Riding & Relationships: Riding 2-Up

[lengbros]

Over the years I have noticed several examples where riding 2-Up served as a metaphor things I have encountered in my relationships. The relationships that I built with my past few girlfriends would not have been as strong if riding were not a part of our relationship, both in the beginning and in maintaining the connection.
 
 
Building a relationship is about togetherness. Planning together, preparing together, facing fears together, looking out for each other, and riding over all of the bumps in the road together on your way to discovering the roles you will play in each other’s life. Each and every one of these, the planning, preparing, facing fears, and helping each other were all a major part of all of our 2-Up adventures.
 
 
 
 
And then after we had built a relationship, then I found myself in the middle stages where maintaining a deep connection was very important. And here again, riding together was very important. Because deepening and maintaining a relationship is about keeping the stress of both family and career in balance by exploring the world with each other in new ways. Most people are focused on accomplishments in life’s intangibles (financial, familial, career, education, etc) in relay-race fashion, where one person helps the other accomplish individual goals, when we were tackling obstacles together in tandem, tied together not only emotionally, but physically.
 
Has anyone else noticed these metaphors in their relationships?

[Court Jester]

I've dated one chick that road. In fact I hooked up with her after selling her a 929. We were together for about a year and then she caught me screwing someone else.
Now she's a control rider for a track organization and I would never trust riding on the same track with her.
Dating a chick that rides can be great, but make damn sure it ends on a good note.

[RedCBRRider]

 
Has anyone else noticed these metaphors in their relationships?

In a word, no.  And I don't ride two up.

[CBRXXBLACKBIRD]

Is this Dr. Phil?   pretty deep for a first post.

[sscully]

..... but make damn sure it ends on a good note.

To quote someone else, "All things end badly, or else they wouldn't end".

[Thunder7]

I rarely two two-up riding on my Trophy. Been so long as a matter of fact I couldn't even tell you who was the last on the pillion.

What I can tell you is that my last passenger that was a regular thing was my ex wife. Any ride with her was a completely miserable experience because of one main thing- She figured out that it was the one place she had no chance of even attempting to exert control over me (Remember- she is an EX-wife). so anything she could do to disturb me or make me uncomfortable during a ride she would. Al this took place on the 1987 GL1200 Aspencade I owned at the time.

Obviously the final fix to the situation was divorce but the look on her face when she came out to the garage and saw her precious arm rests sitting on the floor of the garage was priceless. It pretty much gave her the idea that her days as a passenger were over.

I am currently dating a Professor from the University of Chicago and she couldn't be less interested in being a passenger. She doesn't find being on a motorcycle exciting at all and I dont bother pushing the issue. We enjoy each other's company when we go out and thats it. She will be returning to her family's home in Europe for the summer break and when I was asked by a friend if that bothered me I responded: "Why would it? Its riding season!"

So, yes- I there is a correlation between two-up riding and relationships.

[cultureslayer]

No correlation.  My boyfriend won't get on the back of my bike, so I return the favor.  

If gas continues to become more expensive and gets really high really soon then this might have to be revisited.  I'm not getting on the back of a bike regularly for anything less than $7/gallon.  

[Thunder7]

No correlation.  My boyfriend won't get on the back of my bike, so I return the favor.  

If gas continues to become more expensive and gets really high really soon then this might have to be revisited.  I'm not getting on the back of a bike regularly for anything less than $7/gallon.  

Everybody has to have their boundaries....  

[black hills]

I do 2-up occasionally, one of my favorite ride was over beartooth pass:
As we head up the Bear Tooth Highway I see him, approaching at a high rate of speed, his headlight growing larger by the minute. We’re stuck behind two slow moving Harleys, not knowing if I can actually see the entire road ahead to pass them safely. In an instant the approaching rider flashes past in a red blur leaving only the fading sound of a boxer twin. Shawna taps me on the shoulder and say’s “That was an old guy.”
   Immediately I get that all too familiar feeling. I don’t know if it is simply my competitive spirit or something more sinister? There is no choice, how dare he herd that Bavarian contraption past me and my technologically superior machine! I will pass him! I feel Shawna’s legs tighten on my hips as I click it down a couple gears, by this point in our relationship she knows exactly what is about to happen. It takes longer than expected but we finally catch up to the crazy old man on his BMW. I follow him for several corners waiting for the opportunity to pass. I see him checking his mirror at the exit of every turn, a little smirk on his face. I’m pushing it hard, far too close to the limit with a passenger.
   Then something happens, I begin to notice how much debris is on the road, how much his rear tire is sliding, how unforgiving the side of the road is. Suddenly I no longer feel the need to pass him, or even keep up. I roll off the throttle and return to a more reasonable pace.  Shawna makes a comment about how fast we were going, I nod in agreement.
   Before long we find our BMW rider at an overlook. He approaches with a grin and compliments us on our ability, “Pretty Damn fast for two up.”  We talk to him for a while, the mutual respect obvious in our remarks. Then we are on our way.
   Later that night while having a few beers at Sam’s Tap Room I think back to our few moments at the limit. Was it dangerous? Foolish? Crazy? Irresponsible? Illegal? Yea, I imagine it was. But for those few minutes on that mountain road Shawna and I were one, One with the road, one with the bike, and one with each other. Two bodies, a hundred and thirty five horsepower, a pair on Dunlop Qualifiers, and some wonderful asphalt all combined in perfect harmony.  I’m not sure how it all works out, but in some strange equation two riders, a passenger, two very different bikes, an ego problem and a common road somehow combine to create a moment in time where a simple rider somehow feels like a god. Well, at least it does for me.
 

