When your wife says, “You’re too old to ride motorcycles, you might get hurt,” just smile and say “Honey, I’m doing this for you so I can build up my bones.” No, really. The science is on your side. A daily dose of whole body vibration is good for you.
A daily dose of whole body vibration may help reduce the usual bone density loss that occurs with age, Medical College of Georgia researchers report.
Researchers found vibration improved density around the hip joint with a shift toward higher density in the femur, the long bone of the leg, as well. Hip fractures are a major cause of disability and death among the elderly.
They also found a reduction in a biomarker that indicates bone breakdown and an increase in the surface area involved in bone formation in the vibrating group.
Well, the study didn’t specifically cite motorcycles, but what better whole body vibration machine is there? Combined with previous studies that show lifting weights keeps bones strong among older folks, this could be a nice boost for Harley Davidson, or any big bike for that matter, giving all of us Boomers a great new reason to fire up the big V-Twins for medicinal purposes and ride forever. At this rate, you could almost get your doctor to write a prescription, “One hour of riding daily, as needed. Prescription may be refilled indefinitely.” No more namby-pamby lightweight girlie bikes, I’ll have one of those big heavy suckers that vibrates. Thanks, Doc!
Link: EurekAlert via FuturePundit
Hawk says
You know, if we wait long enough, someone will say something we can agree with. Being “agreeable” seems to happen less often as I age but “Therapudic Riding”, especially if we could get the Health Care System to pay for it, just fits right in.
Seriously though, I can personally relate. Recovering from the installation of various steel and plastic parts and the screws and plates to hold me together, riding has helped more than all the physiotherapy. I do miss the 800 – 1000 Km rides but even the 300 -400 Km ones will have me feeling great …. tomorrow. Even my doctors have recommended that I get out and ride more. “Just watch out for the blind, distracted cagers!”
Sportster Mike says
Hey thats good news for all old Harley riders!! – the OLD Harleys AND the OLD riders I mean – that vibration from the solid mounted engine is doing you good!!
Now all you’ve got to now when you get home after a hard days work is pop an Aspirin, drink some real fruit juice (Cranberry), eat a bit of dark chocolate and some Brazil nuts and then go for a ride….
Its a hell of a life but someones got to do it!!
Should I change my rubbermount Sportster?? to the older model.. now I’m 53 and getting on a bit..??
John McDowell says
Hey, just down the road from me is a Therapudic Horse Riding Ranch. So, why not a Iron Horse???
fast eddie says
After having read “the secret” and “the power” a common denominator came to mind
Motorcycling. No doubt we all have known someone that has rode well into there eighties. I can tell you from my perspective the story you have posted is spot on .
When I was in my early twenties [55 now] an old timer I Knew would ride regularly with our group on his 1929 JD harley mostly our rides would end up being 150 to 200 mi .
“It keeps me young ” , he would say. I learned tons from this guy. First Inches is inches
his 74 cu in ridgid harley would keep up with any of us. Older is allways wiser. Having been there and done that. Should never be overlooked. A good ride is when you make it home. he died of lung cancer at 91 . He rode three days before he passed
If I ride every day and don’t smoke butts I may make it just as far. you can to ,get out there and ride. safely of course FE
oldtimer says
I knew it!! I’ve been feeling progressively worse ever since I sold my 62 Triumph. I thought it might just be a case of sellers remorse, but now I am sure that my health is deteriorating. Gotta check e-bay……(of course I will be referring my wife’s pending rant directly to The Kneeslider!)…hope that’s OK….thanks for the help……
Phoebe says
As the owner of two Buells, it looks like I’m all set! 😉
Oldyeller8 says
I read earlier this year about how motorcycling makes older people smarter. Can’t find the original article but here is a link to the study.
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/motorcycles-help-keep-you-young-software-expert-20090304-8olr.html
Stjohn says
Seconded on the Buell. It’s like one of those exercise machines from the 50’s, the one where you wrap the big belt around your ass and let it jiggle you to svelteness. I wouldn’t give mine up for anything.
Yeti B says
I couldn’t agree more! Nothing helps my back more than than a jaunt on the ole Lightning. Nice to see my fellow Buell riders commenting!
