A change of heart

[Rocketman]

15 years ago, when I told my mother that I had bought a motorcycle, she threatened to disown me.  Over the years, she has gotten less vocal, but I thought she never lost her abhorrence of the concept.  Apparently she's slowly come around.  This year, she informed me that she wanted to ride with me on her 70th birthday.  Unfortunately, I was out of town on business on her birthday, so we delayed a little.  Neither my father, nor anyone in my extended family knew why my mother and I both disappeared after Thanksgiving dinner, but we had left instructions for them to be in the driveway for a surprise.  Several of them almost fell over (my wife was actually clutching at her heart) as we took our first slow pass in front of the house.  I think we surprised them a good bit.  My mother loved it.  Just look at that smile beneath the helmet.

[RainMaker]

Your mom sounds like a wise and thoughtful woman.

My mom, on the other hand, has hated motorcycles since I bought my first one 45 years ago.  At 83, she still hates them.  I doubt she will be riding on back of mine at any time.

[Valkorado]

Right on, Mom!!! 

BTW, your headlights look as bright as a comet.  Which bulbs are you using?

[PAVALKER]

Right on, Mom!!! 

BTW, your headlights look as bright as a comet.  Which bulbs are you using?

I thought they were quite bright myself..... LOL

[Patrick]

Well, better late then never. I think thats great. She needs one of her own now.

[Flat6Valk]

That is a great story!

Greg
Flat6Valk

[Rams]

That is a great story!

Greg
Flat6Valk

X2    Excellent Story!!!!!!

I'd take my mom for a ride but, knowing her, she'd want me to be on the back and that simply ain't happening.

[RDAbull]

My Mom is still on the other side.   Whenever I ride up to Northern Indiana to see her, I have to call when I get home so she knows I'm safe.  BTW, I'm 65, I think it's to late for her to change at this point.

[msb]

Great story - cool Mom  
I took my Dad out for a spin last year on his 85th birthday. Had never been on a motorcycle before and always thought I was nuts for being into bikes. Always the one to dictate things, he started telling me to take it easy and slow down when we first headed out, but I think he enjoyed it.

[Firefighter]

My mother swore she would never ever fly. Shortly after I earned my pilots license I walked up her steps and said lets go flying and she surprised me by getting her purse and going with me. Back on the ground I told her she can get out and kiss the ground now, but she said I wasn't scared at all!

She was about 80 when I asked her to ride with me on my Valkyrie. She decided to go, I had a little trouble getting her on and off the bike and was worried as she was not too steady but we did it. Windy day, short ride but we did it.

Life has been a whirl wind, they did everything for me, then later I was so busy I have fewer memories with them. My mom died last April after a lot of illness, I took care of her for two years while she was bed ridden. I miss them both more and more. Your pictures brought back some good memories, that are worth more than gold for me now.  I really appreciate that.  Thanks Firefighter

[The emperor has no clothes]

Pretty cool stories ! Mine isn't near as good though. My Dad was never on a bike in his life. But he let me save my money and get one.  I saved paper route money for a year. $275 , my Dad matched it with $275 and I was able to buy a NEW Suzuki 90.  My Mom only rode once with me. It was a disaster.  Her car was broke down at the time and I gave her a ride to work. Everything was fine on this 5 mile trip until about halfway. We made a left hand turn and she decided she needed to lean FULL right. We came close to crashing and I was so pissed. Closest she has come to a bike is telling that story for the last 45 years. 

[Patrick]

My mother swore she would never ever fly. Shortly after I earned my pilots license I walked up her steps and said lets go flying and she surprised me by getting her purse and going with me. Back on the ground I told her she can get out and kiss the ground now, but she said I wasn't scared at all!

She was about 80 when I asked her to ride with me on my Valkyrie. She decided to go, I had a little trouble getting her on and off the bike and was worried as she was not too steady but we did it. Windy day, short ride but we did it.

Life has been a whirl wind, they did everything for me, then later I was so busy I have fewer memories with them. My mom died last April after a lot of illness, I took care of her for two years while she was bed ridden. I miss them both more and more. Your pictures brought back some good memories, that are worth more than gold for me now.  I really appreciate that.  Thanks Firefighter

Thats funny and familiar. I like stories like that. My mother and the rest of the family would just shake their heads when I built and took off on a mini-bike as a pre-teen.

