My Wife.

[WIP]

She is 27 years old, and is excited by the idea of a motorcycle.

She has only been on the back of a bike twice. The first time, our uncle, she was scared out of her mind. Oddly enough, he is the pastor of a church, but he drove fast and hard. The second time was last week, and she wasn't as scared, I kept it slow and easy. However, she said that the entire time she was scared of falling off the back and getting run over by a car.

I am going to keep getting her on the back of my bike (we work together so rides are going to be easy). Do you ladies have any other advice to help ease her mind? She does want to get a bike, we have talked about passing my bike to her and getting me a bigger one, she is just a little nervous.

[slumlord]

Originally Posted by WIP

She is 27 years old, and is excited by the idea of a motorcycle.

She has only been on the back of a bike twice. The first time, our uncle, she was scared out of her mind. Oddly enough, he is the pastor of a church, but he drove fast and hard. The second time was last week, and she wasn't as scared, I kept it slow and easy. However, she said that the entire time she was scared of falling off the back and getting run over by a car.

I am going to keep getting her on the back of my bike (we work together so rides are going to be easy). Do you ladies have any other advice to help ease her mind? She does want to get a bike, we have talked about passing my bike to her and getting me a bigger one, she is just a little nervous.

Just because she is your wife is no reason to give her a hand-me-down bike.If she has not ridden before,she might consider taking a Motorcycle safety course,and learning as much as possible what bike would be a good starter bike for HER. I would never forgive myself if my hand me down bike was not a good fit for my wife and she got injured just because I wanted to have a better ride for myself.
My apologies for posting on windseekers,being male and all...

[WIP]

It isn't exactly a hand me down bike. I bought it for myself a few weeks ago. She likes it, and it is a bit small for me. We have talked about it being hers from day one.

[slumlord]

Sorry,did not mean to offend. The main thing is that the bike is comfortable and feels balanced for her. The CB bikes have the pegs in a standard position,and that is good for most beginning riders
I am not a small guy,and I ride a little cb360. I would like my next vintage Jap standard to be about 650.
You know the size ,weight,and strength of your wife. I am just wanting you both to consider how good a pick the bike is from the standpoint of safety

[4Raven]

First of all what size bike do you have?
If she is scared, then NO! She needs more time on the bike as a passenger to see if she would want to ride her own. Then if she feels like this is really what she wants ...then get her into a class. If she makes it through that and still wants to get her own bike, let her make the decision. I have seen some women who say they want to learn how to ride their own and then drop out of the class/course and others who only want to be a passenger.

But it has to be her decision, so don't hurry her into one, by saying, "well make up your mind, I need to either trade this one in for another or sell it..."

I rode as a passenger for an entire year, before I realized that I really wanted my own bike, then I sort of debated, because of medical issues, if this is what I wanted, then got hooked....

[WIP]

She wants to be a passenger until next winter, at that point we will make a decision.

[sunflashmace7]

if she is afraid of falling off get her a sissy bar. My wife was really similar until I got her one for the suzuki and she immediately stuck her arms out wide like she was flying.( I'm going to die for telling this story) the sissy bar is a really good way to make a passenger more comfortable. It is also really useful for tying back packs and such to for longer trips.

[kat569]

My thought is this; if she is afraid of falling off the back, she may be better off as the operator, in control of the bike with a tangible handhold in front of her. I'd sign her up for a MSF course then go from there.

[sunflashmace7]

I'm just throwing that out there as a viable idea in case she is still wary of riding after the course my wife wasn't willing to take the course until she was able to ride without the fear of falling off. now we just need the money to pay for the course

[WIP]

We went for a long ride yesterday. Fears are gone for the most part. She focused on just feeling it and within a couple of miles, she was relaxed and smiling. Most of the time she had her hands lightly on my hips instead of squeezing my waist. She still wants to ride on the back for a while before I get her in the forward seat, but I expect her to be asking to drive within a couple of weeks. (in the parking lot of course)

[vegasEMT]

a class would be good for her, helps build confidence. The ones out here have a beginner class or a cheaper option which is basically a ride for fun class to see if you even like riding, while getting to try out bikes that might fit her better/are easier to learn on..

