Dealing with completely irrational anti-motorcycle friends/family...

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Originally Posted by benVFR

I have never had to deal with this at all as quite a few members of my family ride, including my dad, brother, uncle, etc.. and no one has ever been seriously hurt or even had a hospital trip.. even my mother thinks motorcycles are just great...

But my girlfriend's family on the other hand...

Most of the men in the family seem to quietly approve.. but almost none ride. The women are completely irrational & afraid of motorcycles and never shut up about it.. though personally I haven't really been given a "talking to".

Saturday I met the only member of the family AFAIK who rides.. guy in his 40s who has not rode much I think, seemed a little wobbly when I watched him leave... Turns out his wife doesn't let him ride on the highway. (Can't believe this???) Well anyway while I'm sitting there and no one knows I ride his wife, sisters, mother, etc.. just completely go off on him that he should leave his bike there that night cause there were like 2 sprinkles of rain outside, and have to come back to get it the next day... totally ridiculous. He stood his ground thankfully and I didn't put my foot in my mouth...
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:whisper: You shouldn't be telling everyone.

I look at them and tell them to bring out any newspaper and I will point out three things.

1. They were drunk or high.
2. They were not wearing proper gear.
3. They did not know how to ride ... ie. using only rear brake and leaving 300 foot skid mark ... OR ... doing something stupid like wheelying or going way too fast on a public road.

We in here all know of exceptions to the above three, it is rare but true.

But it shuts them up. If it does not, then they choose to remain ignorant and there is nothing one can do about it.

Just remember that an irrational number in mathematics never ends .... :spit:

Man I am lucky. My parents don't give a damn that I ride. I mean they want me to be careful but they didn't complain or anything when I got my first streetbike. I was raised around motorcycles. Got my 3 wheeler when I was 4. First dirtbike at 12. My inlaws are the same why. My father in law rides, and now so does my wife.

If I had a nickel for everytime I heard "my best friend's cousin's dog's former owners dad's older sister's exboyfriends uncle died on a motorcycle" I'd have a shitload of nickels. I usually just nod and they run out of conversation about it, or just shrug at them and tell them I enjoy it. I havn't really been ganged up on, but my mom gives me a lecture everytime she gets a chance. So I make sure to throw in a I'm going for a ride when she lectures me.

The ones that scare me are the nascar wannabee's. My sons g-friend thinks since we race and watch the motogp etc. we MUST like nascar.
Even the tree huggin granola eating green people I work with have to add their 2 shits worth of advice. Usually in the form of. "Oh, your gonna kill yourself on one a those things" oooh they are soooooooo loud!
Its not worth explaining........ tis better to keep it all in the family
Judy

People have completely rational fears about dangerous things, I agree... motorcycles are dangerous. As much as we feel confident and passionate about riding, there are those who will never feel the same way, like my mother. I fought tooth and nail to get my bike, and ultimately my father helped me pick it up.. he used to ride, knows what it's like to be a young adult and rider.

The trick to convincing people who are completely against riding is to show how responsible you can be. I find talking intelligently about riding, or any topic for that matter, is a surefire way to helping someone see your point of view. If someone presents me with an argument against riding (you're gonna die, there are those who have fallen and those who will) I go into riding techniques learned through MSF courses and how gear is a must, and that it's not about going fast and popping wheelies everywhere but riding at a pace that is moderate, safe, and enjoyable. Even if it isn't the case.