Too old to start motor biking?

[JJJ.]

Here's one for you Guys.

One of my best buddies is about to take early retirement, he's 55 and one of his bucket list items is to do his bike test and buy a 500-750cc touring bike of some sort. He was asking me my opinion but having little experience and fears of age being a negative factor, I kept my reply limited and pointed the obvious pro's and con's, basically I didn't contribute to the discussion.

So, I'd be very interested in other bikers opinion as I may consider joining him at some stage, well doing my test if nothing else.

Thanks in advance.

[cpszx]

Never too old.
Will have the benefit of road awareness and self preservation.
Dont be tempted to spend loads of money on a first bike, go cheaper, get some experience, try out different styles and brands.

[hiccy18]

Do it, all in.

Get your licences, couple of middleweight tourers like Tracer 7's or similar, get some comfy kit and luggage and get the ferry to Europe booked. You will have a ball.

[carinaman]

There are other threads in Biker Banter about learning later in life.

Doing the training and passing the test would be a decent taster.

The Govt. are doing, or have just done, a consultation on changing the motorcycle test system, I think someone on PH said it's due to the shortage of motorcycle riding test examiners and some requirement to have been car test examiners first.

The test process changing and possibly being cheaper may be worth waiting for.

The road surfaces are terrible and some of the driving can be pretty poor. Earlier in January a car pulled out onto a mini roundabout and if it hadn't stopped it would've hit me side on. I resigned myself to them hitting me but they stopped.

It reads like your mate may be sounding you out about being his motorcycling mate. Perhaps it was idle chit chat, a fleeting thought to discuss but if he's keen I am not sure why he'd need your approval? He wants to be talked out of it? He has a pension lump sum burning a hole in his pocket?

Are they a decent driver?

I met with a friend and former colleague from years ago in the week. They were far more into motorcycles than I'll ever be, they used to be a Mechanic and built a racing sidecar and raced a Scooter around Mallory Park before going to a Polytehnic to do Electrical engineering. They're showing symptoms of Parkinsons Disease and are expecting test results next week.

If your friend wants to do it he should do it, we're a long time dead etc.

Edited by carinaman on Friday 30th January 23:29

[carinaman]

hiccy18 said:

Do it, all in.

Get your licences, couple of middleweight tourers like Tracer 7's or similar, get some comfy kit and luggage and get the ferry to Europe booked. You will have a ball.

I got chatting to a chap who may've been retired while he was parking up his BMW 310R. He said he'd got a south coast ferry and rode down through Spain with his camping gear on the back.

[JJJ.]

cpszx said:

Never too old.
Will have the benefit of road awareness and self preservation.
Dont be tempted to spend loads of money on a first bike, go cheaper, get some experience, try out different styles and brands.

Cheers.

[JJJ.]

hiccy18 said:

Do it, all in.

Get your licences, couple of middleweight tourers like Tracer 7's or similar, get some comfy kit and luggage and get the ferry to Europe booked. You will have a ball.

Cheers.

I haven't considered what bike to buy, it's a bit premature for me, probably a Honda due to the dealer network everywhere.

[JJJ.]

carinaman said:

There are other threads in Biker Banter about learning later in life.

Doing the training and passing the test would be a decent taster.

The Govt. are doing, or have just done, a consultation on changing the motorcycle test system, I think someone on PH said it's due to the shortage of motorcycle riding test examiners and some requirement to have been car test examiners first.

The test process changing and possibly being cheaper may be worth waiting for.

The road surfaces are terrible and some of the driving can be pretty poor. Earlier in January a car pulled out onto a mini roundabout and if it hadn't stopped it would've hit me side on. I resigned myself to them hitting me but they stopped.

It reads like your mate may be sounding you out about being his motorcycling mate. Perhaps it was idle chit chat, a fleeting thought to discuss but if he's keen I am not sure why he'd need your approval? He wants to be talked out of it? He has a pension lump sum burning a hole in his pocket?

Are they a decent driver?

I met with a friend and former colleague from years ago in the week. They were far more into motorcycles than I'll ever be, they used to be a Mechanic and built a racing sidecar and raced a Scooter around Mallory Park before going to a Polytehnic to do Electrical engineering. They're showing symptoms of Parkinsons Disease and are expecting test results next week.

If your friend wants to do it he should do it, we're a long time dead etc.

