Am I too old at 51 to take my full bike test!
Discussion
Pit Pony said:
OverSteery said:
I am a motorcycle instructor and have had lots of customers over 50. Be ready to accept it may take a little bit longer to learn the basic skills than it would have done 30 years ago. Once you have the bike under control, your years of road experience will help you through MOD2. (EDIT, just re-read, looks like you have experience on a bike, so ignore that longer to learn comment).
79 is the oldest for their first CBT that I've seen and, 73 (I think) is the oldest for full licence. Although I wouldn't recommend leaving it that late.
Sounds like someone who waited for their mother (or wife) to die, before going against thier wishes....No? 79 is the oldest for their first CBT that I've seen and, 73 (I think) is the oldest for full licence. Although I wouldn't recommend leaving it that late.
I have a question. Have you ever come across anyone who passed a moped test?
I took mine at 16, in order to give my girlfriend lifts on the back legally, but have never met anyone else that bothered.
The 73 year old was a the husband of the married couple who wanted to ride their 125s in France (they towed 2 bikes on the back of their motorhome).
Yes, you are a rarity. I've certainly not trained anybody for a full moped test (I've only been at this 4 years) and I would say generally it's worth the cost. I suspect it was cheaper in your day!
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8IKERDAVE said:
Friends dad decided to treat himself to a Harley for his 70th birthday. He did his test, bought one and 5 years later is on his 4th - never too late. In fact it helps to keep you young!
all joking aside, there is real science behind keeping young, with obviously physical exercise, grip strength, and extreme temperature fluctuations and also improvement to mental acuity. Personally I think the government should recommend motorcycles to the over 50s!!
I did direct access over a week when I was 38 or 39 (about 17 years ago), never been without a bike since and riding on your own over a week or so, through France, the Alps, Italy etc is a great way to de-stress, unwind and relax and forget about the cretins you have to deal with in daily life.
It also opens up new opportunities. In 2022 I rented a bike from Delhi and rode it up through the Punjab to Leh and around the Himalayas over three weeks. The best holiday I've ever had, but opportunities like this exist all over the world, you just need a license, an international driving permit from the post office for £5 and a plane ticket ! I went back to Leh last year and spent 10 days riding the Himalayas again.
Motorcycling isn't just a different method of transport, it's a different way of experiencing the world, people, food, even weather. It's all different, more vivid. It's like temporarily living inside a National Geographic magazine !
Get the license and then enjoy the rest of your life as a bike traveller !
It also opens up new opportunities. In 2022 I rented a bike from Delhi and rode it up through the Punjab to Leh and around the Himalayas over three weeks. The best holiday I've ever had, but opportunities like this exist all over the world, you just need a license, an international driving permit from the post office for £5 and a plane ticket ! I went back to Leh last year and spent 10 days riding the Himalayas again.
Motorcycling isn't just a different method of transport, it's a different way of experiencing the world, people, food, even weather. It's all different, more vivid. It's like temporarily living inside a National Geographic magazine !
Get the license and then enjoy the rest of your life as a bike traveller !
I'd say not at all. One of my best mates was in his late 40's when he decided to take up biking. He'd never expressed an interest in bikes before, so I was pretty surprised to be honest. He sailed through his tests and bought a Suzuki 600 which he rode for a while and now has a BMW GS 1250 adventure bike. I'd say he is a more cautious rider because of his age but he's done a couple of European road trips, and he loves it. He's not looked back. He's 52 now.
The Selfish Gene said:
all joking aside, there is real science behind keeping young, with obviously physical exercise, grip strength, and extreme temperature fluctuations and also improvement to mental acuity.
Personally I think the government should recommend motorcycles to the over 50s!!
Riding a Motorcycle Affects Cognitive Functions of Healthy Adults: - A preliminary controlled studyPersonally I think the government should recommend motorcycles to the over 50s!!
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339576910...
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