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what did some of you do to get your wives/girlfriends to see that a bike is more than just a "cool" thing people do. I am trying to make her see that not only is the gas mileage better but that we dont need 2 family vehicles. She thinks I dont need one because I should get a family vehicle (she being my wife) but we already have one. Our minivan is our family vehicle so why do I need another vehicle for the family when all I plan on doing with a bike is driving ti back and forth to work. then she suggested I just get a used car like a festiva (Like im any safer in a festiva than on a bike) cause it gets the same gas mileage (in her eyes). I just cant make her see that a bike gets like 20mpg more than a festiva.

would dragging her along to a dealership help me in my case?

buy one and bring it home...see what happens.....

After the divorce, you can ride all you want

in all seriousness though, it looks like she will allways see the bike as "your toy" might help to get one she can ride on with you.

You'd better do your homework ... many bikes get much worse gas mileage than a festiva Take her to look at a ninja 250 or something

All I did to convince my wife was finally get her to go for a ride with me and she absolutely loved it. Now she is always bugging me to go for a ride.

Of course we are DINKS, so family matters aren't exactly a priority.

Very simple. Teach her to ride. My wife learned to ride and now commutes about 45-50 miles round trip to work whenever weather permits. Her definition: If it's 38 degrees or better and not raining when it's time for her to leave, she's riding. She's been doing this for about 8 years now. She talks about how riding has extended the life of her old, high mileage car because it rarely gets driven from early spring through late fall.

This does lead to some other issues, though. More bikes. We are now down to 4.
More riding gear: helmets, gloves, leathers, boots, etc.
More bike accessories: luggage(saddle bags, tank bags), cruise control for occasional use, etc.
More maintenance for me. Tires, oil, etc.

I already know what she is getting for her birthday. I want my electric vest back!

ofblong wrote:what did some of you do to get your wives/girlfriends to see that a bike is more than just a "cool" thing people do.

Well, first of all make sure that the wife NEVER meets the girlfriend or you'll have way more issues to deal with than just trying to convince them about a bike.

Don't focus on the "cool" factor because that won't lead anywhere. Women just don't buy into that sort of thinking. JCS has a good point in teaching her how to ride, but that won't work if the interest in motorcycles isn't there to begin with. Talk with her, ask what her concerns are about you getting one. Chances are she is worried about your safety and sees a bike as a dangerous toy instead of a fuel efficient commuter. Take steps to reduce your chances of injury - get all the info you can about motorcycle safety courses, take her to a few dealerships and have the salespeople talk to her and, most importantly, make sure your life insurance is more than sufficient enough to take care of her and the family should anything happen to you. Involve her in every step of the process and chances are she'll be more receptive to you buying a bike. Good luck!

TechBMW wrote:You'd better do your homework ... many bikes get much worse gas mileage than a festiva Take her to look at a ninja 250 or something

All I did to convince my wife was finally get her to go for a ride with me and she absolutely loved it. Now she is always bugging me to go for a ride.

Of course we are DINKS, so family matters aren't exactly a priority.

lol well the ones I am looking at get equal to or more than a festiva lol. either way I think I would feel safer on a bike than in a festiva though the only thing I have ever ridden were atv's. I am looking at 2 seaters as well because after we are done having this last kid in a couple months she will be able to ride with me lol.

gummiente I tried to explain to her that there is more than enough life insurance (3x more than enough to pay all our bills off) but she doesnt like to think about that happening lol.

thanks for the tips. I will ahve to wait till she has a day off during the week to take her to see a dealership as she works weird and different shifts every day. I asked her if she wanted to take the MSF course with me if I can get in (currently all classes are full) but she doesnt have any interest.

In my opinion you really should have a car, even a cheap beater, available to use so you don't have to monopolize the wife's vehicle in the event of: rain, flat tire, nasty cold, maintenance, engine failure, a wreck, etc. Your wife loves you, so think of bringing home a really cheap car as a manly way of showing that you care for her, too.

Took me months to talk my girlfriend into approving of the bike.

V4underme wrote:In my opinion you really should have a car, even a cheap beater, available to use so you don't have to monopolize the wife's vehicle in the event of: rain, flat tire, nasty cold, maintenance, engine failure, a wreck, etc. Your wife loves you, so think of bringing home a really cheap car as a manly way of showing that you care for her, too.

I use her vehicle when I go to work as it is now. and as for maintenance/engine failure hows that any different for a car as it is for a bike?

Convince the wife? Hell, it was her idea to get a bike in the first place.