Children and Motorcycles, Reason #23

[Willow]

I rolled to a stop at a traffic signal just to the left and slightly behind a cage with four passengers.  The rear seat contained two occupied child containers and the front seat held two younger (these days anyone under forty is younger) women.  

I glanced over at the rear window and noticed a little girl, probably two or three years old, in the near seat was smiling in my direction.  I was wearing my half shell so she could see at least the larger portion of my face.  I returned her expression and she beamed back and began to wave vigorously.  I raised my left hand in greeting and nodded toward her.  That small gesture seemed to thrill the little girl and soon the older, probably four or five year old, female to her right was leaning as far forward as she could to see across her partner and began waving also.  I returned her greeting, of course with the necessary repositioning of facial muscles.

One of the youngsters seemed to verbalize something to the occupants of the front seat and soon the adult on passenger side was alternating between smiling in my direction and conversing with the children.  

It was as if, right in the middle of all that traffic awaiting the permission of a traffic light to proceed, someone had declared a fire sale on smiles.

Little children by their nature seem to love motorcycles and, I believe, by association, motorcyclists.  I can't count how many times on the road I've had children excitedly waving and smiling at me as I went by.  I can't remember any greeting me in that manner when I passed in my cage.

As I sat there obediently awaiting the approving nod of the mindless traffic control device, somewhere in the back of my mind I remembered one reason I don't really like to wear a full face helmet.  Oh, I own one, and sometimes it suits me to be in it.  Often it doesn't.  One of the reasons I ride is because I enjoy the feeling of being a very real, maybe even accessible, part of the world through which I move.  Full face helmets, windscreens, and air conditioned tubes all tend to subtract, in their own degrees, from that feeling.

I'm okay with those who choose to wrap themselves in safety and comfort.  I understand the wisdom of their selection.  I'm even okay with some who can't imagine being out there in the wind at all.  As for me, I hope you'll understand that it's not that I don't value my head.  It's just that, now and then, I value more preciously what my head can do for me.

You all be safe and enjoy as much of life as you can convince yourselves to experience.    

YMMV but MMIWCWM    

[sugarbee]

I know what you mean, if I am in my cage and a motorcyclist waves to me, I get joy from that as well 

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

Well stated Willow.  Now get that Fairing off of that bike so you can really feel the wind and be "in" the environment. PM me for shipping address for said Fairing. Dave

[Serk]

Yup, get lots of smiles and waves from the kids...

You wouldn't BELIEVE the smiles and waves my 7 year old daughter gets us when she's on the back of the bike...

[JimL]

Nice story Willow and very well written, while reading it I felt like I was actually there!  I can't help but wonder what kind of adjectives would have flowed from that keyboard of yours had one of those carpet rats rolled down the window and flicked a booger on you!

[Willow]

Well stated Willow.  Now get that Fairing off of that bike so you can really feel the wind and be "in" the environment. PM me for shipping address for said Fairing. Dave

Lol, Dave.  I believe my friend, Dana, still has that fairing if he's not yet hauled off the trash.  We'll gladly send it to you for shipping costs alone.    

[Spirited-6]

JIM,JIM. You are bad,.  BOOGER ??

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

Shoot, I was eyeing an older precrash shot of the bike. Glad your collecting smiles again.   Dave

[Oss]

Nice post  kids waving is one of the better things in life

is this your grandson ?

[Willow]

is this your grandson ?

That's my grandboy.

I actually have five grandboys and two grandgirls.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

is this your grandson ?

[/i]

Good read and I really like this picture 

[Dag]

You know how to enjoy the importen moments in life Willow.
My daughter loves motorcycles as well, and she loves to ride.




And she is a clever mechanic as well 

[HayHauler]

hahaha, Dag, I didn't know they made leathers that small! 

Hay 
Jimmyt

[Dag]

Here is a picture when she was 3. She still wear the same suit, but now it fits perfect 

[HayHauler]

I remember that picture!  Very nice....


Hay 
Jimmyt

[RoadKill]

Well stated Willow.  Now get that Fairing off of that bike so you can really feel the wind and be "in" the environment. PM me for shipping address for said Fairing. Dave

Lol, Dave.  I believe my friend, Dana, still has that fairing if he's not yet hauled off the trash.  We'll gladly send it to you for shipping costs alone.    

That dont look so bad! Where is Dana keeping that treasure? I'll pick it up! I can fix it.

[6jugzz]

I had the same thing happen to me.........sittin at a stop light and a car full of older ladies pulled up and they where just a grinning, pointing,waving. I waved back...they drove off...and I looked down....dam.....my pants where unziped.

Good read, Willow, thanks!

