems degradations that add up to a marked decline in general health.

For old timers "use it or lose it" takes on a different, more sinister meaning. The solution is the same as when you're young: stay fit, but that's increasingly harder to do, and the consequences of a mistake are higher.

Live with it.

Or not.

[Ixion]

Some of that is societal

Young guy is keen on bikes . And a beer or two. So he gets a kick out of riding, few hours at the pub with mates. happy, challenged (knee down, all that shit).

Then one day he has on off. Knocks himself about a bit, nothing critical but some time in the infirmary. When he gets out, what happens ? Well, odds are nothing much. But maybe Mum, partner, girlfriend, boyfriend, goat (as may be) does a bit of a bleat "Oh you should stop riidng those dangerous motorbikes. And stop drinking . And stop and stop and stop" etc. As they do. Our young man will say "Fark off. It's me fulfillment in life". And go buy another bike on the way to the pub. So, he carries on , has a reasonably decent life. All sweet

But now consider an oldish geezer. Not REAL old , but say 60 something. Same deal. Bikes, beer. Has an off. What happens when HE gets out of the infirmary? All hell is what. Invariably all the world plus dog will descend on him, demanding that he give up riding, give up beer , give up anything that makes life vaguely interesting. "Fark off " says he. "Might as well be dead". But does he get left alone to get on with it. No way. Every relly to the 10th generation is swung in, hideous women with cropped haircuts are brought in to lecture him, doctors scare the shit out of him, he's badgered from morning to night, until he finally cracks under the stress. And gives it all away. Result is he's totally miserable, bored as hell, nothing in life to make it worth while. Next thing y'know , he's dead.

No, not autobiographical (one reason why I make bloody sure I don't crash!). But I've seen it happen to a TRUCK load of people. And I'm damn sure that if folk would just let them be, they'd have been fine.

[Big Dave]

Well I'm nearly 50 and my attitude to sports bikes hasn't changed at all.

I've never like them much.

[puddy]

You could suggest a DR. I have no experience with them, so can't offer an opinion.
Am onto my third GSXR1000, and have just got a DR too ........ they go together great!
Yeah, and he needs to MAN UP!

[Forest]

My world changed for the better when I found out about heated grips and heated seats.

Haven't tried a heated jacket though. Sounds pretty tempting at this time of year.

[nadroj]

Are you suggesting that 50 is old...cheeky whippersnapper.

I am not old, even though I am "that age"
Just go and wash your dirty little mouth out, and stay in your room until you can behave!:bash:

Not old - just experienced!

[Owl]

I think age plays a part as well as fitness and health. I once allowed my boss (early 50's) to ride my old 750cc sports bike. He pulled over after riding about 30 metres, so I trotted down the road to see what was up. Poor bugger was stuck with his hips locked and in a quite a bit of pain. I held the bike upright while a workmate had to help him get off it. He soon recovered and said "How the fuck can you ride that thing. I couldn't even move".

[Mom]

Ask Korumba,
I know for a fact that his current ride is a Honda Goldwing and 3 months ago he was on an R1
p/t

He says his sciatica is much improved too :yes:

[Pwalo]

Well I'm almost 50, but I don't have any problems on the SV. As has been said I think general fitness helps. So does being able to touch your toes, and not having a large belly (something that does get really difficult!).

I know the SV's not a full on sportsbike, but it doesn't feel as comfortable as one of the newer GSXRs to sit on. Any way I prefer 'sportier' bikes because they tend to be lighter, and have a closer rider position.

[CookMySock]

bloody hell, what a lot of HTFU bullshit.. Riding trips in the winter without heated gear is just stupid. Its fucking cold and nasty, and all your effort goes into coping with the freezing conditions rather than enjoying the ride. HTFU ? I dont think so.

Last trip was to Wellington and back - 1200km. The return trip I did with one ten minute break, not out of bravado - I stopped coz I though I oughta, and in ten minutes I was bored shitless so I got back on the bike and fucked off. BUT, after that amount of time riding, I was COMPLETELY SICK of my stupid suspension - every lip on a bridge bashed my spine harrrd. I've been told repeatedly the suspension is junk, and I wholeheartedly agree. It's ruining my experience and taking away my joy, and thats not going to fly.

