"never have time to ride"

[scotteroni]

Tell your wife that your going on a "short" ride and call her 2 hrs later to say that you lost track of time and that your heading home the long way and not to expect you back for supper and ask her if she minds getting Jr to bed tonite.

[Rocket_Cowboy]

The largest percentage of my vacation time is devoted to motorcycle riding. I do more long weekends rather than less frequent long trips.

Currently, I try to get into 2-3 long distance rallies a year with one of them being a multi-day event. Add in a few more long weekend gatherings from various web forums, and the more frequent RTEs, and I do ok.

[CigarSki]

Ride every day to work, rain or shine. I do make exceptions for ice and snow.

Polar Bear Grand Tour on Sundays from Oct to Apr. www.polarbeargrandtour.com

[cbsnbiker]

Luckily my husband and I both love to ride. Unfortunately we've been down to only one bike the past 6 months so riding has been kept to a solo activity. Once our house is finished I'll be getting a new (or new to me) bike and we'll be back on the road together.  

When I see ads that say they're selling a bike due to time reasons it makes me think one of two things:
1. They aren't really as interested in riding as they thought.
2. Someone is very unhappy about them having a bike.

Agreed.

Sometimes, life has a way of getting in the way of other activities. A newborn child, a new job, an ailing family member, a deployment overseas, an illness or injury, and other life events can interfere with one's ability to ride.

Then there are others who just aren't into riding, or someone is really against them riding.

Maybe you'll find a good bike deal from one of these people.  

[chiltech500]

The "trick" in a relationship is to make sure your SO has her own hobbies.

how true - I've been married to the wrong type (1st) who never let me do anything  

learned my lesson, number 2 dug being a passenger till she started on her own a couple years ago... subsequently she's gone on a couple group rides with a foursome of women riders

young children - man that's tough, I wouldn't be riding too often

[LENSMAN]

I can usually get a away for a few hours- there are  enough roads in my area for that. Half day, whole day trips need more planning, usually vacation time for overnight stuff.  You may have to get up at the crack of dawn, which, by the way is a good time to ride- little traffic, cool temps in the summer.  

[Mastros2]

No question that life is busy.  I would recommend to plan riding if you don't commute on a scoot.  
Take out a sharpie, put on a blindfold and put some dots onto a callender and those are your riding days!    

[RickC1957]

Tips for "finding time to ride"

1) Don't having any meaningful relationships..no wife, no SO....absolutely no kids!
2) Don't ride with wives, or SO's they alway whine about something, too hot, too cold, too wet, which cuts into riding time. There is a reason why I have a T-shirt that reads "Shut up and ride"
3) Pets...especially dogs are a huge no-no
4) Work for yourself...hire top quality people that can manage your business when you are off riding.
5) Forget about riding with riders who say "this will look good on a ride report", they'll be stopping every 15 feet to take pics, make notes, really cuts into quality riding time...if you want to sight see take a F__king car!
6) Do all internet surfing and posting from 5 to 7am or very late in the evening.
7) Get rid of your stupid xbox and other time wasting computer games.
8) get rid of your TV
9) Quit cleaning your bike...that takes at least an hour everytime.
10) Don't read any ride reports....crap 20 page ride reports, hell that burns time.

Should I go back on my "happy pills" man am I cranky

[HipGnosis]

I see a lot of reluctant ads from folks selling their dirt bikes, cruisers, sport bikes, etc. because they "never have time to ride".

This REALLY confuses me.
Everyone knows that cruisers are only ridden an hour or 2 a month, so who can't find that?? Heck, eating more fiber would give ya that much more time.

Actually.. "never have time to ride" is code for: 'SWMBO has decided that my time / our money can (and will) be better spent on other things'.

My neighbor bought a sportster this summer because her then new g/f rode a softtail.  The relationship didn't last and the sportster was sold.  I'm sure her ad said "never have time to ride".

[jschmidt]

Just picked up an '04 motorcycle with 680 miles on it. My last purchase was a '98 in 2000 that had 740 miles on it. These people are a blessing. If I keep buying motorcycles, they'll have saved me enough to pay for my daughter's college.  

