Getting a Bike After 50!

OK, so I was bitten by the motorcycle bug. I started thinking about getting my first bike in the fall of 2003. Course everybody thought I had lost my marbles....52, recently separated, and now talking about motorcycles for the first time in my life. I don't really think it was a mid-life crisis but who knows.

Well, I did my homework...so to speak..,lots of brochures. trips to the local bike shops. the Vancouver Motorcycle Show in January, etc, etc. Decided I wanted

something big enough for cruising and for two up since I was planning on travelling with someone (but that's a whole other story!). I thought about getting a Goldwing but decided it was a little too big for my liking. Also, when I tried sitting on one, my feet could barely touch the ground. I was told by many biker friends that it was important to be able to plant both feet firmly on the ground, especially for a rookie.

One day I saw a 1999 Kawaski Nomad advertised in the BC Buy and Sell. It looked perfect. But hey, what did I know at this point. I was like a kid in a candy store as I peered over all the offerings in the magazine. Called the guy up and said I would come and take a look. One look at the thing and I knew it was perfect, except for one thing..........1500 bloody cc's. Hmmm, maybe a little big for a rookie.

But did I listen to reason..Nope. Paid the man on the spot and then wondered how the hell I was gonna get it home, a two hour ride at the minimum. With a little convincing, I found someone who would trailer it back for a price. So there it sat in my carport...I didn't even know how to start it at that point. This was probably not the most sensible way to start, in hindsight.

I registered for a beginner motorcycle course and proceeded to actually learn how to ride a motorcycle for the first time. And found out that it actually is possible to begin riding at the ripe age of fifty something. I soon discovered that I was not the only one. The average age of students in the course was definitely weighted in my direction. Many were starting to ride again after a long respite of laying off their bikes but others were just like me, foolish enough to take up the hobby later in life for the first time.

From that week on, I have never looked back. Over the last few years, my wife and I have crossed Canada and the US three times and embarked on many weekend trips. The other bonus about getting involved with motorcycling is all the the wonderful people you get to hang out with and ride with.

Our Cruising Experiences - Details and photos of some of our many road trips.