Mums and Dads who ride.... bikes that is

[phantom]

sold my previous bike to buy a house, twenty five years later got myself a new partner and a new ( well old ) bike. Ride very differently now I have three kids of my own and 1 stepdaughter and hundreds of assorted whanau

[Oakie]

Had kids and the bike went from a Z400 to a Z250 to a GT125 to a pushbike. It was a money and practicality thing so I guess it was being sensible (for financial reasons more than personal safety though).
Kids reached 17 and 20 and the bikes came back ... FXR150 and now replaced by a CB400. The bikes came back into play though for the same reasons ... money (we could afford the outlay ... and it would save a few dollars in day to day travel) and practicality (extra vehicle and I was sick of busing every day).
I do ride a lot more conservatively than I used to. Kids could probably look after themselves if the worst happened but I want to stick around for them for a few more years anyway.

[Beemer]

We both had bikes when we met and as it is a common interest, why on earth would we want to give them up until we're too old and feeble to ride any more?!! When people heard we were getting married, the first thing they did was ask HIM if I was going to make him sell his bikes! Why? Had I ever said "honey, don't go riding, stay home and watch tv with me?" Hell no, I was usually out there with him!

And as for kids, you can keep those horrible, snotty nosed little bastards - I've never liked them and I never will! And if I ever had the misfortune to have one (thank god he hates them too so it's not likely!), I'd deliberately buy a bike with no pillion seat so I could get away from them!

[XP@]

Inherited 3 kids, made another and bought a house.

I am planning on selling all my bikes... only reason to get a newer one... more reliable cos it will have done less than 100,000kms

I still commute, I dont go away as often, and don't ride as many weekends
I will be doing the 1000 miler this year again.

I do not take as many risks, but I am still improving my riding so I am doing things like getting pegs down which I wouldnt have done 12 months ago. But when overtaking / lane splitting etc i do ask myself "is the risk worth it?".
I have also had the red mist cos i was nearly taken out and I wanted to go home and see my little girl... have to keep that one balanced...

[Big Dave]

What a load of petticoat wearing bollox.
I'm a grandfather and I still ride the wheels off everything.
Get over it and harden up, the lot of youse.
beemer - respect.

[Beemer]

Respect what, Big Dave? Rug rats? Or those who choose to procreate at a rate of knots to make up for those of us who loathe children? Yeah right!

[zadok]

[QUOTE=TonyB]

I know money is also a huge factor in riders chucking it in when the kids arrive, but I’ve got 8 options already…

All the more reason to keep the bike. It left the car for the missus to cart the kids around, while I used the bike for work etc.
Kids grown up now. I still use the bike for work.

[ManDownUnder]

There's an option missing from the poll:

Have kids - bought bike

I bought my bike after my first girl was born as we lost the wifes company car and I needed cheap transport. How I got her to allow me to buy it is beyond me

Same happened to me! Except we needed a bigger car for Mum and Bubbz (who is now 5) so we got one - ran out of parking space for another car... so I offered up an idea (which I'd been harping on about for years)... how about a BIKE?!?

There you have it!
MDU

[Ogri]

We both had bikes when we met and as it is a common interest, why on earth would we want to give them up until we're too old and feeble to ride any more?!! When people heard we were getting married, the first thing they did was ask HIM if I was going to make him sell his bikes! Why? Had I ever said "honey, don't go riding, stay home and watch tv with me?" Hell no, I was usually out there with him!

And as for kids, you can keep those horrible, snotty nosed little bastards - I've never liked them and I never will! And if I ever had the misfortune to have one (thank god he hates them too so it's not likely!), I'd deliberately buy a bike with no pillion seat so I could get away from them!

Parallel universe or what!!! My sentiments exactly!!!!

[Skunk]

My wife (Skunk Control) and I decided we want to ride, so we're not having kids.
There is now no chance of kids happening.

[XTC]

Respect what, Big Dave? Rug rats? Or those who choose to procreate at a ratg of knots to make up for those of us who loathe children? Yeah right!

We're you hated as a kid??

[Beemer]

Sorry to disappoint you but I was spoiled rotten, youngest of four. Just annoys me that people expect EVERY woman to be maternal and like kids - some of us don't! It's no different to some people liking Harleys and some liking sports bikes, or being a drinker/non-drinker, cat lover or dog lover.

I'm not going to apologise for not liking kids - I've NEVER liked them and the old cliche of "but if you had your own you'd love them" doesn't hold any water for me - what if I didn't? Can't send it back!

[FROSTY:Me]

good onya beemer.I love my son to bits and couldn't imagine life without him.
I don't think anyone really cares if you choose to have kids or not to .Its your life and your body.

[Wolf]

And as for kids, you can keep those horrible, snotty nosed little bastards - I've never liked them and I never will! And if I ever had the misfortune to have one (thank god he hates them too so it's not likely!), I'd deliberately buy a bike with no pillion seat so I could get away from them!

Have two wonderful rug rats (2 and 3 now), both of whom I love dearly - would not lose them for the world.

Both are totally obsessed with bikes - both have two-wheeled "velocipedes" and the eldest now has a push-bike and they are well on their way to being the 4th generation of bikers in our family - talk about in the genes. The only reason they won't be the 5th is that my Great-grandfather rode horses, not bikes.

One day said rug rats will be accompanying me on at least the Paris Dakar (and probably uttering those immortal words "FFS keep up, you old bastard")

Far from giving up biking, I'm working towards teaching my wife to ride so she can come with us on the P-D rally (and at least ride her own bike on the Toy Runs in the meantime so we can carry a sprog each on our bikes)

[Big Dave]

Respect what, Big Dave? Rug rats? Or those who choose to procreate at a rate of knots to make up for those of us who loathe children? Yeah right!

Ummm - I don't remember - but i liked something you said.

I like working with kids in sport. I ran my local YMCA for a number of years and the basketball club. Used to park my tbird in the middle of the foyer.
ref'd over 1,000 games and tried to teach fair play and values and it was very rewarding. You could also just give 'em back if the were complete shits.

It's babies and bloody kids crashing social engagements wot gives me the irrits now. Especially the Look at me look at me look at me ones. (My gig!)

I too stopped riding for a while when we had two toddlers and were living in hobart. wrong climate for young'ens on a bike and not enough $ for six wheels.