How to convince the wife?

[Exis]

Hi all,

Anyone care to give out any tips on convincing the wife to let me get a motorcycle?

The strange thing is, she said YES to the MSF course, but is seemingly adamant about putting the brakes on getting a bike. It's not a cost issue either, I can get a working Yamaha XJ650 to learn on for $200!

Any help would be appreciated.

Ridicule me if you must.  

But seriously, I could use some ideas.

Exis

[izz]

I made a deal with the girlfriend that I would take the MSF course and buy all of the safety gear before I bought a bike and that seemed to do the trick.  It still is a touchy subject and I wish you the best of luck.  For the past few weeks I've been getting the run around that I "care more about the bike".  But just tonight as I'm reading the Clymer manual I get a "it's cool that your so dedicated to learn and work on your bike", go figure!

[werase643]

buy a bike....who cares what a woman thinks.... :mrgreen:

always remember those 5 little words of LOVE....
Wife bring me a BEER

[Blueknyt]

let me know when you want to dump the engine too the XJ650, mine is giving a deathrattle.  only paid $50 for mine though

[Black Snowman]

Divorce J K

Ask her why she doesn't want you to get a bike, empathize, reasure, and then just buy the thing :mrgreen:

If you make her feel like she's understood it will help on the fall-out.

But don't take my advice. I'm horrible with women  

[Blueknyt]

if you want to get a bike your going to, regaurdless of what wife or GF say.  the idea  is to make her feel more at ease with the idea about you being on the bike.  MSF corse, gear,and friends to ride with to get some miles under your belt. by all means INCLUDE her in riding with you. get her to enjoy riding. get your license and borrow a friends bike and take her out a few times.  the death cycle reasoning is overplayed, YOUR TIME is YOUR TIME, be it in a car, truck,bike, plane, boat, eating lunch at a bar, (and plz forgive this last one) working in a building while a plane crashes into it.  it doesnt matter what your choices are,it doesnt matter what your doing. when that big bakers timer goes ding, stick a fork in you, you are done.  being afraid, or allowing anothers fear rule the way you enjoy life is wrong (as long as its all leagal)  do what you can to ease her mind,  hell get someone's GF/wife to talk with her about it, it works

[werase643]

I bought 2 YSR50's and a XR80 to teach the wife to ride and then have equal bikes....well that was a LONG time ago...the ysr's have been sittin' and I ride the XR 80 and loan it out to friends to teach their kids to ride.

I actually give the skirts alot of credit for going out and riding.  My mom rode bikes when i was a kid(60's cb160).  I wish i had as much ballz as Melissa from NOTB.  She is a good fast rider on the track.  

dang, where's my BEER?

[werase643]

Anyone care to give out any tips on convincing the wife to let me get a motorcycle?

WHIPPED!!!!!!


Honey, can I take my d!ck with me tonight....all the other husbands are taking their d!cks....

She said NO F&*KING WAY, It wil either be in my purse or the freezer!

[JK_Minneapolis]

Anyone care to give out any tips on convincing the wife to let me get a motorcycle?

Hey Exis. I was in the EXACT situation. There was no way I was going to get a "yes" out of her. I think she would feel terrible if something unfortunate happened to me while riding and she had said yes.

Anyway, I went ahead and bought it (also took the MSF course). After a few slightly rough weeks of denial, she's accepted it!

You could also talk about how this is the best beginner bike (power, weight, low center of gravity) and what good gear you'll be wearing (don't tell her how much this will cost!)

...or you could always say "it's either this or a blonde 20 year old!"  :lol:

Good luck,
JK

[werase643]

a blonde 20 year old!"  

Good luck,
JK

that is a do-able option..... :mrgreen:

[pantablo]

Hi all,

Anyone care to give out any tips on convincing the wife to let me get a motorcycle?

The strange thing is, she said YES to the MSF course, but is seemingly adamant about putting the brakes on getting a bike. It's not a cost issue either...

Exis

Same exact thing happened to me. she thought I'd rent a bike once in a while. Keep talking to her. find out what reason she is most agianst it for and work the safety, gear, etc angle. I tried this and she wanted me to wait 5 years...I said why? What's the difference now to 5 years...anyway...Refinanced the house and had some money to spend so I bought the bike anyway. Hasn't been the same since. Getting much better though. Those first few months were bad.

