Ye Olde Pharts like us need to be careful out there!

[madmike2]

This article is similar to others I've read in the past regarding 40+ riders being the new high risk category. Certainly, this age group has the means more so than the younger generations to enter the market, as is now apparent with the increasing numbers. The real problem I think, and the insurance companies focus on, are new 40+ riders, and 40+ riders that are starting to ride again after long absence. Many of these riders focus on image and may think their old skills are good enough, or feel that being older helps, as in already having experience on the road, but the reality is, they sadly lack the real riding skills required. The 40+ riders who have always ridden from an early age are much less of an issue, since their skills have been finely honed over time. As always, experience counts, and the insurance companies do ask questions that establish rider experience.
So, "ye old pharts" still need to be careful out there, but being older is not a prerequisite to an insurance claim. Being much older though, as in infirm is, and hopefully everybody knows when to hang up the helmet.

Gunny!

Somebody's gotta Photoshop Beemerdons in those boots and a thong. That'll bring your mortality to a screeching halt.

Working on it as we speak El Pendejo Grande, and SkooterG is so right on that I am still a STUDLY RIDER! "While some of our physical abilities may decline as we age, like strength, reaction times, and eyesight, we gain experience, wisdom, and respect for our own mortality which I believe trumps those things that decline. Just like Fighter Pilots and Irish Pugilists. It's the 'experienced' ones that are good."

Good is in the eyes of the beer holder!

You "olde pharte"!

 

[FJRay]

Hi Mike !! Good to see another of our senior members is awake.

 

[MCRIDER007]

The 40+ riders who have always ridden from an early age are much less of an issue, since their skills have been finely honed over time. As always, experience counts, and the insurance companies do ask questions that establish rider experience.

I am probably in the minority but I think that fast reflexes are way overrated for motorcycle riding. It isn't how fast one can react to a bad situation, its whether the rider does the right thing....the first time....because if you seldom have enough time to take a second action to correct the first one. Experience goes a long way to keep a rider out of trouble but there are always going to be situations that develop that are totally out of the rider's control and that's when reactions that have been hard wired into the rider's brain after years of repetitions kick in to save the day. No one has fast enough reflexes to analyze the situation and determine the best alternative, you react on instinct and those with the most experience have the greatest chance of success.

 

[odot]

I imagine being able to see and hear probably also helps out.

 

[Enn]

This article is similar to others I've read in the past regarding 40+ riders being the new high risk category. Certainly, this age group has the means more so than the younger generations to enter the market, as is now apparent with the increasing numbers. The real problem I think, and that the insurance companies focus on, are new 40+ riders, and 40+ riders that are starting to ride again after a long absence. Many of these riders focus on image and may think their old skills are good enough, or feel that being older helps, as in already having experience on the road, but the reality is, they sadly lack the real riding skills required.

Wait a minute! You are talking about me now: after 20 + years not riding a bike I went straight for FJR in age 44 some 3 y ago because it did look good (I focused on image) and I also thought my skills were good enough to ride 100 kW bike. Haven't crashed yet, but I got a message, it is about to come any time soon ...

 

[beemerdons]

I imagine being able to see and hear probably also helps out.

Highly overrated odot, just look at Tucson Joe and RadioHowie!

 

[RadioHowie]

Hey, I JUST bought new glasses. Old prescription was ~ 15 years old and the entire world was fuzzy and out-of-focus. Much better now, thank you.

Also, spending most of the last 45 years with headphones on "in the biz", plus about a jillion MC miles with wind noise in my helmet, my hearing is SHOT!

About all I hear now is the constant "wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" of tinitus.

 

[TomInPA]

About all I hear now is the constant "wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" of tinitus.

That's not tininitus...That is the sound of a Madmike2 on the radio.

 

[DrWing]

MCRIDER007 has spoken true words of wisdom. Read it. Read it again. Live it. Be Happy

 

[BobbyBlue]

Youth is wasted on the young...its all us ole guileless treacherous fuks that keeps it fun...my pacemaker doctor informed me i have been "pulling excessive G's recently...was i flying...again...without physician clearance...blahblahblah...i told him no flying just riding my scooter...he said..it'd have to be something "exotic"....like a 'busa....i aint got no 'busa....hehehe..ziggy's exotic...hehehe...