Convincing the wife ...
Discussion
Bet this is a thorny one ...
I'd like to learn to ride a motorbike. Call it advancing middle age, desire for something new, whatever. Never ridden a bike before (one with an engine at least
)
So, to cut a long story short, how do I convince my wife that this won't mean my imminent death?
As soon as I brought the subject up, she said "you're not getting a motorbike, no way ..."
I'd like to learn to ride a motorbike. Call it advancing middle age, desire for something new, whatever. Never ridden a bike before (one with an engine at least
) So, to cut a long story short, how do I convince my wife that this won't mean my imminent death?
As soon as I brought the subject up, she said "you're not getting a motorbike, no way ..."
I fear you may be doomed. My girlfriend went berserk, but then she's a nurse and worked in A&E during the summer. She now works in Spinal Unit. Both of these areas see their fair share of broken bikers.
She still hates bikes, I just choose not to listen to her. I do, however, have the advantage that I don't live with her, i'm not married to her and it's all my own cash.
Good luck!
She still hates bikes, I just choose not to listen to her. I do, however, have the advantage that I don't live with her, i'm not married to her and it's all my own cash.
Good luck!
JohnL said:
Bet this is a thorny one ...
I'd like to learn to ride a motorbike. Call it advancing middle age, desire for something new, whatever. Never ridden a bike before (one with an engine at least
So, to cut a long story short, how do I convince my wife that this won't mean my imminent death?
As soon as I brought the subject up, she said "you're not getting a motorbike, no way ..."
Without exception, every girlfriend I have ever had has been at best nervous and at worst flat anti my motorcycles. Without exception, every girlfriend I have ever had has fallen in love with biking after being coerced into a gentle ride. I don't know if it's just the sort of girls I attract, but I decided some time ago that it isn't so much the perceived danger that is the problem, it is the idea that it is a solo pursuit that doesn't include them and is therefore a threat. Take your wife on a mystery tour to a training centre and get her to sit on a bike too. I'd be amazed if she didn't come round to your way of thinking.
My wife doesn't like bikes and has never been on the back of one. However I like'em so f
k her 
(but don't tell her I said that )
She knows that I've had bikes since before I knew her and she's not going to change me. On the plus side it does mean I can buy single seaters, save money on not buying her any kit and ride like a loon
k her (but don't tell her I said that ) She knows that I've had bikes since before I knew her and she's not going to change me. On the plus side it does mean I can buy single seaters, save money on not buying her any kit and ride like a loon
Mon Ami Mate said:
Bet this is a thorny one ...
I'd like to learn to ride a motorbike. Call it advancing middle age, desire for something new, whatever. Never ridden a bike before (one with an engine at least
So, to cut a long story short, how do I convince my wife that this won't mean my imminent death?
As soon as I brought the subject up, she said "you're not getting a motorbike, no way ..."
Without exception, every girlfriend I have ever had has been at best nervous and at worst flat anti my motorcycles. Without exception, every girlfriend I have ever had has fallen in love with biking after being coerced into a gentle ride. I don't know if it's just the sort of girls I attract, but I decided some time ago that it isn't so much the perceived danger that is the problem, it is the idea that it is a solo pursuit that doesn't include them and is therefore a threat. Take your wife on a mystery tour to a training centre and get her to sit on a bike too. I'd be amazed if she didn't come round to your way of thinking.
I tried that. I took Charlene on the back of my 250cc Trail bike, down a muddy track and she quite enjoyed it. She still hates road bikes though as she believes them to be very dangerous. I've tried to convince her otherwise, and thought I was getting somewhere, but then I got knocked off by an errant car driver, so there goes that plan!
My 1st wife always hated them. Current girlfriend thinks they're cool (But I think that's all tied up with me being her 'bit of rough'!)
My mother has a stoical attitude to her husband and three of her four sons being bikers, despite being a doctor. Her advice to my 1st wife was "For god's sake; you don't mind him being in the army - what more harm is he going to come to on a motorbike?!"
My mother has a stoical attitude to her husband and three of her four sons being bikers, despite being a doctor. Her advice to my 1st wife was "For god's sake; you don't mind him being in the army - what more harm is he going to come to on a motorbike?!"
My husband (Steve_T) has been riding bikes for a couple of years now. He first mentioned getting a bike just before the congestion charge was introduced. In fairness, he is no longer at the mercy of South West Trains but there is a risk involved.
My only advice would be to make sure you are wearing really good kit. Don't skimp on protection. Secondly, fit a very loud exhaust. At least that way you'll be heard by non-observant motorists. With any luck your roads are a bit quieter than those in London.
