What’s Wrong with a Mid-Crisis (Motorcycle?)

[blastoff99]

Wind noise kills your hearing, even with a helmet. It did mine. Think about that.

Eh, unfair generalization. I rode for over 20 years, and I rode a lot. Most of my bikes were unfaired, so - head in the wind blast. I always wore custom-fitted earplugs and a helmet that fit well. My hearing is still excellent. It is true that motorcycle riding CAN damage one's hearing. But it doesn't have to.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I worked in the OR for eight years back in the 70's as a scrub nurse. I saw MC accident victims. And auto accident victims. And GSW victims. And physical assault victims. And more sad stories than I can relate here. I'd have told the boob "fine, I'll find another doc who isn't an idiot".

Well said!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I see those as "all of the risk, and none of the fun".

Just being practical, Can-Am, the maker of that particular three wheeler, has a poor reliability record according Consumer Reports.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

That's what ear plugs are for. I always wear ear plugs when riding.

A proper midlife crisis involves three or four maxed out credit cards, a rented Cadillac, preferably a Cadillac convertible, a bimbo/bimbette of your choice, police chases, blown road blocks, an international incident, the third army battalion, helicopters, air to surface missiles, and a few other things. A motorcycle does not count as a midlife crisis. It counts as finally getting around to what you probably should have been doing all along, except being a responsible adult meant satisfying other requirements and other people's needs and wants.

I started riding again at 38, went racing at 48, and still ride the motorcycle near daily at 58. There's no plan to stop, ever. If I lose balance, eyesight, and judgment, then it's time to stop, but not before that. There's always something that happens, and if I can't deal with those things any more, then that's another reason to stop. Until then, it's my chosen method of commuting, transportation when I don't need to carry a musical instrument, or deal with ice. I don't have either the time or the money for a proper midlife crisis.

I hear you Gaolee. Having a bike is saving me money. I can take my bike to work for week and spend less than $12 at current prices, and my commute is about 22 miles round trip. It also allows me to put fewer miles on my car. Saving my car is key because it has warranty issues that been pretty serious. If can ride bike regularly when Spring comes again, it may allow me to stretch my warranty two more years. I may end up having look into Illinois to see if it has a lemon law for new cars, but my Triumph Tiger is giving me some breathing room.

On top of all the practicality, riding is fun and it makes me feel cool. I can’t beat that combination.

 

[SBassman]

Eh, unfair generalization. I rode for over 20 years, and I rode a lot. Most of my bikes were unfaired, so - head in the wind blast. I always wore custom-fitted earplugs and a helmet that fit well. My hearing is still excellent. It is true that motorcycle riding CAN damage one's hearing. But it doesn't have to.

True. The right kind of plugs are a very necessary part of the equipment, in my opinion.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Wind noise kills your hearing, even with a helmet. It did mine. Think about that.

The thing that hurt my ears the most when I was young was removing the mufflers. The ironic part was that bike back then a three cylinder two-stroke, and those bikes simply do not have the deep tone you get from a parallel or V-twin. Instead, my bike sounded like a pack of giant insects from a 1950s SciFi movie!

I admit I notice the wind these days much more than I did when I was young. I think it is because I ride on interstate roads now, and I never did that as a kid. Frankly, I don’t like freeway riding because the wind is always heavier there than on two lanes. I just ride on freeways to get to work on time.

 

[Hurricane Jimmie]

Dr. Cheese- FYI
They offer a MC riders class periodically at SIUE. At the end of the weekend, you have a MC verification for your drivers license... plus all the skills from the course.
Sold both of my bikes a few years back... now I'm a convertible guy.
I've got to admit that riding a MC is very different from auto driving... constant vigilance and focus is required.
Good Luck and be safe.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Dr. Cheese- FYI
They offer a MC riders class periodically at SIUE. At the end of the weekend, you have a MC verification for your drivers license... plus all the skills from the course.
Sold both of my bikes a few years back... now I'm a convertible guy.
I've got to admit that riding a MC is very different from auto driving... constant vigilance and focus is required.
Good Luck and be safe.

Thanks!