FAREWELL...

[wordsmith]

Finally, for the last time but not the first (!) I have to declare that I have retired from motorcycling.   Age – almost 82 now – and a number of wellbeing issues that will not go away have made this painful decision now irrevocable – indeed, I am selling all my riding gear so that I’m never tempted to get back onto two wheels.   My last of many bikes – a tasty and very rewarding Yamaha MT-09 SP –  left the garage today in the hands of its new thrilled-to-bits young owner.

The ‘wellbeing’ issues I refer to are not going to kill me – at least not directly – but deteriorating eyesight and balance problems have taken over.   Not much fun if one has hazy vision and/ or can’t  stand upright!

I’m having laser treatment for the eye issues, which is mildly painful, and I got a laugh out of the optometrist during the last session when  I asked him if he was with ISIS as he scraped the inside of my eyelids with a blunt scalpel.  

The balance problems arise from a couple of other neurological issues including an out-of-the-blue onset of vertigo several months ago.   See me walking and you’d swear I’d just come out of the pub after a heavy drinking session!  

It’s not often thought about, but the feet are used a lot in motorbike riding, not only to change gear and to brake, but to balance the bike when cornering, and of course to put down at rest.   Lack of sensation ‘down there’ does not help any of these necessary actions.   I’ve only ever had one very minor ‘drop’, at zero kph, and would like to keep that record.

Since getting back into motorcycling on my retirement in 1994 I’ve had a lot of bikes, mostly BMW Boxer twins, but more recently lower and lighter Yamaha medium-capacity machines.   I’ve enjoyed most of them, but my favourites were the BMW R1200 GSs, including a late-model LC.   I believe I enjoyed them the most not because they were the ‘best’ – however defined – but because I had them at the right time of life to indulge in a lot of long-distance touring, which I loved and at which they excelled.   The early MT-09 Tracers, and a later 900 GT served me well as my riding needs and abilities changed, and the just-departed SP was a lovely thing to see and to ride.

So there is now a large motorcycle-shaped hole in my garage for the first time in almost thirty years, and a larger hole in my heart.    I’ll miss buying a new machine and engaging in the negotiation ‘dance’ with dealers (how rotten are most of them in that profession); the pleasure of receiving parcels of after-market bits and pieces from far and wide to again commence the farkling process; and the joys of planning a new tour to roads and sights often new to me.

I’m not at all sure what I’m going to find to take up my time in the future, for motorcycling and everything associated with it – including taking part in Forums such as this – have kept me busy and fulfilled.

But “the moving finger writes, and having writ, moves on – and writes another bit”, as Omar Khayyam did not write.   So we move on.

So – best wishes to you all as we grind our way through covid, Stay Upright, and above all – Do Not Get Old!

Edited April 20, 2021 by wordsmith

[Buggy Nate]

So very sorry to hear about that Wordy. I do hope you will hang around but I suspect that may just be a little too much salt in the wound. I’m sure you have thought about a bike that can’t fall over? Do trikes/three wheelers work to fill the gap?

[2and3cylinders]

I'm sure he is or has considered 3 wheel transport but, as they said in first Top Gun training lecture, "You can't hit what you can't see", and if you don't know which way is up, what's in the other direction greets you all too fast.".

Wordy, I know flying is out but what about sky diving...and aren't you being treated by an opthomologist, not an optometrist?

And you're still just a kid.  My old man is 99, and all I can say about him is the good die young.  Same goes for my mother, 5 years his junior.

Good luck regardless and check in occasionally if it's not too painful.

 

 

[petshark]

I applaud you sir. For riding such lively motorcycles until that beautiful age, for showing all of us that it is possible to enjoy them and stay safe, for your words of wisdom and your talent to write them down and last but not least for your “one minor drop” record. 

I have no doubt that you will quickly find other things to enjoy, as the world is full of them. I wish you all the best.

[wordsmith]

17 minutes ago, 2and3cylinders said:

I'm sure he is or has considered 3 wheel transport but, as they said in first Top Gun training lecture, "You can't hit what you can't see", and if you don't know which way is up, what's in the other direction greets you all too fast.".

Wordy, I know flying is out but what about sky diving...and aren't you being treated by an opthomologist, not an optometrist?

And you're still just a kid.  My old man is 99, and all I can say about him is the good die young.  Same goes for my mother, 5 years his junior.

Good luck regardless and check in occasionally if it's not too painful.

