I went back on a bike, at 66 years of age, (I had given them away by the time I was 30)

Daughter gave me a her old Hyosung Aquila 250 cc

I used it for about a year, but two near misses with cars not giving way, and pulling out of their lane, taught me a valuable lesson
Regardless of who is at fault, an older bike rider, being collected by a car, will only result in sorrow for the bike rider

Take care on your new toy, because the older we get, the longer it will take our bones to heal

Rode bikes for many years mainly trail bikes as I liked to spend as much of my time riding off road as on. With the volume of traffic increasing year on year it seemed so did the level of impatience of drivers and the number of near misses I was having. I decided to call it quits about 10 year ago after a close mate suffered a permanent injury while riding his bike to work (through no fault of his own). I know that people will say that you also risk being involved in accidents when you drive other vehicles but judging by the number of close calls the odds have to be far greater on a bike. Enjoy your xmas present Jim but be careful a smaller bike maybe even harder for other drivers to see, personally I would be staying clear of riding it in the city when the traffic is heavy. Good luck to all those out there who love their bikes and are still riding them just keep in mind that on a bike you are a lot more vulnerable - you need to be thinking ahead at all times just to cover for those who aren't.

Hi and thanks for all your replies,

Yes I'm not going mad just yet. A bit of fun every now and then. I know many would be shaking their heads. I have no intention of taking it near any main roads or other road users.A few years and then I we will move on.

I value my life and that of Lambie's to be that foolish.

Regards Jim

100cc Ag bike, 40kph on a dead straight road. No other traffic.

I spent 13 1/2 months trying to stop them cutting that leg off. I was successful, but there was a time when I asked them to take it off.

The external fix was there for 10 months and I went to surgery 10 times (that I remember). It was some years before I was cleared of the serious staff infections.

The pic was several weeks after the accident. The bone could be seen for 2 1/2 months.

Cheers, and have a safe and merry Christmas.

Peter

Now I, not saying that riding isn't dangerous...it is .

But touch wood I haven't had any really serious prangs on a bike...a bit of concussion (thank heavens for helmets)....a damaged knee that has righted itself....and some gravel rash (the most painfull aspect of any prang)....altho the mood and attitude of the local Orange Chrismas traffic this year tried to change all that...giving me a few "pucker" moments at roundabouts/

I attribute my riding style to ongoing advanced rider training and refresher courses as a huge weapon in staying alive....but didn't start doing them until I joined the Ulysses club at 40. To date I have done 8 full courses and 2 refreshers in 24 years of membership...averaging a course every 2 years or so.

Sure they rehash a lot of stuff.....but I have never come away from a course where I didn't learn something new.

So good onya Jim for getting back on a bike ....but do an ad course as well. BTW...generally they are a lot of fun too.

Merry Christmas Everyone.

Cheers  Keith

Yea Dogbox.
Speed is exhilarating. till you part company.

These idiots up North in sleeveless t shirt. Stubbies and Jap flying boots get me.

They have nothing between the ears to tell them that they only have to fall off.
And any part of body touches ground. It stops peeling off at the bone.
Dumb as.

I throttled off on Southern Freeway on sons Kwakka 1300 racer reading 271 on the clock.
All I'd done was think (one front wheel)
On my 56th birthday I think it was.
Stopped shaking 3 days later.

Other's were passing me going much harder too.
It's a beautiful sound when a big bike goes past you at those speeds

In the dark it is, or was 30\20 yrs ago a high speed drag strip for the big
280\300 plus bikes.

I rode bikes daily till 48yrs. When a tin can got me at lights in town. He went through.
Suffer nowadays with broken neck and other things.

I don't regret riding as transport. touring and racing though
(Dirt.. Maico 400,Dot. Greeves.)
Suzi 250 then Dakar 600 x 2
Best most comfortable bikes in the world, those big dirt bikes. Bar none.
Not fast though. Around 170 max. In this country.

Back in UK. Matchless G3L 350. springer front rigid back.
Beeza Bantam 125. Frannie Barnet 200.
Then the scrambles bikes. Greeves Dot, the Maico 400.
'58 Matchless 600 with Jam Pot rear shockers.
Bounced all over the road. Aj's were a lot better.

Norton Dominator 99 600cc.with clip ons and featherbed frame.

You could rub the ends off your clip ons on a decent road or track.
Magic. But I'd kill myself .I was more a dirt rider.

Ended up stripping that bike down and fitting a chair to it for track work.
went well.
Specially with the grunt out of corners. Nothing touched it in it's cc range.
Later on those Suzi Triples, 2 str. were king of the track with a chair on.

Tried a BM dirt but they just big clumsy pigs
OH Had a Harley Softie for a while too.
They are a big ugly clumsy pig.
but comfy if set up as a NORMAL ride.

Nice Lamb Shank there peter.
We had one for X-Mas dinner. Leaves other meats for dead, in more ways than one.

St 39.

Was in Ulysses too Back in Adel chapter.

Just on Membership 2000\3\9ish.

We met at that little bar in North Adel.

That is so awesome, way to go both of you, enjoy and Happy 2017 :)...Kisha

Interesting story about older riders and accidents:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-02/victoria-motorcycle-refresher-courses-urged-amid-accident-spike/8157680

Hylife wrote:

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Hey Jim wrote:

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.....and we can take it on our trips later on when I have a full licence....

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Why wait until then? You can use your L permit anywhere in Oz.

All states now use the national standardised Graduated Licence system.

Ls for max of 14 months or you have to start again from the beginning, and Ps for 3 years, and you can't carry a pillion until off your Ps completely, so no Lambie on the back for a full 3 years after you get the full licence.

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Hi hilife,

Um, Not quite what was told to myself, L's yes, Red P's 12 months and, no Green P's if holding a full Drivers Licence. Correct me, if wrong.

Anyway, The first round of getting my L,s Competency test kicks of in 2 weeks on one of their bikes 2 x3.5hour testing + knowledge test.

 My neighbours property is slightly larger then ours.

Sooooo He wanted to try it out, he just loves it. Can you throw a Mono on it Jim  Yep, took 3 go's. First gear was to strong, Second just right. The bike is short, so I shifted my butt back onto the pillion seat. Perfect balance, Just like I had got off it Yesterday.

Lambie ask's how do you know how to do that. It's never left me. 

 I should have got back on years earlier.

Cheers Jim