Life in the old dog

[mthee]

My uncle, a lifelong biker, just got himself a new Triumph Thruxton - gorgeous piece of kit. Anyway, he's 72 years young, showing no sign of slowing down and I was wondering how long I'd be safe to bike. So, has anyone got inspirational stories of ancient bikers still cutting the mustard?

[manxie]

Fantastic ... well done that man!!    Both my GB and Skorpion, went to people in there 70`s too !!! Lets hope we`ll be able to do the same at that age 

[CrazyFrog]

Several members of my local club still riding in their eighties, in fact Dennis who sits at my table is 86 years young and still rides his CB500 every week, even at this time of year.

A prospective member came along last year who looked to be well into his eighties, and I asked him what he rode, expecting him to say a Bantam, or a C15 or something, but he replied R1. 

[Smithy]

Len Vale Onslow a well known one time bike tuner and manufacturer {SOS- Super Onslow Special} was still riding his Goldie at the age of 93. In fact last time I saw him at Stafford many years ago his bike looked older than he did! He was obviously never one for cleaning much so I'm hoping my similar attitude to bike hygiene will carry me through to my nineties on my bike.

Ian

[timbo]

The club, me, Tony, Chris, Ronnie, and Peter are in, here in NI, is called the 30s Motorcycle Club of Ulster, and was started in 1965. I reckon the average age couldn't be far off 70, and we have nearly 300 members across NI, with around 80-100 present at each monthly meeting. The meetings often start with a minutes silence, for members who have 'passed on' in the previous month 
So, certainly, we have plenty of riders in their 70s, and some in their 80s. Some now ride scooters on our club runs, cause its much easier, and we certainly don't see their older bikes out so much any more, due to the hastle of kick starts, and reliability. But the other extreme, is that some in their 70s, still compete at motocross. I haven't been in the club very long, and what amazes me, is how humble and unassuming these fellas are. One that springs to mind, is wee Bertie. I had no idea, but he road raced for fifty years. He started in the mid 1950s on a Goldstar, and only hung up his leathers in 2007. He was over 50 before he tackled the IOM, because he didn't reckon he was good enough. And he is just one example, and he is still a regular on club runs 

[iansoady]

I'm but a youth of 67 years old and intend to ride for as long as I can. I have however found in the last few years that the bigger bikes have become something of a challenge - not to ride, but to manhandle in and out of the garage, park etc.

I am inspired by people like Roger Gagg, who I used to ride in pre-65 trials with, who is well into his 70s and until recently competed in the Red Marley hill climb which is as tough as things get. He makes matters worse by riding a rigid Triumph twin!

[mthee]

Lets hope we`ll be able to do the same at that age 

Amen to that. I'm hoping the bike will keep me sharp, as opposed to only using a car. Great to hear about all these unassuming biking greats! 

[tommy]

I once met a man who started riding bikes at 70 years young ,his wife never let  him  get a bike ,and it was always something he wanted to do , she was dead about two years when he decided to follow his dream and he got bike lessons and passed his test ,its was now or never he said , i met him after he had done some touring around ireland and was planing a trip to france next, on his honda revere  great guy to chat with too ,tommy

[Rossco500]

Just as Tim mentioned above some of the guys in the 30 Motorcycle Club were very modest about what they had done during their lives - Maurice, a lifelong sidecar man had also been a very talented amateur racing cyclist who's record for cycling from Belfast to Dublin stood for around 50 years. Another, Stanley had emigrated to Australia and after getting married he returned to Ireland overland by motorcycle. Quite an achievement in the 1950s. I only found this out after they had died.

[Steve Lake]

I'm 72, and still enjoy getting out on #1 srx as often as possible, also the odd track day on Tiggy the track bike ...  still feel safe on the road and don't think my reactions are a problem (yet).... but will find out the awful truth of the ageing process when I complete my next visit to the EPIC clinic next week (a long running survey, europewide, get to have an extensive 3 hour set of tests and examinations to determine how much you have fallen to bits since the last visit... been doing it for 25 years now.. )

[mthee]

Sounds like you should put a post up about yourself in the projects progress section?  It being obviously quite personal, I hesitate to ask, but I am interested to know about the survey and your experience.

[iansoady]

Me too. I'm part of the UK Biobank and frequently volunteer as an (allegedly) healthy control for clinical trials, academic studies etc. They're all interesting, bring me into contact with young enthusiastic people (as opposed to the decrepit whingers I usually communicate with) and are a stimulus to getting out & about.

[JOOLZ]

Our friend Dennis is getting on for 80 and still kicks over his 500 triumph twin and rides it regurly to various events

[timbo]

Calling Rossco500. Put up a tribute to your old mate Eric. He was a legend around these parts 

[Rossco500]

Yes, how could I have forgotten the legend that was "Wee Eric". A very good friend of mine. Still worked in the Top of the Town Pub moving and changing kegs until his early 80s. Born in 1920, died in 2012. A lifelong biker who's first bike in the mid 1930's was a "Round tank" BSA 250. Spent the war as a despatch rider. Continued riding anything he could afford afterwards - I think the family transport in the mid 1950s was a Panther outfit until a car came along. After his wife died in 1988 he took himself off to New Zealand to visit one of his sons. Whilst there, he borrowed the son's mid-70s Honda CB750 to do a bit of "exploring". He returned the bike some months later having toured round both Islands on some pretty rough roads, camping or staying in hostels and having added considerably to the mileage on the clock! All this at the age of 68.

Soon after he got back home he was knocked off his bike by the usual SMIDSY driver. He used his compo money to buy an early BMW R80 G/S for £1200 (those were the days!!) which he rode in all weathers as his only transport. He was a lifelong road race fan and a volunteer marshall and he clocked up well over 100,000 miles on that particular bike. Nearly everyone involved in the local bike scene knew him. He was also a given another R80 G/S by the family of a good friend of his who had died unexpectedly. Around the age of 80 he was finding the BMW a bit of a handful so he did the logical thing - he fitted a sidecar to it! He tested it out with his mate in the sidecar who was also in his 70s at the time and the tale of that terrifying first test run on a winding country road still makes me laugh. That arrangement didn't really work out for him so after a few years it was back to a solo as he had by then bought himself a car for the longer journeys and the colder weather. He carried on riding the BMWs until his late 80s when illness and old age finally caught up with him and he died at the age of 91. He was a great character and friend - and hard as nails!!