Disabled motorcyclist continues remarkable two-wheel journey at 75 years of age

Max Jones, a long-time motorcyclist from Pembrokeshire, Wales, is continuing to ride bikes despite suffering from severe arthritis at the age of 75, and he does so by riding a Honda Gold Wing trike that features an attached trailer for his wheelchair. 

Jones is a former police officer who has been riding motorcycles since the 1970s, and has completed trips to Ireland, Scotland and throughout Europe. 

But due to his arthritis, Jones has had to change the way he goes riding, which includes transitioning from two wheels to three. When he’s not riding to his destinations, Jones also relies on the use of his four-wheel WHILL C2 powerchair, which is mounted inside his trailer for any trip he takes aboard his Gold Wing trike. 

Jones served the police force for 27 years as a Constable, and later as a Sergeant. His roles were occupied across various areas of South Wales, while the 75-year-old also spent two years as a Law Instructor at the Welsh Police Training Centre.

Speaking about his journey to this point, along with the need to find a wheelchair that could support his current wishes to continuing riding,  Jones said:  

"If you start looking for a manual wheelchair when you are tall and 17 stone like me, you have a problem finding anything that will fit. And my wife was going to have to push me around which wouldn't be fair. You need something that will self-propel. I tried loads and, in the end, I believe the powered WHILL range is the best. 

“You can't beat it; nothing compares to it. So comfortable. My grandad used to say: 'There's nothing more expensive than buying cheap'. It's an old saying but true and the WHILL has proven its worth many times over. In fact, it's been that good, Max has now invested in a second WHILL, the new folding C Lite for car, bus and train journeys.

"My wife and I recently visited TGA on our way to Norfolk for a biking holiday. We went to try the new folding WHILL. When we were there the one thing that struck me about TGA service was that they only gave us information and advice and we never felt under pressure to buy. The new WHILL C Lite was wonderful to drive and easy to lift so we got one for the boot of our car. We'll keep our original C2 as it perfectly fits in our adapted trailer which we tow with our Gold Wing."

Now, Jones enjoys the relaxed nature of riding his Gold Wing as often as he can, which was converted into a trike specifically for him. Jones added: 

"Since we're now both retired, we've been able to do a bit more leisure riding. And as we're members of the Blue Knights, which is the Blue Knights International Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club for serving and retired law enforcement officers, we go to motorcycle events and raise money for charities. Overall, we ride as much as we can as we feel much more connected with the outside world. In the countryside you can see the animals, the birds, you can sense the atmosphere, you can smell your surroundings. You can't do that in a car."

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