R1 - 3months riding experience, 26 and news of my second...

[Dudd]

I think the question seems to be; "can you fit a baby seat to an R1?" but you disguised it as a cry for help.

In reality, no i don't think you can fit a baby seat to an R1. Sorry.

[randlemarcus]

Dudd said:

I think the question seems to be; "can you fit a baby seat to an R1?" but you disguised it as a cry for help.

In reality, no i don't think you can fit a baby seat to an R1. Sorry.

Course you can, daft lad.

Have a goodle for the TopBox on a sportsbike thread, bolts through a spare pillion seat, jobs a good un. You'll have difficulty finding a stickered fullface that small, but babies look cute in Momo.

[sprinter885]

I keep wanting to book onto a Bike Safe day. Everybody recommends them (even though run by the Old Bill !)
Try one of them -and you can always calm down a bit if you want the best chance of seeing your kids grow up.

You CAN enjoy both but it is bound to change your style- and I have to say 3 months experience is still quite low-even if you've been on 4 wheels a while.
Congrats on the imminent 2nd biscuit cruncher.
Best wishes.

[black-k1]

There is no reason to quit motorcycling but you possibly do need to refocus how/why you ride. Rather than ‘challenging yourself’ by simply trying to ride as fast as you can, as has been suggested, get some advanced training and try challenging yourself to ride ‘the best’ that you can. This has the advantage of making you safer whilst not impacting on your enjoyment. I actually find that I get more of a ‘buzz’ from riding a section of road to the best of my ability according to advanced riding techniques than I do from simply riding it as fast as I can without crashing! (And, in reality, if a section of road is ridden ‘properly’ then you’re actually no slower than if you just ride for the sake of going fast.) This will likely increase you enjoyment of your current bike and may mean that you don’t quite have the same enthusiasm for spend the money on a new bike.

Congratulations on the impending ‘rug rat’!

Ride safe and enjoy.

[King Herald]

clarkey said:

.....It may be an unusual opinion here, but I'd get rid of the bike until they are a bit older. I've got an agreement with my other half that if/when she gets pregnant, the bike the will go. I just think a risky hobby is too selfish when you've got other responsibilities......

Hmmm, at what age do you think kids mature enough to be able to see you hurt/die on a bike?

Or at what age do you fell secure enough to possibly leave them parentless?

That is kind of what you're saying, isn't it?

[C8PPO]

King Herald said:

clarkey said:

.....It may be an unusual opinion here, but I'd get rid of the bike until they are a bit older. I've got an agreement with my other half that if/when she gets pregnant, the bike the will go. I just think a risky hobby is too selfish when you've got other responsibilities......

Hmmm, at what age do you think kids mature enough to be able to see you hurt/die on a bike?

Or at what age do you fell secure enough to possibly leave them parentless?

That is kind of what you're saying, isn't it?

Not really - that pre-supposes that you WILL suffer a bad fate on a bike, and whilst there is some risk involved, it doesn't mean that you WILL get hurt or worse. I ride a bike, I do a lot of track days, I also fly (as a passenger) about twice a month, I also drive a car, I use tube trains - all these things could kill me. So could the sore throat I currently have which of course *could* be throat cancer.......my point is - get it in perspective.

Extra training is a great recommendation. Having ridden on road and track for years, I took CSS Level 1 this year and it's made a phenomenal difference to my riding, so much so that I'm doing Level 2 next month. Prior to the training I would usually run in Inters - yesterday I was at Silverstone, running in the fast group, and actually overtaking people (which when you consider that my track bike is a standard 600 SRAD and I weigh 16.5 stone before I start putting my kit on, is not bad!) - so, training really does work. I'm exhausted today but I'm still here alive and kicking and looking forward to my next outing.

[King Herald]

C8PPO said:

Not really - that pre-supposes that you WILL suffer a bad fate on a bike, and whilst there is some risk involved, it doesn't mean that you WILL get hurt or worse.....

Surely, giving up biking because you have children can only be because of the danger side of it, so giving up pre-supposes that you might have an accident.




Unless it is fear of the post natal jealousy side of it

SO, YOU'RE GOING OUT WITH YOUR BIKER FRIENDS, AGAIN, EH?????

[DoctorFan]

Its really your decision, your mates (like most of us 2 wheelers) who don't ride won't/can't understand why you choose to ride (isn't that irritating!). As you are a bit of a self confessed speed freak I would do some training, and do plenty of track days. Its unfortunate that generally speaking IMHO no matter what speed you are going if you come off your bike you'll come off worse than someone else. I have had this conversation all the time with my OH and no amount of me saying how safe I am changes the fact that you can't legislate for idiots in tin cans cocooned in their distraction filled environments pulling out on you from a junction. Doom and gloom situation I know but I say it as an example. I sold my bike recently because I have a 5 month old daugher. Its no going to stop me riding (I hope to buy a track bike instead) and I will still do a superbike school this year too. I'm just minimizing my personal risks by not riding on the road.

Congrats on the baby to you and yours mate!!

Edited by DoctorFan on Tuesday 12th August 11:47

[TallPaul]

My first child was born this sunday and TBH, it hasnt even entered my head to sell either of my bikes- 954 'Blade & homemade Suzuki DR600 motard. Surely the throttle is progressive and not an on/off switch? Ride as if you have responsabilities and things to lose and theres no problem.

[imprezappp]

First of all "Cheers for the congrats"
From one father to another- it’s still my biggest achievement'
I have used my bike all week and decided to go ahead with my new purchase and carry on riding'
The truth is I don’t think I could give it up, something I love so much' - I will however be heading to the track for some extra training- as Castle combe is my next village it would be rude not too. I have found that cages do not see me at junctions so I allow for there mistakes as if it’s given- same goes for being alongside at motorways' and on coming lanes etc.

It just comes down to riding safe and I know this wont protect me 100% time but it will carry me onto ride' -

Being aware of the red mist helps too- I’ll keep that for the track!

[TallPaul]

Good thinking! I know that if I got rid of my bikes (my other half did sort of suggest it, but backed down again) I'd be gutted. I get a lot of pleasure from riding them and although I also get the "red mist" from time to time, I'm hoping it'll lessen with my changed priorities. More track time is an excellent idea, I think me and the trusty DR will be doing a few in the future.
Good luck.

[Felters]

Some years ago I was in the same position. I sold the bike (Ducati).

Apart from the safety angle I wanted to spend as much time as possible with my kids in their early years. Bikes really don't help with that. Twelve years later I don't regret having done that. I've now gone back to biking - mainly for my 50 mile commute. Doing the ROSPA training and gone for a big BMW. I've tried to minimise the risks...

By the way I've seen the actuarial tables that relate to age and type of bike ridden. Twenty something and a sportsbike isn't good.