B50 Jim says
Oh, yes! I knew I kept my old BSA paint-mixer running all these years for a reason. As a rider easing up to 60 I can relate to this. The ever-present vibration from my Big Single really shakes my middle-aged bones. Great to know it’s doing me a world of good. Hey, I’ve recently been told by people I respect that I look a lot younger than my 58 years. Now I can tell them, “Well, of course! I ride an old English motorcycle!”
Garry says
I’m 61 years old. I’ve been ridding since 1969.
I bought a Harley Davidson Softail springer, FXSTSSE2, in 2008 and have been on it steady ; over 30,000 miles so far.
The other day I went into a liquir store. I had to show my license to buy a lighter and a pack of gum. It hasen’t helped my spelling though.
todd says
Do they mention anything about the frequency of the vibration? I’m sure small multis are just as beneficial. For me and all my big bore singles I’m set. As for one of my BMWs that needs a carb balance, maybe I’ll let that slide.
Riding also helps my back. I have compound scoliosis. Riding on a bike puts my feet under me with my knees bent and hip rotated forward with my upper back supported by my arms. My back is basically stretched and suspended while riding. In a car I tend to slouch and all my weight is running through my spine. Not to mention that sitting in a car causes one to relax the gut, stretching it out.
Is the vibration good for your fillings?
-todd
B50 Jim says
I have a friend who once developed blood poisoning in his left arm, and he swore riding a Triumph 250 single cured it. As for fillings, I have enough to set off security at an airport, and my dentist never mentioned any motorcycle-relared problems. Not sure about my optometrist; he rode a B50 in his younger days, but it was in such poor tune that he mostly wrecked his knee trying to start it.
Hawk says
Hmmm. I’m noticing more and more of us are younger than me. I started riding in’52 and am now working on 75. More and more, I admire the guys who rode into their 90’s though.
Thure says
If it don’t kill you, it will make you stronger…
MacKenzie says
Verrrrry interesting! I’m 67, been riding since ’63, but I’m afraid that all those good vibes couldn’t prevent the osteoarthritis in my hips. Probably have to thank 35 + years of distance running for that….. I now sport a titanium left hip; this mod allowed me to get back into riding bigtime….. before the surgery my hip would complain mightily when I had to raise and lower my foot in stop ‘n go. I love it when something I am crazy about (bikes, good wine, fine microbrew) gets touted as the next “good thing” for one’s health, in moderation of course. My Orthopod, however, did not agree regarding the bikes; he was horrified when I thanked him for getting me back on my Buell….., and my Super Duke, and…. and….. Docs can be a little bit conservative on that subject!
Mike
rohorn says
“I swear I’m not fat – this old Harley made me big boned!”
Jim says
There was a booth in the Convention Hall at Sturgis this year, demoing and selling expensive whole body vibration platforms. Sports teams have used them for years as a training aid. I told them I ride a Harley and get plenty of vibes, they couldn’t argue.
No sale.
Jim
David says
(B50 Jim says):
“optometrist rode a B50 in his younger days, but it was in such poor tune that he mostly wrecked his knee trying to start it.”
Having had all of the problems that a ’71 B50 BSA could throw at me, I became an expert at solving them. The ignition points are located in the right side case and collect oil fumes that condense on them after every run. The only sure way of having easy kick-starting is to clean the points with a piece of paper each and every time. I made a breather tube for the points and even made a one way valve engine breather, in the valve cover. BTW: the 250 had a rotating disk-valve case breather to address this issue. If I were ever to have another B50 BSA it would have a Hunts magneto, (made for earlier BSA Victor race bikes) or an after market electronic ignition!
My carburetor did not have the passage drilled for the idle circuit!!! Also the float needle was too slender for its chamber and was made out of nylon, making it too light for a decent gravity seal. It would stick to the side of the chamber when the cycle was leaned on the kick stand. When I sometimes failed to shut the gas cock off, I would find the engine flooded with fuel. If the engine Intake valve was coincidentally in the open position (INTAKE) the cylinder would get filled with gasoline causing a hydro-lock up. I made a new float needle from brass, with a neoprene tip. I tuned the diameter to the right fit, using an automotive part.
The chains, clutch and clutch shaft and bronze shaft bushing were designed to be only strong enough for use in the 250cc version and were not substantial for the 500cc. I know that there was a 600cc. racing kit available, but I am not one incline to accept frequent rebuild jobs.
