Define "Old"

[BamaJohn]

We all have known for some time now that motorcycling demographics are aging... or getting "older". But aging is not the same for everybody. Some people at 70 seem like they're 50, while some people at 70 can barely stand alone. At 82, I can attest to the fact that aging is real and to be fought by staying active. But, some things are simply out of our control. That doesn't mean their mind doesn't want to do things. At 70, I promised myself that I'd get off of 2 wheels at age 80 (60 years of riding 2 wheels would be enough). There was no particular reason, I just wanted to do so before something happened to make me do it.

What makes the difference, and what is the official age that defines "old"?

Be kind to your elders... they may not be "old" yet.

 

[mickimause]

I think "old" is a state of mind. I understand physical limitations, but those can happen at any age. Hubby is going in for a hip replacement this month, and he's not 60 yet. Dad (FIL, but he's been "Dad" for almost 30 years and I'm not changing now!) will be 80 in October; we put him on 3 wheels back in 2012, on a Springer that hubby put a Frankenstein trike kit on (side note. don't do it!) He's put maybe 500 miles on the trike since then. This April, we put him on a 2024 RTL. He's got almost 1500 miles on it already. He says he felt old on the trike, but is enjoying feeling young again on the tricycle. He walks down here daily, weather permitting, and puts in some miles on the treadmill when weather doesn't permit. My Mom, on the other hand, is physically okay but losing her mental faculties. She's old at 77 and has been for a few years now. My Dad passed at 90, went to work every day up until his last hospital stay. Stayed active, still drove, planned trips, would debate you on any subject just for fun. MIL passed this March, having been old for 10 or more years, physically, but mentally still sharp. Some days, I'm old. Really old. Some days, I'm not sure that the birthdate on my drivers license is correct... no way I'm that old!

I don't think there's any official age that says "you're old now". We all have to age, but we don't have to grow up!

 

[Tslepebull]

At the recent BMW MOA rally in Tennessee I purchased a pair of MOA branded compression socks. What does that say about motorcycle demographics? They are really nice compression socks though.

 

[pegasus1300]

I could no longer do 2 wheels at 67 due to a loss of balance and situational awareness. I wasn't ready to stop riding, I tried. S x S, convertible, walking, but it wasn't the same, so I bought a trike. I didn't like it but at least I was knees in the breeze. Then I found a Spyder and at 79 I am still in the wind. Am I old? My age says yes, both Dad, Mom, Uncles, and Grandparents were dead long before that age. Am I limited in what I can do? Yes, back is falling apart, I have other medical conditions, but I still try. I put in 8 hours of volunteer work every week, I run my own small business. Other than the Spyder, I don't drive, my wife won't let me drive her car. So some body and mental parts are old, but a lot of my thinking, and attitudes, are not. My 25 year old mind keeps trying to write checks my 79 year old body can't cash. When I started having lots of mobility problems this year, that was when I started to "feel" old.

 

[canamjhb]

Old is when you need to schedule your day around time in the bathroom. Or, at the least, plan and know all the pit stops along the way...

 

[baxter]

Age is how you feel physically and mentally. The number on the birth certificate only sates how long you been breathing. True as we accumulate breathing years we do slow down and can’t do some of the things we like to do. Adapt and inprovise.

 

[Peter Aawen]

Old is when you need to schedule your day around time in the bathroom. Or, at the least, plan and know all the pit stops along the way...

Nah, that's just incontinence!!

I took a bunch of supposedly fit & young 20-something Police Cadets out on 4WD Training Day a coupla years back, only due to the incessant need for 'pit stops' so that someone could duck behind a bush & shake hands with the unemployed (quite often, it was either one of just a few of the same small selection of male Cadets from different vehicles in the convoy - they couldn't even all go at the same bloody time, cos they apparently couldn't 'do that' if they knew anyone else was out there behind another bush anywhere within coo-ee! ) or what I began referring to amongst my crew as 'incontinence breaks', we didn't really get to cover everything we had programmed.

For the very first time in over 20 years of running those courses, we didn't get to cover all of what was really a pretty relaxed program in just one day, so I hadta run a 'catch up course' for all that group on another day - only we still had the same problem... and these people wanted to become Police Officers! I'd run more intense & 'need to pee - NOW!' invoking Training Days with 80 and 90 year old civilian types in the group who hadta stop to pee less frequently - or maybe they'd just learnt to pee in a bottle while they were driving?!

So I don't think incontinence is any true indicator of age - I guess there's just too many kids out there these days who's parents never bothered to help them learn to stop wetting the bed, or to pee behind a bush/on the back tire!!

Just Sayin'

 

[wolfeman]

Age is an attitude. None of you guys are "old" - you're just maturing quicker than you'd like.

 

[troop]

Three buddies and I had our pre Sturgis meeeting last night, as we leave next Tuesday. One guy brought up the 100th Anni in 15 years. In 15 years, our group will be 75/75/74/71/64/83 (me). I said I'll try

 

[Gwolf]

The hills are old. Dirt is old.

 

[Bfromla]

Unknown author:
You don't become cooler with age, but you do care progressively less about being cool, which is the only true way of being cool. This is called the Geezer's Paradox.
Others:
"Old age comes at a bad time."
SAN BANDUCCI
&
"Old age isn't so bad if you consider the alternative."
MAURICE CHEVALIER
&
"Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter."
MARK TWAIN

 

[Tslepebull]

Old is when you need to schedule your day around time in the bathroom. Or, at the least, plan and know all the pit stops along the way...

