DX her and get a wife who is into bikes.
<JK!>

There is no simple answer. You know her best and what the best approach will be.  I can say one thing, something like this shouldn't threaten your relationship. If it does, then your marrage has bigger problems than not agreeing about bikes.

But I'm sure you will do fine, remember compromise (and bribery)  

delete

My mom's bike

Her "Significant Others" bike...That's Bay Area talk  if ya know what I mean 


and Little ole me rides a 99GS...figures huh? Luckily when her other half is done with the 06 Ninja, it becomes mine because she wants a Harley...YAY!!

BTW, I'm 25, so it's not like they are young kids, just young at heart!!!

Too bad you've got a wife, otherwise I would say find a girl who will take the MSF and get her own bike. Then you can be out riding all of the time instead of explaining why you were gone all day Saturday.

On the other end of the spectrum is my mom. When I got my bike, both my mom and my dad were very against it at first, for all the usual reasons. Slowly my dad realized I had bought good gear and an appropriate bike, and eventually he came around to the point where he has a Monster now.  However, my mom hated me riding and definitely does not like him riding either. He begrudgingly won her acceptance with the slow and steady approach. He did all his research, got the right gear, took the MSF, etc. She ended up having to acknowledge that this was something that he was serious about.

Quote from: brett on December 14, 2006, 10:45:24 AM
Too bad you've got a wife, otherwise I would say find a girl who will take the MSF and get her own bike. Then you can be out riding all of the time instead of explaining why you were gone all day Saturday.

On the other end of the spectrum is my mom. When I got my bike, both my mom and my dad were very against it at first, for all the usual reasons. Slowly my dad realized I had bought good gear and an appropriate bike, and eventually he came around to the point where he has a Monster now.  However, my mom hated me riding and definitely does not like him riding either. He begrudgingly won her acceptance with the slow and steady approach. He did all his research, got the right gear, took the MSF, etc. She ended up having to acknowledge that this was something that he was serious about.

Sweetness on the rents riding also. My mom actually beat me to the punch and got her bike about 6 months before I got mine.

You ever go to the Starbucks on Snell/Santa Teresa when all the riders are out there from BARF?

Holy thread revival, Batman! 

I won't let my son ride. He can't even drive a car!  (No, I can't stop him; he's of age. BUT..his wife can!  )

My son laughed at me when I got a bike; now he thinks it's cool. I still won't let him get one, though. 

I am glad 97Octane clarified the revival in the first line of his post....some noobies know how to search. 

It has never been a problem for me. I have had a street bike for the past 20 years so they all knew up front.

Cool thing is my g/f rides.....the bad part is that she does not have a bike....which I am working on that. Plus, I do not like riding 2-up.

Quote from: dgyver on December 14, 2006, 02:47:36 PM
I am glad 97Octane clarified the revival in the first line of his post....some noobies know how to search. 

Quote from: dgyver on December 14, 2006, 02:47:36 PM
It has never been a problem for me. I have had a street bike for the past 20 years so they all knew up front.

Cool thing is my g/f rides.....the bad part is that she does not have a bike....which I am working on that. Plus, I do not like riding 2-up.

It would have been tough if my better half hadn't wanted to ride (or hadn't wanted me to ride). Fortunately, he wanted to, too, and we learned together. I can only imagine what kinds of fights this can cause if one partner wants to ride and the other is completely against it. 

My wife wasn't too keen on me riding this year.  I took the MSF course then started to buy the safety gear.  She really didnt want me to ride but Ive always wanted a bike and so I let her know that it was important to me.

If your wife knows that it is important to you then it should be atleast a tad important to her.

i was still living with my dad at the time and he was adamant that i not get a bike. (side note:i was 19, not some spoiled 16 yr old)

so i took the msf, bought the gear, then bought the bike and said "oh, btw, i'm moving away in two months."

Just buy the bike and a week after buying it and not getting any just tell her to let you know when she isn't mad anymore.

My parents (Dad especially) have always supported my riding, even back when I was still playing in the dirt. Riding is a part of who I am, and the girls who truly cared have always respected that.

The real problem came when I wanted to move on to sportbikes; my dad, harley rider since the late 70's, was not a fan of the idea, part concern, part bike-racism. I gave a little, bought a wrecked GSXR 750 and rebuilt it from the rotors up, trying to "earn" the bike. Working on it for as long as I did, maybe just having it around without being able to use it, really helped things sink in. I'm not sure if he'd admit it, but I think he's grown fond of it.

Quote from: poolshark on December 16, 2006, 07:23:26 PM
bike-racism

Great term! 

I've had more than one Harley rider pull up next to me and express admiration and wistfulness for sportbikes...I don't think they'd admit it in a crowd, though (especially a Harley crowd).... 

Quote from: JK_Minneapolis on June 24, 2003, 09:08:46 PM

Quote from: Exis

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

thats pretty much why my wife tolerates it now-bike over mistress.

Funny, my wife was all for the MSF too. Somehow she didnt think that would lead to buying a bike. It did not go over well either. Luckily, I had a good reason-it was a replacement for the bicycle racing that I wouldnt be able to do now. 2 wheels have always been a great stress reliever, release, whatever you want to call it...It keeps me sane. She tolerates it now.

Quote from: pantablo on December 16, 2006, 10:18:26 PM
It keeps me sane.

I was with you 'til you said this. 

Quote from: pandy on December 16, 2006, 11:11:42 PM

Quote from: pantablo on December 16, 2006, 10:18:26 PM
It keeps me sane.

I was with you 'til you said this.

how about, "It keeps me from going completely insane"...

Quote from: pantablo on December 17, 2006, 12:00:22 AM
how about, "It keeps me from going completely insane"...

Much more honest! 

Just do what I did. WAIT TIL SHE GOES TO WORK. THEN CALL HER ON YOUR WAY HOME AND TELL HER YOU LOVE HER AND THAT YOU WANT TO TREAT HER TO A WONDERFUL NIGHT THAT WILL BE ALL ABOUT HER.  By the time she realizes what you did, it will be to late to return it. Works like a charm. PROMISE!!!!!!!

Quote from: pantablo on June 24, 2003, 10:08:52 PM

Quote from: Exis

"...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...

Quote from: ExisPsychologically, since she said yes to the MFS course, I think I've got her.

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

HAHA... Exactly.

Quote from: Exis on June 24, 2003, 08:02:28 PM
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

come on just get a bike, and the good protective gear, and tell her you won't kill yourself.

that is how I convince my gf

Cheerz