I don't think its about being old. I think its about not tolerating crap. Geez if you're too cold then do something about it after all this time.. If the suspension is nasty on your body, then spend some top-dollar on some Ohlins - end of problem, back to enjoying life.

Steve

[GaZBur]

....kept getting up off his arse when going ova the smallest bump, and then he wanted to cut the ride short. He is over 50 now on a TL, is he gunna have to lean more towards a tourer or will his off days just become more frequent? Anyone have any experience with this?
A lot of us at that age can take the knocks and are still racing. I suspect he may have damage or a problem he didn't want to discuss and maybe blamed the cold. Getting off his arse for the smallest bump? Something he sits on might be tender!!!

[sinfull]

Yeah go to the chemist and buy him a tube of hemo cream and a pot of tiger balm ! Sounds like ya know him well enough for him to laugh it off (then apply the cream later in private lol)
Who knows what the mans history is , could be that his Bones ache after a short ride, if he aint conditioned (know mine do) been a couple of months of not the best riding weather lately so im bettin that was his first in a wee while !
Has to be a bloody hot day for me not to wear the kevlar trou to keep the knees warm these days, or i aint walking too well for the next two !
Same goes for the shoulder and elbow joints that have all been smashed up over the years !

[NighthawkNZ]

Can you get too old for a sports bike?

yes when you need a step ladder to climb on...

[FROSTY]

In my opinion its not age. Its how you feel at the time of the ride.
cold miserable day after a series of cold miserable days.maybee not ridden for a couple of weeks etc etc -it all adds up

[Big Dave]

Riding trips in the winter without heated gear is just stupid.

Heated gear is for pussies - HTFU you girl.

[Mr Merde]

Heated gear is for pussies - HTFU you girl.


Meeeeoooww

[Toaster]

I loved sports bikes but injuries of a rough few decades of bodily abuse made it a bit tough for rides over an hour on the wrists, back, hips etc.

The cruiser is very easy to ride and comfortable. Tourers would be a good option.

Mind you, I was drooling over the new Busa the other day mmmmmm.....

[Big Dave]

Mind you, I was drooling over the new Busa the other day mmmmmm.....

I think they are techno and performance marvel.

But what is the point any more?

I had a Busa test bike for a week and came very close to losing my licence twice. Just that the cop on the on-ramp was already booking someone or I was gooooone.

I even saw a bunch of blokes on new Gixxers and R1s on coming back in from SH16 the other day. New bikes, $1000 helmets - alpine stars leathers - and actually I felt sorry for them.

I find that quite frustrating now. Crouched up in a racing ball doing 110kph.

Nothing to do with age - just the three highway patrols that were on the same road.

[sinfull]

Heated gear is for pussies - HTFU you girl.Awwwww nooooo you didn't just say that ? Don't you know you will envoke the wrath of (*dont talk to me i dont like you*) Db with a comment like that !

But what is the point any more?
I find that quite frustrating now. Crouched up in a racing ball doing 110kph.

Nothing to do with age - just the three highway patrols that were on the same road.

Very very valid point !
Even on the triple i find anything under 130 gets hard on the arms/wrists
But i went for the forward position due to lower back issues more than anything else
But i'm also a freak (speed freak) so thinking i need both ! One for track and one for road ! Been thinkin HD, but might hang for the new t/bird to arrive

[Big Dave]

Awwwww nooooo you didn't just say that ? Don't you know you will envoke the wrath of (*dont talk to me i dont like you*) Db with a comment like that !


There's been signs of a sense of humour.

[CookMySock]

Heated gear is for pussies - HTFU you girl.:rolleyes: See, you will get newbies reading this and thinking they have to be all tough and staunch, and thats what riding a bike is all about. It's not. It's about enjoying what you do and not getting dead while you do it.

