How to convince your wife or girlfriend to let you ride…

[Sorry ladies, this post is for the guys.  But if your situation is reversed and the man in your life doesn't want you to ride, then I guess some of this stuff might apply - but probably not]

Alright men,WE know who the real boss is in your relationship. Sometimes it's the sign of a real man that you have a woman in your life who's worth giving in to. But when if riding a motorcycle is your dream, then it doesn't have to be a losing battle. I've seen a lot of guys go about this the absolute wrong way, so here's a tongue in cheek "guide" to getting your butt on a set of wheels.  There are plenty of wives and girlfriends who love their men, and yet are cool with them riding motorcycles: here are some tips on helping her get there…

**#1, Take the MSF Course…
**You can't get a motorcycle until you get a motorcycle license. And the best way to get introduced to street riding is by taking a two day Basic Rider Course. Not only do you get to ride around real motorcycles for two days, at the end of the course you get your motorcycle license endorsement (that you mail in to the DMV, and a few weeks later you get your license in the mail).  You can click to find locations around NYC here.

"But my girlfriend isn't going to be okay with me getting a motorcycle license…" That's why you don't SAY you're doing it to get your license… The Basic Rider Course counts as a "driver education" course that can lower your car insurance rate. Start off by commenting how much you're paying for car insurance… and suggest that maybe you'll take one of those driver's ed classes to get a discount. Then get a buddy to sign up for the class with you.

"But what if she still freaks out that it's a motorcycle class?" Explain how safe it is, that all the riding takes place in a large parking lot on these tiny training bikes that no one would want to actually ride on the street. Tell her it's always been a dream to ride a bike, "oh but it's so dangerous" but now here's the perfect solution…it's safe, fun, AND will save money. How responsible is that?

**#2, Think Vespa…
**Scooters, and Vepsas in particular, are scientifically engineered to appeal to women. They look at it and see Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday. They look cute, and almost as important, SAFE. Never mind that modern scooters (over 50cc) are motorcycles that require motorcycle licenses, and can cruise at highways speeds. You want to get the picture into your motorcycle resistant girlfriend/wife's mind that your motorcycle dream looks something like this:

And not like something out of a B-movie…

After the idea has sunk in for a while, you can start considering bikes like the Vespa 300:

Or the BMW Scooter:

Both great bikes in their own right…  And if you decide to ride either, you probably wouldn't regret it.  But if you really want a motorcycle or sportbike, these are the gateway drugs…  It's a small step (performance wise and price wise) to something like the great new Ninja 300 starter bike:

Kawasaki's new entry level motorcycle is comparable in price and performance to the larger engined scooters.  Or if you don't like Kawasaki's there's also Honda's CBR 500:

But the key is… These are "entry" level motorcycles that are comparable in speed (and safety) to the scooters you were thinking of.

#3, Stay safe!

Once you get on two wheels the key is to play it safe and responsible.  That means: no close calls.  Wear protective clothing.  Take nice short trips while you build up your riding skills.  Get additional rider training when you can. Think and talk safety… Not just for your wife or girlfriend's sake - but because that's actually how experienced bikers think.  Long time riders are always thinking and talking about safety and ways to reduce risk - that is probably how you get to be a long-time rider.

Conclusion:

As fun as motorcycles appear to non-riders, it's actually even MORE fun than it looks, and adds to your life in ways that are hard to explain.  Also two wheelers have certain advantages in congested cities like New York (you can get across town in rush hour in five minutes instead of an hour by car). Starter and scooters are also pretty good on gas (60-100mpg), and a great way for two people to get around the city.  But I don't need to sell you on this… Got any other tips for convincing a reluctant wife or girlfriend? Share the wealth in the comments section.

Related posts:

1. NYPD Hard on Bikers?
2. Ride To Work Day - Wednesday July 16!
3. Why ride?