Do you want your gf/wife/life partner to ride?

I've taught three GF's to ride. One started on a 250 Ninja and then moved to my CB-1; she was crazy for motorcycles. We took a 10 day road trip on our bikes together; she was talented and learned quickly. The second one learned on an EX500; she was reasonably talented, but not as much as the first. My last GF already rode, but was on a POS Ex500 with an unbelievably loud exhaust. I spent the better part of a year riding with her, leading her ever so slowly faster through our rides.....gently increasing the pace over the course of 10 months. She bought an R6 in the summer and really started advancing.

 

I think it is so sex to see a chick riding a motorcycle and i would like to teach my wife to ride. but i have been down a few times and i have pens in my left wrist and ancle, i dont want to get my wife that i love so much invalved into riding and see her get hurt.
well, right now im ok she has no interest in it, her first husband was killed in a motorcycle accident so it kinda a sore subject ?

 

Stuka:

My wife expressed interest recently so here are the recommendations.

If she express interest. Send her through the MSF course first!

If she is successful, and seems to want to contunue, ask her what type of riding does she wants to do (i.e. crusing around, backroads, dirt, maybe track days down the road).

Then shop for bikes that suit HER interests not yours.

Let the chips fall where they may.

My wife is interested primarily in commuting on a motorcycle. She has no interest in doing what I do, or what I like to focus on in riding. I told her no problem, if you want to start riding, do it for you, not for me. Besides it sounds like we would ride together very little anyway.

And as far as the dangers. Since you ride, you put her and your family at risk everytime to receive the "call" when you go out. I think its one of the worst things to do to a significant other to limit them, but not limit yourself.

My wife has gotten so sick and tired of other women at parties, sometimes men too, who say "You let your husband ride a motorcycle?" She replies, I don't tell my husband what he can and can't do...if he acted like a moron and didn't wear full gear things may be different, but he loves it, why would I try and take that away from him?

I guess some people think their spouse is happier without a spine.:crazy:

BZ

 

I served in the Military for 14 years, women are truely fantastic at most of what we do, but there are some that act like id10t's when it comes to crisis situations, they can have a baby but not change a flat, the duality is hurting me.

My wife is a truely competant woman, but dropped my VFR when learning to drive becasue frankly its too heavy for her. Consider the simple things, weight and their stenght, I did not get mad because it was my fault for putting her on my bike knowing it will stop quickly and knowing it is heavier than she can pick up.

Just my thoughts,

Driving in LA today and have seen a few MC drivers, 2-4 were cruising at 90 mph+ and 2 were normal speeds 75-80. My observations are the faster drivers wount be alive for 5 years driving like that in Downtown LA. Some Kack donkey will end their sorry existance out of spite.

 

Well put...the duality has caused me headaches a time or two!

BZ

BZ

 

Man, there is so much about that story thats disturbing to me.

BZ

 

Hell its middle aged people too!

Once you tell them one beer makes you impared when riding a motorcycle they about riot. "Where am I going to ride my cruiser to then on Saturdays. We always bar hop! Its only beer!"

Learning to use the clutch first?! What the hell do you think they teach?

That's like someone buying a gun and saying, I am going to learn how to load it before I take a shooting course.

You nailed it with the friend thing too Stuka. Reminded me how importatnt it is to surround yourself with good friends who provide good sensible advice. I wonder what they all thought after her accident.

Do you know what happened?

BZ

 

Sign her up for the MSF course, then let her make the decision afterwards.

One of my buddy's wives did that, tinkered with a little GS500 for a few months after, then decided it wasn't for her.

I know another husband/wife riding team and they have a blast terrorizing the southland on their Busas.

My ex g/f is who got me riding years ago. (mainly because I so enjoyed the rear view of her in her leathers).

Anyway, you won't know if she's a nervous wreck until she tries. Let a 3rd party (MSF) teach her the basics.

 

The wifey wanted to learn how to ride because she didn't like riding on the back of my bike. I bought her a CB400F in 1977, not the best bike to learn on, but she did. I taught her the basics and she learned the rest. My riding buddies and I would put her in between us to keep the cars at bay.

I was roadracing at the time and the next thing I knew she was ripping the turn signals off her bike, safety wiring bolts, and tapeing up the glass. I had nothing to do with it and would have rathered she didn't race as it was a major distraction to me, but she did and she became an excellent rider. In retrospect I should have paid a professional to teach her. It would have saved both of us a lot of grief. She still rides today. She has a Kawasaki Ninja 500. She really wants a CBR, but isn't big enough to handle it safely.

 

I'm onefastbikergrrrl

Hi guys,
I started riding on a 125cc scooter. It took 4 years (and a fall) before I got my "big girl" bike - the Interceptor. I didn't want to ride because it is dangerous, but once I got my taste of the road riding b**ch I had to do it.
Everybody is gonna fall at one point or another.
It's really awesome that you care enough to be concerned, but if you want your girl to ride you have to realize that she's taking a chance...just like you. Every time you get on your bike could be the last ride. Cars don't care.
My b/f had the discussion and one of the major reasons he started dating me is because I ride.

Keep ridin' - bikergrrrl

 

Like you said before...sad situation!

 

Thanks bikergrrrl!

I was hoping one of the women in our community would chime in!

BZ

 

2 cents...

NO, NO, NO .
It all really depends on the individual in question I guess.

As for my wife - NEVER!!!!
She is way too absent-minded, and careless.
I would eventually (Very Quickly) lose all my hair or die from a heartattack if she was to begin riding.
sh'es had 3 minor accidents in 14 months, and then I think about her being on a bike? Yeah right...cause no accident is really minor on 2 wheels!

She is WAY better off tucking in behind me.

-S

 

Would I encourage my wife to ride? No. If she was interested sure but otherwise no. She is an increadibly capable person in so many ways but if she is not truely interested tends to get distracted. Not a good situation on a bike. Lots of other women I have known no problem at all. I think it comes down to the individual not the sex as there a lot of guys I would not recommend riding too.