Pillioning your kids mother/father

[FROSTY]

Hey folks a question raised in another section has me wondering.
If you have young dependants do you carry your life partner on your bike?
Most of you know I have younger kids.
Im personally paranoid about taking my lady on a ride with me.
Its the awareness that " it " could happen anytime and anywhere -If it does with her on the bike our kids wouldbe orphans.
I have no issue with her riding -just not with me
so what do other parents feel about this??

[MaxCannon]

My Mrs is too scared to get on the back. Even just to go down the driveway.

[Zukin]

Whilst we were never riders on the road when our daughter was younger, I don't think that would of stopped us (except if we couldn't find a baby sitter :laugh:)

Its about risk
Whether we were on a bike or in a car, the end result could be the same, just differing degrees of risk :mellow:

I just take it a little easier and always remind myself that I have very precious cargo on board :love:

[Ghost_Bullet]

I would take the MRS on back if she wanted to, we have a couple of balls of gunpowder, She would ride often befroe kids.. not since.. but I would if she would. But would be more cautious.

[riffer]

Only done it once.

Won't do it again for the very reason you mention.

Well that - and she nags. :crazy:

[Headbanger]

I'm thinking of changing the seat on my bike, and not because of the kids, Just because its my bike, and me and the bike need our time alone...


Muhahahahahahaha

[FROSTY]

Only done it once.

Won't do it again for the very reason you mention.

Well that - and she nags. :crazy:
I say--mrs Riffer
Come see what your husband just typed :spanking::spanking:
Its not nagging fool--its EDUCATING or Discussing--Never nagging.

[johnnyflash]

Been riding 40 odd years, and the Mrs has been pillioning that long... never had an off (touch wood) with anyone on pillion, have had a couple of offs myself about 40 years ago..
Yep the kids (now in their 33-37) have always ridden pillion, and still do from time to time, Grandkids go on shortish jaunts.. its no more risk than crossing the road.. Life is full of "risks" you just use your best skills to keep safe..
General rule I think is .....If you feel uncomfortable with it then DONT..

[ManDownUnder]

I'd love to get Kate out on the bike as often as we could. For me it's a fun part of my life that I want to share. I have enough experience and don't ride in a manner that endangers myself anyway so I don't see the risk part of the conversation actually being any more relevant (to me) than driving in the same car together.

It's a good question though as I noticed she doesn't get on the bike anymore after we had kids (8 years ago) - so maybe she feels that risk. Made me stop and wonder now!

[Matt_TG]

I'm fortunate that my wife loves to ride pillion, I am just not overly keen on any long rides as she needs a good jacket and pants. I am kitted up and feel she shouldn't be on the back without proper gear, so that limits the times we go out together. We don't not ride cause of the kids though - actually it's one of the few times we get time alone :headbang:

[Fub@r]

My Mrs is too scared to get on the back. Even just to go down the driveway.

My missus is the same even thought the gear I purchased for my son fits her as well.

Don't have to worry about the missus, but due to a change in circumstances I now carry my 9yr old boy as pillion when I have to.....I get really worried when he is on the back only because of all the idiots on the road these days

[slowpoke]

I reckon you are thinking about things waaaaaay too much Frosty. Motorcycling just isn't that dangerous mate, not if you are riding sensibly anyway.
Would you want your kids to grow up fearful of remote possibilities or would you teach them to give something a crack but mitigate the risks to a reasonable level.
What sort of mixed message are you sending by getting them minibikes but then not allowing you and your partner to ride together because it's "too dangerous"? Or would you not tell them the reason why you won't ride together? The kids are at far more risk of being injured than you are but that's ok? (not criticising, just something to think about...)
Seriously, if you wanna ride with the missus go for a bloody ride mate, life is about more than popping out kids and breathing in and out for 80years.

[Mom]

Hey folks a question raised in another section has me wondering.
If you have young dependants do you carry your life partner on your bike?
Most of you know I have younger kids.
Im personally paranoid about taking my lady on a ride with me.
Its the awareness that " it " could happen anytime and anywhere -If it does with her on the bike our kids wouldbe orphans.
I have no issue with her riding -just not with me
so what do other parents feel about this??