That made it worse-the fact I went ahead and bought it without her going along with it. Not approving it necessarily, just that I cut her out of the discussion loop.

it's definitely better now-thanks mostly to the therapy...

[werase643]

it's definitely better now-thanks mostly to the therapy...

I knew there was something with you....sleep deprivation, work, internet... glad you finally went and saw a shrink.

[vegbiker]

Well, I'm a female, so perhaps my perspective will help (then again, I ride, so it's not exactly the same thing).

I think significant others (this means men who don't ride too) have a couple of concerns: One - you're going to get hurt. Two - you're going to be gone riding and/or paying attention to the bike and not her (or him).

Both are probably legit concerns.

Is your wife a candidate for the MSF course (meaning would she be interested in taking it - even if she never rides after)? If she takes it with you she'll know how much training you have and how dedicated you are to safety. Then the whole motorcycle thing won't be so scary. Who knows? She might decide to ride too. That's what happened to me. I signed my hubby up and he ended up buying his own bike.

Even if your wife decides not to ride, she could come with you as a passenger. Just let her know that you'll spend time with her still. Perhaps you can schedule your time so you ride when she's off for her weekly knitting night (j/k ).

Showing her your protective gear and leaving books around the house (like Proficient Motorcycling) will show her that you're taking this "dangerous" hobby seriously. That's what I had to do to prove to my parents that I was thinking of safety first.

Give her time, and good luck!

[chevysolid]

I was in the same situation not long ago
and there was the month build up before the bike when she thought that was more important than her.
now she gives me shaZam! if i take the car to work b/c it saves so much money in fuel
17mpg car
10mpg truck
50mpg bike
figure the savings driving 40-50 mi/day
yeah she likes the bike now :mrgreen:

[jake42]

You all wish you had my wife!  She bought me a jacket and gloves for father's day. Just last night she brought me home "Twist of the Wrist II" because I was talking about it.  She didnt' even give me any grief after my accident last week.

She either loves me to death or is just waiting for a chance to cash in on the life insurance (jk) !


jake

[Exis]

You people are awesome! Those are great ideas...cept' the doing it without consensus bit. After all, why would I bother asking you all for advice. <grin>

Say what ya want about being whipped, I would rather not have the "war dept" pissed for more than a week at a time.

"...Those first few months were bad."

Months pantablo??!?!


I never even thought to ask her if she wanted to take the course with me. That's bleepin brilliant.  

I will fully push the safety angle, in fact, already been doing it. Everytime I see someone wearing tennis shoes, or shorts, or a t-shirt, no gloves, etc...

Psychologically, since she said yes to the MFS course, I think I've got her.

I appreciate the feedback immensely. Thanks again.

-Exis

ps. werase643, you would fit right in where I work, we're always breaking each others ballz

[pantablo]

"...Those first few months were bad."

Months pantablo??!?!

Months. Couldn't even talk about the bike, forum people, riding, it was touch and go there for a long time. Better now but she still doesn't really care to hear much about riding, etc (esp about my hitting 120 indicated last ride at Angeles Crest Hwy... ). I was terrified to tell her about my close buddy who had a sv650 but crashed it and broke his collarbone...and gave up riding. Still haven't told her the entire truth about that...

Psychologically, since she said yes to the MFS course, I think I've got her.

Think again. She's counting on the course placating you...

[ginovega]

I do not hink this is the best way but I worked for me.  When I bought my bike in 2000 I was starting in a new job. I just gotten a huge starting bonus ($$$$$$). My wife was tottally against the bike idea so I waited a little bit. When I found the bike that I wanted I invited her to come along to see it. She was eight months pregnant so she did not give a damn what I did as long it did not affected her. So we went to see the bike and I bought it. After the whole baby thing was over. (My daughter was born ok ) She told me she might not have allowed me to get the bike if she had not been pregnant. So get your wife pregnant and then get the bike . You both will have your new babies.

Disclaimer : Do this at your own risk!!!!!!!!!!!!!  JAJAJAJAJAJA!!!!!!!

[bbanjo]

I had to quit smoking to get a new bike.



I still don't except when I  

She doesn't know that though  :nana:

[Greg Gabis]

Good luck!

Get the bike. Deal with the wife later.