Have you moved on from sport bikes as you get older?

[Arminius]

My initial reaction is "same"

But then I imagine how cranky I'm going to be if the day comes that I can't ride a proper two-wheeled Moto......

It's entirely possible that I WILL get a three-wheeler, then hang out with Moto groups and talk a lot about my awesome MOTORCYCLE, and make sure I get behind the leader on group motorcycle rides. You know.... SHARE THE PAIN

Harley completely revamped their trikes for 2026. Matt Laidlaw has a new YouTube video on it that you might enjoy.

Right now I have a MarketPlace ad saved for a 2013 Triumph Rocket...so tempting!

 

[tuxumino]

Took the 02 ZX6R out for a spin, took a couple of miles before the hips stopped whining but then it felt good to fold up on it and ride.

 

[ThumperX]

Always riddennstandards. FZ6, monster, and my beloved 599s. Back to elbows up and spoke wheels.

 

[greenmonster]

I guess I’m lucky at my age. Had my Busa out on 580 for an hour today and touched 100 MPH a couple of times.

Absolutely loved it

 

[Butch]

Should I ride the Tenere or R6 tomorrow?

 

[planegray]

Should I ride the Tenere or R6 tomorrow?

Yes

 

[ST Guy]

I’ve never ridden a sport bike. And I’ve only owned two bikes in my life. A GS650G Suzuki and an ST1100 Honda.

I did get a chance to race with Kenny Roberts, Junior one time.

 

[Holeshot]

I am indeed trying to find a work-around for this but my options are limited. The arthritis is in my thumb joint. Kinda fucks the whole hand when it gets pissed.

Peptide treatments are worth a look/ consideration Jeff. BPC-157 + Glutathione. Among anti-inflammatory benefits, the added blood flow to problem areas has shown to be instrumental in healing and reducing inflammatory responses. Both peptides are being used increasingly in professional sports for effectively rapid healing. Personal experience: they're the real deal IME.

 

[NATEWA]

If I get a third bike it's probably going to be an Africa Twin with the DCT. I never thought I'd like an auto transmission on a motorcycle but after riding my friend's Honda NC700 I changed my mind.

I had a 2013 Multistrada for a few years but traded it in because it wasn't good for anything more than 30 miles. It vibrated so bad it would make your right arm numb after 20 minutes.

Lemme see if I can post a couple pics of my Glides.

Seen these?

 

[Arminius]

Seen these?

I have not heard of this bike until now, thanks! It's at a great price too and I do love the color. This might be a better option for me than the Afrika Twin because I'm not sure I'll be doing much, if any, riding on the dirt these days.

 

[Velocess]

I still have a SportBike and others but if I went down to one bike, it would be like a newish single R S1000 or Tuono V4.

 

[gixxerjeff]

As I believe I mentioned here somewhere earlier...I'm 64 and am fortunate enough to have more bikes than I need.
Ignoring my dirt and track stuff, I currently ride a Bandit 1200s, an SV650, and a couple of gixxers.
The closest thing I have to a "non-sport bike" is my Bandit....and I've actually done track days on that station wagon....so, there's that.

 

[nakedape]

I currently ride a Bandit 1200s, an SV650, and a couple of gixxers.
The closest thing I have to a "non-sport bike" is my Bandit....and I've actually done track days on that station wagon....so, there's that.

My ONLY track days were on my B12. Dragging the case guards around Sears and incessantly modding it with help from Dale Walker was very involved ownership. In Keigwan's B+class I was leaving people behind after some instruction. More useable power than most other bikes out there, even today. Sadly, I would be dead or in jail if I had it today. The MTS tech has saved me a few times where an analog bike would not have. I set it not wheelie and that's final. Besides, landing hard on those forks would decrease the service intervals, which I can no longer knock out on the weekends.

The SV650, sold off to a barfer named Gabe, ended up in a magazine comparo with the new one at the time, and it was judged worthy. AFM199 helped out with the cam swap and it made a world of difference. When I see decent examples on CL for $2K with low miles, I'm tempted but no storage for extra bikes. You have great taste in bikes Jeff!

Sportbikes are meant for smooth roads, which are non-existent here. 6.5" of suspension travel is my minimum. Still looking for a unicorn that does it all, it will be made eventually. Probably by another Euro outfit like KTM.

 

[Holeshot]

A 2022+ Multistrada Pikes Peak is a phenomenally competent bike on the track, especially for a long travel motorcycle. It's a true knee down experience on-track which shocked all of my beliefs when I rode it.

 

[Gravisman]

To me there’s sometimes a blurry line between “sport bikes” and “track focused bikes”. After I got into riding on race tracks, I promised myself no more “track bikes for the street”. I will absolutely buy and ride a track bike on track, but if I’m riding on the street, clip-ons are just self-punishment.

 

[gixxerjeff]

To me there’s sometimes a blurry line between “sport bikes” and “track focused bikes”. After I got into riding on race tracks, I promised myself no more “track bikes for the street”. I will absolutely buy and ride a track bike on track, but if I’m riding on the street, clip-ons are just self-punishment.

That depends entirely on how your failing back is set up.
The partial tuck actually provides me some relief on my lower back.
I struggle on longer rides with my more upright bikes.
It's weird.....I know.
Enchanter gets it.

 

[budman]

I am the opposite. The upright bike jiggles my fucked up discs just right to not be a problem. Heading out on rallies and riding 8 hours on the bike really don't both the back.

The bigger issue for me is the titanium knee just does not bend well and the only spr0tbile that is even close to being ridable is the BMW1000RR. Sitting on a Panigale was laughable.

Since I have not done it I really don't know what the impact would be, but I am old as dirt now so it does not matter anyway. I am done with sport bikes (crotch rocket style).

 

[Arminius]

My last sport bike was a 2021 BMW S1000RR with the M package. When I got that bike it had been 11 years since I last owned a true sport bike (2004 GSXR 600). In between I had a 2013 BMS 1300S, 2013 Multistrada in volcano gray, a 2018 Gold Wing bagger (amazing bike but saddlebags were almost useless), 2019 BMW K1600B, and for a very short time, a 2014 HD Street Bob (hated that bike!) in desert sand color. I thought the BMW S1000RR was going to be the best sport bike I ever had, and it was, but riding in the greater Los Angeles area traffic and Malibu canyons proved my old neck injuries had come back to haunt me with a vengeance. I had a very difficult time turning my head to look in back of me when checking for traffic while splitting or changing lanes or seeing how close my friend, on another bike, was in back of me when going through the canyons. I realized my neck injury prevented me from being able to ride a sport bike the way I used to so I sold the 1000RR a year later for a $3,000 loss and got something completely different than what I had ever owned, a 2013 CVO Breakout in the all chrome. I loved that bike for what it was meant for and then started looking into getting a performance bagger, which is a craze started in SoCal and is spreading across the country and the world. It's true a performance bagger cannot compete against a sub 400 lbs sport bike with over 120+ hp at the rear wheel, but I don't feel like I've given up that much, and for me, the trade offs are worth it. I'll soon be putting BST wheels, Speed Dealer swingarm, and a carbon fiber shorty rear fender and ditching the Thundermax for a Power Vision tuner and professional dyno tune. I'll post pics in about 4 months when I'm done.

 

[moto-rama]

.

Just curious if anyone else has switched to a non-sport bike as they got older?

Over 60s of riding sporty, or race-replica bikes, and having been crushed a few times in surfing mishaps, played HS Football and a couple years of college football, as "It"...

My overall orthopedic condition isn't ideal. Ive got other/worse health issues now, but at 74, I'm am alive, therefore I am riding.
Im just not climbing up on a 916 or other butt-missile.
My current line up has all the ingredients for the type of riding I do.
KTM690Duke , adolescent, hooking
Triumph Bonneville, Bike to Breakfast in The City
BMW R1250RS, all-around does it all Geezer bike.

 

[Arminius]

Over 60s of riding sporty, or race-replica bikes, and having been crushed a few times in surfing mishaps, played HS Football and a couple years of college football, as "It"...

My overall orthopedic condition isn't ideal. Ive got other/worse health issues now, but at 74, I'm am alive, therefore I am riding.
Im just not climbing up on a 916 or other butt-missile.
My current line up has all the ingredients for the type of riding I do.
KTM690Duke , adolescent, hooking
Triumph Bonneville, Bike to Breakfast in The City
BMW R1250RS, all-around does it all Geezer bike.

Hope I make it to 74 and if I do, I hope I can still ride motorcycles. I think you are ahead of the game!