Getting old....

[Rockburner]

The past few weeks have not been that fun for me, I've had a surgical procedure that I was recovering nicely from (albeit a tad slower than expected), then I had a complication which resulted in a 2 day A&E visit and very nearly a requirement for a blood transfusion. Since then I've been recovering, with dr's orders to avoid "strenuous activity" (wtf is that?), for a few weeks; but am still "weak" and "tired" almost all the time.

I appreciate that I'm still in "recovery" and should regain strength etc over time, but it's wiped out the summer of riding I was hoping for.

It's also got me thinking about the Rockster. It's a heavy beast and I currently need to manhandle it up and down a ramp when getting it in and out of the shed, and the gravel parking area is deep and makes pushing a heavy bike around extremely difficult. At the moment there are no plans to change that situation, we're extremely happy in the house we're in.

So - I'm now wondering just how many years it'll be before I'm physically incapable of moving the damn thing. I would point out that this is very much a "weight/strength" issue with the Rockster (my "main" bike): moving the JAPton around is a piece of piss still because it's a) low, and b) light as a feather.

I want to ride for as long as I'm able to, I saw the pain in my father's eyes when he lost the ability to ride after a stroke and I really want to postpone that for as long as possible for myself.

Given my predilection for ease of maintenance, what bike would you recommend with the following caveats:

Must be capable of 100-110mph with a pillion (to provide the desired level of performance);
Must have a low maintenance drive system (no chains);
Must be lightweight: Lets say under 180Kg. (The Rockster is around 240Kg wet, A Featherbed framed bike is in the region of 140-150Kg);
Must have good road-biased handling (As you may know, I love Telelever and other "funny front ends", but I'll accept very well setup forks as a compromise).
Should be capable of touring with hard luggage.
Doesn't need huge power : the Rockster is only 80bhp ish and is perfectly fine.

I'd love to say that the JAPton would be an acceptable bike for old age, but it's nowhere near reliable enough or fast enough (it's only a 400cc single!), and is a single seater and staying that way.

I'm really just gathering thoughts and suggestions at this point and interested to hear opinions.

[DefTrap]

Stop whining and man-up? These issues are only ever going to get worse, plus some new ones you've never even thought of.

To be honest, if you still love what you've got I'd whazz the crap out of it until you genuinely can't manage it any more. As you say, you have "years to think about this" OR you could just not think about it and get on with it. Prolonging yourself and minimising the likelihood of any number of potentially avoidable issues is the best you can do - stay fit, eat well enough, don't do too much of the bad stuff too often.

[cheb]

The drive preference is the biggest problem I think. Are there any mid range bikes with shaft drive? Maybe a smaller Guzzi?

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Finding something under 180KG with shaft drive is going to be a challenge

[dern]

Wait until you feel better and see how you feel about it then would be my advice. As we get older these things come and stick around for a bit but they also definitely go. I wouldn't effect lifestyle changes based on the assumption on how aging *will* affect us and only action the changes to compensate for those changes that *have* happened.

Of course if you just want a new bike then go for it but I wouldn't link it to getting old, it's not a good thing to have in your brain when riding or owning it.

[Bustaspoke]

What bikes are out there that weigh 180 kg or less & are shaft or belt drive?

[Dodgy69]

I reckon chains are pretty low maintenance and would open your choice massively.

[Taipan]

F800 is belt drive. Dunno about weight though, but I dont remember mine as a heavy bike like my GSesses?

[David]

What bikes are out there that weigh 180 kg or less & are shaft or belt drive?

LE Velocette.
Or a Valiant.
Or a Viceroy.

[Bustaspoke]

What bikes are out there that weigh 180 kg or less & are shaft or belt drive?

LE Velocette.
Or a Valiant.
Or a Viceroy.

Well that's one box ticked,just got to make it capable of 100 - 110 mph with a pillion on board & he's found his new bike

[Supermofo]

I don't think the bike you want exists.

180kg is what an MT07 weights and is considered light nowadays. I doubt it'll sit comfortably 2 up at 100-110 and doesn't have shaft drive.

Something like an F850GS weighs 230kg (how, when my GSXS weighs 211 )

A F800ST weighs 189 dry, the S 180 dry but will they be able to cruise at 100-110 2 up? Plus that's belt not shaft and they are old now aren't they?

Something really light like a 690 Duke comes in at 160 wet but that's def not a 100-110mph pillion/luggage bike.

Might be easier putting down some slabs on the gravel or better way to manage the ramp?

[MingtheMerciless]

Once you're healed, maybe time to start a morning press-up regime to build upper body strength, possibly a regular gym commitment as well. I've read a couple of things recently that suggest pushing weights as you get older is as equally important as cardio work for quality of life later on.

[mangocrazy]

@Rockburner - I fully understand the way you're thinking as I've been thinking along similar lines for some time. Personally I'd discard suggestions along the lines of 'worry about it when it happens' as 'it' wil probably happen a bit quicker than you expected. If you are very happy with where you live, then make alterations to the things that are causing you concern - the ramp in and out of the shed, the gravel parking area etc. Make (or get someone to make) a continuous and non-challenging piece of hard standing from the shed to the road. Make life easy for yourself, not difficult. Pushing a bike through gravel is madness, IMHO. That would dampen anyone's desire to go for a ride.

As for choice of bike, as others have said, I'd look again at your insistence on shaft drive. Chains can easily last 10-15k miles with the right attention - I fit Scottoilers to all my bikes, but other positive lubrication systems are available. My KTM Duke 690 (R) weighs around 160kg, can do well over 100mph, takes Mrs Mango as pillion with ease and is an absolute hoot to ride solo. They don't make that exact model any more but the 790 and 890 twins aren't a great deal heavier and have significantly more oomph. There are examples like that in just about every manufacturer's model range, as long as you look beyond 'it must be a shaftie...

[Rockburner]

Cheers for the replies so far, I reflected on the post and realised I was probably being a tad maudlin, but it was more to open up a discussion than anything else.

Re Shafties - I'm not tied to shaft drive, I just hate chains and have only limited experience with belts but see belt drive as a fully viable alternative.

[Dickyboy]

I think the less than 180kg is yer stumbling block, I've been eyeing up an F800GT after betting shot of the GSA(too tall & heavy) but the F800GT is still 206kg dry / 213kg wet (although those figures don't seem right) it's still 50 odd kg lighter than the GSA.

The f800gt would tick all your other boxes, I'm just holding off till I've test ridden a Morini 1200 scrambler

[Skub]

Firstly,GWS RB. It just takes longer to get over shit as we age.

I'll echo what has already been said on the bike front. Chains last well nowadays. I'm on 20k and the original still needs rare adjustment,I'm not trying to make it last either. Yes,they are messier than a shaft,but a chain and sprockets is always going to be lighter. I don't know of any sub 200kg shaft bikes capable of speedy two up progress.

Top ten light bikes of 2023.
https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/n ... otorcycles

[DefTrap]

Re Shafties - I'm not tied to shaft drive, I just hate chains and have only limited experience with belts but see belt drive as a fully viable alternative.

Had a shaft (!) and loved it, surprised some people are so snooty about it.

I also like smaller, lighter bikes by preference but then I'm a "please do-one" sort of guy when it comes to taking pillions ....

[Cousin Jack]

I recognise the problem. Moving my VFR around on sloping slippery cobbles was becoming a real issue. I wanted 100mph cruising too, although only solo.

In the end I compromised. A light bike, only 50bhp, and it wont cruise at 100. What it does do is make my life easier and keeps a grin on my face.

My bike probably wont suit you, I would hate to ride pillion for more than a few miles, but think about what you actually need, and sacrifice some of the stuff you just want.

[mangocrazy]

Can the shed/ramp/gravel drawbacks be fixed? If so I'd be looking at that before anything else. If there is something you know that's stopping (or at least hindering) you from doing what you want, then I'd have that sorted PDQ.

I was in a similar situation with the shed at the bottom of my garden, which had a pronounced lip I had to heave the bike (a VFR750) over to get it in or out. Once I'd figured out what I needed to make a permanent, level concrete ramp joining the shed and the garden it made using the bike immeasurably easier and banished all those 'will it overbalance and go crashing to the ground' fears.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Even the 'little' Guzzis are >200kg, which surprised me but probably shouldn't have. The V85TT is 220.

If they were alot lighter I would have said one of those, but that's basically your Rockster with more of a fold in the engine and worse suspension