I sold my BSA B50 and found a much better motorcycle, in a Suzuki 650 Savage. My Savage has had no problems after being driven aggressively for 40,000 miles. The Savage is all gear driven except for the rear belt drive. It has a counter rotating ballancer. So I probably do not get the ‘bone’ building benefit that the B50 gave me. The gear box does not shift hard, when the engine gets too hot as in the BSA B50 and the clutch shaft is supported by two ball bearings on a separate shaft and not with a hollow input shaft inside an output shaft, from the same side of the gear box, via bronze sleeve bearing!!!
I expect to put another 50,000+ miles on it. The only thing makes this slow in coming is that I also ride two other cycles.
Most owners of a BSA B50 loved them when they ran, but they wanted to sell when they didn’t run; if only they could get them running again. My last straw with my B50 was the day my B50 stopped on me, because the wiring harness rubbed through the insulation and shorted out! When I got it running again I sold it, after a life of only 12,000 miles from new. These were 12, 000 miles of fun and many problems!
I did find the B50 to my liking, even though.
todd says
I like my B50. I had two at one point but sold one to help a fellow racer with a blown motor. I’ve never had any problems with my B50s except for a bad stator on one. They never vibrated as bad as my bored-out XL350 did on the freeway. Of course, this is all hindsight; I sold the 350 and the B50 is stuck in a perpetual state of cafe modification. Maybe the glasses are rose tinted now but I have my GB500 and XR650L to keep me healthy.
I remember when the KTM Duke first came out and everyone looked at me funny when I commented on how smooth it was…
-todd
David says
Back to the topic of motorcycle vibration;
My B50 would loosen any screwed-together part carried in the saddlebag and also split the license tag. Most of the vibration seemed to be located in the tail end. My wife complained about her feet tingling from the pegs, however I never felt that the driver pegs were a problem.
There was a dip stick for measuring the oil level, which was just in front of the gas tank. The engine oil was contained in the frame. Vibration caused that dip stick to come loose from the screw cap and I had to flatten the end tang and drive it back, into friction tightness fit, with the cap.
BTW; I left the skid plate off from under the engine, so that draining the oil from the frame would be easier. Even at that four nuts and a cover plate and filter screen had to be removed, plus another place I think, under the air filter had to be drained. Lots of good times had on maintenance!
Hawk says
I’m reminded of something that Trev Deeley used to say:
“Motorcycle boots are not comfortable for walking. They are made that way to encourage proper maintenance.”
http://www.trevdeeley.com/home/about-us/history-trev-deeley-motorcycles
Peter says
Oh. Seems I need something much less silky smooth than my wonderful Honda CB1300F then. Even when I finish my 1971 Honda C50 Cub, it won’t really help. Perhaps I do need that late 1940s Matchless 500 single after all!
Phoenix827 says
I’ve got it knocked. I’m running a 400cc single diesel rigid mounted in the frame. Plenty of vibration in the seat.
David says
Seems like, more and more memories keep popping into my mind about the old B50.
Mine developed a bad electrolytic capacitor. Just so happens my brother-in-law’s BSA 250cc also had this problem. This device was a very large capacitor wired in parallel with the battery. It was there so that one could disconnect and remove the battery and lights for racing. The failure of this capacitor would result in interrupted spark while running with the battery (regulated by zienor diode) in circuit and this causd a loss of power and surging!
B50 Jim says
I’m gobsmacked that someone else rides and actually likes their B50. David, the old points setup was so “loose” that the spark could wander at least five degrees in either direction and sometimes go out altogether. The cure for problems with ignition points is spelled “Boyer”. It replaces the entire advance mechanism with a simple, 2-magnet reluctor that spins past pickups,which replace the points plate. I attached the control box to the right side of the electrical box to isolate it from vibration. I replaced the stock coil with an aftermarket automotive unit having internal resistance of 5.3 ohms and used a 5,000-ohm spark-plug wire. The result is like magic; the engine starts and runs better than new, and, with the spark at the exactly proper time, it vibrates less because it isn’t “fighting” itself. But if you insist on retaining the old points-style ignition, keeping the points clean is a simple matter of installing a new seal the next time you have the timing cover off.
The B50 clutch is somewhat improved from the B25; it has extra plates and a thrust washer that works well until the center hub gets worn, and then the washer goes off-center and raises all kinds of havoc.
