To frame this up right, I had just broken up with my girlfriend after she had given me the "motorcycles are dangerous line" after we had been dating and riding 2 up together for about 6 months. My response to her was the bikes were here long before you and will be long after you. Didn't see her again after that.
I met my life partner of almost 24 years about 6 months after that. She was widowed about 2 years before we met with a 4 year old daughter. We had a daughter two years later. She is currently senior year in college and the other daughter works as a project engineer for me in the company I work for. Although we don't have a piece of paper, we consider ourselves married and very committed to each other. Family is very important to us. We put in place necessary legal mechanisms to allow each of us to make decisions for the other if either was incapacitated such as medical directives and powers of attorney. Our kids are both well aware of our situation.
Our first date was to the motorcycle show, where one of my road race bikes was on display (1994 Honda RS250 GP bike) and I was very active in the local road race club as the race director and on the board of directors. I wanted her to know that this was very important to me and not negotiable. Fortunately for me, she was all for it.
We ride 2 up about 95% of the time. We our SS1000 2 up, and did one of the How the West Was Won rallies a few years back. We plan to see if we can get drawn for the 2023 IBR. She has her own dirt bike and we do a lot of that, though not so much now. She doesn't ride on the street by herself, primarily because of me. Our paces would be so different, that I could not relax and enjoy the ride worrying about her. Both of our daughters grew up riding dirt bikes, the youngest started when she was 3 with a Suzuki PW50, which she kick started herself. Both still have Honda CRF 150s.
She loves to ride as much as I do. We take at least one long trip every year on the bike - 15 days or more) and we tow a bushtec trailer, camping the whole way. We have been to Alaska 3 times, Canada many more than that. All over the western half of the US. I give her the camera and she takes pictures as we ride along.
At this point, if she told me we should pass up a ride, I would agree knowing that we would reschedule and do it later. She has never asked me not to ride. I think the fact that she was a widow when we met changed her perspective about life and understanding tomorrow is not guaranteed.
We have taken numerous weekend getaways and week long trips each year. It is our time to ourselves. We can spend hours talking while riding or hours just listening to the music. It is 'our" time together which we have made a point to have as much as we can over the years. It is cherished time for both of us. We are looking ahead to next year and what rides we want to plan. Looking at a 3 week east coast trip with a couple of SS1000 or BBG planned to eat the miles up so we can spend as much time in the New England states before we have to head back.
I met my life partner of almost 24 years about 6 months after that. She was widowed about 2 years before we met with a 4 year old daughter. We had a daughter two years later. She is currently senior year in college and the other daughter works as a project engineer for me in the company I work for. Although we don't have a piece of paper, we consider ourselves married and very committed to each other. Family is very important to us. We put in place necessary legal mechanisms to allow each of us to make decisions for the other if either was incapacitated such as medical directives and powers of attorney. Our kids are both well aware of our situation.
Our first date was to the motorcycle show, where one of my road race bikes was on display (1994 Honda RS250 GP bike) and I was very active in the local road race club as the race director and on the board of directors. I wanted her to know that this was very important to me and not negotiable. Fortunately for me, she was all for it.
We ride 2 up about 95% of the time. We our SS1000 2 up, and did one of the How the West Was Won rallies a few years back. We plan to see if we can get drawn for the 2023 IBR. She has her own dirt bike and we do a lot of that, though not so much now. She doesn't ride on the street by herself, primarily because of me. Our paces would be so different, that I could not relax and enjoy the ride worrying about her. Both of our daughters grew up riding dirt bikes, the youngest started when she was 3 with a Suzuki PW50, which she kick started herself. Both still have Honda CRF 150s.
She loves to ride as much as I do. We take at least one long trip every year on the bike - 15 days or more) and we tow a bushtec trailer, camping the whole way. We have been to Alaska 3 times, Canada many more than that. All over the western half of the US. I give her the camera and she takes pictures as we ride along.
At this point, if she told me we should pass up a ride, I would agree knowing that we would reschedule and do it later. She has never asked me not to ride. I think the fact that she was a widow when we met changed her perspective about life and understanding tomorrow is not guaranteed.
We have taken numerous weekend getaways and week long trips each year. It is our time to ourselves. We can spend hours talking while riding or hours just listening to the music. It is 'our" time together which we have made a point to have as much as we can over the years. It is cherished time for both of us. We are looking ahead to next year and what rides we want to plan. Looking at a 3 week east coast trip with a couple of SS1000 or BBG planned to eat the miles up so we can spend as much time in the New England states before we have to head back.