I just turned 61, don't need glasses YET, don't hit the bars on my bike, am always watching the other guy, and for the most part, I stay out of town, lots of rural roads down here. I don't ride much with other people, like to go where I want and stop when I want. I'm doing all the right things hopefully. Never went to a motorcycle drivers school, although I'm sure I could learn something, don't have a motorcylce endorsment on my drivers licence, and carry full insurance, you never know!!!
I feel I'm up to another 10 years, possibly more of riding. One thing I want to do before long, is buy a nice bagger, late model, that i can get out and do some serious distance with. I'm restricted to short one day rides at the moment with the bikes I have, they are both old and NOT comfortable for long range, rigid mount motors, etc. Still working on the helmet issue.

D, stick with what works, but keep in mind, it's always best to be prepared.

I had a buddy of mine that insisted I take the course before I got my bike. To shut him up I took it - to be truthful, I'm glad I did. The course training has saved my life more than once so far. I am a better rider for it. I wasn't a very experienced rider before it though. I did what everybody does, learned as I went. After the course I saw the challenges of riding very differently. I felt "educated". I had confidence in my new abilities that I lacked before. If I had to take the course today after riding for years I might not be as impressed but the 20% savings on the insurance would be a motivator.

I hope you get a bagger, you're gonna need one for the Grand Canyon Meet Up... That hasn't been planned yet

I didn't have a motorcycle license for 18 years while riding on the street, but I am glad I got it. Will your insurance pay if you don't have a license? I never took the riders safety course, but I hope to in the future. A friend of mine is a Regional coordinator for the riders edge group. He believes in the course.

I know of three people, off the top of my head, that would likely be alive today if they would have been wearing a helmet. I also know of one that survived, but his story is worse (in my opinion).

Case #1 - man in the 50's took a trip with a buddy to the hill country. Both wore helmets there because there is a lot of traffic. Once they got out of the traffic one of them took his helmet off. A few miles down the road he lost it on a curve when he hit some gravel. His brain spilled out of his skull on the highway.

Case #2 - A young mother that had been riding for years went to the store to get some milk. She took her child with her. The child was wearing a helmet, but momma was not. She layed the bike down and had massive head trama... she died. The child got a scratch.

Case #3 - A man, with a wife and kids was riding his bike solo with no helmet and had a wreck. He was in a coma for a while. When he woke up from the coma he had the mind of a 10 year old. As luck would have it, he had a friend that was nailing his wife while he was in a coma. When he got out of the hospital his wife and best friend moved him into a small travel trailer in the backyard while his buddy continued to nail his wife, raise his kids, and get his disability check.

Nothing in life is guarenteed, but our heads will pop like a grape when slammed on the pavement.

Case #4 - a friend of mine many years ago was going over the Bridge of Americas on his Ninja, probably at about 100 mph. He lost control at the bottom in the curve and he slammed into the guard rail. The bottom part of one of the his legs was hanging on by the skin. His helmet was cracked almost in half. No head injuries and they re-attached his leg.

I don't like wearing a helmet, but I will wear a helmet.

I'll say one thing about the helmet, the guy in the pictures probably was happy he has one on.

I came across this one, the rider seems to not under stand about keeping his feet on the boards.
Starts to drag his foot and then it gets dragged off by it.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYxU_lYBHpY[/youtube]

Ride safe this holiday season.

AND THEN... there's this guy... what a show off




[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9MVY8swO5M&feature=related[/youtube]

Wheeeewwwwie! Man he is lucky. I was sorta nervouse about watching the video because it seemed like it was gonna an all was doomed deal.

Looks like a ride like a pro video. I learned alot from those. When I first got an Ultra back in 2008 it was quite a handfull. It kinda is now (I'm only 5'7) but the ride like a pro video series helped me wrap my head around owning the Ultra alot. Wish I was 6'1 or at least 6'.

These bikes are a bit of a handful at first huh? It takes a bit to be able to trust your abilities with one of these bikes. I'm just a tad-bit taller than you. Have you lowered your bike at all? I installed Pingel's 1" lowering blocks on my Ultra and they helped a ton.

It's amazing he was able to get up and walk off. If it didn't have bags it might have got his foot. One guy I work with laid his Ultra down and it hurt his foot. He's been off work for a while.