Your motorcycle or your wife.

[Uwe W.]

Allstate Insurance in the US published the results of their survey that asked 500 men how important their motorcycles were to them. (http://www.passionperformance.ca/motorcycle/articles/1802/) The majority said more important than their wives.

Huh?

This did get me wondering how those of us north of the border would reply... so click the little button in the survey, and don't worry, it's anonymous.

[mrspock]

I am feeling oppressed by not being included . I refer this oppression as marriedism ( hey , I spent the past year doing research on oppression so bare with me here ) where it is assumed that one needs to be married .

Being single , I do not have to make such a decision :-) unfortunetly , I do find myself bikeless still ... and THAT really sucks :-(


spock

[Uwe W.]

Hey Spock, not to worry. You can still answer the question; just use an imaginary wife and an imaginary motorcycle when answering... :D

[TimP]

...and don't worry, it's annoymous.

Freudian typo or what!

I suspect what's "annoymous" are the wives! You better hope they don't read this, or if they do that they can't decode how we voted!

[KZDon]

Since there is a distant possibility my wife might see my answer - detrimental no matter what it is - I'll refrain from answering the survey. But I will tell you my sad motorcycle story -for some other guy...

After I picked up my V-Strom I sought out a centre stand. The Suzuki part lists for about $250. The local dealer, who thinks MSRP is just a starting point quoted me $320!!!!!!!!! for the Suzuki part. I knew I could get it for less elsewhere or order the SW Motech one from TwistedThrottle.

Then, I found a post for an OEM stand on craigslist, nearby, $150. I'm always sceptical of craigslist, given the number of phony posts it seems to generate, and in this case, the part number posted on listing came back as not being a Suzuki part.

But I emailed the guy. He said it was brand new, in the box, with all the parts and the Suzuki instructions. I offered him $100. He agreed, a little reluctantly. I arranged to ride down yesterday, about a three hour round trip. I figured that for the price, if it wasn't the right part I'd walk away and have a good ride anyway.

I found his place, met him, looked in the box, checked the part numbers - they were in fact correct for the Suzuki part. I gave him the $100 and took the box.

Now here's the sad bit.

It struck me as a little odd that someone would have a brand new centrestand for sale, no other parts, no V-Strom for sale. I thought perhaps he'd bought the SW-Motech part or maybe a wheelstand instead. So I asked him if there was a V-Strom to go with the stand.

There was, he said, but two days after he brought it home from Brampton Suzuki on May 12th, he took it back. When he brought it home, his wife saw it and said, "it's me or the bike". Oddly he chose her. And he took a $1500 hit on the return.

By following the transaction and shipping dates on the bill of lading stuck on the centerstand box, I'm guessing he ordered it the day he bought the bike, and before he got it home. The centerstand wasn't delivered until after the bike was returned.

So, I guess the insult to injury for him was selling the stand for $100. However, it sounded like he had his marching orders to get rid of any evidence of the bike, and I think the stand was the last of it.

He just looked so whipped.

[metalredneck]

1. The bike starts when you tickle the button, or kick it.
2. Frank: Don't feel slighted, we are just jealous of you.
3. The flesh & bone unit will ALWAYS be jealous of the metal & rubber ride.

[grog]

The key is to find a wife who likes bikes (or at least puts up with them without complaint) first. That avoids this particular decision.

Of course, the next problem is trying to find the time to ride your love, whichever it may be....especially after kids come into the picture.

[TimP]

He just looked so whipped.

Obviously the best way around this conundrum is to commit to the bike BEFORE committing to the woman. Then SHE's the one who has to lump it or leave it. My ex-wife would never have agreed to a bike, but the point was moot because I couldn't afford a bike then anyway. My (current? that sounds SOOO temporary...) wife is not a huge fan of bikes, but I was a rider when I met her and that's just the way it is.

I have to admit, though I'd appreciate no-one telling her this, that there's no way I'd keep the bikes if she had a valid complaint against them. I'm somewhat surprised that I'm alone in the bottom of the poll (although, having occupied the bottom rung of the MotoGP Pool for so long, I'm kinda used to it!)

Are you guys at the top being honest?

[Malks]

I agree that you must first find a significant other that either rides or at least tolerates bikes. That way you should be able to avoid the question. When I met my wife, (long before we married), I rode and she was often a passenger on my old BSA. While she no longer rides with me due to back problems, she has always been tolerant of my addiction to two wheels.

