Insane buying a bike at 50?

[Wacky Racer]

Biker's Nemesis said:

At least you'll not die young if the worst happens.

Just treat every car and van driver as if they are out to kill you and you'll be fine.

[g7orge]

Biker's Nemesis said:

At least you'll not die young if the worst happens.

- Do it - you wont regret it -

[JamesD74]

And another yes. Got my full bike license at the age of 44. Love it!!

[Esceptico]

I would imagine that starting late in life is no problem. Most of riding safely is about reading the road and observation, not bike control, so many years experience of driving should help. Older people are often a bit more cautious, which won’t hurt.

Be warned though: once you have got into biking it is hard to give up.

[Byronico]

tivver500 said:

I came back into biking at the tender age of 60..... Did a 'BikeSafe' (run by the Police and well worth while.
Passed my RoSPA Gold award in 2016 and am now an Advanced tutor at the age of 69!!!
Age is no deterrent but I would advice taking some advanced riding lessons (with RoSPA or the IAM) after passing your test...
Ride safe.

This ^

Don't stop your learning once you pass your tests.
Joined my local RoSPA and you learn so much from day 1.
Definately consider an advanced riding course.

[OverSteery]

Another vote here for Do It and then go on and get trained properly - Doesn't matter if you go IAM, RoSPA or commercially if you want to spend the £s...

[SVS]

Byronico said:

tivver500 said:

I came back into biking at the tender age of 60..... Did a 'BikeSafe' (run by the Police and well worth while.
Passed my RoSPA Gold award in 2016 and am now an Advanced tutor at the age of 69!!!
Age is no deterrent but I would advice taking some advanced riding lessons (with RoSPA or the IAM) after passing your test...
Ride safe.

This ^

Don't stop your learning once you pass your tests.
Joined my local RoSPA and you learn so much from day 1.
Definitely consider an advanced riding course.

This ^

Do a BikeSafe once you've passed your test, then go onto IAM or RoSPA to boost your skills

[bigdog3]

SVS said:

Do a BikeSafe once you've passed your test, then go onto IAM or RoSPA to boost your skills

I've not done IAM or RoSPA training. But I've been to the Ron Haslam School at Donington twice, riding their CBR600RRs. I was 63 at the time. Apparently their oldest pupil was 75

[axisadman]

garyhun said:

I think it's always the other half that has to be convinced. Luckily Mrs G was very supportive as she likes bikes herself but I can imagine some partners being very against.

Mine has just bought Kawasaki Z650! I guess I have it easy on that score.

[Dakkon]

JFDI

[Tiggsy]

50???? Jesus man you're not about to die just yet.

At 46 I have so many hobbies yet to start I keep shoving them back...plenty lined up for my 50's and beyond!

[Patrick Star]

[quote=Esceptico] Older people are often a bit more cautious, which won’t hurt.



This,cos being middle-aged means you'll have no desire to red line it,learn to get your knee down,pull a wheelie or hanker after a 1300cc v-twin with an exhaust that sounds like Satan coughing!

Honest.

[sjtscott]

OP only you can truly know/decide to do it.. my point is you're insane for not doing it earlier in life!
There was me thinking I did it late at 24 back in the mid 90s compared to friends who'd got their full bike licenses at 17 (like I did for the car side of things)
22 and a bit years since I got my licence best thing I ever did.

[dern]

Tiggsy said:

50???? Jesus man you're not about to die just yet.

At 46 I have so many hobbies yet to start I keep shoving them back...plenty lined up for my 50's and beyond!

This.

Although my advice is to do all the ones that need fully functioning knees and bowel control now

[Krikkit]

Patrick Star said:

Esceptico said:

Older people are often a bit more cautious, which won’t hurt.

This,cos being middle-aged means you'll have no desire to red line it,learn to get your knee down,pull a wheelie or hanker after a 1300cc v-twin with an exhaust that sounds like Satan coughing!

Honest.

I don't think it means you don't want to do that, just that you wouldn't do it down a high street, or before you've any idea how, unlike a petulant 17 year old.

[Nogbad!]

Just done my direct access at 60. Now the proud owner of a mt09. Still feel about 18 in my head!

[bigdog3]

Nogbad! said:

Just done my direct access at 60. Now the proud owner of a mt09. Still feel about 18 in my head!

Much better to grow old disgracefully until that fateful day when you drop off the perch

[teamHOLDENracing]

My wife booked me onto BMW’s Rookie to Rider course for my 50th and it was brilliant. Turn up with your theory test done and leave a week later, all being well, with your full licence. They do a package deal for something like a £500 up front contribution and then a monthly lease on a bike, for which you get the 7 day course and £1100 worth of kit. They often advertise it with the 310 GS, but you can lease any bike in the range. On my course one guy was signed up to a 310 but swapped to 750 after 3 days. And one lady stuck with the 310 but has just bought something bigger.

As for me - I had an F800R for a year and just collected a 1250GS - fair to say I’ve loved the whole experience!

I highly recommend the course. The bikes, gear and instructors are all top notch - pretty much as you’d expect from BMW. You spend a day or so on the 310’s on the training pad then the rest of the week on 750GS. The emphasis on safety is ever present and gives you a really good base to continue to learn from.

[Felters]

My bus pass arrives next year... the well used VFR 1200 in the garage says otherwise. I've been riding since I was 12 so not a recent convert but keep some IAM/Rospa type training going - you'll love it and improve your survival rate significantly.

[poo at Paul's]

Insane not to.