curious how many 40 yr olds vs 50 yr olds still ride or race

50 is the new 29... i'm 53 going to hit the 54 in about a a month.... i hang out with guys my age and one of my bud's 65 and he kicks ass..... actually we test each other like we did when we were kids, technical, cliff trails, nasty down hills.. rock filled washs.. you never to old to ride, but you will get old if you don't! .. the video i posted is on the edge of Zion national park, it's to bad i didn't have a Gopro HD at the time.. this place is on the edge!
iush each other and have a blast

44 today and still riding and racing, actually was working on the practice track last night in the rain hoping it's nice today so I can go rip laps on my freshly groomed track today for my bday!

At 42 I ride once or twice a week when the snow's not flying, but only race a few times a year. Some of these guys' posts make me still feel young though, so I hope to keep riding for years to come! Nothing replaces the moto experience though, does it ? - not street bikes, snowmobiles, cars, etc. There's lots of other cool adrenaline fixes out there, but Moto is, and I think will always be, unique and something special.

I'm 43 and still race. Finished third last season in a very fast and crowded +40 class. Injured the shoulder this year at the first race and just got back on the bike. Second last week in +30.

So yes I still love it, but I do admit the fear is beginning to get me at times which makes me use a bit more caution. I still love to do the big jumps, but wondering how much longer I'll enjoy it, ya know. I've always said when the fear outweighs the thrill, it's time to quit.

I'm 42, and when I was on a 80 they called the guys that were 40+ class "Super Seniors". Back then, I envisioned them as being really, really old... Back then even my Dad was too young to race that class!
Now, even I'm one of those old dudes! LOL!

I posted a similar reply a few months back on a thread that I think was entitled "Track or Trail?" (or something similar to that)

When reading the above replies, I see a similar theme of many choosing to change their venue of riding, just as I have found myself having done where I spend less time on a track and more time riding trails.

I still love MX and wish I could make it out to race more often, but like others, I found that you don't have to pack it up.

I'd chime in with many others that would encourage you to hit the trails and discover a whole new way to enjoy off road riding.
I've been out west many times and discovered the fun of seeing parts of the country that many would never see otherwise.
I've ridden all through Nevada, Arizona, and Southern California and a couple trips to Baja.
I credit my many years of motocross with enabling me to have the skill to be able to see the Mojave, explore ghost towns in Bodie, California and check out old mining operations in Nevada. I made it down the pot-holed, twisty road that runs to Mike's Sky Ranch and passed the tour guide that got pissed at you if you passed him. I got handed a cold beer from him upon my arrival to the pool at the ranch and watched the sun set.
I'm headed for a week of riding next week in West Virginia at the Hatfield McCoy trail system. It will be about my 8th trip there.

I guess my point is that I might not be out on track mixing it up like I did for over 30 years, and I might not be on a bike every weekend either, but I still keep it a part of my life and get tons of enjoyment from it.
Next week at this time I will be sitting around a campfire drinking beer with a bunch of good riding buddies. Besides talking about the good old days of racing, we will also be talking about what we just rode that day, tightening our chains and getting ready for another day of riding.

My back is bad, I'm not what I used to be in skill, weight or "going for it", and I'm watching my expenditures and have work and family obligations, but I don't ever envision the day where off road riding isn't the one single thing that I love to do for myself.

Ditto what Mike said, I have to race against these guys and it's usually the biggest class, other than 125 2 stroke. Baker, the plus 40 winner usually smokes the open A class as well. jus sayin.

parents wouldn't let me have a bike as a young buck so I started riding/racing at 23. 20yrs later at 43 I ride MX damn near every weekend and occasionaly a couple of times a week. Raced hard through the 90's but sucombed to practice days as sitting at the track all day on a race day for a few laps wasn't enough. I ride with a large group of guys 40+ and their kids. We have a blast every weekend and ride to ride another day. I will go after a life long goal next year and try to make it to Lorettas and I will make it to a Vet National before too long. Additionally I would like to load up and spend a week riding out in Southern California. Ride On brothers!

