Got Caught!

[flybuddy]

Have been taking 10 year old daughter on back of RT to various places since school let out. Unfortunately, today she had to yell out "are we taking the motorcycle?" when we were getting ready to leave. Well, mom heard that and what followed wasn't pleasant. I never hid the fact that I was taking her but never volunteered it either. Mom had seen us out before also and never said a word till this morning. I think the RT is a safe ride for her, I also have a 2 wheeler and would NOT feel comfortable with her on that. Mom allows her to ride 140hp waverunner by herself, ride with me in experimental aircraft and convertible 2 seat sportscar. I'm driving 40 years without an accident. 5000+ hrs of flying (including test stuff) with a perfect record and only 1 fall on a motorcycle 30 yrs ago due to a front wheel failure (have about 300k on motorcycles). Yeah, I know I was trying for the forgiveness over permission angle but how do I sell this one to mom from this point forward?? Opinions?
P.S. while I'm typing this my 17 yr old son just came in with his motorcycle class paperwork--it took 6 months to get mom to agree to that even though he's currently taking flying lessons--go figure.

 

[Jeriatric]

Have been taking 10 year old daughter on back of RT to various places since school let out. Unfortunately, today she had to yell out "are we taking the motorcycle?" when we were getting ready to leave. Well, mom heard that and what followed wasn't pleasant. I never hid the fact that I was taking her but never volunteered it either. Mom had seen us out before also and never said a word till this morning. I think the RT is a safe ride for her, I also have a 2 wheeler and would NOT feel comfortable with her on that. Mom allows her to ride 140hp waverunner by herself, ride with me in experimental aircraft and convertible 2 seat sportscar. I'm driving 40 years without an accident. 5000+ hrs of flying (including test stuff) with a perfect record and only 1 fall on a motorcycle 30 yrs ago due to a front wheel failure (have about 300k on motorcycles). Yeah, I know I was trying for the forgiveness over permission angle but how do I sell this one to mom from this point forward?? Opinions?
P.S. while I'm typing this my 17 yr old son just came in with his motorcycle class paperwork--it took 6 months to get mom to agree to that even though he's currently taking flying lessons--go figure.

Sounds to me like you'll have to find out where Mom itches, before you can scratch it.

 

[NancysToy]

If logic won't sell her, nothing we could say would matter. For a responsible rider, carrying a passenger who is tall enough to reach the pegs, can be properly fit with a helmet, wears proper safety gear (less important on a Spyder than a motorcycle, and is able to learn the rules and pay attention to the road and the ride, is pretty safe. The Spyder won't fall over, she won't drown , and the VSS provides safety measures that exist in few vehicles. Of course you don't have to convince me...just your wife. Good luck with that. We'll be pulling for you.

 

[jvicker]

Sounds to me like you'll have to find out where Mom itches, before you can scratch it.

:agree:

There's a reason she's not happy about cycles. Surprised you were able to get one yourself.:roflblack:

My wife wants nothing to do with motorcycles but my daughter has been riding on the back of my RS since she was 8.:thumbup:

 

[boborgera]

I just started two weeks ago riding my Grandson to day camp less than a mile away on my Tri, He's 7 has two quads and a 50cc Honda dirt bike,
No problems from his parents, It's my Wife that's giving me grief about it. :banghead:
But then She's not a bike person, She walks around my bikes like there just a lump of medal setting there.
She won't sit on one even with the engine off. :dontknow:

 

[donec]

Before it became public with the shout she could just ignore it and not think about it now she feels she must respond and doesn't like it. Your daughter may be the only one that can clear the air. Good luck, been there and done that.:banghead:

 

[bruiser]

Sounds to me like you'll have to find out where Mom itches, before you can scratch it.

:agree:. Also like the way you put this.

 

[AnthonyG]

Well i guess it goes like this........Happy wife...Happy life!!! Good luck!!

