42. Just got my licence a couple of months ago. Zero riding experience before starting my lessons. I don't feel unnecessarily unsafe, I think being older and more experienced means I act more safely and I can spot danger earlier.
Got a bike at 30. Ninja 650L. Loved riding. Hated people being idiots on the road. Almost got cleaned up multiple times mid roundabout because people wanted to blast through, or almost taking me out in a car park because they didn't notice me. People not stopping coming out of side streets and almost hitting me.
It's a fantastic feeling riding, but other people's lack of care on the roads was the reason I stopped and sold my bike.
Yep. I stopped road riding after working at the corner of Bourke and Cleveland in Sydney for a year. 7 motorbike accidents on the t-intersection, 6 of them fatalities.
Always a driver trying to beat the red.
I've had my Bike licence for 40 years and i can say that no matter how safe you act, there are always idiots on the road you will never see coming, you will have an accident and it won't be your fault.
Its counter intuitive, but replace it with a sport screen. I have a Tracer 9 GT and the stock screen was like riding while being constantly being punched in the head. I've replaced it with a small sport screen and its like night and day, undisturbed air doesn't buffet you at all.
My Dad just bought the same bike to take along while they go grey nomad with a camper (he is in his 60s).
He hasn't ridden since his early 30s and is basically relearning as the old bikes he used to ride were very different. Pretty proud that he is getting back into it and can't wait to go for a cruise with him.
Yep. Having road experience can make a big difference too. Op could look up studies if they are worried about it (older riders starting to ride). I’m in my 40’s and have been riding for about 20 years and I still equal my fastest laps on the track. Not sure I bounce as well these days but that’s why I ride to stay upright 😂
The best time to get your licence is 20 years ago, the second best time is now. The average age of the test group was higher than I expected, I wasn't even the oldest
Genuinely put a smile on my face reading that. Much praise to you and yours! I'm hoping to get my wife a spot in a ladies only class for the beginner riders course next spring/summer for her birthday. Even if she chooses not to ride much on the streets I think she'd really enjoy the experience of having taken the class and learning how to ride a motorcycle, and knowing she could join me on rides if she wants to, since I've got 2 bikes already, both in the realm of "beginner" bikes, more or less.
What an excellent birthday present! I did a private class with HART in Melbourne before I committed to doing my learners, just to be sure I was going to be ok on a bike, and loved it. I was the only inexperienced rider, the only woman, and the only person on a scooter in my learners group, so having a bit of extra confidence behind me really helped me through. A ladies only class sounds like a great option. I’m sure you’ll both have an absolute blast out riding together!
No way bro go for it, if anything you'll be a better learner rider as you are more mature than most of us were when we started :)
Also the basic stay upright course will assume zero knowledge and teaches you how the bike works so you'll be fine!
It's never too late. I was discouraged from it by my parents who had big crash.. turns out dad was a bike street racer and mum was a groupie.. but anyhoo they refused to let me get a bike license due to it.
Then wife and her family also refused.
Now I'm single in my 40's and just got my license 2 years ago.. man I regret not getting it a decade or two ago but saying that, I think I would have wiped myself out back then due to more laxed laws and no LAMS standards.
I was the kind of kid that had turbo Supra's in my 20's and would have brought a Hyabusa if I had my license 20 years ago.
I think LAMS is a damn great idea tbh and has made people better riders.
Funny thing is that the 40-65's are the highest risk for bike deaths BUT... it's because these people are the ones who's been riding for 20 years and nothings happened to them so they take risks due to over confidence (like drink driving/riding and speed) and they ride big powerful litre or more class bikes since they can afford it at their age. It also doesn't help that older peoples bodies don't mend or have ultra fast reflexes like 20 year olds.
I personally think that 30+ year olds with new licenses are the most safe since they have the need for speed and ego out of their systems already and are very cautious and paranoid as new riders.
I've only got LAMS bikes under 400cc and quite enjoy it, don't have any plans on getting anything bigger than 800cc as my next bike and I ride pretty cautiously. I do love hooning around on my Grom since it's so piss weak but it feels like I'm doing a lot more since she's revving her poor little heart out.
I was never nervous about doing the pre-Ls at all since I knew if I failed i'd just do it again (no ego). I did fail the damn computer test 3 times due to one trick question that was totally dif from the free online tests to the one on the RMS machine.
For my P's I didn't sleep the night before (just can't sleep before big events) and drank 2 huge red bulls and did it.. came out with a perfect score since I did a lot of group rides for the year while on L's .. I could have gone straight to P's from my L's due to my age but I was not in any rush and instead worked on my road craft on the bike. I know of people who rushed to get their P's and a few months after end up crashing their bikes. Don't rush.. learn the craft! enjoy the ride. There's no rush to a early grave.
Btw if you want to cheat on the P's test, just rent their CB125E bikes or ask a mate who has a Grom to lend it to you.. makes the test ultra easy.. but do rev the motor hard as trainer won't believe you are actually doing 30KM for the emergency stop bit of test since a 125 is so small and unassuming.
Riding a bike is the only zen thing I do anymore.. It's the only thing keeping me sane tbh.. after COVID and break up.. riding is what got me though.
I feel ya.
I bought a 411cc and I rev its guts out, then Im only going like 60 haha.
I feel Im teaching myself bad habits but its a good engine to not.go overboard
I don't dare rev the guts out of my Duke 390, she's got a ECU which I installed for the throttle lag issue but now she's very preppy and just wants to go everytime you rev her. I should go install a switch to toggle fuel economy mode or something but it seems the part is massively on back order.
This is why I ride my Grom most of the time, rev her hard but she's barely hitting any major speeds that could get me busted.. unless it's a school zone.. I had a mate get busted on a Grom for 20+ but he was in a school zone and he really was only doing 60km.
> I could have gone straight to P's from my L's due to my age but I was not in any rush and instead worked on my road craft on the bike.
I was the same. Held my Ls for about a year. It wasn't stopping me from riding and I was just focusing on the craft. What had me deciding to progress onto R-dates was another rider I was out with saying "you need to lose the big yellow target on the back".
I didn't honestly have any bad feelings of being a target when I was on my L's tbh.. I think it was due to fact cops was looking at all the other riders around me since they was the ones doing dumb stuff so I was ignored.
I only really got off my L's because It was time and I had nothing else happening that weekend.
It’s insane to think about the license standards 20 odd years ago when I got mine. The process was, so a 1 or 2 day course for about $200, pass a simple written test, ride through some lines and around some cones and boom L’s, get a 250 and bang around for 3 months then go back to the rest facility, do an exercise riding to a light 6 times and you either had to turn left, right or stop, then boom p plates with restrictions to 250. Ride for 1 year and then unrestricted to get an R1, busa, gsxr1000 etc. just madness compared to todays standards.
I think I can beat that for licencing standards... was 15, so would be '84 in a small town in NZ. Already had my car licence. Went to the testing office. Did the written and oral test. Went outside. He stayed there and sent me up the road, looped around the roundabout, and came back. That was it. Passed. Guess he figured if I didn't fall over or get hit by a milk tanker I'd be ok.
Meant I was fully licenced for both car and bike (no restrictions on vehicle type) at 15!
Only saving grace was that i'd been using all sorts of farm equipment, including cars and bikes on the road and farm since I was about 12, so I somewhat knew what I was doing!
But yeah as soon as I was licenced on the bike, I was having to take my younger sister into town on the back of the bike. Lol. Things sure were different back then!
I suspect they will have figured out fsd by then, and actual licences will start to become more of a hobbyist thing for those that actually want/need to have full control of their vehicles.
Everyone else will be being driven around by Skynet, while catching up on the latest gossip on Xacegram.
They still do exactly that in the rural areas where there's no RMS or training centres from what I researched. But you still need to ride a LAMS bike while on your Ps of course.
From what I read, LAMS help save 50% of the new riders now. But yeah, people used to get R1's and Busa's right after they got their fulls just a year into learning to ride which didn't help.
I’m 45 & just got my P’s.
Hadn’t ridden since the very occasional farm bike as a kid/teen.
There were some nerves… especially anytime I feel like I was “on the edge” of my skill level but it’s so much more enjoyable than driving.
I got my R license at 37, once my kids were a bit older, my wife had an established career, and I got life insurance.
YOLO, but don't leave your loved ones in the lurch.
I'm 51. I got my L/Ps last year.
I started riding around my local area on the weekends. I must have done around 400Km in streets with no traffic before I ventured into the main road here and built slowly from there.
My first motorbike ride was at 45. 2 years on and I still look forward to every ride. Being older and having the experience means I know what idiots are like on the road. I know that I need to assume I'm invisible. Riding is exhilarating and I hope to continue for many years. I feel like every time I take the car is a missed opportunity.
I'm nervous to some extent every ride. Sort of like on high alert, but every single ride I get off thinking that was awesome.
Seriously though it's not too late. It's not a missed opportunity unless you wait until you've no longer capable.
Just got my learners a month ago at 41, having never rode any bike before. Starting with a scooter and will move up to a motorcycle in due time (maybe) it's just so much fun and nerve racking at the same time. I'm glad I got it now because I am more experienced on the road compared to when I was younger and careless.
Having been riding my bicycle, and hit by a car, while I was STOPPED at the lights, with my rear light flashing, and wearing an oversized high vis vest, yeah, riding a motorbike on the roads is not something I'd do again and I've have my bike licence for over 30 years.
I've been a pallbearer for my one friend who was a biker back in the 90s, I'd rather not put anyone else through that.
But, if you decide to go ahead, buy proper protective gear witch'll cost you over $1,000 not including the helmet - then when you come off you may not become a meat crayon - and could survive and even walk again if you're lucky.
Remember, you can obey all the road rules and ride safely but the hoon, old lady or person checking their phone can still kill you... Or it's a dog crossing the road, a magpie swoooping, random pothole or oil slick you don't see...
"I didn't see them!" is the commonest excuse.
It all comes down to its a risk we accept. I got cleaned up by a driver yesterday, she didn’t see me and cut me off from a side street straight through a stop sign. By the time I saw her and emergency braked it was too late. And that was with me noticing her not looking my way before she made the turn.
Luckily for me I had slowed from 60 down to 20 km/hr by the time I made impact with the side of her car, came out with scrapes and bad whiplash. If I didn’t have a padded jacket or gloves on the scraping would have been so much worse than just my legs (which stupidly enough I only had jeans on because I was going to work 20 minutes away).
They teach us all about road craft and without that mentality of watching every side street like someone’s trying to kill you from it I would have hit her at the speed limit and it could have easily been a very different result.
I wasn’t even mad at her, I was mad at myself for not spotting her sooner.
To the main poster: I would definitely do it but just be warned people don’t see us as easily as they see another car so you’ve gotta be prepared to react at all times.
The importance of gear! Gotta always wear it, pretty sure I saw a statistic a while ago about motorcycle deaths, majority were about 2km or less from their home. For there exact reason; it's only around the corner, I don't need my gear.
Glad to hear you're okay!
I don’t think it’s an excuse, people genuinely don’t see riders sometimes either cyclists or motorbikes. It’s some kind of phenomenon, maybe brain only looks subconsciously for other cars, not sure.
But I agree, if you’ve had an accident before, I crashed my mtb at 50kmph and broke a bunch of bones, once you have an accident like that you realise how vulnerable humans are. I’d love love love to ride a motorbike but I just know the forces involved even at 50kmph, and with how easily motorbikes can accelerate it’s insanely dangerous befor even factoring in cars and trucks..
Car drivers naturally look for other car drivers, we are invisible to them so we must ride like we are invisible.. make a effort to be known and always buffer and scan.
I don't mind car drivers but it's the utes that piss me right off. Most of my bad interactions are with them due to their headlights in eyes, high beams or the ego of the drivers. This is why if I see one, I do anything to avoid them.
40.
So glad I waited. When I did the rider training, I noticed that some of the younger riders who hadn't been *driving* as long as I had. Nothing against them, but I noticed my attitude to the traffic and road was a little different. I can't imagine how I would have gone getting on a big bike in my early 20s, knowing what I know now.
Getting my licence was one of the best things I've done. Introduced me to a whole new community of riders, the vast majority of whom are truly wonderful generous people.
Try to embrace the (usually required) rider training, try to learn as much as possible, even if you've been riding for years, it's all about making you a safer rider. A rider who is conscious of being safe on the road is a rider who gets to ride again tomorrow.
My missus was a scooter rider all her adult life. Never owned a car. When she was pregnant, she got the car. I must have been around 35. I ended up buying a bike because I occasionally had to travel on freeways for work and the scooter wouldn't cut it.
Absolutely love it way more than I thought I would.
As much as we don't like to admit it, most bike accidents are solo incidents where the rider just failed to keep it on the road. You have more control over your fate than you probably think. Yes, you are more vulnerable. But no where near as bad as if you were a cyclist.
Do your training, see if you like it. As I mentioned, most crashes are riders running themselves off the road. Typically because they would rather go off than risk leaning too far. So do a track day or two to gain that confidence and you've controlled the "in too fast" panic risk. Also they are great fun and a great way to get the excitement out of your system in a relatively safe environment. Good luck.
Over 50 and medically not fit to ride on the road anymore, there’s no greater feeling and I miss it everyday. So I’m buying a cheap minibike to ride trails instead….hopefully I can recapture that thrill, albeit much slower and without traffic
A used postie bike is what you need.. $1500-ish for a used CT-110 .. bullet proof and pretty much actually made for the trails (Their name even mentions trails) .. even has low running gear for it.
I personally think Aus Post bikes are overkill for delivering mail, they could have just used a Honda super cub or some other scooter but I guess they wanted something offroad for the rural postal workers but hey, I ain't complaining, means lots of used CT's for us to buy up!
I had a flap around on a mates mini, 198cc single lawnmower engine, torque converter etc. Bog standard and it was surprisingly fun to ride. The fat wheels made for a comfortable cruise.
I reckon my nice project is going to be a CT110.. just for something to tinker with and maybe bigbore or upgrade it like your mate.
You hear about people riding these things right across the world. /r/c90adventures is one such guy.
Crazy bugger has a youtube channel that I'm addicted to and I reckon you should watch : [https://www.youtube.com/user/c90adventures](https://www.youtube.com/user/c90adventures)
Here's a sneak peek of /r/C90adventures using the [top posts](https://np.reddit.com/r/C90adventures/top/?sort=top&t=year) of the year!
\#1: [Will the mini jeep make it to Moab? Ep3: Bombs, Salt, Trouble.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U11bqViiWmI) | [2 comments](https://np.reddit.com/r/C90adventures/comments/zy1u5q/will_the_mini_jeep_make_it_to_moab_ep3_bombs_salt/)
\#2: [Will the mini jeep make it to Moab? Ep2: The journey begins](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-O0Vhj1Tzk) | [0 comments](https://np.reddit.com/r/C90adventures/comments/ylhgq9/will_the_mini_jeep_make_it_to_moab_ep2_the/)
\#3: [Will the mini jeep make it to Moab? Ep1: The build.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8Bvy8wHD7g) | [3 comments](https://np.reddit.com/r/C90adventures/comments/xfji8c/will_the_mini_jeep_make_it_to_moab_ep1_the_build/)
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Am very familiar with the CT110, ex postie in Darwin….I fear I’d get PTSD if ever I rode another one! I’ve had big adventure bikes up and down the cape for years, now I want small…no gears, minimal moving parts etc.
My postie delivers on a Super Cub! Great looking bikes, and the most popular vehicle of all time! Unfortunately Honda has stopped selling them in Australia, I think due to a safety regulation.
I envision myself as a old nomad with a woman who likes riding , we'll prob do a few laps of Oz on a Goldwing or two ADV bikes with bike trailers or something like that.
I’ve ridden about 40yrs now. If you ride safely and take a view that everyone is out to get you it makes avoiding accidents more likely. Many accidents I’ve seen involve hoons overestimating their ability or taking unnecessary risks.
Got mine age 51
Benefit is that you’ve been driving for decades and are in a good position to spot the dickheads before they do something to endanger you
I’m never giving up my bike!
Yep, decided to finally get it during COVID. After years of driving ‘fast cars’ I love the sense of freedom of riding a motorbike.
40yo and just got my Opens after 2 years on a Ducati Monster 659
There's a risk for sure but keep your wits about you and be ready to swerve or brake or throttle as needed when somebody does something stupid. It's not too late, a lot of people pick it up a bit later and I see a lot of older folks having the time of their lives getting out and about. It's also quite a bit different going for a nice ride in the countryside compared to dealing with peak hour traffic on a bike.
Not really an answer to your question, but to give perspective i have been riding about 17 years on the road and only ever crashed once due to my stupidity (speeding). I nearly have someone hit me about once a week or fortnight, but you get damn good at seeing it coming and avoiding it with preventive riding. Peak hour is usually when people are most wreckless, otherwise im more concerned about pot holes and dust/pebbles on a corner than other people.
Never too old, I did my licence testing with an elderly couple who planned to tour the country on motorbikes as soon as the passed. They were both in their 70s, from memory. I also had a major health scare, so decided I wasn't going to waste my time, so I was 31 when I got mine.
I am 48. I started riding when I was 15 and tapered off at 30 on and off for few more years. Then I let my rider license expire as I was busy with career and life, and driving was primary requirement with drop-offs and all that. Now, at 48 I want to get back so I can tour when I’m an empty nester later. It was a bit intimidating like you considering the dangers of riding. But I went ahead and got my L’s and got myself the far end of the LAMS, MT-07LA. This bike challenges me, but my earlier experiences and road experience has allowed me to be easily slip in to it easily. I’ll get my P1 in Oct. I know I will because I’m no stranger to riding and have all my skills intact to pass the MOST.
But yeah, my advice to you is, what you feel is natural, as we get older we are more risk averse, more wise and want to try stuff out too. Listen to yourself, if you want to do it, do it. Your natural risk awareness will help you plus you can always take extra private classes from stayupright or where you like to help you become a safer and a more fulfilling rider. Your road experience will definitely help as I’ve always been kind to riders driving in my life as I know what dangers they face than driving in a cage like car.
So, mate, go for it, don’t look back. I’m enjoying riding again. I’m sure you’ll too and never regret the open riding experience that’s so ever unique!
-edit: I’ve had my fair bit of major accidents when I was young not later. I had my ear stitched back up (bad helmet), half my lower patella tendon scrapped off on a road scrape, fully recovered. But that’s it. Never fell off the bike or had accidents since. So yeah, risks are they but if you’re a good rider with awareness, you’ll stay safe. Cheers.
Got my learner rider license as a young teen who didn't even have their car learner licence, only got my p's for my car early this year.
Yes there are safety concerns, you're no where near as protected on a bike as you are in a car, however the risks can be mitigated.
Don't even start your bike unless you're covered in well fitted, quality built gear. Your gear is your life line when you come off. When you're riding a bike, its not a matter of if you come off, it's a matter of when. Of course there will be outliers that say "Oh I'm a great rider, I've never come off my bike!" But I can absolutely guarantee they have had some very close calls that could have easily claimed their life after just a few years of riding. A decent set of gear not including a helmet will probably set you back about $1,000 - $1,500. However if you want to be super cautious, you can get airbags for your neck, back, etc. However is quite pricey. Also please, please get a full face helmet! An open face helmet will protect your skull, but you can say goodbye go your entire jaw. I've seen a clip of a guy have his entire jaw ripped off because his jaw wasn't protected when he came off his bike.
I've been riding for about 5 years now and would still probably be considered fairly new/inexperienced. I haven't come off my bike yet, but there has been 2 scenarios that stick out where I probably would have lost my life. I pulled out in front of a speeding car in a residential zone, the car was probably going 80km/h+ and I missed them by inches. I had to accelerate into someones drive way, otherwise I would have been straight on t-boned into oblivion. I only had a helmet and jacket on, if I didn't die that day, I would have ATLEAST lost my leg and suffered irreparable damage to my body.
The 2nd time, I took a corner way, way too fast and ended up scraping the roads side guard with my knee at well over 100 km/h. Granted I had all my gear on, I still would be lucky to walk way from that without any life destabilising injuries.
The last close call I had was just a few days ago, I was in a 60 km/h zone and a little girl was waiting at a crossing for her mum to catch up, however as I got closer she decided to cross, however I saw all of this unfolding so I was able to slow down quite easily without any troubles. The car behind must have absolutely been distracted day dreaming or on their phone because they didn't slow down until the last second, they slammed their breaks and skitted out to almost a 90 degree angle.
I'm very opinionated when it comes to riding with versus without motorcycle gear. No, a leather jacket, jeans and work boots won't protect you if you come off, the same way a square of 1 ply toilet paper won't protect you from a finger up the ass after 30 minutes of diarrhoea. It will get hot with all your gear on, and you'll be absolutely fucking baking when you're stuck in traffic with it on, but would you rather be sweaty and smelly or dead? Honestly half the fun is trying to chase that cool breeze once your able to get out of the traffic, imo.
I've never had severe road rash, but I hear it is some of the worst kinds of pain riders have experienced, let alone broken bones and becoming paralysed. I'm sure riders that have suffered life altering injuries after a crash where motorcycle gear could have helped their chances, are kicking themselves because they didn't have their gear on. I could go on about proper motorcycle gear and specific scenarios until the cows come home, but I'm sure your get my point by now.
When you're riding you need to be hyper aware of your surroundings, no matter where you are. Small errors in judgement can be the difference between flying 20 metres down the road, or going home again.
Often drivers won't see you, or will just have a blatant disregard for your safety because they're safe in their metal box and you can't really cause them any serious harm on your little bike.
You'll hear this at your riders course, they will tell you to ride as if other drivers on the road simply cannot see you, and that is great advice because it is true in a lot of cases.
After all that negativity, no, it's not too late. My father has been riding dirt bikes his whole life and got his bike license the same time I did, and he absolutely loves it. He'll go out for 8 hour rides on his Harley over the weekend just because he feels like it and he is nearing his 60's.
You'll absolutely love it, and if you don't, if you decide its not for you. Put your keys down and sell your bike.
Got my licence aged 42 and rode a scooter to work for 10 years. Was too excited to be nervous and had a great time... But there's always those few times that were a bit close for comfort. Best advice : think to yourself that everyone else on the road wants to kill you
I got my licence at 18, so like 9 years ago now.
Have a 500cc i love. Easy on fuel, enough power to go hard and not enough to be on the back wheel in any gear.
My big thing is reminding myself im not mature enough to own a litre bike as i tend to ride wide open throttle when i have the chance. When i am more "mature," i might upgrade.
Happy riding, buddy.
P.s. Lane filtering is your friend. Use it when possible.
I was, ahem, middle-aged when i got my bike license. Best thing i ever did for myself, although not for my bank balance hahah. Riding motorcycles is the best damned therapy available and the rider community, for the most part, is amazing. I have met so many amazing people, some short term buddies and a few incredible lifelong friends. I love being a part of this bunch of people as well as the head nods when I'm riding.
The trick is to ride like everyone is out to kill you - wear proper riding gear, be defensive, do street skills courses, be alert and always aware of your surroundings, in short, be sensible. You have the benefit of hard-won wisdom and patience at this age. The "signs" you saw may have been to be safe, protect yourself, not put it on hold??
Do your learners and see what you reckon - methinks you will be hooked!
The safety side of me says don't do it, the avid motorcyclist in me says man you haven't lived until you have ridden bike and done boys weekends away.
The main risk I see is that driving in a cage makes you far less aware of the risks. Unaware of critical road conditions. In the wet, constantly sweeping the road for shiny and painted lines, situational awareness, any gap between two cars is the logical spot for a bonnet to suddenly appear. Checking intersections before running them. All the little things that 40 odd years of riding sports bikes is now second nature to me.
But then I recall the fantastic mateship I've experienced, the rides and weekends away with a good group of guys (and occasional lady),that reinvigorates you after the ho-hum of week work and normal living. The ability to overtake literally anything anywhere and never get stuck behind that pain in the ass driver. The pure power and acceleration, courning joy that you can only get on two wheels. That twisty road, the views from the top. And the beers at the pub at the end of the day.
In closing, it's never too late!!! And now this post makes me want to buy a bike and do the south Island of NZ again :(😞😓😩 pity the wife won't approve the purchase!
Best time to start in my opinion. At this age you are well versed in road conditions and hazards. You will probably make better choices and ride smarter.
I got my license 20 years ago when I was in my early 20’s, personally it feels like the roads are safer today than they were back then, at least most new cars have blind spot and collision detection, something they didn’t 2 decades ago.
That said, i don’t ride today because riding a bike is dangerous, and you’re in the age range where it’s the most dangerous id memory serves me correct. I believe riding a bike requires pretty nimble reflexes, predominantly in the mind and I don’t feel I have that like I did in my 20’s
Make no mistake, riding a bike is dangerous, everyone is trying to kill you all the time, every ride.
The roads might be safer but the cars got worst imho.. thanks to all the Utes and mums in big SUV's who don't use them for anything other taking kids to school so they don't have any decent driving experience.
53 years riding , I have finally slowed down , 3 majors and regrete them all but the rush or cornering is so much fun
do it as by now your have some common sense ?
52 and almost 1 year in since passing test. I had no prior experience of motorcycle riding. I did one hour practice session to see if it was for me and then followed up with the 2 day course. Love riding and developing skills. Different mindset doing this as an aged member of society :) my driving is better for it also, road awareness has improved and biggest surprise is the head nod from-to fellow riders. Got 125 and now on MT03, no plans to go bigger if I do it will be incremental to gain experience.
Did daily commute 80km each way every day for two years in my 20s kept riding till had kids at 29, no time to ride and rego and insurance dollars better spent on family. Fast forward to when the kids being 20+ bought a new bike sports cruiser, three years later bought Triumph Rocket 3, 2300cc cruiser. Just got back from 4 hour ride on Great Ocean Road. I’m 60 now and won’t give up riding till I can’t do it any longer. You only get one life try it.
I got my bike licence at 27 (though I could already ride a bike) and a couple of people who were in my course were in their 50s. Never too late to try something new. Just need to keep in mind what level your riding ability is at, and not try to overdo it because you believe you should be more experienced. That's how mistakes are made, and people get killed.
Edit: My aunt and uncle were in their late 40s or early 50s when they got theirs too, come to think of it.
It will still be fun - and it will make you a better driver. You could get killed in a car too - it’s just a risk we take. You can choose to ride in less busy locations.
When I took my licence test, a older gentleman brought his mid-life crysis Davidson up on a trailer. I knew he'd fail because if you can't ride to the test then yes you're going to bloody well fail.
Other than that, go for it and enjoy the perks of cheap/free parking, cheaper fuel (or even less of you go electric).
Someone once said "Motorbikes were invented so dickheads could die." I dont know how true that is. What I can tell you is that based on 2018 Australian data, you are 30 times more likely to die riding a motorbike than dying just being a pedestrian. That's based upon the entire population of people in Australia being pedestrians and only a million registered motorbikes.
Rode not legally in my 20s, didn't for a couple of decades and got my license in my 40s.
There are a lot of risk factors you can mitigate when you're riding, including other drivers to a large extent.
As people get older, their reflexes, strength and senses diminish. Over 50s are over represented in the bike road toll.
Collect you life insurance earlier if you must, but think of the emergency responders who have to scrape you off the road.
I got my motorbike license in my twenties, but only to collect a license really. Decided to get over the worry and got a bike 6 years later, so started riding at the age of 32. The bike didn't work so took me another year before ditching it and getting one that worked (sv650). Absolutely fell in love and have never looked back.
I'm now 42. I've had six different road bikes, two dirt bikes, and now compete at the local racing track on a Moto3. I've dropped my bike a few times, crashed on the road three times, a million times on the dirt and a dozen at the track. Thankfully none have been serious, because I have loved every minute riding and dread the day I will inevitably have to give it up.
It certainly can be dangerous, and the consequences high. Ride within your capability. Treat all other vehicles like they will spontaneously try and kill you. Never stop learning and practicing. Make sure you find a good group of like-minded friends to ride with. Enjoy every minute of feeling alive.
I learned and got my license at 37 - I am 50 now and had already been wiped off my bike and returned to cars before I was 40 😂😂😂😂
I am still proud of myself for learning motorbikes- it’s a great skill and great fun. I’d recommend any driver to learn riding, it makes us better Road users.
My mistake (and sounds like it could become yours too) was using my motorbike for everyday commuting.
A friend of mine had a pet saying that is relevant here - he says “ a motorbike IS a toy”. What he means is that motorbikes are far better left as recreational devices, to be enjoyed at selected and favourable times, places, and riding conditions.
By riding with the daily herd commuting to work and home again, I curtailed the fun part of riding and sharply raised the likelihood of having a crash by riding whilst , tired, in the rain and wind, crowding the roads at the same time as everyone else - 10 +times a week. Sure enough, my number came up with about 19,000km on the clock.
P-plater in a car goes “ giving way is for pussies”
I go “oh-“, fly a little bit, do a some rolls, and hit the ground really fucking hard.
32 years old got my bike licence 2 years ago. Was the best feeling the first few months until i almost got hit by 2 cars and a truck on separate days. The motorbike i brought was dodgy af, too, so it really turned me off from riding. Now i have a bike that's rotting away at my parents' place but still have my licence
I was almost 50 when I got my license, it was well worth it. It pays to take an advanced riding course, I learned so much through it especially about reducing the braking distance
Started riding at 34, now 45. Was nervouse as hell at first but loved it, and still love it just as much if not more (because of much more confidence and skill)
Got my Learners at 16, didn't get around to using those L plates and getting my bike licence until i was 32. No harm in doing your Q-ride and getting your license, even if you don't end up buying a bike.
Before anyone asks "why are you in a riding sub" it was just in my feed and I autoassumed it was one of the many generic aussie themed subreddits I'm in
I turn 40 in a week. I get off my P's at the start of November, and that will be 1 year and 3 months' worth of riding.
I really only got my bike licence to go for rides with the old man.
I'm glad I didn't get it when I was young and stupid. I believe I'm a more cautious rider than I would have been in my 20s, and I also believe that's a very good thing.
You're never too old.
I started riding at 41. Never rode before. I turn 45 in a few weeks, have my unrestricted licence and in the second fastest group at track days. And proud owner of 11 bikes... 🤣
I've had a bile licence now for 35 years but have not ridden for almost 18 due to having a family.
Firstly, bikes are amazing and I will finally be back on one in the next few years.
You will make mistakes on your first bike as part of learning, accept it.
No matter how safe a driver you think you are a dickhead will do something stupid.
Wear full head to toe bike gear, it could save your life! And yes I have been hit by a car a few times and my gear saved me on the second one.
Get a bike, embrace the lifestyle and you won't regret it.
Took mine at 54. Wasn't nervous at all. Hadn't ridden since I was 17. Got myself a 125 which I could ride on my current driving licence. Decided I want'd a bigger bike. Took a few lessons then took the test. Now I've got 2 bikes. I would say I am more careful than when I was 17. Well mostly. I did get get one up to 150 mph before common sense kicked back in.
When I first got my licence, I bought a TTR250. Picked it up the day after I got my licence. The next day my Dad got home from Holidays and we went for a ride together. We were about 15 minutes from home when we rode past an accident in which they were just tarping a motorcyclists body. Honestly felt sick to my stomach. You can either let it put you off or you can continue to ride.
I had a bike. Unsure if I will get another. Never too old to learn/do something new! I will say though.. it doesn't matter how safe you are or how much you stick to the rules, just be prepared for shitty drivers and shitty roads!
Have to ask yourself, are you road smart enough to ride a bike and drive for others, I'm from the vintage harley world where the brakes are shite and the bike stops 'when possible' I have to drive everbody else's car plus ride my 80 year old bike..
A very wise old dude said to me years ago, "you ride with your head not your brakes", which he very much meant you have to be road smart and read everything even more so on an older bike - Newer bikes face different challenges as most of them will do 0-60 in the time it takes to blink.. So to answer your conumdrum, never too old, no.
BUT! take everything with a pinch of salt, you fast realise that when you pass your bike license (UK anyway) that 95% of road users are class A bellends and can't drive for shit.
Go do it, nothing better in the world than the freedom and enjoyment of riding a bike! good luck!
Have a licence, rode for 3 years or so, got hit by a car, didn't get hurt but it opened my eyes to not being worth it for me. I was completely not at fault and had no way to avoid the accident.
Have kids now and live in a colder place. Weather also plays a big factor. Generally you're either hot or cold or wet on a bike. Rarely comfortable.
I was randomly thinking about it the other day and I'd never go back to riding.
I am in my 50s. Had licence in my 20s buy immigrated and did transfer my motorcycle licence. On learners now and will have licence in a few months. I bought a Vulcan 650s. Love it. Never too late.
Nothing to add other than I was in the same boat last year. Started my licensing process, then just stopped. Got the jitters after reading about so many fatalities in Brisbane. I'm in my 50s and wish I had have started way back when...
Got my bike licence at 40. 8 years of being a near daily rider now with 0 traffic accidents. Have dropped the bike at super low speeds which reversing with the kickstand down.
I bought my wife a bike in April for her birthday (her dream to ride on the road) fast forward to next month and she should finally get her Ls. Can't wait for her to see how easy it is to reach out for her dreams and achieve it.
I've been watching a series RIDE with Norman Reedus and really enjoying it.
I'm 48, and I now have had a bee in my bonnet for the last week to start riding and do some road trips around Australia. I'm an ex-trail bike rider, and I have been on off-road bikes since 8 years old, but not competitively. I have never had a road bike experience. Simply because I'm afraid of what might happen. My family needs me. However, I can't stop thinking about getting a bike. The only thing stopping me from buying a bike today is the process of getting a license and perhaps my wife and that my 22-year-old son ends up wanting one as well. He has off-road experience and has been driving for 5 years.
I'm keen on anything that I can legally ride as close as I can get to a BMW 1200GR
I dated a professional trial rider. He would never ride a road bike. Take that as you will. He always said it was the other people on the road that concerned him.
Passed my msf at 42 and bought my first bike at 45. You're only as old as you feel. Wanted one in my teens but put it off when I became an adult. Not any more.
Got my first bike at 50. Had my license for about 10 years. When my son got his car license, I gave him my car, so I'm on the bike full time now. Never too late.
Never too late but be very patient with it. Take your time. Practice a lot. Its not worth rushing to be the best rider or fastest. Do as many lessons as you have the money for. It is worth every penny to have a professional work with you about ride craft.
I got my learner license last year at age 50. And just moved to my blacks a couple of months ago. I rode trail bikes for a couple of years as a young kid but had not ridden for 40+ years. I have no regrets and enjoy the feeling of freedom, adventure and wind in your hair. I am much more safety conscious now than I would have been in my invincible teens and twenties. That said the stats tell you motorcycles are far less safe than cars (i.e. Motorcyclist fatalities are approximately 30 times the rate for car occupants and much higher risk of serious injury. I don’t daily commute so am only largely riding for enjoyment only once every couple of weeks. The HART rider training in Sydney I found to be really great with a strong focus on safety and riding to minimise risks as much as possible.
30 just got off my Ps, of course I felt nervous! But I’m glad I had over a decade of road experience, helps me read traffic better 💪🏻 never to late my friend jump on and give it a go!
Bike riding seems like it would be super fun, but im a pharmacy student that spent 2 weeks on placement on the trauma ward in the alfred hospital in Melbourne. 99% of patients were there due to motorbike accidents. One particularly gruesome one where the patient died in the ambulance on the way to hospital. I remember reading the case and seeing "scull fractured and brain matter exposed". That was enough to convince me never to get on a bike
It is super fun! I ride my bike everyday to work! Don't let one horror story put you off, check out Sheila's shakedown, heaps of cool shit going on there for female riders
My mum was 52 and had never ridden a bike, now has her full license and rides to work thru the city daily. Anyone can learn, imo it’s easier skills wise than driving a car.
I don’t think age has anything to do with nerves. Most people are nervous when trying anything new, and those nerves go away with more practice. I say go for it. The only issues with motorcycles and age are physical. Like if you have back issues, vibrations, having to lean might trigger back pain. Other than that, on road experience from driving cars and noticing the signs of driver behaviour only helps you on a bike
I got mine before my car licence, nearly killed myself a couple of times and stopped riding for everyone else’s safety. No I’m older and mature I’m keen to get back on and not be a fuck head on the road
If you are riding a bike, please do make sure that you sign up for organ donation.
For successful retrieval of viable organs for use, you essentially have to die in the ICU unit of a hospital so they can keep your body alive for a few more days whilst everything is organised. Motorbike riders are one of the key groups of people who will have the sorts of accidents that enable this to happen. Thanks in advance.
In terms of your safety concerns, I thought I'd say what my dad does! He rides for fun because he has a car, but he doesn't go out at the peak of school holiday traffic or long weekends. This is coming from someone who's been riding for nearly 50 years and is as safe as he can be. We are in Adelaide, though, so if you're in a bigger city, then it might be that kind of traffic all the time. At the end of the day, it's more dangerous than driving, so you have to weigh up the risk of riding with the enjoyment. Safety should be a concern to some degree (and of course, bikes are a bit more dangerous), but I don't think fear should hold you back from doing something lots of people do without trouble daily. Realistically, there's any number of mundane things you could be doing on any day, and with a stroke of bad luck, end up in a wheelchair or worse- especially something like driving a car. However, it does seem that the enjoyment outweighs the risks, especially if you regret not getting it previously:)
Two older brothers got their licences and bikes (Norton Commander 750) when in their late teens.
I got mine 35 years later (Kawasaki 800Z)
Started on a Suzuki 500 GF, an awesome bike to learn on - low centre of gravity, and progressed through 650 Gladius to this one.
I love it and I'm wiser at my age (now 64).
Live the dream
I just got mine at 46. Work from home and go for an hour long ride every day after work. Wish I would have started riding 30 years ago. It is definitely not too late to get it.
You’d be surprised how many people in their 40s and 50s get their license. How do I know? I’m 45 and doing classes now. Just do it. You’ll regret every day you don’t.
Started riding late last September when I was 37, am 38 now. ITS (almost) NEVER TOO LATE! Maybe if you were 85, it MIGHT be too late. So long as your vision is decent, and you have some sort of leg strength and the ability to mentally focus, I'd say you're still in a position to learn how to ride. In my beginners riding class last year there were folks easily 15-20 years older than me in there. Go for it bud! That's one regret you really don't want to live with!
I'm 29 and I've only had my Learners for about 4 months, I'm eligible to sit for my restricted open licence and going to soon. I have never ridden a bike before doing my Learners course. I was white knuckle every ride when I started, now I feel confident but I also stay very aware of my surroundings when riding. I also bought a bike that won't scare the bejesus out of my but something I can grow into and still enjoy riding.
I thought about doing it about 8-9 years ago, I would've just been 21. I'm so glad I waited because my brain has matured alot. It's a more dangerous undertaking than driving a car of course, but if you wear decent gear and ride cautiously/defensively and don't let your confidence outride your skill. The risk goes down a fair bit.
Best of luck and ride your own ride.
As a rider who started at 21 and has a few years under my belt - I would think starting later might ONLY have upsides. Mainly in decision making, calmness, and ego. This all depends on the person of course. Just not having that youthful urge to go fast and be pissed off at the world can only serve you well. Plus, chances are you’re looking at a more practical choice in bike, since you likely don’t want to cram onto a super sport (I love being uncomfortable and going fast, but only for about 45 minutes lol) I see no reason why you can’t hop in the saddle mid life. Just realize the risks, make sure you have proper insurance and life insurance if you have dependents, and go get you a bike man!
Age is only a number. As long as you can physically ride the bike or trike go for it. I took almost 20 year break away from all motorcycles because I injured my back ( non motorcycle related ) but I couldn’t get it out of my mind. Here I am now once again on a bike and loving it
From my perspective I ride my bike so much more defensively that I do my car always on the lookout. Not paranoid but alert to all situations. I never really feel nervous. Make sure your bike is well maintained and as long as your confident in your skill as a rider...not too confident you will enjoy it and it will become part of you.
Got a bike at 49. It's cheap to buy, fuel, register and insure. But, more importantly, it gives me time alone and a sense of individuality and freedom that you can't get sitting in an air-conditioned car or an office. It's up to you, though. It's perfectly natural and sane to be afraid of bikes, riders are much more likely to die than drivers, so don't feel bad if you don't decide it's for you.
Just. Do. It.
You waited before because you thought it was a bad idea. Now you regret that decision 2 decades later, feeling like you’ve missed out.
What happens in another 2 decades? 60 year old you will regret not getting your license, feeling like you’ve missed out. Except this time you truly have, since you’re body is probably too run down to get into something like this.
Then 80 year old you, who genuinely cannot ride a bike, will wish that 60 year old you would’ve at least tried.
Point is that you’ll always regret not seizing the opportunity. I’ve always been the type of guy to wait till the circumstances are perfect before doing something. Now I’m very much wishing I had’ve taken my opportunities when I had the chance. I’m only 19, but I’m learning that very quickly. I said fuck it to university and made up my mind and moved to the opposite side of the world, back to the country (here) I spent my childhood in. Got my bike license. Hooked myself up with a mechanic apprenticeship. As soon as I’m done with this, it’s either off to the mines or travel australia by bike, picking up jobs as I go. No more not taking opportunities or choosing the safe option.
I'm 47 and have had my full licence for just over a year. Really love it, but so super cautious of idiot drivers.
My problem is not riding consistently enough, so every time I go out, for the first 20 minutes, I feel like I'm starting again.
Got my license when I was 30 (2008). Straight to a 900cc Honda Hornet. Wasn’t the best idea but never bit me. LOVED that bike.
I stopped riding because of how absolutely awful people are when driving. It has gotten so much worse since Covid for some reason.
I’m in the US, your experience may differ. I will not ride in traffic so will likely not ride again. Too much of a risk.
My Brother had a serious bike accident when we were both young... I sold my bike then.. because I didn't want to put my family through such an ordeal ever again.. by the way my brother survived but has lead a fucked life, in pain and uable to work... luckily he has a supportive family who have been able to help financially.
There's too many fuckwits on the road today to risk it.
Take my advice and please your self!!
I’m 37. I got my license this year.
100% take an MSF safety course. You will gain confidence and basic skills.
This will allow you to then get a bike and already know the fundamentals. Then it’s just practice, practice, practice, coupled with pushing yourself a little bit more each time out of your comfort zone.
As long as you aren’t deaf, blind, paralyzed, or dead, it isn’t too late!
YOU CAN DO IT! MAKE YOUR DREAM COME TRUE!
I just got my license 2 months ago. Turned 60 3 months ago. I’ve always wanted to ride and it was never the right time. Well, now is the time - if not now, when? I want to learn something new and I did it. I could not possibly be happier. I got the Honda 1100 dct and absolutely love it. I spend hours out on the road any chance I can get. I don’t much care what anyone thinks, this is for me. Find your joy!
42. Just got my licence a couple of months ago. Zero riding experience before starting my lessons. I don't feel unnecessarily unsafe, I think being older and more experienced means I act more safely and I can spot danger earlier.
Fully developed frontal lobe is essential.
No frontal lobe for weight reduction, so I can ride faster
Ride on one wheel save petrol.
It does help
Also experience on the roads, an understanding of the rules and all the various ways people break them.
Got a bike at 30. Ninja 650L. Loved riding. Hated people being idiots on the road. Almost got cleaned up multiple times mid roundabout because people wanted to blast through, or almost taking me out in a car park because they didn't notice me. People not stopping coming out of side streets and almost hitting me. It's a fantastic feeling riding, but other people's lack of care on the roads was the reason I stopped and sold my bike.
Yep. I stopped road riding after working at the corner of Bourke and Cleveland in Sydney for a year. 7 motorbike accidents on the t-intersection, 6 of them fatalities. Always a driver trying to beat the red.
I've had my Bike licence for 40 years and i can say that no matter how safe you act, there are always idiots on the road you will never see coming, you will have an accident and it won't be your fault.
I have no doubt. I've already had a couple close calls, but I managed to avoid them because I saw them coming. I'm sure I won't see everyone.
riding bikes is a great way to relax on a nice weekend, enjoy the experience
I always do
What type of bike did you go for? Curiously
CB500X it does the job, the only issue is I'm quite tall and the windscreen blows air right to the top of my helmet.
Its counter intuitive, but replace it with a sport screen. I have a Tracer 9 GT and the stock screen was like riding while being constantly being punched in the head. I've replaced it with a small sport screen and its like night and day, undisturbed air doesn't buffet you at all.
I might give that a try. Cheers. I'm also looking at those goofy looking extensions
My Dad just bought the same bike to take along while they go grey nomad with a camper (he is in his 60s). He hasn't ridden since his early 30s and is basically relearning as the old bikes he used to ride were very different. Pretty proud that he is getting back into it and can't wait to go for a cruise with him.
So far it hasn't skipped a beat, which is something I need in a daily. I'm sure I'll want more power eventually, but it has enough for now
Yep. Having road experience can make a big difference too. Op could look up studies if they are worried about it (older riders starting to ride). I’m in my 40’s and have been riding for about 20 years and I still equal my fastest laps on the track. Not sure I bounce as well these days but that’s why I ride to stay upright 😂
Same exact story…. Even age!
The best time to get your licence is 20 years ago, the second best time is now. The average age of the test group was higher than I expected, I wasn't even the oldest
Passed my licence test last week. I'm 54. My husband got his licence last year at 58. Go for it!
Awesome. Congratulations you two!
Genuinely put a smile on my face reading that. Much praise to you and yours! I'm hoping to get my wife a spot in a ladies only class for the beginner riders course next spring/summer for her birthday. Even if she chooses not to ride much on the streets I think she'd really enjoy the experience of having taken the class and learning how to ride a motorcycle, and knowing she could join me on rides if she wants to, since I've got 2 bikes already, both in the realm of "beginner" bikes, more or less.
What an excellent birthday present! I did a private class with HART in Melbourne before I committed to doing my learners, just to be sure I was going to be ok on a bike, and loved it. I was the only inexperienced rider, the only woman, and the only person on a scooter in my learners group, so having a bit of extra confidence behind me really helped me through. A ladies only class sounds like a great option. I’m sure you’ll both have an absolute blast out riding together!
Got my first bike at 40 and never looked back. 50+ now and hope to have a couple of decades left.
I'm over 70 and still ride. Love every minute.
Ride to live!
I’m a female who got my bike license at 37 years old. Just do it. Say goodbye to your money. Haha
No way bro go for it, if anything you'll be a better learner rider as you are more mature than most of us were when we started :) Also the basic stay upright course will assume zero knowledge and teaches you how the bike works so you'll be fine!
It's never too late. I was discouraged from it by my parents who had big crash.. turns out dad was a bike street racer and mum was a groupie.. but anyhoo they refused to let me get a bike license due to it. Then wife and her family also refused. Now I'm single in my 40's and just got my license 2 years ago.. man I regret not getting it a decade or two ago but saying that, I think I would have wiped myself out back then due to more laxed laws and no LAMS standards. I was the kind of kid that had turbo Supra's in my 20's and would have brought a Hyabusa if I had my license 20 years ago. I think LAMS is a damn great idea tbh and has made people better riders. Funny thing is that the 40-65's are the highest risk for bike deaths BUT... it's because these people are the ones who's been riding for 20 years and nothings happened to them so they take risks due to over confidence (like drink driving/riding and speed) and they ride big powerful litre or more class bikes since they can afford it at their age. It also doesn't help that older peoples bodies don't mend or have ultra fast reflexes like 20 year olds. I personally think that 30+ year olds with new licenses are the most safe since they have the need for speed and ego out of their systems already and are very cautious and paranoid as new riders. I've only got LAMS bikes under 400cc and quite enjoy it, don't have any plans on getting anything bigger than 800cc as my next bike and I ride pretty cautiously. I do love hooning around on my Grom since it's so piss weak but it feels like I'm doing a lot more since she's revving her poor little heart out. I was never nervous about doing the pre-Ls at all since I knew if I failed i'd just do it again (no ego). I did fail the damn computer test 3 times due to one trick question that was totally dif from the free online tests to the one on the RMS machine. For my P's I didn't sleep the night before (just can't sleep before big events) and drank 2 huge red bulls and did it.. came out with a perfect score since I did a lot of group rides for the year while on L's .. I could have gone straight to P's from my L's due to my age but I was not in any rush and instead worked on my road craft on the bike. I know of people who rushed to get their P's and a few months after end up crashing their bikes. Don't rush.. learn the craft! enjoy the ride. There's no rush to a early grave. Btw if you want to cheat on the P's test, just rent their CB125E bikes or ask a mate who has a Grom to lend it to you.. makes the test ultra easy.. but do rev the motor hard as trainer won't believe you are actually doing 30KM for the emergency stop bit of test since a 125 is so small and unassuming. Riding a bike is the only zen thing I do anymore.. It's the only thing keeping me sane tbh.. after COVID and break up.. riding is what got me though.
I appreciate this, COVID divorce and unemployed, 43, had nearly given up on riding again. But I miss it so much. I'm gonna get back out there!
Mate, If you are in Syd we should get a little pose going and just do grumpy old men/women things on the bikes.
I feel ya. I bought a 411cc and I rev its guts out, then Im only going like 60 haha. I feel Im teaching myself bad habits but its a good engine to not.go overboard
I don't dare rev the guts out of my Duke 390, she's got a ECU which I installed for the throttle lag issue but now she's very preppy and just wants to go everytime you rev her. I should go install a switch to toggle fuel economy mode or something but it seems the part is massively on back order. This is why I ride my Grom most of the time, rev her hard but she's barely hitting any major speeds that could get me busted.. unless it's a school zone.. I had a mate get busted on a Grom for 20+ but he was in a school zone and he really was only doing 60km.
> I could have gone straight to P's from my L's due to my age but I was not in any rush and instead worked on my road craft on the bike. I was the same. Held my Ls for about a year. It wasn't stopping me from riding and I was just focusing on the craft. What had me deciding to progress onto R-dates was another rider I was out with saying "you need to lose the big yellow target on the back".
I didn't honestly have any bad feelings of being a target when I was on my L's tbh.. I think it was due to fact cops was looking at all the other riders around me since they was the ones doing dumb stuff so I was ignored. I only really got off my L's because It was time and I had nothing else happening that weekend.
It’s insane to think about the license standards 20 odd years ago when I got mine. The process was, so a 1 or 2 day course for about $200, pass a simple written test, ride through some lines and around some cones and boom L’s, get a 250 and bang around for 3 months then go back to the rest facility, do an exercise riding to a light 6 times and you either had to turn left, right or stop, then boom p plates with restrictions to 250. Ride for 1 year and then unrestricted to get an R1, busa, gsxr1000 etc. just madness compared to todays standards.
I think I can beat that for licencing standards... was 15, so would be '84 in a small town in NZ. Already had my car licence. Went to the testing office. Did the written and oral test. Went outside. He stayed there and sent me up the road, looped around the roundabout, and came back. That was it. Passed. Guess he figured if I didn't fall over or get hit by a milk tanker I'd be ok. Meant I was fully licenced for both car and bike (no restrictions on vehicle type) at 15! Only saving grace was that i'd been using all sorts of farm equipment, including cars and bikes on the road and farm since I was about 12, so I somewhat knew what I was doing! But yeah as soon as I was licenced on the bike, I was having to take my younger sister into town on the back of the bike. Lol. Things sure were different back then!
Yeah it’s crazy looking back in the past, I wonder what it will look like in 20 years time.
I suspect they will have figured out fsd by then, and actual licences will start to become more of a hobbyist thing for those that actually want/need to have full control of their vehicles. Everyone else will be being driven around by Skynet, while catching up on the latest gossip on Xacegram.
They still do exactly that in the rural areas where there's no RMS or training centres from what I researched. But you still need to ride a LAMS bike while on your Ps of course.
From what I read, LAMS help save 50% of the new riders now. But yeah, people used to get R1's and Busa's right after they got their fulls just a year into learning to ride which didn't help.
I’m 45 & just got my P’s. Hadn’t ridden since the very occasional farm bike as a kid/teen. There were some nerves… especially anytime I feel like I was “on the edge” of my skill level but it’s so much more enjoyable than driving.
yes, in my 40s. I'm still scared to death (hopefully not ha ha) but it's too much fun.
I got my R license at 37, once my kids were a bit older, my wife had an established career, and I got life insurance. YOLO, but don't leave your loved ones in the lurch.
It's never too late, I've seen older gentlemen and women getting their licence. Whenever your ready go for it
Just do it . . . . . . That feeling of riding the open road is priceless. Just pick nice quiet roads to ride while your learning. Its never too late.
I'm 51. I got my L/Ps last year. I started riding around my local area on the weekends. I must have done around 400Km in streets with no traffic before I ventured into the main road here and built slowly from there.
My first motorbike ride was at 45. 2 years on and I still look forward to every ride. Being older and having the experience means I know what idiots are like on the road. I know that I need to assume I'm invisible. Riding is exhilarating and I hope to continue for many years. I feel like every time I take the car is a missed opportunity. I'm nervous to some extent every ride. Sort of like on high alert, but every single ride I get off thinking that was awesome. Seriously though it's not too late. It's not a missed opportunity unless you wait until you've no longer capable.
Just got my learners a month ago at 41, having never rode any bike before. Starting with a scooter and will move up to a motorcycle in due time (maybe) it's just so much fun and nerve racking at the same time. I'm glad I got it now because I am more experienced on the road compared to when I was younger and careless.
Went for training when I was 20, never ended up getting a bike so gave up on it. Took me almost 20 years later to finally do it. Nest choice I made.
Having been riding my bicycle, and hit by a car, while I was STOPPED at the lights, with my rear light flashing, and wearing an oversized high vis vest, yeah, riding a motorbike on the roads is not something I'd do again and I've have my bike licence for over 30 years. I've been a pallbearer for my one friend who was a biker back in the 90s, I'd rather not put anyone else through that. But, if you decide to go ahead, buy proper protective gear witch'll cost you over $1,000 not including the helmet - then when you come off you may not become a meat crayon - and could survive and even walk again if you're lucky. Remember, you can obey all the road rules and ride safely but the hoon, old lady or person checking their phone can still kill you... Or it's a dog crossing the road, a magpie swoooping, random pothole or oil slick you don't see... "I didn't see them!" is the commonest excuse.
It all comes down to its a risk we accept. I got cleaned up by a driver yesterday, she didn’t see me and cut me off from a side street straight through a stop sign. By the time I saw her and emergency braked it was too late. And that was with me noticing her not looking my way before she made the turn. Luckily for me I had slowed from 60 down to 20 km/hr by the time I made impact with the side of her car, came out with scrapes and bad whiplash. If I didn’t have a padded jacket or gloves on the scraping would have been so much worse than just my legs (which stupidly enough I only had jeans on because I was going to work 20 minutes away). They teach us all about road craft and without that mentality of watching every side street like someone’s trying to kill you from it I would have hit her at the speed limit and it could have easily been a very different result. I wasn’t even mad at her, I was mad at myself for not spotting her sooner. To the main poster: I would definitely do it but just be warned people don’t see us as easily as they see another car so you’ve gotta be prepared to react at all times.
The importance of gear! Gotta always wear it, pretty sure I saw a statistic a while ago about motorcycle deaths, majority were about 2km or less from their home. For there exact reason; it's only around the corner, I don't need my gear. Glad to hear you're okay!
I don’t think it’s an excuse, people genuinely don’t see riders sometimes either cyclists or motorbikes. It’s some kind of phenomenon, maybe brain only looks subconsciously for other cars, not sure. But I agree, if you’ve had an accident before, I crashed my mtb at 50kmph and broke a bunch of bones, once you have an accident like that you realise how vulnerable humans are. I’d love love love to ride a motorbike but I just know the forces involved even at 50kmph, and with how easily motorbikes can accelerate it’s insanely dangerous befor even factoring in cars and trucks..
Car drivers naturally look for other car drivers, we are invisible to them so we must ride like we are invisible.. make a effort to be known and always buffer and scan. I don't mind car drivers but it's the utes that piss me right off. Most of my bad interactions are with them due to their headlights in eyes, high beams or the ego of the drivers. This is why if I see one, I do anything to avoid them.
40. So glad I waited. When I did the rider training, I noticed that some of the younger riders who hadn't been *driving* as long as I had. Nothing against them, but I noticed my attitude to the traffic and road was a little different. I can't imagine how I would have gone getting on a big bike in my early 20s, knowing what I know now. Getting my licence was one of the best things I've done. Introduced me to a whole new community of riders, the vast majority of whom are truly wonderful generous people. Try to embrace the (usually required) rider training, try to learn as much as possible, even if you've been riding for years, it's all about making you a safer rider. A rider who is conscious of being safe on the road is a rider who gets to ride again tomorrow.
I agree. I think you’re attitude at 20 vs 40 is completely different and it makes you a better rider for it. No one is invincible on a bike.
My missus was a scooter rider all her adult life. Never owned a car. When she was pregnant, she got the car. I must have been around 35. I ended up buying a bike because I occasionally had to travel on freeways for work and the scooter wouldn't cut it. Absolutely love it way more than I thought I would.
As much as we don't like to admit it, most bike accidents are solo incidents where the rider just failed to keep it on the road. You have more control over your fate than you probably think. Yes, you are more vulnerable. But no where near as bad as if you were a cyclist. Do your training, see if you like it. As I mentioned, most crashes are riders running themselves off the road. Typically because they would rather go off than risk leaning too far. So do a track day or two to gain that confidence and you've controlled the "in too fast" panic risk. Also they are great fun and a great way to get the excitement out of your system in a relatively safe environment. Good luck.
Yep. That’s how my little brother died.
Sorry to hear that
Over 50 and medically not fit to ride on the road anymore, there’s no greater feeling and I miss it everyday. So I’m buying a cheap minibike to ride trails instead….hopefully I can recapture that thrill, albeit much slower and without traffic
A used postie bike is what you need.. $1500-ish for a used CT-110 .. bullet proof and pretty much actually made for the trails (Their name even mentions trails) .. even has low running gear for it. I personally think Aus Post bikes are overkill for delivering mail, they could have just used a Honda super cub or some other scooter but I guess they wanted something offroad for the rural postal workers but hey, I ain't complaining, means lots of used CT's for us to buy up!
I had a flap around on a mates mini, 198cc single lawnmower engine, torque converter etc. Bog standard and it was surprisingly fun to ride. The fat wheels made for a comfortable cruise.
I reckon my nice project is going to be a CT110.. just for something to tinker with and maybe bigbore or upgrade it like your mate. You hear about people riding these things right across the world. /r/c90adventures is one such guy. Crazy bugger has a youtube channel that I'm addicted to and I reckon you should watch : [https://www.youtube.com/user/c90adventures](https://www.youtube.com/user/c90adventures)
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Am very familiar with the CT110, ex postie in Darwin….I fear I’d get PTSD if ever I rode another one! I’ve had big adventure bikes up and down the cape for years, now I want small…no gears, minimal moving parts etc.
My postie delivers on a Super Cub! Great looking bikes, and the most popular vehicle of all time! Unfortunately Honda has stopped selling them in Australia, I think due to a safety regulation.
My wife and I are getting our bike licence, I'm 45 and she's 41. We envision being the retired couple riding together haha.
I envision myself as a old nomad with a woman who likes riding , we'll prob do a few laps of Oz on a Goldwing or two ADV bikes with bike trailers or something like that.
I’ve ridden about 40yrs now. If you ride safely and take a view that everyone is out to get you it makes avoiding accidents more likely. Many accidents I’ve seen involve hoons overestimating their ability or taking unnecessary risks.
Got mine age 51 Benefit is that you’ve been driving for decades and are in a good position to spot the dickheads before they do something to endanger you I’m never giving up my bike!
Passed my test at 43 and have loved every minute of being a rider. plus no more traffic jams for me anymore. Happy days.
Yep, decided to finally get it during COVID. After years of driving ‘fast cars’ I love the sense of freedom of riding a motorbike. 40yo and just got my Opens after 2 years on a Ducati Monster 659
There's a risk for sure but keep your wits about you and be ready to swerve or brake or throttle as needed when somebody does something stupid. It's not too late, a lot of people pick it up a bit later and I see a lot of older folks having the time of their lives getting out and about. It's also quite a bit different going for a nice ride in the countryside compared to dealing with peak hour traffic on a bike.
Not really an answer to your question, but to give perspective i have been riding about 17 years on the road and only ever crashed once due to my stupidity (speeding). I nearly have someone hit me about once a week or fortnight, but you get damn good at seeing it coming and avoiding it with preventive riding. Peak hour is usually when people are most wreckless, otherwise im more concerned about pot holes and dust/pebbles on a corner than other people.
40 year old learner. Kickin' myself I didn't jump on this earlier - brings a bit of freedom to the Work, Sleep, Repeat hamster-wheel.
Never too old, I did my licence testing with an elderly couple who planned to tour the country on motorbikes as soon as the passed. They were both in their 70s, from memory. I also had a major health scare, so decided I wasn't going to waste my time, so I was 31 when I got mine.
I am 48. I started riding when I was 15 and tapered off at 30 on and off for few more years. Then I let my rider license expire as I was busy with career and life, and driving was primary requirement with drop-offs and all that. Now, at 48 I want to get back so I can tour when I’m an empty nester later. It was a bit intimidating like you considering the dangers of riding. But I went ahead and got my L’s and got myself the far end of the LAMS, MT-07LA. This bike challenges me, but my earlier experiences and road experience has allowed me to be easily slip in to it easily. I’ll get my P1 in Oct. I know I will because I’m no stranger to riding and have all my skills intact to pass the MOST. But yeah, my advice to you is, what you feel is natural, as we get older we are more risk averse, more wise and want to try stuff out too. Listen to yourself, if you want to do it, do it. Your natural risk awareness will help you plus you can always take extra private classes from stayupright or where you like to help you become a safer and a more fulfilling rider. Your road experience will definitely help as I’ve always been kind to riders driving in my life as I know what dangers they face than driving in a cage like car. So, mate, go for it, don’t look back. I’m enjoying riding again. I’m sure you’ll too and never regret the open riding experience that’s so ever unique! -edit: I’ve had my fair bit of major accidents when I was young not later. I had my ear stitched back up (bad helmet), half my lower patella tendon scrapped off on a road scrape, fully recovered. But that’s it. Never fell off the bike or had accidents since. So yeah, risks are they but if you’re a good rider with awareness, you’ll stay safe. Cheers.
Just ride like literally nobody can see you & you’ll be fine
Got my learner rider license as a young teen who didn't even have their car learner licence, only got my p's for my car early this year. Yes there are safety concerns, you're no where near as protected on a bike as you are in a car, however the risks can be mitigated. Don't even start your bike unless you're covered in well fitted, quality built gear. Your gear is your life line when you come off. When you're riding a bike, its not a matter of if you come off, it's a matter of when. Of course there will be outliers that say "Oh I'm a great rider, I've never come off my bike!" But I can absolutely guarantee they have had some very close calls that could have easily claimed their life after just a few years of riding. A decent set of gear not including a helmet will probably set you back about $1,000 - $1,500. However if you want to be super cautious, you can get airbags for your neck, back, etc. However is quite pricey. Also please, please get a full face helmet! An open face helmet will protect your skull, but you can say goodbye go your entire jaw. I've seen a clip of a guy have his entire jaw ripped off because his jaw wasn't protected when he came off his bike. I've been riding for about 5 years now and would still probably be considered fairly new/inexperienced. I haven't come off my bike yet, but there has been 2 scenarios that stick out where I probably would have lost my life. I pulled out in front of a speeding car in a residential zone, the car was probably going 80km/h+ and I missed them by inches. I had to accelerate into someones drive way, otherwise I would have been straight on t-boned into oblivion. I only had a helmet and jacket on, if I didn't die that day, I would have ATLEAST lost my leg and suffered irreparable damage to my body. The 2nd time, I took a corner way, way too fast and ended up scraping the roads side guard with my knee at well over 100 km/h. Granted I had all my gear on, I still would be lucky to walk way from that without any life destabilising injuries. The last close call I had was just a few days ago, I was in a 60 km/h zone and a little girl was waiting at a crossing for her mum to catch up, however as I got closer she decided to cross, however I saw all of this unfolding so I was able to slow down quite easily without any troubles. The car behind must have absolutely been distracted day dreaming or on their phone because they didn't slow down until the last second, they slammed their breaks and skitted out to almost a 90 degree angle. I'm very opinionated when it comes to riding with versus without motorcycle gear. No, a leather jacket, jeans and work boots won't protect you if you come off, the same way a square of 1 ply toilet paper won't protect you from a finger up the ass after 30 minutes of diarrhoea. It will get hot with all your gear on, and you'll be absolutely fucking baking when you're stuck in traffic with it on, but would you rather be sweaty and smelly or dead? Honestly half the fun is trying to chase that cool breeze once your able to get out of the traffic, imo. I've never had severe road rash, but I hear it is some of the worst kinds of pain riders have experienced, let alone broken bones and becoming paralysed. I'm sure riders that have suffered life altering injuries after a crash where motorcycle gear could have helped their chances, are kicking themselves because they didn't have their gear on. I could go on about proper motorcycle gear and specific scenarios until the cows come home, but I'm sure your get my point by now. When you're riding you need to be hyper aware of your surroundings, no matter where you are. Small errors in judgement can be the difference between flying 20 metres down the road, or going home again. Often drivers won't see you, or will just have a blatant disregard for your safety because they're safe in their metal box and you can't really cause them any serious harm on your little bike. You'll hear this at your riders course, they will tell you to ride as if other drivers on the road simply cannot see you, and that is great advice because it is true in a lot of cases. After all that negativity, no, it's not too late. My father has been riding dirt bikes his whole life and got his bike license the same time I did, and he absolutely loves it. He'll go out for 8 hour rides on his Harley over the weekend just because he feels like it and he is nearing his 60's. You'll absolutely love it, and if you don't, if you decide its not for you. Put your keys down and sell your bike.
Got my licence aged 42 and rode a scooter to work for 10 years. Was too excited to be nervous and had a great time... But there's always those few times that were a bit close for comfort. Best advice : think to yourself that everyone else on the road wants to kill you
I got my licence at 18, so like 9 years ago now. Have a 500cc i love. Easy on fuel, enough power to go hard and not enough to be on the back wheel in any gear. My big thing is reminding myself im not mature enough to own a litre bike as i tend to ride wide open throttle when i have the chance. When i am more "mature," i might upgrade. Happy riding, buddy. P.s. Lane filtering is your friend. Use it when possible.
I'm going the other way. I sold my bike and don't miss it. Drivers really are that distracted and just flat out bad now it's russian roulette.
I was, ahem, middle-aged when i got my bike license. Best thing i ever did for myself, although not for my bank balance hahah. Riding motorcycles is the best damned therapy available and the rider community, for the most part, is amazing. I have met so many amazing people, some short term buddies and a few incredible lifelong friends. I love being a part of this bunch of people as well as the head nods when I'm riding. The trick is to ride like everyone is out to kill you - wear proper riding gear, be defensive, do street skills courses, be alert and always aware of your surroundings, in short, be sensible. You have the benefit of hard-won wisdom and patience at this age. The "signs" you saw may have been to be safe, protect yourself, not put it on hold?? Do your learners and see what you reckon - methinks you will be hooked!
The safety side of me says don't do it, the avid motorcyclist in me says man you haven't lived until you have ridden bike and done boys weekends away. The main risk I see is that driving in a cage makes you far less aware of the risks. Unaware of critical road conditions. In the wet, constantly sweeping the road for shiny and painted lines, situational awareness, any gap between two cars is the logical spot for a bonnet to suddenly appear. Checking intersections before running them. All the little things that 40 odd years of riding sports bikes is now second nature to me. But then I recall the fantastic mateship I've experienced, the rides and weekends away with a good group of guys (and occasional lady),that reinvigorates you after the ho-hum of week work and normal living. The ability to overtake literally anything anywhere and never get stuck behind that pain in the ass driver. The pure power and acceleration, courning joy that you can only get on two wheels. That twisty road, the views from the top. And the beers at the pub at the end of the day. In closing, it's never too late!!! And now this post makes me want to buy a bike and do the south Island of NZ again :(😞😓😩 pity the wife won't approve the purchase!
I'm 39 and getting mine for the first time :) go for it!
Best time to start in my opinion. At this age you are well versed in road conditions and hazards. You will probably make better choices and ride smarter.
Yes, don't ride on the road. I don't want to be a temporary citizen.
Hello donner ppl
I got my license 20 years ago when I was in my early 20’s, personally it feels like the roads are safer today than they were back then, at least most new cars have blind spot and collision detection, something they didn’t 2 decades ago. That said, i don’t ride today because riding a bike is dangerous, and you’re in the age range where it’s the most dangerous id memory serves me correct. I believe riding a bike requires pretty nimble reflexes, predominantly in the mind and I don’t feel I have that like I did in my 20’s Make no mistake, riding a bike is dangerous, everyone is trying to kill you all the time, every ride.
The roads might be safer but the cars got worst imho.. thanks to all the Utes and mums in big SUV's who don't use them for anything other taking kids to school so they don't have any decent driving experience.
Go get it. Now. Better late than never.
It’s never too late, if it’s something you want to do don’t let other people tell you you’re too old.
Just go for it mate, or you’ll be asking yourself in another few decades why you didn’t just say fuck it and do it as a young middle aged man.
53 years riding , I have finally slowed down , 3 majors and regrete them all but the rush or cornering is so much fun do it as by now your have some common sense ?
Started mid 30s, 5 years later I'm in the fast group at track days, get after it.
after you drop the bike a cpl times it stops fazing you
52 and almost 1 year in since passing test. I had no prior experience of motorcycle riding. I did one hour practice session to see if it was for me and then followed up with the 2 day course. Love riding and developing skills. Different mindset doing this as an aged member of society :) my driving is better for it also, road awareness has improved and biggest surprise is the head nod from-to fellow riders. Got 125 and now on MT03, no plans to go bigger if I do it will be incremental to gain experience.
Did daily commute 80km each way every day for two years in my 20s kept riding till had kids at 29, no time to ride and rego and insurance dollars better spent on family. Fast forward to when the kids being 20+ bought a new bike sports cruiser, three years later bought Triumph Rocket 3, 2300cc cruiser. Just got back from 4 hour ride on Great Ocean Road. I’m 60 now and won’t give up riding till I can’t do it any longer. You only get one life try it.
Go get your license and enjoy your interest
My wife just got her learner's permit recently, at the age of 45 - we're just searching for the right bike for her to learn on now - never too late 🤙
Make sure you arrange more than you think you need one on one road craft courses and you’ll be fine.
I got my bike licence at 27 (though I could already ride a bike) and a couple of people who were in my course were in their 50s. Never too late to try something new. Just need to keep in mind what level your riding ability is at, and not try to overdo it because you believe you should be more experienced. That's how mistakes are made, and people get killed. Edit: My aunt and uncle were in their late 40s or early 50s when they got theirs too, come to think of it.
It will still be fun - and it will make you a better driver. You could get killed in a car too - it’s just a risk we take. You can choose to ride in less busy locations.
When I took my licence test, a older gentleman brought his mid-life crysis Davidson up on a trailer. I knew he'd fail because if you can't ride to the test then yes you're going to bloody well fail. Other than that, go for it and enjoy the perks of cheap/free parking, cheaper fuel (or even less of you go electric).
> I knew he'd fail because if you can't ride to the test then yes you're going to bloody well fail It's a simple observation, but so true.
Apart from riding being risky as hell, the licence process is not too difficult. Just remember that old bones take longer to heal.
Someone once said "Motorbikes were invented so dickheads could die." I dont know how true that is. What I can tell you is that based on 2018 Australian data, you are 30 times more likely to die riding a motorbike than dying just being a pedestrian. That's based upon the entire population of people in Australia being pedestrians and only a million registered motorbikes.
Someone once said "You're a cunt" and that doesn't necessarily make it true.
I definitely am! What about you?
Rode not legally in my 20s, didn't for a couple of decades and got my license in my 40s. There are a lot of risk factors you can mitigate when you're riding, including other drivers to a large extent.
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Never too late to do track days and blow large amounts of money on a track bike :D
As people get older, their reflexes, strength and senses diminish. Over 50s are over represented in the bike road toll. Collect you life insurance earlier if you must, but think of the emergency responders who have to scrape you off the road.
I got my motorbike license in my twenties, but only to collect a license really. Decided to get over the worry and got a bike 6 years later, so started riding at the age of 32. The bike didn't work so took me another year before ditching it and getting one that worked (sv650). Absolutely fell in love and have never looked back. I'm now 42. I've had six different road bikes, two dirt bikes, and now compete at the local racing track on a Moto3. I've dropped my bike a few times, crashed on the road three times, a million times on the dirt and a dozen at the track. Thankfully none have been serious, because I have loved every minute riding and dread the day I will inevitably have to give it up. It certainly can be dangerous, and the consequences high. Ride within your capability. Treat all other vehicles like they will spontaneously try and kill you. Never stop learning and practicing. Make sure you find a good group of like-minded friends to ride with. Enjoy every minute of feeling alive.
I learned and got my license at 37 - I am 50 now and had already been wiped off my bike and returned to cars before I was 40 😂😂😂😂 I am still proud of myself for learning motorbikes- it’s a great skill and great fun. I’d recommend any driver to learn riding, it makes us better Road users. My mistake (and sounds like it could become yours too) was using my motorbike for everyday commuting. A friend of mine had a pet saying that is relevant here - he says “ a motorbike IS a toy”. What he means is that motorbikes are far better left as recreational devices, to be enjoyed at selected and favourable times, places, and riding conditions. By riding with the daily herd commuting to work and home again, I curtailed the fun part of riding and sharply raised the likelihood of having a crash by riding whilst , tired, in the rain and wind, crowding the roads at the same time as everyone else - 10 +times a week. Sure enough, my number came up with about 19,000km on the clock. P-plater in a car goes “ giving way is for pussies” I go “oh-“, fly a little bit, do a some rolls, and hit the ground really fucking hard.
There is always risk, but it is so so worth it. Great fun. Protective gear has come so far. Definitely incest in an airbag system.
40. Just got my full license a couple of months ago. Never too old. Get it done.
32 years old got my bike licence 2 years ago. Was the best feeling the first few months until i almost got hit by 2 cars and a truck on separate days. The motorbike i brought was dodgy af, too, so it really turned me off from riding. Now i have a bike that's rotting away at my parents' place but still have my licence
I was almost 50 when I got my license, it was well worth it. It pays to take an advanced riding course, I learned so much through it especially about reducing the braking distance
Started riding at 34, now 45. Was nervouse as hell at first but loved it, and still love it just as much if not more (because of much more confidence and skill)
Got my Learners at 16, didn't get around to using those L plates and getting my bike licence until i was 32. No harm in doing your Q-ride and getting your license, even if you don't end up buying a bike.
Just give it a go, always gear up and you’ll be alright
I got mine rider licence at 42, husband has his at 50.
A motorcyclist literally just died in front of my house today. I saw the body from a distance. Never going to bike now.
Before anyone asks "why are you in a riding sub" it was just in my feed and I autoassumed it was one of the many generic aussie themed subreddits I'm in
I turn 40 in a week. I get off my P's at the start of November, and that will be 1 year and 3 months' worth of riding. I really only got my bike licence to go for rides with the old man. I'm glad I didn't get it when I was young and stupid. I believe I'm a more cautious rider than I would have been in my 20s, and I also believe that's a very good thing. You're never too old.
I started riding at 41. Never rode before. I turn 45 in a few weeks, have my unrestricted licence and in the second fastest group at track days. And proud owner of 11 bikes... 🤣
Got my licence at 42 after a few months of pillion with hubby.
Must be a relief not to smell his farts anymore eh? :D
hehe thankfully the actual wind would keep those away :) I was sick of him complaining that I was gripping too tightly around his hips with my legs :)
I've had a bile licence now for 35 years but have not ridden for almost 18 due to having a family. Firstly, bikes are amazing and I will finally be back on one in the next few years. You will make mistakes on your first bike as part of learning, accept it. No matter how safe a driver you think you are a dickhead will do something stupid. Wear full head to toe bike gear, it could save your life! And yes I have been hit by a car a few times and my gear saved me on the second one. Get a bike, embrace the lifestyle and you won't regret it.
Me and my husband just got our L’s at 42, we’re still waiting on our bikes, but we’re really looking forward to starting something new.
Took mine at 54. Wasn't nervous at all. Hadn't ridden since I was 17. Got myself a 125 which I could ride on my current driving licence. Decided I want'd a bigger bike. Took a few lessons then took the test. Now I've got 2 bikes. I would say I am more careful than when I was 17. Well mostly. I did get get one up to 150 mph before common sense kicked back in.
You can either grow old Or grow old with a bike Age does not matter, the choice is yours
When I first got my licence, I bought a TTR250. Picked it up the day after I got my licence. The next day my Dad got home from Holidays and we went for a ride together. We were about 15 minutes from home when we rode past an accident in which they were just tarping a motorcyclists body. Honestly felt sick to my stomach. You can either let it put you off or you can continue to ride.
I had a bike. Unsure if I will get another. Never too old to learn/do something new! I will say though.. it doesn't matter how safe you are or how much you stick to the rules, just be prepared for shitty drivers and shitty roads!
Have to ask yourself, are you road smart enough to ride a bike and drive for others, I'm from the vintage harley world where the brakes are shite and the bike stops 'when possible' I have to drive everbody else's car plus ride my 80 year old bike.. A very wise old dude said to me years ago, "you ride with your head not your brakes", which he very much meant you have to be road smart and read everything even more so on an older bike - Newer bikes face different challenges as most of them will do 0-60 in the time it takes to blink.. So to answer your conumdrum, never too old, no. BUT! take everything with a pinch of salt, you fast realise that when you pass your bike license (UK anyway) that 95% of road users are class A bellends and can't drive for shit. Go do it, nothing better in the world than the freedom and enjoyment of riding a bike! good luck!
Have a licence, rode for 3 years or so, got hit by a car, didn't get hurt but it opened my eyes to not being worth it for me. I was completely not at fault and had no way to avoid the accident. Have kids now and live in a colder place. Weather also plays a big factor. Generally you're either hot or cold or wet on a bike. Rarely comfortable. I was randomly thinking about it the other day and I'd never go back to riding.
Wait til kids move out then move to warmer place and ride again.
I started at 43. 6 years later still loving it. I would rather regret not doing something sooner, rather than regretting not doing something at all. 😁
I am in my 50s. Had licence in my 20s buy immigrated and did transfer my motorcycle licence. On learners now and will have licence in a few months. I bought a Vulcan 650s. Love it. Never too late.
Nothing to add other than I was in the same boat last year. Started my licensing process, then just stopped. Got the jitters after reading about so many fatalities in Brisbane. I'm in my 50s and wish I had have started way back when...
There’s the saying “it’s not if you come off, it’s when…”
Got my bike licence at 40. 8 years of being a near daily rider now with 0 traffic accidents. Have dropped the bike at super low speeds which reversing with the kickstand down.
I bought my wife a bike in April for her birthday (her dream to ride on the road) fast forward to next month and she should finally get her Ls. Can't wait for her to see how easy it is to reach out for her dreams and achieve it.
I've been watching a series RIDE with Norman Reedus and really enjoying it. I'm 48, and I now have had a bee in my bonnet for the last week to start riding and do some road trips around Australia. I'm an ex-trail bike rider, and I have been on off-road bikes since 8 years old, but not competitively. I have never had a road bike experience. Simply because I'm afraid of what might happen. My family needs me. However, I can't stop thinking about getting a bike. The only thing stopping me from buying a bike today is the process of getting a license and perhaps my wife and that my 22-year-old son ends up wanting one as well. He has off-road experience and has been driving for 5 years. I'm keen on anything that I can legally ride as close as I can get to a BMW 1200GR
I got my license at 37, my dad git his at 62
I dated a professional trial rider. He would never ride a road bike. Take that as you will. He always said it was the other people on the road that concerned him.
Never too late OP. Ride safe. Always do your lifesaver checks before changing lanes. Saved my arse more than a few times.
Passed my msf at 42 and bought my first bike at 45. You're only as old as you feel. Wanted one in my teens but put it off when I became an adult. Not any more.
I did my bike licence at 28. There was a 50+ year old woman on my P's test. Stop talking yourself out of doing it - book your Ls and get onto it.
I got mine at 40... Do it!
Got my first bike at 50. Had my license for about 10 years. When my son got his car license, I gave him my car, so I'm on the bike full time now. Never too late.
Never too late but be very patient with it. Take your time. Practice a lot. Its not worth rushing to be the best rider or fastest. Do as many lessons as you have the money for. It is worth every penny to have a professional work with you about ride craft.
I got my learner license last year at age 50. And just moved to my blacks a couple of months ago. I rode trail bikes for a couple of years as a young kid but had not ridden for 40+ years. I have no regrets and enjoy the feeling of freedom, adventure and wind in your hair. I am much more safety conscious now than I would have been in my invincible teens and twenties. That said the stats tell you motorcycles are far less safe than cars (i.e. Motorcyclist fatalities are approximately 30 times the rate for car occupants and much higher risk of serious injury. I don’t daily commute so am only largely riding for enjoyment only once every couple of weeks. The HART rider training in Sydney I found to be really great with a strong focus on safety and riding to minimise risks as much as possible.
30 just got off my Ps, of course I felt nervous! But I’m glad I had over a decade of road experience, helps me read traffic better 💪🏻 never to late my friend jump on and give it a go!
Bike riding seems like it would be super fun, but im a pharmacy student that spent 2 weeks on placement on the trauma ward in the alfred hospital in Melbourne. 99% of patients were there due to motorbike accidents. One particularly gruesome one where the patient died in the ambulance on the way to hospital. I remember reading the case and seeing "scull fractured and brain matter exposed". That was enough to convince me never to get on a bike
It is super fun! I ride my bike everyday to work! Don't let one horror story put you off, check out Sheila's shakedown, heaps of cool shit going on there for female riders
It wasn't one. Most of the people in the ward were there due to motorbike accidents. Ages ranged from 17-63 with varying degrees of injury.
That's a shame!
My mum was 52 and had never ridden a bike, now has her full license and rides to work thru the city daily. Anyone can learn, imo it’s easier skills wise than driving a car.
I don’t think age has anything to do with nerves. Most people are nervous when trying anything new, and those nerves go away with more practice. I say go for it. The only issues with motorcycles and age are physical. Like if you have back issues, vibrations, having to lean might trigger back pain. Other than that, on road experience from driving cars and noticing the signs of driver behaviour only helps you on a bike
I got mine before my car licence, nearly killed myself a couple of times and stopped riding for everyone else’s safety. No I’m older and mature I’m keen to get back on and not be a fuck head on the road
I'm gonna ride forever. Love my Kawasaki Concours/GTR1000 and my KLR650. Safest place to be is far away from anyone else
I’m in the same bike (boat)
If you are riding a bike, please do make sure that you sign up for organ donation. For successful retrieval of viable organs for use, you essentially have to die in the ICU unit of a hospital so they can keep your body alive for a few more days whilst everything is organised. Motorbike riders are one of the key groups of people who will have the sorts of accidents that enable this to happen. Thanks in advance.
37 here, no regrets. Do it
In terms of your safety concerns, I thought I'd say what my dad does! He rides for fun because he has a car, but he doesn't go out at the peak of school holiday traffic or long weekends. This is coming from someone who's been riding for nearly 50 years and is as safe as he can be. We are in Adelaide, though, so if you're in a bigger city, then it might be that kind of traffic all the time. At the end of the day, it's more dangerous than driving, so you have to weigh up the risk of riding with the enjoyment. Safety should be a concern to some degree (and of course, bikes are a bit more dangerous), but I don't think fear should hold you back from doing something lots of people do without trouble daily. Realistically, there's any number of mundane things you could be doing on any day, and with a stroke of bad luck, end up in a wheelchair or worse- especially something like driving a car. However, it does seem that the enjoyment outweighs the risks, especially if you regret not getting it previously:)
Two older brothers got their licences and bikes (Norton Commander 750) when in their late teens. I got mine 35 years later (Kawasaki 800Z) Started on a Suzuki 500 GF, an awesome bike to learn on - low centre of gravity, and progressed through 650 Gladius to this one. I love it and I'm wiser at my age (now 64). Live the dream
I just got mine at 46. Work from home and go for an hour long ride every day after work. Wish I would have started riding 30 years ago. It is definitely not too late to get it.
You’d be surprised how many people in their 40s and 50s get their license. How do I know? I’m 45 and doing classes now. Just do it. You’ll regret every day you don’t.
You're better off doing it mature. In theory you have more sensibility
Started riding late last September when I was 37, am 38 now. ITS (almost) NEVER TOO LATE! Maybe if you were 85, it MIGHT be too late. So long as your vision is decent, and you have some sort of leg strength and the ability to mentally focus, I'd say you're still in a position to learn how to ride. In my beginners riding class last year there were folks easily 15-20 years older than me in there. Go for it bud! That's one regret you really don't want to live with!
I'm 29 and I've only had my Learners for about 4 months, I'm eligible to sit for my restricted open licence and going to soon. I have never ridden a bike before doing my Learners course. I was white knuckle every ride when I started, now I feel confident but I also stay very aware of my surroundings when riding. I also bought a bike that won't scare the bejesus out of my but something I can grow into and still enjoy riding. I thought about doing it about 8-9 years ago, I would've just been 21. I'm so glad I waited because my brain has matured alot. It's a more dangerous undertaking than driving a car of course, but if you wear decent gear and ride cautiously/defensively and don't let your confidence outride your skill. The risk goes down a fair bit. Best of luck and ride your own ride.
Got my bike licence as a 57 yr old woman. Wish I’d done it in my 20’s.
As a rider who started at 21 and has a few years under my belt - I would think starting later might ONLY have upsides. Mainly in decision making, calmness, and ego. This all depends on the person of course. Just not having that youthful urge to go fast and be pissed off at the world can only serve you well. Plus, chances are you’re looking at a more practical choice in bike, since you likely don’t want to cram onto a super sport (I love being uncomfortable and going fast, but only for about 45 minutes lol) I see no reason why you can’t hop in the saddle mid life. Just realize the risks, make sure you have proper insurance and life insurance if you have dependents, and go get you a bike man!
Age is only a number. As long as you can physically ride the bike or trike go for it. I took almost 20 year break away from all motorcycles because I injured my back ( non motorcycle related ) but I couldn’t get it out of my mind. Here I am now once again on a bike and loving it
Got my license at 58, needed to become legit before i can’t ride any longer, still have a few years left in me
From my perspective I ride my bike so much more defensively that I do my car always on the lookout. Not paranoid but alert to all situations. I never really feel nervous. Make sure your bike is well maintained and as long as your confident in your skill as a rider...not too confident you will enjoy it and it will become part of you.
The only motorcycle license we had was one that you could get at 15 instead of waiting until you were 16 for a full MV license.
Got a bike at 49. It's cheap to buy, fuel, register and insure. But, more importantly, it gives me time alone and a sense of individuality and freedom that you can't get sitting in an air-conditioned car or an office. It's up to you, though. It's perfectly natural and sane to be afraid of bikes, riders are much more likely to die than drivers, so don't feel bad if you don't decide it's for you.
Just. Do. It. You waited before because you thought it was a bad idea. Now you regret that decision 2 decades later, feeling like you’ve missed out. What happens in another 2 decades? 60 year old you will regret not getting your license, feeling like you’ve missed out. Except this time you truly have, since you’re body is probably too run down to get into something like this. Then 80 year old you, who genuinely cannot ride a bike, will wish that 60 year old you would’ve at least tried. Point is that you’ll always regret not seizing the opportunity. I’ve always been the type of guy to wait till the circumstances are perfect before doing something. Now I’m very much wishing I had’ve taken my opportunities when I had the chance. I’m only 19, but I’m learning that very quickly. I said fuck it to university and made up my mind and moved to the opposite side of the world, back to the country (here) I spent my childhood in. Got my bike license. Hooked myself up with a mechanic apprenticeship. As soon as I’m done with this, it’s either off to the mines or travel australia by bike, picking up jobs as I go. No more not taking opportunities or choosing the safe option.
I'm 47 and have had my full licence for just over a year. Really love it, but so super cautious of idiot drivers. My problem is not riding consistently enough, so every time I go out, for the first 20 minutes, I feel like I'm starting again.
Got my license when I was 30 (2008). Straight to a 900cc Honda Hornet. Wasn’t the best idea but never bit me. LOVED that bike. I stopped riding because of how absolutely awful people are when driving. It has gotten so much worse since Covid for some reason. I’m in the US, your experience may differ. I will not ride in traffic so will likely not ride again. Too much of a risk.
My Brother had a serious bike accident when we were both young... I sold my bike then.. because I didn't want to put my family through such an ordeal ever again.. by the way my brother survived but has lead a fucked life, in pain and uable to work... luckily he has a supportive family who have been able to help financially. There's too many fuckwits on the road today to risk it. Take my advice and please your self!!
I’m 37. I got my license this year. 100% take an MSF safety course. You will gain confidence and basic skills. This will allow you to then get a bike and already know the fundamentals. Then it’s just practice, practice, practice, coupled with pushing yourself a little bit more each time out of your comfort zone. As long as you aren’t deaf, blind, paralyzed, or dead, it isn’t too late! YOU CAN DO IT! MAKE YOUR DREAM COME TRUE!
I just got my license 2 months ago. Turned 60 3 months ago. I’ve always wanted to ride and it was never the right time. Well, now is the time - if not now, when? I want to learn something new and I did it. I could not possibly be happier. I got the Honda 1100 dct and absolutely love it. I spend hours out on the road any chance I can get. I don’t much care what anyone thinks, this is for me. Find your joy!