The fundamental weakness of the B50 is that it has pretensions of high performance but bottom-end weaknesses that can’t be fully overcome. It makes a bit too much power for its own good, and with some racing mods it makes far too much power. It was intended to be used either as a daily rider that required regular maintenance; or off-road scratcher that required regular teardowns. Either way, it was never intended for American-style riding. I’ve had mine for 36 years and finally figured what makes it tick (I think). The tricks are 1) Boyer ignition; 2) Inspect and repair the clutch every year — buy a clutch-puller tool to make life easier; 3) get a factory repair manual and follow it stringently; and 4) expect things to go wrong because they will. It’s English.
The B50 is actually easy to keep running well. Most parts are a phone call and Mastercard away. It is in many ways an excellent bike, but it’s like a good horse; you can’t push it too hard, it often does what it wants and not what you want, and you have to work within its boundaries.
As David says, the sure-fire way to cure the B50’s ills is to ride a Suzuki Savage. Because I can afford only one bike and can’t bring myself to get rid of my beloved B50 I’ll keep riding it. With a 19-tooth countershaft sprocket to keep the revs down and the right kind of attitude, it does the job for me.
todd says
Jim and David, here’s a pic of my B50. It was an MX but now it’s a “CR”. It has retained all of its vibrations.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30132786&l=bf9157c1db&id=1436587031
-todd
B50 Jim says
todd — looks like a good mount; nice and light, it should really scoot if it stays running. Mine also had a stator problem — the stator vibrated loose and contacted the rotor, smoking both parts. One stator stud had come unscrewed and wrecked the threads. I fixed it by tapping the threads to fit a 3/8 cap screw and had no more problems. I installed a high-output (all of 16 amps!) stator to handle the Boyer ignition, and suddenly I have all the power I need. No more hooking the battery to the tender each night.
David — I bought a new oil cap which has no dipstick; that’s one less part to break; I just look down the frame to check the level. I left my skid plate on to protect the sump and those four little studs from road junk. Changing the oil is a messy job, but you can improve things by making a fitting for the screw plug in the frame under the seat. Attach a length of 5/16″ hose to that and run it down to the bottom of the engine. Add a tee to link it with the oil-feed line from the frame reservoir and run a short hose to the oil-pickup fitting under the engine. That does two things 1) circulates ALL the oil instead of just the liter in the down tube, and 2) makes it easy to drain the entire works by pulling the hose from the oil-pickup fitting. You still have to remove those four messy nuts that hold the sump to the engine, but that’s no problem.
Paulinator says
When I was young riding my T140 used to make my girlfriend happy…and that caused me to experience bone growth.
oldtimer says
Ah yes, two of the things I miss the most from my youth……happy girlfriend, and ,,,well,,, you know….
B50 Jim says
As so often happens in Kneeslider, this discussion has wandered from the original subject, but…..
Paulinator, you’ve hit the crux of motorcycles for guys — their beneficial effect on the opposite sex. A fast ride on the back of a bike down a country road puts the ladies in a most receptive mood.
woody eckes says
My father raced his Harley WR45 at Davenport until the ripe old age of 83. I used to drive him/mother/sister down there and bring along my riding gear under the pretense of racing if he didn’t feel well enough to compete.
When he went out for practice and came back in you would swear he was done for.
Then when the heat race came around he would go a bit better and look more comfortable on the track. Still was always worried about the feature race; being more laps and more riders. But somehow he always managed to go better in that race yet. He may of been the oldest competitor out there but his many years of racing showed his riding still. Yes, I think riding/racing kept him young…..
He managed to hillclimb his 750 Triumph in the summer of 2008 at age 84 but didn’t have the energy to ride the Davenport event that year. December 20,2008 he passed onto that great racetrack in the sky; taking the checkered flag on life. He told me that when he was young he went to a motorcycle flattrack race at a fairgrounds and knew at that moment that is what he wanted to do the rest of his life…..and he did.
Cliff Eckes #6G Marshfield, Wisconsin
info from his proud son, Woody Eckes
Dave Murray says
Well, I may be 64, but I’m not yet old and slow enough to “fire up the big V-Twin”. Have a ’07 Triumph Thruxton (not particularly stock) that will raise my cardio rate with a twist of the right hand. Nothing against Harleys, I have a H-D/Aermacchi, 1974 350SS, to provide all that theraputic vibration. First bike in ’65, and it has never occurred to me to stop just because I find myself to be over half as old as Motorcycling itself. (I count from 1900, Hildebrandt & Wolfmueller notwithstanding.)
DWM