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i was wondering,my very soon to be wife wants to learn how to ride but im really paranoid.to me she seems like she couldnt handle a bike.shes very giddy and well jumpy.i have a street bob i bought in january and she wants to ride but if she messes it up i will freak out.now ive considered buying a smaller bike but they all seem too tall.shes is about 5'2"-5'3".also id hate to spend the money if she didnt like it or just gave up and quit after 1 try.ive tried to ride her on the back of my honda shadow i used to have and she said her back hurt soo bad without a sissy bar she was in tears.do yall think she really wants to ride or is this just a fantasy thought she is having?
If her back hurt riding on the back then she was probably not comfortable being on a bike & very tense. She shouldn't get a back ache. She needs to be comfortable w/ riding as a passenger first. That's my oppinion.
i can agree with that.i guess i didnt think of that.it make sense,or even she isnt comfortable riding with me but she thinks riding by herself would be different.i guess ill try again because she even freaks out when im driving the car.
From: Santa Clarita, So. Cal. & Bullhead City, Az.
RE: Lady Riders
My wife practiced on an old Shadow. We thought the same thing, if she 'spilled' it no major loss. She rode it for a couple of months, bought a Harley, then another Harley. Sold the Shadow for a couple of bucks less than we paid for it. No major loss. The Shadow was a '92 and had a seat height lower than my Dyna. She had no trouble. Good Luck!
I have wanted a Harley since I was 16 and got my D/L
For years I couldn't even fit on a bike
In Aug 03 I had Gastric Bypass surgery and I have lost 185lbs......I told my husband that I WAS getting a Harley when I reached my goal...he was cool with that.
Sept 25th 05- I bought my Sporty and all hell broke loose!
Now: husband hates the fact that I ride a Harley, says he liked me better when I was fat!
We are now in the mist of divorce, I am going through a mid-life crisis, life is too damn short...blah blah blah......
My boyfriend/ best friend/ biggest supporter for many years has a 94 DWG and we ride off into the sunset alot together........
For the first time in my life I am at peace with myself.......
I am a surgeon who performs a lot of reconstructive surgery. Not all that long ago, I operated on a woman who was highly motivated to undergo her facial reconstructive procedure. She was very nice but very quiet. Her husband seemed OK.
After her recovery, I came to know a different patient. She told me that for the first time in her life, she felt like her "outside" matched who she was inside. Her confidence was so much higher and she just seemed to be comfortable in herself. Her husband freaked out. He couldn't deal with someone who actually liked herself.
At one office visit she was telling me about this. I kind of joked with her and said "Well, we can fix that, too." She asked how. I said "Get a new husband." I was kidding. Six months later, at her final follow up appt. she was beaming. She said "I took your advice." I had forgotten what I had said and asked "what advice was that?" She told me she told her husband to leave and that it was all good.
SO You go girl. Never let anyone get in the way of your dream. If they aren't your biggest cheer leader, they "gotta go." Congrats on your health, internal and otherwise.
I am only 32, so no midlife issues just yet. I am single no kids. I bought my bike because I can. Plus I love riding and it's always one adventure after the next. I am very independent. So I dont need a guy to tote me around. However, might occasionally need help changing a tire. HA!
Wait a minute... I am 31 and I am using mid-life crisis as my excuse! [sm=grinangel.gif]
Yep, that's my ride! 2002 Fatboy. I have ridden a few other models, but that's the one I like the best. Put many miles on her already. It's very user friendly. I find the center of gravity is much more matched to my size. I have changed the seat (to a narrow and firmer seat) and put risers on my handlebars (due to a problem with long hours of riding and cramping in my upper back)...much more comfortable. Even Hubby says it handles better than his...and he LOVES!!!! his. Go figure!
Can you tell me what seat you bought and how tall of risers? My wife says she thinks she would like a different seat and needs a little more reach on the bars. She is 5'2" and is not quite flat footed but I'm not sure I want to lower it.
Thanks,
Phil
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My parents both used to ride. My dad had a Kawasaki and used to ride with me on the back. My mom had a Yamaha and used to put my brother on the back. I was comfortable enough that half the time I used to almost fall asleep. Things changed and my parents got rid of the bikes.
My neighbor used to have a mini dirtbike. I started to learn how to ride on that. Then when my brother was about 16 my other neighbor gave him a bike. I tried riding it and dumped it on the crushed stone in the driveway. That scared me off for a little bit.
When I started dating my husband, he had a shovelhead. We would go for rides and somewhere inside I knew I rather ride my own than keep sitting on the back and getting numb bum. I was still chicken though from my earlier spill. Finally my friend was selling his '87 lowrider. I always loved the bike and made a deal to buy it from him. I signed up for the motorcycle class and the rest was history. I kept the bike for a couple of years and then last year picked up my '05 Road King Classic. My husband is waiting for his '06 Ultra to come in by May and hopefully we'll be racking up the miles this season.
A few of you said you have a significant other that might want to ride or is still unsure.... have them take the motorcycle class and see if they like it. It sure as hell beats riding b**** any day.
I think my seat is a "Gunfighter" (which I don't think HD even offers anymore)...I think the closest is the "Badlander". It's a lot narrower than the stock seat and a bit firmer. I put 4" risers on the handle bars which helps me to sit a lot straighter as opposed to leaning forward too much (which is what I think cause me back problems)...Hope this helps.
Oh ya ... By the way, I am 5'6" tall (so comparing that with your wife's height...I think anything similar to both of these options would work for her too).
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