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

Jayne

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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?
 
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I sold my HD after I left Greenville SC at the foot of the mountains with much fewer cars on the road when I moved to Raleigh. Lots more traffic here, helmet laws, plus I was changing jobs and needed to buy a car since I was giving up a company car. Had fun while it lasted.
 
I quit when a friend had a second serious accident. He came to in the OR and heard one doctor saying: "I know we have to cut the left one off. Should we go ahead and amputate the right one?" I figured that it was only time until I had a bad crash.
 
I quit when a friend had a second serious accident. He came to in the OR and heard one doctor saying: "I know we have to cut the left one off. Should we go ahead and amputate the right one?" I figured that it was only time until I had a bad crash.

If you have any friends that get seriously injured in a car crash will you quit driving a car?
 
I was contemplating buying a bagger last year just to cruise. My insurance agent, @Amp Mangum gave me sort of a stern look when I told him, and said two words.

“People. Texting"
 
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My family is cursed on two wheels, we've all been in pretty serious accidents most of which wasn't our own doing. The right side of my face is a metal plate, my eye socket and sinus cavities had to be completely rebuilt, they thought I was going to lose my right eye. Can't tell at all by looking at me, but I spent a few months in the hospital getting fixed up.
 
My family is cursed on two wheels, we've all been in pretty serious accidents most of which wasn't our own doing. The right side of my face is a metal plate, my eye socket and sinus cavities had to be completely rebuilt, they thought I was going to lose my right eye. Can't tell at all by looking at me, but I spent a few months in the hospital getting fixed up.
Damn, that sucks. What kind of helmet were you wearing when that happened?
 
Ive not been on my Buell in quite some time.
I like the power of a streetbike, but the comfort isnt there.
Im not one to push hard on the street, so I dont need something that I can lean over to my knee

Now, what Id LIKE to do, is take the 'project bike' (another 1125R), pull the engine and put it in a more cruiser-ish frame.
Something more relaxed, something that I can easily take on a weekend trip. Something, though, that'll still roll quickly around cars at passing zones etc
 
Ive not been on my Buell in quite some time.
I like the power of a streetbike, but the comfort isnt there.
Im not one to push hard on the street, so I dont need something that I can lean over to my knee

Now, what Id LIKE to do, is take the 'project bike' (another 1125R), pull the engine and put it in a more cruiser-ish frame.
Something more relaxed, something that I can easily take on a weekend trip. Something, though, that'll still roll quickly around cars at passing zones etc
You need a sport tourer. Hard bags, comfort and plenty of passing power.
 
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.
 
what made you choose to give up motorcycles (street bikes)?
What will make me give it up is when I can no longer hold up a bike. Like I said. Are you going to question the others that are still riding in this thread?
 
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Jayne I don't know if you heard or not but the wife just came home from an 18-day hospital stay and she will probably be in a wheelchair for a couple more months. I can't post any details about it in the open forum until all the dust settles, but I'm waffling on whether to sell my bike or not. Right now she says she'll never ride again and that was always our go-to "quality time" so most likely it's got to go.
 
A couple of close calls where other drivers weren't paying attention.
I quit riding several years ago.
Have lost three friends in the past two months to other drivers not paying attention. Two were husband and wife on same bike where idiot crossed yellow line and got them head on.
 
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What will make me give it up is when I can no longer hold up a bike. Like I said.
The OP is asking why people gave it up. You didn’t, so don’t question or be “judgy" of others for their decisions to do other wise. That’s all I’m saying.
 
Grandkids and never acting like a adult when riding. I couldn’t change myself or habits so I still ride now but on a non hooligan bike. I could not get on a SS or ST bike for a hour and not want to get a knee down somewhere. I totaled a few sport bikes in my life and never been seriously hurt. Thought it was time to stop temping Father Time. Endurance and reflexes are what they use to be.
 
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Rode street most of my life, had bikes when I got married. My wife rode with me mostly off road. I want to get another bike badly. My wife "doesn't want me to die" as we get closer to retirement (married 27 years). She lets me get away with a lot so I'm not pushing this one but it's always on my mind.

I keep telling her I'm worth more dead than alive, she isn't buying it.
 
The OP is asking why people gave it up. You didn’t, so don’t question or be “judgy" of others for their decisions to do other wise. That’s all I’m saying.
Where am I being "judgy"? Everyone has to make this type of decision for themselves. If you are second guessing riding, you might want to quit. Riding is like carrying a gun, you have to have your head in the game 100% of the time. If not, maybe it's time to give it up? Don't give it up because someone you or a friend knows got killed or hurt. If you go by that, you may as well never leave your house because people get killed and hurt doing all kinds of things.
 
For clarification, havent given up riding, just not riding my sportbike as much
 
I only started riding about 2000 or so and it was mainly for a 30 mile commute. 4 Bikes, all cruisers or touring, I was riding, regularly, to Montreal, Daytona, Homestead, etc. working races. Sure, like everyone who rides, there were close calls, always caused by someone else, but each time, I saw it coming and was able to avoid. I gave it up a couple of years ago after having to rebuild carbs for a second time due to sitting. Basically, I'm just not strong enough to comfortably handle a 600 lb. motorcycle. But I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Best way to see the country I can think of.
 
