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I'm going to knock out the next person who...

I've gotten:

"You know, there's only two kinds of riders out there: those who have crashed and those that will."

How clever....never heard that one before....

I've gotten other crap too from family about how risky it is, being a father I need to take fewer risks...this from someone who has gone sky diving! :eek:

I usually just bite my tongue. This is one of those situations where if it needs explaining, the listener will never understand the explanation.
 
keira said:
At least none of you gentlemen are mothers.....

Since I found out I was pregnant, the first thing people asked me was, "So are you going to sell your bike now?" Apparently it is too dangerous for a mother to ride, but fathers only get the subtle, "it's a death machine" comments. I amt old flat out that I am irresponsible for keeping my bike and still riding, now that I have a baby at home, because what if something happens to me? Apparently it doesnt matter if something happens to Rob though, he's just the dad....
Click to expand...

Funny you mention that Keria. When we just had our daughter, we had some lady come over to the house to buy something we had listed in an online ad. We didn't know her. I was outside and the garage was open and she saw my bike. She then says "Oh, so I guess you will be selling your bike now that you have a kid right?". I almost burst out laughing, but trying to be polite I said "Umm, no. Why would I?" She then goes "Oh, well we sold our bikes as soon as we had our kids". I replied "That's too bad for you" and walk away shaking my head before I said something I might regret.

The other thing I HATE people saying is "Wow you must be hot in all that gear eh?". Gee really? Ya think so Captain Obvious? Thanks "Tips".
 
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lonesoldier84 said:
responds to the fact that I own a motorcycle with any of the following:

--"oh man, I know someone who almost died on one of those"

--"you should sell it, you are going to kill yourself"

--"that's not good, they are so dangerous. nobody usually survives that rides motorcycles"

or some other variant of these.
Click to expand...

Lone

My standard punch line:-Riding isn't dangerous; crashing is dangerous...

FZ6-ZN
 
keira said:
At least none of you gentlemen are mothers.....

Since I found out I was pregnant, the first thing people asked me was, "So are you going to sell your bike now?" Apparently it is too dangerous for a mother to ride, but fathers only get the subtle, "it's a death machine" comments. I amt old flat out that I am irresponsible for keeping my bike and still riding, now that I have a baby at home, because what if something happens to me? Apparently it doesnt matter if something happens to Rob though, he's just the dad....
Click to expand...

My wife got the same questions...because we have kids.:spank:

What about the parents out there that are doing drugs.....are alcoholics or abuse there kids in some other way....:spank:

And we are the irresponsible ones?:Flip:

Give me a break!:rolleyes:
 
Boneman said:
Funny you mention that Keria. When we just had our daughter, we had some lady come over to the house to buy something we had listed in an online ad. We didn't know her. I was outside and the garage was open and she saw my bike. She then says "Oh, so I guess you will be selling your bike now that you have a kid right?". I almost burst out laughing, but trying to be polite I said "Umm, no. Why would I?" She then goes "Oh, well we sold our bikes as soon as we had our kids". I replied "That's too bad for you" and walk away shaking my head before I said something I might regret.
Click to expand...

Why would you say something to her that you might regret? I completely understand when someone tells me I should sell my bike because I now have a family to take care of. Isn't it natural for a new parent to reconsider the amount of "life-threatening" activities that he/she does? I think it is. I had a long discussion with my wife about my passion when our little one was born... we now found a compromise that works for our family.

If you're single with no kids, then whatever, but parents that say "when it's my time to go it's my time to go, so I'll do whatever I want" are selfish and ignorant imho.
Yes you may die crossing the street, yes you may die in your car, but the fact is, your chances to die on your motorcycle are way way higher than crossing the street or driving your car, so if it is statistically safer to drive your car, doesn't it warrant a 2nd look in an effort to decrease the amount of risk you take in your life if you are now a dad/mom and some little angel depends on you to be there for him/her?

If you really understand the risks involved in riding a motorcycle, you should not be surprised to get that type of comments imo.
 
AJ_rider said:
Didn't you post a vid of yourself attempting a wheelie and dropping your bike a long while back? Maybe she saw that.
Click to expand...

haha, well since then i havent tried again. that was in a parking lot at like 5 kph so it was a pretty sad attempt tbh.

