Nope; I don't think so. To drive a car one needs to be more than double attentive, unless they're least bothered about ppl on road. Car doesn't require balance, but requires a great deal of thinking on looking the sides, 3 RVM's compared to 2 in motorcycles & all the more, a great effort on judgements which is not the case with two-wheelers. There're both pros & cons in both, but in the end, ride or drive, both are addictions. Lets keep this aside this for the moment & can turn to it when required.

Well, IMO, bigger the vehicle, smaller the mistake, costlier it proves. Its similar to corporate law. Or if you meant, the individual who drives, yes, protected more than a motorcyclist, but might be caught with something else. Again, lets keep this aside for the moment.

That's engineering, I think, that's something totally different. Forget even car & motorcycle. There's a lot of difference in doing 160 Kmph on a Civic & WagonR too. Needless to say which one is scary!!!

Err...why would I want to take out hand off the bar at 160

I didn't understand, can you elaborate pls?

Going back to your old post, that got me thinking something more...
I guess the maximum limit (or peak output lol ) is somewhere in mid 30's/early 40's (Redline probably lol ) beyond which probably the anxiety or whatever factor takes over. Am I the only person to observe a pattern here?

Put it this way, a track rider for over several years of experience should keep winning for ever. I mean to say, as they grow older & older, their experience matters a lot & they should excel in every race. But that is not happening, most of the riders (or even drivers) have a peak time sometimes during mid 30s to early 40s beyond which they cannot keep it going. So I guess my above point holds good to an extent. Is this also a factor to play with everyone be it on the track or on daily life?

Why should one be young & brash? Why not young & smart?

Well, depends on what you mean by "limit". If you are talking about a track day where you are pushing yourself to the "limit", yes the limit does decrease over age. But I am talking about just riding on the road, enjoying the fun that is motorcycling. I don't think that decreases with age, if the individual in question is obviously healthy. Again, case in point is my motorcycle riding instructor . Actually I know a bunch of other folks well into their late 60s or early 70s who are still riding and apparently haven't missed a beat . I hope to be one of them some day.

Ride safe, later.

Bartman

Not speed; its the risk appetite etc

Like I said before, your instructor's case & others are totally different, give sometime & I'll get that answered & I'm sure you'll agree with me on that front

Good Luck & you will

You might have to drive the Wagon R off a cliff to make it touch 160. But i get your point. Spot on.

It was just to give you the sense of speed. If you take the hand off the steering of a car when you do 160, nothing will happen to you. You can even drink a coffee while doing 160!
Try it on a bike and you will know. The way the hand violently moves backwards will give you the REAL idea of speed. . THough i didnt do it at 160..at 140 i did once to let a skoda driver know that he can make a pass and my right hand was nearly ripped off because of the wind. The point is the car doesnt give u the real sense of speed so firstly you dont know how big the risk is in the first place

I dint get what you were mentioning on my old post

Do agree on this. THere is an inflection point in everyones life. It may vary from person to person.

As mentioned, there is an inflection point. Then the reflexes start deteriorating even though the ability is still there. The persons ability is no more able to cope up with his loss of reflexes.

Yes you could be young and smart too. But try drilling it on a young's mind and you will know. And in the case of motorcyles, for you to know your limits you cant actually learn from another persons mistakes/experiences. But ofcourse other people can guide you.

@Argee..The thing is that with age the ability on the motorcycles increases till a certain age and then it starts to go downhill. It should vary from person to person. Its that point increased ability vs loss of reflexes!!

Well that set me thinking about whats that particular age at which your reflexes start diminshing and your ability is no more able to cope with the loss of reflexes

Here is what i could find on google.

This is the site name Older Riders - MSF Fact Sheet.
The site mentions about the different abilities required to ride a motorcycle ie., search, evaluate and execute. It also goes to say how age affects each of these abilities and what one should do counter them.
It doesnt say anything about quitting motorcycles but a list to help you identify what to check.
And when you feel your time has come, go buy a sports convertible


Now i need to run to get some weight training!!


"Rider Functions


Search

1. Visual clarity diminishes. This phenomenon is gradual and typically begins between the ages of 40-50. Having a periodic eye exam is a wise choice. Visual acuity declines modestly beyond age 60, as measured by high-contrast acuity charts.

2. Night vision is especially diminished. The eyes gather less light as a person ages making it more difficult to see clearly at night. On average, the older person requires four times more light than the younger person.

3. Peripheral vision diminishes. As visual acuity diminishes over the years, the side or peripheral vision becomes blurrier also.

4. Hearing diminishes. Although most input for decisions in traffic are perceived through the eyes, a rider shouldn’t discount the value of hearing traffic sounds or motorcycle sounds that could indicate a mechanical problem.

