Who is your riding partner?

[Dr. Rich]

About two and a half years ago my wife and I were in a motorcycle shop in Vallejo California. During most of our 34-year marriage, she was the backseat rider on whatever bike was my current two-wheeled passion. A petite woman, she had always felt that a cycle was way beyond her physical comfort level. While wandering around the shop, she walked over to a shiny new silver Honda Shadow, straddled it comfortably, and let me know that if she ever learned to ride, this would be the bike. Needless to say I went back the next day and bought the bike and challenged her to learn to ride. Although she got the basics in a motorcycle safety class, the true confidence that it takes to become a real rider evolved over many weekends in the community college parking lot doing turns, figure eights and emergency stops, and short trips we would take together on nearby country roads. She has evolved into a wonderfully talented rider, and we now spend many weekends exploring northern California counties. Motorcycles have become a common thread in the tapestry of our family life, with both our son and daughter riding as well. It seems that every phone call with a what’s-new-in-college update, ends with a discussion about someone’s latest ride.

I was curious how many couples/ married/ engaged/ living together/ or just friends spend time riding up the road with their significant other riding alongside?

 

[FJRay]

That is the way we travel. My wife has been riding for about 6 years now and enjoys it more all the time. she started when our youngest got interested in going along and there was only one back seat. since then our youngest has her own bike and we ride together.

 

[nusman68]

My wife has been riding for a little over 2 yrs now..to my surprise, it was her idea. She started out as a pillion, discovered how much fun it was, and took it from there; she did the MSF class, started out on short hops, etc. She doesn't ride with me all the time, but more often than not, and we always have fun. She has become an accomplished rider, and now she wants an '07 Bandit! (She's been riding my old GS1100L). Some might remember this tidbit from the review CycleWorld did on the Buell Blast (in reference to how easy it was to ride):

Ups: Your wife/girlfriend will now be able to tag along on your rides

Downs: Your wife/girlfriend will now be able to tag along on your rides

Could be a problem...

 

[Bike Effects]

You guys are lucky. My spouse is not suited as a passenger or a rider.

Dr. Rich, I'll miss this Sunday at Moskowite, but how about next Sunday?

 

[Rogue]

You guys are lucky. My spouse is not suited as a passenger or a rider.

+1

 

[red2kcbr]

Been married 29 years now, and the wife and I have been riding together for longer than that. She's always been on the back. Excellent passenger. Never a twitch, and won't complain about triple-digits or hard cornering. Son and a daughter both ride. He's on an '03 CBR600RR, and she rides an '07 Kawasaki 650R. Other daughter never caught the bug. I've only been without a bike maybe a total of 3 years since '73. Two 'cause I had to sell 'em, and one because I hated that POS, an '81 CB750 Custom. So the kids could hardly remember not having a motorcycle around. And yes, when they could reach the rear pegs, they rode on the back.

I don't ride with groups. Usually my son and I ride together. He doesn't ride much with others, either. The few times we have ridden with others, it was very uncomfortable. We know each other's habits, lines, and pace. I guess so, I taught 'im! With other riders, we both noticed a reduced fun factor, due to having to watch the **** out for the young idiots he brought with him once.

We like to keep a pretty brisk pace on backroads, and try to be slightly ahead of the traffic pace on major highways and Interstates. One guy was on a 'busa. He would fall back in the turns, and come flying up to catch us on the straights. One was a stunting little ******** on a GXSR, always wheeling in the wrong ******* place, usually near me. And falling back in the turns...

Anyway, my son and I ride together, or we ride solo. Sometimes with passengers. When his sister gets a couple more years experience, I'm sure we'll all three ride together. I guess that'll be a group ride.

 

[feejer222]

One was a stunting little ******** on a GXSR, always wheeling in the wrong ******* place, usually near me.

:lol:
My Mrs. hounds me to go out on the bike. I have been riding about 200 years (it seems), and she is new to it since we met 7 years ago. She would leave me now I think if I even suggested selling the bike....not that I would (wash my mouth out with soap). She refuses point blank however to even consider riding a bike heself. As she is somewhat vertically challenged, I suggested that we get a trials bike for her to learn on. (Low gearing and seat). But she says she enjoys the pillion just fine.

I couldn't enjoy the pillion at all, never have even when I was a learner scrounging rides on the bigger lads bikes.

I also dislike riding in groups, I did a lot of it when I was young and inevitably it turned into a race. We tried going out with a couple we met through a Pan European (British name for the ST Honda's) website when we ran an ST1100. They were about our age and seemed to have more time to go out than us and told us stories of huge rides over long distances. I thought they would be mature and steady and we could enjoy clocking up some miles with them. I couldn't believe it when we set off and the ***** was carving round traffic like a 17 year old on his first bike! We got to the destination and he said 'was that a little fast for you'? I said no not really, but way too stupid. We rode back on our own. What a knob!

The only time we meet up with other bikers is at race events which we attend all year round, so we are not starved of good company by any means.

I have all the riding company I need with My Mrs. on the back.

 

[Orient_Express]

My wife will have nothing to do with a motorcycle. She got dumped when she was in high school by some guy on a small bike. No pleasant memories there... Definitely made her "gun" shy.

