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Should you give up your motorcycle for kids?

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I really can’t understand new parents that give up the things they enjoy when the baby is born.  It’s the same old story all the time.

I saw an advert on the work bulletin board today for a Suzuki Bandit.  Excellent condition, 600cc and a genuine reason for sale as the driver is soon to be a daddy!!  Why does he have to sell his bike?  They're about to have their first baby.  I really don't understand why the bike has to go and I think he will regret it later.

Yes, its true that with a new baby on the way you need to act responsibly, but giving up your passion, or something that has given you so much pleasure really isn’t necessary.  Having kids is no excuse for so radically changing your lifestyle.

Suzuki Bandit FOR SALE - New baby means all the fun is out the window! I saw another similar advert on eBay a couple of months ago.  This guy was selling his paraglider and paramotor for next to nothing.  His wings had been “clipped” as a new baby was on the way. Get a life guys!  It’s a child and I’m sure it will grow up and completely understand that daddy likes to have a little fun.

Better to go for a ride on the bike than have an affair?

The thing is, every now and then you will really feel like you to need to get away from it all and that's when you will regret having sold these things.  Probably better to go for a ride on the bike or have a fly about than to have an affair I would have thought.


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DVB

DVB

I was planning to do my bike test when our first child came along. I postponed it, but only due to cost. A couple of years later I sold part of my business and immediately took my test. 5 years later, I've had 9 different bikes and have enjoyed about 50,000 miles of motorcycling. My two sons love the bike, and the eldest is looking forward to his first ride (when he's a little taller). My wife, who would never dream of stopping me from doing anything I want to do (as I wouldn't with her), happily joins me on the bike on the few occasions when the boys are with the grandparents.

It's hard enough for new dads to deal with the sudden loss of attention from their partner, without having to give up things that are important to them. If you can afford it, keep it.
05/08/12 DVB
-1
bikerdad

bikerdad

there are other places you can get cheap bikes from, ebay was just an example.
14/07/09 bikerdad
-2
bikerdad

bikerdad

Thats cool Mallory, congrats on the pregnancy. I hope he gets a bike soon. Yeh the initial outlay can be a lot, but if he's willing to a bit of work on it, he could get quite cheap off ebay, keep an eye out for something called C class write-off or something (cant really remember, sorry), its a bike with just cosmetic damage, rather than engine damage, a knackered faring for example, wouldnt be too much to fix, and it would mean the cost of the bike is less. Hope he gets it
14/07/09 bikerdad
-10
Mallory

Mallory

I speak with some experience actually - I'm 7 months pregnant and my partner desperately wants a bike, yet he's the one resisting because he knows the initial outlay would be expensive. I've told him though, as soon as we get some spare cash (IF!) he can get a bike. I've no objections to it whatsoever, as we already have a car which both of us drive, and him having a bike would free up the car for my use.

Yes a car is more practical with a baby, but I can't think of a reason why my partner shouldn't have a bike as well, so long as we can afford to buy one. The running costs are much less than a car so in many ways it's more praxctical. Shame on all you women who makoe your poor partners give up their bikes!

And yes I know this seems to contradict my earlier post, but I'm approaching from a slightly different angle here :-P
17/06/09 Mallory
-5
bikerdad

bikerdad

"But it simply comes down to money - a child is not cheap to run!" - no but a bike is (sorry had to say it)
I'm a dad with a motorbike, its my only transport as I dont have a car license. I cant afford to run a car so I run a motorbike. its a little cg125 and car drivers would cry at how little it costs me to run. I am passionate about bikes and I will be getting a bigger bike eventually.
There is absolutely no reason to give up your passion, be it bikes or paragliding or whatever.
I mean if I were to give up my bike and get a car, I would have to not only go through the pain of selling my bike, I would have to get a car license, a car (you dont want any piece of junk, if you driving children around), it's costs alot of stress, time and money, which you dont want when expecting or just after having a baby.
When I can afford it I will get a car (or my partner will) but I will keep the bike too. There's no need to get rid of it. If I have both it means that the car is free for children while the bike is there for me to go to work on (or some other journey where I wouldnt have children with me)
Also when my daughter's mum was pregnant she was a nightmare (i mean she's a b*tch anyway, so add hormones, you can imagine, anyway...), so having something like a bike is great because all you do is go for a ride, blow off some steam and save you and your partner from a nightmare of an arguement.
Well said Z. Having a bike is a symbol of freedom, but at the same time a car gives you the same freedom, doesnt it? it just doesnt have the symbology or whatever that a bike has. You can go all the same places in a car as you can a bike, generally speaking anyway.
So to all you women out there making there husbands/partners/baby-fathers get rid of their bikes, just remember he can go off just as easily in a car. So let him keep the bike, he'll be happier for it.
Am I wrong in any of this?
(sorry for going on a bit there.)
16/06/09 bikerdad
-1
Z

