Who do you let ride your bike?

[DLSSOJC]

Someone once told me this..."Your bike is like your toothbrush, do you let other people use your toothbrush?"   

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

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 .

When my brother told me to drive his Factory five kit Cobra and accepted......Haven't gotten to drive his Daytona coupe he has now. Hope to get to PA and get a short run as it's for sale now

[czuch]

BWWAAAAAAHAAHAAAHAAHAAHAAHAHAHAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
True story.
A friend of mine built a beautiful BSA chopper. Saved and collected parts and dreamed.
Frame was sanded, smoothed and the springer was a work of art.
He was a machinist and it came out gorgeous.
We were all standing around in the front yard when he pulled up. One of the guys wanted to ride it and he let him.
4 houses down the street, Grandma was backing out of the driveway like she had since 1956.
Only this time, she got clobbered by this beautiful gold painted and massively chromed BSA chopper.
We saw it all. Some of us were running and it hadn't even happened yet.
My brother, hasn't built, owned or ridden since. His heart broke that day.
My bike dosent own me, nor does any of my junk. Toss a match and stroll if it comes to that,
It hasn't.
Don't even approach the subject and I wont laugh.

[Big Bear]

I have had my Valk 3 years and 3 other people have ridden it.  My riding buddy who went with me to test ride it and buy it (he hasn't been on since), my brother who tossed me the keys to his '70 GTO, and a close friend who has a Goldwing and wanted to see the difference.  It felt weird each time to see it ride away without me, but it can always be replaced if something happened.  The friends can't.  I worry more about the person taking it than my bike mostly because of its weight and quiet speed.

That said, when out with a group I never ask to ride someone else's because I want to ride mine.  If I wanted to ride a different bike I would buy one.

[Steve K (IA)]

I started riding at 10 years old.  My Dad drilled into my head to NEVER let anyone ride your motorsickle.  (guess it didn't quite sink in)  In a moment of weakness, a guy who would become my BIL, begged me to let him ride my bike.  I finally gave in and within 2 seconds, he tried to run it up a huge weeping willow tree.  That was the end of my 1972 CB350.   

After that incident way back then, no one rode any of my bikes until I got my first Valk in 2000, I let another Valk owner ride it to test out my Ultimate seat.  And now, my wife rides my Std.   

[Hook#3287]

My brother, my nephew, my life long friend I've known for 49 years and a fellow Valk riding buddy.  That's been it for 115K and 16 years.

But, there are several riding buddies I'd let ride any one of my bikes.  I know they have the experience to handle a Valk.  None have asked.

[scooperhsd]

One of my best friends  - we were roomates in college one year, (both of use riders even then) - he currently has a GL1800 - him and his fiance came out and stayed the weekend with us - if he would have asked  - I'd have thrown him the keys and a helmet (NC is a mandatory helmet state)  and told him to have fun.

Newby - no way. The Phat Gurl is just too much bike for the inexperianced rider.

If my FIL with 50 years riding experiance asked - sure. But I'd be sure he was briefed if I was using a car tire and how it makes the bike react.

[Jess from VA]

But, there are several riding buddies I'd let ride any one of my bikes.  I know they have the experience to handle a Valk.  None have asked.

Which brings up an interesting point.  Most of the people I would probably trust to ride one of my bikes have never asked to do so (nor will they likely ever ask... nor will I).  From one rider to another, asking to ride a fellow's bike is essentially an offer for him to ride yours, since you are all out riding and no one is going to stay behind.  Conversely, most of those who have asked me over the years to ride one of my bikes (not all that many, but a few) were not long experienced riders, or I had good reason to suspect their purported experience, and some didn't even have a bike, and none of them got to ride my bike.  

I've sold a number of bikes, and no buyer has ever showed up to look one over on his own bike.  Most did have an MC endorsement.  I make them show me, otherwise I will not let them ride it from my home, even after they pay for it.... liability is why, even if everyone is insured.  So I offer to take them for a ride on back, and I do a good demo ride FOR them right in the street.  With an MC endorsement, they can ride it away (with their own plate); without one, the bike is leaving on a trailer or they got to get a guy with an endorsement to ride it away for them.

I did swap bikes with a former Valk rider after he sold his Valk and got a Triumph Rocket.  I didn't ask, he offered, and I really did want to launch that thing.  Told him about the car tire (gasp), and he never got over 40 for the whole short ride.  HAHAHAHA (choke).  I did somewhat more than 40.  

Next time someone asks to ride your bike (that you don't really know or have good reason to trust).... ask him to trade for some time with his wife.  Of course you don't really mean it (unless you're a crazy puss hound), but it conveys how important the subject is to you.

And remember, refusing to let someone ride your bike is not just stingy over-affection for your machinery, it's called risk and liability avoidance.  Imagine sitting before a jury with the guy you loaned your bike to in a wheelchair with his lawyer pointing at you arguing you should have known better.  And the jurors nodding their heads.  And as good a friend as he may have been, his survivors may have no mercy on you if he kills himself on your bike.  Their lawyer will take the case on a contingent fee basis, and they have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

I carry relatively low liability and no collision, precisely because (almost) no one but me rides my bikes (even on back). 

So choose wisely (except no wives).

[Oss]

Jess I have thought about asking members to take my bike for a test ride to see how THEY think it is balanced or behaving

But then the feeling passes.  

Someone said about being given keys to ride a bike in the beginning.  A friend offered me his dual sport 350 Yamaha to ride in 2000 before I had my license   I had the permit and we rode twice then I took the road test and bought the 750.  Passing it forward has not bitten me back yet.

That said tho I usually offer the police bike to ride so far but if friends were visiting and needed to ride 2 up I perhaps would offer the Valk to members like Gig or TP as the beemer has only 1 seat

[The emperor has no clothes]

Next time someone asks to ride your bike (that you don't really know or have good reason to trust).... ask him to trade for some time with his wife.  Of course you don't really mean it (unless you're a crazy puss hound), but it conveys how important the subject is to you.

So... In the negotiations. How much time per mile would be appropriate ? 

[Jess from VA]

Next time someone asks to ride your bike (that you don't really know or have good reason to trust).... ask him to trade for some time with his wife.  Of course you don't really mean it (unless you're a crazy puss hound), but it conveys how important the subject is to you.

So... In the negotiations. How much time per mile would be appropriate ?  

Well, I know my requirements, but for you Rob I'm guessing a minute and half should about do it.  


The other reason this is a pretty bad idea is that the guy may quickly realize just how great your Valk is, and just leave his wife with you.  Hey, look what I got for my wife.

Worse than if he just wrecked it.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Next time someone asks to ride your bike (that you don't really know or have good reason to trust).... ask him to trade for some time with his wife.  Of course you don't really mean it (unless you're a crazy puss hound), but it conveys how important the subject is to you.

So... In the negotiations. How much time per mile would be appropriate ?  

Well, I know my requirements, but for you Rob I'm guessing a minute and half should about do it.  


The other reason this is a pretty bad idea is that the guy may quickly realize just how great your Valk is, and just leave his wife with you.  Hey, look what I got for my wife.

Worse than if he just wrecked it.

ok you convinced me to give up the negotiations.  (and for the record I can usually last 2 minutes)