:)
 
Wavex said:
Why would you say something to her that you might regret? I completely understand when someone tells me I should sell my bike because I now have a family to take care of. Isn't it natural for a new parent to reconsider the amount of "life-threatening" activities that he/she does? I think it is. I had a long discussion with my wife about my passion when our little one was born... we now found a compromise that works for our family.

If you're single with no kids, then whatever, but parents that say "when it's my time to go it's my time to go, so I'll do whatever I want" are selfish and ignorant imho.
Yes you may die crossing the street, yes you may die in your car, but the fact is, your chances to die on your motorcycle are way way higher than crossing the street or driving your car, so if it is statistically safer to drive your car, doesn't it warrant a 2nd look in an effort to decrease the amount of risk you take in your life if you are now a dad/mom and some little angel depends on you to be there for him/her?

If you really understand the risks involved in riding a motorcycle, you should not be surprised to get that type of comments imo.
Click to expand...

Well, for me, the benefits outweigh the risks, even still. Granted I am not running out daily on my bike, and I certainly have given a lot of thought to giving it up, at least for the time being, but I feel like I would be giving up part of who I am. I ride less now. It hurts when I ride for a long time, because let's face it, childbirth is waaaay harder on women than it is on men. It's going to take me at least a full year to be back up to close to where I was last year. I took multiple steps backward in ability (physical ability) when I had my daughter, and I have been riding long enough to have the mental ability of a seasoned rider, even if my body doesn't cooperate. That makes me safer, because I know my limits have changed, and I still ride within them, probably even more so now. I kinda ride like a grandma. Or new mom. Take your pic.

I guess what I am trying to say is that the comments don't surprise me, I just find them totally unnecessary. Odds are, as a new parent, we have all had those thoughts, reconsiderations, and reality checks. We don't need total strangers saying (yes I have had this comment) "But your baby needs you!" Duh. My baby does need me. But would that same person say that to Rob? Probably not. My baby needs him just as much. Giving up riding for me would be like telling myself that I don't deserve to be happy. I'd rather my daughter have a happy mom who takes a few risks (minimized as much as possible) than a miserable mom who is totally safe all the time.
 
keira said:
Well, for me, the benefits outweigh the risks, even still. Granted I am not running out daily on my bike, and I certainly have given a lot of thought to giving it up, at least for the time being, but I feel like I would be giving up part of who I am. I ride less now. It hurts when I ride for a long time, because let's face it, childbirth is waaaay harder on women than it is on men. It's going to take me at least a full year to be back up to close to where I was last year. I took multiple steps backward in ability (physical ability) when I had my daughter, and I have been riding long enough to have the mental ability of a seasoned rider, even if my body doesn't cooperate. That makes me safer, because I know my limits have changed, and I still ride within them, probably even more so now. I kinda ride like a grandma. Or new mom. Take your pic.

I guess what I am trying to say is that the comments don't surprise me, I just find them totally unnecessary. Odds are, as a new parent, we have all had those thoughts, reconsiderations, and reality checks. We don't need total strangers saying (yes I have had this comment) "But your baby needs you!" Duh. My baby does need me. But would that same person say that to Rob? Probably not. My baby needs him just as much. Giving up riding for me would be like telling myself that I don't deserve to be happy. I'd rather my daughter have a happy mom who takes a few risks (minimized as much as possible) than a miserable mom who is totally safe all the time.
Click to expand...

Well said....:Flash:
 
My Mother counts the days untill the snow covers the roads, everytime I see her she says "are you still riding that dam thing"!

My wife tells me to keep riding in the snow!!!!

Better check my insurance policy!!!!