[Psychotic Bovine]

I have found the same thing.  Children love motorcycles.  I don't really know why, but maybe it's because most motorcyclists are just big kids, anyway.

[Big Rig]

I have found the same thing.  Children love motorcycles.  I don't really know why, but maybe it's because most motorcyclists are just big kids, anyway.

+1 on that one...

I wave, bc about 35 years ago, I was in a car driven by my parents when a bunch of bikers went by us, I waved and they all waved back...that was when I knew I wanted to ride motorcycles...I was about 10 at the time...I can still remember there faces like it was yesterday....

I wave to children on bicycles and on school buses...maybe one day they will be future riders too.


Thanks for bring back the memories Willow...

[Serk]

Oh yeah, that's another fun one ya'll just reminded me of...

As often as I can, I pick my daughter up from daycare on the bike... It's great fun watching all the kids (Mostly the boys, but the girls too) jaw's hitting the ground...

More than once I've heard one telling their parents "Kali gets to ride a motorcycle??? NO FAIR!!!!!"

[alph]

I'll pick my son up from school once in a while on the cycle; it's really a boost for his ego.  My son has Williams syndrome and it seems that when the other kids see him on my cycle, they all get friendlier to him in the halls.  It's not only good for me, it's good for him.

There's a kid that lives down the street from us, he use to be kind of a bully to the other kids in the neighborhood.  when one of the other kids parents went and had a talk with this little boys parents they mentioned me and said that if I ever had a problem with their boy picking on my son I'd be a bit upset.  There must be something about the 1520cc intimidation going on here, but that little boy has really turned out to be quite a nice friend to my son! 

It's great owning a Valk!!

[Sodge]

Back in my sportbike days, I had a black CBR with purple graphics, matching clothing and matching full face helmet with a mirrored visor. (Early 90's--what can I say). On a two lane road just outside a small town in KY, I come upon a car stalled in the road. As I sit behind the car, three small heads pop up in the back seat with wide eyes and smiles. As a few cars begin to line up behind me, I put down the kick stand and get off in the middle of the road, I push the car to the side of the road and give the kids a wave. It was level ground so it wasn't a big deal to push but I'll never forget the look of amazement on the faces of those children.

[Jack]

[Davitaia]

He is three and loves it.

[SlowRoad]

    I will be glad when Cole is a little older so he can ride with me. He loves to ride around the yard on the Valk.
    He is a smart little fellow.  He knows it's a Valkyrie and "not a Harley Davidson."  I can't imagine who would have taught him that!   
    I am using the bicycle helmet is to get him used to wearing a helmet. I already have a helmet, but it's still a little big for him. Maybe another year or so!!

[JimL]

Jack is that your Valkyrie in this photo?  I like that paint whatever it is.  Do you have another photo that shows the whole bike?

[Dave Ritsema]

I bet I was the last person to put a coat of wax on that fat lady, a shame really.   

Well stated Willow.  Now get that Fairing off of that bike so you can really feel the wind and be "in" the environment. PM me for shipping address for said Fairing. Dave

Lol, Dave.  I believe my friend, Dana, still has that fairing if he's not yet hauled off the trash.  We'll gladly send it to you for shipping costs alone.    

[Bob E.]

For those that have smaller children that ride...how do you keep them from falling off?  My 5 year old bugs the crap outta me to take her with me on rides, and I'd love to take her.  But she is just too small.  I've given her rides around the yard...along with my 2.5 year old (one in front, one in back  )...and they LOVE it.  So they always ask for rides and I generally oblige them so long as the yard isn't too wet.  And the fact that I actually have a few acres to ride on makes it cool for them...rather than just circles around the house.  Anyways, I've always told Cate that she has to grow enough to reach the pegs before she can go on the road.  Problem is she's rather petite and I can see that it will be another 5 years before she can reach.  When she sits on the seat, her feet hang just past the fronts of the saddlebags.

[Serk]

Bob - A friend of mine uses one of these:

http://www.riderzragz.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=18&chapter=1

And when I first started riding on the street with my daughter, I used one of these:

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/4/68/13966/ITEM/PowerMadd-Rider-Hold-Tight.aspx

Not the most fashionable things out there, but if it gets the kids safely interested in riding the bike with ya', more than worth it IMHO...

[Skinhead]

My kids are grown and riding themselves, but whenever I ride and see a little one admiring Cheniqua, I (with parents permission of course) ask them if they would like to have a seat on her.  A couple years ago at a stop on the BRP, about a seven year old boy was there with his parents checking out Cheniqua.  I offered him a seat and asked his folks if they had a camera to get a picture.  Made the little dudes day.

[MP]

A lot of states require that a riders feet reach the pegs.  You may have to make an adapter to raise the pegs, so they can ride.

MP