Give up riding

[moondog]

How many out there know someone or heard of someone who gave up riding for one reason or another?

[tommcgee]

I know a few. I did it myself for the better part of 30 years.

[dbrick]

Lots of folks do; riding isn't for everyone. My wife, for example, looked me in the eye after she'd ridden her own bikes for ~4 years and 20K miles and said "This isn't for me."

[Oldhway]

I have gotten off for a period of time a couple of times. When you feel it's time to stop, it's time to stop. Riding is about risk management for one thing and that decison is very personal. Follow your gut. You may get off for a season, several years, or just find it never calls you back. With me I always find I can't stay away, it's in my blood.

[Nonskid]

I stopped too, 10 or so years ago. I just had to get back though. I love it.

[johnpeter]

I know quite a few that take the responsibility of their young, urban families welfare as paramount and will get back into it after the children have grown.

Myself? Been back at it after an 8 year lay-off and at 61yo am enjoying the hell out of my K75S. There is, for me and I'm sure others, a Spiritual connection in riding. I particularly enjoy night riding.

[osbornk]

I quit riding several times but I discovered that riding is an incurable disease. It may go into remission but it always returns. I was an insurance adjuster for many years. Every once in a while, I would get a claim where a rider was seriously injured or killed. I would quit riding and tell myself that I wouldn't ride again because of the danger. I guess the mind fades and in a few years, I would get the itch again and buy another bike.

Ken

[glurkus]

I have a friend of mine who rode most of his life, and then gave it up because he just lost his nerve to ride. He felt he used up his luck, and if he kept on riding he was due for a crash.

[moondog]

I have a friend of mine who rode most of his life, and then gave it up because he just lost his nerve to ride. He felt he used up his luck, and if he kept on riding he was due for a crash.

this sounds like me. I went down last year and all I think about is the next deer or the next idiot cage driver, or sand on the road or oil. I have been out this year and it's almost like I am a deer in the headlights.

[Paul_F]

I quit riding in '65 and didn't ride until '71 when no other cheap transportation was available for our three month tour in Europe. I worked in a hospital and saw too many patients involved in bike accidents. Thought about riding a beemer but figured the risk wasn't worth it. My wife finally told me to get the beemer when I retired. I've put on 47,000 miles in the last three summers; just trying to get caught up on what I missed over the years.

I have a friend of mine who rode most of his life, and then gave it up because he just lost his nerve to ride. He felt he used up his luck, and if he kept on riding he was due for a crash.

I can understand that.

[GrafikFeat]

How many out there know someone or heard of someone who gave up riding for one reason or another?

Funny you should ask... I just quit last night!

wait for it...

Then the sun came up and I started again!

...but seriously, the ones I'm aware of were for safety concerns or starting a family/kids.
Certainly a personal matter that I've alway respected regardless of reason.:brow

[SCQTT]

I got a late start at 16 years old. Many start @ 5 now racing or trail riding with family.

That was 26 years and a bunch of miles ago.

My two biggest times away from the bike were a broken leg in 96. I went right home from the doctor's after I got my cast removed and got on my 93 GS for a ride (I had broken it on an XR650L) Surgery, plate, seven screws, 6 weeks in a cast

I broke my same leg very badly again in 2006 (again a XR650L) Ripped off the plate, double spiral fracture, New bigger plate, 10 screws, 10mmx380mm Russell Taylor Nail, 4 retaining bolts. 10 weeks to the day & I was able to climb on my KTM 625 Super Moto.

I've got a few really cool dusty bicycles & a fairly awesome sports car that I have driven 3,000 miles in 5 years. So I have stuck my toe in the water of other things, but nothing compares to motorcycles


I have always made my living in the motorcycle industry as well.

I could not imagine anything else.

Give up riding? It would be similar to me deciding to stop breathing.

What happens when I am too old & the GS's are too much to handle? Not certain, I don't even want to think about it.

[john1691]

What happens when I am too old & the GS's are too much to handle? Not certain, I don't even want to think about it.