Even though I said I would give up the bike before my wife, I am sure she would find me difficult to live with, what with all the whining about missing my bike! So I would probably end up getting another one as soon as she left me.:rolleyes:

[TroyBe]

After reading and commenting on the other thread (re Uwe's anniversary), and then reading this one, I guess I am one lucky bast$%d.

I've got a few bikes in my collection and my wife has NEVER hinted, insinuated, or even suggested that I should get rid of any of them. She does think my Motorcycle magazine collection is a little extreme, but woman just don't understand the concept of the technical value of such things...wink, wink, nudge, nudge.

I got to thinking back about 20 years ago when I first met her, and the fact that I rode up to her on my Hodaka Super Rat, bare chested with only an open jean jacket for protection........it was love at 1st sight. It took us another 20 years or so to actually hook up again and get married, but she knew then as she does now that Motorcycles are a major part of my DNA.

I brought home a pocket bike two weekends ago for my 4 year old daughter, and my lovely wife didn't even batt an eye. She was just as revved up as my daughter, wanting to go for the 1st ride.

I echo Tims comment about getting the Bike before the woman, and I actually have used this theory for all my toys over the years, it's a lot easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission.

And just as an example of how things can go bad no matter what........One buddy of mine who was a Canadian Junior flat track Champ at the time, his new wife decided his passion was just too dangerous for her to stomach. Out went the racebike, and not too long after, out went the wife.

Well I'm off to Mosport tomorrow, and the Sheubie round is only a few weeks away.................Ride On


Cheers,

[Uwe W.]

Well I'm off to Mosport tomorrow, and the Sheubie round is only a few weeks away

I'd say you're lucky too.

Speaking of Mosport, Neil Graham is racing there in the 125 series. He won't appreciate my posting the times from the first practice session (especially since they used his age for a race number), so here they are:

Honda CBR125R Challenge Results from Friday's third Practice Session at Mosport's "Rider Development Track":

Pos No. Name Hometown Best Tm In Lap Diff
1 185 Raphael Archambault Quebec City, QC 1:26.786 5 -
2 707 Aubrey Bailey Parry Sound, ON 1:27.888 12 +1.102
3 111 Jeffrey Dion St-Cecile de Milton, QC 1:27.963 6 +1.177
4 89 Lee Kuhn Hamilton, ON 1:28.414 12 +1.628
5 217 Jermie Hade Precourt Grandby, QC 1:28.959 12 +2.173
6 08 David Booth Toronto, ON 1:31.059 7 +4.273
7 59 Neil Graham Toronto, ON 1:31.493 5 +4.707 :D
8 73 Jordan Cardozo Newmarket, ON 1:32.614 5 +5.828

By the way, for those that don't know him, David Booth writes for the Post. I'm surprised that he managed to edge out Neil in the timing, but will conclude it's because Neil has a good 20 lbs. over him! Anyone that has ridden the 125 will know that weight is everything, and those kids ahead of the journos don't even weigh 100 lbs. soaking wet.

Seems that Neil found the cinder block that Booth had tied to his sub-frame... how else do you suddenly "find" 2 seconds that fast? Could be some sandbagging going on for the big race.

Qualifying Results for Honda CBR125R Challenge from Mosport's "Rider Development Track":

Pos No. Name Hometown Best Tm In Lap Laps
1 111 Jeffrey Dion St-Cecile de Milton, QC 1:26.570 3 13
2 185 Raphael Archambault Quebec City, QC 1:26.644 2 13
3 89 Lee Kuhn Hamilton, ON 1:28.217 7 12
4 707 Aubrey Bailey Parry Sound, ON 1:28.760 4 13
5 59 Neil Graham Toronto, ON 1:29.407 10 11
6 217 Jermie Hade Precourt Grandby, QC 1:29.513 3 13
7 08 David Booth Toronto, ON 1:31.336 6 8
8 73 Jordan Cardozo Newmarket, ON 1:31.826 5 11

http://www.vorg.com/bc/images/Neil59.JPG

[Sidecar Bob]

23 years ago my wife & I were watching TV when an ad for the Honda Helix came on. I said something like "I could use something lke that". Kay replied "Why don't you go look at them on the weekend?"