A guy at work just putts along on his Gold Wing and takes his Boston Terrier around with him - the dog has an amazing sense of balance - eveybody thinks it's a hoot!

 

[Toecutter]

Who is your riding partner?

 

[Dr. Rich]

Who is your riding partner?

Score one for CLOVIS!

 

[Khunajawdge]

You guys are lucky. My spouse is not suited as a passenger or a rider.

+1

Yeah! Me 2

 

[dcarver]

Interesting thread. My gfriend is pushing her envelope of comfort to ride along with me on the FJR. She prefers the HD Ultra Classic and the more sedate pace. And more secure seat, e.g. barcalounger comfort, locked in, front and back. The Ultra has a back rest for the rider, the passenger sits between the riders back rest and a wrap around rear seat.

Still, she used to have a Porsche.. and likes speed. but on the FJR, it is taking some time to get her 'sensitized'. Time will tell if she really likes and wants to do the bike thing.

 

[panayoti]

my wife hates motorcycles period. no proiblem, i wanted to get a corbin smuggler trunk anyway.

i have also had some group rides that left a bad taste. the last straw was the guilt by association thing. luckily i didn't recieve a citation.

 

[JimLor]

Lorie rides with me occasionally. Not when it's cold, wet, etc. We usually make it a nice day ride and have done one overnighter. I usually try and make it worth her while. And she is a wonderful pax - doesn't wiggle, fart, burp, get hysterical or anything else that could make the ride challenging. I love riding with her. That said, I mostly ride by myself. Gotta admit that while I like meeting folks for coffee, lunch, dinner, and any number of other FJR events, I prefer riding alone. I don't like having to watch out for the joker behind me and wonder where he/she is because I can't see them in my mirror. Yeah, took a ride one time where I got the classic, "don't worry, I know what I'm doing" as this guy was weaving left to right and vice versa on my ***. The cemetaries are full of those folks and I'm not willing to take the risk of joining them in their high stakes/low payoff games.

That said, I'll also admit that I have yet to participate in a group ride that was "organized." I've lead hundreds of convoys, etc in the Marines and always, always, always, started with a drivers brief and gone over a standard checklist of how to execute the convoy from start point to rally points to what to do in case of a blocked ambush, etc. I've read articles on group rides that begin with like briefings/checklists and I'm sure those rides are much more pleasant and organized than the ad hoc group rides I've been on. Didn't mean to rant on here!

 

[keithaba]

I have been trying so hard to get my fiance to learn to ride. I was going to teach her when I still had the Vstar, it has great low speed control and it's low. She would not even get on the thing.

After a while she got used to riding 2 up. One day while riding home, a freeking wasp gets sucked into her shirt somehow, and stings her on her chest 3 times.

Now that was scary, she's screaming and flailing her arms, I'm trying to figure out if a truck is pulling out in front of me, is there a deer running out, or maybe the vibrations just got her a little randy.... I yell back, should I pull over, she screams yes. Needless to say, that didn't go over very well, but she got over it, and rides with me again.

That was like 2 years ago. Now her confidence was back up, she really like to ride on the FJR and felt like it was very smooth and comfortable. Then I crash the damn thing, and now she's a little gun shy again. Worst part is, we have a week long bike vacation scheduled for the first week of April! Hope it's still on!

 

[daytripper]

My wife loves to ride on the back for SHORT trips and has expressed interest in learning how to ride. Will probably get her a bike when the last kid gets out of college in Dec. 08.

 

[Dr. Rich]

My wife loves to ride on the back for SHORT trips and has expressed interest in learning how to ride. Will probably get her a bike when the last kid gets out of college in Dec. 08.

Encourage her... You will love riding together. Going on short trips for breakfast or a picnic lunch are the highlight of our weekend. Something for both of us to share and enjoy. Take it slow and lots of support and encouragement! Her confidence will grow and it will show in many other areas. Rich

 

[Gary D]

About two and a half years ago my wife and I were in a motorcycle shop in Vallejo California. During most of our 34-year marriage, she was the backseat rider on whatever bike was my current two-wheeled passion. A petite woman, she had always felt that a cycle was way beyond her physical comfort level. While wandering around the shop, she walked over to a shiny new silver Honda Shadow, straddled it comfortably, and let me know that if she ever learned to ride, this would be the bike. Needless to say I went back the next day and bought the bike and challenged her to learn to ride. Although she got the basics in a motorcycle safety class, the true confidence that it takes to become a real rider evolved over many weekends in the community college parking lot doing turns, figure eights and emergency stops, and short trips we would take together on nearby country roads. She has evolved into a wonderfully talented rider, and we now spend many weekends exploring northern California counties. Motorcycles have become a common thread in the tapestry of our family life, with both our son and daughter riding as well. It seems that every phone call with a what’s-new-in-college update, ends with a discussion about someone’s latest ride.
I was curious how many couples/ married/ engaged/ living together/ or just friends spend time riding up the road with their significant other riding alongside?

Dr. Rich-

Wow, am I envious. My wife took the MSF course and got her M1 cert so she could ride a 150cc scooter we had at the time but I can't get her to move up to a larger bike and go on rides with me. You are a lucky man.

Gary

 

[E1Allen]

the stick figure in my avatar is my riding partner.