Stay warm and dry, and keep your mind on the road and have a good time.

DB

[Big Dave]

Told ya!..... :-)

[sinfull]

But he has no idea who your talking too lol oh wait you quoted me !

[Big Dave]

Kidding around aside then.

I don't have any heated gear - don't find I need any.
Do have good thermal gear and layer it.

[Big Dave]

There's no rights and wrongs in all this. What it comes down to is how you use the machine.

If you rate the track highly then you are more inclined to compromise the general day to day utility so you can go flat maggot down the back straight.

IF you think a 'decent' day ride is 600km away from a track, then the Valentino act ain't for you.

[Richard Mc F]

Too old for a sports bike harden up try a 25 year old sports bike, I still get my jolies on mine, but need at least 200kms before I will even call it a ride....more is better:niceone:

[Big Dave]

Too old for a sports bike harden up try a 25 year old sports bike, I still get my jolies on mine, but need at least 200kms before I will even call it a ride....more is better:niceone:

'There is a fine line between pleasure and pain.' - Chrissy.

[HenryDorsetCase]

more bikes = better. I think you need four or five.

a track bike and trackdays for the adrenaline rush that only really fast riding can give. (but in relative safety)

a road bike for bopping around on (this can be two bikes even: a tourer and a JRA bike ("just riding around")

a dual purpose bike ("whats up that shingle road?")

a "project" which can be spread about in the garage and tinkered with. This can also but doesnt have to be a "classic" whatever your definition of that is.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Too old for a sports bike harden up try a 25 year old sports bike, I still get my jolies on mine, but need at least 200kms before I will even call it a ride....more is better:niceone:

do you get the Angelina Jolies or one of the lesser ones, Maddox perhaps, or the twins?

[gijoe1313]

There's no rights and wrongs in all this. What it comes down to is how you use the machine.

If you rate the track highly then you are more inclined to compromise the general day to day utility so you can go flat maggot down the back straight.

IF you think a 'decent' day ride is 600km away from a track, then the Valentino act ain't for you.


Too old for a sports bike harden up try a 25 year old sports bike, I still get my jolies on mine, but need at least 200kms before I will even call it a ride....more is better:niceone:

Mmmm loving the way these two think ... :love: And thats why I love my nakeds, get the best of both worlds :niceone: Ever since I have started to become infirmed, the pleasure of my little chew fiddies allows me to handle the jandle and pootle along even though I have a gammy knee/leg, full bladder, cataracts and other assorted old age related phenomenon ... heck, its getting to the point where some kids are saying something and all I end up replying is "shut up you pesky kids!" (oh wait, I'm a school teacher ... )

Hmm been a while since I have gotten lost on some back road somewhere ...

[HenryDorsetCase]

'There is a fine line between pleasure and pain.' - Chrissy.

mppppfffff mmppppppffffffff YES MISTRESS!!!


(thats how I usually answer that particular question)

[Winston001]

My mates are around the 50s age group and like a lot of us, have re-discovered motorcycling once our ankle-biters are old enough to terrorise other people.

My observation of this general group is they are choosing adventure bikes or cruisers or tourers. The reasons given are comfort, mortality, bad backs, or any combination of those.

For me, my Duke is a sports bike by comparison with the above, even if its not pure sport. It does both touring and scary very well. :eek:

Its a physiological fact that our reaction times slow as we age so no point pretending otherwise. Better to recognise that and adjust than bin out.

[Pwalo]

Well I guess you could always grow a moustache and harde....... (well obviously that probably doesn't apply to most of our female members - sh&t, did I write members).

[SPman]

Even on the triple i find anything under 130 gets hard on the arms/wrists
Whereas on the XJR, it all gets a bit hard on the neck over 130-140.(unless you have a tail wind or are stoked....)

[Big Dave]

mppppfffff mmppppppffffffff YES MISTRESS!!!


(thats how I usually answer that particular question)

Information = Too much.

[James Deuce]

People with back problems who pick cruisers as comfortable don't have back problems.

