For those 35+: Did you start riding b/c of a midlife crisis?

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I'm in my mid-30s and starting riding about 3 years ago. In the last few years, I've starting getting into a lot of new things (motorcycling, tennis, snowboarding, kayaking, oil painting, etc), and have started to re-evaluate my life and career. It dawned on me, recently, that I may be going through a midlife crisis. :(

For those in their 30s and up, did you get into riding b/c of a midlife crisis? If so, did it help? If not, what has helped you through your "crisis"?

I'm thinking about riding to the east coast this season, and wondering if this might help me get over my midlife crisis, or whether it just might be a big waste of time.
 
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Im 26 and have been going through midlife crisis for 2-3 years ahahah

(does this mean imma die earlier?! )

Trips and travel does help clear my mind so it might help, time with yourself usually will have a good effect on your mind/soul/whatnot
 
I am 44 and just got my license. I have heard about 50 people tell me I am going through a midlife crisis. Two thoughts on that:

1) I have always wanted a motorcycle. My wife asked me not to get one for the last 15 years. She must want me dead now because she finally gave in. She is still not entirely happy but she knows it made me happy.

2) I sincerely think people who say you are having a "mid-life crisis" use the term to justify their own continued day to day boring existence. They usually say it as they discuss who got booted from Survivor (yawn) or while complaining about their crappy boss (who cares).
 
Midlife crisis is what people say when they are jealous, threatened or afraid. When my ex suggested I didn't really want to do fun things and that I was just going through a midlife crisis, I told her that when she turned 40 I was allowed trade her in for two 20yr olds. Hence, ex.

Never stop.
 
Going through a mid-life crisis in your mid-30's is pretty early. You should be raising kids, buying a house and settling into a career at that age.
Save the crisis for at least another 10 years, when your mortgage, kids and job start getting to you!!

I've been riding since 16 and I'm 50 now. That's probably why I never had a mid-life crisis!
 
OP, for your sake I hope your not going through your midlife crisis in your mid 30s. I plan on having mine at 52 and living to 104. :D
 
alb said:
I am 44 and just got my license. I have heard about 50 people tell me I am going through a midlife crisis. Two thoughts on that:

1) I have always wanted a motorcycle. My wife asked me not to get one for the last 15 years. She must want me dead now because she finally gave in. She is still not entirely happy but she knows it made me happy.
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2) I sincerely think people who say you are having a "mid-life crisis" use the term to justify their own continued day to day boring existence. They usually say it as they discuss who got booted from Survivor (yawn) or while complaining about their crappy boss (who cares).
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^^^ you're damn right on número dos.

3) I do all these things for one very simple reason:

Because I can.

And life is too f*cking short not to try everything.
 
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I am 47 and have been riding since I was 12, so unless my mid-life starter early, that would be a NO.
 
I am in my late 30's and just got a bike last year. I though it was a mid life crisis that caused this new way of thinking, I also just quit my job for a new one. Change is good when you put thought into it. Why I wanted a bike now is simple, I am at a point in my life where I feel like I am responsible enough to own and maintain one, I also enjoy the youthful freedom it provides. The new job, easy it is 4mins from my home and I can ride there everyday I want. So if this is a mid life crisis, bring it on !!

Lastly just got back from a ride to Boston, It was awesome !!

If any of you "old timers" want to get together let me know.
 
Is there a rule or law somewhere that says you can't try anything new or fun after 35?

Retarded concept.
 
Eh, I don't buy into stupid social labels like mid life bullcrap. It's whatever, I started riding at 43, because I felt like it. Always wanted to, and just hadn't gotten to it, life etc got in the way.
 
I had a dirt bike since I was 14 and got my "M" licence at 16, three years before I bothered to get a regular "G". I am currently 57 and have only had one short 3-year period where I did not own a bike. So, no I did not start riding as a result of a mid-life crisis. Who cares why or when you started to ride, it is only important that you love to ride. I intend to continue riding as long as I can and I hope to still be riding when I am the age of the fellow I bought my FJ600 from; he was in his 70's!
 
LOL im with you on this one . . . . With work and every day stress we do what we can to enjoy the short time in life that we have to ourselves. Riding helps clear my mind and enjoy the simple things in life. Friends, fresh air and open roads =D.

LePhillou said:
Im 26 and have been going through midlife crisis for 2-3 years ahahah

(does this mean imma die earlier?! )

Trips and travel does help clear my mind so it might help, time with yourself usually will have a good effect on your mind/soul/whatnot
Click to expand...
 
riding since 17 with a decade time out for kids. ( 64 now )
I think there is some validity as older reflexes perhaps require a bit more care in the learning curve.
There are subconscious things that long time riders do that are hard even to put into words...it just comes from saddle time and riding experience.
Be interesting to see stats on the issue.
 
so riding cures and avoids mid-life crisis.

tadaaa
 
I'm 54, starting riding at age 12 and I'm on bike #10, althought there was a 20 year gap from '83 to '03. In retrospect, I regret not having one for so many years, but I'm making up for lost time now. I have been thinking about another bike for the cottage.... maybe a Suzuki/Honda 400 or 650 for the back road or trails.......or maybe a GS1200 or maybe a KTM dirt bike.
 
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I started to do more fun stuff around 35 - including motorcycling, because I had more time and desire to do so. I think people become more interesting, focused, driven to do cool things they've always wanted to.

Unless you're a special case, I don't think you get mid-life crisis that early in life.

Your trip out east should be fun - I've done it with a car, planning to do it on motorcycle as well!
 
I got my M2 at the age of 46. My son was 18; had graduated from high school and was moving to the U.S. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad for the opportunity my son had to go to the U.S. But I realized how easy it was for him just to "leave me" (after 18 years of raising him alone). That's when I decided I had to start living my own life. Got my M2; started playing soccer and just basically decided to try different activities/things I hadn't done before. Life really is short.
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