Degenerative osteoarthritis in my tail bone. When I couldn't ride more than 30 minutes without pain it was time to give it up.
When I finally went to a doctor, that was one gnarly looking tail bone. The tip is pointing forward instead of down in line with the rest.
I'd go for a Slingshot though.
 
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For any of you who've ridden for a long time and just decided to stop, what was your clue that it was time?
Age and a stroke finally convinced me. :confused:o_O:(
 
I have been riding on and off for 46 years. I took a hiatus for several years until I bought my 1st HD last year. I swore growing up I would never own one. I took a riders safety course just to make the wife happy. I ride everyday unless it's raining when I leave the house in the morning. I don't have any plan to stop. If it gets too heavy to hold up I may switch to a trike. I love it and I don't begrudge anyone who stops. We all have different priorities.
 
Totaled my friends Triumph, car pulled out right in front of me, last time for me.
 
Longest stretch I've gone without a bike was 6 years & when I bought my '02 Super Glide 7 years ago, I knew I could never be without a bike again. It's in my blood. Parents, uncle, aunts, most of my family rode. Dirt bikes since 9 & street bikes since 14.

I don't ride a whole bunch, but savor every mile that I do ride. I know it's crazy out there & I know they are out to get me. I ride with my head on a swivel & avoid major highways & cities like the plague.

I like exploring the back roads & just vibing on the scenery & many times, a little wind therapy is exactly what I need to blow out the cobwebs & the day's BS.

I'll ride this bike till I can't hold it up no more, then I'ma put a hack on it & start bringing my dogs with me.
 
I was still married, heading home from a day of riding in the mountains with wifey on the back. Not far from home, guy driving a car next to us in a lane that was to become a right turn only lane coming up to the intersection, we were in the lane next to him. It was a three lane road up to the intersection, two lanes thru (one way only, thank god). We went straight, homie decided to stay straight, merging to our lane.

I saw him in the corner of my eye, check left, swerve left, only for him to have kept coming. Ran up on the sidewalk at a parking lot entrance to a motel, with a utility pole right there. Didnt hit it, managed to get back off the side walk two businesses later. Pulled over at the church parking lot at the next intersection a block away. Regained composure, rode home the next couple miles.

Later that night, I thought about how I would explain to her father how his daughter damn near or died in a motorcycle crash. That scared me. I rode solo just a few more times. Still have it, just not tagged in 7 years now.
 
When, before actually, I got married (25 years ago last week...) the wife and I decided that we'd each get 1 lifetime "Veto". A no questions asked, no argument, no bitching, right to compel the other to do or not do something. After working as an ER nurse for several years, she immediately declared motorcycles off-limits.

NO other aspect of our lives have 'ultimatum' associated, I do what I want (except buying a bike) and she does what she wants.
 
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?

I'm in a similar spot, barely ride mine anymore. Pull it out the shop to wash it or move things around, push it back in, and hook up the trickle charger. Schedule conflicts and what seems like a lack of spare time cause me to rarely get it out. I miss riding, used to really enjoy it, but just don't seem to care about it any more.

Jayne I don't know if you heard or not but the wife just came home from an 18-day hospital stay and she will probably be in a wheelchair for a couple more months. I can't post any details about it in the open forum until all the dust settles, but I'm waffling on whether to sell my bike or not. Right now she says she'll never ride again and that was always our go-to "quality time" so most likely it's got to go.

Hate to read this Chris, if ya'll need anything or I can be of any help, don't hesitate to holler.
 
I rode a lot of bikes over a lot of miles between 1980-2010. But, bad knees, bad eyes, bad back started taking the enjoyment out of it.
I rode less and less in the 2 years before I sold my last one.

I still think about getting a Can Am Spyder to play with.
 
At age 70 I haven't stopped riding, but I stopped riding for pleasure around here (Raleigh) about 10 years ago when the traffic and development sprawl became intolerable. You can't do any of the things I ride motorcycles for anymore. I have a sidecar outfit I use for running errands, and when I want to actually enjoy a ride, I put my trail bike in the pickup and head for trails in the Blue Ridge.
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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?

Sounds like me. I have 3 bikes: one is an old perpetual project bike, one is my primary ride of the last 5 years, and the third is the bike bought to replace the primary. I've probably ridden 2000 miles in the last year, all total.

But, like @Crazy Carl , it's in my blood. Even when I'm not getting to ride, it's comforting to know there is a bike ready to go if I get the chance.

I do need to thin the herd, though, as soon as the used bike market comes out of the tank.
 
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At age 70 I haven't stopped riding, but I stopped riding for pleasure around here (Raleigh) about 10 years ago when the traffic and development sprawl became intolerable. You can't do any of the things I ride motorcycles for anymore. I have a sidecar outfit I use for running errands, and when I want to actually enjoy a ride, I put my trail bike in the pickup and head for trails in the Blue Ridge.
View attachment 233857

Is that a KLR250!?!?!

So this is making sense to me. I completely suck at dirt riding, did a 3 day tour in Death Valley (in January, got snowed on!) and hated the sand the entire time. Crashed from hitting nothing, the earth just came up and hit me. BUT... maybe if I could ride a hard pack trail it would be like a mountain bike. Slow and steady and just enjoy the ride and not have to stand up and nail the gas and be all crazy like the ADV guys?
 
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