I have come through that have young dependants time of my life. While my babies were little I did not ride at all, the then hubby used to muck about on bikes still, I stayed home and was the mommy. As I recall the first time we went out (me pilion) was when the youngest was about 5. To be fair, you cant ride pillion behind someone without trusting them 200% so for me a ride out while the babies were young was fine, I had the trust. Lets face it FROSTY we can all die anytime, in any strange and crazy way, being on a bike does not shorten the odds that much.

I have taken people pillion, including my kids, it is a big responsibility but no more dangerous than riding on your own.

I have in recent years been a pillion again, with an relatively inexperienced rider up front, again no worries, I have the trust. I really love riding pillion with my lovely man, nothing beats that closeness IMO.

Go for it, you are as safe one up as two up, probably safer two up as you have the weight of someone elses life on the back!

[howdamnhard]

Its about risk
Whether we were on a bike or in a car, the end result could be the same, just differing degrees of risk :mellow:

I just take it a little easier and always remind myself that I have very precious cargo on board :love:[/QUOTE]
What he said,but it does detract from the enjoyment of going out alone having that worry in the back of your mind.Have to balance it up against doing something you enjoy with someone you love.I.e if conditions eg weather bad and you ain't in the right state of mind,etc. don't do it.

[steveb64]

If I had a dual seat I probably would... :sweatdrop But I don't, so it's not an issue. However, we were discussing having a go at rallying (tarmac stuff, like the Targa), and she was keen, and while I would LOVE to have her as a co-driver - it's racing. TOO RISKY for both of us. So she's gonna be team manager if it ever happens. (In the 10 year plan for now... ...mind you - by then the boys will be old enough it won't be an issue!:rockon:).

[Sam I Am]

NO chance her gear all packed up till the kids are a bit older....... maybe when they are 9 or 10 ?? or even 15 who knows but at 18 we will be off again she loves it so much..
till then i can fully enjoy my Motard :whistle: lets face it it a Motard Two UP would suck so i will have fun till I need a bigger bike.

[Jorja]

[QUOTE=FROSTY;1291469]I have no issue with her riding -just not with me
so what do other parents feel about this??[/QUOTE


Hmmmm this is the same person who stalled for as long as possible when I wanted to get a bike, parks his right behind mine so i can't get out and has threatened to steal the keys? :argh:

It just shows how much he loves me :2thumbsup

[Fatjim]

I find the pegs hit the ground sooner when the missus is on the back.

[car]

What sort of mixed message are you sending by getting them minibikes but then not allowing you and your partner to ride together because it's "too dangerous"?

"Riding on the road is no longer with the risk it entails. Stick to dirt, kids, because the worst thing you'll hit is a tree."

(I don't believe this 100% myself, but offer it as fodder for argument -- this is the message you can send by putting your kids on dirt and keeping yourself off the road.)

My parents got me a little 50 when I was seven in the hope that I would "get it out of [my] system." It mostly worked, because I didn't get back on two wheels until I was in my mid-20s.

I'm not sure I agree with their motivation. I'm also unsure whether spending my teenage years on four wheels, and stacking a couple of cars in the process, is an indicator that I'd have put myself in hospital had I been on two wheels.


Seriously, if you wanna ride with the missus go for a bloody ride mate, life is about more than popping out kids and breathing in and out for 80years.

You're right there. Life is risk, and it doesn't pay to teach your kids to be afraid of the world. But I somehow doubt that Frosty's kids are growing up afraid of shadows.

[car]

I have no issue with her riding -just not with me
so what do other parents feel about this??

In my own personal situation, my kids' lives would be completely rearranged if they lost one of us -- they'd either lose the entire family income or the person who looks after them 100% of the time. I'm not sure that losing both of us would be any more of a disruption, because even if just one of us died, they'd pretty much *have* to go back to the UK in order to be part of a functioning family unit again. We have no family and friends here to fall back on. So by taking the risk, one of us is pretty much as good as both of us.

Our problem is not that we wonder if we shouldn't, it's that we never get the opportunity. Having no folks here, the only time we get to both go out without the kids in when relatives visit, which as you can imagine doesn't happen often. We've been out for a ride twice in the year that we've been here. We'll be going away this weekend if the parts arrive in time for me to put the bike back together. It's something we love doing.

[TerminalAddict]

I'm a better rider with Mrs TA on the back.

better rear wheel traction maybe .. dunno.

And she loves it.

