the rule of thumb on life insurance is 10 times your annual income. That's a minimum.

then make sure your wife understands about investing in a good long term mutual fund.

It's not a perfect solution, but a good one.

No, I'm not a finacial adviser. Just do a lot of research on my own.

PJ.

I voted "ride recklessly" but only because I figured I'd be the only one.

Seriously though, with your girl being pregnant you should really consider her stress level as well.  High stress can cause pregnancy complications including pre-term birth.  If she is really stressed about you riding you may want to consider hanging it up for 9 months or so.  Otherwise, just do what everyone else has been saying and ride normally and safely.  That's all I really have to add to this topic.

Talk it over with your chick to make sure she's not secretly freaking out while telling you she's cool with it.  The ladies aren't always forthcoming with what they really want.  I guess that's pretty much true of a lot of people, not just the ladies.

Quote from: asobi on October 26, 2007, 07:29:38 PMThe Hurt report found that something like 90% of accidents occur to motorcyclists who never took the MSF course.

Hmmm.  Dunno if the MSf course even existed when the study was done (), but I do seem to remember the study mentioning actual motorcycling training ... as opposed to being self-taught, taught by a friend, etc.

But ... the 90% thing doesn't seem to be stated correctly.  If 90% of all riders don't take the MSF course (or its equivalent) ... and 90% of all accidents occur to those people ... that would mean that 10% of the accidents occur to the 10% of the people that DO take a training course.  Which would infer that training doesn't affect your chances one way or the other. 

Does anybody have a figure on the percentage of riders that are "trained"?  Without that, the other percentage is somewhat meaningless.... 

Great suggestions from everyone.  I really expected everyone just to say keep riding, but I'm glad to see that this topic is taken seriously.  I can't really tell how stressed she is when I go out riding.  I know she doesn't 'like' it, but she's okay with it.  But then the wierd thing is, she wants to ride on it too after the baby is born.  Not long trips or anything dangerous, but just short things here and there.  When I got the bike, she said that she felt like I was getting to go on the go carts at some track thing, while she had to wait on the sidelines and watch.  I'm pretty sure it's in her blood to have a bike, cause that's who her Mom and Dad were, too.  It was normal.
I don't really feel that the ride to work and back is dangerous.  It seems pretty easy, and I haven't had any close calls.  I haven't decided what I'm going to do yet.  Last night we had talked a little, and since that conversation, I feel a little better about riding, but I think it's never going to go away. 

Quote24. The motorcycle riders involved in accidents are essentially without training; 92% were self-taught or learned from family or friends. Motorcycle rider training experience reduces accident involvement and is related to reduced injuries in the event of accidents.

http://www.clarity.net/~adam/hurt-report.html

Thanks for the quote and the link.    But it still leaves me wondering....

The quote says: "The motorcycle riders involved in accidents are essentially without training".

Would it also be true to say: "Motorcycle riders are essentially without training"?

My wife is supportive. She loves to ride with me. She rode a motorcycle for the first time when she was 8 months pregnant with our son, in her mother's yard, very slowly with me.

My son is over a year old, and had a major cranial vault surgery six months ago due to a genetic syndrome, called Apert Syndrome. He's healthy, developing well, and the remaining 10-12 surgeries for his face, hands, feet, and head will be by a team of surgeons that are pediatric syndactily specialists, along with pediatric neurosurgeons. We'll never have enough money to pay for even one of his surgeries.

My wife and I are both healthy, and frugal. We've saved for the event of our deaths, and have planned for his future with our families. 

I rode 18000 miles mostly commuting since I bought our GS. I pop a wheelie now and again, but no stunting, ever. I view the gs as a economical tool, and a pleasure.

When you have your child, your views will change. Keep the bike for now. Go with your gut. Ride sanely, and when you want to be 'bad' think of your kid.

I drive my truck alot more now, mostly because I haven't owned a car in three years, and A/C is nice. So is staying dry. 

I voted for keep on riding, but remember:

1) You will NEVER have enough insurance coverage once you have kid( s ).
2) You will NEVER be 'safe' on a motorcycle.
3) Think about your kid missing you, and not being the guy to take him/her for their first ride.

