what made you choose to give up motorcycles (street bikes)?

Started in 1972 on a Honda trail 90. Crashed and burned a few times, but that didn't stop me.
Went into the USAF and bought my first Harley, rode for years. Last ride about 3 years ago.
But now??? In Myrtle Beach I drive a 1990 Chevy 1ton dually, and I can't count the times I have almost been hit by people on cellphones, tourists not paying attention, running red lights, illegal lane changes just people with their head up their A--.
If you can't see me in a 1ton Dually, I give up.
 
Started in 1972 on a Honda trail 90. Crashed and burned a few times, but that didn't stop me.
Went into the USAF and bought my first Harley, rode for years. Last ride about 3 years ago.
But now??? In Myrtle Beach I drive a 1990 Chevy 1ton dually, and I can't count the times I have almost been hit by people on cellphones, tourists not paying attention, running red lights, illegal lane changes just people with their head up their A--.
If you can't see me in a 1ton Dually, I give up.

I went through college at Coastal Carolina riding a 1973 Honda 350FOUR. Late 80's, good times.
 
Fear, age, friend nearly loosing his leg, peeps texting...


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I gave it up when my youngest was somewhere between 18 months and 2 years old.A friend said here take this old cb900f for a spin.So off I go down hwy 42 toward Harris Lake and it felt like a brake was dragging,so I turned around and was heading back and BAM brake caliper locked up and tossed me over the handlebars onto 42.My helmet hit on the double yellow and my shoulder in the other lane.Had anything been coming I would have sushi on the spot.I rode a few months more and had a nagging doubt in the back of my head so I hung it up.Biggest thing was I wanted my kid to have a dad and not one in wheelchair or worse.
Had my second child a year or so later and never thought about riding again.I had my fun but they are more important and I am an old fart anyway.

The way Fuquay traffic is now I wouldn't ride even if I wanted to.
 
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Lots of people have stories about hearing about someone dying, having kids, wives/girlfriends not approving, my brother the EMT says... yada yada, all external influences that make them give up riding potentially against their will, or them just not being able to say "not interested anymore".

For any of you who've ridden for a long time and just decided to stop, what was your clue that it was time?

I've been riding street for 25+ years now. Commuted daily year round (in CA, you could do that) for 12, used to do crazy road trips, weekend over-nighters, multi-state runs, etc.

Since moving to NC, I think I've put all of 1k miles / year on my bike, down from 15k/year before. I have more time here than I ever did in CA, but without a commute to drive me... I'm just not riding. This crap weather doesn't help, but that's hardly a real excuse.

Is it time to give up, sell my bike, toss my ratty gear and make it a part of my history rather than my future?
So, what are you going to do?
 
So, what are you going to do?

Dunno yet. Been distracting myself with work as to not have to think about it.

I did tell the wife about the tiny dual sport idea, and we do have all of the infrastructure to make that happen... truck + utility trailer to haul it easily, time off work, brownie points to where she'll do my half the farm chores while I'm out goofing off.

I did watch and read some reviews of the KLX230...
 
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Street Bikes I had Honda CL175, (2) honda CB400F four cylinders, V45 sabre, CB750F super spot (single overhead cam) Suzuki Titan 500 (2 stroke twin) Yamaha XS 650, xs750 (triple shaft drive) Kawasaki KH 500 (2 stroke triple death machine) KZ 400, KZ900, ZX 600 ninja, and Kawasaki concours ZG1000. dirt bikes honda Z 50, CR 250, Yamaha YZ 125, and a Maico 460
 
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I've been riding since 1974. I have 5 bikes now. I know folks that have given up riding, folks that were killed riding. I work as a Paramedic and have seen the aftermath of bike wrecks, too many to count. So far I still enjoy it. I guess when/if the time comes to give it up I'll know.
 
After citing reasons why I don’t ride anymore, my next door neighbor just had a brand spankin’ new Triumph Speed Twin delivered to his house.

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Bad hip and Wilmington traffic. Loved to ride in the country / mountains, but the Wilmington traffic finally freaked me out. I rode from 1995 until 2015, owned as many as 4 bikes at one time, and finally decided that riding was too dangerous. I hope you make the best decision for YOU.
 
After citing reasons why I don’t ride anymore, my next door neighbor just had a brand spankin’ new Triumph Speed Twin delivered to his house.

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Crap! That’s beautiful and it’s right down the street..........Willpower????
 
Crap! That’s beautiful and it’s right down the street..........Willpower????
Yea, uh, Dennis and I went to the Harley/Triumph dealer, then to the Indian/BMW/Ducati dealer today.
It was a good reality check. I’m not buying another.
 
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After citing reasons why I don’t ride anymore, my next door neighbor just had a brand spankin’ new Triumph Speed Twin delivered to his house.

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Oh my. That is hawt. I'd get up to shenanigans on that. I'ma stick with my FL'd Super Glide & keep on chillin'. :D
 
Oh my. That is hawt. I'd get up to shenanigans on that. I'ma stick with my FL'd Super Glide & keep on chillin'. :D
It didn’t feel right to my big lumox self. But my neighbor is not a big guy, and he has back issues so sitting up straight was best for him. I didn’t realize that those Bonnevilles are now 900cc or 1200. That one is 1200, and only 450 lbs. More HP than my Low Glide in 1985, and 200 lbs lighter.

