Wifeless rider

[canamjhb]

New wife, old Goldwing. Updated the rear suspension to accomidate 2-up riding. Went on 2 rides and found wife looking on Craigs list for her own ride. She bought a Honda ST1300 which she rode for 3 seasons. I then bought her a Goldwing which she reluctantly tried. Found out it was easier to maneuver and liked it a lot better then the 1300. Sold the 1300 and her old Goldwing and I bought the Spyder. She now rides my old Goldwing while I am on 3 wheels. She needs to be in control. (But still follows me) Best wife I ever had.

 

[Roadster Renovations]

My wife had never road a motorcycle when we first got our RT. I gradually had her sit first seat for the reason if something ever happened to me, she could at least get it home. One thing led to another and we decided to get me one. And of course that meant if she was coming, she would be on the RT solo. When we started ryding together I let her lead (always). That gave me a chance to match her speed, gently point out things that she could have done better. A two communication system is essential. Once she started getting used to it she couldn't believe the difference between being 1 up and sitting behind someone. She now has about 18 months on the road, ryding some of the hairiest twisties and mountain roads. She knows how to ryde defensively and situationally aware. I just used the utmost patience with her and she is now fully licensed and loves to ryde.

A parking lot is a good idea. Maybe with your helmets on you can get her comfortable enough so that she is more relaxed. Talking seems to really help.

 

[DGoebel]

msherwood, I wish your wife an mine could have a chat, My wife Sharon had quit riding with me on two wheels but the first test ride on a Spyder sold her, Last year we had over 8000 miles together, I had another 4000 solo, both mileage records on a cycle for us. The stability and apparent safety of the spyder really clinched it for both of us

 

[Hey Yu]

Does your wife have activities which do not include you? How do you feel about those? This is an activity you participate in and enjoy. Learn to do it without guilt or remorse. It is better to be riding solo than not at all, and those are your options!

 

[blacklightning]

Ok folks I bought this beautiful 2013 RTL so my wife and I could go out and see this beautiful country of ours together only to come to the conclusion she will not ride, are there any other folks in this site that have the same issue and how did you handle it.
Thanks in advance

I have a similar issue. I purchased my 2014 rt for the wife and I to ride together. After 2 1/2 years and over 20k miles, the wife only did 4 long trips and 3 local rides with me. This spring I sold it and bought a f3t. She still doesn't ride. Much, but now I have more fun. When solo, and she can still ride when the urge hits.

 

[youngers]

I got rid of the wife,,,lol

hahahaha I see , if the photo is your new riding partner , you now went with the " chick magnet " riding buddy ! ​

 

[den1953]

I'm not a Spyder owner yet but my wife has pretty much given up on riding behind me on my 2015 Indian Chieftain. Since her total knee replacement surgery she cant completely bend that knee enough to easily get on & off while I steady the bike. I am hoping to get a new F3T or F3 Limited so she can just get on & off without me on there in her way. The lower seat height might help as well and besides that I am very much more comfortable with a feet forward riding position. The biggest difference will be not leaning a bike over into turns and dealing with centrifugal forces but in reality it's not any different than driving or riding in a car. I think we'll adjust to it.

 

[ThreeWheels]

I'm a wifeless rider also.
However, riding on the motorcycle is one of the prerequisites for any girlfriends.

 

[easysuper]

My wife rode behind me in the 70s and then life kind of got in the way and the bikes disappeared and in place of them were a string of pack burros for about 20 years, we had always talked about buying a big Wing and touring when we retired , I went for a weekend ride with my son about 10 years ago and it started a ache for a bike I had suppressed for many years. When I turned 60 I decided to get a big touring bike but my wife had crashed her bicycle about 2 years before that and ended up in the hospital, after that she would not get up behind me. My knees went and then my ankle needed fusing so I was no longer comfortable on two wheels and them " Spyder" things were way too funny looking for me. Her friend had one and had given her a ride and she did not feel like she was going to tip over so she told me one day that if we had one of "Them" she would feel a lot safer. I had tried them out when on a job in California and was leaning on the idea so we went out "just to look" and bought our first 998 RTL .
After about a year of riding as a passenger she decided it would be a good idea to get her endorsement so if I got sick or hurt when we were touring she could ride it home or what ever she needed to do. So her same girlfriend started taking her out and showed her the ropes and she ended up with her licence for three wheels. A year later I'm on a job site in Wyoming and she took my bike in for a oil change and texted me she got a discount on the oil change and alignment as she had "bought " something. When I asked her what kind of accessory had she bought now she answered "my own bike, as a retirement gift to myself" she put almost 30,000 miles on that one her first year of riding and we have taken many great day rides and trips together, she pulls a dog trailer and I pull a aspen tent trailer and we are having a new chapter in our lives to share with each other.
We both now have 2015 RTLs
Keep trying to find a way to get her riding comfortable and she may enjoy it as much as you do.

