Who has kids? How does this effect your riding habits?

[Bad Dad]

Married, 2 kids, boys 14 and my daughters turning 12. Me, i love flying through the woods on the Gas-Gas or the Husky, knee down and fastish on road, Race pace(for a middle aged guy) on the YFZ-450. Getting married or having kids didn't change me doing what I love. I wear all the protective gear that"s appropriate for the ride and try not to exceed my limits. My wife has nothing to do with motorcycles or 4 wheelers personally but supports my addiction. The boy likes 4 wheelers and not bikes, where did I go wrong . My daughter likes to go for rides on the Valky and the Strom. We go on father daughter moto camping trips and have a great time. My wife knew that I'd been riding since I was 7 and my kids have known nothing but a garage full of bikes and 4 wheelers so don't think anything of it. For me, all is well.

[black hills]

An article on one of my dirtbiking buddies:

http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/news/article_babae50c-4477-11e0-8199-001cc4c03286.html

He tells me if he had it to do over he would still choose to ride.

[MCRyder]

I find myself riding faster, to stay ahead of my 20 year old son on his FZ1    

[blueridgerider]

An article on one of my dirtbiking buddies:

http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/news/article_babae50c-4477-11e0-8199-001cc4c03286.html

He tells me if he had it to do over he would still choose to ride.

Well, probably not THAT day.  Good to see he has a lot of courage.  I wish him well.

[black hills]

Well, probably not THAT day.  Good to see he has a lot of courage.  I wish him well.

He is an inspiration and his wife (who I never really cared for) has turned out to be an amazing woman. what "can happen" is all too close for me now, but I can;'t change what I love to do????

[sammyseaman]

Two kids; now grown and ride themselves. I never stopped riding-- rode to my Lamaze classes while pregnant. When the kids were very little, rode at night when they were in bed, just to get a bit of time on 2 wheels. When they got big enough to reach the pegs, rode with them as passengers.  Riding was important to me, and I never bought into the 'You can't risk' idea. Just was as careful as I normally was.

Here's my younger son on his latest acquisition - bought on STN!  



I've a 3-month old granddaughter now. Can't wait to introduce her to the joys of motorcycling.

  That is all kinds of awesome-o. I can't wait until my little peanut is old enough to get her a little PW50.

[motormike]

I have two kids.... 8 and 5.  I just got my license last Augut at age 40.  I should have my bike in five weeks and hopefully I'll be able to ride one day per weekend.

[mbishara]

The main issue is arranging for the time to ride. With three young ones in the house time is limited for me.


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[BradleyRas]

Funny, this is a topic that has been surfacing in my mind a lot lately.  I have two girls, 3 and 8 months. Over the past two years, I put more miles on the stroller than the ZZR. No regrets though. My family is important to me. I am selling the ZZR and will replace it with something else a lot less lethal.

I have, however,  been riding a lot more conservatively and I am much more aware of my surroundings. With that said, I don't enjoy riding like I used to. I used to take several over night/long weekend getaways and at least once a year a 5 day trip. Those days are over for me.

I will always have a motorcycle though...maybe dirt, maybe supermoto, maybe antique, maybe an ATV....

[KeithB]

I never stopped, but changed my habits to replace commuting with a car to a bike.  Nights and weekends, the bike never left the garage because that was family time.

I still took a one long bike trip each year.  Sometimes it was alone, sometimes with the wife, and sometimes with one of my girls when they were big enough.  By the time they were 12, they'd seen more of the USA from the bike than most of their classmates had seen in a book.

I did pay more attention while riding, didn't stunt, and felt I owed it to all of them to always wear a helmet. Always.

Now I have grandkids that are almost big enough to start......  

[Meemuh]

Didn't start riding until after all three kids were out - so I can't say if my habits would have changed or not.  All I know is that they all beg to ride.  Wife pillions occasionally, and wants to ride more as they get older.  Biggest thing is just being so busy - you have to make time...but I'm green lighted for a couple long weekends.  It also gives incentive to get stuff done during the week so weekends can be spent out 'n about.

