Anyone else come to motorcycles later in life?

[Delvard]

I'm 38 and like a lot of people spoke about getting a bike, getting a licence, bla bla...but never did anything about it. Been driving cars for 20 odd years now so kind of felt that was it. That is until I saw an American episode of 'Faking It' You know, the C4 program were you have to prove to a bunch of experts that you are the real deal.
God it so inspired me. Here was this quite intelligent, thoughtful girl who was held back only by her lack of confidence and self belief.
It so reminded me of....Me.
The reason I'd never thought of going through the whole test 'rigmarole' was because basically, deep down, I thought I was a load of crap and wouldn't pull it off. I was scared so stayed in my 'comfort zone' and left it at that.
I was so disappoited and upset to feel these things again after so many years that I decided to take my CBT. I did 3 weeks ago, bought a 125 and have done exactly 130 miles on it
Theory has been booked.
I'm really enjoying it. So glad I bought the bike but it's been so much more about other things as well. You know?
So what about you?



Andy
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A thing of beauty is a joy for ever: Its loveliness increases; it will never Pass into nothingness; but still will keep A bower quiet for us, and a sleep Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.

[map]

congrats.
Did the direct access many moons ago before they shuffled the pack with the rules.
I honestly can say it's the best money I've ever spent.
Never looked back, never regretted it (except when I want to swap bikes or gripe about the cost of parts)
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...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?

[Bomberman]

Been riding just a year now, started at 30 Surprised I got to be so old... Anyway, spent a year on my TZR (see sig for an old picture, must get new ones up with pillion fairing etc.) and feel its about time to get the DAS done and a GSXR (older, I'm pretty skint) bought
I've been driving cars a long time now (fourteen years or so ) and really don't enjoy the experience anymore. Drove home from North Wales, about 3 hours, yesterday and hated it. I've not driven a car for some months, just my bike and I couldn't believe how it felt almost uncontrolled after my bike. Perhaps not uncontrolled, but seperate if you see what I mean - you lean, bike turns whereas the car... turn the plate like thing and it turns on its own
Also, it felt so restrictive. I felt like I couldn't see a bloody thing and so distant from the actual driving it was worrying. It's no wonder cagers have a tendency to fall asleep or be lulled into a false sense of security.
It is a 1.3 fester of course so that may explain part of this
Longer post than intended, but I was surprised. Congrats on choosing to ride btw
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'Allo! My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die!
'89 TZR 125 - '94 GPZ500s - ZK3 GSXR600 Alstare

[instigator]

Good story bud. Good to hear you went for it and didn't hold back like many others do. You won't regret it.

I got into bikes at the tender age of 16 years and about 8 months. So, by 17, I got my bike. Perfect timing really. No real epic story behind my biking past, the only troubles I had starting was convincing the mother. She came round after pestering.

[Sheepy1209]

Good to hear it's not just me!

I'm 40, never ridden a bike for the same reasons as you - until I did a CBT at the end of May.

Signed up straight away for the DAS, did two days' training and passed my test first time two weeks ago. No problems to speak of - now I'm gradually building up my experience.

But before I started I never dreamed I'd have a full licence so soon - and I didn't realise how many really great people love bikes.

To me biking was something you picked up from your dad or your mates - if you didn't have biking connections you didn't do it - there was little or no training available in our day (and no room to keep a bike in a cardboard box in t' middle of t' road). Partly because of that biking seemed like a closed shop - and I found the internet and forums like this gave me the insight and confidence to take the plunge.

Now I'm riding everywhere, selling the car (as a household we don't need two cars anymore), and enjoying building on a new skill.

Good luck - and let us know how you get on!

[The Old Geeza]

In terms of age, I'm beating the lot of you here

I had a 50cc moped when I was a teenager. Loved it. But got the wind knocked out of my sails as soon as I got married. Got moaned at incessantly and eventually sold the bike.

Now divorced. Got a new partner who I love to bits and now allowed to do ANYTHING I want. My partner believes that if there's something you want to do in life, then just go out and do it.

So I did.

Decided to try biking again. Passed my CBT and theory with flying colours and a few weeks later passed my 125 test.

Now riding my own pride and joy GPX250. Good enough for me. I'm only a small bloke so big bikes are out of the question. Although I'm now thinking of getting a 400 and restricting it.

To get back on topic. I sympathise with you Delvard. But what's stopped you in the past? I've outlined MY history. Was yours something similar, irrespective of recent TV programmes ?

Good luck with all your tests. If you've been driving all these years then the Theory will be a piece of piss. The Practical slightly harder. But you WILL pass, even if you fail the first time around. Most of us in this forum have failed first time. But it's nothing to be ashamed about.

Welcome to the biking community, you old fart

If it's any consolation, I'm a much older fart than you are






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Horse Power was safer when the Horses had it!

[.....]

I got into biking at 25 - so later than most but earlier than some. Always been a bit of a speed freak and cars just don't offer the same fun (not for normal money anyway).

Done just over 8k miles on my bike now and loved every one of them (well maybe not the one I fell off in ).

Can't imagine being without my bike now, it's just such a big part of my life.

[shammon]

33 and fed up driving, starting with a 50cc to learn the basics before going for my test next year, got to start some where

[The Old Geeza]

I have to say, Joe, when you get to my age it's nothing to do with being a speed freak. It's just the excitement and exhileration you get from riding a bike.

I'm still a newcomer, and I'm an old fart, but i'm enjoying it no end. I never realised - or was never allowed to realise - that biking could be so enjoyable




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Horse Power was safer when the Horses had it!

[The Old Geeza]

Go for it, shammon.

Are you enjoying it ?

