older bikers

Solo rider here. Spent 45 years in sales and had to schedule, support, supply, phone calls, meetings, and all the other associated trappings of selling. Can't remember a vacation that I did not have to deal with something at work and wife and family were always good about it because they knew those folks I had to deal with were the reason we were out having fun. Haven't had an emergency phone call or situation in over two years now. Heaven.

Forever grateful those 45 years provided a decent retirement that I can now have to myself. Lone wolf fits well for me.
Traveling with a group is just a pain in the a$$ for me. Hour long gas stops. Can't decide where to eat. New guy needs a rear tire. Where to stay. It's too hot. It's too cold. I need to pee (just after a gas stop).

Feel like I have earned MY time now and use it almost every day on two wheels. Love riding locally on backroads at 40/50 for saddle time instead of having to be back to work and hauling butt to get back home in time.
Enjoy riding as far as I like or as short as I like. Breakfast runs to Red River, NM and riding to Taos Ski Valley and back home in a day. Tried that with a group once. Never again. Rode down to College Station and watch the Aggie volleyball team "now national champions" defeat undefeated Longhorns on Halloween. Done.

Thought the Driftless Area of Wisconsin sounded like fun so just loaded up and went. Stopped where I wanted, took roads I wanted, Let's do all four corners of the country. Done. East into the Virginia's and Carolina's done solo and enjoyed every minute not having anyone along.
Had one friend that we rode together for long years and alas he is no longer riding so just me. Too old to break someone else in.

When you see me with my riding gear and on two wheels heading down the road just know I am a happy man.
 
Just one of many things he said that I agreed with:
Most older riders have played the game and have weighed the odds. They don't have a constant need for validation, for agreement, or reassurance from the collective. They are truly individual. They know where they stand and what keeps them going and most importantly what holds them back. From the outside, motorcyclists are often misunderstood. To most people, being alone signals a lack of friends, of purpose, of belonging. But for a motorcyclist who has tasted the clarity of riding, solitude becomes something else entirely and provides meaning, freedom, and strength that is sorely missing in modern life.
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Someday, I will be forced to quit riding. I don't fear that day, but the realization makes me appreciate more the times I swing my leg over the seat and leave my driveway. Each ride is an adventure with all my senses alive. It's part of who I am.

Chris
 
Got about 3 minutes in and couldn't stand it anymore. Sounded like he was seeking the validation he was complaining about. I mean why else would you post THAT on YouTube?

I can think of 2 reasons I ride alone, maybe 3.
1)I like to stop when I feel like it, where I feel like it, and eat when I'm hungry. If I'm 5 hours or 15 hours into the day's ride it doesn't matter. If I feel good might keep going, if I get distracted I may stop for the day. Some days I eat while riding some days I don't. Eating when riding is not a priority to me. That seldom fits with anyone else's plan.
2) I have very few friends. I would like to keep the few I have. That is highly unlikely if I ride with them.

I don't consider myself "a loner" but have been accused of it. I think that accusation may have been applied to all of us at some point. I'm happy being alone and enjoy being alone. I'm ok with myself for company. That is not specific to motorcycles so don't know that it counts for this conversation. I am the luckiest guy in the world because I have a wife that understands that.

And that's enough of that for me! Starting to sound like the guy in the video!
 
Lots of things that I agree with, but the superlatives and the whole us vs them presentation started to get under my skin.

We (motorcyclists) live in a world that has managed to allow us to attend to our hobby. We've used our participation in that world to our benefit. We don't stand apart from it.

I don't really care if I'm not understood by this imaginary "collective". There's lots of things about each of us that isn't understood by others, riding a motorcycle is just one thing. It doesn't define me. I enjoy it, but I do other things. Right now the weather is keeping me off the bike. I am looking forward to getting back out, but my life isn't meaningless without riding.
 
I posted it because I feel basically the same. I've done a few group rides and they were okay, but for many years, it's been mainly solo riding. I suspect this is mainly the case for long-distance riders, many of whom tend towards the older age. As opposed to sport-bike riders who (if the clips I see on the 'net are any indication) ride more for show and bravado. I bought a Cardo unit over a year ago and have yet to actually communicate with another rider with it.
 
Thanks for posting that Video, I do relate to some of his points, I feel alive when I'm out on my bike, and at 65 I don't care what other people think of me. Wife stopped being a passenger a few years ago, honestly prefer it that way. I'm not a lone Wolf, but have learned that Solitude is a needed thing. Happy riding G
 
Got that com setup built into my helmet, ain’t talking to anyone, it’ll play music and phone calls too but …well nah, why disturb the ride.
 
I'm 75, so probably qualify as an older rider.

