Riding with the one you love .....

[Rustynuts]

I absolutely love riding with my girlfriend on the pillion. I couldn't imagine riding with out her. We have a Scala intercom system, and being able to talk to each other is fantastic. We both see things that the other didn't see all the time, and can alert the other to take a look!

We have tried riding with other couples, but with few exceptions, we prefer to ride alone. We can do what we want, stop with out taking a vote, and ride as slow or fast as we wish.

Pretty much took the words out of my mouth. Exact same thing with my wife of 33 years, we love doing everything together. We have almost always rode alone and prefer it that way, once in a while my son will come along on his KLR but he doesn't have an intercom......for a reason
Besides, with her along I have a nice backrest.

 

[JWMcDonald]

"He didn't shut-up for 2000 miles; I swore right then that was the last time for me. I prefer to ride alone, in the quiet without any new tech toys."

There is an on/off switch...just saying.

 

[JDOCKERY132445]

Get a new wife

My first wife would not ride. Wife #2 had experience on dirt bikes; so getting her a BMW /6 just made sense; especially when I found it for $900.00. She rode it for three years when I sold my R69S and bought a R100RT. She traveled with me on that; but with two people and luggage, the pace was "leisurely". We got quite a reception at the BMW-RA at the Biltmore in 2004. Imagine her behind me with her rat terrier and a bike packed with enough for a week, including a collapsible cooler hung around the handlebars. I found a steal in a R1100RT in 2006 and our travels have been much more frequent and MUCH faster. The folks who attend the Low Country Boil in Tybee Island every year can attest to the fact that her dog loves the new bike. I like my new wife.

 

[TonyaVS]

I like my new wife.

That's a great thing!!!

 

[dpmonk]

Riding with my bride

I have been riding with my wife since I was 19 she was 17. I am now 62 so that is a few years. We have always done things together, and when she got interested in birding I finally bought some binoculars and joined her. We have traveled many many miles combining our two hobbies. She is the one who decided we needed communicators. I resisted but finally relented and bought some. Now wouldn't want to travel without them.

Our big goal has been to ride to Alaska, but we haven't been able to do that yet because 2 years ago she came down with aplastic anemia. After a year she recovered enough to make another trip to Arizona, one of the best trips you can imagine.

As I write this I am in the Methodist hospital in Houston. Donna had a bone marrow transplant last wednesday. She is doing well and we are just waiting for the donated marrow to ingraft and for her to finally return to good health. She probably won't be able to ride for a long while, but we are looking forward to the day when we can pack our GS, pack her binoculars and get back on the road.

Please consider logging on to www.bethematch.org or just google be the match.
Getting on the registry is easy, cotton swabs rubbed in the mouth and mailed back to Be the Match.

I thank God that some day we can ride together again.

 

[Voni]

Can't wait to read that Ride Report

Voni
sMiling

 

[rangerreece]

I'm in the registry

I have been riding with my wife since I was 19 she was 17. I am now 62 so that is a few years. We have always done things together, and when she got interested in birding I finally bought some binoculars and joined her. We have traveled many many miles combining our two hobbies. She is the one who decided we needed communicators. I resisted but finally relented and bought some. Now wouldn't want to travel without them.

Our big goal has been to ride to Alaska, but we haven't been able to do that yet because 2 years ago she came down with aplastic anemia. After a year she recovered enough to make another trip to Arizona, one of the best trips you can imagine.

As I write this I am in the Methodist hospital in Houston. Donna had a bone marrow transplant last wednesday. She is doing well and we are just waiting for the donated marrow to ingraft and for her to finally return to good health. She probably won't be able to ride for a long while, but we are looking forward to the day when we can pack our GS, pack her binoculars and get back on the road.

Please consider logging on to www.bethematch.org or just google be the match.
Getting on the registry is easy, cotton swabs rubbed in the mouth and mailed back to Be the Match.

I thank God that some day we can ride together again.

Beautiful post. You are a good man. One of my friends at work same disease hit is daughter, thousands came forward to swab, I was already registered from years earlier when another friend from work needed bone marrow. I hope she gets well soon. Maybe while in the hospital y'all can watch "the big year" with Steve Martin.

