FJR and raising family

[HaulinAshe]

Street riding became an impossible dream for roughly 15 years, while my girls were little. It wasn't the risks as much as the logistics. The last nine of those 15 spent as a single Dad have taught me a lot about making tough decisions.

I resurrected motocross while the girls were younger. Making sure they were always watched carefully, well cared-for, and always comfortable with their surroundings and situation, was way more important than anything else taking place at the track. Luckily they were not present for a couple of ER visits and one ambulance ride. I rode much harder when they were not around, but sharing with them the dirt, blood, sweat and laughter of MX racing was an experience I'd never undo.

Now that they're much older, I still make sure there's a Plan-A, B and sometimes-C in place whenever I ride without them. However, it's not all that different than going to the grocery store without them. If the grocery store was located on some backwoods, two-lane road that has no cell service, then IMO the risks would be nearly identical.

I come from a long line of motorcyclists. My Dad and Uncle took the time to build motorcycling memories with me, why should it stop there? There's so much more I could say on this topic, but instead I'll end with...

Our most recent ride before she leaves for college...

Why motorcycles and families go together...

 

[Bustanut joker]

I'm actually reading this from the hospital room where my wife is recovering from the birth of our second child. Many people assumed that I would either voluntarily sell the bike when our first was born, or that my wife would pressure me to sell the bike, especially after I was involved in a motorcycle accident while my wife was pregnant with our first. "You're not getting another motorcycle, are you?" was a very common question, but my wife had already driven me up to a dealership and helped me hobble in on my crutches to order a replacement just a few days after the accident.
Riding is just too much of who I am that "taking a break from riding" never really crossed my mind as something to consider, and my wife never mentioned it. In fact, she was still riding her own motorcycle until she was about 5 months pregnant and couldn't fit into her riding gear anymore.

My older son (16 months) already loves motorcycles. Any distinct or loud engine noise instantly catches his attention and he must locate the source of the sound. He gets excited when he hears my motorcycle pulling into the driveway. Whenever he sees my bike, he walks around it, touches various parts (usually lights and reflectors), and makes his best attempt at saying "vroom vroom".

I'm hoping that these early good memories about motorcycles will create some good riding companions in the future. My wife is itching to get back on her bike too, so there's potential for some nice family rides.

Congratulations to ya both Jeff!

Your sentiments mirror mine when it comes to bikes.. I've sold them off only to get the bug again a week or two later.

:jester:

 

[Dblhelix]

Thank you all for the comments...have a Happy and Safe 4th of July!!! I just got back from a lovely 150 mi ride through the Malibu canyons and PCH...aaahhh.... B)

 

[MojaveFJR]

Thank you all for the comments...have a Happy and Safe 4th of July!!! I just got back from a lovely 150 mi ride through the Malibu canyons and PCH...aaahhh.... B)

You suck. All I got was 50 miles of jumping, desert ripping, wheelie riding in today. Planning on a Malibu/Santa Monica moutain ride tomorrow. FIsh tacos at that little place along the water.

 

[HotRodZilla]

I have three daughters...7, 3, and 1. The seven year old and the three year old love the bike, and the baby will come around. Like a lot of the members here, I started riding WAY before I even contemplated having kids. When I knew our first was coming, I knew I wanted her to be a rider too. When we get the funds to cover it all, I will get her a small dirt bike and get her up on her own motorized two wheels. For the time being, she rides with me. She learns the importance of gear and and has a great time doing it. Here is a picture of her and I at the Red River Rally for Memorial Day 2010:

The three year old is dying to get on, but is still too small. The baby likes the bike, but is easily distracted. Haha...

As far as riding, I do make sacrifices that I would not have to make without childen. Mostly, I don't get to put the number of miles on every year that I want. Other things take priority. If I go on a long trip and the wife is coming along, she usually flies out and meets me at our destination so that the children are not at my mother-in-laws, or my moms, or sisters for too long. It is not always easy to balance, but it can be done.

Thinking of them when I ride helps me not get stupid and do things that I did when I was younger. I don't want them to grow up without me, so I do what I can to minimize my risk. The issue is that my job is risky, and live in general is risky. Anyting could happen at any moment, so we might as well use the ones we are given wisely.

Have fun, and congratuations!

 

[ahamlin01]

Started taking my daughter to school one hour each way back when she was 7 (she is now almost 16). My son, now 11, loves going for several hour rides. I ride solo 99% of the time, and have a heart dog tag that the kids made for me years ago (they must have been 7 and 3 at the time) which has both their initials on it, and they had "I Love Daddy" stamped in, that is on my key ring; I see that numerous times every time I ride and it keeps me in a good place, where I don't take chances, and do my best to ignore the idiots, and it keeps me looking forward to seeing them when I get home safe. Riding solo is about the only thing I have just for me, and without it, I am not sure what I would do to deal with stuff, if you know what I mean. Ride, ride safe, let the bad stuff go, and if you ever get to a spot in your head where you are "not right" on a ride (angry at a cager, for example), take a break and think about the kids, and get back to safe riding again without taking chances and doing anything dumb. Works for me.

 

[Sharif]

I have three kids 6 and under. I kept riding in Chicago traffic when I had my first, and keep riding now that we're in IN. If anything, I'm just more of an ATGATT freak than ever, but beyond that, I just enjoy it. The kids love sitting on it in the garage, and I'm looking forward to their first ride.

-Sharif