Lot of truth in what you say Trevor. But we have to be inclusive these days! My mates include life-longers and then those who've been bitten by the bug later on.
There's an inevitable difference in the comfort level of those who've ridden all their life compared to those who've come to it later, even with decent training. But age is very definitely not our friend, whichever category we're in. Despite riding constantly for 46 years so far I notice things about myself I don't like as I get further into my 60s . . . bloody hard to get my head round far enough to see behind to the left (right's all right still), eyes with glasses on are crap compared to the proper unadorned ones I used to have, reaction times are down whether I want to admit it or not. Bum less able to spend hours in the saddle unrelieved - in both senses! So for someone reasonably new to it, especially on a rocketship, it's likely to be harder still. My only semi-modern, with its 100+ horses, can scare the bejasus out of me sometimes if I'm not paying proper attention.
The biggest differences between the 'lifers' and the 'latelies' that I see are in 'lines', braking habits and lack of smoothness in curves. Those familiar with old British money will know what I mean when I say how alarming it can be to be behind someone who 'threepenny bits' round bends. Quite often I find myself right up the exhaust pipes of these people, despite having maintained a decent gap before a bend . . . On bikes with modest power and just 4 speeds - ours - you have to try to maintain road speed, which requires a positive approach to bendy bits; with unlimited horses and a sackful of torque it doesn't matter because the throttle is your willing ally if you let roadspeed drop right off.
But whatever the case, we need to keep all oldies on side, whichever sort - they have the money to keep the modern makers going, and the parts people - and the classic movement especially. They are (most of) US! I wonder what the age profile is of buyers of say, new Triumphs? Not that young probably . . . and I know very well the ageing profile of many classic clubs - it's depressing!