Riding into old age

**Blackbird** · 20th December 2018, 13:10

More than a few of us on KB are on the wrong side of "mature" in terms of age. Oh, ok then….. old farts. I’m 71, reasonably healthy and fit apart from knackered knees. Have been riding for 55 years apart from a shortish break when we first arrived in NZ in the mid-70’s.

I’ve had a few other interests and still do, but nothing has stirred the soul like riding a bike. Not riding would be pretty hard to take and the start of the downward slide as far as I’m concerned. Back in 2011, I made the conscious decision to stop riding like a twat and upskill with IAM. That decision was one of the best I’ve ever made and has undoubtedly extended my riding career, not to mention increasing overall enjoyment.

Ok, I’ve tidied up my riding and it’s now time to start thinking about the next steps to stay on two wheels for as long as I can. My GSX-S1000 is a great bike but it’s getting a tad heavy and slightly tall for me, especially as I’m a bit of a shortarse at 5’8” in old money and shrinking. Time to start looking at another bike which is significantly lighter and/or slightly lower.

Choosing a bike is a highly personal one based on what you want to use it for and whether you get a genuine emotional connection with it. I like the GSX-S a lot but don’t love it. It does its job well and has a hell of a performance but in-line fours don’t really do it for me any more. This time round, I still want great performance but more of an emotional connection plus the other criteria I mentioned in terms of weight and size.

The Chief Financial Officer, bless her heart, has given the nod to replace the Gixxer next year although I’ll probably wait until spring. In the meantime, I’ll chew over all the options out there. Right now, there are two bikes in the frame. The first is a Street Triple 765 R. The 675 Triple I had for 6 years was the best all-round bike I ever owned. The 765 fits all my criteria. The second possibility came from left field quite recently but the more I read, the more I love it. There’s still a bit of hooligan in me and I reckon that the KTM Duke 790 could fit the bill nicely.

The next few months will be fun organising a test ride or two and I’m looking forward to the next phase of my riding career. Any other errr… mature KB members out there going through similar thought processes to extend their riding?

As the saying goes, you don’t stop riding because you get old, you get old because you stop riding!

**Laava** · 20th December 2018, 13:28

I like the way you are thinking, the duke will be taller but lighter than your current ride, thats not to say the seat is the same so it could work. Mate there are so many awesome machines out there now, you can't really go too far wrong so long as you can get a decent demo ride...

**Blackbird** · 20th December 2018, 13:40

Originally Posted by Laava

I like the way you are thinking, the duke will be taller but lighter than your current ride, thats not to say the seat is the same so it could work. Mate there are so many awesome machines out there now, you can't really go too far wrong so long as you can get a decent demo ride...

The Duke is pretty similar in height but as you say, the seat shape makes a big difference and at under 170 kg, it's a heap lighter. You're spot on about choices. This time though, I'm going to make sure there's a great emotional connection. When I bought the 675 Triple, I would have bet you good money that the Ducati Monster or Thruxton Bonnie would have been ahead of it. However, within 15 minutes of jumping on it, I knew that i just had to have it! With the Gixxer, it was a bit of an impulse purchase although I certainly don't regret owning it.

**SaferRides** · 20th December 2018, 13:57

I’m a good few years younger than you, but have had a difficult 3 months recovering from a back injury and riding the R1 hasn’t been the best therapy. I did have dark thoughts about buying a mate’s GS when he bought a new one, but resisted the urge to pick up the phone.

I do like what I’ve read about the new KTM and might try for a test ride. I expect that won’t be a problem at Boyds.

I’ve also thought about a Daytona 675, but I suspect the R1 could be my last sports bike.

**Blackbird** · 20th December 2018, 14:12

Originally Posted by SaferRides

I’m a good few years younger than you, but have had a difficult 3 months recovering from a back injury and riding the R1 hasn’t been the best therapy. I did have dark thoughts about buying a mate’s GS when he bought a new one, but resisted the urge to pick up the phone.

I do like what I’ve read about the new KTM and might try for a test ride. I expect that won’t be a problem at Boyds.

I’ve also thought about a Daytona 675, but I suspect the R1 could be my last sports bike.

Can understand that with the R1! Towards the end of my 8 years with the Blackbird, I found the forward stretch hard on the wrists and neck. Going to a naked (the Street Triple) was ergonomically far more pleasant for an ageing body and the wind blast at sane highway speeds was just fine. It actually helped to slow me down a bit in terms of speed. Ditto with comfort on the Gixxer. The only concession was putting on 20 mm lower footpegs as a concession to my knees and that worked perfectly. Totally at home with a naked bike now. Yep, I have the Gixxer serviced at Boyds and they look after me well. I'll get a test ride there, then nip across the road to test the Triple. That's where I bought the 675 from.

**jim.cox** · 20th December 2018, 14:13

I'm awaiting the day when I can no longer start the ducati - its kick only.

