Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Just wondering if there is anyone out there in a situation similar to mine. I'm 63, retired and want to get back to riding a bike after 35 years. My wife is a tad supportive but feels if I do buy a bike, she'll be a widow soon afterward or visiting me in the local hospital's intensive care unit. I definitely intend to take the Motorcycle Rider Safety Course before buying a bike. Our nearby motorcycle dealer specializes in Yamaha and Kawasaki bikes so I'm leaning towards either a Kawasaki Vulcan 500 or a Yamaha V-Star Custom 650 cc. I'm rather short at 5 ft 6 in and weigh 160 lbs which my wife would like reduced by at least 20 lbs. Anyway, is there hope for me or should I just buy one of those electric 4-wheel scooters and check into a seniors home now?

If you are in good shape and feel fine after the MSF go for it. My dad is your age and he just got back into riding.

Well, to make your wife feel better increase your life insuarance and LTC coverage

All joking aside, I've sat on the Yamaha 650 and I think it would be a good fit for you. Have you sat on the two bikes yet? That would be a good indication of where you want to go towards. The Yamaha isn't too heavy at around 475lbs so it wouldn't be too difficult to pick up if dropped. As a comparison I am a smaller guy than yourself and I'm able to pick up my 550lb bike and I've seen the videos of little old ladies picking up fully dressed sport tourers.

I'm not sure if you're planning on riding with the wife on the back, but the two bikes you mentioned aren't the most powerful so cruising around town with her should be ok but long distance trips may be uncomfortable.

ezybass wrote:Anyway, is there hope for me or should I just buy one of those electric 4-wheel scooters and check into a seniors home now?

You're only as old as you feel, friend. Your decision to take a riders course is the best one you can make. Both the bikes you mention are good ones, in the end it will all boil down to which one melts your heart faster.

you would not be completely wrong to be looking at something up to around 800cc either, but the 500 and the 650 would still be totally fine for you.

get your wife to go shopping with you, who knows your wife might like something so much she may insist you buy something bigger.

My wife was totally against my riding a bike when I bought my first bike at age 52. It was a CB400 and either the Vulcan 500 or the V* 650 should be good start for you. Anything up to about 800cc in cruisers or 500cc in standard/sportbikes should be good starters.

Many folks are starting or restarting to ride at your age, 63 is young. I'll be 74 next month and have put in over 340k miles since I bought that first bike in 84. I'll be riding as long as I can walk to the bike and get on it.

My wife doesn't/won't ride at all. She doesn't ride and I don't quilt.

I'm 62 and will be 63 in a couple of months. Riding at our age is not about strength, it's about reflexes and common sense, it they are both up to par, then you will be ok. I ride a 650 V-Star at the moment, but found out very quickly that it is not strong enough to ride two up and maintain speed. I wish now I had looked ahead and shopped for something with more CCs. The difference between an 1100cc Yam Star and a 650 Star is only a few pounds, but both have the same wheel base and seat height. Don't buy something unless you can catch a ride on it first. XS

I'm a boomer too and just got back into motorcycling after being away from it for a dozen years. I purchased a new Yamaha V-Star 650 like you've looked at and believe me it handled beautifully (notice I said handled). I didn't fathom into the deal that my wife would love to be on the back of it with me. Riding solo the 650 rode awesome, and gave great fuel mileage (approaching 60). But carrying our combined weight (about 400 pounds) was too much. It mushied up the handling to a point that made me nervous. So after only 30 days, I returned it to the dealer and brought home the next size up, that being the 1100 V-Star. It too handles very good, likes fuel to the tune of 15 less MPG but carry's me and the little woman in much greater comfort and control. The V-Star's are excellent cruisers and the 650 is as good of a newbie machine as they come. I have a pal who rides the Honda Shadow..he says mine is lots smoother and handles better than his.

My dad is 60 and just bought an '05 Suzuki C50 last year after an 11-year hiatus. No biggie unless you're in a hurry to lay down and die.

I've spent the past few weeks sitting on bikes, comparing stats, reading info on different forums,etc. Because of suggestions that the V Star 650 might have trouble maintaining speed over mountain passes with a passenger (wife), my choices are now the Suzuki C50 or M50 (I like the sport look of the M50) , Kawasaki Vulcan 900, and Honda Shadow Aero 750. As I am only 5 ft 5 1/2 in tall, the best fit (lowest seat) is the Honda, then the Vulcan, and then the Suzuki. The Vulcan is the heaviest of the 3 (not by much) but I can reach the showroom floor on all three bikes.

I have my beginners licence and was planning on taking the Rider Safety Course later this month but a personal issue has delayed that 'til Sept. It's been difficult being patient and not buying a bike now but I want to pass the course first. Hopefully, the dealers will still have some bikes left in their inventory at sale prices in the fall. Fortunately, here in Qualicum Beach, BC there are some really nice sunny mild days in the winter so I'll be able to get the new bike out and do a lot of practicing.