Good luck and I hope that Santa brings you a motorbike.
Karen
(I hope he brings me a jet boat! fat chance!)
My only advice would be to make sure you are wearing really good kit. Don't skimp on protection. Secondly, fit a very loud exhaust. At least that way you'll be heard by non-observant motorists. With any luck your roads are a bit quieter than those in London.
Good luck and I hope that Santa brings you a motorbike.
Karen
(I hope he brings me a jet boat! fat chance!)
JohnL said:
Bet this is a thorny one ...
I'd like to learn to ride a motorbike. Call it advancing middle age, desire for something new, whatever. Never ridden a bike before (one with an engine at least
So, to cut a long story short, how do I convince my wife that this won't mean my imminent death?
As soon as I brought the subject up, she said "you're not getting a motorbike, no way ..."
Why do you want to do this ?
To go fast ?
Get a Motorcrosser and compete at weekends.
To get to work quicker?
Yeah right ! So why do you want a Thundercat then ?
Cause it's something you've never done ?
Seems reasonable to me.
I used to bike, had a Z500 and an RD350LC. Last time I went on a bike was 1988, and every summer I've thought about buying another. I even got close to buying a C reg Suzuki GSX750R for £800. BUT after 3 car crashes in 2 years (1 of which was my fault, and the other 2 were not, but I could have avoided them) I decided that I'd possibly die if I did go for it.
Call me scared if you like. I might buy one still if my comute over the Runcorn Widnes Bridge gets any worse.
Thanks folks
Why do I want to do it?
To go fast? Well, not really, I can go as fast as I like on four wheels. Not promising to be slow of course but 3 figures are pretty rare for me.
Because it's something I've never done - has a lot to do with it I guess. It just has a fundamental "appeal" too - there're lots of other things I've never done that have zero interest of course.
A friend of my wife's was pulled off his bike by the slipstream from a passing lorry on a motorway and killed. That has a lot to do with her opposition to the idea.
Roads here - rural Scotland - infinitely quieter than London
. Although I'd expect to go into Edinburgh often enough - still nicer to drive in than London .
Don't know if I'm going to manage to win this one. I'd've been up for learning to fly if it weren't so expensive ... now, perhaps if I suggest parachuting or bungee jumping as alternatives she'd come round to the idea of a bike as the safe option?
Why do I want to do it?
To go fast? Well, not really, I can go as fast as I like on four wheels. Not promising to be slow of course
but 3 figures are pretty rare for me. Because it's something I've never done - has a lot to do with it I guess. It just has a fundamental "appeal" too - there're lots of other things I've never done that have zero interest of course.
A friend of my wife's was pulled off his bike by the slipstream from a passing lorry on a motorway and killed. That has a lot to do with her opposition to the idea.
Roads here - rural Scotland - infinitely quieter than London
. Although I'd expect to go into Edinburgh often enough - still nicer to drive in than London . Don't know if I'm going to manage to win this one. I'd've been up for learning to fly if it weren't so expensive ... now, perhaps if I suggest parachuting or bungee jumping as alternatives she'd come round to the idea of a bike as the safe option?
rsvmilly said:
My GF loves my bikes
But the hi-fi taking up half the living room and she goes nuts. Bloody women
Good choice BTW. (Bike, not GF!)
Yep, I agree. That Speed Triple is very nice! The other one is ok I suppose......
jacko lah said:I used to have a Thundercat. In the right hands they're not slow, but your mates do at some point end up chanting "Thunder, thunder, thunder, thunder CATS!". It got annoying so I eventually wrote mine off.
To get to work quicker?
Yeah right ! So why do you want a Thundercat then?
JohnL said:
Bet this is a thorny one ...
I'd like to learn to ride a motorbike. Call it advancing middle age, desire for something new, whatever. Never ridden a bike before (one with an engine at least
So, to cut a long story short, how do I convince my wife that this won't mean my imminent death?
As soon as I brought the subject up, she said "you're not getting a motorbike, no way ..."
Just do it - are you a man or a mouse?
outrider said:
Bet this is a thorny one ...
I'd like to learn to ride a motorbike. Call it advancing middle age, desire for something new, whatever. Never ridden a bike before (one with an engine at least
So, to cut a long story short, how do I convince my wife that this won't mean my imminent death?
As soon as I brought the subject up, she said "you're not getting a motorbike, no way ..."
Just do it - are you a man or a mouse?
Hmm. Good point.
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