View Poll Results: Did you stop riding when
You had your first child
58
29.90%
You had your second, third, etc children
18
9.28%
When your kids were between 5-14
20
10.31%
Never stopped riding
99
51.03%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 194. You may not vote on this poll
How many stopped riding when they had young children?
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Older and wiser
Quit riding when I was 28. Realized I was not a "responsible" street rider and was destined for a serious accident. I was not married at the time. Flash forward to age 45..My son turned 11 and wanted to try motocross. Got in to motocross at age 44 (both of us) Age 50 decided I was too old to hang with the kids on the track and retired from the dirt. Bought my first Harley, Now on my 2nd. Much more responsible now. Never worried about the safety aspect when my son was younger. It was about supporting a family and spending my free time with them.
Tourer
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 307
Likes: 6
From: Brentwood CA
Sold my last VFR when child number 1 was on the way. After 12 years of riding I stepped away to focus on the family and the danger was always there in the back of my mind. 6 years later by buddy gets a Honda Cruiser and I get the bug so I get a Yamaha Warrior just for a few trips with my buddy. I am up to 3 kids at that point. After 5 years I buy the bike of my dreams 09 RG and I am riding a lot again...then the wife gets a sportster...and then she gets a SG...needless to say the 3 kids have a lot of time to themselves these days.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 92
Likes: 2
From: Manitoba
I have been riding street bikes since I got my license at age 16. After I got married, my wife and I did a lot of touring on a Goldwing. Sold the wing when my first son was about a year old. I sold it more because of money issues than saftey concerns. Kids are all grown up and moved out now. After a 24 year wait, I bought an Ultra last spring. My wife enjoys biking as much as I do (we ride 2 up) and we had a great time being back on a bike. We put on about 15,000 miles this year, hope to do a lot more miles next year. It is great to be back on 2 wheels and hope to ride well into retirement!
Last edited by gregfri; Jan 8, 2012 at 10:46 PM.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
Never stopped. Raised three boys. Got them on the bikes at 5 or so and on their own at 7.
Here's my oldest at 9 on his little Yamaha that was styled like my XS1100.
I felt it made them better drivers when they got their first cars at 16. They range from 30 to 40 now and never had accidents. It think it worked.
I am a serious and committed defensive driver. I never felt for one moment that there was any risk. Besides had plenty of $ and insurance. If I were killed on a bike in those days there would be no question that some dude would be raising the boys and in bed with my hot wife and her big bank account.
For those that did take a break because of raising a family. I applaud you for a very mature and responsible decision.
Here's my oldest at 9 on his little Yamaha that was styled like my XS1100.
I felt it made them better drivers when they got their first cars at 16. They range from 30 to 40 now and never had accidents. It think it worked.
I am a serious and committed defensive driver. I never felt for one moment that there was any risk. Besides had plenty of $ and insurance. If I were killed on a bike in those days there would be no question that some dude would be raising the boys and in bed with my hot wife and her big bank account.
For those that did take a break because of raising a family. I applaud you for a very mature and responsible decision.
Last edited by lh4x4; Jan 8, 2012 at 11:07 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 791
Likes: 2
From: Canada
Interesting poll and responses. Bought my first bike in 93, couple months before my first son was born. Rode in Europe for a year or so which is inherently "dangerous", and then moved to quiet midwest small town, and did not ride as much. Wife was more worried about me getting killed on a snowmobile , especially on our road trips to the mountains for avalanche dangers (beacon you wear is to find the body I always thought..LOL). That said I am also in the Airforce and most folks consider flying to dangerous business, especially the insurance companies. So always made sure that was covered (money wise). As some others have said, you might buy it jay-walking across the street, but everyone of us knows, everytime you get on that bike you are exposing yourself to a bit more danger, no doubt about it. Have to think and make your call. I never stopped riding, sledding, or flying, took some breaks in between for sure, but got to live life. Always respect a person who puts family up there on the priority list , and only ever felt sorry for the guys whose wives made them give it up for life ! ...and yeah the 18year old is now recently eye-balling the 93 HD !, but might have him wait until college is done, and start with a smaller ride. good luck with your decision.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,045
Likes: 36
From: ST. Louis
You have to do whatever lets you sleep at nights. Some people it bothers, some people it doesn't.
Kind of like my friends who drink and drive. It it bothers me, but it doesn't bother them.
I started riding when I was 8 years old, quit when I had a kid and started again 20 years later.
It all depends on what you want out of life.
I have one friend who told their kid they where on their own to go to college (no tuition, no books, no room). But then they drink a 30 pack every night.
Kind of like my friends who drink and drive. It it bothers me, but it doesn't bother them.
I started riding when I was 8 years old, quit when I had a kid and started again 20 years later.
It all depends on what you want out of life.
I have one friend who told their kid they where on their own to go to college (no tuition, no books, no room). But then they drink a 30 pack every night.
Last edited by Texas Fat Boy; Jan 8, 2012 at 11:56 PM.
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 470
Likes: 2
I never stopped riding. I figured I could easily have a heart attack or get killed on the job just as much as I could die on a motorcycle. I don't ride THAT aggressively, I don't take unnecessary risks while riding, and I took out a life insurance policy on myself to make sure my daughter and wife are taken care of if something does happen. This all may change if I get into an accident *knock on wood* but for now, I'd rather die doing something that I enjoy than any way else. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to die. My daughter is only 2 years old and I want to see her grow up but like I said, I could die at any moment. I want to be remembered for the things that I've done rather than the things I didn't do.
