A return to riding: sooner vs. later?

[Rashika]

No Rashika a trailer to tow behind the bike is not a good idea to put the next Rossi in.

sidecar on the guzzi is ideal tho?

[JMemonic]

sidecar on the guzzi is ideal tho?

Hell yes I will help you fit it while he is out on your bike

Sorry to kinda hijack your thread MsKABC, I will leave now, take care, get a bike and enjoy riding

[Cajun]

Against:

* My son is still so young, and while I'm a reasonable competent and confident rider, fact of the matter is that riding is still dangerous and the thought of leaving him motherless breaks my heart!

your just as likey to have a car crash, or step out on road and get hit by a bus, or maybe just drop dead of a number of different things.

* While we are not poor by most people's standards, there isn't really enough disposable income to get me the bike I'd really like - maybe a Triumph 675 or a late model sv650, so I'd have to settle for something a little more modest methinks.

A bike is a bike, be it a brand new harley to a 30 year old dunger, at least you are on two wheels enjoying yaself, thats what its about.

* Hubby has a 748 and while I could maybe convince him to let me ride it (he's not sounded that keen when the subject has come up in the past), going from a parallel twin 250 to a 748 is a big jump He does have a bucket racer that he's offered for me to ride though

Going from a twin 250 to a 748 not a huge jump, on paper i went from a parellel twin 250 to a 4 cylinder 1100cc sports bike putting out 130+ hp @ rw. ( i road many other bikes between) but most of it boils down to how much control with your hand you have.

* There are little enough hours in the day to do the things I like to do as it is, so would I actually find time to ride? (I have other interests & commitments)

Never enough hours in the day to do everything we want to do, have to comprise, aka have one weekend a month that you ride one day minium, Be it your partner has to stay home and look after the baby while your off riding since no one else can sit.

* My mummy doesn't want me to ride While this wouldn't necessarily stop me, it kinda puts a dampener on things when someone you're close to is less than enthusiastic about it, dunnit?

Why doesn't she want you to ride? cause your might crash and hurt yourself? or is she anti-bikes as a whole? your life, do what you want.

* We're not sure yet we'll have another sproglet, so maybe it would be better to wait until that part of my life is over...?

Just buy a small bike that does not have to much money tied up in so if decide to have another baby you can put rego on hold for 6-12 months, and pull it out when ready to ride again.

[MsKABC]

your just as likey to have a car crash, or step out on road and get hit by a bus, or maybe just drop dead of a number of different things.

A bike is a bike, be it a brand new harley to a 30 year old dunger, at least you are on two wheels enjoying yaself, thats what its about.

Going from a twin 250 to a 748 not a huge jump, on paper i went from a parellel twin 250 to a 4 cylinder 1100cc sports bike putting out 130+ hp @ rw. ( i road many other bikes between) but most of it boils down to how much control with your hand you have.

Never enough hours in the day to do everything we want to do, have to comprise, aka have one weekend a month that you ride one day minium, Be it your partner has to stay home and look after the baby while your off riding since no one else can sit.

Why doesn't she want you to ride? cause your might crash and hurt yourself? or is she anti-bikes as a whole? your life, do what you want.

Just buy a small bike that does not have to much money tied up in so if decide to have another baby you can put rego on hold for 6-12 months, and pull it out when ready to ride again.

Absolutely, but as vifferman said "Having said that, at least in choosing to ride or not, you are exercising some control over a potential risk." Another way of saying that is: If my daily activities consist of driving a car, crossing the road, walking around in a storm, walking my dog, blowdrying my hair, riding a motorcycle, the one that's most likely to kill me is the last one, so if I choose not to ride, at least I've minimised my chances of an early death quite significantly, KWIM?

My Mum is my Mum, and she can't stand the idea of something happening to me. Doesn't help that I'm an only child. I can't say that I blame her for feeling that way, and as I said, ultimately it won't stop me but it will take the shine off it just a teeny bit.

Thanks Cajun, you made some good points

[Cajun]

Absolutely, but as vifferman said "Having said that, at least in choosing to ride or not, you are exercising some control over a potential risk." Another way of saying that is: If my daily activities consist of driving a car, crossing the road, walking around in a storm, walking my dog, blowdrying my hair, riding a motorcycle, the one that's most likely to kill me is the last one, so if I choose not to ride, at least I've minimised my chances of an early death quite significantly, KWIM?

My Mum is my Mum, and she can't stand the idea of something happening to me. Doesn't help that I'm an only child. I can't say that I blame her for feeling that way, and as I said, ultimately it won't stop me but it will take the shine off it just a teeny bit.

Thanks Cajun, you made some good points

Why is the last one more like to kill you? wouldn't it be the one you spend most time doing, hence driving a car, would be higher i would think. or even doing household chores/jobs around house most likey kill/injury more people than bikes do over same period.

I would more think looking how you ride, where you ride, times you ride, would be better at at excising some of the potential risk level down.
But saying that you could get 10 people to crash at 50km/h same way, 9 people walk away find 1 would not, no matter what you do if your time to have it happen will happen one way or another. (be it only a minor accident or major), like saying goes 'shit happens' no matter how prepaired you are. You might as well live life while breathing.