Well, it's just not right not to do what your wife tells you to do - especially if it's look at bikes, so on Saturday Morning Matt (7 at the time) & I went to the Honda dealer. I never did buy a Helix, but a few weeks later I bought a used GS400 and the rest is history.

Choose between Kay & the bikes? I just have to go back to my understnding that obedience to your wife is of utmost importance and choose her, knowing that, since I don't drive cars (& she has never pressured me to get a license to do so) she would not let me get rid of the bikes. I live secure in the knowledge that if I didn't have the bikes she would have to drive me everywhere and the knowledge that she doesn't want that.

Ah, the joys of living with a wife that actually agrees with the logic of all this. And no, she doesn't have any sisters.

[Dennis The Menace]

I would give up the bike. But. My wife knowing me as she does. Would not want to live with me if I did not have a bike, as she knows how much it helps to keep my head on straight.

[Touring]

Being single, I don't have to make that kind of decision...which is why I have a few motorcycles. :D

And I wouldn't be married to someone who would put those limitations/ultimatums on me.

[Ivor biggin]

Today is my wife and my wedding anniversary, 43yrs. Most of our courting seemed to involve bikes and for most of our married life we have had a bike around the place. Pat, my wife, never did get a bike of her own but always rode up behind me, that is until I bought a Ducati 900cr. Anyway, even though the Duck is long gone, and I now ride solo I can`t imagine her asking me to quit. If she did, who knows? She does, however, complain endlessly about the price of tires.
I.B.

[metalredneck]

Happy anniversary, & congrats, Ivor! 43 is worthy of praise! I'm sitting at 23 yrs & counting. The key I think is to find a way to keep both the wife & the bike happy, which may not be easy, but when one lets you down, there's always the other.:D

[Dennis The Menace]

Ivor. wow. 43 years. Congrats. My wife and I just passed 11. A week ago.
I hope i can still ride in another 32 years.

[Hayabusa]

Since there is a distant possibility my wife might see my answer - detrimental no matter what it is - I'll refrain from answering the survey. But I will tell you my sad motorcycle story -for some other guy...

After I picked up my V-Strom I sought out a centre stand. The Suzuki part lists for about $250. The local dealer, who thinks MSRP is just a starting point quoted me $320!!!!!!!!! for the Suzuki part. I knew I could get it for less elsewhere or order the SW Motech one from TwistedThrottle.

Then, I found a post for an OEM stand on craigslist, nearby, $150. I'm always sceptical of craigslist, given the number of phony posts it seems to generate, and in this case, the part number posted on listing came back as not being a Suzuki part.

But I emailed the guy. He said it was brand new, in the box, with all the parts and the Suzuki instructions. I offered him $100. He agreed, a little reluctantly. I arranged to ride down yesterday, about a three hour round trip. I figured that for the price, if it wasn't the right part I'd walk away and have a good ride anyway.

I found his place, met him, looked in the box, checked the part numbers - they were in fact correct for the Suzuki part. I gave him the $100 and took the box.

Now here's the sad bit.

It struck me as a little odd that someone would have a brand new centrestand for sale, no other parts, no V-Strom for sale. I thought perhaps he'd bought the SW-Motech part or maybe a wheelstand instead. So I asked him if there was a V-Strom to go with the stand.

There was, he said, but two days after he brought it home from Brampton Suzuki on May 12th, he took it back. When he brought it home, his wife saw it and said, "it's me or the bike". Oddly he chose her. And he took a $1500 hit on the return.

By following the transaction and shipping dates on the bill of lading stuck on the centerstand box, I'm guessing he ordered it the day he bought the bike, and before he got it home. The centerstand wasn't delivered until after the bike was returned.

So, I guess the insult to injury for him was selling the stand for $100. However, it sounded like he had his marching orders to get rid of any evidence of the bike, and I think the stand was the last of it.

He just looked so whipped.

That's just wrong. [Yoda voice]Weak in him, is the Force.[/Yoda voice]

When Mrs Hayabusa and I first met, I was an avid rider and it was obvious that if she got involved with me, the motorcycling wasn't going to go away.

As a pre-teen, her sister's then-boyfriend took her for short ride on a sportbike and scared the bejeesuz out of her. So she was fine with me riding but made it clear that she was not interested in riding with me as a pillion.

My Jedi powers are strong however...now she has her own bike! ;)