All good things must come to an end. The new owner just left with my Fatbob. I got my first dirt bike back in 1965 and now I'm forced by health issue to give it up my last one. My arthritis in my back and hips has limited me to only about 20 minutes in the saddle at a stretch. During the last two riding season I've only managed about 300 miles and the bike deserved being ridden more. With my back and hips I wasn't sure if I could hold the bike up if I got slightly off balance and I was afraid of dropping it so it was time to let it go. This forum has been a wealth of information, inspiration and at times, laughs. I haven't been posting for awhile because I haven't been riding but I just thought I would drop in and say goodbye to all and ride safe.

 

Good luck and health.

 

Good luck and good health.. No real reason not to stick around and enjoy the ride here on the HDFORUM.

My first ride was in 64.. By around 2012 or so, at the end of a favorite ride of mine with my son, his wife and my golf buddy, arthritis was bothering me.

Down the Colonial Parkway from York Town, VA and a Scottland ferry ride across the James River to a leisurely lunch in Surrey, VA

On the way back, arthritis in my hand had me clutching by letting it release dragging across my palm.

My trips kept getting shorter and less enjoyable.

Knew then I was running out of time..

 

A smart man knows when it is time to say enough. Enjoy your bike retirement.

 

My wife said the same thing a few years back. Turned out all she needed was a trike, and, a few years later a nice pair of stainless steel hips! I can feel it coming, but I refuse to go easily!

 

@barracudajoe;
I feel for you. I've had some of the same issues. We're all different, but my advice is to lay off for awhile. Don't intentionally aggravate your back doing chores, but limited activities and knowing when to just quit worked for me. Drugs and therapy help some people. These days, I just do simple stuff around the house and take short walks. Inactivity is so tempting when you're sore, but resist becoming atrophic- it'll just get worse. Now, I'm not saying to do stuff while in spasms or can't walk ( yeah, been there). I know how depressing bad chronic lower back and hip pain can be, but be very wary of any surgery - some have come out worse as a result.
You know... while I spent my so called, "good years" working on trucks and busting knuckles - I was dreaming of Mamma and I riding a Goldwing or Electra Glide all over the country when we retired. That Ain't gonna happen.
I had to retire early and didn't know what life had in store for me. I felt crippled by the pain and useless. But I recovered from a broken neck 45 years ago - I wasn't about to quit now! Same with "Wifey" - surgeries and cancer didn't stop "My Best Girl" - she still wants to ride on the back with me...For me, that's a victory!
Yeah, it was touch & go for awhile, but over the years, I've gotten to the point I can ride a cruiser that's lighter than my touring bikes (a 1200 Sportster, then Vulcan Nomad 1600, now an older H.D. TC Road King) for about 50 miles. I've found some of my favorite motorcycle routes give me as much pleasure the times in the past, when we were touring multiple states on our bikes.
Give it time...good luck!

 

Buy something light.
It doesn’t matter what it is. I own a Vespa PX 125. And I love riding it. It has its own character.

Better than walking lol.

Good luck dude

 

I gave up riding my 2016 Wide Glide im my late 70s. Physically OK but I didn’t trust my strength and reflexes. Didn’t want to spend final years a cripple.
Kept it in garage just to look at. Then gave it to my son. He did some mods. Really looks trick.

 

I've had back pain for over 20 years. I had partially successful heart surgery in 2013 and 4 eye surgeries but at least I can see 20/20 again! The arthritis in my hips started about 2 yrs ago and now my right knee has been aching all winter and I may be getting arthritis there now. I've had two flareups in my back the last two years where I could barely walk from the bedroom to the living room. I couldn't make it outside for 2 weeks and both time it took a couple of months before I could walk much without pain. I considered a trike but didn't think I would enjoy it and it seems like the drivers around here have gotten worse everyday so I said the heck with it. It's like red lights and stop signs are optional now a days. I haven't given up getting in a saddle. Just a different type. I can just get my leg over the seat but the wife and I bought a used Can Am Outlander XT two seat quad to explore the old logging roads around our area. Kinda takes me back to my dirt bike days. With 9in of suspension we've both found it more comfortable than the bike even on dirt roads and I don't have to hold it up when we stop. Yeah, I have load it in the trailer and haul it aways before hitting the trails but it's not far. We pack a lunch and spend most of the day exploring. Getting old is not for *****'s!

 

You sound like a real Trooper, and a real Biker. Also it seems as though you've been blessed with a wife who wants to share your adventures. With some luck, we'll all be in your situation some day. That is, staying in the saddle as long as we can.

Best of luck to the both of you.
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