Edit: 200 lbs lighter
 
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Ive been riding street since 1978 and bought a Yamaha SR 500 right after I got out of the Army.. Been riding ever since and just sold my Honda ST-1300 just a few months ago. I think Im done now,, Why? I dont know,, just sort of lost interest.. Im wound free after I realized that I have to pay attention to car drivers and anticipate what they are going to do even before they do something that might kill me.. That part didn't bother me.. Ive had soo many bikes over the years,,Maybe Ive lost interest in a bike that Im interested in.. Check that,, I never had a Kawi ZRX-1200. I might consider one of those..
 
Ive been riding street since 1978 and bought a Yamaha SR 500 right after I got out of the Army.. Been riding ever since and just sold my Honda ST-1300 just a few months ago. I think Im done now,, Why? I dont know,, just sort of lost interest.. Im wound free after I realized that I have to pay attention to car drivers and anticipate what they are going to do even before they do something that might kill me.. That part didn't bother me.. Ive had soo many bikes over the years,,Maybe Ive lost interest in a bike that Im interested in.. Check that,, I never had a Kawi ZRX-1200. I might consider one of those..
Were you on st-owners.com? I have a '06 and had a '94 1100.
 
It didn’t feel right to my big lumox self. But my neighbor is not a big guy, and he has back issues so sitting up straight was best for him. I didn’t realize that those Bonnevilles are now 900cc or 1200. That one is 1200, and only 450 lbs. More HP than my Low Glide in 1985, and 200 lbs lighter.

Edit: 200 lbs lighter

You check out the Bonneville Bobbers? Those are muy bitchen.
 
...I never had a Kawi ZRX-1200. I might consider one of those..

You so need to fix that. Bought this beast new in '05 when I threw my ex out. Outrageous torque & will loft the front end at will. Brutally fast & very silly fun. Scared the begeebus outta myself on it for 3 years & decided I was over scaring myself on purpose & took a break from bikes for 6 years.

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Perchance, a buddy who rode (unbeknownst to me- had known him for years, had no idea he was into bikes) offer to sell me his '92 FXR for a nice price. Mentioned it to the missus & she remarked, wow, we can afford that. Start doing some research & found out used Harley's weren't unobtanium anymore & ended up buying a pristine, low miles '02 Dyna Super Glide. I knew before I'd even ridden it home that I could never be without a bike again.

My rides these days are at much more sane & relaxed pace. I've come to realize that, for me, a "proper" motorcycle weighs 500 - 700lbs & makes potato-potato noises. Not very fast, but that's not its thing & I'm cool with that. Ain't in no hurry to get anywhere, though I am always on the hunt for the road I haven't ridden yet.

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What a nice bike! All retro, nuthin' modern...
It looks good in person, too. Sounds good as well. They have some others that are even more retro looking with the old bullet style mufflers.
 
If I lived in Raleigh, Charlotte or Greensboro I'd give it up, too many crazys in those places. I try to avoid the Raleigh area even in a Car or Truck.

Rural roads are my favorite places, but it is still a dangerous hobby. You've got to believe everyone is out to kill you when you ride.
Deer are worse than drivers IMHO.
 
I rode for 35 + years. Cell phone drunks.
I have a Polaris Slingshot now, and love it.

Just to add to that. My wife has MS, so if we were on a bike I would have to stop and pick
her up every time she fell off. ;)
 
That's why I'm so hot for one of their Bobbers.
Now my buddy two doors down is working a deal on one of these. And they are scarce. It’s some kind of special edition.

bobber-tfc-main-image-1160x652px.jpg



 
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Now my buddy two doors down is working a deal on one of these. And they are scarce. It’s some kind of special edition.

bobber-tfc-main-image-1160x652px.jpg




That is sick. Hubba hubba. I like the version with the fat 16" front tire, but it's blacked out, which I really don't care for.
 
That is sick. Hubba hubba. I like the version with the fat 16" front tire, but it's blacked out, which I really don't care for.
A buddy who just got back from A-Stan is on the trail of that one.
 
I hear the Bobbers sell quick, though I've never seen on in the wild. Seen a couple of Bonnevilles around, though.

The "skinny" bobber would make a crazy fun, retro looking street tracker or a wicked Ratfink inspired bobber.
 
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I hear the Bobbers sell quick, though I've never seen on in the wild. Seen a couple of Bonnevilles around, though.

The "skinny" bobber would make a crazy fun, retro looking street tracker or a wicked Ratfink inspired bobber.
The regular Trumpet bobbers list for $12,500 or thereabouts, but that one lists for $17,500 and they were so limited that they seem to be going for around $20K out the door.
 
Were you on st-owners.com? I have a '06 and had a '94 1100.
Yeah,,I was but there really wasn't much going on in there like group rides and meet and greets unless you really wanted travel some like STOC meetings.. Now years ago when I bought my First ST back in 05, I met up with a LOT of St owners. Seems like every other weekend we would meet up and have a hoot of a ride in the mountains, sometimes there would be 12 or up to 20 riders and we would split up into a fast and slow group. The Slow group would only exceed the speed limit by about 20 or 30 mph. The fast group, well, we had some excellent riders leading us and things got stupid sometimes. Then we would meet up for lunch at a predetermined spot to share stories, another ride and then head home.. Those were the days..
 
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