5. Eyes are more sensitive to light. The rods and cones in the eyes become more sensitive over time, which makes adjusting to light sources more difficult. This is particularly true when responding to glare or oncoming headlights.

6. Eyes take longer to adjust from near to far objects and vice versa. The muscles of the eyes become less responsive over time and take longer to adjust to changes in the environment as well as changes when moving focal points between far and near.

7. Eyes take longer to adjust to dark. The weakened eyes muscles cause the eyes to dilate less quickly.

8. Depth perception diminishes. This may affect judging appropriate gap selection when passing another vehicle and when crossing or turning at an intersection.

9. Street and directional signs are more difficult to read. Difficulty in early sign recognition may increase the chance of input overload, which occurs when there is more going on in traffic than may be accurately perceived or processed.

Evaluate

1. Medications affect performance and behavior. Labels should always be read and a medical doctor’s advice should be followed.

2. Complicated signage may be confusing. There are many situations, especially in unfamiliar areas, where a rider must contend with several points of information simultaneously. Often times older riders will need more time to process the information.

3. Space and distance are misjudged more frequently. Most riding decisions are based on input from visual processes. Any deterioration of visual functions will result in potentially misjudging elements of space and distance.

4. Awareness of impending risk is delayed. Eye muscles and body muscles react more slowly, resulting in delayed response time.

5. It may take fewer factors to interact to form a potential conflict. Crashes are typically caused by an interaction of factors. The number of road and traffic factors a rider may handle at any given moment varies, but aging may lower the number of simultaneous risk factors that a rider may be able to respond to safely.

Execute

1. Muscles are weaker. Muscle tone and strength deteriorate as a rider ages. Without weight training a person loses 6-10 percent muscle mass per decade starting at age 30.

2. Endurance is diminished. Oxygen is not utilized as efficiently and the muscles loose their elasticity.

3. Reaction time slows. Responding to factors may require more time and space because correct actions require perception, evaluation, and motor response (muscle) time. Reacting to a hazard may take twice as long for a rider who has moved into middle age (40 to 54 years of age), and up to three or four times longer after age 55 or so.

4. Control sensitivity lessens. The feeling of the road through the tires and handlebars lessens, as well as the feedback that occurs in cornering and braking. This may have serious implications in crash-avoidance maneuvers.

Recommendations



Riding Tips

1. Keep a greater following distance, perhaps three seconds or more. Some authorities recommend up to a six-second interval.

2. Avoid complicated and congested roads and intersections. “Input overload” is a phrase often used to describe the presence of too much information to be able to process accurately. A good choice is to pick a route that contains less complicated roadways with less traffic flow and fewer turns.

3. Allow larger gaps when moving into a stream of traffic. Selecting a safe gap when passing another vehicle or crossing or turning at an intersection is an important decision for smoothly blending with others.

4. Make a point to check side-to-side at intersections. It is a wise motorcyclist that recognizes that eye movement and muscle movement (head and neck muscles in particular) become more difficult with age. A rider should take an extra moment to double-check cross traffic to get a good look.

5. Keep making good blind-spot checks. Traffic research shows that older drivers don’t check blind spots as well as younger drivers. An extra moment to ensure nothing is hiding in a blind spot may help reduce risk.

6. Have a passenger help you S.E.E. Passengers can be an additional set of eyes to help identify hazards and assess risk.

7. Keep windshield, helmet face shield and eyeglass lenses clean. Dirt and grime on a rider’s “window to the world” may adversely affect quick and accurate perception of factors such as traffic control devices, road markings, debris and other traffic movement.

8. Avoid tinted lenses at night. Any tint lessens the light available to the eyes and makes seeing well at night more difficult.

9. Wear sunglasses when glare is a problem. During daytime glare, good polarized sunglasses may reduce the effects of glare significantly and make identifying a traffic hazard easier.

10. Adjust mirrors to avoid glare from following vehicles. Sometimes a slight mirror adjustment may reduce the distracting effects of traffic behind you and still provide the perception necessary to identify hazards to the rear.

11. Keep the headlight(s) clean and properly adjusted. During routine maintenance, be sure the headlight is aimed correctly. Refer to your owner’s manual for adjustment information.

12. Avoid glasses with wide frames or heavy temples. Eyeglasses or sunglasses may be constructed in a way that creates a blind spot. Be sure the frames do not inhibit side vision or create difficulty in seeing the entire field of vision.

13. Avoid being in a hurry. It is unwise to make up for lost time by riding aggressively. Leaving a little early will result in a more relaxed, enjoyable ride and create an opportunity for choosing greater time and space safety margins.

14. Remember that the average age of the driving population is increasing, and you are sharing the road with others who may be experiencing the effects of aging on their operation of a motor vehicle. Keeping a greater safety margin is a wise choice.
Motorcycle Choice

15. Choose a motorcycle with large dials and easy-to-read symbols. Brightly illuminated gauges may be helpful for riding at night.

16. Choose a motorcycle that fits well and doesn’t cause muscles to strain because of an unusual seating position or because the controls are difficult to operate. How a motorcycle fits its rider may affect overall handling and performance at both low speeds and at higher speeds.

17. Follow manufacturer recommendations in the owner’s manual. Good maintenance will keep your motorcycle operating like new.

Personal Responsibility

18. Wear protective gear. The muscles and bones are more prone to injury and the time for healing is often extended for an older person. Using extra body armor may help mitigate injury should a fall occur.

19. Renew skills often by completing a Motorcycle Safety Foundation ERC Suite Skills Plus RiderCourse^SM.

21. Separate alcohol and other impairing substances and conditions from riding. Over-the-counter and prescription medications could cause impairment. And don’t forget the possibility of synergistic impairment that occurs when drugs are used in combination.

Physical Health and Fitness

22. Have annual eye checkups. This is a good recommendation for anyone over the age of 35.

23. If 60 or older, be sure your eye doctor checks annually for cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and other conditions associated with aging.

24. Have annual medical checkups. Being physically fit and in good health helps ensure the safest, most enjoyable ride possible.

25. Keep an exercise regimen to enhance flexibility, strength and endurance. Fitness is important at any age. Maintain good muscle tone and flexibility to improve the enjoyment of motorcycling.

26. Ask a significant other if they notice changes that might affect safety on a motorcycle. Motorcycle operation is a complicated perceptual-motor skill, meaning it is a skill of the eyes and mind as well as the hands and feet. Identifying deterioration or weaknesses in other areas of normal living that require perceptual-motor skill, whether in the workshop, in the yard, or in the kitchen, should be used as clues that operating a motorcycle safely could also be affected.

27. If/when the time comes to retire from motorcycling, buy a sporty convertible.

Sry JAKRAP, I haven't understood both your post because I only had a glance, but you've confirmed me something that was running on my mind!!!
+Million

Will go through both the posts, understand & then we will carry forward the discussion

Totally agree with you buddy, it is always good to learn from experience. Just look at our many great riders at xbhp, you learn something from every ride. I've been riding now for more than 30 years and am still riding! Will ride till I die! The friends who mocked you may know nothing about "the longer you live, the longer you ride"

Ride Long! Ride Safe!
Cheers

Hey aargee bro, I agree about the distraction bit, but I believe that if you really love to ride then you have to put all the things away and live the moments and enjoy every moment of riding, otherwise you may as well watch soap opera on t.v.
You know the roads better than most of us from what I've read and as for me I've been riding now for more than 30 years and learn't from every ride and will ride till I die

Take Care & Ride Safe,
Cheers Buddy

Truly understand, with age and experience you do mellow somewhat and get more cautious and take fewer risks, so what?? You are still riding at 59 how many can boast of the same many many years later?

My Salutes to you
Cheers

Totally agree with you Adarsh. I've been riding for much more than 30 years now and had an accident while crossing the road on foot last year. Yes riding is about keeping fit and always getting your basics right. Sometimes riding is like swimming, you'll get across because you never forget!

Ride Long Bro & Ride Safe
Cheers

@jakrap, very valid and informative points there buddy. Its important for the older riders to keep the points you mentioned so that they can continue to enjoy the passion of riding and riding safe!!

Thanks for the kind words....riding in city and NH is all about experience and how we use it judiciously....I wish for all XBhpians to ride as long as they can ,safely ,and enjoy the experience.
Age is a state of mind.

I'm going to b 40 this year , been riding since I was 16 .I just remember all those falls and lost skin sore days when I have the urge to speed .No one ever forgets that ugly clatter of handles and leg guards grinding on the asphalt, ever . I still do speed , but not untill I see longer stretches of good open roads before me . Reflex is one thing that is definitely lower now , but more so my ability to take a crash and heal quickly is less . Moreover I have seen too much broken headlamp glass and shards of bikes and blood on street asphalt by now and have less female pillion riders to impress .

Pinaki you sure have a long riding experience...and had seen many incidents like most long standing bike riders have.....do not let it mellow you down to the level you don't have great riding experience challenging and testing your abilities..I do understand that with experience and responsibility comes the "Mellowing Effect".The point on healing is very valid and your observation is very sharp,but looking at your image Pillion trouble should be there still No ? .Wish you many more joyous and safe years of riding..

You are right there Ramesh. After a few decades of riding myself, I find that I definitely have mellowed compared to the brash old days. But then there much fewer vehicles on the road those days though the highways themselves were much smaller. I guess after many many years of riding, you do a lot of things by instinct which experience has fed into you. Yes reflexes do get slower and more caution creeps in but you tend to make adjustments as long as the passion is alive!

Ride Long, Ride Safe
Cheers!!