My family is a flying family, well, most of it. My grandfather built his first plane in 1918-19. My father flew WW2, Berlin and Korea. I started flying in a J3 before I had a drivers license. However my mother had not yet flown. She wouldn't fly until she was in her 40s and went with me, and, loved it. She then went on the motorbike and enjoyed it.

A family friend called and asked for a plane ride on her birthday, 80th birthday. It was apparently on her bucket list. I took her and she had a blast, grinning from ear to ear. All her family was good with it except one of her sons in law, He chewed my tail and still refuses to talk to me, this has been going on for over a decade. I go out of my way to go speak to him when ever I see him just to irritate him, his wife gets a kick out of that.

[dinosnake]

Wonderful!  Rock on, mom!     Moms just sometimes need a bit of time to come around to things (my stories can be considered more "colorful"  )

I'm more than a bit jealous of the fact that you have greenery where you live.  Just put the bike away for the winter today, much sadness    But you're still riding!  You dirty rat!   

[Oss]

Mom passed 80 a while back and is not so steady now
but she did enjoy rides on all of my  Valkyries and my Vulcan

Every time I come over on the bike she tells it to take good care of me
as I get ready to leave

So far so good Mom

[Challenger]

My Dad had a 1954 H.D. that he road to work, As far as I know Mom was never on it, All of us kids got a  ride to town for Ice cream on our birthdays. Something we looked forward to every year. Dad passed in 1996. When Mom turned 80 I got her on the Valk for a short birthday ride and she enjoyed it a great deal. Memories can not be taken away.

[solo1]

I had always suspected that my Dad wanted a motorcycle as he didn't object when I bought one.
Mom didn't object either but I never had the chance to take either for a ride.  Mom and Dad have been gone for over 40 years now.

I'm feeling my age as it seems that everyone here is talking about taking their 70 and 80 year old Moms and Dads for a ride.   Up until this year I always took a member of my family riding right up to the age of 87.................ME.

 It is a pleasure for me to read how our members respect their parents. That's a plus.  A good thread here.

[Bighead]

I had always suspected that my Dad wanted a motorcycle as he didn't object when I bought one.
Mom didn't object either but I never had the chance to take either for a ride.  Mom and Dad have been gone for over 40 years now.

I'm feeling my age as it seems that everyone here is talking about taking their 70 and 80 year old Moms and Dads for a ride.   Up until this year I always took a member of my family riding right up to the age of 87.................ME.

 It is a pleasure for me to read how our members respect their parents. That's a plus.  A good thread here.

Wayne I hope I am able to ride to the age of 70 must less 87 you sir are an inspiration!
As far as parents and riding when I was a kid I was able to save my money and purchase a Mini Bike 4 hp Briggs and Stratton as I recall and rode the wheels off that thing and mom was ok with it but when I could actually ride a street bike mom said no not as long as you are in my house so when I left home as soon as I could afford a street bike I bought one and she was against it and asked me to sell it every time she saw me and thought I was nuts for riding cross country and such but I had a blast . But dad had to ride it so I let him take it around the block and then when I got another he did the same but when I pulled up on the Valkyrie he said I think I will pass on that one it looks like a beast
I tried many times to get mom to take a ride just around the block with me and no dice she passed away two years ago and never got to experience why we ride

[Jess from VA]

My mom (and dad) got their start on a Honda 50, tied to the mast stays of a sailboat for travel around Lake Erie, with handlebars folded down.  Lots of fairly remote locations the boat could tie up to (like Pelee Island), it was often several miles to the grocery stores or restaurants; so it was a supply vehicle (with a milk crate often tied on back). 

Mom later graduated to a Harley (Italian import) 125 Rapido, a 2-stroke torquey bustard; you had to be careful with the throttle or it would just shoot out from under you.  Later, they got a pair of matching Honda 360s and even did a little traveling around.  They would come up to visit me at my dorm freshman year in jeans and jean jackets carrying their helmets, and the guys on the floor didn't believe me when I told them they were my parents (early 40s).

Dad liked it just OK (his deal was boats and sailing), but mom was a huge fan, so he did it for her.  After she dumped in a Kroger parking lot, he talked her into selling them both, but a few years later she harangued him into letting her get a 250 Vespa which she rode well into her 50s.  (personally I always though the 360 Honda was much safer than a mini-wheel Vespa, but mom told me to shut up about it).     

[_Sheffjs_]

A little over a year ago I took my Mom on my I-S as well, the difference is she would go every time I offer.  Had to get a step ladder and help from other family members to get her on and off but she loved every second of the 20+ minute ride.  She is 84.