[1moreroad]

If I keep buying motorcycles, they'll have saved me enough to pay for my daughter's college.  

   Yeah, I want to see you prove THAT to your wife. Honey, I had to buy the 999 to make sure the love of our life go into Harvard.

[ST-DocLizard1]

Excuses are not solutions. Make it a point to get your butt in the saddle and your nose in the wind every chance that presents itself. Plan a riding vacation, weekend trip, or a long day ride frequently.

If your S.O. does not share your passion that's one thing, but if she does not allow you to indulge, that's another. If you can't tell the difference between a marriage and a life sentence, it's time to bolt.

Doc

[cbsnbiker]

Tips for "finding time to ride"

...

10) Don't read any ride reports....crap 20 page ride reports, hell that burns time.

I usually read them in coffee shops while taking a break during a ride.  

[HipGnosis]

I don't get telling someone how much they should ride.  Totally pointless.  If they want to ride, they'll make the time.
Guess that should be if they REALLY want to ride...
Life is a series of compromises.
Back when I had my very first street bike (KZ750) I met a musician that really wanted a specific guitar.  He stopped drinking and ate potatoes for 2 meals every day for months.  He showed me what it really means to really want something.
At the same time, I worked with a guy that rode a yamaha 650.  He wined about 'wanting' a Harley.  He had a decent car, a few hobbies and toys. He didn't want a Harley enough to compromise for it (or his wife wouldn't let him and he wouldn't admit that).

[Lon]

I think it's simple: people who don't have time to ride have not made motorcycling an integral part of their life.  They use it as recreation, but usually they don't even try to make it a solid part of that.  It certainly hasn't displaced their car at all...  I mean, have you ever seen this ad?

For sale: 2005 Cadillac Escalade,  2,300 miles.  I simply don't have time to drive.

Not to say it doesn't happen, but it's rare to be sure.

(1) There's no reason your commute can't be something more than a grind.  With a motorcycle, your commute can become a recreational activity instead of wasted time.  For example, I had no engagements one evening and decided to take a detour on the way home from work (Westford, MA -> Nashua, NH) through Brattleboro, VT.

(2) If your bike can carry it (and you're not worried about things like black ice ), take the bike. Go to the fancy grocery store 3 towns away instead of your local supermarket.  You don't need 5500 pounds of steel to haul your lazy ass + 20 pounds of groceries around.

(3) Going hiking?  Ride the bike to the trailhead.  More outdoors time!

(4) Buy waterproof gear, and stop worrying about the rain.  Riding in the rain is fun, and you'd better get used to it - because you will end up wet sooner or later.

(5) Get good hard luggage.  It's waterproof and lockable.  It will probably "ruin" the "oh so sexy" lines of your motorcycle, but unless you consider your motorcycle a fashion accessory, this shouldn't matter much

Instead of finding ways to excuse yourself from riding, figure out how to make it work.

* Consider Dawn Champion -  who was an investment executive (or some sort anyway) and weekend racer.  She wore business suits at work and commuted in full racing leathers.  Somehow, it worked just peachy for her...  (She was also the one who became famous overnight after a Honda locked the brakes and spun around, smashing her R1 to pieces - but since she always rides with a video camera...)  Video here.

* I used to carry my enormous notebook computer in my Givi E460N topcase (on my ex-zx6).  It required a big investment in Givi stuff, and it made my bike look like a Gold Wing.  However, it increased the utility - and therefore usability - of my motorcycle 10x.

* I know a guy who doesn't even own motorized transport - and ride a bicycle to work (18-20 miles each way, year-round).  Surely the vast majority of Americans can ride a motorcycle to work 6 months of the year...

[aaustin]

(1) There's no reason your commute can't be something more than a grind.  With a motorcycle, your commute can become a recreational activity instead of wasted time.  For example, I had no engagements one evening and decided to take a detour on the way home from work (Westford, MA -> Nashua, NH) through Brattleboro, VT.

 

[Windblown]

You can't make time. There is 24 hours in a day, no more, no less.

You can't find time. It doesn't get lost.

What you can do is set priorities that include using some part of a 24 hour day to ride, or not. Your choice.