Don’t Let The Old Man In

[exhog]

Hi kids! Bought myself a K1600Bravo for my 80th birthday. Back in the game after 20 years. In the last 3 years I rode what I wanted, starting at 77 with a Bonneville 900 twin to a Tiger 900, to a ‘17 RT and here we go on to the big K, or as I refer to her…The A-10 Warthog. She’s a ‘23, with big Clearwaters and A Billie. With another 150 lbs (notwithstanding the super low CG) my first trip will be about 50 miles in the local school parking lot for the low speed stuff and some confidence building. Then it’s off to who knows where. I told my wife I’d call her to let her know I got somewhere. She told me to have fun. After 53 years, we both “get it.” It’s a great time to be an American.
If you see me down…I’ll need help getting the A-10 back up. Thanks…in advance!
Glad to be aboard this great forum.

 

[omega man]

Congratulations and Wooooo Haaaaa on your “keepin’ on going”!
OM

 

[exhog]

Thanks, OM!

 

[paul_f]

Good to hear that you are still riding at 80!

Recently I turned 78 and I get too much flack from my kids about being too old to ride but they are told that in my current mental and physical shape, retirement from riding has yet to be determined.

Ride on and enjoy your new ride!

 

[bluehole]

So when are we going to see a picture of the A-10?

 

[GTRider]

Kudos, keep on ridin’!

A favorite tune by the late Toby Keith, from the movie “The Mule.” Comes up on my playlist periodically when I’m riding, just as a reminder why.

Best,
DeVern

 

[exhog]

You guys are great! Thanks for the kind words. I am highly fortunate to have health was fixable (so far), and God provided me with my spirit and curiosity to continue riding. Riding needs no explanation to serious riders. Like all of you friends, my body may be a number, but my spirit is still at 26, with a 5.56 in Vietnam. It’s said that the biggest danger to old men is thinking they’re young men. So true. So my riding is a conservative zen focus on safety, gear, the written rules, and most importantly, the unwritten ones gained from experience…old and new. My theory is that riding is as dangerous as you allow it to be, balancing the risk-reward ratio.
Taking flak means you’re over the target. They love you and don’t want to lose you…and after all, you’re not 26, even though you think you are. At 78 or 80…it’s the fourth quarter, you’re ahead by 2 points, and you’ve used up your time-outs. I have to go for the win.
I’ll know when I have to dismount for good and I think we have to all know when the heart tells us that the risk-reward ratio is diminished. As Clint says…”a man’s got to know his limitations.” The key being honest with yourself and not putting those who love you in that classic scene saying, “he died doing what he loved.”
I say…call your own shots, and reassure them you’re ok and good to go. They just need to know that. They also need to know that your joy and happiness in riding has an expiration date, and that joy is available nowhere else and never will be again.
Certainly, if your docs say you’re “no-go,” it’s time for a chat with yourself and reality.
Fortunately, I’m 10 minutes from low traffic and back roads and can mitigate my risk, with easy access to all of Northern and upper Michigan. I never ride at night, always full gear, never two-up, don’t drink, keep a 3 sec following distance and the throttle under control. No big groups.
Pics of the A-10 coming. Thinking of an early Spring run to the Great Lakes Shipwreck museum on Lake Superior.
I hear the crash of the waves against the breakwall. Joy.

 

[exhog]

Kudos, keep on ridin’!

A favorite tune by the late Toby Keith, from the movie “The Mule.” Comes up on my playlist periodically when I’m riding, just as a reminder why.

Best,
DeVern

GT Rider….PERFECT!

 

[exhog]

First ride on the Bagger today in Michigan! This bike is, hands down, the best bike I’ve ever experienced.

 

[k1200rs2000]

Hi, I retired sort of end of 23 at 72. I have been riding since 1972 and continuously since then...enjoyed iron butt rides saddle sore 1K and a bun burner 1500 to visit daughter in Denver..wife flew out to meet me and we rode colorado mountains including Mt. Evans. She went home by air and I went north to Devil's Tower ,Gillete WY and onto through Sturgis for a photo of my brick in front of the Harley shop. Then to Spearfish, Mitchell and on through Nebraska, Minnesota, Illinois,etc. 4600 miles over 11 days..yes I was rained on for ride through the Ohio valley..no surprise,

 

[HSVPhil]

U GO exhog!
Many of us on this forum are up-in-years, so we’ve got your 6! Enjoy every mile left in your tank... I test rode a Bagger and enjoyed it very much; I need to pull a camper when necessary so a dealer told me to go with the Std K16GT.
We just did 3K miles in NZ cause it’s time to check those items on the bucket list.
Happy Ridin on that beautiful new ride. Hope it really scratches your itch to continue to ride! Please watch out for the Many Distracted Drivers out there....

Happy Trails whenever U can on your splendid Bagger!
HSV-Phil -- & -- HSV-Karen [Alabama Airmarshal of CC-214]
USAF-Ret'd — & — USN-Ret’d
'14 K16GT ———— '16 R1200RS
'75 R90S ——-—— '82 R100CS
’09 KLX250S ——— ’88 R100RT
’05 Vespa 200L -—-- ’11 Vespa GTS 300
President of MOA CC-05: mail-to: president@bmwmoal.org

 

[exhog]

Thanks, Phil! She’s been a dream to ride. I picked up a DJI Osmo Action 5 (great camera) and am recording my rides in case my wife throws me in the rest home warehouse…and I’ll have someone turn on a fan and I’ll watch my videos with Dire Straits on the headphones. It doubles as a dash cam so my lawyer can show the jury that the idiot really did turn left in front of me!
Exhog
O-3 US Army 68-71
MACV Quang Nam ‘71

 

[omega man]

Thanks, Phil! She’s been a dream to ride. I picked up a DJI Osmo Action 5 (great camera) and am recording my rides in case my wife throws me in the rest home warehouse…and I’ll have someone turn on a fan and I’ll watch my videos with Dire Straits on the headphones. It doubles as a dash cam so my lawyer can show the jury that the idiot really did turn left in front of me!
Exhog
O-3 US Army 68-71
MACV Quang Nam ‘71

OM

 

[langoptc]

Happy (very) belated 80th birthday! Great looking bike.

 

[jakfrost]

Hey ExHog, nice to hear your philosophy on continued use of 2 wheels to travel….I’m 78 shortly and just bought ‘my last bike’ ( quote my wife has heard before, lol ), back in January. Like you it is a ’23 Bagger and looking forward to my planned excursion east to visit family in the Maritime Provinces, traveling from home in Eastern Ontario. 10-12 days and 3-4K kms…I agree with all your safety protocols, no night time if possible, no 2 up, ATGATT, etc…I am a Can Force Vet as well, never deployed but I know the drill.
Having fun (?) trying to find a windshield that provide buffeting relief without requiring me to ‘look thru’ the damn thng…other than that it is, as you say, the most comfortable bike I have ever owned for touring, and I’ve owned a few. Also found using an empty parking lot for some refreshers on ‘slow speed U-turns, etc., is highly recommended!! Dropped mine already, not a scratch but my pride and confidence both need supplements, lol. And no, I couldn’t pick it up, much to my surprise.