Photo: Wife won't like this too much

[Knightshade]

Haven't even had the bike for a week and my son is already growing really attached to it!

[Dr. D]

I think it's time to invest in a XR50 for the little guy. Who knows maybe you could have spawned the next Nicky Hayden! Plus, you can ride the fifty too, they are a blast!

[Monte]

Yeah, get him started riding early. I started riding later in life (at 27), and I suck.

That's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it.

[Dr. D]

If you need an excuse for the wife you could always use the old "Father-Son Bonding" routine on her. Oh yeah, don't forget to mention that it is a good catalist for keeping the grades up. The "excuses" are endless! I meant reasons:D

[ersigh]

Originally posted by KnightshadeBlue
Haven't even had the bike for a week and my son is already growing really attached to it!

Bah.

I grew up on the back of bikes ... my son rides with me ... (only around town, short distances, not on the freeway) ...

Educate your woman ...

http://www.twowheels.org/motorcycle/images/DSC04212.jpg

He actually sits up on the back seat now, I had it thinned. I use a belt to keep him against me incase he falls asleep (i used to do that a lot when i was a kid) ...

It's a "sensitive" issue with some people, but seems to be less so, for those who grew up around bikers ... who have those "memories" ...

[Knightshade]

My son is only 3 and isn't even riding without his training wheels yet. Don't think he'll be riding a motorbike anytime soon.

It's funny though, because my mom has been giving me grief about getting a bike and it better not be contagious to my dad or brother, etc., etc.

It's all my dad's fault really, we rode on the back with him when we were younger. If I had the money, I'd buy my dad a bike too, because I don't think my mom is going to let him get one.

and my brother put the, "why not?" thought into my head, hence why I have one in the garage now.

wife is understanding enough, just not thrilled with the idea of me riding.

[ersigh]

Originally posted by KnightshadeBlue
My son is only 3 and isn't even riding without his training wheels yet. Don't think he'll be riding a motorbike anytime soon.

It's funny though, because my mom has been giving me grief about getting a bike and it better not be contagious to my dad or brother, etc., etc.

It's all my dad's fault really, we rode on the back with him when we were younger. If I had the money, I'd buy my dad a bike too, because I don't think my mom is going to let him get one.

and my brother put the, "why not?" thought into my head, hence why I have one in the garage now.

wife is understanding enough, just not thrilled with the idea of me riding.

Brehn was 4 when he started riding with me, for short rides around the block. He'll be 6 in July. I remember riding to Canada on the bikes when I was 6 or so ... I don't think I'd feel comfortable w/long riding, especially involving freeway til' Brehn is maybe 8 or 9 ... and that would depend on what sort of bike I have. Chances are, I won't have a kid friendly bike at all, but he'll have a little 50cc dirt bike ...

My mom gave up riding for her ex husband ... within a month of him leaving, she got another bike ... I was SO mad at her when she gave up riding ... but then, I tend to feel that acceptance/respect is a fundemental part of a relationship and controlling ones paranoia's and worries is an individuals responsibility ... not to be dumped on other people, beyond "be careful" or whatever.

(blah blah rant)

I can't imagine being involved with someone who doesn't ride, since my main passion is riding, if they didn't ride, chances are, they'd not understand the thing I think about and talk about the most ... but as a female, this is definately something I can realistically look for ... (lucky me)

[Knightshade]

Originally posted by ersigh
I can't imagine being involved with someone who doesn't ride, since my main passion is riding, if they didn't ride, chances are, they'd not understand the thing I think about and talk about the most ... but as a female, this is definately something I can realistically look for ... (lucky me)

Funny thing is that my mom used to ride with my dad quite a bit from what he tells me. Something changed her opinion of them over time, nobody but her knows what.

My wife has a "I don't like that you have a motorcycle" stance, but she also has a "I may want to ride with you" attitude.

I think she's afraid of liking the bike.

She usually brings up my friend Jan who lives in Florida now, but at any rate, he was in some kind of freak accident and slid across a street, to a lawn and into a tree. His leg was up by his shoulder and it supposedly was just a freak accident.

I had seen him ride before and he was what I would now categorize as squidly.

And Jan, just in case you happen to come across this, c'mon dude, give me a call cause I haven't talked to you in over 2 years!!!

[Kurt'sSV]

Get him a pocket bike, dud! That would be sweet.

I think it's awesome that ersigh takes her boy for rides. I remember my dad putting around with Kris or I on his enduro bike he used to have. I think we'd sit in front of him because I remember holding onto the center of the handle bar. I'd like to think my dad had enough sense to have us wear the helmet, but I don't remember. This would have been in the late 70's or early 80's before helmets were mandatory.