Quote from: quiktaco on October 27, 2007, 08:12:12 AM
I don't really feel that the ride to work and back is dangerous.  It seems pretty easy, and I haven't had any close calls.  I haven't decided what I'm going to do yet.  Last night we had talked a little, and since that conversation, I feel a little better about riding, but I think it's never going to go away. 

Don't get too complacent about your "usual" rides.  If you get to used to your everyday commute, you can let yourself get lazy and that is when something unexpected happens to bite you in the ass.  Just remember to stay alert and keep your eyes open, especially during your daily commute.

I bought my GS when my wife was 6 months pregnant. For me it was a great way to commute to work and back, while the mrs. had the car to her avail.
Be sure about insurance, gear etc. And drive as safe as you can. Since owning the GS it took me trough sun, rain, fog, heavy traffic and even some subzero (celcius) temps without problems.

(yes, i voted to keep on riding).

Good luck!

Sometimes It's the kids that put all of this in proper perspective.

My son is only 6, about a year ago I went out to my bike to start it before going to work. When I stuck the key in it, I noticed that someone had put a lime green, fuzzy sticker of a puppy and another one that was Orange, Also of a puppy, on the black trim in front of the speedo and tach.

I went inside and asked my son if he knew anything about it. He said "yeah, I put them where you could see them while riding so you would remember me and be safe."

How's that for wisdom from a 5 year old.
The Puppies are still there.

BeSafe.
PJ

Thank you everyone for putting in your 2 cents.  I still haven't decided yet.  I guess this decision is going to take a lot of time.  Also thanks ohgood, and puddlejumper, I really liked both of your posts.  I think if I do continue to ride, I'll have to have a picture of both my wife and daughter with me for a reminder to stay safe.

I think motorcycle riding has been tagged a "dangerous sport" for all the wrong reasons.  Unfortunately, the vast majority of riders have no training, ride a bike that is too powerful for their skill level, and ride like idiots.  The "cage people" think it is OK to abdicate their responsibility to 30 airbags, 4,000lbs of steel, a wing, and a prayer.  It seems as if "it was just your day" if someone dies in a car crash, but "pure stupidity" if someone dies on a motorcycle.

Don't kid yourself, screaming down the road on two narrow tires IS dangerous.  However, so is standing in front of a large machine tool that will just as soon suck you in and rip you up as do its job.  Both will kill you just as quickly, yet public perception is that motorcycling is "dangerous" and working in a dangerous environment is "just a job".  Much of this thinking seems to percolate though the riding community, and some of us hear it enough that we begin to believe it.

In the end, life is short and we only get to experience it once.  As long as you understand the risks, and do your best to control your exposure to those risks, you should have a long and rewarding riding career.  If you're not willing to arm yourself with the skills and knowledge, or your feelings compromise your abilty to keep a clear head, then maybe you should find something else.

I won't tell you what to do, so I'm not going to vote in the poll.  The decision is deeply personal, and is between you, your wife, and your unborn baby.  From my standpoint, I can't do without riding.  It is part of who I am, and something I intensely enjoy.  I could never "give it up", but might change my habits if I had a family to take care of.

As others have said, life insurance is a good thing, whether you ride or not.  Having a healthy savings account, insurance, and low/no debt will make any major problem much easier to bear, regardless of cause.

GeeP  -

Very well said. Very nice perspective on the poll.

Fathers do all kinds of crazy things, Four by Fours, ATV's Dirtbikes, Snowmachines, backpacking in bear territory ect ect ect.
Prove to your wife that you care about her by riding safe all the time no exceptions. Helmet jacket pants ect ect.
But if you enjoy it, Dont put it away!

quiktaco, have you come to any sort of decision of what you're going to do.

wear your gear and keep your eyes open. motorcycles aren't dangerous, blind idiots behind the wheels of 1/2 ton steel death machines are dangerous.

Quote from: lancemclaughlin on November 08, 2007, 06:58:37 AM
wear your gear and keep your eyes open. motorcycles aren't dangerous, blind idiots behind the wheels of 1/2 ton steel death machines are dangerous.

+1