Old & curious!?

[john pierson]

How many other Golden Agers are here? I'm 71 w 60+ yrs riding. Got an '02 250 2yrs back in trade for a cafe'd Vulcan 750. Loved it so this Fall swapped my '02 Futura for a '15 300. Less can be more-the 300 is so much like the RD400 I raced in the 70s. Said I'd ride the Aprilia 'til at least 70, now I hope to hit 80 on 300.

[csmith12]

There are a few members here of distinguished age. Always happy to see people enjoy their activities well into their years. A few of them still race with the best of em too.

[Alex]

This linked thread itself is getting on in years, but it shows that many of our fellow ninjette riders have been doing this awhile...

How Old Are You?

[Kevin1956]

I'm 61. My 250 is my first Japanese bike. I've ridden on the street for 46 years. I've owned a Triumph, two BSAs, a Royal Enfield, a BMW, two Indians and three Harleys, all vintage stuff. I figure I finally deserved something new with a warranty, so in 2012 I bought my Ninja.

[Triple Jim]

Originally Posted by Kevin1956

I figure I finally deserved something new with a warranty, so in 2012 I bought my Ninja.

What do you think of it so far, compared to all the others.

[Ram Jet]

Originally Posted by Kevin1956

I'm 61. My 250 is my first Japanese bike. I've ridden on the street for 46 years. I've owned a Triumph, two BSAs, a Royal Enfield, a BMW, two Indians and three Harleys, all vintage stuff. I figure I finally deserved something new with a warranty, so in 2012 I bought my Ninja.

I'm 69. Ain't the new millennium bikes the cats-ass! Glad you got off those old two wheeled wood stoves.

Bill

[john pierson]

I had a black one a few yrs back-very fun. Just needed rattling inner pipes welded and starter mechanism lubed.

[Kevin1956]

Originally Posted by Triple Jim

What do you think of it so far, compared to all the others.

I love it. Disc brakes! Reliable! It's definitely better handling and actually quicker than most of my previously owned bikes, which now seem like farm equipment. You see a lot of people in my age group on Harleys or other fat cruiser bikes. Bad choice. As you age, you lose strength, athletic ability, and reaction time. Having a well handling, quick stopping, and light sport bike helps one regain the edge. I have a full set of luggage and am comfortable riding it long distances. I kind of wish the seat wasn't made of concrete though....... I still like vintage bikes, but I'm tired of working on stuff. Owning the old stuff was profitable, always made money when I sold one. I'm to the point though where all I want is to do is turn the key and ride without a bunch of prep work or the worry of actually making it to my destination or not.

[Triple Jim]

I've been very happy with the one I bought for my daughter to ride. I ride it more than she does. I love the handling, and found that it's a particularly good Dragon bike. I'm OK with the seat, but maybe something aftermarket or custom could help you.

[Ram Jet]

Originally Posted by Kevin1956

I love it. Disc brakes! Reliable! It's better handling and actually quicker than most of my previously owned bikes, which now seem like farm equipment. You see a lot of people in my age group on Harleys or other fat cruiser bikes. Bad choice. As you age, you lose strength, athletic ability, and reaction time. Having a well handling, quick stopping, and light sport bike helps one regain the edge. I have a full set of luggage and am comfortable riding it long distances. I kind of wish the seat wasn't made of concrete though....... I still like vintage bikes, but I'm tired of working on stuff. Owning the old stuff was profitable, always made money when I sold one. I'm to the point where all I want is to turn the key and ride without a bunch of prep work or the worry of actually making it to my destination or not.

And ain't it nice not having to try to synch. twin Amal carbs? Good for about 100 miles if you do. I do wish the Ninja had kick start though.

Bill

[choneofakind]

Thread title sounds like the name of a bad soap opera.

[Triple Jim]

I was thinking it sounded like it had to do with sexual experimentation.

[Ram Jet]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Thread title sounds like the name of a bad soap opera.

We can be old and still curious. It doesn't make us bad persons.

