How Old Is Too Old To Ride A Motorcycle

Are you an aged biker looking to find out whether you’re too old to be riding a Harley-Davidson bike? If so, then you’re in the right place at the right time.

Age isn’t the main factor for riding a motorcycle; rather, it depends on physical health and ability. Riders need good balance, coordination, and reflexes. Many people ride well into their 70s or even 80s, provided they are physically fit and comfortable on the bike.

In this article, you’ll get to know all about riding a motorcycle as an aged biker, how old is too old to ride a motorcycle, signs that you should stop riding your Harley-Davidson bike, and more. Continue reading to get all the answers that you’re looking for.

Riding a Harley-Davidson bike as an aged biker

The sensitive topic of stopping to ride your bike is as polarizing as it can be. Many bikers eventually have to tackle this issue, as many of them feel that they still have what it takes to ride a bike. But at what age does a biker have to stop riding their bike? 

Generally, the age at which a Harley-Davidson rider should stop riding their bike will depend on their mental, physical, and overall health condition. The majority of bikers stop riding their bikes at ages between 60 and 85 depending on how capable they are, how confident they feel, and the local motorcycle laws. This is widely considered to be a sensitive topic. If you tell an avid rider that they are too old to ride their bike, you better be standing far away from them. But it’s still important to know how old is too old to ride a motorcycle.

How old is too old to ride a motorcycle?

The final answer will depend on a number of factors and the results will vary. Generally, it’s quite common for bikers in their 60s, 70s, and even 80s to occasionally ride their bikes. The question of when an aged biker should stop riding their motorcycle is inevitably raised in families. On many occasions, the question isn’t just about age alone.

The answer to how old is too old to ride a motorcycle can be easily found in the biker’s mental, physical, and overall health condition. If you’re an aged biker, you should listen to your body. Your body will automatically tell you when you’re too old to be riding a bike. There’s no better judge than you and your own body.

Sometimes, 85 can be young enough for riding a bike while other times, 50 might be too much for riding. This will vary from individual to individual and will be situation-based. There are many older bikers, while some of them are returning riders. However, a particularly concerning fact is that older bikers are more likely to suffer from serious or fatal injuries during an accident. 

A study found that bikers above 60 were 3x more likely to suffer from a serious injury than bikers below 39 years of age. The middle-aged bikers between 40 and 59 are 2x more likely to suffer serious injuries than the younger ones. There are some telltale signs that you might need to stop riding your bike, regardless of age. You’ll need to consider your strength, eyesight, balance, flexibility, reflexes, and mental clarity. There are two key reasons why old bikers will stop riding their bikes – 

1. Medical conditions

There are riders that are pushing their 60s and 70s and still riding their bikes almost daily. On occasions, this can result in problems with the hips, and then they’ll have to take different pills just to deal with the pain. Is this a good idea? Of course not. Moreover, you don’t need to be a doctor or an expert to tell you that.

If your body is aching and hurting while, and after you’ve ridden your bike, then it’s a clear hint that you need to ride less or stop riding altogether. There are different types of medical conditions and other physical limitations that’ll almost always prevent you from riding your bike. The list of medical conditions that might prevent you from riding a bike is very long. However, some of them are made clear thanks to the state laws. Some of those are –

• Legal blindness 
• Dizziness or experiencing seizures 
• Loss of limbs
• Experiencing passing outs
• Psychological disorders
• Abnormal heart rate 

Although it’s a short list, there are many other things that make riding a bike not only a danger to yourself, but to other people as well. If you’re taking medication, or you’re undergoing some sort of surgery or a treatment that might affect your attentiveness, ability to focus, concentrate, or remain fully awake, then you may not be capable of riding a bike either. All these conditions are generally quite clear, and even an avid rider knows what they mean. These can happen to any biker at any age.

2. Old age catching up

With time, age starts taking its toll. There are many problems that might come with old age, including you starting to get weaker and frail. Your reflexes and reaction time will also get slower. Anyone who has been riding a Harley-Davidson bike for a while knows that your reflexes and ability to react quickly and adequately could save your life on the road. Moreover, your eyesight might get weaker and your eyes could get tired quickly.

In case your eyesight is having trouble judging the gaps between traffic, reading the signs, and overall having issues keeping track of things moving around you, it’s a recipe for disaster. If you don’t feel confident when riding your bike, then it’s another sign that something iffy is going on. 

When moving on a two-wheeled bike, balance will be everything. It’s true that at high speeds you might not have to worry much about balance, but at low speeds, things could get quite difficult. You might feel wobbly and unstable at lower speeds, especially if you’re riding a heavy Harley-Davidson model. These will be harder to ride at lower speeds.

Signs that you need to stop riding your bike

There are many different things that you need to look out for.  Experiencing one of these things will not affect your ability to ride a bike. However, if you experience multiple things, things might be getting serious.

• You’re noticing a sudden increase in the close calls.
• You frequently feel tired or weak after riding for a while for no apparent reason.
• You feel nervous and uncomfortable when getting ready to ride the bike or while riding. If you aren’t feeling particularly condiment in your ability to react in time in case something unexpected were to happen. 
• Sometimes, you might have problems staying focused and concentrating.
• Maybe you’re having difficulty staying in the moment and aren’t fully aware of the surroundings.
• If your eyesight is bad, and you aren’t able to see the road at night.
• You are having a slow reaction time.
• If you’ve had difficulty getting on and off your bike.
• If you get lost, or you cannot remember how to get to the places you’re supposed to go.
• If you frequently drop your bike and struggle to pick it up.
• You have difficulty maintaining a line or remaining in your lane.
• You have difficulty maintaining balance when sitting or riding your bike at a slower speed.
• You have difficulty seeing the traffic signs and signals at fast riding speeds.
• If others are telling you to stop riding and not just your own family.
• You have decreased ability to judge the distance between two vehicles and the distance at ramps and intersections.

Are there any laws regarding when to stop riding a Harley-Davidson bike?

Depending on where you’re residing, there might or might not be any laws regarding old motorcycle riders. In certain areas, older riders might be needed to undergo vision tests or get certification from a medical professional. Some of them might even need you to undergo knowledge and practical tests to assess their ability to ride a bike.

Typically, motorcycle bikers aged between 64 and 80 might be needed to pass such tests, depending on where they’re residing. It might interest you to know that at this age, the renewal periods are also shorter, which makes them more frequent. It is done for the safety of not just the rider but others on the road too. The renewal process can change as well depending on where you’re residing. Many places require the renewal to be done in person.

Conclusion

Thank you for reading. Hopefully, now you know a lot more about riding a motorcycle as an aged biker, how old is too old to ride a motorcycle, signs that you should stop riding your Harley-Davidson bike, and more. Too old to ride a motorcycle is the age range between 60 and 85. The age to stop riding a bike will depend on how confident you feel when riding your bike, the local laws, and how capable you are of driving. Moreover, the age will also depend on the physical, mental, and overall health condition of the biker.