Over the last few years I have been lucky enough to persuade my wife to jump on the back of my bike and travel to some fab places on several continents. Now things are getting serious! The trips are getting longer and more adventurous. The need for travelling on a smaller bike has arrived to allow travel in even more fab places. There is however a problem......

2 up on a C90 aint going to work too well in my view So I'm thinking maybe 2 bikes is the answer? But Maggie my wife has said in the past she will not ride a bike herself. Having said that this year after a "falling off up a mountain" she did suggest perhaps she should at least be "capable" of riding should the need be there. ( I hurt my ankle but just managed to ride ) So I'm thinking I might strike while the idea is still in her mind. Book up a CBT and see what happens. Then maybe get her to take a test on a small bike 125cc / scooter ?? That would be great if she would do it.

I wonder if anyone else has gone down this route with a partner/friend etc...?? How did it work out ?

I know one shouldn't "force " people to do things but I know she loves what we do 2up and feel this next step could be fun for her too, she just don't know it yet

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Regards Tim

Learning my craft for the big stuff, it won't be long now and it's not that far anyway

Two experiences of that, one good, one, well, not bad but not much point.

The last first - my (ex) wife back in the late 70's expressed a desire to get a bike licence after we'd done several long trips. She could use it to go to work, save a bit of money etc as well. To make life nice and simple we bought her a Honda ST70. Those of you that remember them will know that they're small autoclutch bikes that fold up even smaller to go in the boot of a car. Being small built it was perfect for her and she got through her test easily enough. But when we came to upgrade to a 125 Yamaha that I had she just couldn't get on with it and her biking life just kind of ground to a halt. Given that I was using a GoldWing as a touring bike at the time she wan't going to be much use as a reserve rider.

OTOH a friend in the USA has his-n-her's 200cc classic Yamahas that they trailer to interesting parts of the country, leave the car in the campground and explore on the bikes. They've done that for years and it works well.

You also might want to consider whether the cost of obtaining a licence looks like value for money. It's somewhat more expensive than it was.

I was in the same boat a number of year's (28) back. After regularly riding as a pillion my wife decided to obtain her licence, so after she had completed the practical training we went out and found a Suzuki GN250 (yes, she has duck's disease) for her.

We brought it home on Sunday, and on the following day (Monday) she went to the doctor as she was feeling unwell. The doctor told her she was pregnant and needless to say we waved goodbye to the little Suzuki around 3 months later.

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Garry from Oz - powered by Burgman

Surely a bike license is value for money no matter what the cost?

But, yes indeed, it is a very costly exercise for new entrants in to the hobby? Way of life? Addiction? Whatever you wish to call it .........

I think maybe the Auto-scooter thing will be the way to go for starters and see how that pans out. In fact a 50cc scooter will require no further form filling test taking etc. as my wife has entitlement to ride one with her current license having driven a car since 1995. Actually in 1995 there was more crashing than driving, but she's grown out of that now.

I've never actually been on one that small so it might be fun to chuck a two in a van and head off somewhere in Europe, providing the laws are the same in our chosen destination. ( I think most are )


farqhuar - ah yes.......children. How those little bundles of joy do change your life ! My biking stopped with the arrival of children, can't remember why? ( money/time/both or barbie dolls??) 20 years passed in the blink of an eye. I do my best to catch up for that lost time in the saddle.

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Regards Tim

Learning my craft for the big stuff, it won't be long now and it's not that far anyway

Only if it continues to be used.

My wife went from hating all things bikes, to riding as a pillion, to taking her test and owning her own bike, to losing interest.
Now she is the worst of pillion passengers, being prone to trying to steer the bike from the rear.

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Dave

Can't remember how much my licence + test cost but as it was back in the dawn of time it was probably about 5/6d + a few odd farthings to buy the bike in the first place. These days with all the cone riding and bike rental and profit margins I don't think many end up with much change from £1000 to get a licence for a decent sized bike. Come to think about it, with inflation that's probably about the same amount

The 50cc trip sounds like a good idea - just don't go anywhere with any hills unless you want a combined walking and biking holiday. Holland is probably your best bet!

Children can be so ungrateful. We went to all the trouble of taking child 1 to the US when my wife was pregnant with him and he doesn't remember a thing. All that money, wasted

Sidecar;

1. They get used to being able to carry the ball gowns, choice of shoe colours, spare curling tongs etc.

2. A few European side overtakes using the passengers facial expression method should convince that two bikes are better.



Andy

I did suggest it once some years back, I got seriously abused, despite the promise of curling tongs. What is it with bloody curly tongs that they can't do with out?? My wife has straight hair - :confused1:

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Regards Tim

Learning my craft for the big stuff, it won't be long now and it's not that far anyway

Hello g6snl, Lida my wife, swore for years she "would never get on a motorcycle" and so we travelled for 25 years by bicycle. Firstly short local trips followed by longer trips within our state NSW and followed by more extensive travels throughout Australia. All by bicycle. At one stage, we were away from Katoomba for 4 years. Fantastic fun. 19½ years ago Dylan arrived in our lives and slowed us down somewhat. Although we continued on with our bicycle travel, each step seemed slow and gradually, our touring almost stopped. When Dylan reached 15 Lida purchased him a motor cross motorcycle. This began a new life, for all of us and eventually, Lida came home and told Dylan and myself, she was "booked in to do the Learners course with Stay Upright. Perseverance and a couple of attempts got her through and onto her L plates. A year later she finally obtained her provisional motorcycle license. Now, three years later, Lida has done around 45,000kms, has had two motorcycles, (a 250 virago and a CB400), and has ordered a new BMW G650GS only 3 weeks ago complete with accessories sufficient to commence long term touring. Not bad for a girl who said she would "never ride a motorcycle". Progress has been slow but continuous and lots of fun. Motorcycle touring with the person closest to you is very special. I am attaching some photos to show Lida and her progress through the ranks of motorcycles. Best of luck to you both. Rod.

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The woman's perspective. I have been riding for just over 18 months, am 57yo with no prior bike experience. We have been travelling RTW for 5 months both on DR650s They can be lowered for the shorties like me. It has been baptism by fire. Many days I felt terrified. I still have a lot to learn, but am improving. Definitely start small with a bike she can pick up on her own.Im only just feeling confident to ride on my own knowing I probably wont drop it. Having said that I'm laid up in Thailand with a broken foot.
Its not without issues for us though. Im much slower and his riding enjoyment is compromised and I feel inadequate much of the time. Many couples love 2up. If it aint broke dont fix it, I say.