Question for the old guys

BuddingGeezer · 03-06-2012, 07:29 AM

Moto forums are full of people bragging about peg scraping, hooligan riding and speed. How many of you guys talking this subject have crashed @ 60mph or greater and taken that ambulance ride past the age of 55? Young men need not answer. I just want to know how many old guys have had that old body hit the pavement and still talk this shit?

DAKEZ · 03-06-2012, 07:44 AM

Thread closed.

klaviator · 03-06-2012, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuddingGeezer

Moto forums are full of people bragging about peg scraping, hooligan riding and speed. How many of you guys talking this subject have crashed @ 60mph or greater and taken that ambulance ride past the age of 55? Young men need not answer. I just want to know how many old guys have had that old body hit the pavement and still talk this shit?

I haven't quite hit that age yet, and I have yet to ride in an ambulance or be admitted to a hospital for any reason, but I'm going to reply anyway.

As I get older I find myself riding a more conservatively and I now own much less powerful bikes than I used to. However, I still like to have fun on curvy roads. More importantly I have not turned into a crotchety old geezer who has forgotten what it was like to be young. There are some people out there who I wonder if they ever knew what it what like to be young.

Furthermore I have ridden with many people over the age of 55 who have had serious crashes and still ride fast.

NJ-Brett · 03-06-2012, 07:56 AM

I will be 55 soon.
I used to be very wild in my younger days, VERY wild.
Been down 2 X on the street, 35 years ago, in the rain, and very drunk.
I got a little rash both times. Well, a lot of rash the 2nd time.

I push it to about 80% at times, and have dragged pegs on everything I ever owned, but since I do not wear gear, will not push it past 80%.
That is part of my protection, wear a polo shirt and you really think twice before pushing past 80%.
Full gear and I would be fearless, and likely crash often.
That shit belongs on the track.

lemieuxmc · 03-06-2012, 08:41 AM

I think you will find that riding motorcycles in some ways is a lot like kids climbing trees...

It's obviously dangerous and scary, so only those who aren't intimidated will do it and go very high. If you are good at it, you don't fall. If you do fall and it doesn't kill you, you will either quit doing it or you start doing it more carefully so you don't fall again. Like I mentioned in the hanging off thread, my 70 year old friend who hauls ass on his Harley Deuce doesn't think that HE is going that fast. Hell, I don't even try to keep up with him!

There are old bikers and there are bold bikers... and if you're gonna be dumb, ya gotta be tuff!

TrashCan · 03-06-2012, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuddingGeezer

I just want to know how many old guys have had that old body hit the pavement and still talk this shit?

bumper1871 · 03-06-2012, 08:38 AM

63 three years old, been riding for 30 years, never had an accident. Touch wood.

daveoneshot · 03-06-2012, 08:44 AM

Approaching 71 this summer. I like to think that my accident days are over, no more falling down. Which is why I'm
seeking a VFR to complement my airhead R 100. I hope the Universe agrees with me.

manic mechanic · 03-06-2012, 08:58 AM

Only 59, three years ago, my fault, nailed a car in WVA. Ambulance took me to the helicopter, kinda walked out of the ER later that evening with a fractured pelvis. Wasn't so bad that they would put my ass in a sling, tho. Four weeks later did a 1500 mile weekend ride on my '76 /6 BMW to work the Louisville Ironman. Along the way I learned a lot about people and how I must have touched them, because of all the help I received.

No False Enthusiasm · 03-06-2012, 09:04 AM

At 58, I hope to never make a meaningful contribution to this thread.

As a much younger man, I rode a CB750 to the hospital after a tumble and a broken collarbone. Then, a couple of years later, rode in an ambulance to the hospital when I tumbled and broke the other one...

NFE

No False Enthusiasm · 03-06-2012, 09:11 AM

Barman's story is testament to the point that a person with a head injury should not be making decisions regarding is health care.

Had those broken ribs punctured a lung, things could have gone down hill very quickly.

Thanks for posting.

NFE

PS: Me riding the CB750 to the krankenhaus wasn't a real good idea, either.

ride4321 · 03-06-2012, 09:56 AM

Took my first ambulance ride when I had my first wreck a few years ago, 55 at the time. Broken ribs and a collapsed lung. The bike was totaled and I was out of work for a month. Could have gone back after two weeks but the disability was good and the doc wanted me to stay home. Nice break actually. It wasn't my fault, seriously, I mean it. I was riding the speed limit on a straight secondary road. Some college kid pulled out of a parking lot making a left. Thought I'd be able to get around behind his car...until I saw the big ass cargo trailer he was towing. No where to go, I splatted myself onto the side of the trailer.

lemieuxmc · 03-06-2012, 10:37 AM

If you had only been on a BMW with ABS... well, you know.

Red9 · 03-06-2012, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemieuxmc

If you had only been on a BMW with ABS... well, you know.

He still would have hit him.
Probably harder as he wouldn't have slowed as much.

DAKEZ · 03-07-2012, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red9

He still would have hit him.
Probably harder as he wouldn't have slowed as much.

Shhhhh! Quiet. You'll wake them up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJ-Brett

I think a rider can eliminate 99.99% of the chances of a crash on the street if they want.

99.99% seems a bit high to me.

