That is a great story. My wife rode 2 up and we’d take off for a month or more. But age got to her first and she could no longer get on or off or sit for hours. The transition back to solo was not easy. It was harder than I thought it should be, but then I lost my riding buddy to a move far away and my hunting partner which just meant, bigger trips were my only option. I smiled at your car purchase. I bought a Miata thinking we’d use it for trips and nights out as it became increasingly difficult for my wife to ride two up. Covid then killed our dance venues, so I sold it. Back to solo.

Im looking for an errand attitude adjusting bike aside the sporty. You know you are old when a 250-500cc sounds like a great bike idea. I’m there. Funny, it doesn’t hurt as much as I thought it would. One of the joys in my life has always been the view over the handlebars. The bike model, make is not important at that time. Looking at it parked was never important. It is a tool and reliability comes first, fit second and gas third.

 

CoolBreeze3646 Quote:
"With me it is the skill set and the ability to stay focused on the small stuff when riding. When I feel that go away, I will stop riding. Hoping to make it to at least 80 years young and still be riding."

As an ex Motor Officer, that statement you made is almost word for word what I always tell my wife; that quote will keep you alive. I too hope to ride to 80 years of age and beyond on my beloved Street Glide, but one never knows. If you're not focused on a bike you're dead. Always ride as though you're invisible, always have an escape route picked out no matter where you are, city or county. Always have "what if a car pulls out behind that parked car" "what if that idiot tries to make that left turn in front of me" to me if those senses and thoughts are ALWAYS in focus I'll keep riding. If I start to stare at a Blue Jay in a tree and drift into another lane, time to sell the bike & get the C7 standard convertible corvette I've always wanted. That is the decision I've told myself as I've seen things that keep me awake 30 years later from that old job. Many great comments on here, although we're all strangers in a sense; we are all united in the love of riding HD's (and other brands some have). So erh007, many of us have given you our thoughts to help if we can - you must process it all and decide for yourself. Good luck and sorry to hear you have this dilemma. Sometimes when I'm down in life, I go into the garage and just looking at my bike makes my soul feel good again; instantly. Maybe leave it there as well will do you some good until you decide? Good luck erh007. This guy says it right hope the link works: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CE...ibextid=wwXIfr

 

YOLO. You could be perfectly healthy and get wiped out on your bike. If I was concerned about getting injured or possibly re-injuring myself, I’d never get on the bike.

 

Excellent statement. Fortunately, the very act of riding keeps me in condition yellow, relaxed but aware of everything, sight, sound, smell, from road hazards to movement or eyes on the side of the road, to every vehicles possible maneuver. Checking it out, reacting or discounting as needed. I don’t get distracted. It is why I feel so refreshed after riding. No bad throught, no issue of the day can creep into my consciousness. Once home, a solid plan for an issue always just appears. Now I know not everybody rides this way. My best friend and riding buddy wanders, gets sleepy. Whether in front or behind, I’ll pull over and get him reset. It’s only on long rides and once he recovers, he’s good for the rest of the journey.

Second quote, being focused matters in any vehicle, car, truck, motorcycle, boat, airplane, hang glider, or bicycle. You are moving, you’d better be focused on your ride.

 

Gonemad "but I get spooked by the near misses, and mental mistakes that I or others make out on the road" That is so true.

When these incidents happen I try to make sure I don't make that mistake again if it was me OR I think "what if I'm in that situation again, remember that cages manoeuvre the last time" if it was them, and have an escape route always playing out while riding. I've always thanked God for a safe return on my bike, never in my car for some reason - guess we all know bikes come with a higher risk factor.

 

sure, it may be the thing that gets me killed, but it's also what's provided me a lifetime of enjoyment..so I say...

 

son of the hounds "the very act of riding keeps me in condition yellow" <-- Perfect statement, agree 100%.

Last summer my regular riding buddy (I always lead with him for some reason) asked me why I always stay to the right of the lane (position 3) on a 2 way highway going uphill until I've crested the hill and I'm level. A good question, I told him it saved my life once as a lady coming the other way holding her cell phone at 12 o'clock passing on a solid double yellow line would have killed me once at that crest if I hadn't been on the right p3. It worked once and that's all I needed it to do, now I don't even think about it, I just do it like breathing. Other than going uphill I'm in left part of my lane (position 1) and dance all around it's 3 zones I refer to as position 1, 2 or 3 depending on the conditions - it's worked luckily for 44 years. Code yellow until she's turned off all the time.

 

I have a solid group of friends that I often go away on motorcycle trips with. 4 to 5 couples and one or two single individuals. But we’ve all been friends for many years before motorcycling was involved. One couple does not own a motorcycle and has no interest in riding. A few times they knew we were all going on a trip and they asked to come anyway. We thought that was kind of odd at first. But it actually worked out to our advantage. We would throw all of our luggage into their vehicle and not have to pack. The wives would take different turns sometimes not wanting to be on the bike with the husband and just jump in the car for a while. What it did is it allowed some wives who would not have come to come. And they didn’t follow us around like nerds or anything when we’d go from brewery to brewery or restaurant to restaurant. They just would meat us sometimes at some of those places. And then when we all got back to their Airbnb at night, we’d all hang out and they just follow us for dinner wherever we rode to or we’d make dinner at the house that we rented.

I don’t know your circumstances, but doesn’t mean you have to give up all of your friends who do ride either.

 

Being afraid to ride is not an insignificant thing. It will color everything you do on the bike and not in a good way.

You may find going for a ride completely clears your head, takes you back 2 years, and you can once again enjoy doing something you love.

However, if the fear remains, it may be time. As many have pointed out this is a difficult personal decision that only you can make.

 

Im 42. I hadnt ridden regularly in nearly a year maybe a year and a half. Life, work, heat in AZ, more life etc, and also disappointed I didn't shop my options and get the Road Glide trim I really wanted. Battery died and had it warrantied. Fired it up, took it around the block and parked it. Meh. Didn't want to ride, like at all. Consider trading in for a better RV or jet skis etc.

About a month ago, a buddy of mine at job #2 and I were talking. He's got a Low Rider ST. Talked about Harleys for hours that day. Went home and looked at the Road Glide in the garage. Little bit of rustling in my motorcycle jimmies while looking her over. Went to turn bike in, battery low wouldn't start.

**** it.

I dragged my battery charger over and started the process of getting the battery back. After a few days of charging, she fired up. Took her down the street for a light grocery run, came back and yup, motorcycle riding hard on was back.

Mental list of all the stuff that Id put off. Tune, tune license, better intake, breather mods all that crap. Nearly everything I've purchased on FB market place here or RG.org has been black powder coat. Just bought a gloss black Prodigy wheel complete with good tire for pennies.

The point is that no matter what your issues are currently: safety, courage or otherwise, the bike will be there. As others have mentioned, yeah maybe it is time to consider a trade for a trike. Harley dealers a still FLOODED with the Rushmore style trikes, and many dealers have them marked below invoice to move them. They still have traction control and ABS, electric reverse and the inherent stability that comes with 3 vs 2 wheels.

Your riding days don't have to be done, just have to address the warnings popping up in your head.