When are people too old to ride motorcycles around town?

[OneMoreFarang]

I know this is a general question without a fixed answer. But I guess we have a couple of older riders here who have some experience.

Until now I am in my 50th and I feel comfortable riding a small or medium sized bike in Bangkok.

Getting older I think I ride slower than when I was young. And I am more relaxed. But I am pretty sure my reflexes are also not as fast anymore.

I.e. sometimes a (teen) rider decides to squeeze his bike between me and a car or the side of the road and that feels definitely uncomfortable. 

 

Now I wonder how long I might be able to ride a bike here in Bangkok. Maybe until I am 65 or maybe 70 or until which age?

I guess even with 70 I will be able to ride to the end of the soi with a little bike. But probably it is not a good idea to join the traffic on a main road at that age.

 

What is your experience? Did you stop riding because you didn't feel safe anymore? Do you know others who stopped or should have stopped? 

Until which age can I expect to be able to ride a bike in Bangkok?

 

 

Edited January 30, 2022 by OneMoreFarang

[itsari]

I am 69 years of age and i know my reflexes are better than most while riding a motorcycle or driving a car . 

How do I know that you may ask . I just know it , believe me 

 

[Denim]

1 minute ago, itsari said:

my reflexes are better than most

In Thailand the locals have set the bar pretty low so I think most of us can say that.

[VocalNeal]

Wait until you get to 70 and then decide.

 

People have a strange idea about what getting old means.

 

 

I bought my bike from a 75 year-old. He wasn't quitting he was buying a smaller bike. 

Edited January 30, 2022 by VocalNeal

[The Hammer2021]

7 minutes ago, itsari said:

I am 69 years of age and i know my reflexes are better than most while riding a motorcycle or driving a car . 

How do I know that you may ask . I just know it , believe me 

 

Yes. I believe  you and everyone else who boasts  about themselves.

[The Hammer2021]

The issue  is not necessarily age related as all individuals are different.

[Paulaew]

2 minutes ago, itsari said:

I am 69 years of age and i know my reflexes are better than most while riding a motorcycle or driving a car . 

How do I know that you may ask . I just know it , believe me 

 

If you're 69 and you're riding a motorcycle in Bangkok and you're still unscathed, then your reflexes are damn good. Or you're just very lucky.

 

I'm 68 and I have no problems driving a car in Bangkok, especially if I know the route. But I do drive defensively. Most of the drivers are ok. It's the few crazies that I worry about.

 

Paul Laew

 

 

[Kinnock]

For city riding, I think the many years of commuting in Bangkok has helped me to read the craziness here, so experience helps compensate for any theoretical slowing of reactions.

 

When touring, I ride more defensively, and have added extra LED lights to make up for poorer night vision.  I also bought a lighter weight 'adventure bike' to make it easier wrangling the bike in Lotus's's's bike parks.

 

But I ride more since semi-retiring, and I don't think I'll be hanging up my riding flip flops any day soon.

[scubascuba3]

In Pattaya the older thai riders take their time, no rushing. I imagine the fast ones have been killed off

[In the jungle]

I think you have an incorrect perception of aging.

 

Provided I remain fit and healthy I certainly intend to be riding at seventy.

 

I am in my sixties now and I do think my night vision has deteriorated with age.  I deal with that by doing my best to avoid driving or riding at night.

[MartinL]

33 minutes ago, itsari said:

I am 69 years of age and i know my reflexes are better than most while riding a motorcycle or driving a car . 

How do I know that you may ask . I just know it , believe me 

 

I'm 68. Been riding 50+ years, usually pushing my skills rather than taking it easy.

 

I'm totally convinced that riding a motorcycle - and I mean 'riding' a bike, not just pottering around town to Tescos - maintains and preserves your bodily faculties. Although it mightn't look very energetic, biking means you're constantly using your body to balance forces, responding to road defects, planning your route through traffic, bends, looking into the distance for hazards, whatever. Most of the time all that's done without any real conscious effort on the part of the rider; it's instinctive. Like a physical and mental workout every time I start that engine and ride.

