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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 50s. With kids going off to college, inflation eating into the family budget, crazy drivers in Texas; folks are selling their HDs 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 whats been going on. Riding with all new people I dont know doesnt 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.
Check out the Southern Cruiser Riding Club in your area. SCRC LINK
They are a good group of riders of all type of bikes here in my town.
Reach out to them.
Riding with others is okay, but I personally like to ride alone.
After riding as a group of freinds for 10 years we stated a RC, Dangerous Midlife Kings or DMK in Niles Michigan. Since 2010 we have traveled all across the country. Sturgis multiple times, Smokey Mountains multiple times, The Rockies, Flaming Gourge, Yellowstone, New Orleans, Panama City, Taledaga, The Frog in Iron City, Phsyco Silo in IL, Legs Inn tunnel of trees Michigan, 26 states as a group. My wife makes special shirts for the epic journeys we embarq on. Sometimes it is only 3 or 4 of us. Other times it 14 of us. My wife travels with me now. We go on our own trips without the group. Motorcycles are great alone or with others..
I have some great friends outside of motorcycling. But when it comes to riding, I'm a loner. Have been since high school. I've taken hundreds of rides over the years, with one, two, or a group. I prefer to do my own thing. With others, it's always when, where, and what they want to do. By myself, I do what I want. That's what I prefer. And there's never a time I haven't enjoyed it. My wife has her things, and none are riding motorcycles. Which is kind of shocker. Growing up, her mom and dad were always traveling the country on their bike. But, she fully supports my addiction. I'll be 70 my next birthday, doubt anything will change! Except maybe another new bike. Every time I ride, the experience is still new, and the joy is still there. It's my main activity, just behind working out. Which is something I do, not only to just stay in shape, but also to be able to keep riding.
Last edited by Jed Clampett; Dec 5, 2025 at 12:11 PM.
Another loner here. I started riding 10 years ago, I will be 60 in June, '26. I don't feel that old, but jeez, here we are
I only rode with others a couple times a year, but 5 of them no longer ride. I have one friend with a bike, but we are both so busy it's hard to sync up.
At this point I just want to ride for as long as I can. There is a 78 year old I know from work who has been riding his whole life. He is also a pilot and still flies. It always puts a smile on my face when I see him roll in, and I hope I'm still able to do that when I'm his age.
Single rider here. Always have been. My friends that I have done things with over the years always seemed to pick a wife who was a Henpecker to hell on them. So I roll alone. It's just easier. My wife would love to go - she loves bikes, but I have always felt bikes are a single rider item.
I've been on two wheels for a long time ... Made a lot of loner rides and club rides over the years... Have to say a group (couples ) rides isn't on list of my favorites ... Too many bladders on different time schedules
I would actually ride less if my wife stopped riding with me. Or at least I think I would. Since age 20 all of my riding has been 2-up with her. It keeps both of us active and ready to roll. We're much more into touring and longer rides. Every ride is some sort of adventure....
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