Husband is talking about getting a motorcycle :/

[Bini]

I need some reassurance on the idea of my husband getting a motorcycle. I don't know what kind he's interested in or considering, and although I'm not opposed to it, I am worried about him on one. Has nothing to do with him being reckless or anything, I think he's responsible on the road, so it's more of the anxiety of someone else hitting him.

So if you're married to someone that rides a motorcycle and have ever had the doubts that I have, what helped you feel better about the situation? Or is this just something you learn to not overthink?

[Guest MormonGator]

My wife had the same issues with me getting one. She still isn't thrilled because in her mind "I could be the safest driver in the world, someone else could be reckless." 

She is right. You have to accept a certain amount of risk in life, but the joy riding brings me far outweighs it. She's as cool with it as she'll ever be.  

Edited April 19, 2015 by MormonGator

[AngelMarvel]

We ride. We have on road and off road bikes. Mine happens to be dual sport...so I can ride it on and off road.

 

My husband has the Suzukie Hayabusa and it is FAST! I love that bike...but, always a little afraid on it because it is super fast.

 

Be sure to wear the right riding gear for the bike you or he will be on. It's a really fun experience.

 

These are our bikes.

 

 

 

 

[Guest LiterateParakeet]

I realize this is not exactly what you asked for BUT . . .

The book The Invisible Gorilla talks about brain glitches and we have a tendency not to see motorcycles...

When my husband wanted a motorcycle, I tried to talk him out of it to no avail. So I "gave in" told him he was right and asked if he would teach ME to ride it too.

He didn't get a motorcycle. :)

[David13]

Did he ride before?  If not it's a long and difficult road.

If he started riding as a kid and has many years experience, it's a different thing.

You can't do it "to save gas".  It's not worth the risk.

You have to do it because you want to.

And then there is a huge amount of new learning to do to update on todays road hazards.  What is dangerous;  what you should look for.  There are at least 1000 easy pitfalls.

I put a lot of miles on a lot of bikes.  I love it.

dc

[mrmarklin]

Relax. Unless he rides regularly with friends or a club, he won't be on it much. Average motorcyclist rides 1,500 miles per year.

If he has no experience, insist he take a rider safety and proficiency class. Most States require this for novices anyway.

[Bini]

He has ridden before, not since we've been married though, which is going on 7 years. But yes, prior to that he did a lot of riding with his three brothers, and two of those brothers still ride. He's a cautious man and of course will take whatever courses etc. are needed to ride safely and legally. I know nothing of motorcycles and have zero interest in ever being on one. Went once with an old boyfriend and HATED it.

It's not set in stone. If I make a big deal about it, he won't do it, but like I said I'm not opposed - just concerned.

[David13]

Then I think it is no big deal.

Just be sure he has good insurance to take care of the family if there is a problem;  which is something you should have anyway, as he could be killed or injured anywhere, on the job, auto accident, etc.

From what you say, he should have the skills, so it doesn't really increase his risk much, if at all.

dc

[Windseeker]

My wife and I commute on Motorcycles. Her commute is about 45 miles one way and mine is about 8 miles one way .

 

I'm pretty sure we ride in the most dangerous state for motorcycles. The other day I was riding to work on the FZ-09 going about 85 when I saw thru the window of the car in front of me the breaks go off on all the cars in front of him. The cars all suddenly parted and there was a girl standing in the middle of the road. I brushed by her going about 55 , braked as hard as I could and pulled off the freeway. Another car stopped behind me and the jumped out and was looking over his car and told me his side mirror hit her. I ran after her only to witness her stand in front of then next lanes, one after another, causing them to swerve and brake. Luckily traffic had slowed down. She was attempting to kill herself. I tried to cross the freeway but traffic started up again and was between me and her. She jumped off the embankment and a trucker ran after her with his cellphone to his ear(police I suspect). Anyway..I was shaking all morning from that close encounter. It's pretty crazy here.

 

I know so many men that don't ride because their wives don't like it. I consider myself pretty lucky that my wife rides. While going to BYUH she was in a major motorcycle accident, man pulled out in front of her. It could have killed her. She has major knee problems and can no longer run. Despite that, and being a Physician..and seeing allot at the Hospital, she still rides because it makes her commute enjoyable and she has unlimited access to the HOV lanes thus shortening her commute as well.

 

The only positive thing I can think of outside of the fun is that getting an endorsement and riding a Motorcycle can make you a better, safer driver period.

 

We both prefer "naked" street bikes or Hooligan bikes for their quickness and upright riding position. Being able to see and react to cars before or the same time as the car in front of you is helpful and the upright position helps with that. Both bikes are 900's so they have allot of power if needed but are the same weight as smaller bike. They are also very quick but much more maneuverable then race bikes which also helps avoid problems. From 0-60 my FZ-09 (flying pumpkin) is as fast as a Hayabusa (2.7 sec) but my bike is electronically limited to 135.  

 

 

 

Bottom line Bini,  is that I do worry about my wife. I call her every single morning to make sure she arrived. Even though I ride as well I understand the anxiety because I have it too. We have to gauge the risks we are willing to take in life and whether nor not the reward is worth it. The same thing goes when I kitesurf, I know there are sharks out there, I hear about attacks here every month, but the joy and feeling of freedom kiteboarding gives me is simply worth the risk. I would not take that freedom of life from my wife.

Edited April 19, 2015 by Windseeker

[jerome1232]

If we want to go statistics I understand the vast majority of fatal accidents are from kids playing with their plastic sports bikes.

I also ride, mostly on my commute. I've had two SUV's nearly merge into me in 7 years of riding. I put in about 5k miles a year. I know quite a few riders and for what it's worth they are all still alive despite a few of them having wrecked at one point or another.

My only advice is to spend as little time as possible in peoples blind spots.

[Str8Shooter]

Well, your concerns are justified and I can't tell you anything that will make you feel better.

I build powerlines for a living, from the steel towers to the wood poles in town. I work with 13,000 volt wires on a regular basis. I've worked around 500,000 volts. If I'm lucky I have a bucket truck. If not, I climb, sometimes well over 100'. There have been more than a few times that I thought I was never going to see my family again.

The fatality rate for lineman is three times LESS than the rate for motorcycle riders.

Call me a hater, because I am. Four of my friends had their lives turned upside down from motorcycles, and two others are full of pins and screws. Last year a rider died 50 yards from our house. Our mailbox post is still bent from when a rider broke his leg on it many years ago.

Think of your kids. Sorry to be so harsh, but I can't stay quiet.

[Bini]

Thank you everyone for input. It's hard to figure out where I stand, especially, with night and day responses. Still all feedback was appreciated and thought over.

My husband is not a risk taker. I think that's why he's postponed getting a motorcycle. It was always his line of thinking that me becoming a widow and our children father-less, was not worth the risk of riding a motorcycle, despite the fun surely to be had. He only started talking about a bike this week, so the idea is fairly new.

[Bini]

Thank you everyone for input. It's hard to figure out where I stand, especially, with night and day responses. Still all feedback was appreciated and thought over.

My husband is not a risk taker. I think that's why he's postponed getting a motorcycle. It was always his line of thinking that me becoming a widow and our children father-less, was not worth the risk of riding a motorcycle, despite the fun surely to be had. He only started talking about a bike this week, so the idea is fairly new.

[Bini]

Thank you everyone for input. It's hard to figure out where I stand, especially, with night and day responses. Still all feedback was appreciated and thought over.

My husband is not a risk taker. I think that's why he's postponed getting a motorcycle. It was always his line of thinking that me becoming a widow and our children father-less, was not worth the risk of riding a motorcycle, despite the fun surely to be had. He only started talking about a bike this week, so the idea is fairly new.

[Bini]

Oops! Sorry for dupes. I'm mobile and something went screwy.

[Bini]

Oops! Sorry for dupes. I'm mobile and something went screwy.

[Bini]

Oops! Sorry for dupes. I'm mobile and something went screwy.

[Pa Pa]

I need some reassurance on the idea of my husband getting a motorcycle. I don't know what kind he's interested in or considering, and although I'm not opposed to it, I am worried about him on one. Has nothing to do with him being reckless or anything, I think he's responsible on the road, so it's more of the anxiety of someone else hitting him.

So if you're married to someone that rides a motorcycle and have ever had the doubts that I have, what helped you feel better about the situation? Or is this just something you learn to not overthink?

As a former rider, there is only two types...those who have not crashed and those who do. When I was in the Military, my bike was my second car. In short the longer you ride the more emboldened you become.

[Guest MormonGator]

No matter what happens, I'm praying for him, you and all other bikers to be safe have Gods blessing. 

[Crypto]

I considered getting a motorcycle for a time...then literally everyone I knew started talking to me about how dangerous it is etc...
 

I guess it depends a bit on where you live probably not as such a great idea in a place like New York city.

 

Pros:
Better fuel efficiency.

Less costs on gas.

A coolness factor.

Generally easier to maintain.

Takes less space.

More nimble.

Faster breaking speeds.

Can almost always find parking.

Less greenhouse emissions.

Cheaper insurance.

The easiest solution would be to avoid driving the motorcycle where you know there is high risk for accidents.

[Str8Shooter]

I believe you 100% that your husband is not a risk taker. The risk is the other drivers.

For example: http://kxl.com/2015/04/19/woman-dies-on-3-wheel-motorcycle/

Studies have been done on why so many alert drivers say they never saw the motorcycle. They found that the drivers were telling the truth. In stressful situations (pulling out onto a busy road) the brain can ignore information from the eyes that it deems unnecessary. The brain can literally make a motorcycle invisible under the right circumstances. If we lived in a country where motorcycles were common, riding would be much, much safer because the brain would be conditioned to look for them. Unfortunately this is not the case.

I would love to get a bike. I drooled over a brand new 1993 FZR-600 6-speed. I decided not to drop the hammer when I noticed how much the insurance went up with personal injury protection. That got me thinking.

Edited April 19, 2015 by Str8Shooter

[jerome1232]

This is what I was kind of referring too.
 

Shows stats for various types of bikes.
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/news/desktopnews/popularity-of-high-performance-motorcycles-helps-push-rider-deaths-to-near-record-high

A crap load of statistics of every kind
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/motorcycles/fatalityfacts/motorcycles
 

When I read that stuff I come away with If you don't drink, you don't speed, and you wear a helmet statistically speaking motorcycles aren't the death machines of legends. Still riskier than a car of course but I don't believe it is this crazy insane risk people make it out to be.

[estradling75]

There is a factor that I have not seen discussed yet about the safety.

 

Accidents are so much worse for Motorcycle...  Lets assume (for this point) that the accident rate for a person is the same no matter if they are in a car vs on a bike... A minor fender bender for a car will probably put him in the hospital if he was on a bike instead.

 

Simple physics is that bikes do not have the mass to absorb the energy of hits like cars do.

[Guest]

In the Philippines, there are more bikes on the road than cars... simply because, it is what people can afford to get.

I was 16 years old when my boyfriend got a Yamaha FZR-400. Yes, only 400cc but it is plenty for a crotch rocket. It's a good beginner sports bike for small people. I loved that bike. We rode it everywhere. I can only drive it when somebody is riding behind me because I was so short and the bike was so heavy that if I get into a full stop for an extended time I have to have somebody stick their legs down on the pavement as I can't reach it without leaning the bike.

My boyfriend sold the bike when we migrated to America. The guy who bought it from him died after he ran the bike into a tree less than a month from when he bought it.

Anyway, I moved to the US and my workmate had an FZR-1000. I loved that bike. He used to take me touring on the beach roads. That was over 20 years ago. He still rides, he still has a sports bike, a different one this time.

My husband had an Enduro as a teen-ager - doing dirt bike sports. So we're a bit different on our taste in bikes but we are similar in that a bike is for fun, not for utility. His is a bit safer because he doesn't go on roads - he goes on dirt tracks... but he does fly the thing in the air and such.

But yeah, I love bikes for the fun of riding it... not because I need something to get me from point A to point B.

A lot of people who die from bikes are people who don't respect the bike. If you're going to take a bike on the highway, treat the bike just like a car... you stay within your lane, don't weave in between traffic lanes just because you can, etc. Visualize that your bike is as big as a car and give it the same space requirements. Wear proper bike gear. And realize that a fender bender on a bike may call out the grim reaper.

[davidstarfall]

There is a factor that I have not seen discussed yet about the safety.

 

Accidents are so much worse for Motorcycle...  Lets assume (for this point) that the accident rate for a person is the same no matter if they are in a car vs on a bike... A minor fender bender for a car will probably put him in the hospital if he was on a bike instead.

 

Simple physics is that bikes do not have the mass to absorb the energy of hits like cars do.

 

Both of my parents mothers were nurses. Over dinner, they would sometimes tell horror stories about having to sew motorcyclists back together. Needless to say, motorcycles were taboo in my house.

Personally.. the "rush" is not worth the lack of personal safety. But the rush is important to some people. So we love them.. and pray for their safety.