 

[dwestly]

My wife and I have been best riding buddies for 14 years, ever since she got her first riding endorsement. Now she's an MSF RiderCoach with me, we ride and teach track together, take long trips whenever possible and even run our own company in the motorcycle industry. We've probably got 200K+ miles together and always want to ride more. That being said, she never hesitates to tell me to go out and ride if she's busy. She rides her own, cleans her own, helps wrench on them. Oh, and she's seriously smart and cute as well. It's nice when your wife is also your best friend and your riding buddy! My love, on the track!:

 

[TonyaVS]

THAT...is just HOT!!! Good for you both!!!

 

[dpmonk]

Thanks Ranger...

Beautiful post. You are a good man. One of my friends at work same disease hit is daughter, thousands came forward to swab, I was already registered from years earlier when another friend from work needed bone marrow. I hope she gets well soon. Maybe while in the hospital y'all can watch "the big year" with Steve Martin.

I don't know about being good. I am looking forward to the day when God accomplishes that. It will be quite a feat.

I just want to thank you for being willing to be a donor. We were blessed that somewhere in europe a young man was willing to donate his marrow. One of two 9 of 10 matches. Knowing what I do now I wish I had done more before I got too old. We did watch "the Big Year" last year. It was hilarious. Maybe I can rent it while when she is released from the hospital.

 

[tourunigo]

Short version

Mary and I have always traveled two up. Lots of stories, laughs and more than a few beers 'n' dances at various rallies. This is one little view of our riding history. Like many 'older', previously married folks, we met in 2000 and in the summer of 2001 I asked Mary if she would like to ride to San Francisco. "Sure!" she excitedly replied. "Well, first I have to rebuild this old bike a bit (1973 75/5) but I need a place to do it. You have a basement in your house, soooo....., how about it if I rebuild there over the winter?" "Sure", she said. Well, you know, anyone who says 'sure' that many times is bound to be a good and likely interesting traveler. Sure.

So we pushed the now assembled /5 out the door in April, instant (almost) start and 500 miles later we're ready to roll. This will certainly be a trip that will make or break a relationship! The two of us, 55 going on 16, full of piss and vinegar, packed WAAAAAY more stuff than we needed. This is Mary on the departure morning.....



For two months we meandered. Attended the BMWMOA rally in Redmond (two up long distance award plus the novelty of camping with the Black Sheep).



Wandered the coast down past San Diego... up to Las Vegas.... down to Padre Island (so. Texas)... and over to New Orleans. Hot.

The Shadow was always there....



Up the east coast and at 11,500 miles we were challenged by some hub rivets giving up the job in Maryland. Pensky truck cured that so off we went to see the Statue of Liberty ....... exactly one month before 9/11.

We had an epic trip with challenges beyond the scope of our willingness to accept anything defeatist. I have often thought of doing a 'retro' ride report on this. Maybe so...... after I get done with the Salty Fog Riders Rally 2013 Ride Report!

And talking systems? sigh. - Bob

 

[dpmonk]

touring on a /5

I think it is so neat you are using a classic to tour on. I have an 09 GS and when 2 up that is how we travel just because with the Jesse luggage we can cary so much stuff. But when I am by myself I like the /6, it is just funner somehow. Thanks for proving how wonderful these old bikes are for touring. First time I took Donna for a ride on the /6 she said "its like riding a real motorcycle again". Goodbye Goldwing.

 

[brittrunyon]

It's just getting too cold..................

<a href="http://s1089.photobucket.com/user/brittrunyon/media/From%20the%20World%20on%20Two%20Wheels/PreTripRide_7575_zps45c0b2d3.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i358/brittrunyon/From%20the%20World%20on%20Two%20Wheels/PreTripRide_7575_zps45c0b2d3.jpg" border="0" alt="Going South........ photo PreTripRide_7575_zps45c0b2d3.jpg"/></a>

 

[i-scream-stop]

I thought I shot myself in the foot, I started the whole thing because when my wife worked a half mile from home I took my wife to a shop and said "you should get a scooter" thinking good milage, easy to get around and I could tool around on it. Backfire when she said she should just get a real motorcycle and she could go riding with me. At first I thought it was going to ruin my alone time, but after she got a little better and started running around with me she started needing bigger bikes to keep up. Last couple years she has had a Yamaha FZ-6 that we have made into quite a capable tourer and she want to go every where.
I have to say that it is great going places with her, we did try the intercom but she uses it for music and would complain when I tried to talk to her so I just took mine out and we both get our time in our own heads and only have to talk to each other when we stop for gas or food. She still don't do the miles I do and is not the ADDICT that I am but she "gets it" now.
Besides, I can not imagine hitting the hotel after all day in hundred degree heat and lying naked on the bed in front of AC with any one else.
I love riding and now I get to share it with my other love.