Bill

[john pierson]

The Ninjettes and SVs have TERRIBLE SEATS! My 250 has front foam from an early GW w sheepskin over it. The SV has extra foam covered w vinyl nearly as high as the passenger pad. So far the 300 has a gel pad w sheepskin but will get more padding over the Winter. I've changed ergos on many bikes over the years now if there were triples for the little Ninjas for tube bars-HMMM??

[Ram Jet]

Originally Posted by john pierson

The Ninjettes and SVs have TERRIBLE SEATS! My 250 has front foam from an early GW w sheepskin over it. The SV has extra foam covered w vinyl nearly as high as the passenger pad. So far the 300 has a gel pad w sheepskin but will get more padding over the Winter. I've changed ergos on many bikes over the years now if there were triples for the little Ninjas for tube bars-HMMM??

I'm going to re-contour and add foam to my Ninja seat this winter. I found some great Naugahyde ($29.00/sq.yd.) on line and a local upholstery shop that has good dense foam. That king/queen seat bump is going to go. That's about where I want my butt on a long ride. I did the same thing to my Honda FT500 seat a couple of years ago.

Bill

[isuoboe]

The title is the license plate frame my 43 year-old son (a rider) gave me. For some reason he didn't think I would use it. I'm 70. When I bought my 2006 Ninja 250, I was only 65 and my son said I was too old to ride around on that kind of bike. Turns out, when he was in college in the 90's, his dream was to own one. (We'd never talked about motorcycling. I got back to it after he bought one.)

I had a Kawasaki 85 in the late 60's when I was in college. Sold it as a basket case for $30. Can't believe I did that. Got riding again in 2009 with a 1981 Honda CB1125S that was frozen when I got it. I had a blast getting it going fairly easily and cheaply. I hope to buy another non-working bike or 2 and get them going.

In 2012 I bought the 2006 ninja with 1040 miles on it, up to about 12,500 now. It's very dependable, which is great, but I do enjoy the tinkering part of my toy too. I'm in the middle of a tire change now. (When I'm done with it, and assorted related tasks that come up, I'll post about it at my earlier DIY tire mounting (or something similar) thread.)

Partly because I'm not large (150lb. and down to 5'8 1/2") I've always liked the idea of riding a bike, rather than driving a car that only has 2 wheels. In other words, I've always liked the idea of small bikes I can "rule" over. (Even though the 250 actually weighs twice what I do!)

To me, older riders have advantages of perhaps having more common sense, not needing to be cool, and a realization of one's eventual mortality. Hence, I bought the yellow bike others passed up; I wear hi-viz helmet, gloves and jacket; I have a head light modulator, a "back-off" brake light, and a loud "bad-boy" horn (which I seldom need).

Keep on riding safe!

[Triple Jim]

Originally Posted by isuoboe

To me, older riders have advantages of perhaps having more common sense, not needing to be cool, and a realization of one's eventual mortality.

Yes, true. Even older riders that don't have decades of riding experience are likely to have these advantages.

[JohnnyBravo]

Originally Posted by Triple Jim

Yes, true. Even older riders that don't have decades of riding experience are likely to have these advantages.

That's a fact... Even seen a young person or twelve around here with sense; an some without

[Triple Jim]

Ha, well... I remember when I was 20 and bought the '72 H2. I had some common sense, but little sense of mortality. I guess the "some common sense" got me through that period. When someone would bring up getting killed on a motorcycle, I'd joke about not caring, since once I was dead, I wouldn't know I was dead. Somehow that doesn't seem like a good argument any more.

[greenaero]

66 years young and been riding 51 years. The evolution of motos and cars has been interesting to reflect on. I think we will see a continuing acceleration of change in our vehicles.

[DannoXYZ]

Originally Posted by greenaero

66 years young and been riding 51 years. The evolution of motos and cars has been interesting to reflect on. I think we will see a continuing acceleration of change in our vehicles.

We're almost there!!!

