Motorcycling Season ?

[2LZ]

One of the things I hated about being a cop was working an accident to find an elderly person who shouldn't be driving. It's our responsibilty in those cases to notify DMV to initiate a doctor's exam. Nothing more humbling than trying to explain to a hero who stormed the beach on DDay that I think it's time for him to relinquish his independence.

The very second our 90 year old mom squeaked about maybe not driving anymore, we immediately sold her car. What a relief. Now her facility has a shuttle that takes her anywhere she wants to go. Again, huge weight off our shoulders without having to force the issue.

 

[StefArmstg]

I just renewed my license. I have glaucoma (which is under control), and had cataract surgery in both eyes several years ago. I can see well enough now to no longer need glasses for driving. But the internet horror stories about the DMV cracking down on oldsters had me worried. For no reason, as it turned out. They didn't even use an eye machine, just a chart on the wall. (Over 80 they require a form signed by a doctor).

I strong armed my dad into surrendering his driver's license after a tense drive around town that included turning into oncoming traffic on a divided road.

Regarding seasonal riding, I ride year round, but in my old age, I'm no longer willing to tough it out in cold weather.

I've never had heated gear. When I had sidecars, I'd go for rides in snow storms just for the fun of it, wearing a snowmobile suit. They handle surprisingly well, even on ice.

I can think of one reason to appreciate the notion of a "riding season". Lower insurance costs.

 

[Eatmore Mudd]

Rode year round. Since the move it's now ride almost year round. Not on days when it's 40°F or below on my front porch.
The three arterial routes out of here cross drainage basins and have shaded low elevation spots where the temperature is always 10-15 degrees lower than my front porch.
Frost and black ice are killers.

I could ride on those days by trailering my bike to the other sides. I'd have to find a happy place to park my Jeep and trailer though.

 

[Landsurfer74]

I just renewed my license. I have glaucoma (which is under control), and had cataract surgery in both eyes several years ago. I can see well enough now to no longer need glasses for driving. But the internet horror stories about the DMV cracking down on oldsters had me worried. For no reason, as it turned out. They didn't even use an eye machine, just a chart on the wall. (Over 80 they require a form signed by a doctor).

I strong armed my dad into surrendering his driver's license after a tense drive around town that included turning into oncoming traffic on a divided road.

Regarding seasonal riding, I ride year round, but in my old age, I'm no longer willing to tough it out in cold weather.

I've never had heated gear. When I had sidecars, I'd go for rides in snow storms just for the fun of it, wearing a snowmobile suit. They handle surprisingly well, even on ice.

I can think of one reason to appreciate the notion of a "riding season". Lower insurance costs.

Respect Bro …

 

[Coptician]

My motorcycling season excludes mid-June thru mid-September. You can ride during that time, but expect brutal heat, humidity, and more often than not, a daily rain storm.

I just renewed my license. I have glaucoma (which is under control), and had cataract surgery in both eyes several years ago. I can see well enough now to no longer need glasses for driving. But the internet horror stories about the DMV cracking down on oldsters had me worried. For no reason, as it turned out. They didn't even use an eye machine, just a chart on the wall. (Over 80 they require a form signed by a doctor).

I strong armed my dad into surrendering his driver's license after a tense drive around town that included turning into oncoming traffic on a divided road.

We're also discovering that DMV requirements don't mean much. My wife and I just had eye exams a week ago. She has mild glaucoma and her license renewal requires an optometrist perform and certify a field of vision test. Both of us are retired opticians, so we're familiar with the optical aspects of driving. We were shocked to discover that Virginia DMV only requires a total field of view of 70 degrees. That's 35 degrees out from center of the nose per eye. And that test doesn't measure acuity, only that 'something is there'. That's not enough to view your outside rear view mirror without a substantial head turn. One more thing to consider when we're mixing it up with cars on the street.

 

[Roy Gavin]

And what kind of a big brother police state would we have if they have to constantly monitor us to stop relatively small crimes like noise pollution? Emissions? exceeding power restrictions? Removing safety equipment? Whatever else... No thanks.
A state where criminals are allowed to operate with impunity , free from the attention of the police force, and the police have to make a bike show of enforcing road traffic ofences to show that they are'in control.

But that's everybody in SA. My dad had to redo his practical drive at 75 or something for a car. He was really peeved, more so because he passed with ease.

They actually dropped the test for car drivers a few years back as an election sweetener, votes before safety!

 

[severely]

I wear this T shirt a lot. PJ's Parts is currently selling them on EBay for 99 cents.View attachment 37263

I had a T-shirt just like that. It led to many "interesting" conversations, not all of them friendly. My vision is still good. I've been riding year round for 16 years after retirement. This is the first time I've missed my annual Mexico ride in 16 years. Planning Mexico, Belize and Guatemala in November. Y'all ride safely whenever you get the chance.

