Have I become a biking old man?

[Itchy]

I used to encounter boring old men in country pubs who would corner you and tell you that back in my day bikes were this and that, and we would do this and that.

Sickpup around 2006 was older than the rest of us, he would shoot disapproving internet glances at us for being young, stupid and knowing nothing, I believe he still does this. To be fair we were young stupid and knew nothing what with less than 50,000 miles done.

Fast forward to 2014 and I am greying and older and I shoot disapproving internet glances at the younger folks for being young, and too soft not like back in our day.

The circle is now complete?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMKLeC2_o5A



Time to doth flat cap, slippers and half moon glasses and occupy a country pub frequented by younger bikers and corner the new folks? I mean big tourers, upright biking positions, hard luggage makes me think oh that's nice rather than uber BHP figures and handling specs
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[Marmalade]

HAHAHA you are old.

You tell em pops.
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Nobby the Bastard: How yo tell the difference between the actual japanese and her just screaming because she's had live fish stuck up her arse? [url=https://www.nicks-shop.co.uk/bcf-goodies-15-c.aspGet BCF stickers and things here[/url] Reflective helmet stickers - Legal requirement in france - Clicky

[Polarbear]

Welcome to the Old Farts club
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Dibble]

I've just bought a VFR800, the're just so pratical..............






And easy on the old knees

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Buy old superbike.
Fit risers on the risers and/or some flat bars.
Bigger screen.
Comfort seat.
Uprate the springs to take the extra weight of your wallet and hard luggage.

Throw flat cap in bin and put your lid back on.
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Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[Itchy]

[Tracey Suntan-King]

....or buy a larger size lid and wear your flat cap underneath, thus ensuring that karmic balance is maintained.
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Whether you think you can, or think you can't, you're probably right

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Chives who still occasionally posts on BCF has one, must only be 20 or 21. Wonder if he's toured on it and his reasons for getting it were.

Anyroad...Regarding your disapproving glances I'll say this.
I don't pity them, they really have to commit to choose 2 wheels over 4. Possibly more peer pressure to not be a biker in the first place what with the media being so instant. 'Ooo. Another man got killed on his motorcycle, this time in Mongstown..you're not having one I've told you.' Kind of thing.
Difficult one this, but I reckon bikes today are better overall than the ones of 20 years ago. Better being more reliable, fuel efficient, faster, stop better go around corners better. All the things the oldies wanted from their soggy, (insert your chosen duffer) bike.
Stunting today is fantastic. The stuff the lads n lasses are doing on stripped down supersports bikes is proper skillful. They're doing stuff on motorcycles we tried to do on a BMX.

Recently back from the TT and saw young competitors wanting to pit their skills in the toughest road race we have. Also saw lots of really good fast riding by young *Dutch lads when the roads re-opened...Infact the crappiest riding seemed to be done by middle aged farts like me.

You've let yourself go old.

[edit]
* Bloody hell she was drop dead gorgeous, over the mountain had a jet black superbike easily zip past me and finally caught up with it...at our campsite. Astride the all black GSXR1000 and wearing tight leathers she shook her long long beautiful hair and smiled at me. Made my balls go tight as if it were 1985 all over again.
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Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[temeluchus]

I've finally caved in to my inner old fart and bought the BMW.
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Some shite cruiser. Now with guns and FREEDOM!

[stevo as b4]

I feel a little bit the same, and I think part of it was that bikings glory day's for me were the late 90's- about 2005. We had loads of sales, born agains, people getting on bikes and there was loads of enthusiasm and interest both from new rider's and non bikers too.

The big pub meets were huge back then and so was the atmosphere! A lot of the big week night meets and pubs shut down in the last 10years, and some were closed down by police etc for becoming to big and all the silly stunting antics that we'd go to watch and pretend to disapprove of etc.

I used to go to Bassets Pole, The Wheel at Worfield and the Waterman at Hatton, as well as other meets like summer evenings in Bewdley or Bridgenorth etc. Most of these meetings have gone now, or become less popular. Sundays at Stratford upon Avon used to be huge for bikes, but the magic went and people don't want towns and pubs filled with bikers anymore generally.

I don't feel the love for ride outs, pub meets or big biking events like I used to.

Traffic is a lot worse now, and bike sales have been down for many years too! Worse is that back then we had the bikes as a 2nd fun vehicle and didn't need it to be an all weather hack. But now the vast majority of new bike sales are small scooters and commuters for people giving up 4wheels or public transport to save a few quid in getting to work.

Tl;dr does anyone else think biking sucks now compared to the late 90's>.

I'm happy doing my own thing now, and have no real interest in going to ride outs or bike night meetings with loads of other folk, as I don't feel the love for it all anymore really.

[chickenstrip]

[Mr Nice Guy]

Am 32 and have been looking at VFR1200s and Triumph Rockets, dunno if it's old age or if I've caught the ghey.
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Suzuki GSX-R750K4 ~ Mivv GP

[Clanger]

I will always blame the accident and damaged body parts on the choice of bike I now ride...never ever the 'getting older' thang.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss