I am in my 70's and the thrill of riding is gone. I still have all my rides and keep up with their maintenance. I also like attending all bike rallies and swap meets(especially Antique Motorcycle Club of America).

 

I get it...I grew up with mini-bikes, dirt bikes, and early on had some import bikes. My dad had a CB750. There was a period of my life when I didn't ride. (About 10 years) I don't know what it was, but I missed riding and had to get back on. Now another 35-40 years later, I'm waiting for that feeling to come back to me once again. I still have two nice bikes, and love the idea of owning them, and have even considered selling them. Now I am retired and I moved to a state with a helmet law. IMHO summers here are way too hot to wear a helmet, and It takes the fun out of the ride if I can't be in the wind.

Also, the people have changed a bit IMHO. I grew up in a tough neighborhood in Chicago where a local biker gang had a presence. they owned a couple bars and probably ran some drugs and some ladies for escort services and God only knows what else. I lived near their HQ. Bikers today are a far cry from what I observed when I started riding. I noticed the change when "weekend bikers" came into the picture. They dressed up in short hair, jeans and a black T, and only rode on perfect Sundays or Saturdays and then parked the scoot until next weekend. I rode to work all week and got caught in the rain once in a while. I made a lot of 4-5 day road trips on a cruiser bike with drag pipes, no stereo, and throw over bags when I needed them. I did a lot of camping on my bike so I carried a small tent, and sleeping bag without a "bagger" and only brought what I absolutely needed. Tools, etc...I subscribed to 2 or 3 "biker" magazines at a time back then too. If you don't know what a magazine is just think of it as a papery "blog" with last month's news.

Everything changes, I'm not pining for the old days, so don't misunderstand. Today's Harley riders tend to be over fed, "lifestyle" riders who "run" on Sundays down to the local dealer or Starbucks on their pristine baggers. They talk about their bikes a lot, and I find little substance in these people. They seem more preoccupied with the stereos on their motorcycles and the best "sound system" for their ride to Starbucks on Sunday mornings. They wear Com-system helmets and ear buds. They need Blu-tooth and GPS to navigate. I got by on a good sense of direction, using maps and knowing where I was going before I rode. Some of these lifestyle bikers have their garage modded out looking like a racers pit crew facility. They put the scoot on a lift to change a battery, and then polish it while it is "on the lift". An oil change is a big deal for these people. That is worthy of a conversation when it is all said and done. And somewhere in that conversation, you will get a recommendation about "what oil they use" A trip down to the local dealer usually nets another bolt on chrome item for their blingy ride.

I'm not judging, so don't go there. I don't care who rides or why. I just see the "sea change" in bikers. from "gruff" looking men with a 5 o'clock shadow all week, to portly middle agers who don't shave on weekends and have a collection of Harley T shirts that rivals Wililie G' Davidsons. The "beret" wearing biker everyone loves so much at Sturgis rallies, and others... The whole "lifestyle" to me seems like a giant cliche'...when I went to rallies, and swap meets, I always talked to the guys with the bikes that looked like they had a hundred thousand or more miles on them. They had some interesting stories to tell. Most bikes for sale today are in near perfect shape and have about 20k on the odometer if that.

So, yeah...the thrill is gone here too. I didn't even register my bikes this year. If the thrill doesn't return, I will sell them in the next year or so. I'm still young enough to ride safely, so I hope something in my mojo shows up soon. I've never been so content in my life as I am right now. So, I don't mind if I watch the world go by for a while...

 

I think some , if not most, of you guys seriously need a good blow job. You're on your own with that good luck.
This thread is blasphemy !

 

Ha. For me it is just finding someplace new or something to do. But I'll go weave around the same old area.

I do see older riders becoming more fair weather.. and I get that. I don't go out in heat as much.

I am not as old, so time will tell I guess.

I have seen city people lose interest because of traffic.

 

66 here and still enjoy riding, learned on dirt bikes as a kid. Am all excited about going to Sturgis next month.

 

Been to Sturgis 4 times. If I had extra vacation/retired I would consider it. Time and money.

If some of you can, maybe a week vacation somewhere.

 

.... Where does the line form?

 

Forum is to sensitive for me to say

 

Classic!

 

If you think you are getting old and loosing desire to ride just keep this image in mind.