The way it was explained to me is: - I always try to pee while it is still my idea.

 

[Bfromla]

Additionally:
I'm at the age where my mind firmly believes I'm 29, my humor suggests I'm 12, and my body possibly died in the civil war.

I Calls It Like I Sees It

In my mind I'm still 24,

but my back is 55, my knee is 67, and my left hip turns 79 next week.
(Note - left hip, but only 1 knee¿)

How does our brain remember that we forgot something, but it can't remember what we forgot?!

 

[Peter Aawen]

I don't mind growing 'older' so much, cos as has been mentioned, it's only a number, and it sure beats the alternative!

But this growing 'more decrepit' thing really grinds my gears...

...and my head, my back, my shoulders, my ribs, my knees, my hands, my... Ohh buggrit, I'm sure you get the picture by now, and I'm too decrepit to list all the bits that hurt!

Just Sayin'

 

[Gwolf]

Additionally:
I'm at the age where my mind firmly believes I'm 29, my humor suggests I'm 12, and my body possibly died in the civil war.



How does our brain remember that we forgot something, but it can't remember what we forgot?!

Turn it off, wait a few minutes, then re-boot. It should come back up from the information stored on the hard drive (or the SSD if you have upgraded.)

 

[Lew L]

Well, I'll be 78 in a couple of months and looking forward to the upcoming ski season. Did 46 days last year and would like to match that this year. Mike (@BLUEKNIGHT911) and I tried to match up ski days. I still ride the poor, old, slow, V-Max when I'm out by myself. The Spyder is for my wife and I (we are ryding tomorrow).

 

[Bfromla]

Turn it off, wait a few minutes, then re-boot. It should come back up from the information stored on the hard drive (or the SSD if you have upgraded.)

Scared to ask where you put the card
(& format)

 

[Snoking1127]

Carol and I did a trike ride today and are planning on another tomorrow, but she is young at 71!!!! The first week of August we have a three day trike ride planned from Western to Eastern Washington via Highway 20 and returning on 410 out on Yakima, a 559 mile ride.

At 81, I am considering down sizing. As in selling Hooker (the 2018 Champagne one) and trailering Hookie (the 2018 Asphalt Grey one) from Arizona in the Spring to Washington, the other direction in the Fall. Which means that my Kawasaki KRX 1000 SxS will sit unused in Arizona during the summer months.

We have stopped at Sand Hollow with the KRX coming North two times, and in Moab this Fall for the second time. I am a little afraid that I will want to start during more difficult trails at each site, which are above my slightly aging skill levels! Regarding the KRX, at some point one says I have the hat, t-shirt, and merit badge, no reason to seek a headstone!

The KRX gets used a lot in Arizona, as I lead one or two rides a week, and it has 5800 miles on it with no rides over 71 miles in four years. I adjusted the valves a week ago, which involves measuring valve clearances, removing the overhead cams, changing the shim size on each valve under a cap on top of the valve/spring, and then reinstalling the cams, making sure they are timed correctly. Then recheck the valve clearance.

 

[bikerbillone]

I could no longer do 2 wheels at 67 due to a loss of balance and situational awareness. I wasn't ready to stop riding, I tried. S x S, convertible, walking, but it wasn't the same, so I bought a trike. I didn't like it but at least I was knees in the breeze. Then I found a Spyder and at 79 I am still in the wind. Am I old? My age says yes, both Dad, Mom, Uncles, and Grandparents were dead long before that age. Am I limited in what I can do? Yes, back is falling apart, I have other medical conditions, but I still try. I put in 8 hours of volunteer work every week, I run my own small business. Other than the Spyder, I don't drive, my wife won't let me drive her car. So some body and mental parts are old, but a lot of my thinking, and attitudes, are not. My 25 year old mind keeps trying to write checks my 79 year old body can't cash. When I started having lots of mobility problems this year, that was when I started to "feel" old.

Hang in in Paul, as I age (92), I seem to spend more time in Dr's office and less time on the RTL, maybe that's the way it's supposed to work, I dunno! I walk by that fine machine, just sitting in the garage, seems I hear a faint voice, "ride me more". If no rain Sunday, maybe I'll load up the Mrs and ride it 40 miles to church!

 

[Calimusjohn]

The life expectancy of a male born in 1939 was 69.41 years. Statistically, my warranty expired 16-plus years ago. Those on my 2022 S2S and my Ryker Rally have the same issue. But I won't be stopped by a piece of paper listing statistics created by some bean counter without imagination. I admit that my "Iron Butt" days are over, but 500-mile days are still doable and comfort stops are more frequent. Big deal.

On yesterday's ride, Mother Nature threw in a Blue Ridge Mountain torrential downpour that saved me from washing the bike... and me!

Every day is a bonus. Dealing with aches, pains, and the difficulties of a failing body are offset by the glory of watching the sun rise and the pleasure of seeing another glorious sunset. Between those two celestial events, I cruise down backroads and byways, speed along interstates, idle along forest paths, and enjoy life.


Now if only I could remember what I had for breakfast, or if I even ate breakfast... life would be perfect!?