Riding & parent hood

[Colapop]

I haven't changed because of the kids and feeling I have to be around for longer. I've changed because they broken me!

[Paul in NZ]

I dunno. Maybe you just suddenly realise how much you love your own kids and that there are other people in the world that also feel the same way about their children too.

So perhaps riding like a moron and potentially putting all these peoples loved ones at risk is not too flash an idea? Having a family humanises people and forces them to act in a more selfless fashion. Suddenly it's NOT all about you anymore.

My youngest are now 20. These days I ride as swift as I dare with Vicki as pillion 'cos she hates slow slow riding but I back out way earlier and am much more careful than when I was single.

[Oakie]

I had a 17 year break in riding between daughter #2 and getting on two wheels again so I'm not really sure how much more sensible I am, but I know I pay a lot more attention to what the other idiots on the road are doing around me now. Then again I never pushed it to the limit when I was younger either as I had a fiance and then wife to consider.

[Grahameeboy]

In have a disabled 3 year old so by rights I should not be riding, however, it is my passion.........Natalie loves motorbikes too and waved at one today when crossing the road in her wheelchair, at traffic lights.....ya know the ones that know Red means stop......aha
I do ride fast sometimes but having Nats makes me think twice, like overtaking......I just say, next time and stuff like that....

[Crisis management]

I don't think the kids made any difference, I assume it must be maturity that slowed me down. I have always ridden for cornering only, high speed has never done it for me and I still get a huge buzz out of experimenting with corner speed. I don't feel my riding is a life threatening experience so I've never considered it in the context of "My god I might die and how will they cope?" Knowing my lot they might not notice until they run out of money!

[Matt Bleck]

Hasn't changed my riding....

[ManDownUnder]

The difference it's made for me is a sense of mortality the kids brought with them- especially our first born.

It was wierd, but one of the first thoughts I had when I met him was that "this guy will be at my funeral". Possibly strange, possibly not.

After that I've worried about the dangers of m/cling and how the family would cope if I were hurt or killed. I put that to bed soon enough though.

The thoughts are there, but rarely. I find motorcyling a link back to the pre marriage and kids day any way. And the fact I'm alone on the beast and can't be contacted has to be a major plus.

[motobob]

The difference it's made for me is a sense of mortality the kids brought with them- especially our first born.

I find motorcyling a link back to the pre marriage and kids day any way. And the fact I'm alone on the beast and can't be contacted has to be a major plus.

Amen to that brother.

First part is spot on. Or maybe its old age.

So even you younger guys find the bike a link back to the past.

Funny how you see a bike turn up with wahat appears to be a cool cat riding it only for the old bugger to take his or her helmet off.

[ManDownUnder]

Funny how you see a bike turn up with wahat appears to be a cool cat riding it only for the old bugger to take his or her helmet off.

What cracks me up are the "cool cats" that can't ride for shit. Mid/Late life crises sell more motorcycles I reckon.

Good on them for geting into it - don't get me wrong, but they're doing it from a whole different perspective

[Jackrat]

It didn't change my riding at first but my wife stopped riding pillion all togeather.
What did make me think more about what I was doing was when some slow nurse let my 10 year old dauther into the emergency room as the Doc's were trying to work out what went where after my BIG get off.
I had a number of visualy nasty breaks in both legs and feet plus a big hole through my elbow where the mirror stem tried to get to know me better.All that was on show when my dauther walked through the door.I watched as she turned white an just about fainted.Made me feel like a real bastard for letting her see that.
I decided then,that it wasn't going to happen again.

[onearmedbandit]

Hasn't changed my riding either.

[Jackrat]

What cracks me up are the "cool cats" that can't ride for shit. Mid/Late life crises sell more motorcycles I reckon.

Good on them for geting into it - don't get me wrong, but they're doing it from a whole different perspective

Perspective huh,,so what prespective are YOU doing it from?
I and ALL my riding friends have been doing it most of our lives.
As a matter of fact I don't know any born agains,,,they must live round your way huh.

[sunhuntin]

riding and parenthood.....in my books they dont mix too well.

because of my riding, im not having kids. ive been hit before, and whos to say next time it wont kill me, leaving my kids without a mother. if i did have kids, id likely have to give up my riding and maybe learn to drive. so therefore, theyd likely slow me down heaps.



plus id likely get cyfed when they saw baby bungy corded to the pillion pad!

[BEAMER89]

No my riding never changed.
The only time it slows me down is when lve got my 9 year old son on the back.

[Shadows]

Yeah I'm much more careful these days. Not a complete blouse but no more 100k+ powerslides onto the motorways and stuff. Current bike not capable of this and neither will the next be.