Pillioning your kids mother/father

**Sam I Am** · 13th November 2007, 00:07

NO chance her gear all packed up till the kids are a bit older....... maybe when they are 9 or 10 ?? or even 15 who knows but at 18 we will be off again she loves it so much..
till then i can fully enjoy my Motard

lets face it it a Motard Two UP would suck so i will have fun till I need a bigger bike.

**Jorja** · 13th November 2007, 09:18

[QUOTE=FROSTY;1291469]I have no issue with her riding -just not with me
so what do other parents feel about this??[/QUOTE

Hmmmm this is the same person who stalled for as long as possible when I wanted to get a bike, parks his right behind mine so i can't get out and has threatened to steal the keys?

It just shows how much he loves me

**Fatjim** · 13th November 2007, 09:23

I find the pegs hit the ground sooner when the missus is on the back.

**car** · 13th November 2007, 09:25

Originally Posted by slowpoke

What sort of mixed message are you sending by getting them minibikes but then not allowing you and your partner to ride together because it's "too dangerous"?

"Riding on the road is no longer with the risk it entails. Stick to dirt, kids, because the worst thing you'll hit is a tree."

(I don't believe this 100% myself, but offer it as fodder for argument -- this is the message you can send by putting your kids on dirt and keeping yourself off the road.)

My parents got me a little 50 when I was seven in the hope that I would "get it out of [my] system." It mostly worked, because I didn't get back on two wheels until I was in my mid-20s.

I'm not sure I agree with their motivation. I'm also unsure whether spending my teenage years on four wheels, and stacking a couple of cars in the process, is an indicator that I'd have put myself in hospital had I been on two wheels.

Seriously, if you wanna ride with the missus go for a bloody ride mate, life is about more than popping out kids and breathing in and out for 80years.

You're right there. Life is risk, and it doesn't pay to teach your kids to be afraid of the world. But I somehow doubt that Frosty's kids are growing up afraid of shadows.

**car** · 13th November 2007, 09:33

Originally Posted by FROSTY

I have no issue with her riding -just not with me
so what do other parents feel about this??

In my own personal situation, my kids' lives would be completely rearranged if they lost one of us -- they'd either lose the entire family income or the person who looks after them 100% of the time. I'm not sure that losing both of us would be any more of a disruption, because even if just one of us died, they'd pretty much *have* to go back to the UK in order to be part of a functioning family unit again. We have no family and friends here to fall back on. So by taking the risk, one of us is pretty much as good as both of us.

Our problem is not that we wonder if we shouldn't, it's that we never get the opportunity. Having no folks here, the only time we get to both go out without the kids in when relatives visit, which as you can imagine doesn't happen often. We've been out for a ride twice in the year that we've been here. We'll be going away this weekend if the parts arrive in time for me to put the bike back together. It's something we love doing.

**TerminalAddict** · 13th November 2007, 10:03

I'm a better rider with Mrs TA on the back.

better rear wheel traction maybe .. dunno.

And she loves it.

We have a "backup" plan, consisting of family members

**BarBender** · 13th November 2007, 10:59

IMHO (and I dont think Im reading too much into it)...I cant afford to overlook the decision my wife makes to implicitly hand over her life to me, which is effectively what she does when she jumps on the back my bike. Comes with the territory of handing over control...and no different to being in a cage.

This decision may be an unconsciously natural thought for seasoned pillions. However, in my case and Im sure with others, its an awareness of my wifes decision that I need to demonstrate before she jumps on and while we're riding. I am also acutely aware that because I love bikes it doesnt necessarily mean that she does.

True. Anytime - anywhere comes with the territory...and thats the only risk Im prepared to take.

I'm no saint and I've done some dumb shit with people on the back of my bike....including family and regretfully, my son. However - what Im learning to view as unacceptable is attempting to justify the way I ride as an excuse to not pillion...and start giving a damn.

**imdying** · 13th November 2007, 11:02

Kids... yeesh, what've they got anything to do with it??? Like I want a pillion passenger on my bike period!

**judecatmad** · 13th November 2007, 11:42

Even if Dave and I had a bike that could take both our sorry, fat arses at the same time, we are both such control freaks that neither of us would be willing to take the back seat!

But I wouldn't see an issue with it if we did go 2-up for some reason. If something bad is going to happen, it's going to happen regardless. I don't believe in the whole 'temping fate' thing. And we have good arrangements for our boy when he arrives so he would never be without a loving home.

Dave might have other ideas tho - I mean, we have very differing opinions on whether women should ride while pregnant.....I lost out on that one

**Str8 Jacket** · 13th November 2007, 11:58

Originally Posted by judecatmad

Dave might have other ideas tho - I mean, we have very differing opinions on whether women should ride while pregnant.....I lost out on that one

You were probably lucky there! My mother rode until she was practically 8 months pregnant with me and I am pretty crazy. I blame her. Personal choice and all that.

**hellnback** · 13th November 2007, 12:05

My wife also rode up 'till she was about 8 months preggers. As for the wife now, she's got her own bike so hates getting on the back of mine, and I sure as hell won't be getting 'doubled' by a women!!!

**car** · 13th November 2007, 12:50

Originally Posted by judecatmad

Dave might have other ideas tho - I mean, we have very differing opinions on whether women should ride while pregnant.....I lost out on that one

*shudder*

I have entirely unreasonable, selfish and egocentric views on that one, too. The thought of my missus learning to ride scares the bejebus out of me, and throws new light onto what she and my folks must have been feeling all this time. And she's not even pregnant.

**Dodger** · 13th November 2007, 12:57

I have had the wife as pillion on the 50cc scooter, but not on the bike.

She's not to sure about the bike, and it's now hard to find a babysitter.

I have had as pillions friends and relatives including my mother

**Pancakes** · 13th November 2007, 13:22

Originally Posted by TerminalAddict

I'm a better rider with Mrs TA on the back.

better rear wheel traction maybe .. dunno.

And she loves it.

We have a "backup" plan, consisting of family members

We have kids so of course there are some people organised as gaurdians but it's not like that makes me feel ok about it. I want me and my wife alive, to not have the kids go thru that kind of trauma and to be a happy alive whole family! She does get on the back maybe a few times a year when we go to the movies etc but I am such a nana with her on. and the bike sucks to ride 2 up. She's little but you notice it heap still.

**judecatmad** · 13th November 2007, 14:11

Originally Posted by car

*shudder*

I have entirely unreasonable, selfish and egocentric views on that one, too. The thought of my missus learning to ride scares the bejebus out of me, and throws new light onto what she and my folks must have been feeling all this time. And she's not even pregnant.

LOL, when I was learning to ride I scared the bejeebus out of me, Dave and everyone in the local vicinity on a regular basis......but when he's the one who bought me the bike in the first place (after asking if my Life insurance was up-to-date......

), I struggled with the concept of being told no, I was NOT to go out riding!