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

YOUR DILEMMA

They actually sell a dedicated harness for this type of issue....I have one for my Grand-daughter, of course I made it.....not very difficult at all...your daughter may cringe at first , but if it's the only option.....Oh yea it attaches her to You.....Good Luck.....Mike....Ride Safe....:thumbup:

 

[JaymeG33]

Well, as a MOTHER myself, I feel I can put my opinion on here. Our daughter has been riding quads since 5 months old (old enough to sit up). When she was 1 1/2 years old we took her on her first 'big quad ride' with about 40+ other riders. Believe me, there were a few that weren't happy, thinking we would 'keep them back' but to their surprise, she is a tough little trooper and hung in there for 10 hours that day! The summer she turned 3 years old, she was begging my husband to take her on his motorcycle. So, he made custom arm rests & foot pegs for her so she could reach them and we bought her a helment and a 'neck nut' as we call it (foam horseshoe looking ring to help support the helment weight and help protect the neck). As I followed them in our car I cried my eyes out because I know how dangerous riding any machine can be (I shattered the lower lumbar of my back when I was 20 yrs old on a quad and now have 2 rods & 8 screws in my back) & she doesn't know the dangers & consequenses being that young. BUT, I have followed them around for 3 years until this year when I bought my Spyder. Now we go riding as a family and love every minute of it. We joined a motorcycle club this summer and she is signed up to ride too. I think their are some skeptics there too with her riding so young, but they will see to that she can hang in there with the best of them on a motorcycle too! I still worry, heck, I worry about all of us.

Every parent and situation is different, do whats best for you and your family.

So...maybe buy your wifey a Spyder of her own and she might let up some? LOL.

 

[elixermixer]

It's time to play your pocket aces and go all in with the daughter guilt trip card and hope the river plays out right and you don't get smashed on the rocks.
Maybe it would be good for you all to sit down and talk about why you guys like taking the bike together, why your daughter likes it and why you like taking her. Set some good ground rules that are required for riding, weather, distance, type of roads, appropriate gear. Sounds like you take all this into account but maybe all 3 of you talking openly about it and what is safe and why it's important that you two get to go riding together might ease things up?
Heck make them house hold rules that might apply to your son as well like helmet all easy every day or your keys are mine... Same goes for dad... Who knows just make mom happyis the key.
if none of this works make sure you coach your daughter with key phrases like:
"it's something special that just daddy and I can do and I like our special time together"
"it makes me feel special when we go riding together, it's my favorite thing to do with daddy"
You get the idea, edit to fit your needs :thumbup:

 

[PE2817]

kept going

In 2008 I took my son that was 8 at the time from CT to Ohio on a Spyder. We went up to Maine from CT and kept going. It was a trip that I will certainly never forget. He was fine on the back of the Spyder. He had ridden many many hrs on various jetskis including several on my race ready GP1300R which would run 86MPH (GPS not speedo). He had already ridden from Ohio to Canada on a jetski several times. He had spent many hrs on 4 wheels and has one of his own. He currently has a 450 Wolverine. The moral of the story is that is depends on the child. It sounds to me that your child might be old enough to handle some trips on the Spyder.

 

[rogerb]

My granddauther is 8 now and we just got back from 4 trip to Nova Scotia for the Bluenose Rally. She wouldn't get off the bike to ride in the car because it was raining. She says it is part of the riding. We went Cherokee last year. The only reason she hasn't been to Spyderfest is because it is during school. She asked me for armrests and a radio on the RT. She rides back there and plays games on her DS or takes naps. She puts her feet in my lap and scouches up to me. She camps out with me or stay in a motel.She won't be able to go to Magog this year because she is going to be a flower girl in a wedding. The childs attitude makes a big difference. I have to take the trailer even if we stay in motels. Boy 8 year olds carry a lot of things.By the way the Rt is hers on loan to me till she gets her licence. :thumbup:

 

[Firefly]

I'd buy the wife a chill pill and then continue to take the girl for rides...........:thumbup:

 

[flybuddy]

Thx for all the replies--some good stuff. Surprisingly there was no further discussion last night so the response that she may have reacted when it was obviously thrown in her face is probably correct. Daughter is athletic, competitive skater, and can definitely handle. I may look into the harness suggestion as that might ease moms mind..thx again

 

[Bob Denman]

Glad to hear that all was quiet. :thumbup: I would suggest maintaining a low profile, don't push the issue, and let her assimilate what she already knows...
Good luck and we hope to see you and your daughter out on the Spyder! :2thumbs: