Easy riders out of control

[sAsLEX]

kinda mirrors golf. You see the old guys who have played their whole life efforlessly swing and the ball goes straight and far. People new to the game are keen to impress and often stuff up!

[Two Smoker]

Guess what - I am 45. And no - I don't have a fat gut, and I have had my training wheels off for quite a long time. "I didn't get to where I am today without knowing how to ride a VTR1000..." Be careful with your generalisations, Dude!
Apart from a short break, I've been riding for 30 years, ride every day, do most of my own work on my bikes, and - like many other over 40 riders - don't fit the stereotype the media is trying to portray here for a bit of sensationalist "journalism". (I use the latter term in quotes, because as a professional writer I object to the sloppiness and lack off research such drivel betrays.) Yes, there are the 'weekend only racer types' who are in it for an adrenaline rush, just as there are those who want to buy into an image which is more exciting than their weekday persona. But there are also some (like me) who simply enjoy riding too much to give it away.

Yes sorry that was a bit generalised..... i did talk about the riders i saw having crappy handling skills, and the ones im talking about is guys that have been off bike for 20-30 years (think about it compare the bikes from then with the performance of a late model 600 nowadays)

My dad has just got back on a bike (well last year, and hes 46) after a gap of 3 years (due to the previous bike getting written off due to a stupid idiot running a stop sign into the side of him), the bike he has bought is a CBR1100XX (which is by no means a slow bike) but he has 8 yeaars riding experience with the MOT and has alwways been on a bike except for the short break (like yourself) He is a very experienced rider and has alot of skills required to ride the CBR......

I believe that if you have been off a bike for 20-30 years, you need to slowly break back into bikes, not go straight out and buy a litre sized bike......

[Skyryder]

Well there's no doubt about me. I'm in the age group but not the mentality (I hope). I was out with Dangerous and K14 not so long ago and I couldn't even keep up with a 250. Mind you I didn't even try. Life is fast enough for me on a cruiser.

Skyryder

[modalx]

OK let's see...

Late 40s, grey hair, kids gone, a bit of disposable income, litre sports bike...
Anyone want an SP? I clearly should be locked up or medicated before I hurt someone. Crazy old coot. The only difference between me and the stereotype is that I've been riding more or less continuously for 25+ years.

What a laugh! If mid-life crisis means realising you're a long time dead then I've had one since I was 20. And the bike is the universal panacea - it doesn't matter what is bugging me, the bike fixes it.

Here are some numbers for NSW that put some perspective on the issue:

Only 10% of motorcycles are registered to owners under 26 years of age, but this age group account for 33% of the riders involved in reported crashes and represent 37% of riders in fatal crashes.

Older riders own 42% of registered motorcycles but are far less likely to be involved in crashes (22% of all motorcycle crashes). However the proportion of motorcycle crashes that involve older riders has increased from 14% in 1995 to 22% in 2000.

There is a heap more at http://www.roadsafety.mccofnsw.org.au/a/38.html

I think it's hilarious that some people might see me as a sad/mad bastard desperately searching for lost youth. The thing is you either have the biker gene or you don't - some people just don't get it.

[SPman]

I think it's hilarious that some people might see me as a sad/mad bastard desperately searching for lost youth. The thing is you are either have the biker gene or you don't - some people just don't get it.

Amen!

And F**k them anyway!

[airplane]

I had an early 'mid life' revelation; I had to have a bike before I got too old and too scared to do so! I had always dreamed of having a bike when I was younger but parents etc wouldn't agree.

So, rather than be a returnee to biking I bought a 250 when I was in the mid 40s and learned to ride. I went to courses, track days and took things easy before going up to a VFR 750. I have now moved up further to a 'thou.

I also ride rather cautiously as I relly don't like the idea of getting hurt - or the cost of fixing up the bike!!

I guess I am a little bit different again from the rather silly UK press stereotype of the return to biking, careless hoon!.

[rodgerd]

Hi All

Did anyone see this story in the NZ Herald on Saturday?

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydispl...bsection=world


More Bike bashing......

You know what ticks me off most about the article? It's based almost entirely around the agitation of a bunch of cruiser cowboys running an anti-sportsbike campaign, who mostly seem to be interested in getting sportsbikes hammered. Ant, for fucks sakes, they're anti-helmet, and anti-equipment.

So not *only* are they morons, they're morons gunning for other riders.

If we're going to target middle aged guys buying bikes they can't ride, can we first go after middle aged wankers in Commodore SSes and Ford Explorers? I know which poses a greater danger to me...

[RiderInBlack]

I had an early 'mid life' revelation; I had to have a bike before I got too old and too scared to do so! I had always dreamed of having a bike when I was younger but parents etc wouldn't agree.

So, rather than be a returnee to biking I bought a 250 when I was in the mid 40s and learned to ride. I went to courses, track days and took things easy before going up to a VFR 750. I have now moved up further to a 'thou.

Fu*k that is sooo simaliar Parents paranoid about bikes (born 1963). Learner M/C licience 1991. First bike the GSXR250 (1998), then the VFR750 (full Licience 2001, VFR 2002), now the CBR1000FL (2004). The VFR was my only form of transport 2002-4. Lots of touring, lots of rides, doing more track time now to hone my skills.

[Aleph]

I will admit I have not done any research but I would not be surprised if the article was pretty accurate. I rode bikes in the late 70's to early 80's, biggest being a 450 which was pretty much a main form of transport for a while. I was out of bikes for about 15 years and the reintroduction was a 900. The motor size was not really an issue as I have never been one to push the bike to the edge but the bike really gave me an opportunity to "achieve" what I could only dream of years ago. I am seeing the "mid-life" issues people are experiencing and, yes, there will be plenty of stupid purchasers out there. Bikes have always been higher risk, big engines are a temptation and you can get in a lot of trouble in less than 1 second.
Rather than argue about generalisations I think you do have a growing problem and the question is whether it should be a worry to responsible bikers. Those of us who do not speed or crash (and yes it is not always our fault as I have experienced) pay already for the actions of those who, for whatever reason, are "accident prone". If the numbers of accidents and cost of law enforcement rise then so will registrations, ACC levies and insurance premiums. The guys causing the problems will be able to afford to pay, the potential new riders will not and we will lose a generation of bikers.
Of course, who has the time to do something about it.

[Jackrat]

I'M 47 and I like old twins.Next week if I win Lotto I might go buy me a new Duke.To anybody that say's I need retraining,,Go fuck yourselfs!!!

[James Deuce]

Patrick Stewart is a self confessed hoon. Saw him on Top Gear a couple of weeks ago.

The article is an excellent example of how powerful a lobby group the cruiser segment is both media and government circles.

[Lou Girardin]

It's no wonder, look at their demographic. Middle-aged, wealthy, influential professions, a little lesson for those who think they can't change anything. We really need them on our side, but I still can't resist taking the piss.

[brit_vtr]

It is starting to happen in NZ too though........ I have seen it at Cyclyspot and Holeshot, where 45-55 yr olds are getting onto VTR1000's.... i watched one guy on a VTR1000 hope on start it up, then select first gear without pulling in the clutch Then i watched another guy on a VTR1000SP that could bearly fit over his gut to reach the handle bars and had extremely bad handling skills.......

There definately needs to be relicencing and further training courses and the like.... As for doing 290kmh in resedintial, thats just fucking stupid.......But getting knee down and pulling wheelies...... depends where it is......

Hey no fare....thats me you just described...oops just read it again, I.m only 40 going on 20 !!!, safe for a few years yet then.

[Motu]

This one has been cropping up for a few years now,and I gotta say there is a lot of truth in it.As someone in the age group with no disposable income I'm shocked with how much money is out there,they are not buying just bikes but anything that takes their fancy.Flash new bike and the gear to go with it,build a new garage to put it in,dirt bike for the kid,trailer to tow it,better get a Terrano to haul it too.If I was in their position I'd do it myself - woe is me.

I spent 10 yrs on Waiheke Island,not a big place and I could ride all the roads before breakfast.I had 750s over there and rode bigger,got up to and over 160km a few times maybe,but generaly it was pretty relaxed riding.The XS1 was on the pegs most of the time but,and I remember one time my boss called me down to Matiatia wharf to bring something down in a hurry - so I slammed my helmet on and jumped on my Guzzi Stornello and headed out from Ostend....he looked at his watch as I walked in the office...''that was 4 minutes since I hung up'' So hey,I was having fun ok? Lots of gravel roads,I was riding off road all the time and racing bikes at the dirt track - no slacking off in paradise for me.

But coming back to Auckland I was seriously doubting my riding ability - frankly I was a fucking danger to myself and other road users...I could only ride for short periods,around town there was just too much to take in and it was scary stuff.On open roads I was out of depth too and I became quickly aware that the old girl just wasn't up with the play and needed a bike that handled and stopped a bit better.

I've told this story before - but it points out that even an experianced rider can be riding beyond their ability in seemingly ordinary conditions - the difference is I was able to see I was in trouble,take my time to build up confidence and abilities and then move onto a better bike for my purposes.It could of all gone wrong and I could be a statistic of an older rider coming to grief - cept I have never stopped riding.If I had of maybe I'd have a disposable income.

[toads]

Well me and Pete sort of fit the bill as far as the mid life thing goes, but I really think this article stereotypes our age group, quite honestly I am too paranoid of pain to risk going too fast or taking risks unnessecerily, I have only just got back into bikes after a 20 year break from it and same with Pete, I think he's a better rider than me and both of us drive vehicles a lot, I would have to say we are considerate and careful drivers/riders and will only get hoonish when we are confident LOL