Wives and motorcycles

[Alien]

Mrs. Alien used to love riding with me.  Over the years, I made subtle changes to the Mothership to make her more comfortable (Corbin seat, sissy bar, footboards, etc.)  We rode everywhere locally and a few nice road trips to the grand Canyon and Oregon.  We even rode together in Hawaii when we lived there (brought the valk with us). 

About 3 years ago, we were out riding locally and stopped for lunch.  When we dismounted, she turned to me and said "I don't want to ride anymore, can you ask your Dad to come give me a ride home?"  I figured that she was not feeling well or her butt hurt or whatever.  My Dad came and gave her a ride home.  When I got home she clarified her position.  "I don't ever want to ride on a motorcycle again.  I just don't feel safe."  She went on to explain that it wasn't my riding (I am extra cautious with Mrs. Alien on board and we had never had any close calls at all.) rather she just didn't feel safe on a bike.  At that point, we had been riding together for 5 years.  She made it clear that she didn't want me to stop riding and she still wanted to go places together but no bike for her.

I respected her wishes and have ridden alone ever since, never even suggesting that she join me.  If we are going somewhere cool, like up the coast, she takes her car and I take the bike.  Everybody's happy.

This past Sunday, we decided to go out to breakfast and for a drive.  I was standing outside talking to my neighbor when Mrs. Alien came out of the house wearing her riding jacket and carrying both of our helmets.  Um...wha?  "Can we take the bike today?"  she asked.  Once I determined that she was serious, we got on the bike and went to breakfast.  At breakfast she said that she wanted to go for a ride up one of our favorite roads on the way back.  OK!  That little ride ended up being about 3 hours long.

When we got home, she told me that she had a lot of fun and wants to start riding with me again.  She's even talking about getting some new riding gear.

Wives and motorcycles...just when you least expect it, they surprise you.

Ride Safe,

The Aliens

[Valkorado]

I think they call that woman's prerogative.   

[dreamaker]

I tell people, if you are scared of motorcycles, or have fear of riding, you should not be on one.  I think what your wife did was very wise, you know when you get that feeling, you make those adjustments.  Sometimes it just down right saves our lives, I am talking from experience. Remember," change the variable and you change the out come"

[old2soon]

Women!  Nuff said!  Course-WHAT in hell duz I now-I'm twice divorced.  Glad she decided to start riding again. First wife was NEVER fond of riding.  RIDE SAFE.

[dreamaker]

I never had the guts to get married the second time!! I choose the bike!

[old2soon]

I never had the guts to get married the second time!! I choose the bike!

        Would not mind having another Lady in my life-BUT-NOT giving up my M/C. It's THAT simple. RIDE SAFE.

[The emperor has no clothes]

That's awesome Alien  I enjoy having my wife ride with me.

[Mr Whiskey]

Once a biker, always a biker!
(It's an itch that's jus' gotta be scratched!)
Congrats, enjoy 

[dreamaker]

I love women, I figure why marry another one, and make another woman miserable. I have been divorced for 43 years, I believe last month.

[msb]

Met my wife almost 35 years ago while on my then '80 HD...went on a 3 day ride together the next day and she's been riding co-pilot ever since. Probably on 80 - 90% of my rides these days. Funny thing...she's a notorious "back seat driver" when in the Jeep, but when on the bike has never complained or offered "advice" on how to ride.  

[Alien]

I love women, I figure why marry another one, and make another woman miserable.

HA!!!

[Fazer]

My better half is rather ambivalent about riding.  We went on the Dragon Round Up in September.  She agreed, not because it would be a fun ride, but because it would be "different."  I had a great time, she was a little nervous in the twisty roads of southern Indiana.  I have bought her a helmet and nice riding jacket.  Next would be gloves except I have not been able to get her on the bike since the DRU.  Hopefully next spring will be different.  I have learned the key to getting her on the bike is, "lets take the bike and see the grand kids."