[imdying]

The answer is clear... every man should have more than one bike :yes:

[Imbray]

I think it depends the injuries you carry, I keep threating to trade my hubby in for 2 24yr old's :innocent:.

He's just (last week) gone to a FJR 1300 A because of age / injuries & he's loving it, not that there was a lot of options for him, the DR's want to "frezze" :bash: his left ankle, been broken/ damaged in general 1 to many times so changing gear a challange, but with the FJR 1300 A there's no clutch so no worries :wari:

But I still think 2 24yr old's could be fun :innocent:

[Evo1132]

The answer is clear... every man should have more than one bike :yes:

I love it, the more the merrier.

[Richard Mc F]

do you get the Angelina Jolies or one of the lesser ones, Maddox perhaps, or the twins?

Hmmmmm good question, must be Angelina's italian relation:whistle:

[RDJ]

Went riding with a friend of mine yesterday.
He was really feeling the cold, kept getting up off his arse when going ova the smallest bump, and then he wanted to cut the ride short. He is over 50 now on a TL, is he gunna have to lean more towards a tourer or will his off days just become more frequent? Anyone have any experience with this?

On the wrong side of 50, I found the wrists and back (and neck in commuter traffic) suffering too much / too quickly on any moderately lengthy sport bike ride. A lot easier to tuck down on the cruiser for a quick blast but ride in comfort most of the time, in the end I parted with the Busa with no regrets at all.

A considerable part of my move away from sports bikes was also not ergonomic related but the fact that to get the best of those bikes we need to keep them up in the rev range, which we don't have to do with cruisers: and since most of my riding is commuting, the Vrod and Dyna are much better for me than the Busa. Especially in wet weather.

[Evo1132]

I hear ya there, rode the R1 this winter as my only transport, hopefully the first and last winter too.

[MD]

I don't think the question is 'are you too old for your sportsbike'
It's more "are you to old to enjoy your sportbike". If the answer is no then you need to try another style that you enjoy more.
Í have wondered over the years if/when will I lose interest in sportbikes. The trouble is each year better bikes come out to wet your appetite.

What is a shame, is when older folks with sportsbike start to find them uncomfortable, or too much effort , but they try and hang on in there and simply end up riding less because the enjoyment has gone. The bike sits gathering dust for longer periods between use and they mistaken this for a lose of interest in riding.

I don't find my 675 uncomfortable at all and when riding it I'm oblivious to the comfort issue. But I must admit that jumping on a naked bike or cruiser does show me that there is a difference in the seating position!

[SPman]

I don't find my 675 uncomfortable at all and when riding it I'm oblivious to the comfort issue. But I must admit that jumping on a naked bike or cruiser does show me that there is a difference in the seating position! I found riding sportsbikes comfortable - because I'd ridden in that position for so long, perhaps. Riding the XJR is like riding a big bouncy comfy armchair! The FZ1 is, perhaps, the best compromise twixt the two, that I've experienced, but is still a bit upright.

(I think I'll put flat bars on the 250 Suzi and pretend I'm 20 again.......)

[Pussy]

I've used up more than half the summers I'm ever going to get, and I still enjoy sport bike riding... the sem fiddy is quite a comfy longer distance bike, well I find it is

[Pussy]

Aaahhh!! Break out the roid cream!;)

Word of advice... DON"T go flying a topdressing plane,in turbulence, an hour after having a 'roid cut out. No fun when the anaesthetic wears off... so I'm told :whistle:

[SPman]

.. the sem fiddy is quite a comfy longer distance bike, well I find it is
If it's as comfy as the 1000, it'd be fine.

[Pussy]

If it's as comfy as the 1000, it'd be fine.

Yep, the K6 sem fiddy is more comfy for me than either my K1, K3, or K4 1000 was, and about the same comfort level my K6 1000 was. I will admit, however, to having the footpegs set on the lower position... but I am 6ft tall.
I'm quite happy to go do a 500-700km day on the sem fiddy, and I'm not that far away from the half century