Eve of Destruction

OK, this is serious. I'm 62 years old. I've been riding since I was 17, so I reckon that makes 45 years in the saddle. In that time, I've never been without a motorcycle, and I've never not loved motorcycling.
My knees are getting worse and worse with osteo-arthritis. The other week I actually dropped the bike (very gently) when my left leg refused to take the weight when I stopped.
Motorcycling is a really important part of my life. It's how I see myself (Ross the Rebel Biker). It's getting obvious I can't keep this up much longer.
I can't ride the FZ. The footpegs are just too far back, and the pain in my knees too much to take.
Obviously, this problem is going to spread, and I won't be able to ride the XJ900.
My girlfriend says "Just reflect on all the great times you've had." but that's not what I want. Please don't tell me to get a scooter.

Come on folks, you have to have some advice for me! (And please don't suggest I strap myself to the bike and go out in a blaze of glory!)

 

Time to start looking at trikes, my friend. Sorry to be so blunt, but that's the solution to your problem, and there's no getting around it.

Buy one, bodge one, or whatever you choose, but you (and your knees) will be happier for it.

 

Or rig up a sidecar?

 

Both of my in-laws have had their knees replaced. Did wonders for them.

Is this an option?

 

I agree (somewhat) with both MiCarl and altus both. If the pain and weakness in your knees is as bad as you describe it, you should first be looking at your medical options. While dual knee replacements is rather extreme, surely something can be done surgicaly to improve your current situation.

If not, and you want to keep on the road, then a Trike seems to me to be the best way to feel like you are still riding without any of the hassle of using your lower body to support 500+ lbs. of bike. Hope this helps some....

 

I'm still aching from Arthriscopy to my left knee. The Knee is something we just take for granted until it starts to ache.

At least the surgery relieved the constant pain in my knee that was making everything miserable ... and everybody; too.

You hurt; you're angry.
Your angry ... and you take it out on others.

 

I think the thought of not having 1 more ride in me would be devastating also so refuse to believe that lie Big Ross,,,, think,,, I have 1 more ride in me,,,they might get very far apart but take it 1 ride at a time!!!!!best I can do big guy,,,,an get your leg out from under it....Dan

 

There's this trick set-up in Gold wings where the center stand is replaced with retractable wheels, that automatically deploy below 15 MPH.

Don't know what they cost, but the advert looks neat.
Leave your feet on the pegs / floorboards.

 

Hey Ross... I hope you find a solution to this... Be a sad day when you can no longer ride.

 

Sorry to hear about your knees. I hope you can work something out, but I'm sure we're all headed for a similar situation at some point.

 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOhP1HTZQwY

Here's the link. It looks like this stuff is not dependant on the Gold Wing's electronics, and could be adapted to any bike. You just have to hide the pump and the brain. It's probably hellaxpensive.

 

I'm with MiCarl. You're coming into your fall season over there. What better time to get your left knee replaced and healed back up for next year's riding season. 62 isn't that old. You need to get your joints working again so you can continue to fully enjoy your hobbies. Then maybe next fall you can get that right one worked on.

 

Thanks guys. I think I appreciate the support at least as much as the suggestions.
Strange, maybe it's my brain going as well. The word "sidecar" never even crossed my mind, despite the fact that I had five very happy years with one in the late 70s. I'll keep my eyes open for a chassis and boat. If it were heavy enough, I could raise the seat of the bike a bit and straighten out the knees a bit.

Gamuru, I think you've pretty much persuaded me. "Fall" (Autumn) doesn't mean all that much here...we have great weather...but it is the time to do it. I'll hobble on for eight weeks until the holidays, then let them slash away.

Whatever, it's cheered me up a lot to realise that a great bunch of guys care, even if we've never met! To me, that's what motorcycling has always been about.

 

it may be extreme but my wife (41yrs old) has had both of her knees replaced...

the first (left) has done very very well. the second (obviously the right) has not faired quite as well but still MUCH MUCH better than before. she had OA (which destroys the cartiledge) in her back and shoulder as well...

she had her first knee surgery at 14 when she 'sploded her patella playing soccer (fodbol in Denmark)...

she gets along quite well i think...

look into it before parking the bike for good...

youll be glad you did...

 

I am so glad to dredge up this old thread and tell you what happened. In brief, I just got in from a great ride, and am experiencing only very minor pain (Not even enough to bother taking a pain killer for!).

I decided to get another medical opinion, and boy, was it worth it. After all kinds of scans and tests, my new doctor announced that, yes, I had arthritis, but it was combined with gout-which can be treated with pills! After a course of assorted medication, I can now walk almost normally, and, best of all, ride to my heart's content!
Gout, incidentally, is caused by excess ureic acid in the system, which settles out in the joints as sharp edged crystals, about the size of a grain of sand. Imagine that rubbing across a knee joint that isn't too good to begin with! The pain was really quite. err, "interesting".
Now all I have to do is keep up the pills, and who knows, maybe I'll be back on the FZ as well as the XJ!

 

Nothing like a misdiagnosis! Good thing you decided to go for that second opinion. I'd be half tempted to go talk with the first doctor and show him where he screwed up.

Glad to hear things are looking up! See, I told you 62 wasn't that old.

 

Hey Big Ross,

With gout I amnot sure how much the doc told ya but if your not on the daily pill, you should look into it. The crystals that are made can form in the kidneys and give you those fantastic stones that you have to pass the wrong way. I have gout and unfortunately for me it was heredatary. I used to get it in my foot and couldn't even stand on it. I take the daily pills and should never get it again, yes i have to take pills every day from now on but at least i will never feel that pain again and hopefully keep the stones out of my kidneys.

 

Ross,
For what it is worth permit me to tell you my story. I joined this group to learn about XJ Bikes and never thought I would be writing this. My handle is AutumnRider, not because I like riding in the fall but I am 55 years old and NEVER got an opportunity to ride a motorcycle until now. "Too" busy being a single parent raising three great kids, one is getting his PhD in Astrophysics, another is in nuclear engineering and my youngest is in her last year at UNC. I still haven't gotten the bike (1982 XJ750RJ) but it is mine whenever I can afford to go get it. Now that I am an empty nester and with you guys' help I intend to lovingly restore this bike and ride it till its wheels fall off (Donations will be a regular habit once I get my employment back on track).

Now how can I start riding at my age? This is the reason for my post.

-----
Ten years ago I had gotten into very bad shape physically, had a “chronic” disease, hypothyroidism, and was well on my way to repeat my father’s heart attacks. But I got very lucky; I lost my medical insurance and was forced to seek help outside of normal medical channels. Dr. Miguel, a Naturopathic Doctor, (God bless him, true angels do exist) told me that I had systemic yeast and parasite infections and had had this condition for at least 20 years, hence my hypothyroidism. If you are over 30 and have never been tested or never cleansed yourself you are most likely have parasites the “size of snakes” or yeast the size of “beach balls” and your blood is as “thick as mud”. Most older Americans have this condition, it is the major underlying cause for nearly every health crisis today (see Healing With Whole Foods, Paul Pitchford ISBN: 1-55643-220-8). The AMA won’t tell you this.

90 DAYS LATER!

With Dr. Miguel’s help all my major health problems disappeared, after all those years of struggling with fatigue, mysterious pain everywhere, bad sleep, near constant hunger, gout, gas, you name it. Needless to say, I was having trouble with my hands, back, hips, knees, and the beginnings of arthritis. My God! I still vividly remember the 91st day; I felt I was being released from Hell. No more 2-4pm afternoon BLUES!!!

I was lucky again when I hooked up with another healing specialist; I maintain her web site while she heals me, 7 years now. I jog/run two miles nearly every day and plan on running a half-marathon with my oldest this December. No pain, great sleep (only need 4 hrs), my mental acuity is off the scale compared to a few years ago and I laugh so hard now that it hurts my ribs sometimes . And NOTHING is a big challenge to me anymore. Believe me it has been no cake walk, with the help of my loving wife I have de-toxed myself, not alcohol but bad, bad food (it takes a bit to bring your body up from zero; shit-can sugar). I am healthier now than I was in my 30s/40s and my physical reaction time is incredible. I have only needed reading glasses for the past two years and I am a coder by trade. There is a myth that your body “ages” as you get older, it is an outright lie. Your body morphs to the eating/living conditions you place on it. Stress it out with a regular diet of red meat and sugar products (high fructose corn syrup is the worst and it is in everything) and welcome to the ICU. We do age but not the way we are taught, trouble in the joints is the “canary in the mines” telling you to stop eating crap. It took me nearly fours years of vigilance to convince my body to withdraw from bad food; please remember the body morphs and attaches/addicts itself to whatever it is given: I am still working on it, coffee anyone?

I apologize for rambling on so but for some reason I have been given a reprieve from what was to be a standard life, one of getting gradually sicker then dying while hearing the last words of an AMA doctor saying, “He just got old”. BULLSHIT. I am a living testament to the falsity of our corrupted medical/drug cartel. I have lived most of my adult life in a dreary darkness with coffee being my fifth food group and if my post helps just ONE person it was worth it. It is said that motorcycle riders represent the last bastion of real freedom in America, I do believe this. I am just proud to know you guys from your posts and know there are still people out there who LOVE life and do not fear the lean of a sharp curve.

Thank you all for providing me a great XJ Bike education and for bringing joy into my life,
AutumnRider

 

I'm glad this board has a lot of people my age, 55, in it. I'm in the same boat as a lot of you. Fortunately all my health and prescription needs are paid for.
When my XJ550 is finished I'll find out if I need to build a sidecar. I've always loved the chopper and sidecar in Mad Max.

 

That's great to hear Big Ross!!!!

I tore my ACL about 65% of the way a few years back (I think I was 37) and the doc suggested surgery to replace my knee. the kicker was when he said "at your age, we'd probably want to do both"

at my age!?!?!?!
As long as I'm not into sports or do too much twisting on it, I'm ok.

Glad you got the second opinion.

 

Sorry for getting on my soapbox, I'll stick with XJ bike talk...62 aint old 84 maybe...