Edited by carinaman on Friday 30th January 23:29

Thanks. Yep, no harm in taking lessons and the test, nice thing to have if nothing more. No, no approval required, just bouncing idea's around as you do but it's got me thinking and it's not a question of money burning a hole, the money is not a deciding factor. Yes, actually both of us can 'drive'. Very true, a longtime dead is right, I just don't want to hasten the dead part thus asking for PH views. Cheers.

[JJJ.]

carinaman said:

hiccy18 said:

Do it, all in.

Get your licences, couple of middleweight tourers like Tracer 7's or similar, get some comfy kit and luggage and get the ferry to Europe booked. You will have a ball.

I got chatting to a chap who may've been retired while he was parking up his BMW 310R. He said he'd got a south coast ferry and rode down through Spain with his camping gear on the back.

Riding on the continent would be the aim. Thanks again hiccy18, you paint the perfect picture.

[JJJ.]

cpszx said:

Never too old.
Will have the benefit of road awareness and self preservation.
Dont be tempted to spend loads of money on a first bike, go cheaper, get some experience, try out different styles and brands.

Cheers, top tip on buying the first bike, makes mega sense as I would have initially considered new but just looked at the prices and what's available used, those Honda Deville's look tempting as cheap first bike? But, I'm jumping the gun - love buying and having mechanical stuff Thanks again.

[markymarkthree]

Tell your "best buddie", to crack on with it. This will be one of his best motoring related decisions he has made in his
life.

[black-k1]

JJJ. said:

carinaman said:

hiccy18 said:

Do it, all in.

Get your licences, couple of middleweight tourers like Tracer 7's or similar, get some comfy kit and luggage and get the ferry to Europe booked. You will have a ball.

I got chatting to a chap who may've been retired while he was parking up his BMW 310R. He said he'd got a south coast ferry and rode down through Spain with his camping gear on the back.

Riding on the continent would be the aim. Thanks again hiccy18, you paint the perfect picture.

A good 50%+ of those on this years Old Gits trip to the Dolomites are over 55. Definitely not too old.

[Trevor555]

Not too old.

Approaching 55 myself, and will carry on as long as I can still stand.

Get a bike where you sit quite upright, unless he's a very fit 50's year old.

Aches, and pains, soon set on if riding a sports bike, especially the neck.

[StuntCock]

You should both do it, biking as a ‘hobby’ is enhanced by sharing it with mates.
If you can share the training and bike buying process, even better.
55 is no age, if you visited my local triumph dealer you’d likely be the youngest in there!

[hiccy18]

black-k1 said:

JJJ. said:

carinaman said:

hiccy18 said:

Do it, all in.

Get your licences, couple of middleweight tourers like Tracer 7's or similar, get some comfy kit and luggage and get the ferry to Europe booked. You will have a ball.

I got chatting to a chap who may've been retired while he was parking up his BMW 310R. He said he'd got a south coast ferry and rode down through Spain with his camping gear on the back.

Riding on the continent would be the aim. Thanks again hiccy18, you paint the perfect picture.

A good 50%+ of those on this years Old Gits trip to the Dolomites are over 55. Definitely not too old.

You've been doing it for yonks and you still love it so much you organise the (very inspirational) Old Gits trips.

I finally took the plunge a couple of years ago (I'm 54) and as I'm reading this I'm admiring this picture in the other monitor:



Lake Como, just after breakfast; that afternoon we rode up the Tremola, down the St Gotthard pass to the hotel, but we were too early to check in; Bummer:



After check in we took the luggage off and rode Furka, Grimsel and Susten passes before dinner.

One day, one bucket-list trip. You and your best buddy get to paint your own pictures? Wow!

[warnie]

Loads of threads on this. Pretty sure 100% say go for it. Tells you all you need to know really.

Don't think I've met anyone who regrets getting their bike licence!

[HybridTheory]

Retired at 55....lucky chap

[carinaman]

Nice photos hiccy18, I was fortunate to visit Como in a previous job and visited Garda on holiday. I love Italy.

[JJJ.]

Thanks all for the replies, love the positivity too. It's certainly given me a fresh perspective on something I'd never seriously considered

HybridTheory said:

Retired at 55....lucky chap

Yeah, you bet. In fairness, hard work, made some of his own luck. Full retirement won't last, he's kidding himself if that was on the agenda. Regardless, he will still have time to tick off some of the bucket list stuff.

[Gnits]

Meh, 'too old' just means you might want to get a heated jacket and get a bike that has an all day comfortable seating position (which it sounds like you are doing already).

I'd look at it the other way round, it's more like, old enough to now: afford a decent bike and nice gear, able to appreciate the travel, able to afford a nice hotel if required, etc.

Also get some coms units, v useful!