[WIP]

I would like to teach her how to operate the bike before she signs up for a course. I have the booklet for the course with explanations of all of the "range" pieces. I was thinking about painting the course in the parking lot here and letting her give it a go. I know the few people in my MSF course that had experience made life easy for the instructor.

Yesterday we rode about 60 miles. The trip out was easy, riding with the wind. The trip back was harder, riding into the winds and with cross winds. The winds were at 24mph and the gusts were hard. HOWEVER, she did fine. She said it was a bit stressful, but nothing that scared her. She said she would rather not ride in winds like that again, and I understand that. My only complaint was that the sand was being blown up, and it was getting into my helmet/eyes.

[iamjustifyd]

I for one can say I hate being a passenger! I liked to ride but was never really comfortable in the back. I felt like I had nowhere to go if we were to go down, not a control thing (I know you are thinking that ) I felt trapped..don't quite know how to explain it. Someone in the front, sissy bar in the back...nowhere to go.

[WIP]

I can understand that, but she is the one that wants to be on the back for a while. I think she will love it once she is ready.

[iamjustifyd]

Yeah, sounds like she is getting used to it and will be wanting her own soon What kind of bike do you have now and which one you have your eye on?

[WIP]

I have a nearly pristine 1982 Honda cb650 with 13k on it. I am not sure what I want yet, but I like classics.

[aaronrkelly]

Originally Posted by WIP

I would like to teach her how to operate the bike before she signs up for a course. I have the booklet for the course with explanations of all of the "range" pieces. I was thinking about painting the course in the parking lot here and letting her give it a go. I know the few people in my MSF course that had experience made life easy for the instructor.

Im just reading the info given here, so dont take offense and please correct me if Im wrong.

You've had your bike for 2 weeks. Im assuming because your wife has very little experience being a passenger.....that this is your first bike.

If this is the case (again, try not to take offense)......you with 2 weeks experience have no place instructing someone else.

[WIP]

I don't take offense. I have lots of experience on bikes, I have owned dirt bikes (I know it is different) and I have ridden MANY other peoples bikes. In total, I have been riding quite steady/off and on for 13 years. (I know that sounds odd)

When I took the MSF course, I already knew the exercises, so I just went through the motions to pass for my license. It is also easy for me to learn, absorb information, and pass it on to others. I am just cool like that.

Don't worry. If I set it up, it will be exactly to spec and I will teach how I was taught. I was the only one to pass with 100% on everything, and I was the only one that didn't need specific instruction. I knew why and how to do everything. (now I sound cocky)

I wouldn't suggest most people do the same as I am, but they aren't me. It is all about knowing your skill level in any aspect of life.

Thanks though.

[wolfemandb]

Yes sissy bar would definatley help.
My wife of 5 years was scared the first time i borrowed a buddies GSXR 750 and took it for a day, the reason behind it was to see if she would like ti as much as i did. Now just for the record I'm 39 years old and have had my cycle license since being 20 yeras old.
But after two years of her riding on the back , shes starting to get the itch and i want her to be able to ride next to me,not behind me.
I think there's nothin sexier than a womn on a cycle.!
So motorcycle training here she comes.

[65sky]

WIP, the Honda 650 would be a great bike for her to learn on/ride.
Not too much power, seat height that is extremely LOW and it doesn't weight too much either with a lower CG than most also..

Sky...

[CharlesW]

Hopefully it works out for you.
Like anything else, different people react differently.
We were basically a dirt riding family until we lost any areas close to us.
I switched to street riding and love it. (Still miss the dirt, though)
My wife rode her bike on the street a few times and was not at all comfortable being around all the idiots in cars. She did ride as a passenger a few times, but wasn't really comfortable with that, either.
My daughter also loves street riding and she had no interest in the dirt bike thing at all.
My son raced and rode the dirt and has no interest in street riding whatsoever.