[Thunder7]

I do 2-up occasionally, one of my favorite ride was over beartooth pass:
As we head up the Bear Tooth Highway I see him, approaching at a high rate of speed, his headlight growing larger by the minute. We’re stuck behind two slow moving Harleys, not knowing if I can actually see the entire road ahead to pass them safely. In an instant the approaching rider flashes past in a red blur leaving only the fading sound of a boxer twin. Shawna taps me on the shoulder and say’s “That was an old guy.”
   Immediately I get that all too familiar feeling. I don’t know if it is simply my competitive spirit or something more sinister? There is no choice, how dare he herd that Bavarian contraption past me and my technologically superior machine! I will pass him! I feel Shawna’s legs tighten on my hips as I click it down a couple gears, by this point in our relationship she knows exactly what is about to happen. It takes longer than expected but we finally catch up to the crazy old man on his BMW. I follow him for several corners waiting for the opportunity to pass. I see him checking his mirror at the exit of every turn, a little smirk on his face. I’m pushing it hard, far too close to the limit with a passenger.
   Then something happens, I begin to notice how much debris is on the road, how much his rear tire is sliding, how unforgiving the side of the road is. Suddenly I no longer feel the need to pass him, or even keep up. I roll off the throttle and return to a more reasonable pace.  Shawna makes a comment about how fast we were going, I nod in agreement.
   Before long we find our BMW rider at an overlook. He approaches with a grin and compliments us on our ability, “Pretty Damn fast for two up.”  We talk to him for a while, the mutual respect obvious in our remarks. Then we are on our way.
   Later that night while having a few beers at Sam’s Tap Room I think back to our few moments at the limit. Was it dangerous? Foolish? Crazy? Irresponsible? Illegal? Yea, I imagine it was. But for those few minutes on that mountain road Shawna and I were one, One with the road, one with the bike, and one with each other. Two bodies, a hundred and thirty five horsepower, a pair on Dunlop Qualifiers, and some wonderful asphalt all combined in perfect harmony.  I’m not sure how it all works out, but in some strange equation two riders, a passenger, two very different bikes, an ego problem and a common road somehow combine to create a moment in time where a simple rider somehow feels like a god. Well, at least it does for me.
 

That pretty much typifies how it SHOULD be. Very, very well written!  

[bomber]

Anything you do with another has the potential of building and strengthening the relationship -- riding (either 2-up or on spearate bikes), fishing, playing music . . . .

riding, however, can be a little stressful, in that you really should be on your toes -- relaxed, but alert, if that makes sense -- stressful situations will bring out either the best, or thw worst in both people and relationships, I've found

[cultureslayer]

Anything you do with another has the potential of building and strengthening the relationship -- riding (either 2-up or on spearate bikes), fishing, playing music . . . .

riding, however, can be a little stressful, in that you really should be on your toes -- relaxed, but alert, if that makes sense -- stressful situations will bring out either the best, or thw worst in both people and relationships, I've found

If you think riding together is stressful, try fixing a couple of wrecked bikes together.  

[black hills]

If you think riding together is stressful, try fixing a couple of wrecked bikes together.  

LOL.... or anything semi-technical! Why does it have to work that way???

[cultureslayer]

LOL.... or anything semi-technical! Why does it have to work that way???

Because we are both right but our opinions differ.  

Doesn't help that function is my primary objective but the boyfriend thinks a bike's not done until it's pretty.  

[Thunder7]

Because we are both right but our opinions differ.  

Doesn't help that function is my primary objective but the boyfriend thinks a bike's not done until it's pretty.  

About 20 years ago there was a woman who used to model for me when I needed her in photoshoots. She once told me how her BF spent more time on his hair than she spend on hers.

Is it anything like that?  

[cultureslayer]

About 20 years ago there was a woman who used to model for me when I needed her in photoshoots. She once told me how her BF spent more time on his hair than she spend on hers.

Is it anything like that?  

  With bikes and cars, yes.  I have to threaten beatings if he trades in the ugly and cheap but reliable truck for a newer junkier one he'll have to do mechanical work on.  

With hair, no.  Mostly because he shaves it all off.  Wish I could do the same to avoid helmet hair, but I get enough strange looks as it is.    My younger brother used to spend a lot more time on his hair because he spiked it.  Now it's longer than mine, so I guess he spends more time on it because there's more to brush.

[Bmwgsrider94]

I have done the 2 up riding back in 2006. I crashed bad that year and was in the process of getting my Bmw GS put back together when I was introduced to her. I was planning on the International rally in Vermont and was telling her about all the rallies I have been to. Talked her into riding to rally with me and she had not been on a bike in 25 yrs. The pros and cons on this is of course my opinion . Riding 2 up can strengthen a relationship by helping each other out on directions sharing great times and sites, pretty much a buddy system. Had to stop a few more times, haul a few more things ( hair dryer, curling iron,extra shoes,makeup I think you get the point )   but you build that closeness. Only 1 heated arguement the entire 2 weeks on the road and it was over a wrong turn. Riding with someone that has their own bike is pretty nice also . No extra stuff to haul on your bike , a little harder to communicate about directions if one bike breaks down you have other means to get to where your going ( I know this all to well just ask Mostrogirl )  . but you still can have the closeness. I think it can work out both ways

[Jeremy Z]

My wife rides with me all the time. We consider it more of an escape from normal life than a metaphor for life.

Obviously, she trusts me, and obviously, I like having her along, so we're both happy without having complicated the hell out of it.  

Welcome to STn.

Did you mean to post this in Region 4? It seems like a non-geographical post...

[forester]

Riding 2 up is a good thing.  I ride solo 95% of the time (est), but it's nice to have her as a passenger as I get better gas mileage when she rides - can you figure out why?

[MilleArp]

Interesting first post..... deep.... almost too deep for most gearheads!  

I've taken several dates and women-friends for their first rides, and usually subsequent rides.  Usually as they become better passengers, the relationship becomes better, too.

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