I'm thinking sidecar rig. I saw a '62 BMW with a sidecar, and right away told my riding buddy that when I can't hold up my bike, I'm buying a sidecar. No trike for me!

[moondog]

"I'm thinking sidecar rig. I saw a '62 BMW with a sidecar, and right away told my riding buddy that when I can't hold up my bike, I'm buying a sidecar. No trike for me!"



The same with me. I looked into it earlier this spring, but I have enough irons in the fire at the moment.

[adamceckhardt]

I quit riding for a week once. I thought that "it wasn't for me" so I sold my first bike. I bought another one a week later.

[BubbaZanetti]

I quit riding for a week once. I thought that "it wasn't for me" so I sold my first bike. I bought another one a week later.

same boat, i "hung it up once" for 4 months after an injury that wouldn't allow me to ride. if i gave up riding i'd have no way to get to work. ah, the joys of living in NYC (my girlfriend and I are considered "extravagant" cause we have a car and a bike) ask Tessler about that.............

[GrafikFeat]

I'm thinking sidecar rig. I saw a '62 BMW with a sidecar, and right away told my riding buddy that when I can't hold up my bike, I'm buying a sidecar. No trike for me!

I have two "C's" and the one w/ the hack is for practice now for when I'm feeble and forget to learn... :gerg

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jim_popper/2619826958/" title="In_The_Woods by GrafikFeat, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3214/2619826958_4afe19855b.jpg" width="335" height="500" alt="In_The_Woods" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jim_popper/2676448412/" title="410toRainier by GrafikFeat, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3269/2676448412_8400cbb06e.jpg" width="500" height="335" alt="410toRainier" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jim_popper/2445415895/" title="Time Machine. by GrafikFeat, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3062/2445415895_580b0d2a42.jpg" width="500" height="344" alt="Time Machine." /></a>

[SCQTT]

I sort of hear you on the sidecar. I could never rider one of those three wheelers, but a sidecar rig is cool. (that said, those new Can Am Spyders are pretty cool too)

I think I would miss the fundamental pleasure of a single track vehicle. The part I love most about a motorcycle is they way it turns.

I can get that wind in your face feeling in a roadster (maybe even more so than on a motorcycle) but they lean the wrong way in turns.

[GrafikFeat]

I think I would miss the fundamental pleasure of a single track vehicle. The part I love most about a motorcycle is they way it turns.

Well, depends on yer riding style too! :ha

Just remember, chicks :kiss and dogs :dog dig side cars!
So far I only attract the latter!

[rinty]

I quit last year after a near miss with a deer, and after contemplating Laurence Grodsky's death in a deer collision. I started riding at 13, and in my 59th year felt that I may have used up most of my personal luck quota. Also, I had developed concerns over my "assertive" riding style.:D

I did rent a Harley for a 3 day ride this year that my brother went on.

But I'm back into sports cars.

Like the poster above said, you have to go with your gut when it's time to decide.

Rinty

[hlothery]

I quit riding when my Son could crawl to the window and look out at the bike. Didn't ride for the next 21 years. Started again in 2001, have almost 100,000 miles since then on three bikes. It is risky, but you try your best to educate yourself on how to manage the risk. Deer are the intangible, I agree. The Brodski accident is my constant fear. It is a deeply personal decision.

I also love sportscars........which creates time management dilemmas each weekend. (That and golf!)

[zoridog]

I sold my 76 Honda 750 in 1983. After a rain storm, I rode across a narrow metal grate bridge. I almost went down twice and was almost hit by a car in the course of about 30 seconds. My riding buddy had lost a leg earlier that year. I said never again.

Late last year I bought an airhead in a moment of weakness. My coworker is a BMW rider and talked of nothing else. I figured I would go on a few rides and then sell it.

In the last 10 months I logged 10,000 happy miles. Never say never ...

