Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

My mrs never wanted me to have a bike but she's not in the picture any more and now I have 2.

Mum worries about every ride I do so I sms her whenever I'm out and able to - but my mum is in a slightly different situation so I understand completely. When she was younger she used to ride with my dad and can understand the attraction.

Everyone else supports me wholeheartedly and for that I'm greatful

Reminds me of a story,
A guy is at the doctors and has a phsysical. The Doctor says he is very healthy for his age. The guy cant help asking "How old would someone with my health get doc?"
The Doctor thinks about it and asks "Do you eat bad food at all?"
the guy says "Nope, I stick to salads, skinless chicken, fish. Absolutely no red meat or fatty foods. I dont eat chocolate or sweets."
The Doctor says "Do you womanise? sleep around?"
The guy says "My wife passed away a while ago. Now my mother lives with me. I dont have time for that kind of stuff at my age anymore."
So the Doctor says "Do you have any dangerous hobbies?"
the guy says "No way doc! I dont ride a motorcycle, or skydive or paraglide or bunji jump or anything like that."
The Doctor says "Then why would you care how old you are going to get?"

Mate, I hate to tell you this, but if you are getting the "Sell your bike" talk from your "Fiance" at this early stage, then I would suggest that once married, she is going to become even more controlling of what you do! I'd be sitting her down and having the serious chat that goes something like this!

"If you want us to remain partners, continue our relationship, get married, maybe have a family and live happily ever after, then SHUT THE FUCK UP ABOUT MY BIKE AND DON"T EVER, EVER EVEN THINK ABOUT ASKING ME TO SELL IT! ARE WE CLEAR?"

I hate to be negative, but it sounds like your Fiance' is on the path to attempting to control you! I'd get that in check real quick before it gets out of hand! If she really did love you, then she would understand the passion you have for bikes and would leave it well out!

I have had the occasional grief about bike ownership, but it is my passion and my wife knows it. I have worked hard, bought a house early whilst mates were tripping to Bali and Europe, went without early on so that I could enjoy the fruits of my labour.

I now have two bikes, which I don't ride nearly enough as I want to but that is because I am trying balance my life between, work, play, wife and 2 kids. I consider life like a good diet, you need balance. It is good to eat cake, but not every day.

Sit down with your finance and show her what it means to you, take her on the back of the bike, I took mine out (before kids) and now she say we should get the kids baby sat so we can go for ride and have lunch. She wants to be a part of my passion as I in return show interest and want to be a part of hers (sometimes).

You should be thankful you have people who care.

Nick

I must have struck it lucky

I bought a bike, much to my girlfriend(now Fiance)s distaste, but she accepted that its something that i enjoy. I thought that the olds (mum in particular) would be against it, but no, they went and got bikes too

just after my crash(and by that I mean at the hospital waiting for my x-rays to come back, the night of the accident), my Fiance turns to me and says "So, are we going bike shopping tomorrow, I think you need to get out on a bike and riding again ASAP"

anyone wonder why I plan on marrying her?

I let people express their concerns once. But after that, it's just not something that comes up.
It's my life, so I have to live it how I see best. How awful to be 85, in a nursing home, wishing for a do-over, because you followed other people's ideas on how to live, instead of your own. Too late then!
I think it comes down to attitude and priorities.

Not trying to be rude at all, but how old are you and are you living on your own and self-supporting? That might change some of the advice you get.
When you're a little kid, your parents have more sway over your life than you do. As you get older, you get more and more influence over how to live your life, until you are making all your own decisions and it doesn't even occur to you that anyone else gets any input. Then you hope to find someone who will give you regular sex, but still let you live your life as you see best Anyway, somewhere in there is the tricky bit - the transitional phase - where you're either pulling away from being under your parents control, or juggling a new relationship and how much give and take you're comfortable with. Think about how much you're willing to compromise. Because it's much easier to set a pattern for a relationship in the early days, than it is when you are 40, have 2 kids, a huge mortgage and are stuck in a marriage full of resentments for all the things you grudgingly agreed to. Resentment will strangle the happiness out of a relationship and leave you miserably married. Or expensively divorced.

But at the end of the day - its your life, nobody elses!


So, no. I don't get "helled" for riding. Who would "hell" me? My parents? They learned years ago (shortly after I was fully supporting myself) that I made my own decisions about my life. Besides, adults don't tell other adults how to lead their lives. My partner? Apart from the fact that he rides too, I chose a partner that wants me to be happy, even if it sometimes causes him worry, embarrassment, frustration, money, time, degradation, annoyance, bemusement and carpet burn on his knees Since he wants me to be happy, he doesn't have a problem with me doing things that make me happy, funds permitting.

My mum worries about me on the bike, that's what mothers are for, single and happily so so no dramas with the missus

Cath wrote: I chose a partner that wants me to be happy, even if it sometimes causes him worry, embarrassment, frustration, money, time, degradation, annoyance, bemusement and carpet burn on his knees Since he wants me to be happy, he doesn't have a problem with me doing things that make me happy, funds permitting.

.....and it's funny for the rest of us to watch him change your wheels on ride days. In fact the enjoyment is almost worth the $200 you piss away on a wet ride day

Both my parents are gone - so obviously that isnt a concern. The majority of my family that I see on a regular basis either ride themselves or have ridden in the past.
My Father was a fairly involved member with Willoughby District for many years - so I guess they all figured it was just a matter of time.
My wife doesnt mind (although does get worried from time to time - especially if I run late and havent called).
I was already riding when I met her - so she knows she doesnt get a say. I also do my best to not spend every waking moment doing bike stuff - which keeps her happy to.

You should've seen the look I got when I pointed out how fast Stoner's pit crew can change the wheels during his qualifying session at PI

Even if I wasn't a rider myself, I can't imagine telling a partner they "couldn't" do something they loved, especially if it was an interest before you came into their life. Love and respect go hand in hand, in my opinion.

Parents will always worry - that is a given - and we all understand that motorcycling has its risks, but if you take all the safety precautions possible, that should hopefully alleviate a little of their worry.

One thing I have learned over the years is that you can only live your life for yourself; the minute you start living it for others, you start to lose a big part of yourself that can be hard to regain.

I get the worry but fortunatly it is not often verbalised. No misso, so as a few have said, no drama there... For that matter I'm not sure I would get too deep in a relationship if she had an issue with me riding.

But yeah the parentals got their say in the beginning when I discussed my plans, got to voice their oppinion and that was it. They still worry obviously (they're parents) but they see the passion and can't argue with that.

Cath wrote: You should've seen the look I got when I pointed out how fast Stoner's pit crew can change the wheels during his qualifying session at PI

I think you should start setting some performance hurdles for him, maybe some KPI's and a bonus scheme if he achieves target......alternatively just sack him and get one of the red pyjama dudes to take over wheel changing duties.

My wife has now made me buy two bikes, the last being a new Zx10 - mum worries, but that's part of the job description.

Sure, if you are saving for a house, finances are tight and you blow the deposit money on a bike you can ill afford, sure she has a right to be shitty. It is relative, esp if you are spending while she isn't. life balance has be be there. But if you're both spending equally, she shouldn't control how you spend yours.

My olds worried at first - and I got a few "be safe comments" - then they got jealous First my mum, who now has her opens and a Ducati monster.. then my Dad who just got his L's and is on the lookout for a bike

On your other front - I cant imagine telling someone I love that they were not allowed to do something that they love.... your girl needs to go get her L's and see for herself how fast it gets in your blood

That said I dont think I could personally have a relationship with someone that didnt ride.. its too huge a part of my life .. and its awesome to be able to spend time with the 2 greatest loves in your life