70 is the new 40 for motorcyclists and a finally, a mid-life crisis feels just about right. I want to be with a slender shape that carries less baggage. Sexy curves and quick responses that will put up with my growing impatience. I want more air in my lungs, color in my life and Ducati dressed in midnight blue works wonders. A rider since age 15, motorcycling has always been my physical therapy, psychotherapy and now a spiritual quest which has unquestionably kept me young. In my 50’s, the task of muscling around 1,400 pounds of a Harley-Davidson Electra Glide with a passenger and luggage between your legs worked wonders at keeping me fit. But in my 60’s I pondered the weight of all that money spent on a 1,000-watt, multi-speaker sound system, stage I, II and III engine upgrades, custom chrome, super comfy seating, and enough motorcycle real estate to justify property tax. Has motorcycle riding become a big windscreen, 2-way communication, Blue-toothed, Sirius, heated seats and cappuccino-holder riding experience?  Is a big-ass Lazy Boy with a home theater on 2 wheels is even legal? Downsizing to a 678 lbs. Vulcan Nomad made sense and I have that bike to this day. While sitting in my lumbar-support office chair with cushy mesh fabrics and more adjustments than a chiropractor on crack, I had to take inventory, how long have I become hunched over my phone and computer monitor, soaking up radiation like hot pockets in a microwave? Hell, at 69 I’m still a young dude and reminded myself why I fell in love with motorcycling in the first place — no bags, no trunk, no stereo, and a stiff saddle that naturally demanded a spinal alignment. It would make my yoga teacher proud. Chakras wide open while chanting Harley Krishna, Harley Krishna. Motorcycling occupies a unique relationship to how I experience life. I call it “Helmet Time” you are truly alone, it’s your personal contact to the present moment, and in that moment of “Here and Now, forces my psyche into a higher, more focused state of consciousness. I wanted all that back, so I bought a Ducati ST2 at 437 lbs.  and it turned out that I am not alone. I proudly posted a photo of my blue Duc on a Ducati Owners Community Facebook page.  Within a few hours there were 621 Likes and 141 comments from older riders with photos of their bikes and stories just like mine! I had hit a nerve, they too had purchased lighter, more nimble motorcycles. The elder statesman of the bunch was 81 years old proudly astride his 2001 Suzuki SV650S. Shortly after, another contributor posted a Ducati rider age survey and of 1,145 votes the highest percentage came from the 51 to 60 age group of Ducati riders!  Biker Yoga Motorcyclists spend hours sitting in the saddle, walking away with sore backs, cramped legs and arms. I realized I could do some of the very same exercises I was doing in Yoga class while riding and arrive limber and pain free. See Video https://youtu.be/aludsQh_XZY?si=k500gJIl_7qAikkw My yoga teacher also espouses the benefits of higher state of consciousness and good vibrations. OOOMMM does have a nice low tone.  Much scientific research has gone into this electro-acoustic-atomic vibration thing. Moving at 85 mph on a two-wheel vibrator will stimulate blood flow and a distinct tingling feeling. My life partner agrees. She loves the exhilaration and excitement of the mountain twisties on a sport touring bike. I could light a cigarette behind a giant Harley windscreen but on a sportbike breathing is a completely different experience. You almost need to suck in the passing oxygen at speed. Gusts of wind will affect the effort it takes to get a breath of air. Secondly, the surrounding circumstances such as bursts of passing acceleration or simple lane changes also affect breathing patterns. You may find yourself holding your breath during these actions, pay close attention to this next time you are on the bike. Make each breath last for six seconds: inhale for three seconds and exhale for three seconds. Keep your breathing regular and your body relaxed keeps your mind more alert. Finally, everyone looks younger on a Ducati. Italian designers make simplicity look elegant. The classic line in the movie Ford VS Ferrari as a Ferrari 330 P3s pull onto the race track says it all. “If this were a beauty pageant, we just lost”.  Looking younger, and feeling younger are part of being younger. Having a young mindset will go a long way in leaving the effects of time in the dust. Recapturing the qualities that filled you with so many exciting possibilities will change your life. What’s the moral of this story? Never give up the dream or the challenge. Lighten your load, get rid of excess baggage, the past has no power over the present moment. Keep on moving! Ride more, dance more, love more, worry less, and follow your passion, no matter what age or leg of life’s journey you are on. Whether it’s motorcycling the Himalayas or riding the backroads of your hometown, the pursuit of your dreams will keep you young and excited about living life to the fullest.  Ride Safewww.kozmoto.com The post 70: The New 40-In Biker Years appeared first on Bikernet.com - Online Biker Magazine.