Middle Agged Crazy ???

[sether]

WOW, a 1982 IT 250? Does it still run good. All of us old timers remember the Yamaha IT, Right. My favorite was the IT490. Remember that monster

I had a 1984 IT490 (new in 84). I would not get on it without drinking two beers first. It snickered at me whenever I walked by it in the garage. Evil bike but fun.

I'm 46 years old. I did 75 miles in the Mojave desert (Cal-City) yesterday solo for four hours in 80-102 degrees. Weird, I didn't see one other soul all day. Pansies. <img>

 

[marksilvia.cpa]

Too Old??? Never!!!

My best advice is to keep it all in perspective. At 44 I am enjoying my KDX and riding more than ever. I've been riding off and on fo 35 years. I ride in the woods Sunday mornings with a group of guys who enjoy spending time on the bikes with no expectations other than having fun. We ride between 40 and 60 miles each week from April to November. Get some seat time and your soil samples will come less frequently. You don't need to set the world on fire with speed. Good Luck andd have some fun!

 

[Boomerkdx]

Middle Agged crazy part two !

Well I finally got some KDX seat time! I want to thank all for the pep talk. My wife who thought I was crazy for riding at such an ' ripe old age' got a kick out of some of your replys. It sure helps to know that your not the only dirtrider out there over 50!
I can't get the smile off my face and feel about 15 years younger [till the next day when I stiffen up then I feel ten years older]. I started riding in a small tight woods corse that I set up in the back yard till I got my slow speed balance back. Then I went up to Damm Lake in MN. for some two track and quad trails to get my speed up. It took about 60 miles of riding to feel at home on the KDX.
Oh, one more thing; This KDX 220 is one great woods bike. I can ride a long time with out getting worn out. It just soaks up just about everything.If I had this bike in 1991 I would have never of stoped riding in the first place. Thanks All Boomer kdx

 

[TriniG]

I'm 43. Picked back up the sport 5 years ago after a 10 yr hiatus. Now I trail ride with a bunch of guys my age. I bought a KDX220 3 yrs ago, Partially tore my ACL on the 1st major ride. Recovered. Then last year July decided I was not fit enough for the tough rides, so together with a riding buddy, we hired a professional Gym Trainer. What a difference he's made in our lives. Now we're even winning some motocross races over the younger guys. Destroyed my other ACL in the other knee in March 05 coming down off a big jump, opted not to do surgery yet. Muscular training has got me back up to the point where I can leg lift 350lbs and I tested myself at 600lbs and I walk like normal now. Whoo hoo! So now I ride with knee braces. I recommend you get a pair of good ones. They're in my opinion as important as a helmet. Keep on riding.

 

[bleeb]

I'll be 43 next month. Gave up bikes in my late 20s because I liked SPEED. Fast cars and fast bikes. Thought I was invincible, especially after I hit a deer at 75mph on my FZ, flew and tumbled a couple of hundred feet thru an intersection and into a stone wall, and then walked away. I even ate the deer... Then I got married and sanity came with the deal. Sold the FZ, sold the 'stangs. Bought a 4WD Nissan truck...oh, and a garden tractor and ag tractors. I then turned 40, and realized I was slowed down to a crawl, but aging wasn't.

Then in July, my father-in-law passed away. He'd always say..."if I was 20 years younger, I would...." His passing really woke me up! Not that I'm going back to daredevil mode, but I want to do those things that give me a rush while I am able. With attenuation, of course. Life is short, and time seems to accelerate with age. It seems to me, when you're on a technical trail and your senses are peaked in "alpha" brain mode, time almost stands still. I experienced it when I wrestled, and when skiing. I've gone trail riding for what seems like an hour, and only 15 minutes have passed. Does anyone else notice this?

I can surely put off the day when "alpha" mode comes on as my wheelchair escapes the nurse on the nursing home ramp!!

 

[duke]

47 year old with a 3 year old at home. Man have I learned the fine art of time management. Went from riding a gaggle of different bikes (KTM 250 EXC, YZ 125, XR 400, 250 CZ for local AHRMA) 1-2 per week, to my current mount being a 99 KDX200 and managing 1 ride every 5-6 weeks. Ride time is slowly improving, but it will never approximate what I had when me and the wife were DINK's (double income no kids). The KDX is perfect for the working guy with a life; easy to ride and maintain, and yet always fast enough for my ever depleting riding skill to be challenged

 

[1swarty]

Soon to be 52 here, ride or race almost every weekend, 50 miles on bicycle per week. Cannot wait for Unadilla GNCC!!! Malt Beverages and benchracing keep you young!

