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Learning to Ride at 75

Lost in the 60's

Well travelled
Location
Mobile, Alabama
120 miles today. I rode from Mobile to Biloxi and back. That's the farthest west I've been so far. I took US 90 all the way. Stayed off the Interstate. Took me 3 hours round trip. It was windy. Small craft warnings were up. A couple of those coastal bridges were a bit exciting. Especially at their highest part, with the wind coming from the side and trying to blow me out of my lane. I now have 4,593 miles on the bike.
 

Lost in the 60's

Well travelled
Location
Mobile, Alabama
When I was in Biloxi this dude on a very gaudy Harley with lots of flames and skulls and heavy use of the color purple pulled up next to me at a stop light and asked me what year my bike was. I told him "2022" but I guess he didn't hear me right (you know how Harley's are, loud) because he said "You did a good job on it", apparently meaning that I had restored it. :D Anyway, then the light changed and he roared off and left me in the dust.
 
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smilespergallon

Well travelled
Location
Durham, NC
I have the opposite problem with buying car parts. I tell the kid at the counter that I have a 1987 and a 1994, get parts for a 2007 and a 2004.

But the best part of this story is Harley guy complimenting a mostly stock new britbike and not even knowing it. I love it when people do that to themselves, I take it as a sign that I am sufficiently subverting the norm in my daily life.
 

Lost in the 60's

Well travelled
Location
Mobile, Alabama
I've now done 4 rides of over 100 miles. My longest were my two round trips to Pensacola and back which were about 135 miles. My next goal will be to break my one day record for a bicycle ride which is 170 miles. Back in 1995 I did the cross Florida ride on my Colnago road bike that I had at the time in 13 hours. I was only 48 at the time and in a lot better shape at that time. And it was a well supported ride with 7 SAG stops along the way with snacks and drinks and a support van that would give you assistance if you broke down and needed it or pick up you and your bike and give you a ride to the finish if you couldn't make. I was well prepared for that one. I'd done a number of 100 mile rides training for it, and one was 130 miles. I'm 28 years older now and I'll be riding with no support, but I think I ought to be able to go 200 miles on my next long ride. After all, it's a motorcycle and the engine will be doing all the real work. The only thing that concerns me is breakdowns, especially a flat tire. I now have 4,593 miles on those OEM tires. They still look good but I'd feel better with some new upgraded ones.
 

Alan F.

Well travelled
There are sealants that work well with tube type tires. A quick search of the forums will yield some opinions.
The stuff is far from perfect, but if it saves you from one minor puncture it's worth the relatively low price, often less than a new tube alone.
 

LIGuy

Well travelled
I've now done 4 rides of over 100 miles. My longest were my two round trips to Pensacola and back which were about 135 miles. My next goal will be to break my one day record for a bicycle ride which is 170 miles. Back in 1995 I did the cross Florida ride on my Colnago road bike that I had at the time in 13 hours. I was only 48 at the time and in a lot better shape at that time. And it was a well supported ride with 7 SAG stops along the way with snacks and drinks and a support van that would give you assistance if you broke down and needed it or pick up you and your bike and give you a ride to the finish if you couldn't make. I was well prepared for that one. I'd done a number of 100 mile rides training for it, and one was 130 miles. I'm 28 years older now and I'll be riding with no support, but I think I ought to be able to go 200 miles on my next long ride. After all, it's a motorcycle and the engine will be doing all the real work. The only thing that concerns me is breakdowns, especially a flat tire. I now have 4,593 miles on those OEM tires. They still look good but I'd feel better with some new upgraded ones.
Do yourself a favor and get some new high quality tires and dump the cheapos the bike came with. You'll b glad you did. Best thing I've done on my bike is get new tires. Handles like a different bike
 

wachuko

Well travelled
Location
Ocala, FL
Even if they're not worn out yet, life is too short to ride on tires you don't like.
I completely agree. I ended up ordering the Bridgestone Battlax BT46 Sport Touring Tires, a few days back, from Revzilla. I wanted the Michelin Road Classics but the front tire has not been in stock for months. The BT46 came highly recommended from other forum members.

I really do not like the stock tires over 70mph. Rode the other day from around 158 miles non-stop on the highway and had to ride around 75-90mph just to keep up with traffic. I just did not like how the tires behaved.

I have a ride to Georgia to meet up with friends to go riding in the North Carolina mountains…

A lot of highway riding to get there from Orlando, FL … I want to minimize issues.
 
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Lost in the 60's

Well travelled
Location
Mobile, Alabama
I completely agree. I ended up ordering the Bridgestone Battlax BT46 Sport Touring Tires, a few days back, from Revzilla. I wanted the Michelin Road Classics but the front tire has not been in stock for months. The BT46 came highly recommended from other forum members.

I really do not like the stock tires over 70mph. Rode the other day from around 158 miles non-stop on the highway and had to ride around 75-90mph just to keep up with traffic. I just did not like how the tires behaved.