I enjoy riding my daily rides solo. Usually about 250 of them a year (out of an ave 308 days a year riding). I choose the roads, the direction, the pace, the stops, the length of the ride. Take off when I want, quit when I want.Stop when I want, for whatever reason I want, for whatever length of time I want.

However, I prefer going on trips (3-4 multi day trips a year) with a close riding buddy or two, especially now that my wife has given up riding pillion. The pain of deciding the route, when to stop, where to eat, what hotel to go to for the night etc, is outweighed for me by the shared experience, the conversations, the jokes, not having to eat alone, and not having to make all the decisions myself, plus the assurance that if something were to go wrong, help is right there. The guys I tend to ride with are good experienced riders, close to my age, who ride a similar pace, and generally choose to ride agreeable distances and make reasonable stops. For me they are a joy to ride with, and add to the experience of the trip.
 
@the Ferret - that's about where I am.

I used to ride solo a lot. Occasionally, I'd find someone else to go with. It was still more or less riding solo, but there'd be someone at a stop that you could share what you'd both been through.

Then I stumbled upon a great riding buddy a few years ago. His pace was pretty much spot on. He didn't take pictures, but had no problem stopping whenever i wanted to for a pic. He'd been an avid photographer before, so he understood the desire. He actually wanted to ride more than I did. :eek: He needed "sanity rides" and gave me the excuse to ride when I wouldn't have gone by myself.

Unfortunately, he moved to Kentucky because of the high cost of living in Washington.

The cool thing about not riding solo and riding with someone like him...he has that same undefinable thing that sets us apart as riders.

Chris
 
Riding with one (or 2) other people is fine, so long as they keep up (otherwise, you’re always scanning the rear view mirror for them to make sure they’re following closely enough). I’ve ridden with larger groups (like 20)…I didn’t like that as much as you’re following a leader and may want to stop at a specific location (scenic or otherwise) but if the leader doesn’t stop, you just keep following. With a smaller group (like you and one other person), you can easily decide when and where to stop. My brother recently came down to SC and we rode 5 days in a row (day trips, coming back to my home each night)- great rides and he is a very good follower (and leader when I visit him in Colorado). As far as the bigger groups, I’m pretty much past that now. Normally, I ride alone and I’m good with that. Just getting outside for 3-4 hrs is worth it. These days I may ride 2x weekly while I’m still working part time.
 
docw1 said:
As opposed to sport-bike riders who (if the clips I see on the 'net are any indication) ride more for show and bravado.
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A bad snapshot for sure. Other than the ST, a couple of VFR's, and an occasional inherited outlier, I have only owned (very fast) performance bikes. I have a few older friends who are quite similar. Most of us ride these bikes alone, for ourselves and for no one else. Bravado is reserved for the track.

While I understand your assumption, it's no different than the converse that all touring/sport touring riders are old, slow guys/gals. ;)
 
Erdoc48 said:
Riding with one (or 2) other people is fine, so long as they keep up (otherwise, you’re always scanning the rear view mirror for them to make sure they’re following closely enough).
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One of my best friends complains when I ride slower or faster than he wants to at any given moment, whereas I don't mind keeping up with him, but he doesn't want to lead. :rolleyes:
 
When I was in the Houston area previously, I rode with a sport-touring group I found on the meet-up app and those boys can ride. I didn't have the ST then but they tolerated my NC700X and our group rides were typically 10-15 bikes, riding somewhere far and curvy for a good Texas meal before returning home. Most guys are on the older side but some were 20/30s, all on top shelf rides except me. Not an ST in the group, though until now. I can't wait for the first group ride on the ST a couple weeks. I enjoy solo riding just fine but my favorite rides ever have been with my brother-in-law on Northern California roads, the Houston group, and always great with my daughter on the back. I guess I'm not as solitary as most. Strangely, I can absolutely see myself as a solo motor camper, touring the country.
 
DesmoRonin said:
A bad snapshot for sure. Other than the ST, a couple of VFR's, and an occasional inherited outlier, I have only owned (very fast) performance bikes. I have a few older friends who are quite similar. Most of us ride these bikes alone, for ourselves and for no one else. Bravado is reserved for the track.