[JavaD]

Married for over 12 years when first one came along. Had done the racing thing, long-distance riding thing, and so did the wife.  She rode up until 2nd trimester, belly got in the way of the tank and she couldn't close her riding pants  

Little dude was born, I'd soothe him with sounds of triples and fours (which the wife rode in the 1st and 2nd trimesters); twins and singles had no effect.

As for change, it's made me become more aware of everything, and to be the example he can look at for community service, constant education, and to live with humor.

It's changed us as we now plan ahead for who's riding, and who's driving.  Truck is setup with ReadyRamp, Softopper, two sport chocks, Recaro kids seat, and a bag which carries the kids food & diapers, along with the two dog's food, water, & doo-doo bags.  We jokingly refer to the truck as the "mothership", and the motorcycle as the "shuttlecraft".

Current record is Two adults, two dogs, one kid in the truck cab; two bikes, one EZUp, one gear bag, one stroller, and one Pac-n-Play in truck bed.

[ia sprint]

Late to riding for me.  Bought my first street bike two years ago, Sprint ST, a year later bought the K1200lt, mainly so the kids/wife could ride along.  My daughter is 16, son 14, and daughter 9.  The 16 year old is my number one passenger on 1-2 hour rides around the area.  We're planning to give moto-camping a try this summer.  As was said early, it's really nice when your teenage daughter talks to you, even over the intercom.  

My wife is a very infrequent passenger and not much into bikes at all.  But, she's understanding and supports me getting some rides in, at least once I lived through the first month.  I'll second the bike as therapy.  I think I'm easier to be around after some time on the bike.  Stress from work seems to melt away.  I'm planning to try my hand at a couple rallies this summer, but the busy schedule of the family comes first.

 

[bluepoof]

Glad this thread got resurrected.  It's encouraging to read.  

[Rattlehead]

Glad this thread got resurrected.  It's encouraging to read.  

Agreed.  

I have 2 kids; 2 boys, ages 3 and 6.
I tend to be more aware now of the risk I’m putting myself in whether it be through not enough gear or reckless “fun” or whatever. It’s hard to say if that’s from having kids or just getting older/wiser (I’m 32 now- out of those reckless 20’s). I like to think it’s from the kids though. I do find myself considering them before I do anything stupid.  

Me personally, I’ve been on 2 wheels, in one shape or form, for probably close to 20 years now. I really started riding street about 10-12 years ago (shortly after getting married). My wife has been VERY understanding in this whole thing and often encourages me to take rides to “detox” from time to time. It’s very therapeutic for me and she understands that.    She tried riding herself for a while, and she enjoyed it, but ultimately she takes care of getting the kids to school/preschool, babysitters, ect in the morning (I leave for work before anyone else is even out of bed) and riding became a “hassle” for her to try to fit in to the busy schedule. I imagine she may try it again later when the kids are older.

I’ve been trying to fit in a long-ish trip (3-4 days) every year and have managed 3 or 4 of them now. I’ve found that I LOVE traveling by bike and it’s really become a passion in my life. With the 2 young’uns, the financial responsibility, and a modest income it can be tough at times though.   Still, I have been averaging 6-8000mi a year for the past several years and I don’t see my riding tapering off significantly.

Kids have definitely affected my riding but not in a negative manner. I wouldn’t change it for anything though. Those boys are the pride and joy of my life and I hope and pray that one day I can share my riding passion with them. My dream is a father/son/son cross country trip someday.  

[CosmicCowboy]

Two kids. My son just turned 5 and my daughter will be 7 in month. My daughter has been riding with me quite a bit lately, nothing over an hour (side note: it's a lot of work putting together a set of riding gear for a young child). I headed out on my own Friday and it was pretty weird not having my riding buddy chattering in my ear.

[greywolf]

I took a hiatus while the kids were young , started back when my youngest was 11.  While I've taken both for rides , it's my daughter that loves it .
She has Ducati dreams , I told her to work hard and she will realize them someday.

[zenduddhist]

The more kids you have, the more riding you need!  I have 5 kids and I ride about 20,000 miles per year.  So, I would say you need roughly 4,000 miles per kid...

[LENSMAN]

In my case, ATGATT and plenty of term life insurance, plus no stupid moves on the bike.  

[Hambonee]

In my case, ATGATT and plenty of term life insurance, plus no stupid moves on the bike.  

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