 

[weschmann]

Motorcycle riding is a lot like skiing together... My wife tried both one time, and said sorry honey, see you when you get back.... Funny thing is, after the first time I left for a week of snow skiing, when she picked me up at the airport, she said...."You back already?"... Now. forty years of marriage later, she's glad to get me out of under foot, and have a week or two of "Me time" to herself. I will admit that I stretched the limit this summer going to the Salem rally, by being away for a month, but I was smart enough to break up that time by flying her out to Seattle for a week of cage time together touring the mountains.....

 

[jacko]

Hi Walter....

Motorcycle riding is a lot like skiing together... My wife tried both one time, and said sorry honey, see you when you get back.... Funny thing is, after the first time I left for a week of snow skiing, when she picked me up at the airport, she said...."You back already?"... Now. forty years of marriage later, she's glad to get me out of under foot, and have a week or two of "Me time" to herself. I will admit that I stretched the limit this summer going to the Salem rally, by being away for a month, but I was smart enough to break up that time by flying her out to Seattle for a week of cage time together touring the mountains.....

She got away from you for weeks. The "Jackass Hollow" gang at Salem put up with you for a week!!!!

Just kidding Walter..........See you in ST. Paul.

 

[rd400racer]

You are a very fourtunate man. I'll be interested to hear others weigh in on this. My wife and I do many activities together, being with her enhances most of them when it comes to riding my situation is opposite but similar, my wife has zero interest in riding, however understands its importance to my well being and is very supportive of my MC time/trips and was the driving force behind the R1200r purchase last spring. We will see how this plays out later in life as Ive intimated at a 5 or 6 month retirement trip around the country, that did garner a rather scornful expression.

I only read the first couple of posts but the quote above is pretty much my story.

I dropped my wife in a slow speed turn in 1983 when we lived in the Florida Keys. I had on swimming trunks and she was wearing a bikini. Real bright, huh? She has not been on a motorcycle since then. I think since that time I have gone through close to 60 bikes and never once have I been able to coax her on the back. Not even my RT!

But she has never made the first comment about my love of motorcycles. My teenage daughter rides with me often. My son and I both race with WERA.




And the wife plays tennis!



BTW, tomorrow we celebrate our 31st anniversary. I'm a big fan of some things together, some things apart (so is she!).

 

[weschmann]

I only read the first couple of posts but the quote above is pretty much my story.

BTW, tomorrow we celebrate our 31st anniversary. I'm a big fan of some things together, some things apart (so is she!).

41 years of marriage and I couldn't agree more with your statement above. It would be fun for my wife to go along on the bike, but because she is scared of it, she would certainly not have any fun, and worse, may cause an accident if she got scared on the back and did something foolish. Much like snow skiers, if your scared of getting hurt, most likely, you will get hurt by freezing at the wrong moment instead of reacting to a bad situation..... Sometimes, it's just best to agree that some things just are not compatible, and cherish the activities that are......

 

[KJ6OCL]

+1 However my wife is not afraid of riding with me, she just gets very bored, and tends to fall asleep. That could be dangerous, so she will only go along on very short rides. I've tried to get her get her moto license, but that she is afraid of.

So I guess I will continue riding solo.

 

[weschmann]

She got away from you for weeks. The "Jackass Hollow" gang at Salem put up with you for a week!!!!

Just kidding Walter..........See you in ST. Paul.

Hey Jacko, good to hear from you..... And your right, she was grateful to get rid of me for a couple of weeks. If you'd played your cards right, she probably would have paid for your trip, just to put up with me....
I see you got away with publishing the Jackass club title!!!!!