Originally Posted by Skeet7373

I'm female, 60 years old and have been riding for a long time by myself. I have always rode by myself even back from Yellowstone Park one year. If I wanted to go someplace, I just went. I know many women who ride like this, no partners, just them. I have always felt that if I began to drop my bike at a stop sign then its time for me to get off. But I never have dropped the bike, and rode an FXLR for 18 years, then a new Softail Deluxe and now I went for the gold, a new Tri Glide. I didn't need the trike yet, but I wanted comfort, easiability to go anywhere, radio and cruise control. Plus with age, and back surgery, my legs aren't as long as before, so taller boots were needed to get the length. I wanted to trade for a touring but I know that I would only have 2-3 years riding one. Yes, I miss the freedom of pushing a 2 wheeler to the limits, and I could, but I wanna ride until I'm 75. So now I own a new Trike. No more worrying about taller boots, or seats, handlebars and lowering a bike.

I know that you love your mother. But keeping her bike and telling her that she could be hurt is just telling her how old she is. We don't want to be told that. Only a doctor can tell me to stop riding. Not my daughter, my mother or my sister unless I get to the point it is dangerous for me, as in hearing, eyesight, cognitive thinking! Make sure the bike fits your mother, lower it if it needs it, make it comfortable for her. The weight of a sporty is nothing to me compaired to the 700 lb Deluxe but having that center of gravity down helps, you know, you ride a Heritage. Don't tell your mother of your grave concerns, she needs to still feel she can accomplish this. Its in her heart, let her do this until she says, I'm done. But don't remind her of her age, I too feel like I'm in my thirties, and its hard to get up off the floor. But when I'm riding, I feel young free and alive. Allow your mother to feel this too, or you'll have a old mother who will stay home and do nothing, wasting away.

Karen