Swarty

 

[d rockwell]

Ah, what I'd give to be forty again! I'm 58 & broke my leg in'94; jumped right back on the next spring & glad I did. Recently I've been riding with a group of guys in their 60's & '70's & I usually know they're stopped when I start catching up to the dust. Two comments. "Life is not measured by the # of breaths you take but by the # of times your breath is taken away!" & never forget "Life is for the living!" Happy Trials......

 

[Haycock Kid]

I'm 43 next month and haven't ridden since I was 13YO. My plan is 'take the bike for a ride, don't let it take me'; and follow, don't lead my boys. We plan to all learn together.

 

[Peer Lovell]

I'm 58. I think my speed has dropped a bit over the past couple of years, but the fun factor hasn't changed.

 

[dan1608]

I'm going to be 48 next spring. I keep thinking that I'm getting to old for this dirt riding stuff but I just can't seem to get myself to stop. Once I sit on that seat and put my hands on those bars I feel twenty years younger. I have noticed my reaction time is a little slower then it used to be. That could be because I ride with my seventeen year old son and everything he does seems so fast and precise. I find that I have been chasing rather than riding with him. I plan on riding until I just can't do it anymore. Then I guess I'll buy a quad.

 

[Green Hornet]

When the time comes to go from 2 wheels to 4 wheels, it will be a wheel chair. The hell with quads

 

[oldturtle]

I am 65 and have been riding dirt steady since 1970 with my first bike a Yamaha 360 RT-1. I have nearly always had two or more dirt bikes, one for dirt and one street legal for dual sport. I have owned about 20 different dirt/dual sport bikes over the years plus many purchased and maintained for kids and grandkids. When I first started I got seriously hooked and was out every chance I had. I rode AMA Dist 36 and Dist 37 enduros all up and down Calif until about 1980 and then just got burned out. I got into road riding and then discovered how much fun dual sport riding could be. In order to keep this up you need to take care of the old bod. And you need to get out and ride often even when you have doubts about if you really want to or not. Once you get going you realize again that this is your life and you need the stimulation/adrenaline fix.
I have been fairly injury free other than several episodes of broken ribs and minor dislocations up until Dec 03 when I bailed hard on a KTM 250EXC and shattered the tibia plateau and tibia in several locations. This was a rough one. Surgery with plates and screws, physical therapy, many months on crutches, back on road bike after 6 months, back on dirt bike after 9 months, got rid of KTM and stuck with KDX and XRs, second surgery 3 weeks ago to remove hardware and tune up miniscus and assorted cartledge. Back on road bikes this weekend and planning to get out on the KDX with daughter and grandkids in a few more weeks.

 

[Haycock Kid]

I have to add - I really enjoy riding w/ my kids. I posted elsewhere as a newbie that it was my youngest sons idea. He thought it would be "...nice to ride as a family." Being middle agged and crazy - "hey, playing in the dirt sounds like fun." This is one decision I'll never regret. Do any of you still play golf ?

 

[forestbird]

Hey Boomerkdx

I was told , but didnt listen. After being off dirtbikes for 20 years i got back in [ 41 now ]. Ran down to my local yamaha and purchased a 03 yz450. [just sold it]. My nature is to give 100% at what ever I do. To make a long story short.
1. broken tailbone and bruising from my back to my knees.
2. dislocated shoulder with an A.C. separation [ surgery time ]

not to scare you . just dont let the middle age crazys get the best of you.

Listen to the above advice. Take your time. learn your bike and your limitations. Dont be a flash in the pan.

ITS ABOUT ALL ABOUT THE RIDE

thanks, Forestbird.

btw: I am shopping for a more suitable bike that will not motocross , but loves the woods! maybe a little mx? :bang:

 

[Domenic]

Same old story from this 48 year old..20 year lay off, three WR4xx'x in the last 5 years. Raced D36 CC for the last two years. Broken collar bone and ribs from riding past my skills. Just sold my 2005 450 and gave up riding for 48 hours..Then seen a 03 KDX in the classifieds, back to riding again. Life is short, injuries happen everyday to non-riders of our age. :coocoo: By the way..I ran into the back of my garage when I was 18..Just changed the stator in my Husky WR400, darn thing started backwards..I hole shotted in reverse right into the wall..who knew :bang: