Getting back to Moto/riding at 60+?

smoothies862 wrote:

Weird this post came  up. I was talking about missing riding tonight with my wife. She said when the youngest graduates, I can get another bike...

Weird this post came  up. I was talking about missing riding tonight with my wife. She said when the youngest graduates, I can get another bike 🤣. 2 yrs seems so far away. I stopped when I shattered 3 vertebrae and tore every nerve and muscle/tendon in my back and neck. Lots of titanium and therapy etc. you know the drill. That was 5 yrs ago. It was brutal and enough to say Im out. I just want to cruise around and like another post said, it’s therapeutic. No more racing but I really want to ride.  52 yrs old and couldn’t agree more with the fitness post. Surgeon said that helped so much not being frail and no muscle mass when I took the digger. Have fun and hit a berm for me.👍

Richy wrote:

Awesome news, even just having the bike there to look at when walking past or tinkering with it is therapy for me. Hopefully you find some...

Awesome news, even just having the bike there to look at when walking past or tinkering with it is therapy for me. Hopefully you find some more time to get out on it, I'm trying myself 👍

I love hearing about all you older folks still riding though. Firstly it's just plain badass, massive props to all of you. Secondly it gives me so much hope for how much time I have left to ride. But mostly I have a tonne of respect for all of you still riding at even 50+ and moreso for the 60+ and 70+ guys, amazing.

Enjoy everything you can, while you can!

Richy wrote:

Awesome news, even just having the bike there to look at when walking past or tinkering with it is therapy for me. Hopefully you find some...

Awesome news, even just having the bike there to look at when walking past or tinkering with it is therapy for me. Hopefully you find some more time to get out on it, I'm trying myself 👍

I love hearing about all you older folks still riding though. Firstly it's just plain badass, massive props to all of you. Secondly it gives me so much hope for how much time I have left to ride. But mostly I have a tonne of respect for all of you still riding at even 50+ and moreso for the 60+ and 70+ guys, amazing.

Enjoy everything you can, while you can!

brettpetersen wrote:

It's like classic cars but more fun!

jameslowry wrote:

Hey guy's i'm 64 i've been riding since i was 11 (1971) racing since 14 (1974) raced at least once since 1974 didn't race 2020 or...

Hey guy's i'm 64 i've been riding since i was 11 (1971) racing since 14 (1974) raced at least once since 1974 didn't race 2020 or 2022 i have owned my own independent shop since 1987 (37yrs) i have 50 acres to ride & play on just keep it real & know my limits & thank someone that my old a s can keep doing what i love

Mark Lowry 

my son & 3 grandkids ride & race also

sumdood wrote:

Fuck man reading this shit makes me wanna race so bad, but I swear every time I get that feeling I’ll be watching my buddies go...

Fuck man reading this shit makes me wanna race so bad, but I swear every time I get that feeling I’ll be watching my buddies go pro from last weekend in my old class, (otmx 60 Nov) and sure as shit someone shorts a jump, bounces sideways and wads it in the blind spot and The guys behind him hit his shit and go down hard and then fuck in there you go hospitals and broken bones and stitches and infections and months and years of physical pain and financial bullshit, anyway I hope I don’t sound negative I’m voice to texting tonight because I’m feeling lazy, lol. What I’m getting at is man I cannot wait to go racing again, my mountain bike has got me in better shape than I’ve ever been, I still have a few physical issues of course like everyone else in here. Sorry for the long text the point of trying to make is when I come back to raising never and I mean like never ever fucking ever I won’t even fucking remotely think about it is jumping a jump where I can’t 100 fucking percent see where I’m going to land.  never again. You can be in shape and have your bike all bitchin and dialed in but if the guy in front of you fucking wads at you’re fucked. My plan is trail ride and dual sport for a couple more years and then when I don’t have to be responsible for making money im going to destroy the 70 + First time beginner class. Get out there fuckers but Be Smart ! Don’t trust the guys in front of You to not crash, sorry I’m in the garage partying long day  sayonara adios have a good night I’m going back to beer five. Sorry for voice to text I have no idea how this is going to read hope we have these conversations at a track someday 

TDC wrote:

Imma 200 guy for a long time. They are an easier riding 125 basically. You'll feel like you can man handle it. I've got mine pulling...

Imma 200 guy for a long time. They are an easier riding 125 basically. You'll feel like you can man handle it. I've got mine pulling as quick as the bigger bikes. So it's way stronger than a stock SX. Great re-entry bike.

I now also have a '24 300SX with fork upgrade and custom re-flash. Some how it doesn't make my forearms ache for 3-4 days afterwards, like my Gnar hitting 200SX. So yeah, another good re-entry bike, as it has the tq of a 450, yet the EFI and electronic power-valve keeps it easy to ride. Feels light to the 350-450 bikes. 

Smoker for life!

brettpetersen wrote:

What brand of 200 do you ride?  I actually considered a 83 CR480 as I thought it may be easier to ride due to the power...

What brand of 200 do you ride?  I actually considered a 83 CR480 as I thought it may be easier to ride due to the power delivery, so long as I'm careful with the throttle, which is the opposite of how I rode when younger, lol.

TDC wrote:

I ride a KTM 200. Last year made was 2015. Around '08 they stopped using the smaller 125 frame. So you can choose depending on your...

I ride a KTM 200. Last year made was 2015. Around '08 they stopped using the smaller 125 frame. So you can choose depending on your height. Any XC will have the MX gear ratios, the EXC/XC-W will have a wide ratio gear set and will not moto as well.

Now there's the newer Beta 200, it uses a 125 frame, is heavier, a wide ratio tranny and has more grunt than the KTM. 

200's are known to be a very fun bike to ride.

TDC wrote:

Imma 200 guy for a long time. They are an easier riding 125 basically. You'll feel like you can man handle it. I've got mine pulling...

Imma 200 guy for a long time. They are an easier riding 125 basically. You'll feel like you can man handle it. I've got mine pulling as quick as the bigger bikes. So it's way stronger than a stock SX. Great re-entry bike.

I now also have a '24 300SX with fork upgrade and custom re-flash. Some how it doesn't make my forearms ache for 3-4 days afterwards, like my Gnar hitting 200SX. So yeah, another good re-entry bike, as it has the tq of a 450, yet the EFI and electronic power-valve keeps it easy to ride. Feels light to the 350-450 bikes. 

Smoker for life!

brettpetersen wrote:

What brand of 200 do you ride?  I actually considered a 83 CR480 as I thought it may be easier to ride due to the power...

What brand of 200 do you ride?  I actually considered a 83 CR480 as I thought it may be easier to ride due to the power delivery, so long as I'm careful with the throttle, which is the opposite of how I rode when younger, lol.

TDC wrote:

I ride a KTM 200. Last year made was 2015. Around '08 they stopped using the smaller 125 frame. So you can choose depending on your...

I ride a KTM 200. Last year made was 2015. Around '08 they stopped using the smaller 125 frame. So you can choose depending on your height. Any XC will have the MX gear ratios, the EXC/XC-W will have a wide ratio gear set and will not moto as well.

Now there's the newer Beta 200, it uses a 125 frame, is heavier, a wide ratio tranny and has more grunt than the KTM. 

200's are known to be a very fun bike to ride.

TDC wrote:

Imma 200 guy for a long time. They are an easier riding 125 basically. You'll feel like you can man handle it. I've got mine pulling...

Imma 200 guy for a long time. They are an easier riding 125 basically. You'll feel like you can man handle it. I've got mine pulling as quick as the bigger bikes. So it's way stronger than a stock SX. Great re-entry bike.

I now also have a '24 300SX with fork upgrade and custom re-flash. Some how it doesn't make my forearms ache for 3-4 days afterwards, like my Gnar hitting 200SX. So yeah, another good re-entry bike, as it has the tq of a 450, yet the EFI and electronic power-valve keeps it easy to ride. Feels light to the 350-450 bikes. 

Smoker for life!

brettpetersen wrote:

What brand of 200 do you ride?  I actually considered a 83 CR480 as I thought it may be easier to ride due to the power...

What brand of 200 do you ride?  I actually considered a 83 CR480 as I thought it may be easier to ride due to the power delivery, so long as I'm careful with the throttle, which is the opposite of how I rode when younger, lol.

Teejay wrote:

My dad just started riding again at 64, had some bad ankle injuries so sold his last bike in 2008. Bought a leftover wr450 and having...

My dad just started riding again at 64, had some bad ankle injuries so sold his last bike in 2008. Bought a leftover wr450 and having a blast! Why not, we only get one go round might as well cram as much fun in as possible. Nobody ever made it to 90 and wished they’d spent less time riding. Good luck and have fun 👍🏼

TDC wrote:

Imma 200 guy for a long time. They are an easier riding 125 basically. You'll feel like you can man handle it. I've got mine pulling...

Imma 200 guy for a long time. They are an easier riding 125 basically. You'll feel like you can man handle it. I've got mine pulling as quick as the bigger bikes. So it's way stronger than a stock SX. Great re-entry bike.

I now also have a '24 300SX with fork upgrade and custom re-flash. Some how it doesn't make my forearms ache for 3-4 days afterwards, like my Gnar hitting 200SX. So yeah, another good re-entry bike, as it has the tq of a 450, yet the EFI and electronic power-valve keeps it easy to ride. Feels light to the 350-450 bikes. 

Smoker for life!

brettpetersen wrote:

What brand of 200 do you ride?  I actually considered a 83 CR480 as I thought it may be easier to ride due to the power...

What brand of 200 do you ride?  I actually considered a 83 CR480 as I thought it may be easier to ride due to the power delivery, so long as I'm careful with the throttle, which is the opposite of how I rode when younger, lol.

motomad724 wrote:

If I were getting into vintage racing I think I'd go with a 250 smoker rather than an '83 CR480! I had '85 & '87 CR500s...

If I were getting into vintage racing I think I'd go with a 250 smoker rather than an '83 CR480! I had '85 & '87 CR500s back in the day and they can be a handful! I'm sure you're aware they take a good strong kick to get them fired up too... You're getting some good advice in these replies though. Have fun with it!

I turned 60 in August and although I haven't full on hit the moto track competitively in several years I hit the trails on the regular and practice tracks now and then (and dualsport my 500EXC a ton). I never stopped riding through the years and have a great group of friends who ride, and nowadays ride quite a bit with my 2 sons and their crew. Funny enough I'm still the fast one on the trails, but my sons will hit some jumps I've not hit in nearly a decade. I have this questionable idea popping in my head now and then that I want to follow them on the one big double so long as it's caught on video. Then I'll not have to do it again LOL

Great way to bring back an old thread

brettpetersen wrote:

What brand of 200 do you ride?  I actually considered a 83 CR480 as I thought it may be easier to ride due to the power...

What brand of 200 do you ride?  I actually considered a 83 CR480 as I thought it may be easier to ride due to the power delivery, so long as I'm careful with the throttle, which is the opposite of how I rode when younger, lol.

motomad724 wrote:

If I were getting into vintage racing I think I'd go with a 250 smoker rather than an '83 CR480! I had '85 & '87 CR500s...

If I were getting into vintage racing I think I'd go with a 250 smoker rather than an '83 CR480! I had '85 & '87 CR500s back in the day and they can be a handful! I'm sure you're aware they take a good strong kick to get them fired up too... You're getting some good advice in these replies though. Have fun with it!

I turned 60 in August and although I haven't full on hit the moto track competitively in several years I hit the trails on the regular and practice tracks now and then (and dualsport my 500EXC a ton). I never stopped riding through the years and have a great group of friends who ride, and nowadays ride quite a bit with my 2 sons and their crew. Funny enough I'm still the fast one on the trails, but my sons will hit some jumps I've not hit in nearly a decade. I have this questionable idea popping in my head now and then that I want to follow them on the one big double so long as it's caught on video. Then I'll not have to do it again LOL

Great way to bring back an old thread

brettpetersen wrote:

I rode an 86 & 88 CR250 back in the early 90's they were great bikes, plenty fast and excellent handling.  Back then they weren't classics...

I rode an 86 & 88 CR250 back in the early 90's they were great bikes, plenty fast and excellent handling.  Back then they weren't classics, they were just old, lol.  I got married so they went away, such is life.  I'm 6'4 230 and considering either ringing out a 150/200 or going middle of the road on the yz250 I hadn't considered the 300 but it's intriguing.  I've ruled out the Bad boy 480/500 CR, I didn't have the skills then, I damn sure don't now, lol.  

brettpetersen wrote:

75 CR125 was my first true moto X bike.  First time I cracked that throttle and hit the power band I was hooked!

motomojo wrote:

Nice i started with the 74 yz 125 then 75 cr then 76 yz and thats how it's been yamahas and hondas. The vintage racing is...

Nice i started with the 74 yz 125 then 75 cr then 76 yz and thats how it's been yamahas and hondas.

The vintage racing is so much fun and after racing current bikes you can really push those old bikes to their limit.

Az has a vintage club AVDRA been around since early 90's great club.

The AHRMA National series is very competitive if you want to run with some fast folks.

Of course it's not an inexpensive way to race a race ready vintage bike can cost 4 to 8k or you can find parts at salvage yards and build your own, that was my path.