I turned 60 on November 1.

Was the fire started by your birthday cake? Because man, that's a fuckton of candles.

Quote from: motociclista on November 16, 2018, 08:17:08 AM

General comment: Holy shit, I can't remember another motorcycle forum where so many people are thinking of giving up motorcycles. I've written a few articles in recent years about the weakness in the U.S. motorcycle industry, but this is a data point I probably haven't explored enough.

it would be interesting to see when those giving it up started riding. Is it a lifelong passion that fizzled out or was it just a hobby they tried out?
personally I can't ever imagine being without a motorcycle.

Dirt riding since ~12, though haven't really done any since my early 20s. Street riding since 16. About to turn 52. The only time I haven't had a bike was for a few years in the early 90s. I've ranged from 20k-45k/yr in my heyday. These days... I did maybe 5000 miles/yr the last couple years, most of that was after trailering to the good spots, and running the twisties. All this damned surgery and putting me back together has really change pretty much everything about my life.

I've been reading this. 

There is no right/wrong here or brave/timid.  You have a ton of miles under your belt.  It is possible that the newness has worn off and due to traffic/road conditions, the pace required to make it fun is outside of your safety zone (generally true throughout the mid-Atlantic).  If it's not as fun as other activities for you, then you're ready for a break.  It might be permanent, long term or short term.  But whatever.  As stated, life's too short to waste free time on things that aren't fun for you.

 

There are times though, when it doesn't feel 'right'. Hard to describe, but I don't get on the motorcycle when that happens.

QFT.   Maybe totally irrelevant to this discussion; QFT nevertheless

Re: riding history...

I started riding when I was in grade school on a Honda 50 which eventually graduated to a Tail 70.  My cousin raced GNCC so I attended a lot of his races and had my Yamaha YZ with me to putt around.

Through high school, I only rode dirt bikes as my parents wouldn't allow me to have a street bike.  In college, I acquired a Suzuki GS and rode it home on the weekends and to my girlfriend's place.  After college, I did the cruiser thing for a few years and got bored with my friends always wanting to ride in parades and bar hop.  Eventually, I got married to Sheri who didn't like me to ride but eventually gave in and I acquired my first ever new bike, a Ducati ST3.  There has been at least 200,000 miles of great memories through the years including some epic fly and rides and attending meets.  It's at the meets where I have made friends with many on this forum.  I honestly haven't met a better group of people. 

After a run of very bad pucker moments (mostly from the sidecar and a few on two wheels, including my first ever car strike), I sold the sidecar with my wife in tears as it was loaded on the buyer's trailer.  She adored spending time with me on it and "assumed" our close calls were par for the course.  I told her I had never felt more unsafe than being on the hack.  A two-wheeled machine is was more safe, IMO.  Out of guilt for selling the hack, I reluctantly sold my motorcycle.  The gentlemen who acquired it is a lurker on this forum.  He'd tell you I couldn't see him load it up as I started to break down in tears.

Now several years after that, I have become frustrated and a bit bored with riding (most, not all of it) and feel I need a break.  My head and heart are at the same place unlike the last time I was "giving it up."  I'm sure I'll come back to it someday.  For now, it's difficult seeing the bike in the garage not being ridden. 

it would be interesting to see when those giving it up started riding. Is it a lifelong passion that fizzled out or was it just a hobby they tried out?

Sounds like someone needs to start a poll..... 

So I have waited to add anything to this thread until now.

I have had the exact thoughts since my month long journey this summer.  I knew going into it that it would be a make or break situation.   I really found myself a little annoyed most of the trip for the countless miles per day and yes, if it is not fun then why?  Again I knew what I was signing up for, but upon my return I just felt like there really is nothing I care to do on a motorcycle anymore, at least where I live.  So my bike has been for sale on craigslist and on ADV along with the super tenere forum for a month.  MY wife really has no interest anymore.  I don't need such a big bike.  I pulled the insurance off of it, cleaned it to its immaculate condition and now I wait.  I will not give it away and my wife doesn't think I should sell it so I will just keep the ads current on the threads and if it sells it sells.  If not then maybe in the spring I will insure it and dust off the gear and blow the stink off of me.
So there it is.

BTDT with boats. No more.

The boat is also a long running gag here. Man, you guys need to pay closer attention.

Fishing for Stripers? 

