Who do you let ride your bike?

[Alien]

My Father-in-law is coming for a visit at the end of the week and has expressed interest in taking the Mothership out for a ride up the coast while my wife and I are at work.  Bill's a good guy and a good rider with close to 50 years on 2 wheels.  I've ridden with him and seen his skills at work.  I have no doubt that he can safely handle the Valk and I know that he will treat my bike with the same respect that he treats his own.

I have no viable reason to say no, but...still...it feels a little weird to hand over the keys to anyone.

What say you?  Who do you let ride your bike?

Ride Safe,

Alien

[_Sheffjs_]

Local VRCC members I know and ride with. 

[bg]

i have let just a few ride my bike, all were good riders I trusted and I wanted them to see what a good riding bike the valk is.
of course it's a gamble as even the best of riders have had accidents, even on their own bike.

[Robert]

Tough spot, and the answer is no one, generally. On my bike there has only been two other people on it. One is my son in law in an emergency and the other is a member of this board, he is an accomplished rider and has a Valk. I know exactly what you are going through, its not easy.

My wife does not let anyone driver her car, I even have reserve to consider it and don't drive it unless an emergency so you are not alone.

How about renting a bike, in some areas they do have Harley rentals and foot the bill.

[..]

Will he have insurance to ride that specific bike?

[Chrisj CMA]

Let him ride it.  I agree with making sure insurance is good first, but its the right thing.

[Pete]

Rarely anyone.

Always someone I have known for years and has been riding for years.
Always a current bike owner, with current experience.
Someone I have ridden with often, so I know how they ride.

Never a non bike owner, never someone who tells me they used to ride.
Never a young person.  

And never someone who just wants a test ride.

[wiggydotcom]

While I wouldn't blame you for feeling queasy, if they were a good rider with that kind of experience, I would let them take MY bike. That's not to say I'm saying YOU should let them take yours.

At the other end of the spectrum, I've witnessed generous people let others, even complete strangers take their bike for a spin. I was at a shopping mall about 30 miles from my house once when a Rune pulled in to the parking lot and pulled in near me. I commented that I had never seen one in person and we kicked tires a bit. He loved my Valk and then offered to let me take his Rune for a spin. I was floored and politely declined. He almost begged me to take it and I really wanted to, but just didn't want the liability and passed.

I saw first hand the graciousness of Pyscho in offering his brand new Valk to OSS so he could ride with me to Mount Rushmore at last years Inzane.
I witnessed BigMike letting others take his blown Valk for a ride two Inzanes ago.
I guess there is no correct answer on whether you should or not. It's a decision you have to make. Good Luck,

[da prez]

You are financially responsible for the bike. If you let him ride , contact your insurance company for an additional rider on your policy. f something should happen , it saves a lot of problems.
  My brother old2soon and the owner of the bike shop I work at is  the only other riders I have allowed.

                                da prez

[Serk]

I've let just about anyone ride mine, including friends who've never ridden a bike before at all (Granted, I only let them ride around a parking lot).

But that's just a personal comfort thing. I say whatever you're comfortable with. If it feels "wrong" to you then tell him so.

When it comes down to it, much as I love my bike, it's just a bike. My friends are my friends. I would gladly trade the bike for a friend. (But I wouldn't sacrifice the bike needlessly to a "friend" either, if that makes any sense.)

Sorry, early in the morning, coffee hasn't kicked in yet, if that doesn't make sense.

[Patrick]

Only folks that I know can ride and trust get the keys to mine. I figure that anything can happen, so why worry.

[Alien]

My insurance company says that my policy covers any licensed rider that is not specifically excluded.  He's got a bunch of Harleys and is curious about the Valk.  I know he won't hurt it, barring an incident beyond his control.  also, I have no doubt that he'd let me ride one of his bikes.  I'm probably going to go ahead and do it...it just feels odd.  I need to get over that.  I have immense respect for this guy and trust him and his riding skills implicitly.

[Wizzard]

No one rides my bike but me.

[Jess from VA]

Very few.  (only an ace rider)

I have coverage for any authorized rider, but I tell them I only (ever) carry liability and uninsured motorists, so if you bend it you will need to fix it.  This is much better than simply asking them to be careful.

I have a lady friend who rides a Low Rider who was thinking of getting another bike.  I let her ride it around a huge HD rider training parking lot (to influence her from a V-twin to a Flat-6).  Tentative at first (mostly the car tire which I warned her about), she soon was zipping around nicely.  

Her comment says it all...... Wow, for such a huge son of a bitch, that thing is easy to ride, and smooth as hell.     She worked with the Marines for 33 years, and often talks like one.  

A good idea for anyone you might consider let ride your bike, is to ask them to go around the neighborhood once or twice just to get the feel.  This lets either side back out with no ruffled feathers or hard feelings.