 

[MurrayBrown]

Wife is a non-Rider

Ok folks I bought this beautiful 2013 RTL so my wife and I could go out and see this beautiful country of ours together only to come to the conclusion she will not ride, are there any other folks in this site that have the same issue and how did you handle it. Thanks in advance

My wife has never wanted to ride on any of my motorcycles, and now not on my Spyder. What we do is that we do travel together; me on the Spyder and my wife in her car. We start at Point A and I advise that I will have to stop at Point B for fuel. I tell her that I will be on the first gas station on the right at Point A. That allows her to go at her own pace, stopping to take photos, etc. Please note that she is a watercolor artist so she's always looking for things that don't necessarily have any interest for me. We meet at Point B, and after I refuel we have a coffee and share each other's "trip". The, it's on to Point C. We do this all day long until we decide to stay over for the night. We have traveled thousands of miles throughout Canada and various spots in the USA. Most pleasurable.

 

[SPECTACUALR SPIDERMAN]

my wife says she liked my idea about the younger girlfriend

 

[Bob Denman]

:dontknow: It just ain't everybody's cup of tea... :dontknow:
Try the Parking Lot exercise, and see if limited exposure in controlled circumstances helps her to grow accustomed to the feeling.
Good luck! :thumbup:

 

[Pirate looks at --]

Try to find some other spyder people to ride with. Make sure they and their wives are together. Maybe if she sees them together and she can talk to some of the other riders it might ease her mind some.

Of course you are welcome to visit our Sacramento Spyder Ryders of America Chapter where you will find lots of couples you and she can ryde with. That might make a difference for her if she makes friends with other passengers. As Ann suggested you can always buy her a Spyder of her own! awe have two and it's expensive but fun! PM me if you want to know more about Sacramento SRA!

 

[Easy Rider]

are there any other folks in this site that have the same issue and how did you handle it.
Thanks in advance

Yes. But I knew the situation a LONG time ago.

Activities in our house are: Yours, mine and ours.
The Spyder is one of "mine".

 

[msherwood]

I got rid of the wife,,,lol

hahahaha I see , if the photo is your new riding partner , you now went with the " chick magnet " riding buddy ! ​

That chick magnet in my profile is my wife, LOL

 

[bscofield84]

Ask her if she would like to try driving it. Some enjoy driving more than riding.

 

[pegasus1300]

Ok folks I bought this beautiful 2013 RTL so my wife and I could go out and see this beautiful country of ours together only to come to the conclusion she will not ride, are there any other folks in this site that have the same issue and how did you handle it.
Thanks in advance

My wife will ride short distances with me when there is little or no traffic. When we want to go somewhere distant she sometime follows in the car and sometimes we put the Spyder on a trailer. When we get to our actual riding area then she comes with me.

And of course many times I ride alone but I have been doing that most of my riding life.

 

[pegasus1300]

I would be thrilled to still have a wife (alive) either at home or on the pillion.

I am sorry for your loss. It is a hard thing to lose your companion. My 1st wife has also passed away,in 2007. I was very fortunate to marry again. I met my 2nd wife on the internet and we have now been married 9 years.

 

[ThreeWheels]

 

[jaybird1]

Ok folks I bought this beautiful 2013 RTL so my wife and I could go out and see this beautiful country of ours together only to come to the conclusion she will not ride, are there any other folks in this site that have the same issue and how did you handle it.
Thanks in advance

My wife wouldn't ride at first; said she would never ever get on the bike. Well, about 3 weeks of me being gone all day changed her mind! When she rode for the first time, I took it easy and after that I can't keep her off. She will love it, just give her some time.