[moondog]

I quit riding when my Son could crawl to the window and look out at the bike. Didn't ride for the next 21 years. Started again in 2001, have almost 100,000 miles since then on three bikes. It is risky, but you try your best to educate yourself on how to manage the risk. Deer are the intangible, I agree. The Brodski accident is my constant fear. It is a deeply personal decision.

I also love sportscars........which creates time management dilemmas each weekend. (That and golf!)

What was the brodski accident?

When I think of deer I always think of that instructor that was killed down in one of the Southern states by a deer. Someties training ain't enough. If your number is up, its up.

[hlothery]

What was the brodski accident?

When I think of deer I always think of that instructor that was killed down in one of the Southern states by a deer. Someties training ain't enough. If your number is up, its up.

Famed safety instructor from Rider Magazine who was killed late at night on a South Texas road north of Big Bend when he hit a deer. I think we are talking about the same thing.

[jdmetzger]

Famed safety instructor from Rider Magazine who was killed late at night on a South Texas road north of Big Bend when he hit a deer. I think we are talking about the same thing.

Larry Grodsky (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06101/681096-122.stm)?

[hlothery]

Larry Grodsky (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06101/681096-122.stm)?

That's the one.........heh, I was close!:nyah

[Oldhway]

Famed safety instructor from Rider Magazine who was killed late at night on a South Texas road north of Big Bend when he hit a deer. I think we are talking about the same thing.

I think Larry Grodsky's death shook up an awful lot of riders.

[osbornk]

The deer population caused me to give up most of my night riding. When I do, it is done very carefully and not at speed.

Ken

[BuddingGeezer]

this sounds like me. I went down last year and all I think about is the next deer or the next idiot cage driver, or sand on the road or oil. I have been out this year and it's almost like I am a deer in the headlights.

I am 57 years old and probably 30 or so friends of mine have died. Car wrecks, Viet Nam, heart attack, train ran over one, sky diving accident, Lou Gerigs disease, MS, AIDS, cancer, a couple murdered. One fellow I once worked with could not wait to retire from ALCOA. He took early retirement, 90 days later he died in his recliner watching TV.

No friends have died on a motorcycle and a lot have ridden as kids and ride as adults. I was hit head on by a car at the age of 13.

There are many ways to die. Some are easy, some are hard. You might as well enjoy life while you can. Ridding gives me joy. We aren't guaranteed tomorrow.

Ralph Sims

[Motor31]

I had to give it up for a while due to a motorcycle collision. Once I healed up enough I came back to it. Now I'll ride until the pain of riding cancels out the fun of it. At that point I'll hang up the keys and do something else.

[moondog]

Famed safety instructor from Rider Magazine who was killed late at night on a South Texas road north of Big Bend when he hit a deer. I think we are talking about the same thing.

Yep we is....

[r11rs94]

I am 57 years old and probably 30 or so friends of mine have died. Car wrecks, Viet Nam, heart attack, train ran over one, sky diving accident, Lou Gerigs disease, MS, AIDS, cancer, a couple murdered. One fellow I once worked with could not wait to retire from ALCOA. He took early retirement, 90 days later he died in his recliner watching TV.

No friends have died on a motorcycle and a lot have ridden as kids and ride as adults. I was hit head on by a car at the age of 13.

There are many ways to die. Some are easy, some are hard. You might as well enjoy life while you can. Ridding gives me joy. We aren't guaranteed tomorrow.

Ralph Sims

Thanks, I could not agree more.

[bubbagazoo]

I can say that I never "Gave up riding". I took a 20 year hiatus to pay for the raising of my kids. :D

I sold my XS650 when the kids came along. It was always my intention to someday get back on a motorcycle. So, I didn't give up riding, I just had a break that was way longer than I had hoped.

[pffog]

In the last 5 years a lot of people I know quit riding.

Three due to their own miscalculations, may they rest in peace.
One due to a guy who turned left INTO him, may he rest in peace
One due to someone pulling into his path, I pray he will walk again
One who decided his family was more important, after he had an accident, but was lucky.
One who decided he had to give up street riding, and just does track days, because he could not tone it down.