Got a Honda 50 when I was 8.  Killed that poor thing but developed skills that will be with me forever.  That was reinforced when we bought the XT250s and my body knew how to do things it hadn't done in 30 years.  The XTs allowed me to harken back to my childhood when that little Honda was the best thing in my life.  I remember specifically dreaming about a day when I could just do what I wanted as an adult and now I'm literally living that dream as I can hop on the bike and zip around the property in the woods.  I can't imagine that going away.  Now, on the street, I guess I'm just lucky that I don't have that level of fear.  There are circumstances that I know are not ideal and I try to avoid them.  If I can't avoid them, I adjust accordingly as much as I can.  Case in point:  When my work schedule had me commuting during the twilight just before dawn, I was less inclined to take the bike.  Sucked cuz the ride home would have been great.  But deer movement patterns are a real thing.  There have been times when I was in the thick of it on the BRP or some reptilian named thing or just down the road in the good stuff in WV and suddenly, my brain went.  I was either tired, distracted, or got that feeling.  So, I tapped out, slowed down, and removed as much of the risk as I could for the given circumstance.  I think it was my 40th birthday trip when we were coming home and had a 1/2 day left.  It had just stopped raining, the sun was out, we were on the less twisty part of the Parkway in VA heading north.  Pace was 8 or 9 tenths and we were having a really good run.  Then, all of a sudden, I slid on some slippery mess under a tree that I should have seen.  That rattled my cage a bit and I blew a line on a turn w/ a nasty shoulder drop.  Instead of trying to be a cool guy and continuing to try to keep up for the sake of my sack, I just relaxed and dumped about 20mph till I was back in a comfortable place.  Kim dropped back and asked what was up and I told her I was done.  I couldn't maintain the level of concentration required to ride that pace for that long any more that day.  I'll see y'all at the gas station.  She opted to stay with me because it was my birthday but we let the boys go on their merry way.

My point is that instead of making sweeping life changing decisions, I simply make that process of analysis a constant thing on every ride.  I treat each ride or close call or whatever with a critical eye and that keeps me continually interested.  Right now we don't even have real bikes.  That's OK because I wanted the dream house and I needed to sell the VFR and Bandit to get a driveway built.  Hopefully soon, I will have another more street oriented bike and I will continue with the same thing that has been successful for me for these 40+ years on two wheels.  No epic declarations of intent required. 

Not riding is not an option for me. 

Boat= a hole in the water that you throw money into.

Where has that little minx gotten off to? Is he still having a bromance with RAJ over in the bad neighborhood?

HAH! (spit)

I've had several, dating back to the mid-80s.


16' Four Winns with a 115hp Evinrude
18' Glastron fishing boat I/O four cylinder
31' Marinette wood cruiser c.1959  <-most fun of all them
19' Four Winns cuddy cabin i/o


to name a few off the top of my head.  Kids loved it while growing up, but by their mid-teens, it was meh. 


I love being on the water, but I'll rent a boat for the day or week at this point.  Cheaper in the long run.

Doing one of my rare drive-bys to see what's up here. Gosh, I miss the old days when I could find all the folks I enjoyed in one place...

Confess I was surprised to read the number of folks professing doubts about the 'need for speed', or, in this case, for two wheels.

I'm 67 now, been riding steadily since 1966. I've had a few medical probs that diminished my riding 'til I got things sorted out, and I've been occasionally uninspired by the local roads. But had I the money and time, I'd be riding all over the US of A, because seeing the world from the seat of a bike continues to be my favorite thing. There are times when I truly feel my age and wonder if I'm foolish riding all over the dang place by myself, but in general, I'm SO happy and grateful to still be able to enjoy motorcycling. Because I know those days *will* end at some point, sooner for me than for others.

If it don't feel right, don't do it. There is a plethora of joyful activities available, find what suits and be happy!

Doing one of my rare drive-bys to see what's up here. Gosh, I miss the old days when I could find all the folks I enjoyed in one place...

Confess I was surprised to read the number of folks professing doubts about the 'need for speed', or, in this case, for two wheels.

I'm 67 now, been riding steadily since 1966. I've had a few medical probs that diminished my riding 'til I got things sorted out, and I've been occasionally uninspired by the local roads. But had I the money and time, I'd be riding all over the US of A, because seeing the world from the seat of a bike continues to be my favorite thing. There are times when I truly feel my age and wonder if I'm foolish riding all over the dang place by myself, but in general, I'm SO happy and grateful to still be able to enjoy motorcycling. Because I know those days *will* end at some point, sooner for me than for others.

If it don't feel right, don't do it. There is a plethora of joyful activities available, find what suits and be happy!

Good to see a familiar name pop up. Glad to see you are still riding. I'm 10 years behind you, but it is till my favorite way to travel, period.

Threadjack - big thumbs up with stromgal's avatar!!

Soaking in the sights with gusto

Some of y’all may remember my VFR being stolen 2 1/2 years ago. Even though it was recovered the next day, the damage was more than I could afford to repair. With other life changes, I haven’t ridden since. Now, however, I have a new set of plastics and plans to get back on the road. It’s been too long. I can’t wait.

yay!

Quote from: kneescrubber on January 12, 2019, 12:43:05 PM

Some of y’all may remember my VFR being stolen 2 1/2 years ago. Even though it was recovered the next day, the damage was more than I could afford to repair. With other life changes, I haven’t ridden since. Now, however, I have a new set of plastics and plans to get back on the road. It’s been too long. I can’t wait.

Where's the "like" button!?

Great news

Yay! No knees should go unscrubbed that long. Good news indeed.

Fantastic news.  I am SO happy for you!  It has been far too long...

I sold my VFR last year, and gave up riding, for now. Between working two jobs, two little girls at home, I didn't have the time to really ride anymore, at least not like I wanted. Commuting wasn't cutting it anymore. But at some point, I will ride again. In a few years, once the wife is working full time again, finances are in good shape, and maybe I can quit my part time job, then I'll get another bike. I don't want to have to wait till I retire, that's still another 12-13 years away. But it may be 3-5 years before I ride again. 

Then you should come down my way and I'll have something for you to ride from time to time.