Anyone with family issues before their first bike?

[RxZ]

Like the title says. I am in the process of researching a first bike, and I think I am being as responsible as I could possibly be about it. I am taking the MSF course next weekend (July 5-6), I have started researching the gear I will need to buy, the motorcycles I am interested in, routes to take to work and errands to avoid major traffic spots, and I have been driving like I am riding just trying to see the things I will need to see as a motorcyclist.

However, every member of my family thinks this is the worst decision I have ever made. No matter what I say, their response is always, "What if someone isn't looking and hits you and you die? Then you will be leaving behind a wife and two children. Have you even thought of that?" OF COURSE I HAVE! Why would I not? Sure this is a possibility, but if you ask my family they think it WILL happen the first ride I go on.

Sorry for the rant but here is my question: What did y'all do to try to alleviate some of the fears your loved ones had about motorcycles? I can't be the only one here who has or is going through this situation. Thanks for all the responses, and maybe I will see some of you on the road soon!

[nbdyfcnsqnc]

I didn't tell my family (parents/siblings) until after I took the course and got a bike, because I knew they would try to talk me out of it, and it would be harder to focus with that in the back of my mind.

Nobody in my family took it well. They were all upset, confused, and even hurt by it. I'm not surprised in any way and expected it. They know I'm not stupid, so it wasn't just some simple mistake. They know I accepted a very dangerous risk for no apparent reason. It is just sort of a flaw in my behavior that they can't figure out, and I barely can. There's no question that it's the stupidest thing I've ever done, yet I'm still doing it.

Probably the biggest help was my Dad's best friend thought it was cool, my Mom's dad rode a bike, and my sister jumped horses since she was a teenager which is actually MORE dangerous. They never even tried to stop her or research that even. But I knew all the facts so they realized I've looked into it.

Some of my friends got bikes, and instead of trying to convince them of their mistake, which seems like what I should be doing as a somewhat reasonable and caring person, I got a bike too. I did something that was inconsistent and unexpected for once.

If you are willing and able to accept a fraction of a percent chance per year of getting killed for whatever fun it is to ride, then go for it. Otherwise don't.

If you are careful and don't drink, don't drive crazy, and don't make a mistake yourself that causes you to crash, your chances are 3 or 4 times better. All that's left is some kind of environmental danger, mechanical failure, or someone running into you. Wear a very bright orange, yellow, or green jacket and it will reduce that by a little bit more at least. You'll be safer if you're in your 30's, but over that and accidents start to go up.

If you're not going to commute, you can just ride on a Sunday morning when almost nobody is on the road and I think you'll be very safe, yet also have a fun and relaxing ride. It helps if your idea of relaxing is trying to predict every way that everyone and everything around you can possibly wipe you out of existence.

[surfcity40]

there is no way to alleviate the fears of family members because you pretty much are putting yourself at risk.

The best advice I can give is always pretend no one around you can see you. that will help a lot.

on a bike is not in a car. on a bike is defensive. it's okay and i've done it for years but I always come from a place that no one around me can see me. Adopt that and you should be okay.

[aznriceball2]

2 ways to look at it really.

God never promised us another day or even another minute, if you do pass you were meant to pass on that day and in that way, being on a bike,car,boat, doesn't really matter.

or

we have a saying in chinese

In a car it's meat wrapped in steel, on a bike it's steel wrapped in meat.
( roughly translated )

probably could be argued to the end of time with no real correct answer.

[terrasmak]

My family didn't like me buying my first bike, they suddenly became to dangerious when i turned 16 , at that time my parents sold there street bike.

Well i bought one , they dealt with it, they flipped again when i started roadracing. Thats what family does, at least the majority of them do.

One thing, i willnot recomend a bike to anyone who is married with kids. IMO its just not worth it.

[DelayedZ]

My family is completely against me buying a bike, but I want one, and am trying to get a Ninja 250 (even though they're like impossible to find), they have the same outlook, they're afraid someone will hit me, and I'll die, etc...but hell with that logic that could happen just walking down the street, lol.

[bassholic]

Originally Posted by DelayedZ

My family is completely against me buying a bike, but I want one, and am trying to get a Ninja 250 (even though they're like impossible to find), they have the same outlook, they're afraid someone will hit me, and I'll die, etc...but hell with that logic that could happen just walking down the street, lol.

how is a 250 hard to find?

[gismo]

that is always a concern with every family. i wanted a motorcycle myself at one point but decided not to get one. from my POV is that when you ride the bike, you are the bike and when you drive, the car becomes you. so even though you might be the most responsible rider, the other people (people driving )may not be. so just be careful and do what you want to do. it is your life and you only have one. enjoy it.

[nicoG35]

Originally Posted by bassholic

how is a 250 hard to find?

The Newer 250's yes are hard to com by, but the older 250 sell like hot cakes. So even if someone posted one for sale on craigslist gauranteed it will get sold within days of posting it. 250 are very popular among the new riders.

As far as alleviating any worries, it comes with the territory of riding. Should you get a bike, all you can do is be safe. Time is the only thing that will let your family ease up on the fact that you ride.

[Alberto]

Originally Posted by gismo

that is always a concern with every family. i wanted a motorcycle myself at one point but decided not to get one. from my POV is that when you ride the bike, you are the bike and when you drive, the car becomes you. so even though you might be the most responsible rider, the other people (people driving )may not be. so just be careful and do what you want to do. it is your life and you only have one. enjoy it.