While I understand your assumption, it's no different than the converse that all touring/sport touring riders are old, slow guys/gals. ;)
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Your post supports his premise that the age of the rider is the primary determinant factor, not the type of motorcycle, predicting whether or not bravado will be displayed on public roads. While a generalization by necessity part of the premise of his post is that on public roads most sport-touring/long-distance riders tend to be older and most sport bike riders tend to be younger. Accepting that pretty safe generalization sport-touring/long-distance riders who are likely older will tend to reserve the bravado for the track as you stated. This is less because they are riding a sport-touring motorcycle and more because they are older. Most sport bike riders on the other hand, who tend to be younger, not so much. They are more likely to show off on public roads not necessarily because they are riding sport bikes but because they are younger. They would probably be more predisposed to doing so regardless of what type of motorcycle they are riding just as older riders are most likely not to do so regardless of what motorcycle they are riding.

all touring/sport touring riders are old, slow guys/gals.
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As an aside, the above generalization that old equates to slow is one that I have often found to not be true. I have more often than not found that older riders are some of the smoothest and most technically adept, and therefore fastest, riders that I have ridden with. Based on the riding experience that you seem to have I am sure that you have seen this yourself many times. Older riders
often don't have the appearance of being fast because they are always in control whereas younger inexperienced riders often seem to be on the edge of loosing it, which gives the impression of speed. I remember riding with an man who was well in to his sixties when everyone else was in their thirties or forties. He led this particular ride and even though some of the other bikers were on various types of sport bikes as well as a couple of ST's none of them could keep up with him and he was riding what was a new Goldwing at the time but this was years ago when Goldwings were still big barges. I was impressed by this, and his riding skill. I later found out that he used to be a moto-cross racer as well as trials bike competitor. He was also a long time sport bike racer who still regularly raced on the track. I guess the other often quoted generalization that experience counts has some truth to it.
 
Al st1100 said:
All the places I've worked at no one coddled, massaged my ego or had a support group. So IMO this is off base. How about some adventure, sightseeing or just plain love to ride and travel without the WW2 helmet. :puk1:
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Once you get a little older, you'll appreciate it more.
 
Andrew Shadow said:
Your post supports his premise that the age of the rider is the primary determinant factor, not the type of motorcycle, predicting whether or not bravado will be displayed on public roads. While a generalization by necessity part of the premise of his post is that on public roads most sport-touring/long-distance riders tend to be older and most sport bike riders tend to be younger. Accepting that pretty safe generalization sport-touring/long-distance riders who are likely older will tend to reserve the bravado for the track as you stated. This is less because they are riding a sport-touring motorcycle and more because they are older. Most sport bike riders on the other hand, who tend to be younger, not so much. They are more likely to show off on public roads not necessarily because they are riding sport bikes but because they are younger. They would probably be more predisposed to doing so regardless of what type of motorcycle they are riding just as older riders are most likely not to do so regardless of what motorcycle they are riding.


As an aside, the above generalization that old equates to slow is one that I have often found to not be true. I have more often than not found that older riders are some of the smoothest and most technically adept, and therefore fastest, riders that I have ridden with. Based on the riding experience that you seem to have I am sure that you have seen this yourself many times. Older riders
often don't have the appearance of being fast because they are always in control whereas younger inexperienced riders often seem to be on the edge of loosing it, which gives the impression of speed. I remember riding with an man who was well in to his sixties when everyone else was in their thirties or forties. He led this particular ride and even though some of the other bikers were on various types of sport bikes as well as a couple of ST's none of them could keep up with him and he was riding what was a new Goldwing at the time but this was years ago when Goldwings were still big barges. I was impressed by this, and his riding skill. I later found out that he used to be a moto-cross racer as well as trials bike competitor. He was also a long time sport bike racer who still regularly raced on the track. I guess the other often quoted generalization that experience counts has some truth to it.
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I do understand your viewpoint... I just try not to paint with too broad of a brush and mostly, I'm a time and place kind of rider irrespective of bike. As an old(er) guy, can I drag my knee on a public road? Yes. Do I? Rarely. For validation? No... if a tree falls in the forest and doesn't make a sound, blah blah blah... it's for me, selfishly. That said, I do drag hard parts on the ST rather regularly. But again, time and place. Same goes with some friends who are well over 50. If you do it and there is no one around to see it, does it count as showing off? ;) This is the way it's been for me for the past couple of decades. I imagine I slowed down a lot as I was raising my sons... now they don't really need me... will I revert to old? I guess we shall see, lol.

I used to keep some very fast company, the kind of guys you see on tv, really. Fast is fast. Period. Irrespective of age, gender, type of bike, time, or place. (Less famous) Dario Marchetti is a friend of mine and is the director of the Ducati Riding Experience. Mid-60's IIRC, and he can still run circles around most of the students, even the fast ones. A couple of the local old timers (approaching 70+ IIRC) are still hard to keep up with, but they don't ride on public roads often. And on the other spectrum, Josh Herrin (multiple national champion) still rides locally on the street with my son and his friends, as did Chuck Graves when I was a lot younger. Fast and smooth at an entirely different level. Generalizations are pretty pointless nowadays... the riders that don't fit those stererotypes are usuallly not the ones on YouTube and social media.
 
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