[ARValkguy]

As much as I love riding, and believe me I love almost nothing more than finding a nice twisty, hilly road in the country. I would stop today if my wife said it made her uncomfortable. I would stop if one of my children said it made them afraid. I, like many of you believe you can't live in fear of tomorrow but get out there and do what you can and do it with a smile on your face. I am a firm believer in enjoying all the benifits of this world. We live in a country that will allow us to freely pursue the things that bring us joy.

Kelly

[moondog]

As much as I love riding, and believe me I love almost nothing more than finding a nice twisty, hilly road in the country. I would stop today if my wife said it made her uncomfortable. I would stop if one of my children said it made them afraid. I, like many of you believe you can't live in fear of tomorrow but get out there and do what you can and do it with a smile on your face. I am a firm believer in enjoying all the benifits of this world. We live in a country that will allow us to freely pursue the things that bring us joy.

Kelly


Well said....

[SCQTT]

As much as I love riding, and believe me I love almost nothing more than finding a nice twisty, hilly road in the country. I would stop today if my wife said it made her uncomfortable. I would stop if one of my children said it made them afraid. I, like many of you believe you can't live in fear of tomorrow but get out there and do what you can and do it with a smile on your face. I am a firm believer in enjoying all the benifits of this world. We live in a country that will allow us to freely pursue the things that bring us joy.

Kelly


I like Paris AR. I somehow find myslef there quite often for lunch, I do not know why, it just happens. (Greasy spoon, fried everything place next to the Sonic)

Beautiful area for riding, you are lucky. I have several hours of ugly riding to get in your neck of the woods.

[lamble]

Not quit, but changed radically.

In the UK the profusion of speed cameras, anti bike policing and number of vehicles in such a small place, has changed the type of bike my friends have been buying. We all started on sports bikes, progressing to super sports. Now they have changed with KTM Dukes being the tool of choice, rather than gixers, mille's, ducs, ninjas and R1s.

Of course it may be that our knees were aching too much, but I think it's the shift from possible detection of speeding, to, probable detection of speeding, plus a stigma that's being attached to that offence, that makes it as anti social as drink driving.

[jforgo]

I have known a few who gave it up because they were getting married - ordered to by her, most likely, but of course not admitting it.

[RJM2096]

On the way to Gillete we saw a car (what was left of one) that had hit a guard rail. The driver was on a stretcher on the side of the road and looked very bad. We saw two semis that had flipped over and had little of the cabs left.

I knew of a women killed by a deer when it when through her windsheld.

I think I will keep riding. While not my whole life, it is a pleasant part of my life

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh310/RJM2096/ReadyToRide.jpg

[s2wheels]

I quit once; when I got married, "she" said, after 1 year, it would be her or the bike, and like a fool, I gave up the bike.

I fixed that later on and, divorced now, I'm more happy with the two-wheeled ride ('course, the ultimatum shoulda' been a heads-up.)

S2

[moondog]

I quit once; when I got married, "she" said, after 1 year, it would be her or the bike, and like a fool, I gave up the bike.

I fixed that later on and, divorced now, I'm more happy with the two-wheeled ride ('course, the ultimatum shoulda' been a heads-up.)

S2
Well I haven't got a significant other at the moment but if I did and she gave me an ultimatum like that I would say with no hesitation "don't let the f***ing door hit you in the A** on the way out! whether it is about motorcycles or playing tiddly-winks :thumb
Now if I had kids that is a different story. I don't have any of them either....................................that I know of......:whistle

[Rpbump]

I have been riding since 1968 and will turn 66 on Aug 2. Riding gives me a feeling of freedom, independence, joy, etc. I can't express the feeling in just one or two words but hope to still be riding for many years. I intend to ride coast to coast when I retire and will attend my first Bmw Rally in TN next year. For those that are worried about riding/accidents I can only say that living in fear is to not live at all. Ride Safe :bikes