Question from beginning rider…
David,
I came across your web site last year when I started riding. I am a beginner and just getting my feet wet. I have a 250 Kawaski Ninja. I do have a silly question though. I am new to this world of bikes and wonder if I have bitten off more than I can chew?
I am 46 years old and sometimes wonder what the heck I’m doing. I am not 20 anymore but when I get out on the open road (past my fears) I see things I’ve never seen before in a car – I love it!
Is there an age where you should NOT ride? My goal last year was 1500 miles – I rode 1200. Please give my any advise you may have for older, new beginners. Thank you again and ride safe.
Karen
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Hey Karen,
Re: Is 46 too old to ride a motorcycle?
Just recently, several riders over 60 (who ‘just started riding) have contacted me. Their thoughts, “Why did I wait so long?” Age [by itself] is a rather poor indicator of whether you should ride. While muscle strength and other mental factors DO deteriorate as we get older, other factors actually make older riders better suited. Let’s face it, a 50 year old male is less likely to wreck a Ford Mustang GTO than an 18 year male. With age comes maturity.
No… 46 is NOT too old to start riding.
Having said that, I started riding seriously ‘again’ at age 40. (I know, ha-ha mid-life?… maybe). I vividly recall my first 4-lane ride. Wow, there wasn’t anything about that ride that felt ‘right’. After that ride I made this promise to myself:
“I will ONLY continue riding if these fears (and uncomfortable feelings) go away.”
For me, they did. But only after practice, self-evaluations, improvements, and training. My riding mentor once told me that after decades of riding, he felt more fluid on a motorbike than he did walking around. I admit, when I first heard this it sounded foreign. But now, after riding for years, I understand his point.
The fear you describe is real and typical for a beginning rider. In fact, fear is not necessarily a bad thing. If a rider doesn’t have ANY fear, they don’t fully understand the real risks of riding.
Re: Seeing things you’ve never seen before on the open road…
All riders understand your statement! Even with a full-face helmet, the sites and smells of mother nature seem so different on a motorcycle.
You’re asking good questions. The Kawasaki 250 is a good motorcycle. Better yet, it sounds like you’re comfortable with it. Make sure to enroll in a formal training course — if you haven’t already.
David
Related posts:
7. June 2010 at 8:40 pm
Hey all,
What David says is true….age, in and of itself, isn’t a limiting factor on whether you should ride or not. It is true that we ‘mature’ riders need to know, and compensate for, the effects that maturation has on our physical and mental capacities. His advise to continue seeking training is sage… I teach the MSF Experienced Rider Course and am continually amazed at how little most motorcyclists know about the sport. My advise is to stay physically and mentally active, to ride your own ride, to have fun, enjoy the company of other motorcycle enthusiasts and continue learning and developing your motorcycle riding skills!
Kevin
8. June 2010 at 6:23 am
@Kevin: Thanks for your insights. It’s disheartening to hear that many of your students know so little about the sport.
David
16. June 2010 at 3:50 am
Just got my licence last year at age 50. I think my age and maturity make me a better rider than I would have been if I had done this 25 years ago. I went through a very thorough course that placed a lot of emphasis on safety, and I really took it to heart. I encourage anyone in my age group who is interested to give it serious thought.
27. July 2010 at 9:57 am
I don’t think there is an age that is too old to start or stop riding.
My Uncle road until he was 78. The only issue he had was holding up the larger bike, so he purchased a smaller lighter bike. We need to evaluate ourselves for things like reaction time, alertness, strength etc. before we decide to continue to ride or to start.
7. December 2010 at 6:32 pm
When are you too old hmm. I wondered the same thing when I bought my first bike at age 72 yes 72, it is a Kawasaki 900. should have started at 22. But the pleasure I get from it is terrific. I thought I had lost it last year as a very large medical problem arose and as a result I am on oxygen.
I have overcome this set back by putting a trike kit on. Hell its still a motorcycle, not the same but on the straight aways it is. I do believe too old would be dead.
16. December 2010 at 7:52 pm
Love your response, William! I feel the same way – when I can’t ride two wheels safely any more, I’ll add the trike kit and keep on ridin’!
7. December 2010 at 11:08 pm
Hello on to old,,my father was riding to his eighty’s and that was with knee replacements and back surgery and lots of other health problems…But everyone is different and we all have to make up our minds,,that when we start putting our self and others in danger its time to hang it up…. Good luck and be careful,, the people on cell phones are the main problem today….