[Oss]

Thanks for the post Alien

Bonnie (we have 33yrs) will ride for up to 5 or 6 hours, even on the Russell Day long its her
comfort  limit so if I want to ride with her in Colorado I fly her to Denver  Speed doesnt bother her or rain its just sitting for too long does

I enjoy those 10-14 hr days and peace and quiet usually dont even use the radio or tunes

When I pick her up if I want quiet i just turn down the intercom volume   

Riding with your best friend is a bonus, and I give yours respect for following the voice in her head

Happy Thanksgiving

Oss

[da prez]

A book by Gavin DE Becker.   The gift of fear. Survival signs that protect us from harm. I recommend my daughters read and think about the philosophy. If you think something will go wrong , then go with the gut feeling , it is probably right.
  Mrs.Alien did right ,she changed the coarse of action and when things were right , she proceed . She has my respect.
 If someone tells me they do not want to do something , but no reason why , I
do not question them. I could go into several stories as to how it has saved my butt several times.
  Believe in your gut feeling and go with it.

                                 Da prez

[art]

My wife of 50 years did ride but only about 20% of the time. Over the years I have logged over 300000 miles on various bikes with most on the Valk.  My last time was two years ago when I went down. She wasn't with me thankfully. That was when I decided to sell since I did not want to have her riding again. Now if we go anywhere it's in the truck. Our next toy will either be a Miata or a jeep.

[dinosnake]

I never had the guts to get married the second time!! I choose the bike!

        Would not mind having another Lady in my life-BUT-NOT giving up my M/C. It's THAT simple. RIDE SAFE.

Yep!  Sell the wife while her resale value is still high, keep the bike until the wheels fall off 

[dreamaker]

I never had the guts to get married the second time!! I choose the bike!

        Would not mind having another Lady in my life-BUT-NOT giving up my M/C. It's THAT simple. RIDE SAFE.

Yep!  Sell the wife while her resale value is still high, keep the bike until the wheels fall off 

I introduced my ExWife to my Roommate back when, they got married, and I have lived happily ever after.

[..]

I never had the guts to get married the second time!! I choose the bike!

 

[Pappy!]

We have two Valks. One for her and one for me.

[Red Diamond]

We have three Valkyries and a Goldwing, my wife doesn't care to ride, so I don't pressure her to do so. I like riding alone, guess who those four bikes are for. Ride Safely

[Jersey mike]

A book by Gavin DE Becker.   The gift of fear. Survival signs that protect us from harm. I recommend my daughters read and think about the philosophy. If you think something will go wrong , then go with the gut feeling , it is probably right.
  Mrs.Alien did right ,she changed the coarse of action and when things were right , she proceed . She has my respect.
 If someone tells me they do not want to do something , but no reason why , I
do not question them. I could go into several stories as to how it has saved my but several times.
  Bill eve in your gut feeling and go with it.

                                 Da pre-installed 


I have to agree with this.  It probably wasn't something you did, but something did bug her out on that day to stop riding. Eventually whatever it was that bothered her, she worked it out on her own or just came to terms with it on some level.

ride safe, enjoy the time you have riding with her andmaybe some day she'll let you in on what it was that made her stop.

[Dagwood]

Laurie would ride pretty regularly with me until I went down on 2010. Even though she was not on,  it was minor, and unavoidable she decided not to get back on 2 wheels. I respect that and will fly her to a location while I ride, then rent a car if needed. Still kinda miss her poking me in the ribs. Maybe getting a triked Valk. Hmmmm. 

[msb]

One of the benefits (for me anyway) about having your bride along 2 up for longer rides especially, is the shoulder rubs   We do a lot of longer trips on our own and many times do 8 - 10 hour days in the saddle (pulled a couple of 11 hour days enroute and returning from Spearfish this past June) and my shoulders would never last without a massaging or two along the way

[Gryphon Rider]

A book by Gavin DE Becker.   The gift of fear. Survival signs that protect us from harm. I recommend my daughters read and think about the philosophy. If you think something will go wrong , then go with the gut feeling , it is probably right.

While The Gift of Fear by Gavin De Becker is not really about ANY kind of fear, I would highly recommend it as compulsory reading for every woman from age 14 and up, whether they feel fearful or not, and for anyone (male or female) getting unwanted stalker-like attention.

[Mr Whiskey]

I gotta come back to this & brag on mine alittle.
Sugar still rides "fearless"  
(& that aint jus' whistle'n Dixie...............)

[dreamaker]

You need a little rubbing compound there buddy!

[3fan4life]

Mine will ride with me as long as it isn't too cold.

Heated gear has extended her season a little bit.

