I didn't read thru all the replies. My dad didn't ride, and he's been gone a long time. Even so, he wasn't the kind of guy I would want to hang out with. But I did learn that I didn't want to be like him, and I wanted to be a good dad and have a good relationship with my sons.

One of the remaining items on my "Bucket List" is to do a motorcycle road trip with one of my sons. Not likely to happen with my oldest. His wife is much like my late wife was....."NO MOTORCYCLES!"

I told my younger son that after I retire in a couple years, if he gets his motorcycle license, I will GIVE him my 2014 Triumph Bonneville so we can do just that. That would mean a lot to me.

 

Growing up, my Mom got my Dad his first bike, and Honda CB125, which was a cold-blooded little beast. The day it arrived at the house, he took it for a ride, and then my Mom wanted to try. She immediately crashed it in the ditch across the street (we lived out in the boonies in IN, where the "block" was 5 miles, and not quite square), and messed up her shoulder when she smacked into the little windshield, and broke off the top left "corner" of it. We put the bike in the garage, and took her to the hospital. When we got back home, she said, "Help me get back on the bike!" She pushed up the sling on her arm, and grabbed the throttle, and took off. I couldn't have been more amazed! Then, my friend was selling his KZ100 bike, and I got Mom & Dad to get it for me when I crashed it the first time test-riding it, bending the brake pedal and turn signal. My only instructions were, here's the brake (front and back), here's the gas, here's the clutch, go! After riding around for a while, I decided to head back to the house, and as I was getting closer, my mind was thinking, where was the brake? I only seemed to remember the front one, and when I reached out to grab it, the throttle turned, causing the back end to skid out from under me. That's how the brake and turn signal got bent, laying it down. For the next 3 years, my brother and I would ride that 2-stroke baby around the 1.5 acre back yard, until we could get our actual driver's license. By that time, Dad had "upgraded" to a KZ400, which my brother and I traded riding to school fairly often in the spring/summer (IN winters were too brutal to ride all year long). Never actually rode with my Dad during any of that time, that I recall. However, after getting out of the AF, and getting married, and getting bikes for my wife and I, both, when Dad came to visit, he rode my wife's bike, and I rode along on about a 2 hour ride to a local MC rally. It was WONDERFUL, sharing my love of riding bikes with my Dad!! Those are terrific memories. Dad's still around, but living far away from me in FL, so can't really do that again. My brother, though, has also recently gotten his own bike, after many years away from bikes (his wife's present to him). Maybe he and I can go riding together one day. That would be nice, too. I've always enjoyed when my wife or my son and I can go riding together.

 

I am fortunate enough to ride with my dad and my son. I know I am a lucky man and enjoy the time we get to spend together.

 

My father was a good, hard working, honest man of incredible integrity. But, he hated motorcycles and motorcyclists. I never knew where that hatred came from. We did play ball together, go camping, and fishing. I relocated after undergrad school, and rode for About 5 years, and he never knew. It had nothing to do with his passing at age 69, but just coincidence that I started riding again after he passed.

 

My father has ridden his whole life and is the one who got me into bikes. He got me my first dirt bike when I was 7 and it was love at first sight. He is the reason why I got a bike in the first place, so we can cruise together. I'm lucky that he lives 15 minutes from me and we ride together every chance we get. He's 65 now and I'm 31, but he still does a good 7000 miles a year. He likes doing a lot of the charity rides and poker runs with my mom. Nothing beats hitting the road with the pops.

 

Unfortunately, My dad hated motorcycles with passion. However, He got me into snowmobiling and boating. Had tons of fun times together until he passed of Cancer in '92.


New Life after Divorce. Went out and bought a Sporty. My mom kinda looked at me dirty...What's your dad going to say if he had saw this bike ?. Told her that Dad would want me to put my bike by the curb on the street. She laughed, told me to be careful and enjoy riding. 3 months later, She passed away of Cancer too.


I sure hope that my parents are "The Angels" on my back every time I ride whether it's motorcycle or snowmobiling.


Haven't talked to my son in 8 years. I always pray and hope every day we will reunite someday and ride together so we'll see.


Thorey

 

Been riding with my dad since I was about 19. This is from a Toys for Tots run about 10 years ago. He's on his '03 Deuce and I'm on my '02. It's been a blessing to share the miles and the memories riding together.

 

Unfortunately I never got to ride with my dad, but he did get me back into riding when I had kind of stopped. My dad rode before I was born or until shortly after I was born. I started riding shortly after getting out of the Navy, but then my bike started having a lot of mechanical issues (it was a 16 year old Virago) and I kind of stopped riding for a few years. Then my dad starts planning on getting a bike when he retired, and that got me back into the idea of riding so I went out and bought my first Harley. Unfortunately my dad had a stroke before he got a bike, and that ended that. While I didn't get to ride with my dad, at least he is still around. He will throw a leg over my bikes from time to time but that is about it.

 

My dad always wanted a Harley. He spent his saved motorcycle money on my mother's engagement ring instead. Flash forward ten years, first time he got to ride he borrowed my uncle's Honda to ride my brother around. Tipped it and broke his ankle.

A few years later, he bought my brother a bike when he was old enough. Dad's excuse to my mother was they wouldn't have to haul him to all the sports practices anymore. Same thing when I came of age. I was just going to ask for a scooter at 14. "Let's get you a real bike!" So, got a Honda Rebel 250.

I stopped riding in my early twenties. School, work, etc...

When I turned 40, the bug reawakened. I was going to buy 2 bikes. I went and bought a brand new Fatboy. The plan was to get dad riding and proficient. Then it would be his or I'd buy him whatever he wanted. Well, he dumped the Fatboy. He just never had luck with bikes. Shortly after, he had some rotator cuff surgeries, knee replacements, and just couldn't get on one again. He passed away a couple years ago.

I ride the Fatboy today, but I've always considered it his.

As a consolation gift, I did get him a new Henry 30-30, one of the brass jobs. He wanted one of those for years.

 

Mom and dad have been riding for as long as I can remember, many years it was grandpa, dad and myself hanging out in sturgis. He’s is a shot of mom and dad on our way to Canada