Last Man Standing
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,612
Likes: 664
From: Central Texas
I feel like the last man standing. All of my riding buddies have slowly but surely sold their bikes not to return again. Most of us are in our early to mid 50’s. With kids going off to college, inflation eating into the family budget, crazy drivers in Texas; folks are selling their HD’s within my circle of friends. It really stinks. I have been a loner for the past year or so and my mileage has dropped dramatically. Just not as fun to ride alone and I have had too many bad experiences with group rides where I always seem to be near the weakest link rider who has no idea what he is doing. The rides we used to do were for camaraderie and catching up on what’s been going on. Riding with all new people I don’t know doesn’t have the same feel. I am not selling my bike, at least anytime soon. Just not the same anymore. Anyone else experiencing the same?
Bike received 900 miles of riding time total in the last year. I was nearing 7K prior to that and that was no long trips. Just Saturday meet ups. I cannot ride to work otherwise it would have been double that.
Anyone else seeing the same? Just getting old I guess.
Bike received 900 miles of riding time total in the last year. I was nearing 7K prior to that and that was no long trips. Just Saturday meet ups. I cannot ride to work otherwise it would have been double that.
Anyone else seeing the same? Just getting old I guess.
Motorcycling Texas Backroads
Last edited by Clint44; Mar 18, 2023 at 11:33 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,118
Likes: 1,145
From: Directly above the center of the Earth
Age has nothing to do with it. It's all in the head what you want or don't want to do anymore.
I just turned 61 this past February, and have been chomping at the bit waiting for my lawyer to finish up with the insurance settlement with the asshat cager who slammed into me last May, breaking my lower left leg bones in two and compound fracturing the things so that now I have all kinds of hardware in the leg and ankle and a big metal rod in the leg bone. I've only been off the crutches since mid-December of last year.
People keep asking me what I was going to do and none of them could believe I was getting another sled and riding again. As far as I'm concerned, it's my life. I've been on two wheels on and off since I was eight years old. I have the same mentality as old time club members, in that, as I said, riding and my bike is my life. It also matters that 23 years ago after a work accident that turned me into a disabled person by crushing some discs and doing some damage to my spine that sitting in a car or cage hurts so badly that I can't hardly stand it and sitting a bike just hurt so much less it's all the transportation I will ever own until the day I die or can't get the bike up off the kickstand. I've also never gave a rats *** whether I rode with others or not. I actually prefer to be by myself so I don't have to wait for someone when *I* need/want to get going to do something, or just whatever. Yes, it's great if someone is riding with you and that person is a *friend*, but as for groups, other than the PGR I ride with once in a while, I couldn't hardly be paid to let anyone ride with me.
I just turned 61 this past February, and have been chomping at the bit waiting for my lawyer to finish up with the insurance settlement with the asshat cager who slammed into me last May, breaking my lower left leg bones in two and compound fracturing the things so that now I have all kinds of hardware in the leg and ankle and a big metal rod in the leg bone. I've only been off the crutches since mid-December of last year.
People keep asking me what I was going to do and none of them could believe I was getting another sled and riding again. As far as I'm concerned, it's my life. I've been on two wheels on and off since I was eight years old. I have the same mentality as old time club members, in that, as I said, riding and my bike is my life. It also matters that 23 years ago after a work accident that turned me into a disabled person by crushing some discs and doing some damage to my spine that sitting in a car or cage hurts so badly that I can't hardly stand it and sitting a bike just hurt so much less it's all the transportation I will ever own until the day I die or can't get the bike up off the kickstand. I've also never gave a rats *** whether I rode with others or not. I actually prefer to be by myself so I don't have to wait for someone when *I* need/want to get going to do something, or just whatever. Yes, it's great if someone is riding with you and that person is a *friend*, but as for groups, other than the PGR I ride with once in a while, I couldn't hardly be paid to let anyone ride with me.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,117
Likes: 1,193
From: Maryland
My name's Mikey and I hate everybody... errr wait... or is that everything... or just cereal?
Anyway...
I don't ride with anybody. I prefer to ride alone.
Oh... and having friends is overrated.
Anyway...
I don't ride with anybody. I prefer to ride alone.