"It wasn't my fault, seriously, I mean it" Needs to be eliminated from your mind/thinking. It doesn't matter who is at "fault" It only matters who has more mass. Riding is not a contact sport.

03-06-2012, 07:29 AM	#1
BuddingGeezer ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2009 Location: Benton, AR Oddometer: 222	Question for the old guys Moto forums are full of people bragging about peg scraping, hooligan riding and speed. How many of you guys talking this subject have crashed @ 60mph or greater and taken that ambulance ride past the age of 55? Young men need not answer. I just want to know how many old guys have had that old body hit the pavement and still talk this shit?

03-06-2012, 07:44 AM	#2
DAKEZ Beastly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2007 Location: U-gene, OR. Oddometer: 17,983	Thread closed. __________________ "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." — Dr. Seuss “Watch out for everything bigger than you, they have the "right of weight" Bib

03-06-2012, 08:58 AM	#9
manic mechanic Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2011 Location: up nort' somewheres Oddometer: 107	Only 59, three years ago, my fault, nailed a car in WVA. Ambulance took me to the helicopter, kinda walked out of the ER later that evening with a fractured pelvis. Wasn't so bad that they would put my ass in a sling, tho. Four weeks later did a 1500 mile weekend ride on my '76 /6 BMW to work the Louisville Ironman. Along the way I learned a lot about people and how I must have touched them, because of all the help I received. __________________ '76 R90/6, '07 K1200GT Rounder #6 MOA Ambassador, Biergarten co-chair RA WI Regional Rep, rally security chair

03-06-2012, 09:56 AM	#12
ride4321 Beastly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2009 Location: Binghamton, NY Oddometer: 1,136	Took my first ambulance ride when I had my first wreck a few years ago, 55 at the time. Broken ribs and a collapsed lung. The bike was totaled and I was out of work for a month. Could have gone back after two weeks but the disability was good and the doc wanted me to stay home. Nice break actually. It wasn't my fault, seriously, I mean it. I was riding the speed limit on a straight secondary road. Some college kid pulled out of a parking lot making a left. Thought I'd be able to get around behind his car...until I saw the big ass cargo trailer he was towing. No where to go, I splatted myself onto the side of the trailer. __________________ “A gentleman is someone who can play the accordion, but doesn't.” ― Tom Waits

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03-06-2012, 07:56 AM	#4
NJ-Brett Brett Joined: Sep 2010 Location: Southern New Jersey Oddometer: 4,718	I will be 55 soon. I used to be very wild in my younger days, VERY wild. Been down 2 X on the street, 35 years ago, in the rain, and very drunk. I got a little rash both times. Well, a lot of rash the 2nd time. I push it to about 80% at times, and have dragged pegs on everything I ever owned, but since I do not wear gear, will not push it past 80%. That is part of my protection, wear a polo shirt and you really think twice before pushing past 80%. Full gear and I would be fearless, and likely crash often. That shit belongs on the track.

03-06-2012, 08:41 AM	#5
lemieuxmc Banned Joined: Mar 2009 Location: East La Jolla... it's just Clairemont!! Oddometer: 3,360	I think you will find that riding motorcycles in some ways is a lot like kids climbing trees... It's obviously dangerous and scary, so only those who aren't intimidated will do it and go very high. If you are good at it, you don't fall. If you do fall and it doesn't kill you, you will either quit doing it or you start doing it more carefully so you don't fall again. Like I mentioned in the hanging off thread, my 70 year old friend who hauls ass on his Harley Deuce doesn't think that HE is going that fast. Hell, I don't even try to keep up with him! There are old bikers and there are bold bikers... and if you're gonna be dumb, ya gotta be tuff!

03-06-2012, 08:38 AM	#7
bumper1871 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2008 Location: Montreal Qc Oddometer: 277	63 three years old, been riding for 30 years, never had an accident. Touch wood.

03-06-2012, 08:44 AM	#8
daveoneshot Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2010 Location: Vermont Oddometer: 255	Approaching 71 this summer. I like to think that my accident days are over, no more falling down. Which is why I'm seeking a VFR to complement my airhead R 100. I hope the Universe agrees with me.

03-06-2012, 09:04 AM	#10
No False Enthusiasm a quiet adventurer Joined: Nov 2009 Location: Small Town, Texas Oddometer: 3,404	At 58, I hope to never make a meaningful contribution to this thread. As a much younger man, I rode a CB750 to the hospital after a tumble and a broken collarbone. Then, a couple of years later, rode in an ambulance to the hospital when I tumbled and broke the other one... NFE

03-06-2012, 09:11 AM	#11
No False Enthusiasm a quiet adventurer Joined: Nov 2009 Location: Small Town, Texas Oddometer: 3,404	Barman's story is testament to the point that a person with a head injury should not be making decisions regarding is health care. Had those broken ribs punctured a lung, things could have gone down hill very quickly. Thanks for posting. NFE PS: Me riding the CB750 to the krankenhaus wasn't a real good idea, either.

03-06-2012, 10:37 AM	#13
lemieuxmc Banned Joined: Mar 2009 Location: East La Jolla... it's just Clairemont!! Oddometer: 3,360	If you had only been on a BMW with ABS... well, you know.