I have a ride to Georgia to meet up with friends to go riding in the North Carolina mountains…

A lot of highway riding to get there from Orlando, FL … I want to minimize issues.
I fully support the starting with a smaller bike suggestion. Then ride it on dirt trails or on grass. You won't hurt yourself falling off, at least not as much as if you fall on pavement. And a smaller bike is easier to pick up when that happens.
When I first started out on the Interceptor I was a bit intimidated and at the time wished I'd started out on something smaller. But after a month or two I got used to it. So it worked out OK.
 

grymsr

Well travelled
Location
Maine
My first ride was a 100cc dirt bike because it was my first. But after a few years I got a 500cc road bike then a 750cc racer as my confidence increased.
 

Lost in the 60's

Well travelled
Location
Mobile, Alabama
Today was my first ride since my trip to Biloxi and back exactly one week ago. That's the longest I've gone without riding in a while. The weather and other homeowner obligations kept getting in the way. I put 40 miles on the bike. I've been trying to challenge myself regularly rather than riding in the same environment over and over as I figure that's the best way to keep learning. I've been avoiding I-10 to the west because of a construction zone with uneven and grooved pavement. I know this because I've been that way in my car several time lately. But this time I decided to grab my balls and go. So I got on at exit 17 and planned to ride to exit 4 where I knew was past the construction zone. It turned out that the construction has progressed quite a bit since the last time I drove it in my car. The area of construction was only 5 miles long and there was no uneven pavement or construction activity going on. However most of the 5 miles did have grooved pavement so that was a new experience for me. And I admit that the feeling of the tires sliding back and forth ever so slightly was a bit unnerving at 65-70 mph. That was a bit over the 55 mph limit for the construction zone but nobody was paying any attention to that. Most of the traffic was passing me at a pretty good clip. Anyway I am glad I've gotten my first ride on grooved pavement out of the way. After that I got off I-10 at exit 4 and took backs roads on the way home. :)
 

Lost in the 60's

Well travelled
Location
Mobile, Alabama
I found that that my taking of the MFS course was a big waste. The main reason I took it is that if I move back to Florida which is my home state they will not transfer my motorcycle endorsement from Alabama and I would have to take the MSF course to do so. Alabama is the only state that Florida will not accept their Motorcycle endorsement. Probably because Alabama is the easiest of the 50 states to get the endorsement.

I checked and the course fee in Florida is $275. Here in Alabama it's $250 but they give a $100 discount for Veterans so it only cost me $150. So I figured I'd take it here and get it out of the way. Then if and when I ever move back to Florida I could just present my MSF completion card and they would transfer my license with the motorcycle endorsement. But then after I took the course I re-read the Florida requirements and found out I had missed something. They will only accept the MSF completion if it was done in the past one year period. :mad: Crap! The chance that I would move back to Florida within a year is not likely. So I would have to take it again.

But I figured heck, at least I'll get a discount on my insurance. So I called up Progressive whom I am insured with and told them about having taken the MFS course. And they were pleased to tell me that I was entitled to a discount. :) A discount of $2 a year. :LOL: And the course has to be in the last 3 year period. So I'll save a total of $6 bucks on my insurance for taking that course. The hits keep coming!

They also told me they would give me a pro-rated refund for the current year which is almost over. That would come to 11 cents. I told the girl on the phone to not worry about the refund but she insisted and a few days later I received a check in the mail for 11 cents. I wonder how much it cost them to cut and mail out that check? :LOL: Anyway I thought about what it would be like to take that 11 cent check to my credit union and go up to the teller and say "please deposit this into my account" and decided to tear it up.
 

Kruzer

Getting there...
Location
Uk
4/19/22

Preface: I don't know shit about riding a motorcycle.

I’ve had the bike since 4/14/22. When I got it it had 3 miles on it. I now have 20 miles on it. So 17 miles on it so far. All of it in my neighborhood. I’m not ready to get out onto the roads in real traffic. I’ve taken care of insurance and registration. I’m wearing an open face helmet, jeans, and my classic style bicycling gloves, New Balance Walking shoes and any kind of shirt. I’ll be getting more appropriate “gear”, as they call it, as time goes by.

Today I decided I needed to work on my weak spot. Actually I have quite a few of them but the one I have noticed the most is making a right turn at an intersection after a full stop. I’ve been going really wide. I’m going to concentrate on that for now. I put 5 miles on the bike today and probably did about 8-10 of those right turns. Some of them were not too bad, others were ugly. I’m trying to remember to turn the fork first, look where I want the bike to go, and carefully feather the clutch as I keep the engine at a steady rpm high enough not to stall. It’s a lot to think about. I know that I will have to practice this until I do it instinctively without thinking about it. My ugliest attempt was when I stalled it because I was in 2nd gear when I thought I was in 1st.

