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

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I got my license @ 40 back in 2008. And I actually got it for free, because I won a contest from Q107, as they gave away about 10 Gearing Up courses at Humber College. I got my bike the same year. My wife and mother-in-law still think I am nuts to be riding so late in life. But my answer to them was "I don't give a crap about that, I am having fun and so will my girls when they want to start riding as well." You can imagine the cold stares I get after saying that to them. ;)
 
Great thread. Glad to see the mature people enjoying their lives. I will be turning 32 next week. Got my license last year after my gf convinced me to go together. I always wanted one but never had the courage to do it, and had some back issues in between. Thanks to my gf I have never been happier than i am now with riding. It's such a pleasure. we never know when it's our time to go. So i say enjoy it when you can young or old and just laugh at the dumbos that talk crap. They are jealous.
 
Started riding at 30.

Some say it was a mid-life crisis, others say it was a brilliant move getting my licence and bike 2 months before I got married. :)

EDIT: I always wanted a bike. My brother had them when I was really young but I didn't think I had the self control to buy one until I was older, so I stuck with cars. I sold my Buick GN and decided to spend some of the proceeds on a bike. Don't regret it.
 
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Started at 50. If I was still living in T.O. (Downsview) I'd never have a bike. Alien and intimidating machines that took out several of my high school buddies and don't belong in that kind of traffic. Meanwhile I'd been paddling whitewater in C1's for years and I thought that was safer - to each their own.

When I moved to a rural setting and my friends were all rural, it looked cool as a prospect to ride the county roads north of the GTA. Took over a year looking into the whole thing, going to shows, asking around, thinking hard about the pros and cons (couldn't see many cons) then booked the RTI course for my birthday. That was eight years ago (shaddup, i'm old, OK). Best thing I did for myself in decades but I don't know if I would appreciate it as much if I had been doing it since school.

It's not a mid life crisis if you're not dressing like a pirate and taking up half the front lot at Timmies in Port Perry for 3 hours at a time. Just putting that out there ;)
 
30, and I wouldn't say it was a mid-life crisis of sorts, but over the past few years I've been trying to broaden my horizons, as I have a decent paying job, car, and condo, and can't stand only 'going through the motions'. I was also in a car accident a few years back during a winter storm (write-off, but wasn't injured luckily), but it did remind me how things could have ended differently, and to do more of the things I wanted to do in life now, vs waiting and saying 'some day'.

As for the bike specifically, I moved out of the suburbs and a few of my friends all got their M2s, so I started looking into it more seriously, so I figured I'd give riding a shot (and now am pretty much hooked). I'm also between relationships atm, so no gf or wife to say no lol.
 
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People have tried pinning the mid life crisis thing on me. I'm 37, marriage broke up and I moved to a house with an awesome garage in the country. Always wanted a bike and the kids are more self sufficient, plenty of money and time, so I got one. If this is a mid life crisis I will take two please! Finally able to do some of things I have always wanted :)
 
Yep.. that's what everyone else is beginning to think.

I think my wife wants to grow old together ... now....

I was fun before I met her, now I'm so boring I bore myself... I've had it, it's time for some deep changes, time to reclaim myself, I bought the bike last year against her wishes, I'm getting back in shape, getting back to flying, playing guitar cliff diving and generally having fun outside the picket fences again, I'm thinking of buying a Triumph Spitfire, always wanted one. Life insurance is covered so she has no real argument to make, if she really loved me, she'd love me for who I am, not some stereotype from her fantasy world of the Jones.

straight enough for ya? ;)
 
Mid life crisis! I haven't finished my second childhood yet.
 
I find it less of a midlife crisis and more of a financial stability issue. There was no way I could have ever been able to afford riding in my 20's let alone ride with enough maturity to respect the dangers that come with riding. As you get older, opportunities present themselves and you decide from there.
 
I started at 45. Hadn't really thought about it before, but I got into it for purely practical reasons (or so I tell myself). I absolutely love it. Comute every day, fun rides some weekends, and did 8 days, 2000 km of the best twisties you could ever imagine 2-up touring with my wife through the Pyrenees from Barcelona to Pamplona & back this May. I'll be turning 50 this year. I upgraded bikes last year, and am signed up to do 2 days at Fast Riding School in a couple weeks, so I guess you can say I'm hooked. I'm old enough to afford it, and young enough to go for it so why not!

I also got into back-country cat skiing 6 years ago, so some might say I'm a walking mid life crisis. As far as I'm concerned, I'm just out there having fun!
 
M2 at 45 as well.

Always liked the idea of a motorbike, but was never obsessed. I do enjoy taking on new projects though, especially where there is some risk involved. Haven't worked for anyone but myself for the last 15 years. One day a friend of mine who is launching a new web / app start-up about motorcycles (http://eatsleepride.com/) told me I should try it and that parking was free... Next thing I was at ServiceOntario writing my M1. Then I lined up the course for the following week and bought a bike a few days before taking it :-)

I get the mid-life crisis thing. A bit. Whatever. I guess I've been having them for years and just didn't realize it.

One unintended benefit: my 6 and 9 year old daughter now suddenly think I am super cool. Anyone have any kids riding equipment for sale?
 
Mid Life Crisis?!?!? What crisis? Mid Life Celebration is more like it!
I got back on a bike in my late 30's (38 I think) after a long hiatus.
When I was young I lost some friends to this "hobby" and unfortunately there is always reminders of our time being invincible on this site as we see the next crop, and we can only wish them well and hope a few take some of the advice we probably laughed at when we were them.

I survived some fun/stupid misadventures. Worked my fingers to the bone. Sacrificed to get to where I am in my career and now see the rewards. Married an amazing woman (15yrs) and built a wonderful family...........and now is the time of crisis??? I am having the time of my life!
$#%&! my crisis was 20 odd years ago when I didn't have a clue!
 
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Never really had an interest in riding before, but decided to get my licence last year before my 40th. Wife says it's my mid-life crisis, and maybe it is, but I'm having a blast anyway.
 
I've always loved motorcycles. When I was in my 20's a guy took me for a ride on his bike that scared the crap out of me and I never got back on another bike. Still loved the look and sound of them, but never did anything about it. 2 years ago I dated a guy that had a Goldwing. Spent 6 weeks on the back of that bike and fell in love with riding. That Fall I took the M1 Exit course at Sheridan, and in the Spring of 2011 I got my first bike. I haven't looked back and now at 51, I'm wishing I had done this sooner. Not a mid life crisis, just waited too long.... I'm making up for it though :)
 
Not everyone has (have) the opportunity to do things such as riding a motorcycle at a younger age. Getting married, raising a family and a business start up was my focus since the age of 20.

Mid life crisis ? I say yes, I started at 45, you come to realize that it's now or never.

You may not have the skills developed, but your maturity allows you to focus better.

Call it mid life, whatever, it's real for many people.
 
f1mauro said:
I find it less of a midlife crisis and more of a financial stability issue. There was no way I could have ever been able to afford riding in my 20's let alone ride with enough maturity to respect the dangers that come with riding. As you get older, opportunities present themselves and you decide from there.
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^^^^ This.
 
Bought a used unassembled 350 Yamaha street bike when I was 18 put it together with some help. Rode with a buddy around Scarborough for a season and got in alot of trouble...yes cops involved. Finally one day messing around I ended up putting the bike through a fence and me over it. Started to figure I'm gonna probably get killed and the cold was setting in anyways....sold the bike bought a car. When I turned 47 I got back into bikes. Inbetween I've had atv's three wheelers and four wheelers, snowmobiles, boats and some dirt bike ridden. So maybe ya its was a mid life crisis thing but then again I always had toys.
I think because I never did get my full M licence I put it off...wife never said no...was always about finances whether it was time for a new toy and priorities...house had to be built...kids...trips etc.
In some ways I wished I had been riding earlier....but I'm alot more wiser and mature when I figured it was time to do this sport. Thank freakin god I did come back to ridin....even if I ride only for 10 mins it's the best 10 mins of the day.
 
dieselxx said:
Great thread. Glad to see the mature people enjoying their lives. /QUOTE]

I love this post the most because of the backhanded compliment. Yes dieselxx there are lots of "mature" people still enjoying our lives. Sometimes we even go crazy and create the beast with two backs. Not too often, I mean, we are almost dead. :lmao:
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