 

[disposalist]

And what kind of a big brother police state would we have if they have to constantly monitor us to stop relatively small crimes like noise pollution? Emissions? exceeding power restrictions? Removing safety equipment? Whatever else... No thanks.

A state where criminals are allowed to operate with impunity , free from the attention of the police force, and the police have to make a bike show of enforcing road traffic ofences to show that they are'in control.

To be honest it doesn't worry me deeply. I've always thought that people with nothing to hide have nothing to fear. I don't subscribe to the conspiracy theories. I was just making a weird (bad hehe) effort to juxtapose the demands you see for police to 'do more' with the inevitable waste of resources and impact on 'freedom'.

I'll get my coat...

P.S. Surely the police do those 'shows' of enforcement to remind people that they run a risk when they habitually break the law. No, they don't have enough resource to continually police it (whatever it is), but they do occasionally spot check, so you aren't 'safe' to do it.

 

[Woodstock]

They actually dropped the test for car drivers a few years back as an election sweetener, votes before safety!

My poor dad then. I know he was stressed about it. He was so cautious the only accident he ever had was being hit from behind by a police car on a turn left any time with care. Which tied in with the in-family joke that he was so cautious he never had an accident but like Mr Magoo left a trail of accidents behind him.

 

[Roy Gavin]

My poor dad then. I know he was stressed about it. He was so cautious the only accident he ever had was being hit from behind by a police car on a turn left any time with care. Which tied in with the in-family joke that he was so cautious he never had an accident but like Mr Magoo left a trail of accidents behind him.

Yep, I think part of the justification for dropping the test was that the stress of the testing was causing more problems than , er, seniors having accidents!

 

[Woodstock]

Yep, I think part of the justification for dropping the test was that the stress of the testing was causing more problems than , er, seniors having accidents!

Buggers!

 

[kballowe]

We're retired.

In winter, we occasionally just drive somewhere warm.

 

[Scott Free]

My motorcycling season excludes mid-June thru mid-September. You can ride during that time, but expect brutal heat, humidity, and more often than not, a daily rain storm.

I know a guy who lives in central Florida (not that far from the Disney empire). His riding season is about October through April; the summer months are oppressively hot and plagued by "love bugs" that seem to infest everything.

 

[TigerGA]

I know a guy who lives in central Florida (not that far from the Disney empire). His riding season is about October through April; the summer months are oppressively hot and plagued by "love bugs" that seem to infest everything.

Yes…I live about three hours north of Orlando…

 

[lorazepam]

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again (probably will many more times ) if we could ban loud exhausts, I truly believe it would help the motorcycling future. And let me just get in first before the “loud pipes save lives” and “There’s always someone wanting to spoil our fun” brigades kick off… think of others before you think about yourself.

The people who think loud pipes save lives should tape their horn button down.

 

[SteveJB]

"... every doctor appointment now includes a collection of questions about whether I have fallen in the last six months, am I feeling dizzy, do I have depression, etc."

You forgot, "is anyone abusing you?"

 

[lorazepam]

I knew a woman who had a "The louder the pipes the smaller the dick" license plate frame on her bmw bike. Many tough guys waited for the owner to show only to have to deal with a woman, lol.

 

[fastfrank]

As a 70-something returning rider… I’ve been unable to ride for 5-6-ish years, during a long series of surgeries, one of which left me with a dead left foot. Having a hard time with the weight of my new Enfield Classic 350, but I’m determined to ride the upcoming DGR next month. Anyhoo, The seasons topic made me recall that, during my move from San Diego (actually Escondido) to near Utica, NY, I never once stopped to imagine that I couldn’t ride my 5 bikes all year round, or that my steep driveway would ever be an issue. Ha!

 

[Landsurfer74]

As a 70-something returning rider… I’ve been unable to ride for 5-6-ish years, during a long series of surgeries, one of which left me with a dead left foot. Having a hard time with the weight of my new Enfield Classic 350, but I’m determined to ride the upcoming DGR next month. Anyhoo, The seasons topic made me recall that, during my move from San Diego (actually Escondido) to near Utica, NY, I never once stopped to imagine that I couldn’t ride my 5 bikes all year round, or that my steep driveway would ever be an issue. Ha!

I never thought I would never sell my beloved VStrom because moving it around the sloping drive in front of the house would become so difficult. That’s why I bought another 411. Age sneaks up on you ….in the last 12 months I’ve had to contend with cancer and a snapped Achilles tendon … fighting to regain fitness is just that … a fight !

 

[fastfrank]

I never thought I would never sell my beloved VStrom because moving it around the sloping drive in front of the house would become so difficult. That’s why I bought another 411. Age sneaks up on you ….in the last 12 months I’ve had to contend with cancer and a snapped Achilles tendon … fighting to regain fitness is just that … a fight !

I recently saw a good quote: “Age is just a number… until it isn’t”