Why don't people stick with bikes

[junglejim]

I was asked a question recently when getting quotes for insurance, that I have never been asked before.
"How many continuous years riding experience do you have"
When I said, 30 years, the girl responded by saying, "gosh, you are a rare breed"
Why is that.
Why is it that you meet so many mature people riding bikes now, who have either just recently passed their tests, or have returned to riding after a 20/30 year old break.
Out of interest, are there any others here who started young and have continued to ride all the way through the marriage, mortgage, and kids stages of their lives ?

[garth]

Because they all get muff struck, then have a mid life and buy a Ducati.
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[Teflon-Mike]

Jup; just not always on the road.
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Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[yen_powell]

It's the other people you have to hang round with....

I'm a 30 yearer and I know at least 10 other people personally who are in the same range and 2 or 3 who are vastly past that.
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XT1200Z and a DR350 in bits

[Lone-Wolf]

Wotcha.

Started riding before I was legally old enough - still riding now. . . .some 40 odd years later.

Didn't bother with the marriage, mortgage and kids bit.
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L.W. - www.moonshiners.org.uk

[Fizzer Thou]

Been riding bikes since 1975 and have never looked back,even after mortgages,kids,marriage (married for 28 years) etc.The only time that I have not had a bike was for two weeks in 1979 when my CB550F1 was stolen .

I only did my car test because the boss said I needed a licence to drive a car when working abroad.
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Just talk bikes.What else is there?

Always have a 'Plan B'

[robbieguy2003]

Rode since I started, weirdly on and off at 16/17, didn't really get into it then got properly into it again around 21 and i've never been off since.

My lady loves bikes so it works well, when I think hmm should I spend money on the bike she actively encourages me to because she knows I enjoy it, so no worries there.

As it stands - we both have cars - i'd give up my car leaving us with just her car before I'd give up any of my bikes.
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Current Bikes: Honda CBR 600RR - '07, Suzuki GSX1250 FA ST '11
Old Bikes: Suzuki Intruder 125 LC - '2001, Honda CBR 600F - '92, Honda CBR 600RR - '03

[FBSF]

I think I'm one of the rarer ones. Started at 16 on a DT50, and have had bikes constantly since, despite meeting me missus at 19, marrying her at 24 and had our daughter at 26. I'm now 36.

I'm lucky in that the missus appreciates that I come with two wheels, and she has never even thought about discouraging it.

[Batty]

Started riding on a Yamaha RD 200 when I was 17.
30 years later and still riding (not the RD though)

[yen_powell]

I started on a 250 (too ashamed to say what model) but didn't pull my finger out and by the time I did my test the 125 learner laws had started. I got a CG125 and rode that until I passed my test at 18.

Since then I have ridden nearly every day barring the odd week when I'm abroad on holiday (ie not very often) and a five week period when I was banned from riding for medical reasons in 2005.

I had been riding for about 5 years when I had to take car driving lessons as a car licence was required at work. My first lesson was the morning after the great storm of 87. The instructor had to keep tugging at the steering wheel to get me closer to the road side ditches as I was convinced I was in a hugely wide vehicle (Nissan Cherry I think). What with that, trees laying across lots of roads and virtually all traffic lights not functioning it was a hairy first lesson.
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Blackmail is a nasty word........but not as nasty as phlegm!
XT1200Z and a DR350 in bits

[EXC-Rider]

im only 18 and had had bikes since 10 so 8 years so far, a few friends had bikes off road bikes or 125's for the road bt they all got cars now but i went on to pass my bike test, dont think i will not have a bike for a while.
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owned bikes: DR50, Thumpsta 110 , Honda CR85, Speedfight 100, Yamaha XT125X, Honda CRF450, Honda Hornet '07
current bikes: KTM EXC525 AKA the wheelie machine
A friend in need is a friend indeed but a friend with weed is better!

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Finances. It's hard to gig using a bike, and if you can only afford to run one vehicle, the bike has to go.
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Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[Polarbear]

Got my first moped in 1973, passed my test in 76 and had bikes ever since.

I only passed my car test in 2007
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[arry]

[angryjonny]

[jimbothe]

A few of my mates see a bike as a lifestyle choice rather than a necessity.

I guess if you can afford a car and a bike then it's all good. If you can't and have to make a choice then depending on your circumstances, a car would make more sense.

I'm actually inbetween bikes right now as I can't decide what I want at my budget and can't afford what I really want, so I have decided to sit back for a couple of months until I do decide.

I suppose that would 'technically' be classed as a break but it's not to me.

I will also admit that for the last 6 or so months I am now officially a pleasure rider as I was given a company vehicle.
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[pinkyfloyd]

I started riding when I was 17. Change of country forced the sale of my little RXS at 21. I couldnt afford a bike on my wages in my new location and it took 15 years before I managed to get on the road again.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[J.M.]

I started biking on my 17th birthday. I'm about a week away from my 18th birthday now, so I haven't been riding all that long, but I hope to be able to be able to continuously keep at it as long as you have!
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[junglejim]

[stigg]

Been riding for 40 years through marriage and kids of which two out of three ride. Can't really imagine not having a bike now.

[Suntan Sid]

[fozzym]

I started on a TS50 at 16 and then got on a TZR125 at 17 as I was a working lad it was my form of transport. At 17 a learnt to drive but never took my bike test as I was already fed up with winters.

Through the intervening years I would have loved a bike but could really justify the expense and didn't want to ride a shed. Last year at 33 I finally had the resources to fund not only the test but also the bike I wanted.

To be honest there wasn't anyone or anything stopping me having a bike all those years other than the fact that I wanted it on my terms.

Call it a lifestyle choice or whatever you like, I see it more as a hobby...does that make me any less a biker ?? Not to me

[arry]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Started at 17, had access to a bike for every year since then. Have every intention for that to continue to be the way.
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[junglejim]