Other Halves and Pillions ........

[Rusty]

i was just replying to Norman Bates on the " New to the Forum " bit and was telling him that my other half has never liked bikes or riding pillion etc., and so over the years has missed out on so much ( me thinks ) !  She is not adverse to them,she just doesn't hold any interest in them. Me ? I have been riding since i was 18, and love it ... not interested in getting my knee down any more just like to get out and ride and enjoy the scenery and going off with friends to do a bit of touring etc ... I think its a shame but there you go. i am sure that if your other half is interested then it makes life so much easier when choosing new bikes and kit and where to go etc. So ... what about you ? Does your other half love getting on the back, or does she just put up with you poodling off every now and again ?? Share your thoughts with us all .. there must be loads of stories to be shared !

[Kwikasfuki]

Mrs Bates has only ever been a pillion once - and that's on my friends Pan European as I wasn't too skilled in handling a pillion on my GPZ 500s. Since then the kids have arrived and they are more interested in the bike than her. I don't think she is too interested tbh. Still thinks bikes are dangerous.

She doesn't mind me doing ride outs, but with kids its about getting priorities right so I tend to do fewer ride outs these days. Sometimes its a blessing that I'm on call for work as it means I have to go to Manchester and then I plan the most ridiculous way of getting back to Yorkshire. e.g. shoot up the M6 to J36 and then all the way through the dales to get back.

I still plan on doing some touring one day. I missed out last year whilst the missus was in Germany. Thought I'd go there myself on the bike and surprise her but work commitments got in the way.

[Lonewolf]

Right if I can contribute my little bit on this topic. Mrs Wolf will, under no circumstances no matter how much I try to educate her in the ways and joys of biking ever get on the back of the machine. Its a shame because as we all know and understand you get a different perspective on life from bikes. 
Her Father and Uncle were both owners of bikes when they were younger and neither has ever had an accident which could be responsible for her views on bikes, so I dont know where she gets her negativity from. I've even offered to take her for a short ride up and down the drive, but she wont even do that.
However in Mrs Wolf's defence she never stops me going out for rides because she appreciates the enjoyment it gives me, (thats what she tells me anyway) I think she's just grateful to see the back of me and get me out of the house.....I can live with that though ;D ;D

[Mr Blek]

Until recently we both enjoyed touring but as we somehow managed to conceive (trust me chaps, the snip doesn't work - DNA test pending  :D) her indoors has decided that the child needs to have at least one parent whilst growing up with the biggest risk being her on a motorbike.

We both have our own bikes as well as a tourer but now we are essentially downsizing. All that will be left is the GTR. Feels like I have one foot in the grave already - downsizing indeed!

[Rusty]

Hey, downsizing and being left with a GTR can,t be too bad !! When is Blek minor due to arrive ??

[da_boom]

Let me sorta flip this one. imagine being a pillion and its SWMBO thats the driving force. I didn't have any inteerest in bikes beofrehand. lol, always thought theres a chance of getting killed. now that we're divorced the only good things from the marriage are the kids and bikes  ;D

[Rusty]

NICE !!

[Mr Blek]

Hey, downsizing and being left with a GTR can,t be too bad !! When is Blek minor due to arrive ??

T - 5 months and counting  ;D

[Rawman]

My wife loves getting on.  I have a Givi V46 with a back pad.  When that is off, I have a full back rest for her.  Makes it much more comfortable and she feels more confident.

[Mark W]

Caroline aka (the boss) loves it on the back the only problem I have is her falling asleep and hitting me in the back with her helmet! she much prefers it with the top box on!

[Ziderman]

Only thing I really miss about my X ...she was first class Pillion. Would sit there for hours on end & I would occasionally here a faint snore in the intercom. Bless her...not !
Not sure if new Woman going to be same. Said she will get on back when weather warmer. Not a good sign.

[Rusty]

Funny isn't it ? The majority of women just don't like bikes/biking etc which fuels the argument of "Boys and their toys" for them ... so when you DO come across a girlie/biker chick and one that can actually ride a bike and talk bollox like the rest of us she is quite a novelty ! Shame really. 

[Martin#30]

My wife had a comically bad introduction to bikes with me.

- Her first ever pillion ride, I got her to the detination fine, but then managed to crash on my own 20 minutes later.
- Second pillion ride, I overbalanced in Oxford town centre and managed to dump us both on the tarmac.
- Convinced her that her own bike would be safer  ;D , so bought a CG125. She *hated* the kick start.
- She passed her CBT though, and started commuting to work on it. 3rd or 4th day commuting, she lost the front in biblical rain which sort of put her off for a while.


Still, once the kids are a little older, she will be back as pillion again. Good lass.

Martin.
ps: I have only ever been pillion twice myself. Hated it, absolutely hated it. Control freak? Me? Showed me what wives have to put up with though .....

[Nygie]

WOW, never seen so much activity here yet ;D
Back in '98 when I passed my test, I got a Kwak ZX6R G1, the wife said I'm not going on that and I was of the "cool just me then" opinion. But she slowly came round, having spent a bit of time alone.

3 months later the bike was totaled - scrap, that's a story for another day.

Then along came the Hayabusa in April of '99 and she came out a few times and was ok on the back.

At this time in my life I was going out group riding with the lads getting me knee/fairing down on the Busa. But as time progressed she came out more and more and became a fast riding duo going out with the single sports riders and showing them plenty of tail 2 up in the bends as well as the inevitable straights. They thought we were mad :o

Time went on further and we had a go at touring on the Busa, first time 5 days in France, rained for 4 very hard but we still enjoyed it.
Couple of years after we were doing 2 weeks 3000 miles and 6 countries.
We absolutely love the Alps.

We then got some others into the touring and had a few years with either 6 or 8 people touring fast on Hayabusas.

So, she came round and enjoyed many many hours on the back.
Oh and there was the few offs in europe, but they're another story yet again!

So if I bored y'all! ;D

[Ziderman]

Bloody hell , dont stay on yer Bikes much you lot do ya ! Always seem to be falling off.