Back on a bike after 30 years

[Nell]

Hi,

I was 19 last time I rode a bike and on Monday I collected a Honda CM 250T. Riding it was scary but once the nerves calmed, it felt just a good as I remembered it. The downside is that riding a bike is a bit more painful than I remember.
I rode it 85 miles home in the torrential rain on a slippery motorway which nearly put me off ever getting back on it.

I passed my test when I was 17 and then took the RAC/ACU advanced motorcycle test but that doesn't seem to hold any credence nowadays.

I have to ask, it used to be that bikers acknowledged each other as they passed with a nod.....guess that's another thing of the past?

Well, I love my bike and I love being back on two wheels. I admit I'm much more scared of falling off than I ever was as a teenager but I'm really sad that I wasted all those years wishing.

[FerretFing]

Hi & welcome to the forum ......I nod at everyone.....even mopeds occasionally

[alexknight200...]

Hi,

Same situation here. On a bike again after 30 years and loving. Although not loving the idiots you just don't see you.

I must say I am using muscles that have not been used for a while, but I will get over that.

I will most probably be a fair weather biker but having said that I have been out in the rain, although very slowly.

Enjoy and stay safe

Alex

[Clanger]

[ninja_butler]

There's definitely still plenty of nodding, TBH it gets on my nerves after a while because having to nod back to the tenth rider in a row I feel like Churchill the dog.

Have fun but take things at your own pace, it'll take a little while for the skills to come back to you.

[Jersum]

I used to nod loads, I stopped doing it because I felt silly when I didn't get a nod back, now I tend to nod when they do it, but sometimes it's a bit too late.
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Full Licence acquired December 2011.
1st bike Honda CG125 '04 in silver, 2nd Suzuki Bandit 600S '96

[Rogerborg]

[Sherwood Bambi]

[Nell]

Yeah, I'm still getting my gear together so for the moment its jeans and leathers. One of the reasons I didn't get a bike sooner was all the costs.
I'm pretty ignorant about what constitutes the best gear but I think armoured jackets and gloves will be featuring on my shopping list.

Thanks for the insights re. nodding. I am concentrating pretty hard so it would be a relief not to have to worry about nodding at the moment.

It looks like 30 must be the magic number for returning to biking then. Power to the Silver Bikers!

[harscot]

well done Nell, like my name sake from Sherwood after 30 years I got the bug again and had to go through all the tests, this was 2 years ago, I ride in most weathers, up here in the North West Highlands you don't really have a choice, anyway enjoy your self and stay loose and safe out there, By the way I always wave or nod regardless, and to be fair mostly get one back, although there are exceptions.
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First bike R reg Suzuki 125 GT twin in 1978:
2nd bike X reg Honda 650 Deauville in 2011:
Wish bike a Triumph Thunderbird: Dream bike Triumph Rocket........

[Bomberman]

[Sherwood Bambi]

[quote="Bomberman
Welcome
Nods still happen, but it seems a fair few bikers these days are scared that if they nod first and you don't retaliate their cred may be damaged.
Balls to that! I'll nod at anyone on a geared machine (even cruiser types) and if I don't get one back well - maybe your attention was distracted or you're a tit but hell you'll get a vigorous nod from me
Got to say though, most everyone nods up here in South Yorkshire - maybe we are just more friendly?[/quote]

Bomber you may have a point there ! Obviously anyone from the north is more frienclly (I'm from the North East originally) !

Seems there are more than one or two of us older ones who've come back to bikes or started late - anyone else been asked if they're having a mid life crisis ?!!

I'll nod to anyone on geared bikes but ignore the teens on scooters tbh, especially if they're not dressed sensibly !

[Nell]

I'm a Southerner born and bred and I am really sad to have to agree that Northerners are definitely more friendly. It seems like the further South you go the cooler the reception is. I'm cringing writing this cos there are obviously very friendly Southerners, I just struggle finding them.

Yes, I've been asked if I'm having a mid-life crisis and if the definition of one is trying to pack as much excitement in to my life before I'm too old to risk getting excited then yes.......... definitely having one!

As for losing cred by nodding, I'm not risking much cos in my old leathers and jeans and on my old bike I'm not exactly cool anyway.

[bikertomm]

I've heard that if people nod they are letting you know your subframe's twisted.


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07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[jonbee56]

[Sherwood Bambi]

[Nell]

I have a CM 250T 1981. She isn't fast and is a bit thirsty but she sounds gorgeous, looks pretty and she handles very nicely. I've tried to upload a picture but I'm still working out how to.

Is it weird that I'm already thinking about what my next bike will be?

jonbee56, hope you get your CBT soon and get on to a bigger bike that is "nod-worthy" . I only took my test all those years back because the parents wouldn't let me have a bike unless I agreed to do an advanced riding course and take my test.
My poor old mum is spitting feathers now I'm back on a bike !

[Sherwood Bambi]

[Nell]

[Ribenapigeon]

I nod to other bikes but I've given up nodding to Scooters as they never nod back so I've come to the conclusion scooter riders are just in a different cult. I think you have to be aware though that sometimes another rider is busy concentrating on traffic so they simply not have noticed you. Also when I see another L plater and they have that posture of terror I just assume they're on their first few trips out on the road so otherwise busy.

[Sherwood Bambi]

Been out for around 4 hours on the bike today - and the amount of nods returned was probably less than 50%. Again the sports bike riders and Harley Hells Angel wannabees were the biggest offenders !!

[alexknight200...]

In my fours hours out today i had a mixed bag.

The non nodders won't deter me.

The more miles I do the more enjoyable it is getting, loving it at the moment.

One day i might even become a 'real' biker.

Mind you what constitutes a real biker??

Another topic of conversation!!

Alex

[Nell]

Rats, I haven't been out on the bike much for several reasons:
The weather - no decent gear for that yet
My back - the long ride home after collecting it took its toll
Bike has a problem - wheel whine as posted on the mechanical forum

Have I bought a lemon? Hope not.

Nodding, yes I think I'll continue to nod because frankly, it just looks so cool

[Polarbear]

Without wishing to denigrate your choice of bike, I wouldn't have said a 30 year old bike was the best machine to come back to riding on.

I'm an old fart too (56), but have been riding all my life and the improvment in bikes over that period has been pretty remarkable.

If you get the chance to try even a relatively mundane commuter I think you will find a huge difference between your CM and something 15 years newer.

This of course is the nessecary excuse to go and buy another bike for general use, and keep the CM for those sunny Sunday rides to the caff.


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[Nell]