We have a "backup" plan, consisting of family members

[BarBender]

IMHO (and I dont think Im reading too much into it)...I cant afford to overlook the decision my wife makes to implicitly hand over her life to me, which is effectively what she does when she jumps on the back my bike. Comes with the territory of handing over control...and no different to being in a cage.

This decision may be an unconsciously natural thought for seasoned pillions. However, in my case and Im sure with others, its an awareness of my wifes decision that I need to demonstrate before she jumps on and while we're riding. I am also acutely aware that because I love bikes it doesnt necessarily mean that she does.

True. Anytime - anywhere comes with the territory...and thats the only risk Im prepared to take.

I'm no saint and I've done some dumb shit with people on the back of my bike....including family and regretfully, my son. However - what Im learning to view as unacceptable is attempting to justify the way I ride as an excuse to not pillion...and start giving a damn.

[imdying]

Kids... yeesh, what've they got anything to do with it??? Like I want a pillion passenger on my bike period! :lol:

[judecatmad]

Even if Dave and I had a bike that could take both our sorry, fat arses at the same time, we are both such control freaks that neither of us would be willing to take the back seat!

But I wouldn't see an issue with it if we did go 2-up for some reason. If something bad is going to happen, it's going to happen regardless. I don't believe in the whole 'temping fate' thing. And we have good arrangements for our boy when he arrives so he would never be without a loving home.

Dave might have other ideas tho - I mean, we have very differing opinions on whether women should ride while pregnant.....I lost out on that one :(

[Str8 Jacket]

Dave might have other ideas tho - I mean, we have very differing opinions on whether women should ride while pregnant.....I lost out on that one :(

You were probably lucky there! My mother rode until she was practically 8 months pregnant with me and I am pretty crazy. I blame her. Personal choice and all that.

[hellnback]

My wife also rode up 'till she was about 8 months preggers. As for the wife now, she's got her own bike so hates getting on the back of mine, and I sure as hell won't be getting 'doubled' by a women!!!

[car]

Dave might have other ideas tho - I mean, we have very differing opinions on whether women should ride while pregnant.....I lost out on that one :(

*shudder*

I have entirely unreasonable, selfish and egocentric views on that one, too. The thought of my missus learning to ride scares the bejebus out of me, and throws new light onto what she and my folks must have been feeling all this time. And she's not even pregnant.

[Dodger]

I have had the wife as pillion on the 50cc scooter, but not on the bike. :scooter:
She's not to sure about the bike, and it's now hard to find a babysitter.

I have had as pillions friends and relatives including my mother :)

[Pancakes]

I'm a better rider with Mrs TA on the back.

better rear wheel traction maybe .. dunno.

And she loves it.

We have a "backup" plan, consisting of family members

We have kids so of course there are some people organised as gaurdians but it's not like that makes me feel ok about it. I want me and my wife alive, to not have the kids go thru that kind of trauma and to be a happy alive whole family! She does get on the back maybe a few times a year when we go to the movies etc but I am such a nana with her on. and the bike sucks to ride 2 up. She's little but you notice it heap still.

[judecatmad]

*shudder*

I have entirely unreasonable, selfish and egocentric views on that one, too. The thought of my missus learning to ride scares the bejebus out of me, and throws new light onto what she and my folks must have been feeling all this time. And she's not even pregnant.

LOL, when I was learning to ride I scared the bejeebus out of me, Dave and everyone in the local vicinity on a regular basis......but when he's the one who bought me the bike in the first place (after asking if my Life insurance was up-to-date...... :rofl:), I struggled with the concept of being told no, I was NOT to go out riding!

[P38]

Mrs P38 doesnt like riding bikes, pillion or otherwise, however I'd love for her to ride with me.
She does follow in her car to some events which is nice.

She never minds when I gear up and take off for the day. Gotta Love That. Good on Ya hun :niceone:

She grew up with three brothers who all ride an still do but she never caught the bug.

P38 has four boys and all loved to be my Pilly when they were younger.
I always was extra cautious when they where riding with me.

Thinking back I dont think we ever even had a close shave which was probally more good luck than anything else.

Now they are older (youngest is 18) it's not so cool to hang with the olds so they dont ride with me any where near as much.

My oldest boy (21yr old) lives in Oz and has bought a Buel, which he loves.

His Girlfreind has no problems getting on the back with him. Guess she trusts his decision making and riding ability.

Probally half of my regular riding buddies have their Wife/Girlfreind as a pillion some have small children too but I guess they know the risks.