kinder, gentler ride tale

[tom collins]

i was on my way back from west virginia yesterday to my house in northern kentucky. it was a beautiful sunny, warm day with low humidity. about 100 miles out, i made my last rest stop around lunch time. at the rest area, i was sitting under a tree eating some trail mix and drinking water. when i pulled in, i noticed a big scooter in the lot as well. these scooters are becoming a more common sight in my area. after a few minutes, i am joined by this pretty old guy at least in his 70s, the scooter owner, after he walked over and eyeballed my rt. he had a shirt on with his name "Wild Bill" and an old "Rider" belt buckle that the magazine either gave away or sold 25 years ago. bill was a little stooped and had probably once been pretty tall. he said that he had thought it was a beemer when i pulled in. he also told me about a 1974 r90s he had owned. he did not mention it, but he had probably been about my current age when he owned that bike. he said he had ridden it many miles and really had loved it. this was his 2nd big scooter, a burgman 400. i had noticed also at a recent rally a number of these ridden by our older fellows. apparently, when you no longer have the strength to heft around a 650lb tour bike, you can still ride one of these and lots of old guys are choosing to do so instead of stop riding. i say that is great, this old fellow was on about a 200 mile round trip that day. pretty good at his age. he didn't stay too long as he had to continue his trip. i really enjoyed this chance encounter and it reminds me of one of the reasons we participate in this hobby. i wonder if 30 years from now, i will be that guy? i hope so.

that's all folks.

 

Tom Collins

[Kaneman]

Thanks for posting that, makes me want to go ride!

[NoLongeraK1200RSRider]

Tom.. Thanks for sharing that story. I am a 60 year young K12RS rider myself..but have started giving some thought to maybe giving it up (can you say 150+ MPH is what I LOVE?) The new breed of scooters may be just the answer for me. With more than 2 million miles behind me over a span of about 42 years.. I hate the thought.. but realise the possibility that my reflexes may be falling behind.. especially since I love the speediness of the K. And yes, I know that my right wrist is supposed to be the controlling factor.. but it seems to have a mind of its' own.

[tom collins]

it is funny how the makers bring over a bike that seems to make a great deal of sense only to see it languish and be dropped. i think these scooters will never be a huge part of the market for the sellers, but will be a slow growth, consistent product as we all age.

 

tom

[drodg]

I have never thought about it but I have noticed more older guys riding the bigger Scooters. I am 50 and I hope 20 years from now I am still riding. I have thought about how trikes are a good alternative to older riders who are starting to have hip issues etc. I have never thought about the big Scooters until now.

[keithb]

Tom

Thanks for the ride tale. I have a riding buddy who is about 35-40 that just bought a scooter. A Bergman 650 and that scooter will move. He pretty much kept up with an 05 RT, 2 VFR's, R1150R, and a Duc. I could definitely see riding one of these in 10 years or so.

[David]

You're a good story teller, Tom.

[tom collins]

they are surprising. a good friend of mine has had about 40 bikes in the 7 or 8 years i have known him and recently bought a honda big rukus allegedly for his wife. this guy rides that thing all the time and especially likes twisty roads with it where he will set a good pace. his other choices are an 05 gs and an 06 k12r and one other i can't remember which. i think that piaggio 3 wheel thing with the locking front wheels would be another alternative for people with hip problems or height challenges. nothing wrong with a trike, but they don't really feel like a motorcycle without the leaning ability.

 

tom

[Shawnee Bill]

i think that piaggio 3 wheel thing with the locking front wheels would be another alternative for people with hip problems or height challenges. nothing wrong with a trike, but they don't really feel like a motorcycle without the leaning ability.

 

tom

 

Ahh, the front wheels only lock when you want them to, they feel like a two wheeler except the farther you lean it the more planted the front end feels, never a thought about washing out.

When that thing shows up with a larger engine...