# I'm old....officially...(a motorcycle thread) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 6, 2002, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-officially-a-motorcycle-thread/140879 "2002-12-06T06:35:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-officially-a-motorcycle-thread/140879/21 "2002-12-06T15:06:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by EchoKitty \* > \*\*Most of my geezer friends are going for comfort now. They’re not as short on cash as they were when they were doing the stripped-down thing. You must live in Wisconsin or Illinois if you’re riding without a brain box. Good for you!!! Keep the rubber side down and yer knees in the breeze! \*\* Texas, actually. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-officially-a-motorcycle-thread/140879/22 "2002-12-06T17:19:00Z")
Tune in next week as bdgr confesses that the new trailer for his Goldwing really is surprisingly handy for hauling the packages of Depends home from the grocery. ---
**Author:** ![TVGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/82dd89/32.png) [@TVGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-officially-a-motorcycle-thread/140879/23 "2002-12-06T18:34:04Z")
Awww, **bdgr** , look at it this way - you’re still going to be going strong on two wheels when all the squids are nursing broken backs, missing limbs and scrambled cerebral matter (oh wait, squids already have scrambled cerebral matter … scratch that one.) Getting old while riding is a GOOD thing! Ride safe and don’t let the Wingers get ya! ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-officially-a-motorcycle-thread/140879/24 "2002-12-06T19:23:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by casdave \* > \*\*Those super scoots with their auto gears must be starting to appeal now eh? > > Just look at all that glorious plastic > > [http://www.motorcycledaily.com/22october02suzukiburgman650.html](http://www.motorcycledaily.com/22october02suzukiburgman650.html) \*\* Damn, you beat me to it! If they made those in a one-seater, MrsB would want one. Or an Aprilia 150, if they’re ever allowed in the country. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-officially-a-motorcycle-thread/140879/25 "2002-12-06T19:42:55Z")
Hey, FLH’s are kinda cool. Elvis had one, and, well…I got one. It’s a '75, but I took the bags and fairing off. You feel like you’re riding a rock that someone just threw. Mine came with an indash 8-track and cigarette lighter! ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-officially-a-motorcycle-thread/140879/26 "2002-12-06T20:44:50Z")
Talked with some greybeard on a rigid a couple years back, he claimed that with the Avon tire he had on the rear wheel, it was smoother than his Electraglide. The next time I saw him, he’d sold the rigid because he’d blown out a disc (in his back). On a more personal level, I got my second scoot off a guy in his 50’s who hadn’t ridden in 10 years – back trouble again, so bad he couldn’t even ride that sweet FLH. As to the OP, at least you’re still on a Shovelhead. When you want to put fuel injection on, then you’re in trouble. Or lowers. Put on lowers and you might as well just ride a Honda. ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2002, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-officially-a-motorcycle-thread/140879/27 "2002-12-07T17:08:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lost4life \* > \*\*Hey, FLH’s are kinda cool. Elvis had one, and, well…I got one. It’s a '75, but I took the bags and fairing off. You feel like you’re riding a rock that someone just threw. > > Mine came with an indash 8-track and cigarette lighter! \*\* I plan on pulling the fairing come spring. Really… ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2002, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-officially-a-motorcycle-thread/140879/28 "2002-12-07T17:11:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Danalan \* > \*\*Talked with some greybeard on a rigid a couple years back, he claimed that with the Avon tire he had on the rear wheel, it was smoother than his Electraglide. The next time I saw him, he’d sold the rigid because he’d blown out a disc (in his back). > > On a more personal level, I got my second scoot off a guy in his 50’s who hadn’t ridden in 10 years – back trouble again, so bad he couldn’t even ride that sweet FLH. > > As to the OP, at least you’re still on a Shovelhead. When you want to put fuel injection on, then you’re in trouble. Or lowers. Put on lowers and you might as well just ride a Honda. \*\* No lowers for me… I hate the way the thing handles with the fairing, its like it has a big ole sail on the top of it, but at least it doesnt handle like a goldwing. I borrowed a friends one time and that was the most top-heavy motorcycle I had ever ridden. It was disturbing… ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2002, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-officially-a-motorcycle-thread/140879/29 "2002-12-07T17:26:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rug Burn \* > \*\*Man, ditch that crap and get one of these, [The Man’s Machine](http://www.corbinmotors.com/sparrow.htm) all the ruffnecks hav’em. \*\* Oh man, I want one of those! Then I could feel like I was on the Jetsons!! ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2002, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-officially-a-motorcycle-thread/140879/30 "2002-12-07T17:51:43Z")
I decided to take a stand, I refuse to own anything with an “electric leg”, I had to do something when my '95 triumph speed triple with clip-ons and rearsets got to be so uncomfortable that i wasn’t riding it very much anymore so I sold it and got back into vintage bikes. unclviny 1966 BSA a65h 1952 TRIUMPH trw 1936 BMW r2 presently trying to get a 1941 AJS single (wish me luck) ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2002, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-officially-a-motorcycle-thread/140879/31 "2002-12-07T18:07:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by unclviny \* > \*\*I decided to take a stand, I refuse to own anything with an “electric leg”, I had to do something when my '95 triumph speed triple with clip-ons and rearsets got to be so uncomfortable that i wasn’t riding it very much anymore so I sold it and got back into vintage bikes. > > unclviny > 1966 BSA a65h > 1952 TRIUMPH trw > 1936 BMW r2 > presently trying to get a 1941 AJS single (wish me luck) \*\* By first bike was a 67 BSA A65SA, I have had a couple of triumphs, a 73 750 bonnie, 67 tiger, a daytona(I forget the year…60something) a 59 preunit a couple of bsa’s, a 70 and a 71 lighting, a rocket three, A few motoguzzis, a couple of BMWs, all great bikes. a russian BMW clone, three panheads. I really am enjoying this FLH. I used to think that people with electric starts were wimps, but I had back surgery back in september, and I will do anything I can possiblely do to prevent that from being a re-occurance. I even took the kicker off of my FLH, so I wouldnt be tmepted to be macho and kick it. ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2002, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-officially-a-motorcycle-thread/140879/32 "2002-12-07T19:46:48Z")
A few years ago I had a major car wreck (110 mph into the proverbial brick wall) and I used a BSA 441 as a “recovery guage”, when I could kick the 441 without any pain I pronounced myself healed and bought the 441, it’s gone now (the bastard kicked me back and hurt me!), the trw is 6.5 to 1 compression (500cc twin), the r2 is light compression (200cc single) and the kicker goes sideways (more leg, less back), the BSA is still in the “project” stage (but that’s the fun part for me). keep on riding, and you don’t HAVE to buy a lead wing, look at a BMW k1200lt (hee hee) ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2002, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-officially-a-motorcycle-thread/140879/33 "2002-12-07T20:10:22Z")
I cant ride a k model BMW, my legs are too long. I Rode one once, but I had to sit on the passenger seat. ---
**Author:** ![64Firebird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/8e7dd6/32.png) [@64Firebird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/64Firebird)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-officially-a-motorcycle-thread/140879/34 "2002-12-10T06:00:33Z")
C’mon I remember you riding a little BSA. ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-officially-a-motorcycle-thread/140879/35 "2002-12-10T06:07:46Z")
My BSA didnt have a fairing for my knees to hit. ---
**Author:** ![64Firebird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/8e7dd6/32.png) [@64Firebird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/64Firebird)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-officially-a-motorcycle-thread/140879/36 "2002-12-10T14:58:58Z")
No kidding! Your knees stuck out past the headlight! ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-officially-a-motorcycle-thread/140879/37 "2002-12-10T16:38:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bdgr \* > \*\* I even took the kicker off of my FLH, so I wouldnt be tmepted to be macho and kick it. \*\* A kicker is macho? Or using a kicker is macho? You using a kicker is macho? 😕 > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Danalan_ > **Talked with some greybeard on a rigid a couple years back, he claimed that with the Avon tire he had on the rear wheel, it was smoother than his Electraglide. The next time I saw him, he’d sold the rigid because he’d blown out a disc (in his back).** He was full of shit? His bike blew his back? He uses an electric leg bike because he blew his back? He is a hypocrite? He just can’t kick anymore? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-officially-a-motorcycle-thread/140879/38 "2002-12-10T17:21:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GusNSpot \* > \*\*A kicker is macho? > Or using a kicker is macho? > You using a kicker is macho? 😕 Me using a kicker would be…since I have electric start, the only reason I would have to kick my bike would be to pretend I wasnt all crippled up…Which would make me more crippled up, and so on. ---
**Author:** ![64Firebird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/8e7dd6/32.png) [@64Firebird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/64Firebird)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-officially-a-motorcycle-thread/140879/39 "2002-12-11T04:12:30Z")
Kickers aren’t macho, but they add a lot to the cool factor. ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-officially-a-motorcycle-thread/140879/40 "2002-12-11T04:27:03Z")
Didnt mean to say they were… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-officially-a-motorcycle-thread/140879.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-old-officially-a-motorcycle-thread/140879.md?page=3)