Today Is My Three Year Riding Anniversary

[rockbottom]

I'm a classic mid-life crisis rider--I'd never thrown a leg over a bike until my youngest kid graduated from high school. Three years later, I have about 54K miles under my belt. They've all been safe except for a three below-5-MPH drops (one in the first week of riding; one during the ERC; one this winter when I hit ice pulling out of my drive way). I've taken the BRC once and the ERC three times.

I'd hoped to put 20K on my R12R in its first year, but it looks like I'll be a bit under that due to work demands which have cut into my weekends.

[angellr]

I'm a classic mid-life crisis rider--I'd never thrown a leg over a bike until my youngest kid graduated from high school. Three years later, I have about 54K miles under my belt. They've all been safe except for a three below-5-MPH drops (one in the first week of riding; one during the ERC; one this winter when I hit ice pulling out of my drive way). I've taken the BRC once and the ERC three times.

I'd hoped to put 20K on my R12R in its first year, but it looks like I'll be a bit under that due to work demands which have cut into my weekends.

I rode as a youngin' (dirt bikes; never had a street bike), however, had not thrown a leg over until I was almost 50. I have been riding for about 18 months now and am on my second bike. Later this summer will be the real test of endurance - a long ride! I think I have only put on about 5-7K miles so far in this time.

[fastdogs2]

Rockbottom,

Congratulations on your riding anniversary!

I didn't start riding until I was 58 (nine years ago). I had wanted to ride motorcycles since around age 13-14 when I rode my cousin's Cushman motorscooter and a friend's Sears moped. People (all non-riders) discouraged me from motorcycle riding because of how dangerous it was. I vowed to own a motorcycle, when I became an adult. Unfortunately, limited finances kept me from my motorcycle goal, as well as, my wife's strong resistance to a two wheeled vehicle.

After 35 years of marriage, I finally was able to wear down my wife's motorcycle resistance. After I completed the Harley Rider's Edge (MSF) course, I purchased a used Honda Rebel 250 cc and rode that around the neighborhood. Once my riding skills became better, I purchased a used BMW R1200C. I put about 8,000 miles on that bike and then a 2005 R1200RT caught my eye. I rode the RT for 16,500 miles, but I was never comfortable with its top heavy balance and my inability to flat foot it.

The R1200R became my bike of choice in Feb, 2010. I have since ridden it for about 8,800 miles and have loved every minute of it. I will ride it to the BMWMOA Rally in Bloomsburg next month, along with three of my friends, whom I have convinced to adopt BMWs (two of them have R1200R's and one has a RT).

Bill