Choose what you wish to do until you do not wish to do it any more.

[Bend-it]

How about this... tell MrKABC to stop being a selfish knob and get a bike that you both could ride, either on your own or 2 up. You'd probably be able to afford a reasonable bike and still have cash in hand.

I have done the same thing with cars when I got married. Sold my 2l turbo 4wd death machine, and wife's Starlet gt turbo, and got a mid-range car that would suit both of us. Then I got my bike to satisfy my need for speed.

With advice like this, I should start my own reality TV show!

[MsKABC]

How about this... tell MrKABC to stop being a selfish knob and get a bike that you both could ride, either on your own or 2 up. You'd probably be able to afford a reasonable bike and still have cash in hand.

I have done the same thing with cars when I got married. Sold my 2l turbo 4wd death machine, and wife's Starlet gt turbo, and got a mid-range car that would suit both of us. Then I got my bike to satisfy my need for speed.

With advice like this, I should start my own reality TV show!

Hey dude, my hubby's not a selfish knob!

If we really wanted to, we could both have brand new, matching Ducatis (or whatever), but it's about priorities. It was my choice to sell my bike, and if I decide I want another, then we'll get one. We both have our toys/hobbies etc that we spend money on.

We'll never ride 2 up as we don't want to put all our eggs in one basket. A bad crash would leave our son an orphan. That's our choice.

Don't give up your day job

[BM-GS]

Wife gave up her CBR6 when we moved here and had sprog #1 (same time). She was always after another one (of each) so once we'd settled down I flogged my (beloved, but not really the most practical in town) GS for a shorter bike which she could ride. She now gets to trundle over the bridge while I look after house/pre-school sprog, etc.

We figure we're not going to be looking for a 2nd roadbike anytime soon (rides into the sunset together are only in the photo album for now), but we have a quad, a 50 and a 150 dirtbike in the garage...

In 20 years we might be going for road-rides with our boys, or off-road, or something different. You never know, so you have to do what you want to do, otherwise you may not get the chance. If you can, and it fits in, do it. There's always a reason not to.

[AlBundy]

I always think of a VFR400 NC24. They are small bikes that handle well, go well and aren't intimdating to ride. That would be a good step from the GPZ.

Life is about fate, karma and free will... Fate: Shit happens... You can't account for it. Karma, whether you believe it or not, sometimes you get something back, everything goes in cycles... As you sow, so shall you reap... Free will: We all have a choice. We can choose to do, or not to do. What we choose is often dictated by conscience.

We all have different situations in life and really, only you know where you are at. Hope you find a happy middle ground though, which means you ride and get to experience parenting...

[Ixion]

Just a slightly off-topic question raised by this thread

Has anyone, In NZ, *ever* died as a result of a crash bucket racing? Ever ?

Genuine question, I don't know. I have this impression of bucket racing as being a pretty safe thing , maybe broken limbs but no-one ever died. I may be wrong.

[Hitcher]

Has anyone, In NZ, *ever* died as a result of a crash bucket racing? Ever ?

That would be a headline writer's wet dream. I'm sure sub editors the length of the country have witty aphorisms recorded on Post-It notes in readiness for the day fate comes calling.

[MsKABC]

Just a slightly off-topic question raised by this thread

Has anyone, In NZ, *ever* died as a result of bucket racing? Ever ?

Maybe if you spend too much on bucket modifications or come home too late from racing...?

OK, I slightly mis-quoted you there Ixion, I admit

[old git]

Yep, fully paid up member of the "give it heaps"club here...........but with a bit of sense in my second half of my century.
Buy a bike now.........if you don't :
A: You will be pissed off every time one goes by.
B: The "what if" stupidity from your mother doesn't count or hubby has to stop too......and by the sound of it you are a careful rider ,not likely to be living in the temporary citizen leathers.
C: Fun is allowed, even if you have ankle snappers.
D: Biking is compulsory to keeping you sane!!...{for the first time in 35 years i'm bikeless for two months...........shit its hard with no toy.
E: It is possible to buy a cheaper bike and enjoy it.
F: One day you will be old.......and you dont want to regret daft decisions made by other peoples perceptions of SENSIBLE..
G: So what if you get pregnant again {that could be a whole summer away }..........Life will still go on.........leave sprogs with granny and go for a ride........She will love it.
H: You will bitch on this site forever if you dont buy one.............
GO DO IT.
I: You DO LOOK GOOD IN LEATHER.................{sorry just had to add that.........no offence meant.}

[MsKABC]

I: You DO LOOK GOOD IN LEATHER.................{sorry just had to add that.........no offence meant.}

None taken. I was 6 months pregnant when that pic was taken though!

And re 'H'...well that's probably true too

[Number One]

Sooner

I sold my bike and stopped for a while. Flipped a switch in my head that it was just something for another time, a time when the baby had grown up, time when we had more money...blah blah blah

It was well worth it- getting a bike and going back...I wish I hadn't waited so long. I feel like I have got myself back after becoming a mum when you body is hijacked and you are so completely and overwhelmingly joined to your child.

Being a parent is tough work and if riding relaxes and invigorates you you are doing your bubby a favour by ensuring that your own fulfillment is also allowed some space in your life.