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Why Riders Are Hanging Up Their Helmets – and How to Stay on the Road
The U.S. median age of motorcycle owners is now around 50 — a sharp jump from the mid-20s back in the early 1980s. Today, 39% of riders are between 51 and 69 years old.
As riders get older, many begin to think about whether it's time to give up their life on two wheels. Combine that with fewer younger riders coming into motorcycling, and the number of motorcycles on the road continues to decline year after year.
This week on MCrider, we’ll talk about this trend, why riders stop riding, and what we can do to keep riding safely for as long as possible.
My Own Journey as a Rider
There was a time when every solo trip I took was on a motorcycle. Today, I admit the truck seat is sometimes more appealing.
I used to commute 50 miles every day on a bike. Now, I work from home, and my riding miles have dropped. I still love getting out for a ride, but motorcycles no longer account for 90% of my miles like they once did.
Why Riders Stop Riding
The reasons riders quit vary depending on age group.
Younger Riders
Most younger riders stop riding for two key reasons:
- Starting a family
- Concerns about safety and responsibility
I understand that completely. When my daughters were very young, I had a crash that broke my collarbone. I still remember their faces as they stood by my hospital bed. If anything was going to make me quit riding, that was it.
Instead, I chose to train. I took every motorcycle safety class I could find, became an instructor, and eventually started MCrider.
Training didn’t make the roads any safer — drivers were still distracted — but I became a much safer rider through Road Strategy.
- I learned better handling skills.
- More importantly, I learned Road Strategy that reduced the impact of other drivers’ mistakes.
If you’re a younger rider considering quitting, I won’t try to talk you out of it. But I do want to share a strategy that can make riding safer for you and your family and that is the combination of Road Skills & Road Strategy. I also have books on these two topics and you can find them here.
Older Riders
Older riders usually give three main reasons for hanging up their helmets:
- Declining Health
- Age isn’t the issue — health is. Some riders ride safely well into their 70s or 80s, others cannot.
- Knee and hip pain is one of the biggest reasons riders quit.
- Vision declines, night riding becomes harder, and slower reaction times set in.
- Protective gear helps, but recovery from injury takes longer as we age.
- Distracted Drivers
- The rise of smartphones has changed the roads — and not for the better.
- Drivers glued to their screens create huge risks for motorcyclists.
- Enforcement is difficult, and we can’t rely on drivers to change.
- Comfort and Confidence
- Reduced dexterity and slower reflexes make riding less enjoyable.
- Some riders simply feel they can no longer react quickly enough to stay safe.
Road Strategy Is More Important Than Ever
We can’t depend on drivers to do the right thing. If you rely on them to stop at red lights, not turn in front of you, or stay out of your lane, you are putting your safety in their hands.
That’s why proper road strategy is more important now than ever. We must ride in a way that minimizes the impact of other people’s mistakes.
If physical limitations are your main issue, consider a trike. It requires less physical skill but still demands the same mental focus and road strategy to ride safely.
Final Thoughts
Are these things affecting your riding right now?
- Have you adjusted your riding habits to stay on the road?
- Have you switched to a different type of bike or a trike?
- Or did you decide to give it up completely and just enjoy the memories?
I’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below and share your story.
Till next week, ride safe!
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Below is some gear that I ride with on a daily basis…if you are in the need of good riding gear, the products below have worked well for me.
KLIM Jacket – https://www.MCrider.com/KLIM
Shoei Motorcycle Helmets – https://www.MCrider.com/Shoei
Windshirt/Jacket Liner – https://www.MCrider.com/Liner
Lee Park Sumo Gloves – https://www.MCrider.com/LeeParks
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