But even then I have no plans to sell it - I'll push it to the back of the garage and save it for my grandkids.

In the mean time I'm pootling around on a DR-Z250 on a daily basis.

It doesn't hammer out of the corners in the same way, but its great round town.

Had I the money, I'd gladly add a 675-R Daytona to the fleet.

**babysteps** · 20th December 2018, 14:14

MV Agusta Brutale/Rivale/Stradle?

So you don't have to drink the Orange Coolaid

**Blackbird** · 20th December 2018, 14:20

Originally Posted by babysteps

MV Agusta Brutale/Rivale/Stradle?

So you don't have to drink the Orange Coolaid

Nah - don't want exotica. Question mark over reliability? I live a long way from any major service centre too.

**Blackbird** · 20th December 2018, 14:27

Originally Posted by jim.cox

I'm awaiting the day when I can no longer start the ducati - its kick only.

But even then I have no plans to sell it - I'll push it to the back of the garage and save it for my grandkids.

In the mean time I'm pootling around on a DR-Z250 on a daily basis.

It doesn't hammer out of the corners in the same way, but its great round town.

Had I the money, I'd gladly add a 675-R Daytona to the fleet.

I'm not sure I could kick over a big twin now! Totally understand why you'd want to hang onto it though.

Yeah, smaller bikes are great fun in town and on the back roads. One of my neighbours has the Suzuki X-7 250 which I used to own. It hasn't been on the road for several years and would be a lot of fun to own again. However, I'm time-poor and just want to ride with what time I have spare. I used to love engine building and general tinkering but just don't have the time now.

MD · 20th December 2018, 17:17

I too like your attitude and logic. Test ride heaps! That's not a chore.
Take a spin on a MT09 .You may be surprised how light, agile, comfortable and one of the price bargains of the decade and a triple. An awesome triple if I say so myself coming from a Triumph triple fan.

**F5 Dave** · 20th December 2018, 17:31

A point re the nakedness of the old 675. A mate's has just the cowl. Mine has the flyscreen attached. Amazing what difference that makes if you are perfectly formed for riding motorcycles (5'8).

**slofox** · 20th December 2018, 18:21

I have been working on the principal of only buying a bike I can pick up. I don't think I've ever had a bike I did NOT have to pick up at least once.

Which is why in 2010 I bought a GSX-R600. 163kg dry. Insane performance potential. Fitted like a glove.

It is also a really easy bike to ride in any conditions. It's as easy commuting as it is on the highway.
It's done 96,000km now (had 9 on it when I bought it) but still goes the same as ever.

Yep I had a few repairs to do (2 more serious ones) but other than that, it has performed like a divine sewing machine - permanently performing perfectly.

I'm 70, been riding 50 years and will keep this one for a while yet.

But as Blackbird said - there ain't nothing like a bike.

**Blackbird** · 20th December 2018, 18:22

Originally Posted by MD

I too like your attitude and logic. Test ride heaps! That's not a chore.
Take a spin on a MT09 .You may be surprised how light, agile, comfortable and one of the price bargains of the decade and a triple. An awesome triple if I say so myself coming from a Triumph triple fan.

Haha! Living in Coromandel, anywhere is a haul for a test ride

There are so many great bikes on the market but in my case, relatively few that have that "WOW" factor when you first look at them. I shall do my very best to be objective! I've ridden a Tracer and enjoyed it (a bit too tall) but not an 09.

Originally Posted by F5 Dave

A point re the nakedness of the old 675. A mate's has just the cowl. Mine has the flyscreen attached. Amazing what difference that makes if you are perfectly formed for riding motorcycles (5'8).

You're spot on! I had an Italian Barracuda flyscreen on my 675 and although I bought it for the looks, it was surprisingly effective. Did the annual 1600 km in under 24 hours Rusty Nuts ride on it and was the most comfortable of all the bikes I'd done it on.

**Blackbird** · 20th December 2018, 18:27

Originally Posted by slofox

I have been working on the principal of only buying a bike I can pick up. I don't think I've ever had a bike I did NOT have to pick up at least once.

Which is why in 2010 I bought a GSX-R600. 163kg dry. Insane performance potential. Fitted like a glove.

It is also a really easy bike to ride in any conditions. It's as easy commuting as it is on the highway.
It's done 96,000km now (had 9 on it when I bought it) but still goes the same as ever.

Yep I had a few repairs to do (2 more serious ones) but other than that, it has performed like a divine sewing machine - permanently performing perfectly.

I'm 70, been riding 50 years and will keep this one for a while yet.

But as Blackbird said - there ain't nothing like a bike.

Your knees and wrists must be in better nick than mine - don't think I'd fit all that well on a 600 with the high pegs! Nice bike but I don't want anything faired having had lots of them earlier in my riding career. If I wasn't in IAM and covering long distances on their behalf, something like a KTM 390 would be ideal for my home patch.