It's a bit nerve racking at first, but you'll soon get the hang of it, Im sure.






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Horse Power was safer when the Horses had it!

[Sheepy1209]

One advantage I feel with being more 'mature' is I'm not subject to peer pressure to ride beyond my ability - I take pride in riding well by my own standards, not somebody else's.

A bike is bloody good fun at whatever speed - a car becomes just a means of transport.

[The Old Geeza]

I agree 100% Sheepy1209.

But when you think about it, we haven't got any 'peer' pressure, have we ?

We're too mature to be driven by sobordinate influences




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Horse Power was safer when the Horses had it!

[yambabe]

Another old git here, although I had been part of the bike "scene" for many years due to my partner, I passed my test last year (3rd attempt) at the age of 40.

My only regret is that I didn't do it years ago.
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[queen of string]

I did the "bike chick" thing from 16-28 then drifted away. Finally got a grip at 34 and did my test, bought a bike. I'd agree with the bit about being more likely to do your own thing now than when younger. Life is short, you have to grab it with both hands
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"Eat food, not edible, food-like items. Mostly plants."

[shammon]

[dodsi]

Another oldie here.

20 years old got into biking at 18 when I was sick of having no transport.

Passed my test and 19 and bought an ER-5.

Recently purchased a faired Bandit 600.

Back in my day 600cc bikes only made 100hp not 110 like they do now.

And the yamaha R6 was a new thing.

[colin1]

im 29 and have been on my rs125 for 6 months.

Im going to get a full bike license and I'm also going to get a car license but for me insurance on a fiesta wd be £800 while the rs125 is just £160.

I probably shd have got a bike years ago but insurance wdnt have been so cheap then. Ive had a push bike for years and thought motorbikes were dangerous.
I now realise that commuting at 30mph is much safer on a motorbike than on a bicycle. Its only higher speeds where it gets a bit more dangerous.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[vbfg]

Oldish, but younger than some. I started in March aged 31 and ride a Varadero 125.

I live in Bradford during the week, but near Carlisle at weekends and the bike is kept at Carlisle. This works reasonably well in that the roads in and around Carlisle are a hell of a lot nicer to ride than the roads in and around Bfd but the downside is I don't have nearly as much experience as I would have hoped to have had by now. I'm undecided as to whether to push for my test this year. They can only fail me I suppose so I guess I ought to.

The bike was actually my first attempt to control an engine of any kind. I've never driven a car even to this day so I had no real road experience whatsoever, and so I was extremely nervous about doing it. When I was a kid with a pushbike I used to get off the damn thing and walk it round the edge of roundabouts. Roads, cars and the whole world of transport used to terrify me. My confidence has improved a lot now though and long-ish solo rides are a norm.

I've now progressed to the point where I can ram the bike into a crash barrier at 40mph and pretty much get straight back on, though this I only discovered on Sunday night on a dual carriageway in the centre of Carlisle. The moral I take away from that is to believe everything everyone tells me about target fixation. Next time I won't stare at the thing rapidly approaching and just think "this is going to hurt...".

Thank you to the two guys on bikes on the opposite side of the road who stopped to see if I was OK. You were wrong though, my bruises are crap. Hardly worth showing people tbh. :-/
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[Bomberman]

[allweatherbik...]

I started a new job 3 years ago and one the lads I met there was into bikes and let me read a few bike magazines. Decided it was something I wanted to do and sat my cbt 2 months before my 48th birthday. It was definately one of my better decisions.

[The Old Geeza]

OK, allweatherbiker.

You win. I've just been knocked out of the 'age' stakes by 4 years

And if your story's from 3 years ago, then I've been knocked out by 7 years

It just goes to show, there really isn't an age 'group' to biking in general. I took a ride out to Matlock a few weeks ago on a CG125 with 'L' plates. You know what? There were bikers of all ages imaginable, and not a single one of them sneered at me. They were all very chatty, considerate and helpful.

Thanks to all of you




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Horse Power was safer when the Horses had it!

[DAF]

Might as well add my name to the ranks of old gits on this thread. 36 yrs old, no previous biking experience but went through DAS in April and now have a 600 Fazer.

Never was "big into bikes" before but following a change of office location wanted a quicker way of getting to work. Also got sick of general sub-standard service and overcrowding on the Underground system.

Now use the bike to commute and at weekends. Using the car seems a bit pedestrian these days even though the car's no slouch.

Obviously still a novice so building up experience all the time.

[kawakid]

Yeahh I got in to biking at 33, for a bit of a laugh, sort of I haven't done it give it a go.

Did CBT, (Just passed it, always left indicator on), I was the one on the CBT, saying the bike to me is just a toy, in summer i'd prefer the car, air con etc.

Anyway 4 days later I buy a CG.

Then following Monday, ride to work (in snow) after that I rode the CG every day for 2 months, I then thought about doing DAS, but thought sod it i'll have a go on the CG.

Had 2 lessons and passed my test 1st time.

2 Weeks later, i'd sold the CG and got an ER5.

I don't use the car anymore as its shite. (Probably will do come winter). Just like the bike feel, no queuing etc.
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I've a twin and a 4.

[The Old Geeza]

Well done, mondeokid.

I've not used my car for work ever since I passed my 125 test a few weeks ago. I always prefer to ride my GPX250 now.

Don't get me wrong, I still use the car for shopping and taking my lady out. But everytime I use it I have to 'release' the rear drum lock.

Must learn to park the car without the handbrake applied





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Horse Power was safer when the Horses had it!

[kawakid]

Yeahh, i've been needing to take some kit home from work for about 3 weeks now , just don't like the idea of driving to work, so keep putting it off.
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I've a twin and a 4.