I was off motorbikes for 20 years. Then one day my son came home with a 125, and I thought: just one go.
This is the story of why I stopped, what pulled me back, and what I’ve learned about coming back safely. If you’re thinking about getting back into motorcycling after a long break, you’re really not alone.
Why I stopped riding
I stopped for a simple reason. I didn’t need to commute any more, and I had a young family. And honestly, I got scared. Motorcycling is risky, there’s no doubt about it, and I didn’t want to leave my kids without a dad.
The spark never went away
But the spark had never really left my head. I was always looking at bikes. Then the boys grew up and moved out, and my eldest turned up with his 125. I ran down our track, came back up the road, and I thought: I remember this. I remember how it makes you feel.
My son was quite surprised that his old dad could still ride a bike, and ride it well. And that was it. I was in the market for another motorbike.
The doubts
Would I remember what to do? What would the roads be like? Would I still think it was too risky?
Buying the bike was a stab in the dark. I’d made up my mind on a BMW GS, the one I ride now, but the local dealer wouldn’t give me a test ride as soon as I mentioned the 20-year gap. I got the bike anyway, and it had moved on so much: safer, nicer and faster.
If you’re weighing up what to buy, my guide to choosing the right motorcycle as a returning rider covers what to look for, and what it really costs to get back into motorcycling puts realistic UK numbers on it.
What fixed my confidence: advanced training
So what was the fix for my confidence? I sorted myself out with an IAM RoadSmart course, the Advanced Rider course. I thought my confidence was holding me back, and it was. Since the course I’m a better rider: smoother and more confident.
What riding feels like now
Riding takes total focus. Whatever’s going on in your life, once you’re on the bike, everything else gets shut out. When you get off, you feel more relaxed than when you set off.
I ride a lot now, and not just for fun. I’m a volunteer blood biker, delivering medication, blood samples and documents for the NHS, for free.
The risk, and what to do if you have a family
Do I still think about the risk? Yes, I do, but the plus sides make up for it. Maybe the risk is probably part of why we do it.
If you’ve got a family and you’re thinking about coming back, think about what risk you’re happy to accept, and what risk your family are happy to accept. And get some form of advanced training. I don’t think the UK bike test on its own is enough to keep you safe on UK roads.
If you're thinking about coming back
Twenty years ago I put the bike away because I was a little bit frightened. Today it’s how I help.
If you’re thinking about coming back after a long break, you’re really not alone. That’s why I built Back to Biking. Start with the free 30-point checklist, and take it from there.