[CaliGrrl]

Originally Posted by isuoboe

To me, older riders have advantages of perhaps having more common sense, not needing to be cool, and a realization of one's eventual mortality. Hence, I bought the yellow bike others passed up; I wear hi-viz helmet, gloves and jacket; I have a head light modulator, a "back-off" brake light, and a loud "bad-boy" horn (which I seldom need).

Yep, I think this is part of what is keeping me safer. We even have twin bikes- mine's a yellow '06, too! I have a lot of patience these days, more than kids when I first started driving. I'm new to bike, but not new to traffic, and I think it's helpful. I know how to watch the longer traffic-flow, wait until the crazy people have cleared the area a bit, and how to place myself to stay out of the way of the crazy person that I haven't seen do anything nuts yet but who will do something shortly.

[isuoboe]

Originally Posted by CaliGrrl

Yep, I think this is part of what is keeping me safer. We even have twin bikes- mine's a yellow '06, too! I have a lot of patience these days, more than kids when I first started driving. I'm new to bike, but not new to traffic, and I think it's helpful. I know how to watch the longer traffic-flow, wait until the crazy people have cleared the area a bit, and how to place myself to stay out of the way of the crazy person that I haven't seen do anything nuts yet but who will do something shortly.

Yup! I think of all the things I notice when on the bike that I wouldn't have noticed if cars were my only transportation mode; then I try to keep the attention up similarly in the car.

[john pierson]

An old Starship line I believe. We are like those little critters running around among the great beasts. I treat every object moving or not as if it could get me.

[Ram Jet]

Originally Posted by john pierson

An old Starship line I believe. We are like those little critters running around among the great beasts. I treat every object moving or not as if it could get me.

Ditto! I think motorcycle riding has made me a better auto driver. Hence, I have never been involved in an auto accident caused by myself

Bill

[CaliGrrl]

Originally Posted by isuoboe

Yup! I think of all the things I notice when on the bike that I wouldn't have noticed if cars were my only transportation mode; then I try to keep the attention up similarly in the car.

Yep! I get about 30 seconds of warning now, before something goes sideways.

Originally Posted by Ram Jet

Ditto! I think motorcycle riding has made me a better auto driver. Hence, I have never been involved in an auto accident caused by myself

Bill

Me, too! I thought I was a pretty good driver before, but I've gained a lot of awareness now that I've started riding the bike. Positioning in regards to other vehicles, watching traffic patterns, that kind of thing.

[SteveL]

I am 70 almost 71 still love to ride, started riding legally when I was 16 and that was on a 250 two stroke a lot different from what I ride now. I had a long spell when I did not ride, I had to have a car and could not afford to have a bike as well. My last three years of work I bought a bike for commuting that was a new 2009 Ninja 250R I rode it for 6 months and then changed for a Suzuki GSXF 650 which suited my needs much better. I am now on my final bike that's to say when I become too feeble to maneuver the K1300s I will give up the 250Kg is not a problem on the move, but pushing it around the garage is hard work. Having owned a super bike I could not go down to something smaller and lighter you become accustomed to having the power 30 mph to 170 mph in 6th gear is just insane but real fun.
Steve

[Ram Jet]

Originally Posted by SteveL

I am 70 almost 71 still love to ride, started riding legally when I was 16 and that was on a 250 two stroke a lot different from what I ride now. I had a long spell when I did not ride, I had to have a car and could not afford to have a bike as well. My last three years of work I bought a bike for commuting that was a new 2009 Ninja 250R I rode it for 6 months and then changed for a Suzuki GSXF 650 which suited my needs much better. I am now on my final bike that's to say when I become too feeble to maneuver the K1300s I will give up the 250Kg is not a problem on the move, but pushing it around the garage is hard work. Having owned a super bike I could not go down to something smaller and lighter you become accustomed to having the power 30 mph to 170 mph in 6th gear is just insane but real fun.
Steve

I hear you. I'm not as strong as you Swiss fellows. I need a bike I can pick up if I drop it so the 250 Ninja is OK. My Ninja reminds me of my old 1959 Alfa Romeo Spyder Veloce. Revvvvv, shift, revvvv, shift . . . you get there just as quickly.

Bill