Older Riders

johne · Aug 7, 2025 at 7:02 PM

I was sat at my usual biker cafe haunt this afternoon when a chap rode in on a Honda 650 twin. When he parked up next my bike and took off his helmet, I could see he was an older gentleman. I guessed he would be in his mid 70's. He nodded and went to buy a drink indoors, returning to sit next to me on the wall outside the cafe as it was a sunny afternoon. The usual bikers conversation ensued. He asked me about my bike, the Street Triple RS and I asked him about his. It turned out he'd bought it just a couple of weeks before from a local Honda dealership and it was the smallest capacity bike he'd owned for many years, but he was very pleased with it. He mentioned that he'd gone for a smaller bike as his previous bike was much heavier and advancing years meant he found the lighter machine much easier to manoeuvre. I told him I was getting to that stage also and mentioned that my Guzzi Breva 1100, whilst a lovely bike, was getting harder for me to move around on the driveway due to its size and weight. He said he didn't get much opportunity to ride these days as his wife had Alzheimer's disease and he was her main carer. He got a few hours respite every week and if it was a nice day, he would get out on his bike. He mentioned his wife was in her early 80's and they had been together for 55 years. I ventured to ask how old he was. 85 came the reply. That astounded me. He genuinely looked ten years younger and had a damn sight more hair on his head than I have (I'm 66). We chatted for another 20 minutes or so and then he said he would have to return home as his wife's respite carer only stayed for a couple of hours twice a week. I wished him well and said I hoped I might see him again and off he went. I'm sure there are quite a few riders still getting out and about well into their 80's and perhaps he isn't the oldest but it was really great to meet him and I wish I can still be as fit and able to continue riding if I do manage to get to his age.

I didn't get his name and he's unlikely to read this as of course its a Triumph forum, not a Honda one, but good on yer mate. I hope you are riding for many more years to come.

Eldon · Aug 7, 2025 at 9:25 PM

Nice story @johne and fully agree but can't help thinking what if.....

As the main carer, a slight incident on the bike and the whole world goes upside down

Not sure of the right answer here, my MiL is in a care home due to dementia, but at what point is this guy going to ask for more help?

Live life to the full whilst you can

Mark TGR9 · Aug 8, 2025 at 12:01 AM

One great thing I took from the story is as I'm 61 I hope that I may have more years ahead of me and riding longer than expected and won't need a mobility scooter so soon I lost my dad last year with dementia 85 and my mother the same diagnosis seven years ago at 76 so it looks like my future may be planned out but I'm also a full time carer for my Mrs but her problems are more a mobility issue but I do feel guilty spending time out on the bike and so don't ride as much as I like but back to the story hopefully I do have a while left to go and maybe if I don't get a bonneville next it will definitely be a trident 660 or one of the nice 400's to keep biking

Pegscraper · Aug 8, 2025 at 12:04 AM

A long time workmate, friend and riding buddy of mine, who I rode with for over 40 yrs, passed away in 2017 aged 86. We did many TT's together plus a few MGP's, race meetings at Silverstone, Donnington etc and countless thousands of riding miles just going "for a joust", as he used to call it round the Peak district along with Winter green laning or "bogging". He was still riding his Fireblade right up to a year or so before he died when he became too ill with COPD and went down hill quickly.
He certainly lived a full life (mostly on 2 wheels) for as long as he was able but it was still heart breaking to see him waste away as he did. I still think of the rides we had when I'm out on the various routes through the PD or green laning and visited his grave only last week as I do occasionally if/when I ride through his village. It just makes me more determined to ride as often as I can while I'm still able despite having commitments at home.