[Brighteagle]

WIP - I am a fairly new lady rider - 2 yrs. I had never ridden a motorcycle in my life until about 2 1/2 yrs ago. My first ride was as a passenger with my husband who knew how to ride but had no bike (we were on a friends bike). I felt completely safe - did have a sissybar. I loved it! So, my husband bought a 2004 VTX 1800C with great aftermarket seats, including passenger seats - Ultimate. So comfortable! Loved riding so much, I decided to learn to drive myself. Took a BRC course, bought my own bike - 2008 VTX 1300R. A big bike for a beginner, but I knew I would not be happy on a smaller bike for long, so I started out with the bike I would be happy with for a long time. My husband helped me allot - took me out to vacant parking lots at night and helped gain some confidence. I watched 'Ride Like a Pro' DVD over and over. Finally went out on the road with my husband, gained more confidence. The best thing that helped me was learning the famous 'Friction Zone'. Once I mastered the friction zone, and I felt I was in control of the bike at all times, I have never looked back! Lots of great rides ever since! Sounds like your wife is on the same track as I was. I wish her the best.

[RobMoore]

I'm a professional instructor (firearms) and I still have difficulty teaching my wife to shoot. She learns, but at a slower rate than from a third party. I have found the same to be true with the bike, and my story is not uncommon. Husbands usually have a hard time teaching their wife anything.

We took the MSF class together. She learned more than I could teach her, even if I weren't a beginner myself.

[Brighteagle]

No doubt about it, the MSF class is very beneficial, especially for safety purposes. There is a husband/wife couple we ride with, her on the back of his bike. The husband has asked his wife several times if she wants to learn to drive, which she most definitely does not want to do. I can see where the husband would like it if she were to drive her own bike. He would probably like to ride by himself sometimes. But I can also see that the only people who should even try to learn to drive are the ones who really want to drive. Driving takes skill and concentration, and nobody needs to do it if they aren't 100% into it.

[xjsc182]

I am a girl and I think it is not easy to learn to ride a motorcycle. The main think is we are afraid to have an accident. It's dangerous... And taking a course needs time and money......

[Brighteagle]

The course is worth every penny and worthy of your time. It's just something you would need to do if you're serious about learning to ride.

[kamesama980]

+100 take a course. the MSF does free/cheap courses at many places, back in IL it was free, here in IN it's only $75. (both use the same book). My wife (then fiancee) took the course after I got my bike (and took the course) and realized that while she enjoyed riding with me, she did not enjoy riding solo at all. She's a more cautious, conservative driver (aka scared granny driver)to start with. to be on a bike and enjoy it much less be safe, you have to WANT to be there.

[Dodsfall]

Originally Posted by kamesama980

She's a more cautious, conservative driver (aka scared granny driver)to start with.

She shouldn't feel bad. I'm the same way. I just like to keep myself in one piece.

[Gandalf]

My gf started riding fairly recently...she rode everywhere on the back of mine (I'm one of those people that rides everywhere until the snow hits the ground) and decided fairly quickly that she wanted one. She started on a 250, put about 7,000 miles on it, and I recently moved her up to a 600.

Anyway, my advice (and my gf's as well) is this: get her to ride on your bike as much as possible, until she feels safe. If she gets a bike and spends more time worry about wrecking than enjoying the ride/learning to control it she's not gonna enjoy it a bit. And secondly, start small. Get her a little 250 or something like that, something that doesn't have enough power to jump up and bite her. Once she's comfortable enough on it and has put a lot of miles on it you can easily resell it (assuming you bought it used) for aprox. what you paid for it.

[clyde13]

I have lived in Japan where girl riders are accepted and are well catered for....all-girl rider magazines and even ladies-only areas in bike accessory stores ! Love it !

[clyde13]

The pink leather jackets which they sell are pretty cool too !

[TzelRyder]

Originally Posted by kat569

My thought is this; if she is afraid of falling off the back, she may be better off as the operator, in control of the bike with a tangible handhold in front of her. I'd sign her up for a MSF course then go from there.

This is exactly what I thought! I never liked being on the back of anyone's bike. You have no knowledge or control over what is about to happen to you, you can't see where you're going, there's nothing to hold onto (that makes you feel secure, anyway) and it's B-O-R-I-N-G!!!!! Let her take the MSF course and see how she feels then. Also, be open to the fact that she may want/need a totally different bike than what you currently have. She needs to feel secure on her own bike. Good luck!