[ersigh]

Originally posted by Kurt'sSV
Get him a pocket bike, dud! That would be sweet.

I think it's awesome that ersigh takes her boy for rides. I remember my dad putting around with Kris or I on his enduro bike he used to have. I think we'd sit in front of him because I remember holding onto the center of the handle bar. I'd like to think my dad had enough sense to have us wear the helmet, but I don't remember. This would have been in the late 70's or early 80's before helmets were mandatory.

I didn't start wearing a helmet until it was mandatory ... and seeing as I was my moms test passenger (it's a joke, but kinda true), I can attest to the usefulness of helmets ... (remembers getting a concussion when my mom hit some oil in the road).

Now that I've begun to ride, I really can't understand most of my moms accidents ... she must simply have been too timid for a long time ... I remember her riding alongside a curb and running into it, I assume now, looking back, she must have target fixated. I knew she was going down, so I hopped off ... and was just standing there watching when she went down further down the road.

I can totally remember my FIRST ride on a bike, I was 2.5 or so ... sitting against the tank ... feeling small.

I remember the first time I rode on the back of a bike I was about 4 after my moms boyfriend had finished his custom bike ... took me only to the end of the block and turned around, I remember feeling disappointed.

I have to say that some of my absolute BEST and comforting memories, were being on the back of a bike ... we almost always went on rides, at least one sunday a month ... usually more ... either w/the group my parents were a part of, or just the two of them ... riding thru the redwoods, out along the coast ... funny how it'd be so warm and then when we hit the redwoods, it'd be so cold ... I had absolute freedom to just sit there and think and take details in ... which for me, as a child, was rare in any other situation.

I'm not sure Brehn will ever be that involved, since my interest is the same as my moms ex ... sporty. I rode w/him more than my mom (she was slow), he scraped pegs and what not ... crazy guy. Very good rider ... could wheelie anything (including my moms goldwing) ... he was the guy who would ride ahead for the group and look for dangers, and let my mom know who was leading the group via the headset walkie talkie thingies (old skool chatter boxes) ... the only serious accidents he was ever in, alcohol was involved (loss use of part of his face, lost his spleen, etc etc). When he was a kid, he raced bikes in the snow up in oregon... I kinda wish he was around sometimes so I could ride with him, see how much he actually knew about technique or whatever, and how much was just ... what he did, cuz' he could. I have no memories of him discussing apexing or tire compound or any of that crap.

(i have pix of me on bikes when i was little i'll post eventually, when i can find a scanner)

hmmm sorry about that ... got all wrapped up into my memories ... :o

[bling_thing]

I'm amazed how generational the bike thing seems to be. Never thought about that before.

My father still rides a big pig of a cruiser. I was never interested in big bikes.

I wanted a Vespa in 7th grade, and my father got one ostensibly to ride to work on, but he let me ride it. It turned into larger Hondas before I graduated from High School. In College I finally bought my own bike.

My curiosity, is how many riders had parents that rode?

[Knightshade]

When I started fiddling w/the idea of getting a bike about 7 or 8 months ago, I was looking at them alot with my dad. I pretty much had my eyes set on a Kawasaki Mean Streak or the Yamaha Warrior.

Enter my brother and other assorted friends. "You can't get a cruiser!!! You just wouldn't look right."

I guess they swayed me...maybe later...maybe not. Who knows.

My dad started riding in high school, I do know that much, dirt, street, whatever. He really wants a Honda 2004 1300 VTX. Nice looking bike. If I had the extra money, I'd totally get it for him.

[crashgirl]

http://www.twowheels.org/motorcycle/images/DSC04212.jpg

That is such a great shot of you and your son!:D

[ersigh]

Originally posted by crashgirl

That is such a great shot of you and your son!:D [/B]

Thanks. I look like a total squid, cuz' it was about 115 outside ... and I couldn't deal with the heat and my leathers at all ... it was so awful. I was riding around town feeling guilty and very vulnerable cuz' I was riding in a tank top ... (notice Brehn still wore a jacket and boots, I have hyped gear up to him that he brags about his jackets and boots that are especially for the motorcycle (tho' the jacket isn't a motorcycle jacket, it made of some tough stuff and i put 3 layers of squishy cloths underneath) ...).