If thats the case perhaps you should stay home and not drive to work. More people die in cars every day than on Motorcycles. Do you smoke? Do you drink? Maybe you should live underground so a freak meteor accident doesnt take your life as you lay in bed.

I am not picking on you, and obviously I am using ridiculous examples but you get my point. I am only expressing how I feel towards that mentality. I have had one hell of a time with my family and there thought on the motorcycle. Being Hispanic and being very close to my parents and having no extended family in this country doesnt help.

They feel as if Im being selfish with my life (even though Im not married, have no kids, and nobody depends on me) yet they dont have a problem with my car that is much faster than my bike, or how I drive it, which is much worse than I ride. I told them I have more chances of dying in my car at high speeds than on the bike and how, where, and when I ride. My father smoked for years the whole time as he raised me, does that make him selfish? He wasnt thinking about his family and their dependency on him? These are all things I find hypocritical, yet nothing can ease there minds with this damn motorcycle.

To the OP-all you can do is gear up, ride safe, ride smart, prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Even telling your family the happiness riding brings you is unmeasurable compared to the statistics should something go wrong, they wont understand. All Im hoping for is that in time, they at least respect the fact I ride. They will never be happy with this and I dont expect them to be. Dont let people make you feel guilty over riding a motorcylce.

[norapat01]

Just get it and be careful with it, period. No one would encourage you to get a bike unless he is a rider himself.

[bbhiznors]

You have to be paying attention at all times...If you ride defensivly you should be ok....

I saw some one almost get hit this morning...some girl in a eclipse merged on top of a fat dude on a bike...Luckily he was attentive..

[RxZ]

Thanks for all the responses so far! This discussion here sounds a lot like my discussions with my wife, I enjoy riding, and she does not understand. She thinks it is one of the most selfish things I have ever come up with, and I am baffled as to why she thinks this.

Like some of you have said, I feel this is never going to go away. Motorcycles are just to polarizing of a subject for everyone to agree on. Maybe one day I will get one and she will see over time the enjoyment I get out of it, and respect the fact that I like to ride.

Also, I play in a church softball league and was injured to the point that I can not play tonight. To give you some insight, my wife doesn't understand why I want to go to the game tonight (at 10:30 PM) when I will not be playing. Not that this is in any way related to motorcycles, but it reveals her mindset somewhat.

[iamdigital]

Just don't be a tard riding in sandals, shorts, and no helmet. My family flipped when I bought the busa. I sold a CBR wen my daughter was born and got guilt trips up the arse for buying the new bike but I'm careful on it and all is good now.

[m3inaz]

Originally Posted by RxZ

Thanks for all the responses so far! This discussion here sounds a lot like my discussions with my wife, I enjoy riding, and she does not understand. She thinks it is one of the most selfish things I have ever come up with, and I am baffled as to why she thinks this.

Like some of you have said, I feel this is never going to go away. Motorcycles are just to polarizing of a subject for everyone to agree on. Maybe one day I will get one and she will see over time the enjoyment I get out of it, and respect the fact that I like to ride.

Also, I play in a church softball league and was injured to the point that I can not play tonight. To give you some insight, my wife doesn't understand why I want to go to the game tonight (at 10:30 PM) when I will not be playing. Not that this is in any way related to motorcycles, but it reveals her mindset somewhat.

You mean shes a typical woman?

Althought I do regret buying my bike last year because I never ride it anymore and It has a 200$ payment on it , damn that thing is fun! Ive been riding for three years and Everytime I jump on it's a kick in the pants! The butt dyno on a bike is just incredible..scary but fun.

[LeMans 05]

My family was really against bikes as well. When I bought my bike, I bought a service manual from Amazon for the bike. Didn't notice that the 'ship to' address was still my parents house, and not mine (shows how much I use Amazon). Manual arrived in a box at my 'rents house a couple of days later, and when I stopped by for Sunday dinner, my dad asked what was in the box. I told him, "A service manual for a Honda CB750. By the way, I bought a 1980 Honda CB750." It actually made telling them a bit easier. My dad's cool with it now, my mom still frets sometimes, but she's getting used to it. Good luck, and just tell them. No sense in worrying about their reaction, it's your money.

[RxZ]

Originally Posted by iamdigital

Just don't be a tard riding in sandals, shorts, and no helmet. My family flipped when I bought the busa. I sold a CBR wen my daughter was born and got guilt trips up the arse for buying the new bike but I'm careful on it and all is good now.

Like I said, proper gear is a must. I don't want to give the family any more ammunition, so keeping myself as safe as possible while riding is a must. I don't think I would ever get a Busa though, honestly, I have thought a 600 cc R bike would be the fastest I would ever get. I just don't see a need for that much speed on the street. That said, my neighbor has a Busa, and that thing is one wicked machine! He has a blast on it, but he also does drag races at our local drag strip all the time, so he enjoys the speed the Busa makes.

I am looking at the Ninja 250 as well. No one I have talked to has had any problems commuting on it. I agree that top end power and speed is lacking compared to other bikes, but that makes it as fast as my car, so I can't complain about that

[Alberto]

A Ninja 250R runs high 14's @ around 90mph. Your car is faster.

[RxZ]

I don't know, that's pushing it for a G6

[Low J.]

F*ck what everyone else thinks......do what you want. My wife knows I love bikes so even though she hates them she doesn't stress me because she knows it gives me pleasure. I hate people who try to talk others out of motorcycling.......it really pisses me off....