Cheers
Macvicar
 
I feel bad for many of you..... I grew up around motorcycles. I raced motocross when i was an early teen. My dad had 2 Yamaha dealerships for 10 years. My parents are 100% supportive of bikes. My dad use to wrap a belt around me and him and lay me on the gas tank of his bike when i was a baby. My mom and g/f have both ridden with me. Actually I do not think there is a single person in my family that doesn't like bikes. As far as the stupid comments I just reply I am a certified scuba diver I think my chances are worse there go tell someone who cares.....
 
keira said:
Well, for me, the benefits outweigh the risks, even still. Granted I am not running out daily on my bike, and I certainly have given a lot of thought to giving it up, at least for the time being, but I feel like I would be giving up part of who I am. I ride less now. It hurts when I ride for a long time, because let's face it, childbirth is waaaay harder on women than it is on men. It's going to take me at least a full year to be back up to close to where I was last year. I took multiple steps backward in ability (physical ability) when I had my daughter, and I have been riding long enough to have the mental ability of a seasoned rider, even if my body doesn't cooperate. That makes me safer, because I know my limits have changed, and I still ride within them, probably even more so now. I kinda ride like a grandma. Or new mom. Take your pic.

I guess what I am trying to say is that the comments don't surprise me, I just find them totally unnecessary. Odds are, as a new parent, we have all had those thoughts, reconsiderations, and reality checks. We don't need total strangers saying (yes I have had this comment) "But your baby needs you!" Duh. My baby does need me. But would that same person say that to Rob? Probably not. My baby needs him just as much. Giving up riding for me would be like telling myself that I don't deserve to be happy. I'd rather my daughter have a happy mom who takes a few risks (minimized as much as possible) than a miserable mom who is totally safe all the time.
Click to expand...

Hey keira, it sounds like we're on the same page. My only point was to say that we shouldn't be surprised or get mad when people make such remarks. For people that are totally out of the "motorcycle world", I think it is a natural reaction to associate motorcycle with high risk (it's the truth!), and thus to make comments about it.

If I meet a dude who rides, and realize he's a new father, and find out that his full set of gear consists of a helmet, a pair of shorts and some flip-flops, then me too, I will make a comment to him that he should gear up a bit better, if not for himself, for the sake of his baby... Should I not say anything?

If you think about it, the comment is intended in the same way as a stranger (or friend, or family member...etc) telling you you should stop riding (or sell your bike or whatever) for the sake of your baby. He assumes you don't know the risks you'r taking (whether he is right or not is irrelevant), just like I assumed that dude did not realize how stupid he was for not wearing proper gear when he rides...

Are these types of comments unnecessary? I don't think so. FZ1inNH (Eric) and I had a good discussion when my first baby was born, and while he is a total stranger to me (other than what I know of him through the forum), he did mention that he stopped riding for a few years when his kids were born, and the various points he had made to me were very convincing... he made me think long and hard about it and he influenced my decision. Maybe without some of these comments from strangers I'd be dead by now. Maybe one out of 100 of these "stupid" comments save a life...

Now, is it annoying when I get to work on my bike (very rarely these days, but it happens to be the case today) and 3 people tell me I am crazy for riding a bike in Los Angeles traffic before I get to my desk? YES IT IS! :D They are right though................... :cheer:
 
lonesoldier84 said:
you shouldnt smoke. it causes cancer. you should stop.
Click to expand...

i used to be a smoker and i finally quit. i just got tired of it all. however i STILL believe that there is no reason to tell someone to stop smoking. i honestly would have quit much sooner but people kept trying to make me. I am a grown a$$ man and can make my own decisions. you should not tell people to quit something in a thread about you not wanting people to tell you something. kinda reminds me of the old glass houses proverb.

oh and as for the people tell me that im going to get hit by a car and die i tell them that i watch out for them driving and im sure ill be ok. then i just look at them like im mentally challenged and a little horney until they go away :Flip:
 
Wavex said:
If I meet a dude who rides, and realize he's a new father, and find out that his full set of gear consists of a helmet, a pair of shorts and some flip-flops, then me too, I will make a comment to him that he should gear up a bit better, if not for himself, for the sake of his baby... Should I not say anything?
Click to expand...

David,

Also well stated. You make a good point here that I suppose I can also identify with. I have been guilty of saying similar things to other riders that do not gear up the way that we do. I have also made comments to riders that ride wrecklessly on the street and place other people in harms way.

So as you stated, it is very much the same as non-riders telling me I should not ride my "Death Machine". Although I will probably still be aggrevated when people tell me I should not ride because I have kids, I will remember the point that you have made in this post.

Thanks for bring that out in a polite and non-threatening way....I have read things from others that were not so polite.:Flash:
 
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