I thoroughly enjoy our rides together and would be disappointed if she decided not to ride.

I also enjoy getting out for "day" rides by myself once in awhile (lets me get a little crazy).

 

[The emperor has no clothes]

Mine will ride with me as long as it isn't too cold.

Heated gear has extended her season a little bit.

I thoroughly enjoy our rides together and would be disappointed if she decided not to ride.

I also enjoy getting out for "day" rides by myself once in awhile (lets me get a little crazy).

 

+1 I never push it with mine on board. It's nice too get jiggy once in a while. 

[Wizzard]

I am a lucky guy. I rode ever since I was 10 yrs old and when I got married and had kids my wife told me to quit riding. Figured I was done. Then when I turned 50 and the kids were gone she surprised me and told me to go buy a bike. Went out and got the Valk. That was 11 years ago and she rides with me all the time and loves it.

[Crackerborn]

In the 30 years I have been married, the wife would only want to go for short hops. Last year she decided she wanted to go with me to Mt Rushmore for the July 4 festivities. Reservations had been made 3 years prior for the lodge but I expected her to fly out and rent a car. She did fly back and has since decided I should sell all the bikes since she has no use for riding anymore. I will miss her after all this time together. 

[Xtracho]

A few years back before I got the Valk, my daily ride was my '84 Aspencade. Asked my wife, Ruth, one day if she wanted to go for a ride. She's not much of a thrill seeker so I did not have high expectations. We rode for about 2 hours and headed home. Dismounting I was expecting the worst. First thing she said when she got off was, "next time I'll have to put my hair in a pony tail"!

Since I got the Valk she's been hesitant. She likes the 'Wing better since she feels more enclosed with the trunk behind her & the armrests and such. I can understand that.

She has ridden with me on the phat gurl a few times. But only short jaunts to the ice cream parlor or out to eat in our local area.

[scooperhsd]

I got my Valk ESPECIALLY so I could get my wife to ride - she's a bit on the short side, and has issues getting on and off. Does anybody have any suggestions  to make that easier ?

[Oss]

gently place her on the low end of a see saw placed behind the bike, jump on the high end
wife should be able to fly and do 360 in air landing perfectly on
the back seat
Caution need good height to clear backrest

 

I got my IS so my wife could ride also   

[3fan4life]

In the 30 years I have been married, the wife would only want to go for short hops. Last year she decided she wanted to go with me to Mt Rushmore for the July 4 festivities. Reservations had been made 3 years prior for the lodge but I expected her to fly out and rent a car. She did fly back and has since decided I should sell all the bikes since she has no use for riding anymore. I will miss her after all this time together. 

 


This reminds me of a true story:

In 1985 after returning home from active duty I bought my first street bike.

I was at the dealer for its 500 mile service when this old guy rode up on a Goldwing.

The mechanic told me, "You have to meet this guy".

He went over to talk with him and I tagged along.

At some point he asked the old guy how many motorcycles that he had now.

I don't remember the exact number but it was somewhere around 20.

It turns out that this guy had been collecting motorcycles since he had been in his teens.

He had a collection of old Indians, Harleys and about anything else that you could imagine.

When the mechanic asked him what his wife thought about all those old motorcycles.



The old man grinned and told the following story:

He said, "We'd been married about a year when I brought my second motorcycle home. She told me that money was tight and that if I brought another motorcycle home that she was going to leave me".
He said, "I told her I'm really sorry to hear that because I truly love you and I'm really going to miss you".  
Then he said, "We've been married 50 years and she ain't left me yet".

[henry 008]

"When we got home, she told me that she had a lot of fun and wants to start riding with me again.  She's even talking about getting some new riding gear.

Wives and motorcycles...just when you least expect it, they surprise you."

my wife quit riding with me after I broke my back in '13 picking up my valk. maybe there is hope that she will ride with me again someday... 

[scooperhsd]

The Mrs. and me just got back from a short 10 mile ride (friday after Thanksgiving).

Turns out her problem is that she needs a 4 inch step up to get on, then she is fine. When we are out  - if I can find a curb for her to step from , no problem. At home - I have  a concrete block she can use.

However - I can definately use some heavy duty rear shocks if we are going to ride alot more together. I'm thinking the 13 inch PS 412s - available at Amazon for $225.