At 68 I have just bought a BMW R1150GS. Nice machine, once I had performed the mandatory ABSectomy on its defunct servo assisted braking system. But my! What a lump to move around, for example, on a gravel drive. At 19 stone and 6 feet tall, I’m no midget. I realise now why so many older riders seek out lighter machines such as Guzzi V50s, Morini 3½ s, older Honda 250/350s – even humble MZs, of which I still have two.
As would-be rufty-tufty riders, we tend to deny that in our advancing years it is not just our libidos, waterworks, eyesight and hearing that go into decline (if not some of our higher mental faculties!) but also our muscle strength. Muscle strength peaks around 25 years of age, plateaus…