Sometimes I remember to use the turn signal. But not always. And when I do use it I forget to cancel it.
Hi
I’m also a newish rider and have had the same problem as you say…turning right!
I’m much better now than I was when I started but the fear does kick in sometimes!
As someone here says, you just have to do it.
It’s more a mental thing…all in the mind…I find if I think of something else when I reach that junction, my RH turn is perfect!
I’m a cruiser biker, so my other bikes have really low seats, which is confidence-inducing, but this Enfield I just got has a high seat and me being a short ass, my feet just about reach the ground.
Thats pissed me off bigtime, and if I can’t fix the seat height issue soon, I’ll have to sell it.
It’s a pity cos I really dig the bike.
Oh and age? Who cares! I’m in my 60s!
 

Lost in the 60's

Well travelled
Location
Mobile, Alabama
Hi
I’m also a newish rider and have had the same problem as you say…turning right!
I’m much better now than I was when I started but the fear does kick in sometimes!
As someone here says, you just have to do it.
It’s more a mental thing…all in the mind…I find if I think of something else when I reach that junction, my RH turn is perfect!
I’m a cruiser biker, so my other bikes have really low seats, which is confidence-inducing, but this Enfield I just got has a high seat and me being a short ass, my feet just about reach the ground.
Thats pissed me off bigtime, and if I can’t fix the seat height issue soon, I’ll have to sell it.
It’s a pity cos I really dig the bike.
Oh and age? Who cares! I’m in my 60s!
Too high a seat would be scary to me. But I'm 5-11 so flat footing my Interceptor is not a problem. I used to be almost 6-1 but old age with spinal stenosis and disc degeneration has taken a toll to the tune of about an inch and a half. The first bike I looked at was a Honda Shadow but I was intimidated by it's weight which I later found out was about 90 lbs more that the Interceptor. In addition when I sat on it I found that the seat was so low I felt like I was squatting down to take a shit.
 

Lost in the 60's

Well travelled
Location
Mobile, Alabama
Decided to take a break from any white knuckle Interstate challenges so I just took off and generally headed north and west trying to get far enough out of Mobile to find some quiet country roads. It took a while but I finally got out to where some of the road signs had bullet holes in them, a sure sign that you are now in rural America. There was still some traffic because I wasn't far enough out to be in any real wilderness. That's hard to find anywhere east of the Mississippi. I was in the area of the wannabe ranchers who get themselves a few head of cattle on a handful of acres but still have to work a job in town to make ends meet.

I got lost a couple of times. Once I thought I was heading east but I later found out it was west and another time I thought I was going north but it turned out to be south. I had a couple of road maps with me but it's kind of a PITA to stop, get the map out, unfold the damn thing, try to figure out where you are, and then fold it back up. So I just played it by ear. It didn't help that it was overcast and I couldn't tell directions by the sun. Anyway after 2 and 1/2 hours I finally found my way back home. I ended up putting 95 miles on the bike so I now have 4,922 miles on it. In another 13 days it will be exactly one year since I got it. I'll probably pass 5,000 by then.
 

Woodstock

Well travelled
Location
Woodstock, NY
Decided to take a break from any white knuckle Interstate challenges so I just took off and generally headed north and west trying to get far enough out of Mobile to find some quiet country roads. It took a while but I finally got out to where some of the road signs had bullet holes in them, a sure sign that you are now in rural America. There was still some traffic because I wasn't far enough out to be in any real wilderness. That's hard to find anywhere east of the Mississippi. I was in the area of the wannabe ranchers who get themselves a few head of cattle on a handful of acres but still have to work a job in town to make ends meet.

I got lost a couple of times. Once I thought I was heading east but I later found out it was west and another time I thought I was going north but it turned out to be south. I had a couple of road maps with me but it's kind of a PITA to stop, get the map out, unfold the damn thing, try to figure out where you are, and then fold it back up. So I just played it by ear. It didn't help that it was overcast and I couldn't tell directions by the sun. Anyway after 2 and 1/2 hours I finally found my way back home. I ended up putting 95 miles on the bike so I now have 4,922 miles on it. In another 13 days it will be exactly one year since I got it. I'll probably pass 5,000 by then.
It is always the journey over the destination. I've also ridden for hours thinking I was heading somewhere specific but wound up going somewhere else that was completely in the wrong direction. It would really bother me in the truck but on the Enfield I barely notice. I figure I am just clocking up experience and will know a new route to somewhere. I do miss a compass on my bike but not enough to fit one. I did put a USB port on the fork and a phone mount on the bars so I could read a Google map while riding. It helps.
 

Lost in the 60's

Well travelled
Location
Mobile, Alabama
Today I just rode around until I turned over 5,000 miles. 4 days from now on April 14th will mark exactly one year since I got the motorcycle. I feel like I've accomplished what I set out to do. So here's what I feel like I've proven, at least to myself.

1. 75 is not too old to take up motorcycling for the first time.

2. A 650 cc, 47 horsepower, 470 lbs bike is not too big to start with.

3. And you can learn to ride by yourself with no formal instruction.

I still have plenty of room for improvement but if I had the time and lack of other obligations, and a new set of tires, I would not hesitate to take a cross country trip on my motorcycle.

Therefore I am retiring this thread.
 
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