---

As far as parents who ride, mine ride obviously. None of my grandparents did, AFAIK ... but almost all of my uncles do (including one who died in a motorcycle accident before my mom was born) ... my mom says it's genetic and when my ex husband was being a poopiehead about my getting a bike (after our divorce), and he had come to pick up Brehn and saw Brehn sitting on my uncles snarley and made some comment, my mom said "It is in our blood, and our blood, as you can see from looking at Brehn, runs strong ... he's going to want to ride, might as well support him...". Of course, my fanaticalism about riding has gotten both my ex and his new wife (i have a picture of her riding on the back of my bike, hehehehe) interested ... naturally, he wants a "hog" because he romanticizes things that seem "masculine" ... (he's one of those guys with a wonderfully perfect small frame that would put him at about 150lbs when healthy/toned ... but is 175lbs because he constantly works out and eats bulking crap ... gotta be MANLY!!! (barf) he did just get rid of his honda civic for a dodge ram that he uses for commuting (and leigh thinks she's so glad she's not married to him any more)).

I've just gotten my brother into it ... and am hoping to get my sister seriously interested in getting a scooter (she's too short and ... stalky ... to fit on pretty much any motorcycle i've seen thus far, except maybe something not street legal).

[Bigtime1]

Wanna get your kids off on the right foot?

Get 'em signed up!

If not available this moment... more sites coming soon. For SoCal locals there are sites in San Marcos, Santa Clarita and Colton offering classes just about every week.

http://www.dirtbikeschool.com

877.288.7093 to find a site near you.

[DeathRush]

Originally posted by Broughbeater
I'm amazed how generational the bike thing seems to be. Never thought about that before.

My curiosity, is how many riders had parents that rode?

My dad used to ride and his stories about how much fun it was, and that it was a one of a kind experience, has grown on me.

I also had friends when I was about eight years old riding on 50cc or smaller bikes, and I still feel jellous untill this day... :(

[doub1etap]

There are 50cc street bikes available too.
My friend has a ysr50. When he cruises down the street on it, all the kids come out and ask where he got it. At 26 years, he's the cool kid on the block.

http://homepage.mac.com/f650gd/photo/nsr50.jpg

It's a neat little scoot.

[poiboi808]

Check out these little racers! Talk about starting early!!

http://members.jcom.home.ne.jp/okuchanwinds/others/race/20021223chee_pokedebuit.htm

http://www.socalsvriders.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2297

[ersigh]

Originally posted by doub1etap
There are 50cc street bikes available too.
My friend has a ysr50. When he cruises down the street on it, all the kids come out and ask where he got it. At 26 years, he's the cool kid on the block.

It's a neat little scoot.

I remember those being "the thing" when I was like 14 or so ... all these guys riding them on the main street, cruising (before they put up the "no cruising" signs, eliminating the final thing kids had to do here in this county that doesn't involve drugs or violence) ... haha. My parents thought it was so funny ... I think they are pretty kewl tho.

[blk650]

damn those kids look so cute on their bikes. knee dragging and everything. i am never going to forgive my parents for not getting me on a bike earlier. and i'm prorating my anger. i may never speak to them again.

my dad grew up in san francisco. he rode a few different bikes. it was way easier than driving in the city. nothing big though. at one point my dad's bike was so small (power wise) that my mom had to get off at the bottom of some of the steeper hills and walk up while my dad rode. and no it wasn't because my mom was a fat a%s. it was a honda 90 or something.

[speedster1219]

I know for sure that my boy will be able to ride IF HE WANTS TO...but i try to keep him around bikes as some may know from maintanance days...the misses says ok as long as we practice safe riding and good habits. Not until he is 16 and experienced will he go ride palomar with me...

[speedster1219]

wrong pic but here is the right one..

[Mizen]

Pretty cool post! :)

My Dad has ridden since he was in his mid 20's (my age now). He used to take me for rides when I was younger. Once we went up to the top of Pikes Peak on the back of his HD ElectraGlide.... I fell asleep on the back of the bike, and he still laughs about having to reach back and push me upright so I didn't fall over too far (mom doesn't really like this story too much. ;) )

My Grandfather rode, and the first bike I ever owned was the Honda CL360 he bought the month I was born. When I was 17 he later he gave it to me (shucks, the old guy is pretty cool....)

My uncle just got back into riding now that my dad lives close to him and rides all the time. He rides a triumph Bonneville.

Bikes are a way of life to a lot of families it seems... no two ways about it!

I can't even imagine any girl being cool enough for me to get serious with if she didn't approve of my riding.... I mean, it just wouldn't work!

[NukleoN]

Heh...