 

While writing this, I searched 'Motorcycling and health' and found this

https://slipstreamer.com/health-benefits-motorcycling/

which I've not seen before but it sort of fits what I feel about biking.

 

Night vision is poorer now but, since I never ride at night anyway, that's largely irrelevant.

 

I'll keep riding as long as I can and at the moment certainly don't see any need to consider hanging up my leathers before I'm 75.

Edited January 30, 2022 by MartinL

[clivebaxter]

Never been on one here, as about one bike rider is killed every 30 minutes why would anyone? I know you all think you are great riders but that does not stop idiots running into you killing or crippling you. Silly, dangerous machines anywhere.

[EricTh]

You can ride a small motorbike until you are 70 years old provided you're healthy.

 

I see a lot of oldies (Thai people) riding slowly in the middle of the road blocking traffic which is unacceptable in western countries.
 

Do ride on the leftmost side if you drive slowly and not in the middle of the land and expect everyone else to ride the same speed as you.

[OneMoreFarang]

7 minutes ago, clivebaxter said:

Never been on one here, as about one bike rider is killed every 30 minutes why would anyone? I know you all think you are great riders but that does not stop idiots running into you killing or crippling you. Silly, dangerous machines anywhere.

Does that mean you prefer riding on the back of a motorcycle taxi? Or do you walk? Or do you like to sit in a car in traffic?

[KhunLA]

As long as I can get on / off without tipping over, I'll still be riding scooters.  I'm 67 .

[OneMoreFarang]

28 minutes ago, In the jungle said:

I think you have an incorrect perception of aging.

 

Provided I remain fit and healthy I certainly intend to be riding at seventy.

 

I am in my sixties now and I do think my night vision has deteriorated with age.  I deal with that by doing my best to avoid driving or riding at night.

I don't know about that. I know lots of elderly gentlemen since many years. Often when they are 70 they start to deteriorate and it gets worse at 75. I also know a few guys who are almost 80 and pretty fit. But not many. I try to be realistic.

[simon43]

10 minutes ago, EricTh said:

You can ride a small motorbike until you are 70 years old provided you're healthy.

...

Ah I see.  What happens when you are 71?

[papa al]

99

[transam]

1 hour ago, itsari said:

I am 69 years of age and i know my reflexes are better than most while riding a motorcycle or driving a car . 

How do I know that you may ask . I just know it , believe me 

 

So did my mum...............????......................????

[Hummin]

1 hour ago, itsari said:

I am 69 years of age and i know my reflexes are better than most while riding a motorcycle or driving a car . 

How do I know that you may ask . I just know it , believe me 

 

My experience after riding with big bike groups up to 75 years of age, you got a 35 year old who never should have driven anything and a 75 year old who still do good.

 

But in must cases (general) after 65 you start to be a great risk to yourself and others, and it is different for motorbike riders than a more visual car. One 70 year rider Who I see just bearly escaped the ripper at least 4 times.

 

It is about the whole picture and also reaction time as well making the right decission fast enough, where a younger one can make to quick, the older ones use to much time.

 

However riding around  the town or city? Down to 7/11? 

 

After a few close calls where you know it was your fault, or you know you could handled the situation better, you should start thinking about parking the bike.

 

However admitting it, seems to be the biggest problem

Edited January 30, 2022 by Hummin

[Doctor Tom]

1 hour ago, The Hammer2021 said:

The issue  is not necessarily age related as all individuals are different.

Indeed so.  I stopped riding, not because of age, but because of the road conditions and the driving standards in  Thailand.  It took all the joy out of bike and motorbike riding, so its the car from now on for me.  

[Moonlover]

27 minutes ago, MartinL said:

While writing this, I searched 'Motorcycling and health' and found this

https://slipstreamer.com/health-benefits-motorcycling/

which I've not seen before but it sort of fits what I feel about biking.