Z

" and he can always buy a new one when the child is older."

This doesn't always happen. A child is more often than not the death knell for the motorcycle man although there a few exceptions. Sad fact is girlie mums don't like their menfolk to have bikes once baby has arrived. The bike is a symbol of freedom. In a woman's eyes a man with freedom is a man with too many options, that and the fact that if he cops it (okay, motorcyclists MAY be more vulnerable) she's left holding the baby and there's no one to screw for maintenance. Cynical I know, and whilst I may not understand women, I understand their primal motives.
24/03/09 Z
-14
Mallory

Mallory

Perhaps it's more a case of a motorbike not being a family vehicle? It's better he give it up than risk taking a baby on a bike! A car is much more practical in that circumstance, and he can always buy a new one when the child is older.
24/03/09 Mallory
-2
Surferireland

Surferireland

I have two kids, I have given up motorcycling twice, and now have a blackbird.

When its in your blood it stays there.... forever.
03/10/08 Surferireland
1
Jimmy Riddle.

Jimmy Riddle.

It's a shame that people have to give up their prides and joys. But it simply comes down to money - a child is not cheap to run!
28/09/08 Jimmy Riddle.
0
ken

ken

As a 're-tread' returning to bike riding after a 30 year hiatus I have experience in this. To be "more responsible" I gave up bikes when my son was born...as if riding a bike was adolescent behavior.

1. Such sacrifice really doesn't benefit the child and will not be significantly appreciated.
2. Riding a bike for basic transportation (even part time) is a gas/money saver...more money for the child and a savings to the environment.
3. A bike CAN BE a link with your children to experience the world with you and thereby allow quality time with them and the opportunity to teach them...teenagers are a prime target (and having a bike makes you 'kewl')
4. You lose a lot of your riding skills not riding for years, and when you come back this loss is an risk to YOU.
09/05/07 ken
-10
bikerbod

bikerbod

I am a parent of 5 children myself and I fully agree with your gripes. Why should you give up your hobbies and passions just because you're having a baby. It's mad. Too many parents have become just parents and nothing else. How BORING! For you, and more so for your children. They want to see the real you. Your true character. Dont give it up, get them involved too, they might love it!
01/03/07 bikerbod
-9
stuartkeith

stuartkeith

HERE HERE! I Just had a baby in November (well the wife) and I Brought a Yamaha R1 to celebrate the occasion too :-)

Now, Ive been out on the bike about 4 times since getting the bike in october.

The worse/best bit is that I have slowed down! I havent found myself going over 70mph or so since owning the Bike!

So why sale? The only thing the wife insisted on was life insurance! :-<
24/01/07 stuartkeith
7
Bike rider (motorbike)

Bike rider (motorbike)

It may have had something to do with wanting the cash to spend on the child - quite the right thing to do in this case.
06/01/07 Bike rider (motorbike)
-4
Morgaine

Morgaine

Blunt, I had a bad bike crash many years ago, resulting in my knee having to be sewn together, and my daughter's godfather has had pins in his leg and in his shoulder.

I do appreciate what you're saying, but I don't want to live my life thinking "this may happen". I find I'm a lot more sensible now whether out with a car, bike or horse - but I would not give anything up completely.

I have to say that I do agree bikes are dangerous, but mostly due to inattentive car drivers!
06/11/06 Morgaine
6
blunt

blunt

maybe the vendor has decided that he'd rather raise his child than die in a bike crash?

priorities an all that?

anyone here been in a bike crash?

I have and it certainly puts it all into perspective.

I still dream of riding my bike,but I also dream of my childrens futures and I want to see them grow up.

honda cbr
19/10/06 blunt
-11

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