Never to old to try anything at least once.

Never to old! Just be very mindfull of what you are doing and ride defensively. Go for it!!

Try getting your lerners permit and see how you go with the lessons.

They say life begins at fifty well you can get an 8 year head start now and feel the exhilaration that riding my Harley gives me, its my therapy, my escape, my sanity from the day to day shit we must endure. True there are a lot of cock heads out there but if you ride as if everyone in a car has the ability to injure ya or worse you might survive make no mistake you are vulnerable but I will never let that stop me from being free...that is all

I know lots of people who got their L's over 40 - they all had doubts about riding and now they love it. The only regret you'll have is that you didn't do it sooner.

My missis got her Ls at 45 and was on a harley in 6 mths

Mature age learning has it's benefits. Maturity means you are less likely to show off, ride beyond your limits or the limits of your bike. Enjoy the journey and if you want to ensure your safety do some rider courses that'll teach you all the right habits from the outset.

Welcome to the forum too and have fun riding. Life's too short

Mature age learning has it's benefits. Maturity means you are less likely to show off, ride beyond your limits or the limits of your bike. Enjoy the journey and if you want to ensure your safety do some rider courses that'll teach you all the right habits from the outset.

Welcome to the forum too and have fun riding. Life's too short

yes you are too old.
the thing is, if you didn't start riding when you were young then riding just isn't in your blood. yes it may be a cool thing to do and legally you can do so....it's your right! but think very carefully before you start wobbling down the road.

No your not...   And i bet a lot of people on here have been on group rides and found a lot of so called life time riders are shit riders anyway.  Still straight line heros that panic into bends. 

a wise man once said     "I used to think i was a rider with 26 years experience, but discovered i was a rider with one years experience 26 times over"

Time can make a great rider, but its not a necessity. 

like others have said, My Mrs got her RE this year at age 51.

 

42 ?............... are you for real ??
Get off your ass' and make an effort if you want to ride,........ or book in to the old folks home now .

thats your decission. I guess your old man knows the sort of person you are and mayebe thats what he is basing his opinion on. My question to you is if you doubt yourself and have to ask the question is it the right move for you. Only you can decide. Good luck with your decision and keep us posted.

Hey Lovin

I was the same as you, always wanted to ride but never got around to it. i got my licence last year in my very late 30's, prior to that i had never ridden a motorcycle (except for dirt bikes). My old man was the same, always threatened to put an axe through any bike i brought home.........he passed the year before last so i got my bike. Don't let your old man hold you back or put doubt in your mind.....bloody dads are great at doing that. I think its better to wait later in life to get a bike. You have more respect for the road and are generally more patient.

Buying and riding a Harley is an awesome experience, one im glad i finally got to do.

P.s When you start riding practise a lot around estates and quiet roads( i panicked a little first time in traffic) ......slowly get used to riding then mix it up with traffic. Fart

My wife got her L's at 41. Can't see a problem with it. If you can, try to learn to ride on a dirt bike if you can, you will learn plenty of life saving riding skills as opposed to road riding.

Spend a couple of years on small bikes till it becomes second nature. We were all beginners once. I rode around and learnt to ride on a mates 500cc BSA while he thrashed the guts outta my Norton Dominator, as I was still a bit intimidated by it at first. Just don't go directly to a big bike, unless it's a rat bike, as you will come to grief and drop it. Many Ulysses clubs around to get the miles up with, while your building up the confidence..

If you are that keen you should not have to ask. Just start small and work your way up. You wont enjoy a big bike untill your confidence is up. Find someone in the know to help you with a starter.

I would rent or borrow a trail bike so you can teach yourself & practice in paddocks.

Go hard or go home, straight onto a CVO Street Glide.

I'm 46 and have only been riding for a couple of years. When I was 16 I had a bad crash on a friends dirt bike and my mother made me promise I would never get a road bike. I always wanted one but I always remembered my promise. Five years ago my mother passed away and my wife bought me a oneday motorbike course that resulted in both of us getting our Ls at the end of the day after I talked her into joining me. Neither one of us has looked back and after doing our basic learning on a 250 we now have held full licences for over a year and purchased our first Harley.

I wish I had done it earlier, but I'm also very glad that I have done it now.

this bloke hasn't bothered to reply to any of the above posts, me thinks he is just taking the piss.