Where have all the old men gone...

[Huzo]

Are you guys still around ?
Skyguyz, Canuguzzi a.k.a. Norge Pilot,
In order of appearance...
Why do they leave ??

[oldbike54]

 Peter , people come and go , sometimes there is a personality conflict , sometimes they learn that they aren't in fact the world's leading expert on motorcycles or life , and sometimes they simply move on . Neither of the members you mentioned were really on the board for very long , so there is that to consider .

 Dusty

[Huzo]

Guess so Dusty.
I've had more whacks under the ear around here than George Foreman but nothing to bust out bawling over...?

[oldbike54]

Guess so Dusty.
I've had more whacks under the ear around here than George Foreman but nothing to bust out bawling over...?

 Well Peter , maybe it feels that way to you , but it seems young can hold your own . Actually I am guessing that most members here see you as a smart guy whose contributions are worthwhile . Trust me , you can't make everyone happy .

 Dusty

[Huzo]

Yeah mate.
It's just that I miss one of them a bit...

[oldbike54]

Yeah mate.
It's just that I miss one of them a bit...

 I still miss some of our departed members , some have passed , some have simply wandered away . Life goes on .

 Dusty

[sbaker]

Gone to young girls, everyone... When will they ever learn..... When will the ever learn

[bad Chad]

Yea, and since we are at it, where have all the hot 20 something girls gone?

[Huzo]

Yea, and since we are at it, where have all the hot 20 something girls gone?

They cooled down (comparatively speaking).

[ChuckH]

Peter , people come and go , sometimes there is a personality conflict , sometimes they learn that they aren't in fact the world's leading expert on motorcycles or life , and sometimes they simply move on . Neither of the members you mentioned were really on the board for very long , so there is that to consider .  Dusty

Peter, as a representative of the "old people" on this website, let me say when you get to "old age", you'll start to recognize that it's time to start backing away from the hobby.  Your reflexes will begin to deteriorate, your eyesight will begin to dim, your muscle strength will tend to wane and other sort of important changes begin to happen.  By the way, all of these changes are normal and don't really take into account any serious medical issues you have along the way.

I see you're 59 years of age.  Good for you.  I hope you have a long and prosperous life.  My wife and I'll pass our 60th anniversary in June this year, it would have been longer but I got married a bit late in life.

My experience is simple -- been riding over 20 years, >300K miles in total on two wheels, a wide range of equipment (one was a Stelvio Guzzi), now realizing at 84 years of age that I have to ease back a bit.  This year is a "transition year", my longer monthly trips (>1000 mile weekends) will be in a recently purchased '08 Corvette Coupe, the shorter trips (<1000 mile weekends) will be on the R1200R that has been my mount for the last two years.  Next winter the R Bike will probably be converted back to basically stock and sold and I'll be out of the motorcycle business. 

That's sort of the way it is.  You may not understand now, but when you get here, you will.

Ride safe.

[ohiorider]

Peter, as a representative of the "old people" on this website, let me say when you get to "old age", you'll start to recognize that it's time to start backing away from the hobby.  Your reflexes will begin to deteriorate, your eyesight will begin to dim, your muscle strength will tend to wane and other sort of important changes begin to happen.  By the way, all of these changes are normal and don't really take into account any serious medical issues you have along the way.

I see you're 59 years of age.  Good for you.  I hope you have a long and prosperous life.  My wife and I'll pass our 60th anniversary in June this year, it would have been longer but I got married a bit late in life.

My experience is simple -- been riding over 20 years, >300K miles in total on two wheels, a wide range of equipment (one was a Stelvio Guzzi), now realizing at 84 years of age that I have to ease back a bit.  This year is a "transition year", my longer monthly trips (>1000 mile weekends) will be in a recently purchased '08 Corvette Coupe, the shorter trips (<1000 mile weekends) will be on the R1200R that has been my mount for the last two years.  Next winter the R Bike will probably be converted back to basically stock and sold and I'll be out of the motorcycle business. 

That's sort of the way it is.  You may not understand now, but when you get here, you will.

Ride safe.

Well stated, Chuck!  Congratulations for hanging in with us.  I check in with Mark every so often just to make sure your Stelvio is being well-treated!    Let me know how the R1200R is working out for you.  I know an R bike would be lighter than my current 1200 Sport, and something like that might be my next move.

And Huzo, I'll give you an 'atta boy' for your enthusiasm for the brand, and as a unique contributor to this forum.

Bob

[AJ Huff]

I thought all the old men were on this forum.

-AJ

[ohiorider]

I thought all the old men were on this forum.

-AJ

You're probably right.  What are the young men and women doing while we keep the forum running? 

[Muzz]

I'm still here Huzo.

At 69 and counting I suppose I am still a young fell though.

[Huzo]

That answers most of my queries.
Thank you everyone..
Don't know what makes me unique, but I've been called worse.

[ChuckH]

...  I check in with Mark every so often just to make sure your Stelvio is being well-treated!    Let me know how the R1200R is working out for you.  I know an R bike would be lighter than my current 1200 Sport, and something like that might be my next move....Bob 

Bob, I was fortunate that Mark responded when the Stelvio went up for sale.  He's doing a good job with it.  I stopped to see him and wife Franki on the way to WNY last year, will probably do it again this coming June.  He's already expressed interest in the Vette when I'm ready to sell.        There's a long line of people who've said that, including a g'daughter (17 and planning her college life), a son (engineer at GM with 10+ years experience with the high performance vehicles) and several locals.

This R Bike is an '07 w/o ABS.  It's a legitimate 100# lighter than the Stelvio, discounting the extra fuel capacity.  I bought it from Laura and Dwight Blake, from eastern PA in Aug, '15.  It had 58K miles on it then, now has 80K. 

The R Bike is sort of a sport bike with cases -- tight, responsive steering geometry, sport bike tires both ends, comfortable seating position, plenty of power, a good tourer with some added protection, a very good day-tripper.  This one came with nice extras -- Ohlins shocks, mounts for Trax top load cases, Russell saddle, bar-backs for the flat h'bars, etc. -- a good solid bike with a few cosmetic blemishes.  If you go looking -- and it was/is a popular bike so there are lots available -- the 2015 and newer models had factory cruise.  I added an aftermarket cruise to mine, good addition for my type of touring.

All for now.  Let me know if there are questions I can answer.  Ride safe.

[MotoG5]

ChuckH  summed up very well  the process that many of the "old guard" are going through. Not a bad thing just life. I have been riding Guzzi now for almost fifty years. There has always been one in the garage. But at 68 years old my present Stelvio is starting to get to be a bit much to deal with. Not on the road so much but just moving it around in the garage, parking lots and such. Starting to worry about having to deal with dropping it. So, very soon now a lighter option will be taking its place. Love the bike and that fantastic 8V engine but as I said getting to be time to part with it.
I have always been on at least a couple of Guzzi lists and contributed when I thought I had something to say that adds to the flow. These days there are others that answer most of the technical stuff for those that have questions about the older bikes when their new owners come looking for information. So I just stay out of the way. To be honest my memory isn't what it used to be and I fear I have forgotten quite a bit of what I learned over the years. Like they say if you don't use it you loose it.
My interest in debate has waned along with my growing belief that trying to change others hard held opinions and points of view is not within my abilities. So way engage in arguments that end with bad feelings.
All this to say I am still around and if I do wind up buying one the new smaller Guzzis I want to hang around and see what is being said about them.    

[jcctx]

  sometimes they learn that they aren't in fact the world's leading expert on motorcycles or life , 

 Dusty

What? now you've gone burst my bubble???????

[oldbike54]

What? now you've gone burst my bubble???????

 Always tough on a bloke's ego when after spending a lifetime thinking one is the world's leading expert on everything to discover the fact that the world disagrees , right Joe ?

 Dusty

[Lee Bruns]

That sums it up perfectly. The expectation is that you have to be either the absolute expert on a topic, or don't bother to reply at all. No one is allowed to know a bit about anything. You either have to know everything, or you know nothing.
  I tire of absolutes.

[Lannis]

That sums it up perfectly. The expectation is that you have to be either the absolute expert on a topic, or don't bother to reply at all. No one is allowed to know a bit about anything. You either have to know everything, or you know nothing.
  I tire of absolutes.

Absolutely all of them? 

Speaking of highly contributing old men, I've already asked about charlie b, and haven't heard from Rotten Ralph in 6 months or more ....

As we've said, it's not the Mafia, you CAN quit, and it's good when people decide to leave without being a drama queen about it, but still, you like to know if everything's OK with people you've "known" or actually known for years .... ?

Lannis

[oldbike54]

That sums it up perfectly. The expectation is that you have to be either the absolute expert on a topic, or don't bother to reply at all. No one is allowed to know a bit about anything. You either have to know everything, or you know nothing.
  I tire of absolutes.

 Lee , not sure anyone is saying that , hell bud , everyone here makes a valuable contribution from time to time , even some of us amateurs .

 Dusty

[ITSec]

That sums it up perfectly. The expectation is that you have to be either the absolute expert on a topic, or don't bother to reply at all. No one is allowed to know a bit about anything. You either have to know everything, or you know nothing.
  I tire of absolutes.

I take the opposite approach.

I am not "the" expert on anything (OK, maybe just one or two things  ). I try to be "an" expert on many things, or at least well-informed. The hero I was taught to emulate was the Renaissance Man, the bright guy who knew a lot about everything even if he wasn't the absolute last word. As for sharing when someone else might knock me down? Let's just say I have a certain amount of self-confidence, and a respect for others who may and often do more know than I.

I'd encourage anyone who is holding back when they might have something to offer to adopt this approach - it's more fun to be engaged in the discussion!

(Oh, and I guess I'm crossing into old man territory this spring when I pass 60 - plenty of time left to be a curmudgeon!)

[canuck750]

I am feeling pretty old this week in my 58th year. After reading through this interesting post I am changing my view of age, maybe late 50’s is still young???

[Chuck in Indiana]

I am feeling pretty old this week in my 58th year. After reading through this interesting post I am changing my view of age, maybe late 50�s is still young???

As far as I'm concerned.. 40 to 50 is the prime of life. Experienced enough to have some wisdom,  young enough to do pretty much *anything* yet. A friend that knows told me that 50 to 60 is a walk in the park. 60-70 isn't bad at all. 70-80 is a little tougher. 80-90? Very few people get past that one.
As nearly as I can tell, my experience mirrors his.

[Sheepdog]

I’m 62 on my next birthday. Not really terribly old these days, but I figured I’d be in a rocking chair at this age when I was a lad. Wasn’t it Nietzche who said, “There are no facts, only interpretations.” Well, I’m taking that to mean that I can still write my own story...my infirmities notwithstanding. Besides, knowing that my Vintage will likely last the rest of my riding life is a comforting thought.

This is my 11th year on this forum, Huzo. I’m not going anywhere...

[Darren Williams]

Yea, and since we are at it, where have all the hot 20 something girls gone?

Hanging out with all the hot 20 something guys and other girls. Which, by the way, is not here!   

[Lannis]

Wasn�t it Nietzche who said, �There are no facts, only interpretations.�

Must have been a young squirt when he came up with that.   An old man would know better!!   

[Testarossa]

At 69 I'm beginning to feel the age. Mainly my endurance is down. Hard to sit on a motorcycle for more than three hours at a stretch. The recent trip to China almost made me swear off air travel for good. I can still ski rings around the young studs but certainly can't cycle with them. For two-up summer travel we're even beginning to think about a Miata. On the other hand I still very much want to acquire an old 250 four-stroke dual purpose bike for screwing around solo on the forest service roads. Maybe two hours at a time.

[Lannis]

At 69 I'm beginning to feel the age. Mainly my endurance is down. Hard to sit on a motorcycle for more than three hours at a stretch. The recent trip to China almost made me swear off air travel for good. I can still ski rings around the young studs but certainly can't cycle with them. For two-up summer travel we're even beginning to think about a Miata. On the other hand I still very much want to acquire an old 250 four-stroke dual purpose bike for screwing around solo on the forest service roads. Maybe two hours at a time.

I can't do anything in "rings" around the young studs except to think and reason these days ... most of them are still thinking with the wrong head, so there's that.

MGB instead of a Miata for us, I think, the vintage bug is too ingrained.   A light woods bike is also in the cards.   

A few more years of riding transcontinental bikes for Fay and I, WE HOPE ... then ease back ....

Lannis