[Willow]

Almost anyone who has the skill and desire to do so.  She's not my wife.  I try very hard not to let my possessions own me.

That said, there are likely only a half dozen who have.  Not very many ask.

[RDAbull]

Since I went to the trike I have let several people try her out.  My insurance covers anybody who has my authorization to ride.  Most have been from this or the VTX group that I ride with so I know they are competent riders.  Anything can happen but its just a machine.

[Jess Tolbirt]

if insurances covers them i will let just about any friend ride my bike,, my son rides it all the time..of course i am behind him on his bike,,,

[dreamaker]

Far as anyone riding my bike, they would have a better chance of growing breast on their forehead. I have loaned things before and it comes back damaged, people state they did not do it or want to pro rate it. So the choice is yours. Its simple, I tell them "I don't mess with you wife, so don't mess with my bike". I agree about not being attached to possessions, its not about that, it is about the principles and people respecting your property.  Money didn't come easy for me, so I had to work hard for my toys, so I don't let people break my toys in my toy box.

[Bighead]

I have let a couple of people ride mine that I ride with, that being said I was on their bike right behind them and it still felt weird.

[hubcapsc]

I regretted letting that drunk guy at the hippy party ride my
xr200 30 years ago...  

I'd let your FIL ride my bike  

-Mike

[solo1]

Only a very few exceptions on riding my Valkyrie.  Family members and a chosen few others.
I also was offered to ride a Can Am at Bellaire by some very nice friends.  I declined.  I will not ride other's bikes, even have a problem with riding my sons bikes.

The key words are 'family' and 'expereinced'.  I would let family ride.

[..]

Friend offered to let me ride his second bike; 1800 Wing; to the FCR

I thanked him and said nope.

I know that I'd be worried about anything happening to it and that would make me less than 100% focused on riding.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I regretted letting that drunk guy at the hippy party ride my
xr200 30 years ago...  

I'd let your FIL ride my bike  

-Mike

I've regretted letting a "friend" ride my RD350 on Senior Skip Day for 40 years. 

[98valk]

Be smart, he is your wife's Dad.
Rent him a HD from a local dealership or any bike/car he wants, so he can road trip.

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

No one rides my bike but me.

This is what I was taught by my dad as he had a bad experience before. No one has ever rode any of my bikes but I can't say I wouldn't make an exception for the right circumstances. What you describe is what I would probably make an exception for, but understand it would feel strange and once you make an exception it can be a can of worms......

[old2soon]

Most if not all of the riders I've met here are-well-riders. We all have varying levels of investments in our rides. Zero question about my brother riding mine and some others here I've ridden with. BUT-always a BUT-it is beyond weird watching your pride and joy being directed by-shudder-some one else!  Flamingo Babe offered to let me take out her Can Am. I politely declined. BUT-that word again-the very fact she has THAT level of trust in my abilities tells me a lot.  And I was one of the fortunate few that got to ride Big Mike's blower bike at Asheville!!  THAT was a rush I relive a LOT.  YOU are the only one that has to be COMFORTABLE giving your F I L the keys to YOUR Phatt Ghurl. RIDE SAFE.

[BF]

My insurance company says that my policy covers any licensed rider that is not specifically excluded.  He's got a bunch of Harleys and is curious about the Valk.  I know he won't hurt it, barring an incident beyond his control.  also, I have no doubt that he'd let me ride one of his bikes.  I'm probably going to go ahead and do it...it just feels odd.  I need to get over that.  I have immense respect for this guy and trust him and his riding skills implicitly.

You sound as though you're about to loan out your wife. 

He's a rider with 50 years of riding behind him.  How much time do you have behind you? 

What's the worse that can happen?  It can be fixed if it does. 

Let him ride it. 

[Dave Ritsema]

I am pretty close to the mindset of Serk and Carl. While I have a mental requirement for at least some skill level, I don't mind letting someone ride my bikes. When I first got my F6B I had several folks interested in trying it and I was happy to oblige. Even had to talk a few into it. (Right TImberwolf?)  

It's just stuff, and the older I get the more I realize that material possessions aren't the most important things in life.

Also, he GAVE you his daughter, why wouldn't you LOAN him your bike? Just Sayin............

[Oss]

Robert.  
If you meant me that is a great compliment not deserved

Thanks anyway

I have let more people
Sit on it than ride it

Father in law if he is arider sure why not

Now RJ  he is my hero. He offered mgm to me to ride to spearfish and I declined
as my vision and skills were compromised in june
Love that man like my own dad what  A big heart and example

Best wishes rj

[Atl-Jerry]

Is it worth the risk of injuring this relationship for an item worth $5, $6 or $7K?  Since he's your wifes Dad, you could damage that relationship as well.  On the other hand, if he gets hurt, well then, IT'll BE YOUR FAULT!