I am 46 , used to race alot from 16 to 30 or so but than the kids came along so focus was there. My boys have been racing now for 8 years so still very involved. I still ride some on one of the boys bikes and actually did a race a couple weeks ago. I try to ride enough to not lose much.

The youngest boy is 16 so in 4 years when I am 50 ,will start to ride more and get back to racing.

I'm 43 and have been riding since I was 8. Raced a handfull of times in the 90's until I crashed and broke my pelvis. Due to this recession I sold my two bikes in 09. In January I picked up another bike and have started up again along with my kids riding. Love taking my son and daughter riding. Watching them learn and get excited about riding is the best. I've always wanted to race again but riding is enough for now. I'm getting another bike soon, yes it's a two stroke!

Well, I am 47 and just started riding this spring after getting bored watching my boys ride. I bought a KLX450 and have had a blast. Yes, I am slow, fat (working to get in shape) but at least I am out there. I have just gotten comfortable starting to jump some small table tops but have resisted the gap jumps. I ran my first race at a great local track and it was a GP format so two 20 minute motos. I finished both motos although since the 45+ class 2nd moto was the last of the day, the flaggers were packing their stuff as I went by their stations given the fact I was dead last and a couple of laps down. LOL. It was still fun and I made my boys proud when I doubled into the finish line section at Sunset Ridge. Not sure how much I will race but as my wife says, probably going to slow to get hurt. LOL. I seriously understand the risks I am taking but, again, I am out there, riding with my boys and having a good time doing it. I have alot of respect for those who can do this sport well from the local levels and obviously at the pro levels. Hoping to race more next year on the tracks I feel comfortable in doing in terms of my skill level etc... Hare scrambles seem to be a good option too.

55+ here and ride as often as I can.Usually 50 + miles in the woods. I ride with a 73 yr old.He is the 1st to have his bike started and the last to shut it off at the end of the day.We old guys work over the young ones pretty good. BTW Fred Lucas(Barts older brother) still mx's at 65 yrs old and usually beats 1/3 of the guys 1/2 his age in the plus 40 class. My goal is to ride till I am dead.Might even start mx again if I/they(WNYMA) ever let me give up announcing it.

Surprised how many guys are at my exact or really close to my age in this thread ( 43 ) that still ride. It's an awesome site to see!

Great thread! Just turned 46, still ride and race MX, but might stop racing. Not saying that racing is more dangerous than just practicing because in my case I've been hurt equally bad doing both. I don't like holding back and when I got hurt racing (most recent crushed T7, still healing) it was because I was pushing it where if it was just practice I wouldn't have been. I want to keep riding moto so with the injuries piling up I think I'm going to take the variable of racing out of the equation. The hard part for everyone is filling that void. Luckily for me I've got a flying background, so I can fill the void some with that.

I would encourage any MXer to at least get his private pilot's license. You don't know what you're missing! And OBTW if you've got some buddies you would be amazed how affordable it is to go in on a plane these days.

I have a bmx bike and still make the braaap sound when my kids I ride around the neighborhood. My gf says i have an obsession. I think she's right

Me 52. Raced this past weekend, ride regularly and still absolutely suck at this motocross game. I pretty much always have and, most likely always will - suck at it.. As I've declared in the past, most of us got into this filthy motocross habit because of the cool motorcycles - yet we stuck around motocross because of the cool people.... Honored to be amongst you. Let there be motocross. (and beer afterwards..)

I'm 44 and won the 40+ B class at Washougal this year. Contemplating going to A class next year.

RUUUUUPPEEEEERRRRT!

42 and too dumb to quit. I Still race and play ride. Won't stop till I cant.
YZ250 and YZ125.

Know about 6 guys around here my age and one who is 65 that race regularly. All too dumb to quit.

Rupert.. Welcome back. Haven't seen you posting for a while, although I miss a lot too. Cheers mate, heres to your voice of reason. BTW, I'm 49 and suck as well. Still have fun though, whenever I can get out. Nothing compares to riding. Nothing!

Will be 40 in a month and a half, so if that counts...Been busy the last couple of years and haven't hit more than one race a year since I turned 30, but kinda getting the bug to race this coming year. Will see how the economy and things around home go, but hope to hit 3-4 races next year and try to ride at least once/week.

