If one looses confidence and get scared or worried about unknowns when riding is not really enjoyable. Yes motorcycles are dangerous but we ride because it's so much fun and enjoyment it supersedes the if factors. Listen to your body and mind when to end cause everything have ending in life.

 

I’ve sometimes envisioned a Thelma and Louise. 78, broken back, knee and hip replacement refused. I ate the cherry on top a long time ago. Only dried scrapings left in my bowl. Somehow I’ve always been the black sheep, a curmudgeon and only really tolerable when touring, in the wilderness fly fishing or hunting, or shoveling snow/splitting firewood. I cannot afford to be less of a curmudgeon. I loved my industry, had a great work life, terrible marriage, so so relationship with our children and GChildren. When the pain gets bad, Thelma and Louise looks better than a home.

The other driver of this is my friends are dropping like flies, what ever that means. Bone cancer took two, cancer in others, Parkinson’s, dementia, strokes have limited others severely. I remember my mom in her 90’s saying one of the hardest things was watching all her generations family and friends die. She was last man/woman standing in her arena of family and friends. It seems like every week my wife our I get unpleasant news about someone we care about having a horrendous new ailment. We balance activities around treatments, mobility.

So, while I do not know you or your personal struggle, I understand it. There comes a time when we all switch to 250cc.

 

I love to ride, but will stop in a minute if I feel I can no longer do it safely do to physical limitations, or I no longer love to do it.....

To ride or not to ride is a very personal question, no one can answer but you....... My time will come, and the decision will not be easy...


Do what's best for you....

 

I get what your saying, I'm 78 and happy to be still ridding. If the time comes that I'm apprehensive of ridding it will be time to stop ridding. You just can't be worrying about everything else while ridding you got to keep your mind on the present ( ridding). It happens. I would but a classic car or something like that and enjoy the freedom that way.

 

worrying about something that hasn't happened yet is like paying a debt you down't owe

life is for living free, doing what you want, and trying to have fun and be happy .. if motorcycle riding no longer fits the bill then it's time to quit

 

68 as of December
I sorta kinda can relate.

things we did when young 'n dumb, didn't make as much sense when older, raising a family .
"more to protect = less risk taken that might jeopardize that

If I fall down, I'm pretty sure I'll be fck'd
That won't stop me (I'm a fatalist) I get that it sure might stop others though (where you're at)


If ever comes a time I lose "confidence" or become anxious about all the real and perceived potential hazards around me, that's when riding wouldn't be fun/enjoyable anymoreand I'd hang it up

KTF

 

Second post as I had another thought that is applicable to your question. I find it difficult to just hop on and ride to ACE or Ziggy’s for a part in need. That feels harder and less safe when only a few years ago I rarely used 4 unless snow or ice on the road. The other side of this is that once on, I’m ready for a week or a month. So I agree to meet my BIL in the black hills, then ride the west, then back to the hills where he will head home to NJ and I’ll head west again, Yellowstone, glacier, Tetons, somewhere fun to get home. Only that, or buddies showing up here on two motivates me like I was only 68.

 

When the worry or fear exceeds the reward, the time has come. Not just for motorcycles, but for any adrenalin fueled activity.

 

I have had all of the thoughts and feelings expressed by every post on this thread.
If we physically have no choice, or it is no longer providing pleasure, then give it up for awhile before selling your bike. Life changes our feelings on things. All that I can add to what's been said is:
I tried giving up riding three times.
Once in favor of a Sebring convertible, because I thought it was the "responsible" thing to do...my wife loves riding ( by herself or 2-up) and I didn't discuss it with her. Big Mistake: she was pissed!

The second time was after my ( hopefully only) motorcycle accident. I was okay, but the bike was totaled. I stayed off a bike for 7 months before giving up and buying a Heritage Softail Classic -- which the wife promptly decided she wanted! So I rode my wife's Vulcan 1600 until I decided to buy another Heritage Softail for myself.

In the last few years, my wife gave up riding her own bike, in favor of exclusively 2-up riding with me. Many of her girlfriends in their riding groups are grandmas now, and hardly ride. We've bought and sold several bikes - some for 2-up touring and some for solo riding. The distances ridden are shorter than they used to be.
The newer bikes are less and less appealing to me.

Like many have stated: There seems to be a new, lazy and careless attitude of some drivers and the ever-present cellphone has made it seem more dangerous out there. I'm 71, so I felt it was finally time. Also, my wife has had surgeries and survived cancer, and I just was too worried about ruining our last days with a crippling motorcycle accident.

I sold our bikes and bought a little sportscar.
4 months later, Carvana offered me $1000 more for it than what I originally paid for it. Super easy transaction. They even picked it up. To be honest, I felt it was a way to bail-out on a questionable purchasing decision.
These new cars are really complicated. Variable valve timing, turbochargers, and lots of computerized controls for everything. I spent lots of time fiddling with it, but the few times I drove with the top down, it nice...but just wasn't as fulfilling as riding.

I've found a "keepsake" bike, that has really low miles and is just right for short rides in the country. When I told her about it, my wife says riding in the sportscar wasn't as much fun as riding, and she still wants to.
I'm at the point of having to finally admit - even as I get older:​​​​That worn out "Live to Ride, and Ride to Live" motto can still be very true.

 

Amen, well said.