 

 

His business card and brass plate on the door says "optometrist".   It's all he does...

 

[johnmark101]

First of all you will be missed if you leave the forum.  I have enjoyed reading your posts sir.

The rest of us can only hope that we can continue to ride up to the age of 82.  The fact that you were able to do so was a blessing as most of us will probably reach the point you have some years earlier in life.  I personally know of only one other rider who continued riding up to the age of 81 before he could no longer do so.  

Best of luck to you in managing the health issues you mentioned.  Keep moving, keep challenging your mind as much as you can.

I have often though that when the day comes that I give up motorcycles I might turn to karting.  It looks like a lot of fun.  Best of luck to you in finding something to fill the void.

 

Best regards.........John.

[2and3cylinders]

38 minutes ago, wordsmith said:

His business card and brass plate on the door says "optometrist".   It's all he does...

 

The reason I asked is here in the US as follows applies. "An exception to the ocular surgical scope of practice being limited to ophthalmologists is the opportunity in three states for optometrists to perform certain laser procedures (primarily posterior capsulotomy and glaucoma laser procedures) and a limited number of other minor nonlaser surgical procedures.".  I've had the blink and it's over cataract lense replacement (though the anaesthesiaologist screwed up and didn't give me enough local so it was 25 minutes of torture), and 2 of my kids have had detached retina procedures (and they and the third have to be closely monitored because it's apparently a heredity thing), as here in the land of Lincoln optometrists are not allowed to handle even minor procedures.

When I give my wife of +40 years (we married relatively late) a quick kiss in the morning, usually before leaving for a ride, when she's still in bed with her eyes closed and half awake, without even opening her eyes she says "What did you do?" in an inquisitioner's tone...

[skipperT]

Sad to hear the news Wordsmith, I’ve got loads of suggestions on filling the time but suspect you will find your own way into something quickly. Respectable decision for sure.

As others have said stay or pop in when you can and say hey. 

cheers,

Skip

[DavidS]

Wordsmith - You will be missed, but not forgotten here, I hope I can ride half as long as you have. I think we all have pondered what will happen when we get to the place you have arrived, but it is too painful to think about. You, my friend, have met the demon head-on, and with class not many of us can muster.

Enjoy your new pursuits, and check in on us from time to time.....

[MightBeSasquatch]

Best wishes to you going forward. It's a decision I believe that many of us don't want to make. In the meantime we can only get out more, see more roads and have more adventures while we can. I'll take your post as inspiration to fill my cup with more of it going forward!

[Warchild]

Very rough business, Wordsmith. But obviously the correct call. Vertigo and two wheels are a bad combo, a prescription for trouble. The leg issues are almost as bad, especially in city traffic where you are stopping a lot.

Getting along in ones year's calls for periodic adjustments. I know myself and quite a few others are on the Tracer because our previous heavy touring bikes were becoming more of a problem in low-speed/parking lot maneuvers. My loaded up FJR1300 was getting to be an uncomfortable handful when fully loaded.

Best of luck to you, sir. 👍

 

 

 

[PhotoAl]

Just because the motorcycle has departed doesn't mean you need to.  You thoughts and involvement here are important and I hope you stick around.  I agree with your decision and applaud you for knowing when it is time before the decision is forced on you.  As 70 is closer than 60 it is good to hear from someone who kept riding until 82.  

[Salish900]

Well done sir. You rode as long as you safely could, and have made a good decision to stop. Respect. Now live life fully in the ways you still can. 

[knyte]

24 minutes ago, PhotoAl said:

Just because the motorcycle has departed doesn't mean you need to.  You thoughts and involvement here are important and I hope you stick around.  I agree with your decision and applaud you for knowing when it is time before the decision is forced on you.  As 70 is closer than 60 it is good to hear from someone who kept riding until 82.  

@PhotoAl said it better than I could have!!

As someone who seems to be aging quickly rather suddenly, I can't echo @PhotoAl's words strongly enough - I'd absolutely be interested in what you've done to enjoy your two wheeled adventures as thoroughly as you have.  Your experiences are important for some of us to learn from.

[Garz747]

82 is a nice age to stop motorcycling! I just got back into them three years ago at age 60. Built a cottage and had to get a bike to enjoy the local roads and lack of traffic.Hope i can ride my new Tracer 900 as long as Wordsmith... Cheers!

Edited April 20, 2021 by Garz747