[The emperor has no clothes]

Is it worth the risk of injuring this relationship for an item worth $5, $6 or $7K?  Since he's your wifes Dad, you could damage that relationship as well.  On the other hand, if he gets hurt, well then, IT'll BE YOUR FAULT!

Yep you are going to have to suck it up. I sure am glad my FIL hasn't asked to ride mine. 

[fubar606]

nobody rides my bikes ever ,even if I was selling one no one rides by bike till they buy it

[doubletee]

Far as anyone riding my bike, they would have a better chance of growing breast on their forehead. I have loaned things before and it comes back damaged, people state they did not do it or want to pro rate it.

That's where I am, too. Nice guys finish last. Seems when I try to be nice, I always end up paying some sort of price. Then, it seems the relationship gets strained. I'd rather just avoid all possibility of things going wrong by not loaning them out in the first place.

[Black Pearl's Captain]

.it feels a little weird to hand over the keys to anyone.

So now you know how it felt when you asked to ride eh marry his daughter. Don't be so possessive, it's just a machine.

Like a few others here I let most who I know are riders ride any of my bikes. Others were riding my ST1300 the day after I bought it. And I've even take a few for a ride that I knew weren't riders. "Ya bitch, saddle up"...

[Firefighter]

I offered a riding buddy the chance to ride mine, he declined. I have let people ride bikes that I sold to them in the past.

 Now that I have gone Darkside, I would be very careful unless they were familiar with riding a car tire or very experienced. I think someone not experienced could be overwhelmed with our big heavy bikes.

[art]

Other than my son who could take my bike anytime i switched with a friend who was a seasoned harley rider. He had been riding for many years and besides I wanted to try his police bike for fun.I warned him about the car tire an NOT to take it off the road onto the shoulder. We were riding from Prescott,Az. to Jerome (a biker hangout). Well he did just what I told him not to do and got off the road and immediately lost it due to the car tire and did a 90 degree turn down the hill in gravel and tipped over with the wheels pointing almost straight up. This guy was about 6'2" and 250 lbs. I pulled up onto the shoulder and got off the harley too fast and dropped it right there. All that happened to the valk was a few small scratches and oil in the cylinders from being upside down. It took both of us to get back up and just barely since the wheels were pointing up the hill. It smoked like a steam engine for about 20 minutes burning off the oil from the cylinders. No one hurt except his pride. Big bad harley rider couldn't handle a big bike. BTW I did not like the harley. Under powered and small. I'm only 5' 9" 175 lbs.

[pais]

It's just stuff, and the older I get the more I realize that material possessions aren't the most important things in life.

Boy, do I agree with you on this one Dave! 
  In my younger years I was always amazed at the people that would ask to ride the bike I owned at the time. My reply was always the same. "You never see Tonto riding Silver". Then one day in my mid 30's it hit me. If my brother-in-law would have never tossed me the keys to his CB360(I was 15). I might never have started a life long love of motorcycling. I know it's not the same as your situation but, you/ we still gotta spread the love. If you get my gist? With his credentials the decision seems less worrisome. I am curious  and to me more important. Do you and your FIL have the type of relationship that this request is not a surprise? Good luck!

[Mr Whiskey]

Now that I have gone Darkside, I would be very careful unless they were familiar with riding a car tire or very experienced. I think someone not experienced could be overwhelmed with our big heavy bikes.

That's the deciding factor for me as well, do I think they can handle the car tire. The 205/55's pretty square & unforgiving, wouldn't want to see anyone get hurt.

[Pete]

It is not about the insurance or the bike.

It is about not exposing someone to something they may think they can handle but can not.

I have seen to many folks on someones bike (including mine) have a problem.

[Kep]

I used to be a bit "stingy" when it came to loaning out vehicles..but back in the late 70's I had a Kawasaki 750 twin and my buddy had a crappy old Suzuki 500 2-stroke (sounded and smelled like a chain-saw...matter-of-fact , it rode like one too). We rode together alot and at times I would (reluctantly) let him ride mine. Boy did it ever pay off..he went out and bought a brand-spankin-new LTD 750 and he remebered my generosity of letting him ride my "nice" bike. That LTD was heaven to ride..I never wanted to give it back , always became "deaf" (wink-wink) when we rode and he was yelling at me to switch back..haha.Life is short and it always pays to think of others. ** Side story..a friend of mine was on vacation down south somewhere and leaving a restaurant ..he and his son (avid car freaks)admiring an AC Cobra in the parking lot when the owner comes out and starts telling them all about it then throws him the keys and tells him to take his son for a ride..he was too scared ...I told him he was NUTS ! I think now he regrets it...I'm not sure I could be that generous .