What an interesting article. In particular I loved Benefit #2 about mental health. I always feel much better within myself when I've been out on my motorcycle, be it a quick run into town or a longer cruise out in the countryside. And I have no doubt whatever about the rest of the benefits mentioned. My wife still doesn't understand why it is that: I ''just want to go out for a ride''.

 

I do not doubt for a moment my fitness, mentally or physically to ride safely and I believe that my reflexes are as sharp as ever. There have been a couple of situations where they have been put to the test and I've responded with aplomb.

 

So to answer the O/Ps question. As long as you feel fit, able and confident to do so carry on riding.

 

I shall be riding into Sakon Nakhon on Tuesday morning to collect my new license. I'm 76yrs young and still love riding.

[OneMoreFarang]

3 minutes ago, Doctor Tom said:

Indeed so.  I stopped riding, not because of age, but because of the road conditions and the driving standards in  Thailand.  It took all the joy out of bike and motorbike riding, so its the car from now on for me.  

Now would you have done the same if you would have been 25 years old? ???? 

[toofarnorth]

I am 75 in 3 weeks time. I drive my Forza everyday , granted not in BKK or CNX but up round the mountains here mostly.  I have said though should me and my bike end up lying in the road for whatever reason it will be the end of 2 wheel riding for me.

[EricTh]

15 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Ah I see.  What happens when you are 71?

 

Probably need a walking stick to walk or the knees are too weak to ride a motorbike. 

 

I am talking about the average guy though.

 

Edited January 30, 2022 by EricTh

[Hummin]

6 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

What an interesting article. In particular I loved Benefit #2 about mental health. I always feel much better within myself when I've been out on my motorcycle, be it a quick run into town or a longer cruise out in the countryside. And I have no doubt whatever about the rest of the benefits mentioned. My wife still doesn't understand why it is that: I ''just want to go out for a ride''.

 

I do not doubt for a moment my fitness, mentally or physically to ride safely and I believe that my reflexes are as sharp as ever. There have been a couple of situations where they have been put to the test and I've responded with aplomb.

 

So to answer the O/Ps question. As long as you feel fit, able and confident to do so carry on riding.

 

I shall be riding into Sakon Nakhon on Tuesday morning to collect my new license. I'm 76yrs young and still love riding.

I can tell you, that the feeling of being more sharp and better is an illusion! Same as when you drinking as well diving and going to solve some easy tasks. You think you do better, but you don't. That goes for age, your feeling of being faster and better works the same way the older you get.

 

Working on my heavy bag, I feel great, I think I look great, but that's until I do a video of myself and realise what I thought and felt is not even close  to the reality ????

Edited January 30, 2022 by Hummin

[Hummin]

3 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Now would you have done the same if you would have been 25 years old? ???? 

It is not the road, it is the bike, there is no such thing as bad roads

[transam]

1 minute ago, Doctor Tom said:

Indeed so.  I stopped riding, not because of age, but because of the road conditions and the driving standards in  Thailand.  It took all the joy out of bike and motorbike riding, so its the car from now on for me.  

I rarely use our bike/scoot now, mainly because of the local's driving mindset. I managed to get to old age with few injuries via bike or car in farangland, I don't want to come a cropper here over daft road users, just take my chances on 4 wheels, but sadly not the 4 wheels l left behind...????.......????

 

[The Hammer2021]

10 minutes ago, Doctor Tom said:

Indeed so.  I stopped riding, not because of age, but because of the road conditions and the driving standards in  Thailand.  It took all the joy out of bike and motorbike riding, so its the car from now on for me.  

My young friend  had his dreams dashed by the  heat and the need  for full  protective clothing here in Thailand.

[Doctor Tom]

18 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Now would you have done the same if you would have been 25 years old? ???? 

Probably not, as I was an idiot at that age.