8. December 2010 at 6:59 pm
I got back into riding at 69 after a long, really long absence. It is not the age, but your attention span and physical shape. I try to ride every day even bought a heated jacket for those colder days and now at 72 feel very comfortable. Please take a Basic Rider Course, but realize that qualifies you to ride at very slow speeds around a empty parking lot and not on a busy highway. First the parking lot, then with a friend on slow streets in a quiet neighborhood. Then slow city streets until you feel ready to go on the highways. Patience.
8. December 2010 at 8:26 pm
I started riding couple years ago at age 47. I started out with the BRC and bought a VStrom 650 for my first bike. I think not oversizing the bike is important for new riders and I think you have kept that in mind with your 250.
In my second year I did a 1800 mile loop from central Ohio to the south end of the Blue Ridge Parkway, up the parkway and Shenandoah NP and then back home. It was a great trip.
I’ve done most of my riding alone, but would expect it would be more fun and safe if you can find some good role models to ride with. Remember safety first at all times. 46 is not too old… I’d say you started a little early ;-P
Enjoy the bike, ride safe, and try to do it with good friends.
8. December 2010 at 9:17 pm
I am a member of two riding clubs so I have built-in groups to ride and have celebrate life with. One particualr club which has no dues, and their only rule is to ride safely and do not embarrass the club is the Southern Cruisers Riding Club.
http://www.southerncruisers.net Look them up and find the chapter closest to you. I enjoy every moment I am with them.
9. December 2010 at 10:27 am
I’m a senior rider and from my observations, one can be over their head at any age. Riding safely is mostly mental. As long as you are not physically challenged, and are able to handle the mass of the bike, and most importantly you have an attitude of ‘safety first,’ there is no reason to think you should not ride as long as the desire is there. Staying physically fit enough to ride motivates me to hit the treadmill and weights. I actually think that because of that motivation, it may add years to life. It certainly adds life to the years.
9. December 2010 at 10:01 pm
I started riding again at 29. i have been riding for 27 years (i am 34 just in case you’re trying to figure it out). I felt nervous getting back on after a five yaer break (Life happened). The fears went away real quick. Your goal of 1500 miles in a year is good for beginners (senior riders will do this in a month) and you need to be patient. you will become more comfortable the more you ride. While you are getting use to riding, do what sets you at ease first. then test new waters. Ride with a freind that has experience. remeber to relax and have fun but keep vigilant while on the road.
10. December 2010 at 2:41 pm
Karen, I am 63 years old and I started riding 30 days before my 61st birthday … so, I know how you feel. For 8 days I would go in my garage, sit on my ninja 250 and started it so many times that the first time i actually had the nerve to go out and ride, the battery was dead and i had to be towed into the shop! Anyway, there is a long story about my first ride, followed by a friend in a truck to pick me up if I fell over. I do think taking the safety courses and having a riding goal are very important. My first very lofty long range goal was to ride to Deming (from Santa Fe) for a BBQ on my 61st birthday. I needed to practice every day for the 30 days that I had given myself and I had a rule (stolen from the maintenance tips of a wise rider) that I had to ride 20 minutes or 20 miles every time i started my bike. What this meant was alot of time and riding and fear! But I did it and went to the picnic. It was one of the most important things I’ve ever done for myself. I put 6800 miles in 6 months and then got a VStrom650 which I had lowered 2″ and have now ridden it @9000 miles. I love it and it is actually easier to ride than the ninja. I still have issues with U-turns and gravel parking lots but try to challenge myself, continue have riding and skills goals and when I’m not by myself, I ride with caring and experienced ATGATT riders!
16. December 2010 at 8:22 pm
Kitty,
You sound like me when I first learned, only I was just a few years younger. I did no street riding at all until I had passed my MSF-BRC (on the first try, proud to say). When I finally got up the nerve to actually ride (instead of sitting on it), I rode a HALF BLOCK to the local church, full gear on, sweating all the way because I was so scared. Then I rode another block to the post office. Then duck-walked a turnaround thinking I was going to head back home. Got the nerve up to turn down a side road and go a half mile. Sharp left to a quarter-mile long road, another left to complete the triangle. I thought I was really special. Then my neighbor took me on a 10 mile ride; I was scared but I did it.