Oh... and having friends is overrated.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 178
Likes: 149
From: Arizona
Im a loner. I dont like or trust riding with anyone except my brother (he lives on the other side of the country).
i use my bike for escaping life, commuting to and from work, and something to throw money at so i have an excuse to play with tools in the garage with a cold beer.
i use my bike for escaping life, commuting to and from work, and something to throw money at so i have an excuse to play with tools in the garage with a cold beer.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,627
Likes: 1,348
From:
"Back in the day" a bunch and buddies abd I chipped in bought a flop house walking distance to the Iron Horse Saloon, Broken Spoke, etc. in Ormond Beach. Bike Week and Biketoberfest were always a blast - grillin' steaks from Ray's Quality Meats, cold beer, warm sunshine ... little by little guys stopped paying, stopped riding and eventually we sold the house at a loss ... and not just a financial loss; we lost an era. Whenever I'm in the area I ride past that house. Sad.
I am not a fan of group rides and do ride by myself a lot. As for meeting new riding buddies, I agree that between H-D dealerships, biker bars and the like - new riding buddies can be found.
I do participate in ADV Tag-O-Rama games and they are a blast. Intellectually challenging, competitive and a great reason to ride and explore. While many in the genre' do not ride Harleys, I've made some good friendships and met new riding buddies.
All that being said, riding alone is not so bad - much better than a bad group ride.
I am not a fan of group rides and do ride by myself a lot. As for meeting new riding buddies, I agree that between H-D dealerships, biker bars and the like - new riding buddies can be found.
I do participate in ADV Tag-O-Rama games and they are a blast. Intellectually challenging, competitive and a great reason to ride and explore. While many in the genre' do not ride Harleys, I've made some good friendships and met new riding buddies.
All that being said, riding alone is not so bad - much better than a bad group ride.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 1,322
Likes: 731
From: Pennsylvania
I think, personally, our biker friends are in it for the long haul. No pun intended. Some are like us - older with older children out of the house. Some are a little younger with teens and pre-teens still around. But, ironically, those younger guys are the ones that are always out on rides and making plans and getting together.
That said, these guys are probably not the typical bikers. I would think most are either getting into riding in their late 40s and 50s or getting back into riding at that age. Having gotten their kids on their feet and through college - if applicable. I would think it would be unusual for a 20 or 30 something rider to not sell their bike and put their life on hold while raising their kids.
That said, these guys are probably not the typical bikers. I would think most are either getting into riding in their late 40s and 50s or getting back into riding at that age. Having gotten their kids on their feet and through college - if applicable. I would think it would be unusual for a 20 or 30 something rider to not sell their bike and put their life on hold while raising their kids.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,328
Likes: 2,410
From: Jackson, OH
My riding buddy is my wife. She's with me at least 90+% of the miles I ride. We like riding with others when it happens, but it's next to impossible to find like-minded riders in our area. So typically we're out there doing our own thing and going wherever we choose. Obviously our riding miles don't depend on other riders or friends. Riding is more about the actual ride to us, and less about social interaction or being around other riders. It's great when it happens, which is rarely.
One thing for sure: If my wife ever stops going with me, I sure as heck won't be riding a full-blown H-D touring bike. If I decided to keep riding I would find a bike of less weight, greater versatility and a ton of straight-up fun to ride.
One thing for sure: If my wife ever stops going with me, I sure as heck won't be riding a full-blown H-D touring bike. If I decided to keep riding I would find a bike of less weight, greater versatility and a ton of straight-up fun to ride.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 1,322
Likes: 731
From: Pennsylvania
My riding buddy is my wife. She's with me at least 90+% of the miles I ride. We like riding with others when it happens, but it's next to impossible to find like-minded riders in our area. So typically we're out there doing our own thing and going wherever we choose. Obviously our riding miles don't depend on other riders or friends. Riding is more about the actual ride to us, and less about social interaction or being around other riders. It's great when it happens, which is rarely.
One thing for sure: If my wife ever stops going with me, I sure as heck won't be riding a full-blown H-D touring bike. If I decided to keep riding I would find a bike of less weight, greater versatility and a ton of straight-up fun to ride.
One thing for sure: If my wife ever stops going with me, I sure as heck won't be riding a full-blown H-D touring bike. If I decided to keep riding I would find a bike of less weight, greater versatility and a ton of straight-up fun to ride.
We both have late model Heritage 114s. Say what you will but I am going WAY out of my way to make mine a completely different bike. I don't need my friends to be calling us "twins" It was bad enough the one weekend at the beach where I had the same bike as hers (a rental), with stock pipes (no sound). Long story.
In our case, same as yours, we have a few but not many friends who live nearby. Most of our friends are about an hour away. We met those crazy folks at the beach (same rally as mentioned above) years ago and have been close friends ever since. Good people as they say and I would trust my life with any of them.
