Balance issues forceing giving up riding

[gearman]

  I am having issues with my mc balance.I have difficulty standing on one foot and when riding I don;t feel in control in turns. I m 71 yo and wonder if it is time to quit. I have been riding since I was 14 yo.Any one know about this? Thanks

[Chuck in Indiana]

I don't want to be an alarmist, but that was the first symptom of a good friend that died of ALS. Have you checked out "why" you are having balance problems? It may be nothing. Pinched nerve. Ear infection.

[twowings]

First of all, see your primary care provider...balance issues can stem from inner ear dysfunctions, medications, or brain issues...tell the provider what is happening with you...then you can make an informed decision...

[ohiorider]

  I am having issues with my mc balance.I have difficulty standing on one foot and when riding I don;t feel in control in turns. I m 71 yo and wonder if it is time to quit. I have been riding since I was 14 yo.Any one know about this? Thanks

I'm sorry to hear you're having those issues, especially since motorcycling has been a part of your life for nearly 60 years.

I went through a period of several months where I wasn't sure about continuing riding.  At age 73, I had heart valve replacement (May 2016) came down with staph and went septic.  Taken unconscious to the hospital, woke up unable to move right arm or leg.  On intravenous antibiotics for nearly 6 weeks.  When released from rehab facility, I was walking and had what I thought was so-so use of right leg and arm, and thought balance had recovered, though not 100%.

After being home for a week or so, I thought I'd jump on the old GS.  What a mistaka to maka!  Almost fell over at first stop sign, and after a few more stops, decided to take her home and park her for a good bit longer.  Move forward to 2017.  I seem to have recovered my balance and strength in arm and leg.

Have you checked with your doc on this?  Could it be a temporary condition?

[jumpmaster]

 :1:  on the first step being to check with your primary doctor, before panicking over the possibility of a catastrophic disease.

2nd, some reduction in the sense of balance is a normal process of aging - more so in some people than in others.  From personal experience, doing balancing exercises every day &/or doing tai chi or yoga can improve balance somewhat if you approach it seriously.  On the loss of confidence in having control while turning, going to a big parking lot once in awhile and just practicing turns and figure-8s helps me feel more comfortable.  Also, my decrease in confidence in tight turns is partly a function of worrying about whether I'll be able to pick my bike up without help if I drop it in a turn - in my case that's another symptom of age.  The only 2 cures I know of for that are to purposely lay the bike down & practice picking it up, or to buy a lighter bike (which is probably what I'll do soon).

[oldbike54]

 Are you experiencing vertigo , or just issues with standing on one foot ? If it is vertigo there is a good chance it is an inner ear problem , something many men experience at some point . In my early 50's I had a couple of incidents of severe vertigo , extremely unsettling , have learned how to manage it . Oddly enough , it never happens on a motorcycle , my theory is that the pressures involved are effectively still straight down due to lean angle . Riding in a car on a curvy road can make stuff get weird in a hurry .

 Dusty

[gearman]

Well actually two or three years ago I had brain surgery for nph;too much spinal pressure in my brain.I helped a lot but I was never 100 percent. I hate to get back into  medical industrial complex again , but I guess I must.

[Guzzi Gal]

Trike time!?!

Seriously, don't just give up.  Go to the doc, do balance exercises whenever you're standing at home (brushing teeth, making a meal, etc...), and you may find/fix the issue.

I'm a two foot down girl.  I actually tried to practice last week whilst in major stop and go traffic (perfect right? ) and almost dropped my Anni.  I would get used to one foot eventually, but unless I'm cruising the hills of San Fran and need my foot on the break, it isn't a problem.   

[JJ]

Hi gearman -

Your health is "Priority #1" so good luck with everything going forward...

Just another data point - - - A few years ago, a good friend of mine in WA state was having the same issues managing two wheels.  He was going to "give up" riding completely, and I talked him into a 3-wheeler. 

He tried several rigs, but finally settled on a Can-Am RT, and is now a very happy camper.   

He is in his mid-70's and still "In The Wind" and his wife will now ride with him again! :1:

[gearman]

Thanks

[Muzz]

Whatever the outcome, I wish you all the best Gearman.

I am not quite sure if I could even make the call you are contemplating. A toughie indeed.

I would back going to the doctor and actually nail just what your condition is as well.

[Demar]

Sometimes a cold of flu can mess with your inner ear and cause imbalance, but, I'm not a doctor... I only play one on Wild Guzzi.

If you don't want to give up riding get a side car rig. It's a good place to carry your beer.

[Tkelly]

I have started a balance and stretching class and believe balance issues stemfrom lack of leg strength,that is my focusthese days.

[M0T0Geezer]

I am 77 and have balancing issues while walking.  This is due to Peripheral Neuropathy (nerve damage) in my feet from Diabetes Type II.  The balance problem is particularly troublesome in the dark, and going down stairs.

My riding balance (inner ear) is not affected by this condition but loss of feeling (50% ?) in my feet requires more concentration for smooth shifting and braking.

Exercise and a low sugar diet (no more pie & ice cream  ) have my blood sugar under control (A1C @ 6.5).

I take a lot of Food Supplements (20 caps/day $100/month), to which I give credit for my general good health and also for controlling both blood pressure and glucose levels.

I sell nothing, take most of the items listed, and am hoping the information (which I curate) at this link will be helpful to you:

http://www.dansher.com/misc/Food_Supplement_fyi.txt

The Food Supplements listed are available at Amazon.

Disclaimer: "Your Results May Vary."

'Geezer

[Sasquatch Jim]

  Sidecar.  Properly built and adjusted for toe in lean out, tracking and it will serve you very well.
 I can't even walk, but on my sidecar I'm hell on wheels.

[Arizona Wayne]

When I started riding maxi-scooters about 10 years ago I found whenever I stopped I had to put both feet down or I felt very uneasy holding up the scooter.  Think it's because of the shape of my 3 scooter seats or location of my body vs on a MC.  Anyway any time I stop on them I put both legs down so I don't fall over.   And when I do fall over on a MC or scooter someone always helps me to get it back up because I can't do it by myself (bad back) any more. 

[Kiwi_Roy]

I will come from a different approach.
Are you sure it's not the bike. someone asked me to ride a fairly new Breva 750 to comment on the steering, sure enough at low speed it seemed very unstable, nothing I could pin down but I suggested he get someone to look at the bearings, sure enough they were stuffed.
I'm just saying because you may not notice it getting slowly worse, ride a different bike, get someone to ride yours.
I would be very careful about telling a medico you ride a motorcycle.

Goodluck
Roy

[gearman]

I will come from a different approach.
Are you sure it's not the bike. someone asked me to ride a fairly new Breva 750 to comment on the steering, sure enough at low speed it seemed very unstable, nothing I could pin down but I suggested he get someone to look at the bearings, sure enough they were stuffed.
I'm just saying because you may not notice it getting slowly worse, ride a different bike, get someone to ride yours.
I would be very careful about telling a medico you ride a motorcycle.

Goodluck         I always tell the docs that I ride.I don't want to hide the info . It lets them know I can't be too bad.
Roy

I will come from a different approach.
Are you sure it's not the bike. someone asked me to ride a fairly new Breva 750 to comment on the steering, sure enough at low speed it seemed very unstable, nothing I could pin down but I suggested he get someone to look at the bearings, sure enough they were stuffed.
I'm just saying because you may not notice it getting slowly worse, ride a different bike, get someone to ride yours.
I would be very careful about telling a medico you ride a motorcycle.

Goodluck
Roy

[rodekyll]

Gearman, I saw that coming for me the way you've seen it sneaking up on you.  That's why I built the trike.  I'm glad I did it a few years ago, because my problems have become worse and I don't have the motor control to do that sort of work anymore.  I've seen you take a couple of shots at a trike build now, so I think we're on the same page here -- wanting to stay in the wind, but knowing deep down that the 2-wheeler days are over.  I ride mine occasionally, but after 200k miles and 40 years in the same saddle, I have historical plates on the Convert now, reflecting its place in the stable.

Your trike projects didn't go well.  There's no shame there, but it does leave you in the 2-wheel/3-wheel pickle.  I know we all hate the idea of NOT making our own stuff, but have you considered buying either a turnkey or project trike that's already got a useable title?  I mean useable, because home made trikes can't be certified for registration in some states (WA and TX are two).  There are a lot of trikes on ebay right now under $10k, and even more if you have a fatter wallet.  I'd look at a Goldwing, myself.

[Guzzi Gal]

Exercise and a low sugar diet (no more pie & ice cream  ) have my blood sugar under control (A1C @ 6.5).

:1: Excellent A1C!!!  My husband told me his the other day, I nearly choked but didn’t at him as he said it was an improvement. 

[JJ]

Fortunately, there are many 3-wheel options these days...you just have the choose the one that best fits your needs. 

A Guzzisti friend of mine is just finishing up one of these, the TriKing...and that's not so bad either, especially if you like Moto Guzzi's! :1:

[trippah]

There are three pages of single line items in the curriculum for Vertigo- some kinda nothing but irritating like a cold, some rather bleak ones at the other end of the scale.  Given you history, I'd say see the Doc.  Then after you'all figure whats happening, you can more sensibly plan riding/non riding/what to ride decisions.  Best of luck cause Vertigo can mean a few visits to specialists (although the large number of attractive staff members can at least mitigate the aggravation a bit).

I was an Audiologist and a good percentage of the patients of the ENT I worked for were there for vertigo. My humble part in the process was to determine if the patients hearing was symmetrical.

[rodekyll]

I taught my audiologist a simple test for hearing symmetry:  Have people whisper into both ears at the same time.  If you can repeat what one of them said, you're deaf on the other side.  If you can't repeat what either said, either you're completely deaf or you hear about equally with both ears.  Try it.

I'm so deaf the audiologist turns up the headphones until it feels like my head is getting twisted and my skull vibrates, without me "hearing" a thing.

[Ncdan]

  I am having issues with my mc balance.I have difficulty standing on one foot and when riding I don;t feel in control in turns. I m 71 yo and wonder if it is time to quit. I have been riding since I was 14 yo.Any one know about this? Thanks

I don’t have any medical advice but I can pray for your wellbeing 🙏

[Joliet Jim]

All I can add is take care of yourself. Many times I've thought I'd be better served by a fun convertible. Until I ride one of the bikes.

[Muzz]

I am 77 and have balancing issues while walking.  This is due to Peripheral Neuropathy (nerve damage) in my feet from Diabetes Type II.  The balance problem is particularly troublesome in the dark, and going down stairs.

My riding balance (inner ear) is not affected by this condition but loss of feeling (50% ?) in my feet requires more concentration for smooth shifting and braking.
'Geezer

Funnily, I guess I am mildly encouraged by this. I have the same condition, but just straight out auto immune after some health problems. The neurologist said at the time that "by 85 you will be probably falling over because your feet have stopped telling your brain where they are". Great!. i will just have to ride the bike more. The biggest problem at the moment is that as the tips of the fingers are numb it is a bit difficult to know how hard I am gripping the throttle.

I was 66 at the time. Fortunately, after an initial burst it seems to have slowed down progression wise.

[yogidozer]

here's another possibility. a tick bite. don't fool yourself thinking ticks are a summertime thing. get yourself checked

[gearman]

here's another possibility. a tick bite. don't fool yourself thinking ticks are a summertime thing. get yourself checked

That reply ticks me off    I gotta have some humor.  I will say that I am having a cat scan on Thursday.  Also I read about the Berg balance test. It says that I should be able to stand on one foot for one minute with no trouble.  I can only make 15 to 20 seconds.  Not good.A friend of mine can do two minutes with no problem.Hmmmm.

[yogidozer]

gearman, not sure where you live, but in my area (northwest Ct) ticks are a real problem. I do a lot of hiking, and have 3 rescue pals, and the tick problem gets worse every year. Good luck with your CT I'm sure they will do a blood test as well.

[gearman]

gearman, not sure where you live, but in my area (northwest Ct) ticks are a real problem. I do a lot of hiking, and have 3 rescue pals, and the tick problem gets worse every year. Good luck with your CT I'm sure they will do a blood test as well.

I am in New Orleans and we really don"t have ticks in the city.