Biased family members

[allycatz]

Hey Im a 49 yr old Mum of eight learning to ride much to the horror of my sisters and a few friends....my kids advice was 'cool' as long as I'm well insured...

[ital916]

Hey Im a 49 yr old Mum of eight learning to ride much to the horror of my sisters and a few friends....my kids advice was 'cool' as long as I'm well insured...

Mum of eight! Woah...you need a bike stat!

Want some advice -

1) Buy the gear first and buy the bike with the leftover change.

2) buy gear that is warm and comfortable as well as protective. Dont worry too much about looks...that will come with time as you upgrade everything.

3) buy quality gear and shop around

4) If you feel uneasy or unsure then DONT do it. Example, you feel uncomfortable on motorways then dont go on them. Find an instructor, do a riding course or find a mentor.

5) Never be shy of saying -" I need a hand", you will make friends and learn lots.

6) enjoy yourself and relax. The less stressed you are, the more aware and attentive you can be to yourself and others on the road.

7) and as bad as this sounds, never assume a safe journey, be aware.

Have fun and show us your bike when you get it. Welcome to the family.

haha and what a dysfunctional family kb is.

[allycatz]

I have the gear....was learning on a crf250 but it was too tall....the scooter has given me heaps confidence on the road....i'll do the learn the ride classes soon at roadskills and decide whether i go small bike or bigger scooter...cheers for the info tho

[Sheba]

Bit difficult to determine your age from your profile but I can give you my spin on handling things. I got my first bike when I was 16. My parents were horrified and extremely anti. I was not living at home mind you, I would not have had the balls to do it if I had been, but still they were not happy at all. No amount of assuring them I would be ok, I was not going to kill myself, or be killed made the blindest bit of difference, they were against it all the way.

I ended up making a living from bikes, and continued to ride. At this time, they stopped trying to convince me I was mad and simply accepted it. I know now from talking to my Mom that she was not happy. Kids came along, my riding days were very restricted, however when I did let her know I was riding somewhere, even as a pillion I got the "lecture".

My marraige ended and so for a while did my riding. I took all the important things with me when I moved, you know the sort of stuff, helemt, jacket, gloves boots etc but had no bike. Maybe one day, was my thinking at the time.

My son got a scooter as soon as he could and was buzzing around the place as sccoter riders do. Friggen dangerous things they are, anyway nothing I could do eh? He grew up with bikes. Then one day he came to me and said, I am getting a bike. My response "Hallelujah! I am very pleased!" He accused me of being an unnatural Mother! Imagine that!

I ride now. My Mother only says take care, I work with people that say I am mad, and how could I, and what about the danger? My friends for the most part think nothing of it, some (non-riders) do tell me to take care, and be careful but that is about it.

People have a perception of the risks, hells teeth we read about them often enough, nothing you can do to change how they think. Something in them has to change, or they simply have to accept it.

Very cool story, thanks for sharing that. I like the idea of a KB 'mom' out there. :-)

[Maha]

Just dealing with family members that are discouraging me to pursue motorbiking because of safety issues. Just wanted some input from those who have came across the same from either family or friends...

I did when I first mentioned that I had bought a motorbike.
Mother was not overly happy about...and it took a sudden death of female friend aged 40 that turned her thinking around. She then told to ''enjoy your bike Mark, you just never know when ya times up''.

[FJRider]

Its not a safety issue ...

Once you hit the ground (its not far down) you are perfectly safe.(just fall off in safe places) In a few years the scars wont be so noticeable ... and you will meet lots of really helpful and nice people at Doctors, and ACC offices.

And you can live on two thirds of your wage (less tax) on an ACC benefit.

Good gear helps ... reduce damage ...

[p.dath]

Everyone has a personal risk profile Sheba.

Some find that smoking is an acceptabe risk, others don't.
Some find doing drugs an acceptabe risk, others don't.
Some find drinking and driving an acceptabe risk, others don't.
Some find scuba diving an acceptabe risk, others don't.
Some find running on the side of the road an acceptabe risk, others don't.
Some find driving a car an acceptabe risk, others don't.

The point is everyone takes risks. Nothing in life is 100% safe. You decide what your risk profile is, and you'll live happily within it. Almost certainly, your risk profile will be different to someone elses. That doesn't make you and them wrong, it's just different. And you, and them need to accept these differences.

[Maki]

I did when I first mentioned that I had bought a motorbike.
Mother was not overly happy about...and it took a sudden death of female friend aged 40 that turned her thinking around. She then told to ''enjoy your bike Mark, you just never know when ya times up''.

Great lesson, thanks.

My wife thought I was going to get something like a scooter, just for commuting, see. Now I have an R6, sure fooled her, mwuhahahahahaha

[NDORFN]

When I told my old lady that I've bought a bike, she told me about all the people we knew who had family die on bikes. When I told my old man that I've bought a bike, he told me they're death traps and encouraged me to get life insurance, yet a couple of years later, my old lady asks how the latest bike is going and my old man recently disclosed a few stories involving his ownership of bikes in his youth (one being a single cyclinder 500cc paddock basher... cool story). Funny how neither of them had any objections to me taking up gliding years ago, yet both of my original instructers have since died in glider accidents. I guess the moral is, follow your passion and they'll eventually accept and maybe encourage it. And try not to die riding or you'll look like a dick at your funeral.

[sleemanj]

I think you just need to do it, and if you're not in a position to do it without your parent's OK, then you're just not ready to do it.

There comes a time in your life when you have to make the decision for yourself, no matter what others (parents) say, you have your own life to live and must weigh the risks and benefits yourself.

In other words, don't wait for permission, just do it if you want to do it and have fully accepted the risks inherent.

When people say to me "but you could die" (with whatever activity is the subject of their interest), I usually reply with "yes, I could".

[Dean]

Im 17 sheba so quite young, I started riding when I was 14 on a gn250 and cb125. My mum hated the fact that I bought a bike, sometimes she will take my keys and hide them. Or steal my licence, hell sometimes she will park the family cars sideways so I couldnt get out of the driveway. The way I got through it is by showing your parents that you genuinely love biking, that its a life long passion and you fully understand the risks. Because of my passion and stories of meeting new freinds and awesome rides my brother now rides!!! My stepdad now rides!!!!! My sister's going for her bike licence!!!! And my mums pillioning on my stepdads gn for my upcoming tour of the north island!!!!!!!!!!!

[LBD]

My Dad rode and taught and encouraged me to ride....and gave me the freedom to ride with only the occasional well thought talking to about safety and sensible riding practices.

Now I have taught my Daughter to ride and she is moving on to bigger and more powerful machines...

Now I know what my Dad went through....Sorry Dad...

Keep this in mind, when a parent or friend or sibling is concerned about you on a bike....it WILL be out of genuine concern for your well being...give their opinions respect, and work on convincing them that you are a suitable and safe person on a bike...

Some good advice from Dangerous Bastard near the start of this thread....

[paddy]

my kids advice was 'cool' as long as I'm well insured...

So you kids are teenagers then? :-)

[paddy]

...my mums pillioning on my stepdads gn for my upcoming tour of the north island!!!!!!!!!!!

Hmmm....GN....pillioning. They should probably start and the top and go down so that it's downhill. Easier that way. :-)

[Dean]

Hmmm....GN....pillioning. They should probably start and the top and go down so that it's downhill. Easier that way. :-)

lol nah it goes alright with mum on the back, sure they go 70kph up hills but on straights they keep a healthy 100kph. The trip will be a while away we will be starting at cape reigna then down to wellington Id probably make a thread quite a few weeks/months in advance before the trip for others to join, its so awesome having a biker family the garage is always full lol.