Mark TGR9 · Aug 8, 2025 at 12:09 AM

Pegscraper said: ↑

A long time workmate, friend and riding buddy of mine, who I rode with for over 40 yrs, passed away in 2017 aged 86. We did many TT's together plus a few MGP's, race meetings at Silverstone, Donnington etc and countless thousands of riding miles just going "for a joust", as he used to call it round the Peak district along with Winter green laning or "bogging". He was still riding his Fireblade right up to a year or so before he died when he became too ill with COPD and went down hill quickly.
He certainly lived a full life (mostly on 2 wheels) for as long as he was able but it was still heart breaking to see him waste away as he did. I still think of the rides we had when I'm out on the various routes through the PD or green laning and visited his grave only last week as I do occasionally if/when I ride through his village. It just makes me more determined to ride as often as I can while I'm still able despite having commitments at home.
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Fireblade at 85 oh my God if that's the case never mind a Trident or 400 I'll be on the lookout for a nice speed triple but an rr I'm not willing to push it TOO much

johne · Aug 8, 2025 at 9:39 AM

Eldon said: ↑

Nice story @johne and fully agree but can't help thinking what if.....

As the main carer, a slight incident on the bike and the whole world goes upside down

Not sure of the right answer here, my MiL is in a care home due to dementia, but at what point is this guy going to ask for more help?

Live life to the full whilst you can
Click to expand...

I can't answer your question of course, but lets face it, many don't make it to his age. His wife could've been facing full time care a few years ago had he not been around. I could see he enjoyed his brief time away although I'm sure he loves his wife. So whether he walks a dog in the park or rides his motorbike for a few hours does it really matter? Sadly he told me his wife barely knows who he is now. A tragedy which sadly affects more and more couples in later life.

joe mc donald · Aug 8, 2025 at 4:24 PM

johne said: ↑

I was sat at my usual biker cafe haunt this afternoon when a chap rode in on a Honda 650 twin. When he parked up next my bike and took off his helmet, I could see he was an older gentleman. I guessed he would be in his mid 70's. He nodded and went to buy a drink indoors, returning to sit next to me on the wall outside the cafe as it was a sunny afternoon. The usual bikers conversation ensued. He asked me about my bike, the Street Triple RS and I asked him about his. It turned out he'd bought it just a couple of weeks before from a local Honda dealership and it was the smallest capacity bike he'd owned for many years, but he was very pleased with it. He mentioned that he'd gone for a smaller bike as his previous bike was much heavier and advancing years meant he found the lighter machine much easier to manoeuvre. I told him I was getting to that stage also and mentioned that my Guzzi Breva 1100, whilst a lovely bike, was getting harder for me to move around on the driveway due to its size and weight. He said he didn't get much opportunity to ride these days as his wife had Alzheimer's disease and he was her main carer. He got a few hours respite every week and if it was a nice day, he would get out on his bike. He mentioned his wife was in her early 80's and they had been together for 55 years. I ventured to ask how old he was. 85 came the reply. That astounded me. He genuinely looked ten years younger and had a damn sight more hair on his head than I have (I'm 66). We chatted for another 20 minutes or so and then he said he would have to return home as his wife's respite carer only stayed for a couple of hours twice a week. I wished him well and said I hoped I might see him again and off he went. I'm sure there are quite a few riders still getting out and about well into their 80's and perhaps he isn't the oldest but it was really great to meet him and I wish I can still be as fit and able to continue riding if I do manage to get to his age.

I didn't get his name and he's unlikely to read this as of course its a Triumph forum, not a Honda one, but good on yer mate. I hope you are riding for many more years to come.
Click to expand...

@johne Same here the chap that traded my Bonneville Scrambler in at Bulldog Triumph was eighty-two I just happened to be in the dealer that day when he said my bike is to heavy can i trade it for the four hundred.

Samsgrandad · Aug 8, 2025 at 5:51 PM

I can empathise with all the stories here. I am 77 and have been riding since I was 16. I don't want to give up and still enjoy getting out on the bike. Time to do so is now rather limited as my wife has serious mobility issues and I am her carer. Unfortunately weekends away on the bike or continental tours are now a thing of the past as I can't leave my wife overnight. I try to get out for a few hours in the afternoon as and when I can, luckily Exmoor is close at hand with excellent roads and less traffic than the major routes to the coast.

I too have moved away from large heavy bikes as I am just not prepared to struggle with them any more. I am riding a Speed 400 and find that this is perfectly capable of everything I need in a bike.

Like others I hope to ride as long as I am safe to do so. Fortunately at the moment I am reasonably fit and have good eyesight, which hopefully will carry on for some time to come.

Growing old is compulsory, growing up is optional!!

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