Opinions on biking?

**Lou Girardin** · 28th June 2005, 09:29

I've never asked. Don't care what others think.
Except my darling, understanding wife.

(Just in case she reads this!)

**Eurygnomes** · 28th June 2005, 09:44

Well, my parents both ride, my brother rides - so I'm the last one in teh family to finally get on two wheels. They're cool with it.

My best friends parents (surrogates pretty much) on the other hand, are 'terrified' for me, and pretty much have my funeral plans all sorted out. Mind you, my best friend and I are also not allowed to go horse riding, as mother knew Christopher Reeve. Best friend will undoubtedly not step near the bike (when it gets here) as she is FORBIDDEN from going near it. *sigh*

My opinion is that you've only got one life. May as well have fun living it. I've spent too many years looking at bikes in the biking bay wondering why all the wheels were turned the same way (I know now!) and drooling to NOT do it.

And for the record: I also do the whole 'txt me when you get home' thing. Have done so for years - whether friends are in cages or on bikes. I still care, regardless, and there are other drivers to consider - not just yer mates!

**DarkNinja** · 28th June 2005, 10:31

My Whole family used to ride bikes, my dad, mum, cousins, uncles, apart from my grandma, shes a bit anti it, but doesnt give it too much grief. so it wasnt too much of a hassle to get my licence apart from i HAD to get my cage licence first , which to be brutally honest comes in handy for transporting 3+ people

Actually the most grief i get is from a big shot in our company that shook my hand and told me it might be the last time he sees me because im going to die on my bike. Nice.
he came up to me the other day and said 'hows that motorbike going, still hooning around at 100mph' and i said nah its kmh (only thing i could think of lol)

DN

**Motu** · 28th June 2005, 11:17

As with Ixion riding bikes was an accepted step in the life of a boy - from a push bike and then when you started a low paying apprenticeship you got a motorbike to go to night school.My mother bought me my first bike and I had to pay her back at $5 a week...crippling on my pay,but she reduced my board and then put it up when the bike was payed for.My brother still rides too,and our mother only ever showed interest in our bikes...even in her last days she would say - ''I wonder what happened to your ******,that was a nice bike,I hope whoever has it had as much fun out of it as you did'' So no worries from that side.

My wife rode with me until kids took up her time and interests,she built and worked on her own bikes,was pit crew for trials,enduros and dirt track,I've had a shit load of support from her....I feel kinda embarassed when I ask if I can get the latest bargin bike or gear....and she says ''Of course you can,you've been working 6 days a week for 25 yrs supporting us,you deserve some enjoyment in life''.All her brothers and sister (5 of them) and her 3 step brothers,her mother and step father have ridden bikes,so no worries from that side either.

**scumdog** · 28th June 2005, 11:31

Originally Posted by sixpackback

lucky to have a partner that likes bikes, most of us dont

What, don't have partners or have partners that don't like bikes????

Chrissy-Bimbo likes 'em just as much as I do and goes everywhere on it with me and takes it for rides herself, last solo rally I did was the Brass Monkey five years ago.

**scumdog** · 28th June 2005, 11:38

Originally Posted by Pixie

It's amazing the the number of people that like Harleys and no nothing about bikes.
And people that think yank cars are great.
And also if, pre-Bloor,Triumph sold as many bikes as wannabees bought T-shirts with Triumph on them ,they would never have gone down the tubes.

Wassrong with Harleys and yank cars then? Somebody's got to set the standard and give ya something to aim for!!

**Pwalo** · 28th June 2005, 11:42

I'm just flattered that you think I've actually got a lifestyle.

My Dad rides (his unregistered Royal Enfield) still, two of my younger brothers raced for a while back in the early (19)80's, my uncle had a Suzuki delareship for a while in Wanganui, and my great aunt used to ride a delivery bike with sidecar way back when (30's or 40's).

I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone on the board that hasn't had family members who have ridden at some stage.

When I started riding it was because it was cheaper that getting a car rather than a lifestyle thing. Turned out quite well all things considered.

My Mum worries a bit (especially after the hospital episode), my kids think I'm mad, and my dear wife is just happy that I haven't bought a Harley in some mid life crisis disaster.

**Ixion** · 28th June 2005, 11:47

Originally Posted by Pwalo

..
I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone on the board that hasn't had family members who have ridden at some stage.

..

Me. Never had any family ride. They always did think I was the odd one.

**placidfemme** · 28th June 2005, 11:54

Originally Posted by Ixion

Me. Never had any family ride. They always did think I was the odd one.

Yeah same here, other than my Grandmothers brothers... none of which I've meet.

Back in Zimbabwe, not many people rode bikes, they had a lot of smaller bikes (150's and smaller) that were mostly messanger/delivery bikes or motorcross dirt bikes, but all the big sports bikes were usually imported from South Africa... so all the "bikers" were 30+ year old semi-rich guys... The first bike I was taken on was a Yamaha FZR (??) 1100 and then a Yamaha thundercat (600cc). My mom grounded me both times she found out I'd been on a bike.. lol

It was worth it... TV in Zimbabwe sucked anyway