I guess I'm getting old

[okmac]

They say at 40 you trade immaturity for knowledge and at 50 you trade strength for wisdom.Some days I'm really fast, some days I'm not. More and more I enjoy riding for the ride, not the speed.

One thing I have learned is to be fast at the track and be smart in the canyons & twisties.

And on those days that I don't feel up to it, I don't ride.

I expect all FJR riders to be smart, let the squids ride the gsxrs and R-1s.

And someday, when we all grow old, we can ride Goldwings!

and what do you get at 60... :dribble: ?

and okmac what 2 states have you avoided ?

I have not been in Rhode Island or New Jersey. Oh, I guess I should also add Hawaii. Probably will never get to those as they do not hold my interest. My favorite places are any places with mountains. Still have a couple more months to go before I can get started again.

Mac

 

[Tenchi]

The only times I have ever crashed was when I went against my gut instinct. I think it's a true sign of intelligence to listen to it and act on it.

 

[racer]

Wow, +1 on most of the stuff here. After riding the Alps on a DL650 Vstrom with ABS, riding crazy, way over my head, I returned home to a solo ride on the my FJR, and locked the rear brake up three times. I've never done that before. That was a wake up call. I had both hips replaced three years ago. I asked my doctor if I could still ride a bike. He said just don't fall down. I told him, I'd try and remember that. I read a few face plant threads over on ADVrider forum and I don't want to be a part of that ever. That being said, I've told my wife many times, if I die on my bike, know that I did so doing the thing I like best.

I fully subscribe to the saying, you don't quit riding when you get old, you get old went you quit riding. Ride on always and never give up.

 

[zorkler]

One second at a time . Because you dont know if you will ever have another one . Enjoy it all

 

[fjrboomer]

Dang man, you are 41. That is two years younger than my youngest kid. I can tell you from personal experience the body does not even start aching as you get out of bed until your 50's. You are just beyond diapers as far as I am concerned. You have finally reached an age when your smarts will win over your macho attitude.

That is exactly what happened to you on your ride. The FJR is meant to be ridden fast especially in the curves. But you have to know when it is time to do that and when not. Since doubt entered your mind you made the right choice. Now get back out there and I bet you will not have the same doubt again at least for a while. Each time it occurs, follow your best judgement because there is always another curve in the road ahead. Incidently, I am 68 and I still enjoy the thrill of the ride although I can assure you that I am not nearly as aggressive as many on this forum. But that is okay because as long as I am having fun that is all that matter when you are out there.

 

[Cdogman]

I'm 11 revolutions around the sun ahead of you

**** DC,,, You are ancient... Lemme get the door for your old crusty ***..

 

[J-DADDY]

Fuzzy-

Hey! Welcome to the OFC* at 41!!!

65 soon and "tough as they come" (yeah, right......)

Discovery that riding your own ride for enjoyment trumps riding to impress is called maturity.

JC

*Old Farts Club

 

[Hotboot]

I bet some tire feedback had a lot to do with it. If you were riding N. Texas chip-seal it is more seal covered with sand and fine dust than chip, most corners are beaten down smooth, especially around St. Jo where the oil field trucks roll 24/7. Good call because old comes with some wisdom.

 

[Steel]

To find myself thinking "you don't have it today - it's safer to not push it" must be a sign of my old age.

Some will call it old age. Some will call it instinct. Some will call it a gut feeling. De Becker calls it "The Gift Of Fear". It is a powerful ally that says "do what I tell you to do. Don't doubt me and I'll get you out of here."

We all have it, but we don't always heed it. It's called growing up, not growing old. Some of us learn early, some never do. Congrats on learning one of lifes most important lessons.

 

[FuzzyRider]

I bet some tire feedback had a lot to do with it. If you were riding N. Texas chip-seal it is more seal covered with sand and fine dust than chip, most corners are beaten down smooth, especially around St. Jo where the oil field trucks roll 24/7. Good call because old comes with some wisdom.

Maybe part of it was the chip seal road, but there was even a section of beautiful new smooth black asphalt - worn just enough to get ride of most of the oil - outside of Leonard and I didn't feel confident there. It wasn't a bike thing or a road thing, it was a me thing.

 

[marcusorelius]

because old comes with some wisdom.

Ya got that right, if i had a FJR when I was 20 I wouldn't have lasted a week, heck even on my vulcan 800 I wouln't have lasted 2! Good thing I could only afford a yamaha 100 back then :lol:

 

[brazos parker]

Congrats on "growing up," not "growing old."

Last summer, I hit some gravel in a right-hander, the front end washed out but, somehow, I managed to keep the bike upright...although on the wrong side of the road! It destroyed my confidence for the rest of that day. Even now, I can remember that sick feeling when I heard the crunch of the gravel, the momentary loss of control and the struggle to regain control of the bike.

I'm 63, know I'm no longer bullet-proof and ride accordingly. I would love to hang w/ some of the guys here as we wind thru the twistys but, my inner voice tells me otherwise.

Listen...that voice you hear in your head knows what it's talking about!

 

[oldryder]

A note to the old guys .... I've been riding since 1973. started club racing last year in an attempt to improve my riding skills (jury's still out on that).

I'd recommend it to anyone that really likes riding and has enough humility to ride a track knowing there may be teenagers going a lot faster than you are. (you also have to have $1000 or better for track appropriate safety gear)

I do think I've learned the racetrack is the right place to push a motorcycle. It's amazing how much more fun railing thru a turn is when you don't have to consider the possibility of a stalled car, gravel, sand, an animal, debris, or any of the typical road hazards. you can also top out your bike without worrying about getting your vehicle impounded which is real nice.

 

[vabrzn]

As long as you're having fun, doesn't matter

 

[rfespinosa]

I think you had a very smart self observation. And had enough wisdom to follow it. Kudos.

Ron

 

[Mike P]

I'm 39.

Saturday was a leisure day as the sun never really came out all the way, left over dew on the roads until almost noon..............just wasn't with it.

Sunday was a whole other story, was hitting 1st-3rd wheelies multiple times through the day then hit one road in N.Al with long sweepers, was able to hold 140 for a solid 14 miles. Never at any point did I feel uncomfortable or felt on the edge. At the end of that 14 mile run I felt great :yahoo: after I parked on the side of the road enjoying a Dew and a smoke for at least 10-15 minutes waiting on the last of the pack on HD's to catch up.

A few of them said they debated on turning around to go make sure I didn't zip off the road into the woods unnoticed because I was out of sight for so long. :lol:

Some days are just better than others.

Just have to take each day as it comes. :beach:

 

[big ears]

I think I may be the slowest fjr rider in Lousyana.

 

[radman]

I often find it enjoyable to observe what was just a blur yesterday. That's another thing that's nice about the Feej, it doesn't have to be haulin *** to work well.

 

[Tyler]

must be a sign of my old age.

It's a sign of maturity. Sucks, don't it?

I see it as a sign of wisdom. B)

 

[DaveInMn]

A note to the old guys .... I've been riding since 1973.

What? Another old phardt on two wheels roaming around the the woods and lakes up here?

I've been riding since 1970. Jeeze, that's almost 40 years!