Advice on convincing wife to let me buy a bike

[junior varsity]

Did anybody say take the MSF course together so she knows what its all about?

No argument about getting a bike yet, just trying to get her warmed up to the idea.

[fastwin]

A couple of degrees off subject but much to my shock and dismay my wife actually let our 13 year old son ride on the back of a friend's Goldwing yesterday!! Could have knocked me down with a feather! He has been banned from the back of my bikes (nor has he ever wanted to ride again!) ever since my broken neck/wild turkey attack while riding through OK.

She visited a friend from her old neighborhood and that gal's husband rode home from work on the 'wing and somehow someway he managed to take the kiddo for a spin around the neighborhood! I can't believe I am even typing these words!!!

So, point to original poster, never ever count out the spouse to do something pro-scooter when you least expect it! [moto]

[junior varsity]

i used to get good and warmed up for a ride by burning up and down the natchez trace between Hwy 100 and Hwy 96 back in TN. Frequently turkeys would wander out in front of you, but mostly where the turns open up a bit and you can steer around 'em. I've put boot to turkey ass multiple times!

[fastwin]

I've put boot to turkey ass multiple times!

Wish I could say those words. There was no avoiding this kamikaze dumb SOB. He had tone, he had lock. It was a direct hit. I am one of a handful of folks that can claim they have sliced a full size big ass gobbler in half with an Arai RX7 Corsair at 60mph!

Last Canadian Exit, DO NOT let your spouse read this post!! She'll have visions of moose bouncing off your helmet!

[rgramjet]

April 3, my son and I will do our best to "harvest" 3 Virginia Turkeys....in the name of safe motorcycling of course!

[Popeye the Sailor]

Wish I could say those words. There was no avoiding this kamikaze dumb SOB. He had tone, he had lock. It was a direct hit. I am one of a handful of folks that can claim they have sliced a full size big ass gobbler in half with an Arai RX7 Corsair at 60mph!

Last Canadian Exit, DO NOT let your spouse read this post!! She'll have visions of moose bouncing off your helmet!

Are you available on thanskgiving? 

[fastwin]

It has become one of my favorite holidays! Every Thanksgiving I have several "friends" that leave gobbling sounds on our home voice mail. I have even had threats that there is a bounty on my head and a hit out on me through some shadowy Oklahoma turkey mafia outfit. Something about me meeting some ominous turkey named "Fat Tony"... don't know quite what to make of it.  Of course my collection of stuffed cartoonish looking turkeys that gobble when you squeeze their stomachs has gotten quite impressive. So yes, I guess I could be available.

While in the hospital, going over their delicious food menu, I was jotting down my requests for the daily meals. My son suggested that I put down turkey sandwiches for lunch every day to "get even"!

[fastwin]

April 3, my son and I will do our best to "harvest" 3 Virginia Turkeys....in the name of safe motorcycling of course!

Lucky some Parks and Wildlife officer didn't cite me for harvesting out of season. My come back would have been they owed me money for taking the dumbest turkey out of the gene pool.

[mraff]

Buy 2 one for you, and one for her

[gatorgrizz27]

Why not just start out in the dirt?  You can pick up a decent dirt bike for under $2K, no real argument about safety compared to riding on the street, its cheaper, you have a blast and learn all of the skills.  Also when you crash / drop it it costs nothing.  Then in a little while you can pick up a street bike and you will have skills and she will feel better about it because you have already been riding.

[hcomp]

I wanted a bike forever.....My wife was also dead set against it. I just waited till gas was $4.00 per gallon and I simply said; I'm getting a bike end of story...No arguments, no fighting....She at least said "If you get a bike, you can only get a Ducati". I accused her of being a label whore and that is what I already wanted. 

[Last Canadian Exit]

Looks like I am losing this battle.  Summer is here and I got bupkis.  I think the dream is over!

[muskrat]

Looks like I am losing this battle.  Summer is here and I got bupkis.  I think the dream is over!

NEVER say that.  You need your "man" toy.......go get it and ask for forgiveness

[mookieo2]

Goonies never say die!

[mstevens]

"A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still."

This applies to women, too. "Talking her into" something is a losing battle. She'll always remember that she'd initially opposed it. She'll resent feeling manipulated.

Much depends on what your arrangement is about disagreements, which you haven't mentioned. Nobody in my marriage "wears the pants." Basically, whoever feels the strongest about something is likely to prevail, but we've been married 29 years and see each other as adults.

You should really be getting advice from your wife, not from us. Why not, in all honesty, ask her for this? E.g.: "Honey, I'm really interested in riding a motorcycle. I know you're not comfortable with the idea. What might make you happier about it?" Don't focus on facts and figures, which are irrelevant here. Focus on feelings, which is what this is about for both of you. When you think of your wording ahead of time, substitute "hooker" for "motorcycle." (You can leave "ride" alone, if you like). This may help you imagine the sort of reflexive, visceral responses that might arise.

Although I've said you should not be taking advice from here, I'll burden you with some anyway. Instead of talking about getting or riding a motorcycle, tell her you want to take the MSF class together. Do some research ahead of time and go all-out to find a class with a female instructor, then make sure she knows there is one. Emphasize words such as "share" and "together" and make this an adventurous date for both of you instead of something for you alone. See if you can get her mom or one of her friends to watch the kids during the classes, which may make the course something that she's doing to make them happy, rather than you. Make completely certain that she knows the requirements that safety gear be worn and that helmets will be supplied. After classes, go out for a bite to eat somewhere that you can talk. Do not try to build any sort of case. Just talk about the shared experience ("Wow - how did you like that avoidance maneuver? I thought it was sort of hard at first, but it turned out to be pretty fun, don't you think?)

If she won't take the course, look for another hobby. If she does take the course and this doesn't change her mind, look for another hobby.