Menu
What's new
By:
Filters

Madhatter wants a dirt bike….

B

ballisticexchris

Guest
SilverBullet said:
LOL
Steve is older than you are Chris! You're only as old as you feel.

...never slow down, never grow old

Sent from my SM-G860P using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Well then not very smart for a 62 year old. I have to still work for a living. Good on Steve for pushing himself to the limit. I’m 58 and learned long ago broken bones take longer to heal.

I quit racing weekend of mid February 2007. My extreme riding ended in June 2015. I have nothing to prove or show except to warn others that taking unnecessary risks on two wheels gets to be very painful as you age. I am proof of that. Want more proof? Just look at Malcom Smith. He can hardly walk anymore.

Jumping bikes is a young mans game.
 
eemsreno

eemsreno

Well-Known Member
Founding Member
2011 Site Supporter
2012 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
Joined
Nov 25, 2010
Messages
3,227
Location
On your way to everywhere, , Iowa
Just got home from a MX track.
Great riding .
Lots of big table tops, Lot bigger than that jump in my back yard.
I could do them all but no one there to take pictures [so it never happened]

And Chris, I've been doing this all the time since 1972, My first MX race and last summer in the +60 class, "Smoked them old guys"
 
B

ballisticexchris

Guest
eemsreno said:
Just got home from a MX track.
Great riding .
Lots of big table tops, Lot bigger than that jump in my back yard.
I could do them all but no one there to take pictures [so it never happened]

And Chris, I've been doing this all the time since 1972, My first MX race and last summer in the +60 class, "Smoked them old guys"
Click to expand...
How is your body holding up? Mine is thrashed. I was more of a desert racer. Never made it past novice. I used to ride every weekend. Now life commitments have taken over. You are one of the very few older riders that still get out there and tear it up. Most all of my racing buddies are limping around. And poor Malcom Smith. He is barely getting around on his own power. As of 2 years ago he was still riding though. It bums me out that I’m unable to ride at the same level as I did 20 years ago. Good on you Steve for still getting out there.
 
M

Madhatter

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2013
Messages
3,863
Location
buda texas
since I just started riding dirt bikes less than a year ago , well I have no level , im in a class by myself . im not very good , will never be able to jump a bike like (well any one ) and don't really care to. it is cool that eems can and does . that he has the talent to keep on doing the thing he loves.... as for me ,im enjoying the trails and find I am learning a little bit as I go . after 3 or 4 hours of playing on the honda I feel like I have had a great work out , just need to do it more than I have been able to as of late . genetics dictate so much as does life experience , some people just last longer than others it seems. I am 61 ,will never be able to catch a 16 year old on the track , a few months ago had a 7 year old girl roost me , you go girl. made me smile.
 
B

ballisticexchris

Guest
Madhatter, Some people just have a natural talent for riding. I never did myself. I just have a love for riding. Never had the balls to get past novice level. And just remember genetics have zero help when there is a hard crash with blunt force trauma. Every single human body on earth wears out as they age.

I have really made every effort to adapt to the process of aging. I have a really good sports physician and his PA who are helping me stay on bikes as long as I can. I'm doing certain exercises to prolong the life of my joints. My right knee is bone to bone but working out the muscles around it and bracing really helps. OTOH, jumping rope/ box jumps are out of the question.

My hat is off to the very rare few who still push themselves like teenagers when they hit middle age and beyond. I just have to be honest with myself and access the risk. So now it's just mellow trail riding on my Beta and try not to get over my head on the Super Tenere.

One thing I would recommend is the Jimmy Lewis riding school. I am blown away at how many bad riding habits I've acquired over the years. With you dirt bike riding for only a year, the school will really help you up your skill level. You simply have to practice his drills at home and you will notice a big difference in balance and maneuverability.
 
heberhog

heberhog

Active Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2012
Messages
141
Location
utah
i have to say i really enjoy reading this thread. I was bummed i wasn't able to go on the Moab trip but hopefully there will be another one.
 
Mak10

Mak10

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2018
Messages
2,567
Location
SE Idaho
I can only hope when I am Malcolm Smiths age I can look back and be proud of the life I lived. Unfortunately we all get older and our bodies aren’t what they once were.

I can tell you all how much I admire Madhatter for the positive attitude and great perseverance he showed on a ride where he pushed his riding comfort zone way beyond anything he has done before.

What matters is we keep pushing our own abilities and keep active. Whatever that may be. We are here because we enjoy the thrill of motorcycles. That alone some would say is dangerous and extreme. Gonna get you killed someday. I’d rather die from a motorcycle accident than from Alzheimer’s or cancer which from my genetics is a likely fate.

Another Moab trip is definitely in the future. The S10 is a fine bike for doing the white rim trail. The Burr Trail is calling my name and I want to ride the ferry across lake Powell. That area is fantastic and i can hardly wait to go back.

Heberhog, get healed up, get Kevin ready, cause we’re going riding.
 
B

ballisticexchris

Guest
eemsreno said:
If you really want to see how little you know about riding, Try riding a trials bike.
I'll never master that thing.
Click to expand...
That's a hard skill to learn for sure. I noticed my legs were on fire after only about 20 minutes aboard one of those. Also could not get used to the shifter so far out from the peg when doing a transfer section. The only thing I liked about a trials bike was the light weight and being able to crawl over rock piles without having to wrestle it. I almost bought one but know it would just be a garage queen most of the time.

Right now I'm liking my Beta for learning and practicing all the slow speed balancing and braking drills I learned in Jimmy's off road safety class.
 
B

ballisticexchris

Guest
I always wanted to go to Moab. But with my Beta. OTOH, riding my Super Tenere there and hitting the mellow trails sounds like fun too!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top