View Poll Results: How Long Were You Out of Riding Before Riding Again?
Between 5- 10 years
29
17.06%
Between 10 - 20 years
61
35.88%
Between 20 - 30 years
56
32.94%
Between 30 - 40 years
22
12.94%
Over 40 years
2
1.18%
Voters: 170. You may not vote on this poll
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 3
From: New Hampshire
Took the safety class and got a Suzuki 250 in 1995. Upgraded to a Virago 750 in '96. Then had an injury to my right wrist in '97. Couldn't trust it and liked to ride on the back of hubbies bike, so sold the bike.
Have had continuing issues with wrist (nothing huge, but worrisome for safety reasons), but in 2008 decided to try riding again. Took the MOST class as a refresher and bought a 2008 Suzuki C50. The throttle, much to my amazement and delight, seemed to help my wrist (more so than the exercises I do), and have never had a moment on the bike where the wrist bothered me.
Over the last couple of months I decided that I needed to move up, so got a 2006 SG for Christmas. Can't wait until spring to take it out.
Still doing my wrist exercises, but they dont work as well as that throttle does at alleviating the pulling and pain at the tendon. Sure am glad I decided to try riding again!
Have had continuing issues with wrist (nothing huge, but worrisome for safety reasons), but in 2008 decided to try riding again. Took the MOST class as a refresher and bought a 2008 Suzuki C50. The throttle, much to my amazement and delight, seemed to help my wrist (more so than the exercises I do), and have never had a moment on the bike where the wrist bothered me.
Over the last couple of months I decided that I needed to move up, so got a 2006 SG for Christmas. Can't wait until spring to take it out.
Still doing my wrist exercises, but they dont work as well as that throttle does at alleviating the pulling and pain at the tendon. Sure am glad I decided to try riding again!
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 215
Likes: 1
From: Myrtle Beach SC
Sold my Honda 350 back in 71 to pay some baby delivery bills, and then did the family and work thing for the next 39 years. Then last summer was turning 60 and knew it was now or never, got my first Harley and have been loving every minute.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,403
Likes: 25
From: se michigan
I quit riding for years after my brother was killed by a drunk driver while riding his bike in the keys in 1990. My dad had concerns, and I lost my riding passion for awhile after losing him so I sold my bike in 1992. After dad passed in early 2000, I was cleaning out the garage and came across my brothers bike he had hidden under a tarp. It was destroyed after the wreck but the moment I saw it something told me it was time to ride again. Was originally planning on putting his bike back together and riding it, but it was too damaged for me to repair myself. So I took his bike to an old friend of his who originally did all his motor work for his opinion on what to do. By that time the bike was almost 30yrs old (72FXE) and wasn't worth the cost of repair, so I went looking for a new bike. Unfortunately this was the year 2000 in the peak of HD's popularity and people were lined up to buy harleys at the time. Then one saturday came across a shop having a drawing for a chance to purchase a new 2001 model at list price. all you had to do was buy a ticket for a $5 donation to MDA to enter. They had different bins for each type of bike (sporty/dyna/touring) and you put your ticket in the bin of the bike you wanted to buy. Of course the touring bike bin was filled and there was only 20 bikes to buy, so I figured my chances for having my name drawn was slim. But my brother must have been looking over me that day as mine was the first name pulled. Got a new 01 RKC in august of 2000 and have been riding again ever since..
Last edited by flhxkiller; Jan 1, 2011 at 11:07 AM.
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 7
Likes: 1
From: Memphis, TN
I quit riding for 20 years, got a boat and started skiing, got too old to ski and got a pontoon. Kept seeing a bunch of bikes riding around the lake and decided to get an old used bike to play with. Got a cheap Harley copy and rode it for a couple of years but everybody at work that I rode with had harleys and I wanted one bad. One of the guys at work got a new bike so I bought his 03 EG classic. Bout to head off to a polar bear ride on new years day, wishing everybody a good year ahead.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 25,310
Likes: 2,446
From: Eastern NE
My wait was less than 5-yrs. Was still in military & deployed...got back, bought house & retired so had to get myself a retirement present - thus the 05 Sporty was bought & now a memory...
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 148
Likes: 1
back to the future
Started riding in '77 on a CB350 Honda, sold it to my brother in '82, got a Honda 750K. got divorced and moved to an apartment where it was stolen. Picked up an '85 Yamaha Midnight Special and kept it until about '93. Moved onto the water and had a boat for bround 13 years. Met a girl in a bar that had a Suzuki Volusia and asked if I wanted to ride it. I expalained it had been 13 years without one. She convinced me to do it again and, and then I wa hooked again. Bought an '04 Volusia in June of '06. Got a '03 Anniversary Road King two years later.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,364
Likes: 110
From: Mesa, Az.
I started riding on the street at 16, always had a bike and sometimes had a cage as well. 11 years in the Navy and never stopped riding.
Had a '95 Wide Glide when I got married at age 40. Our daughter was born 11 months later and our son came along 19 months after that. Sold the bike and bought a truck to haul the kids around.
Eight years without a bike when I bought an '08 Wide Glide. Making up for lost riding time put 100K on it in the last 3 years. Both kids like to ride on the back .
Had a '95 Wide Glide when I got married at age 40. Our daughter was born 11 months later and our son came along 19 months after that. Sold the bike and bought a truck to haul the kids around.
Eight years without a bike when I bought an '08 Wide Glide. Making up for lost riding time put 100K on it in the last 3 years. Both kids like to ride on the back .
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 268
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
Sold my Electra Glide Sport in 2002. I was only riding about 500 miles a year then, seemed stupid to pay insurance and licenses for that few miles. Then in 2009 I got the bug again. Bought a new 09 Heritage and put 10K in the first 12 months.
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
started at 15 in 1964, rode till I broke my back in 97 and couldn't ride, finally just had to ride again and bought our new 07 Heritage not knowing if I could ride or not.
4yrs and over 30k later we are still going....
4yrs and over 30k later we are still going....