My dad had a 'trail bike' as he called it, but really it was some old Yamaha standard....he took my brother AND me on it when we were around 5 and 6. None of us wore helmets heh...and then he fell over while trying to climb some mountain (but nobody was hurt). I think he got in some major trouble with my mom and in hindsight, I wish I hadn't said anything. He had a minibike as well that neither my bro and I got to ride, so I kept thinking about how much I wanted to ride it...and I think I was hooked then. It took years for my parents to actually let me get my own motorcycle...a 50cc Spree when I was 16 which I also used for my paper route. SUHWEET. When I graduated High School, my parents let me buy a Honda 150 Elite scooter (and they told me this by having it parked outside when I got home). I'll never forget that moment, including the fact that they totally parked it the wrong way (kickstand on high side of driveway). But ya gotta love that...I only sold it when my friend got in a serious motorcycle accident (he was an uber squid). However, I never lost the moto bug..and later took MSF and got a teeny little Ninja 250...I wasn't about to repeat my friend's mistake. Live to ride another day. :)

Good on ya Leigh...I love that pic of you and Brehn.

[FLSVRider]

Originally posted by speedster1219


Is that a center stand on the big wheel?

God I loved my big wheel. I would wear out the front plastic tire and flat spot the rears from doing slides in the driveway.

[Punkbrad]

i watched this special with jesse james this weekend. he put his little (maybe 6 year old) daughter on the back of his street bike, and was cruisin around with her on the back..

neither of them had helmets on.

i give much respect to jesse - but after bustin shaq's balls about safety, then puttin his little queen on his bike with no lid... tsk tsk tsk..

[ersigh]

Originally posted by FLSVRider
Is that a center stand on the big wheel?

God I loved my big wheel. I would wear out the front plastic tire and flat spot the rears from doing slides in the driveway.

hahaha LOL

My big wheel had the hugest flat spot in the front tire and rear tires ... i remember riding it before the flat spot in the rear, and I'd have to get a good amount of momentum to get it to actually roll, and then it was like ... thwump thwump thwump ... if there had been a gang of big wheels in the neighborhood, my mom could have picked me out of the group w/that ... haha.

:)

[ersigh]

Originally posted by Punkbrad
i watched this special with jesse james this weekend. he put his little (maybe 6 year old) daughter on the back of his street bike, and was cruisin around with her on the back..

neither of them had helmets on.

i give much respect to jesse - but after bustin shaq's balls about safety, then puttin his little queen on his bike with no lid... tsk tsk tsk..

ack.

i rode around w/out a helmet pre:helmet law for kids in CA ... which looking back, was kind of scary considering how often my mom dropped her bike ... i only got one concussion ... heh. that i remember ... hehe lol.

i put my friends helmet on brehn the first time i took him on my bike, even though it was too big for him and he was riding in front of me (awkward, lemme tell ya) .. and i was going like 15 mph ... both of us had our helmets on. dunno.

heh (remembers him making these sounds of delight that would get more insane sounding when i accelerated ...)

[Knightshade]

Originally posted by ersigh
hahaha LOL

My big wheel had the hugest flat spot in the front tire and rear tires ... i remember riding it before the flat spot in the rear, and I'd have to get a good amount of momentum to get it to actually roll, and then it was like ... thwump thwump thwump ... if there had been a gang of big wheels in the neighborhood, my mom could have picked me out of the group w/that ... haha.

:)

That's what I'm talking about. Mine did the same thing, thwump, thwump, thwump. But did I want a new one? No way. I had an Incredible Hulk one that had a little button on the center console. Press it and you could hear the Hulk roar. My green machine was dope!!!

[Punkbrad]

i had the Dukes of Hazzard Big Wheel - We couldnt afford a Green Machine - but they have revently made a comeback, and i am going to buy one!

[Knightshade]

Actually, I was just referring to my green big wheel, when I said green machine.

I didn't know they actually made one! That's pretty cool looking. Too bad my son is probably too big for it already.

My brother had a dukes of hazzard big wheel too.

[cracked lid]

I had a CHIPS big wheel. Yea, I was a badass. Well, until my friends got these one with rubber wheels and good bearings and apehanger handlebars. Now those were some sweet wheels.

[Rocko]

:D

[ersigh]

Originally posted by Punkbrad
i had the Dukes of Hazzard Big Wheel - We couldnt afford a Green Machine - but they have revently made a comeback, and i am going to buy one!

my brother had one of thsoe ... spoiled ass. (he got everything, including the brand new bmx, while i got the used girls bike that i bent the frame on within two weeks of having it) ...

my big wheels ruled, it did not, however ... roar ...

i do remember watching the incredible hulk tho'.

Here's a thread on BARF of similiar topic ...

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23626&perpage=15&pagenumber=1