Little by little I got better, got bigger bikes, and now ride an ’05 V-Star Silverado 1100, customized, lowered seat, raked handlebars, loooooove it!
As for U-turns, practice, practice, practice. I kept taking the BRC and the ERC, finally learned to do the U-turns in the BRC, a week or so later I could do them in the ERC with my bike. One proud moment!
As for gravel? I have to ride a 50′ patch to get from the road to my driveway. I learned to keep my eyes where I want to go, relax, and ride easy. It’s a piece of cake when I keep that in mind!
10. December 2010 at 8:17 pm
Hey Karen. I’m 69 and started riding again after 30 yrs last August.
I only regret waiting so long to get back on a bike.
I’m a little nervous at times, mostly in traffic.
Kitty’s idea of setting goals I think is good. I’m going to
try the 20 min or 20 mile routine.
Relax and have fun!
13. December 2010 at 5:07 am
Hi Karen, I’m 55, female and only passed my test in October. I rode off-road years ago but didn’t get my licence. When I just started riding again this year I very much experienced the ‘Oh heck what am I doing’ feelings and the fear you describe. I had a bad biking accident in ’76 as a pillion and, as a result had a very deep rooted fear of bends and having the bike under me lean too far. The only person I would pillion with was my husband who is a very exprienced biker with an Advance ticket. I have riden this way for the last eight years, since we bought a big cruiser and I trusted him. The challenge was he couldn’t trust me as, on occasions, he would be taking a long or tight bend and I would freeze, sit upright and mess up his line – dangerous beyond belief!! We have never had an accident due to his riding skills, not mine! When he asked me to consider having my own machine again, I understood how frustrating I must be as a pillion, took the suggestion seriously and booked a Direct Access (DAS) course for October of this year. It was the best experience ever. I learned how to make the bike part of myself rather than an alien piece of metal. They taught me balance, manual handling, slow riding, reading and riding bends safely, riding at speed, in heavy traffic, on dual carriageways and in all weather. Most importantly they were in contact via the bike to bike radio so I was under constant instruction and control. I started a nervous, slow novice with my heart in my mouth most of the time. After one week of training, four examinations and one full day of Advanced Riding, I now enjoy the feeling of freedom all bikers express. I am in control of the machine, aware of everything around me, relaxed and confident. I no longer stiffen whenever a bend is in sight and take them as I have been taught! I’m 5′ 9″ tall and well built so I ride an 1100 Yamaha Virago and we’ve done almost 2,000 miles together since October. I’ve had more fun and excitement on my machine than I could ever have imagined and really wish I’d been riding for the last 30 years. I’ll go on riding whilst I am phsically capable and not a danger to other people. I don’t believe you are ever too old to start, just make sure you get proper training and buy the right type of bike for the riding you want to do. If you can, try out other types of bike as I found I loved riding a sports cruiser, tried a full out sports bike and found it too much, then tried a cruiser which suited me perfectly. I also have a very happy husband! Good luck and stay safe.
14. December 2010 at 7:51 pm
The post are great to say the least. Age is not an issue, it is patience with yourself, and building confidence. In my younger years I owned 3 bikes from a Kawasaki 400 to a 750, and my last bike was a KZ1000, racking up about 70,000 miles total on all 3. About 6 months ago my wife and I decided to get a bike as I told her about all my adventures back in the days. I did some really stupid things back then, like trying to see how fast the 1000 would go. I backed off at 134mph. We bought a 2007 Yahama VSTAR 1100 Silverado, decked out with only 3604 miles. Had it delivered to the house. My first ride was fun up to the point I hurt my toe as I drove thru a neibours yard, exited ther driveway and got home. I thought a few miles and all will be back, NOT! After the math, I realized it had been 27 years since I had been on a bike. Iam 53 now. I told her I need to go to class and convinced her to go with me. She asked why I needed to go and I told her you will know when you get on a bike yourself. She was terrified, but passed on her second test, got her endorsement, and has a new VSTAR 250 that we have both been practicing on at a nearby Health Department parking lot ajacent to the EMS station. She took her first few back street road rides by herself last weekend, and LOVES it. I plan to get back on the 1100 this weekend, with no intentions to see how fast it will go, as the new 250 is now hers.
It is not age, it is training, smarts, and time.
PS: Wife still asks how did you ever do that the first time after so many years. I just smile.