Your age is only a number on your drivers lic..........At the last race at DMC in Ohio
the 40+ class was the biggest class of the day.

Glad to see you back here RUP!! Where the hell have you been? Hope things are well............

I'm 49. It's been a tough year finding time. My biggest issue is the 2 hour drive up and 2 hour drive back. I'm sore for at least 3 days after. I'm slow as hell But something about being on the bike makes all my problems fade into the back. I haven't raced this year and only ride practice every other weekend. My wife says she's jealous. I'm always cranky and stressed but after riding I'm like a little kid walking around smiling from ear to ear.
I love the bikes, I love being out at the track. It's me time. I also can't tell you how many times on the drive up I think about being to old and to do this but every time on the way home all I can think about is how fast I can get back out there.

Me, 42, ride a yz125, so fun, but must be aggressive to go fast, and that feeling is getting harder to come by as I age. Still can do just about every jump, but so much harder than the 450's to do. I would be so much faster on the lazy beast. Thinking about it. Race? Not so much, I would but the cost isn't quite worth it to me at this time. 5 kids, I get hurt easy too. But I sure love it, finding it to be not so exciting anymore though, like a video game, dont touch them, too boring. But moto is still fun to do for exercise, and keeping the mind sharp, or at least sort of. What we talking about?

Im in the same boat. in 2009 I shattered my Tibia and broke my Radius without even coming off the bike. Over jumped a 90 foot table goofing around, Landed 20 feet out on the flats. Rode it out, and took myself to the hospital. (cuz thats what us old farts do) Also found out last year that I broke T5 and T6 in that same little mistake!!! Good thing my chiropractor didnt paralyze me, cause i didnt know it was broken.... Started riding 4 months later, but have not raced since then. I think the best part of still riding, is I can afford some good toys now... was always broke as a teenager..lol I could never afford a 500A/F and a new 450....

48 still riding but the wife hates it if i talk about racing again!

When I started riding I was already in the 30+ class... (started at 36). My only regret is having not started riding sooner. I had trail bikes as a kid, but that was it...

I'm 42 now and still ride at least 2 times a month, more when time permits. I enter an occassional race, maybe one or two a year, but mainly spend my time at the practice tracks. Riding is about fun and exercise for me, that's it. I intend to ride as long as my body and finances will allow. I don't care if I can clear a double or not, but dang when I nut up and do it, there's nothing that can beat the adrenaline rush that comes with it... or having little battles on the track with a buddy... squeaking around the inside of a turn when he least expects it and then holding him off for as long as you can... and putting in as many laps as my body and mind will allow before I load up to head home to my family.

The drive home after a good full day of riding is always the best... filthy bike in the back of the truck, I smell like dirt, sweat, exhaust, and chain lube. My body is dead tired, but knowing that I just got to do what 80% of the guys on the highway around me at that point WISH they could have been doing makes it exhilerating.

So many of these posts I could have written.

All in the same boat.

Welcome back Rupert!

Funny i never stopped. been racing and riding since 16. Had a school friend stop on a sunday night a few weeks ago. He seen the boys unloading the bikes and then i got up and unloaded mine. He looks at me funny and asks......you still race???? Well sure i do.

He then asks, when the hell are going to stop that stuff. I looked at him and replied when i am DEAD.


No one would ask a cross country runner that question! LOL and I am no fitness type.


But when i turned 50 a few years ago i raced 22 MX races and 19 HS in the same year winning both championships in IL in the 50 class. So times racing mx and hS on the same day. Why? because it hadn't been done before.

SHould anyone race? It's personal choice, and age is relative, like someone said he was an A rider, well so am I and the first time some one tries to take that away they will have a fight on thier hands.

Today the boys like racing HS much more then MX. MY knees like HS better to. But last month alone we raced MX, SX, HS and GP racing all in the same month. Riders as they get older enjoy many different types of racing but going and hanging out with friends and the kids and thier friends at the races is the real reason to stay in it!

I quit when i was thinking faster then i was riding, and i'm not the smartest on this planet for sure......=)