Riding and Dating...

[Adamm0621]

So the back story is, I've been talking to this new girl for a couple of weeks now.  We originally met through friends, and it just so happens that she also rides.  The first night we met, we rode two-up on my Monster because her ex-boyfriend (and for good reason) crashed her bike.  She should be getting a new bike soon, so hopefully we'll be riding together in the near future.

Honestly, with no offense to any females on the board, the majority of rides that I've gone on with females present were less than enjoyable due to their riding ability, or lack thereof.  I'm not talking about spirited, carving the twisties, WOT riding, just casual group rides.  Now, this girl was a great passenger, but that doesn't guarantee that those skills transfer to riding solo.

Does anyone here have any experience of riding with someone they were/are currently involved with?  Does riding and dating mix, or does it lead to competitiveness, bitterness, etc..?

This is most likely one of those scenarios where I'll just have to wait and see how things play out, but in the mean time, I figured I'd ask you all and see if there's anything to be learned from past experiences.  Advice from any of the female riders on the board would be greatly appreciated as well.

[duc996]

Man that's great that you're dating a girl that rides ,i would just enjoy and cherish it, hard to find a date that has the same passion as yours :-)

[Raux]

my wife never rode before meeting me.
i taught her how to be a good passenger.
now she wants to get her own bike.
and... she's scaring me with her goals... she wants a Diavel. I have a 696. My ego is dying.
but honestly, I think she's hot for wanting to ride.

[zooom]

my fiancee rides...it was because of local social Ducati Monster meet-ups through T.O.B. in the CAM group....she didn't have a bike or the endorsement yet, but she was set in her ways to get there...

here we are 5+ years later...She graduated from her GS500e, she has her M620 still and is looking to potentially upgrade to my track M900 for the street...she doesn't ride as fast as I do, and probably never will...but she knows and understands the concept of riding your own ride and always encourages me to not wait for her and just do my thing and she'll catch up...and it all works out in the end as long as there is a clear understanding and no one's ego gets in the way.

[DesmoDiva]

I started talking to my husband due to his ST4.

At the time I didn't have my M endorsement, just permit. 

A couple years earlier, I had started out as a passenger with my previous bf, and quickly wanted a bike of my own.  I bought a little yami cruiser that I rode for a few months and hated.  Never felt comfortable on it.  Life changed and the bike needed to go.

I never gave up on riding, it just wasn't the right time. 

B and I met and started dating a few months later.  He bought me the MSF course for my birthday.  He started me back riding on his ST4 in parking lots.  Then we starting looking for bikes for me.  Nothing seemed to fit as well as the ST, but it was a bit bigger than I wanted, until I saw  a Monster.  So, he bought me a 695. 

The ST that started it all is now mine, and I sold my 695 and upgraded to a 749 SBK.

We've ridden two-up as necessary, but definitely prefer riding our own bikes.  He always lets me lead. 

I'm a much worse passenger now that I ride my own bike. 

Kudos for finding a partner that rides.   

[ducwild]

Nothing sexier than a woman that rides.   

[ducatiz]

we rode two-up on my Monster because her ex-boyfriend (and for good reason) crashed her bike.

He had a good reason to crash her bike?

[zooom]

I think he meant it was a good reason as to why he is her ex...but I thought the same thing in how it was worded...

[ducpainter]

I think he meant it was a good reason as to why he is her ex...but I thought the same thing in how it was worded...

I think that too.

The opposite never entered the picture...because of the way it was worded.

[PhilB]

I'm all for it.  If you are secure enough to not get all competitive, then that is out of the way (and if you're not, that's something YOU need to fix).  If the problem is that she doesn't ride well enough, then get her (or even better, go with her to) some riding classes (Total Control, etc.).  Several of the women I have dated were riders, and it was great to have that shared interest.

My wife did not ride when we met, but was a good passenger.  The Monster is not a great two-up bike, though.  I was thinking about getting an ST2 or similar, but had an opportunity to pickup a little Honda 250, so I did that for her to learn to ride on, and she took to it.  So now she's got her own Monster -- problem solved.  Our daughter rides, too, and wrenches on her own bikes.  Between the three of us, we've got 10 motorcycles and 1 car.

PhilB

[ducatiz]

I think he meant it was a good reason as to why he is her ex...but I thought the same thing in how it was worded...

i had a feeling it was that, but the way it was worded indicates otherwise.. :-)  split predicates are very tricky..

[carbmon]

My second (and last) wife was riding a Guzzi V50 when we met at an office party.  I was on an R100RS in those days.

A slender Canadian living in Texas with red hair and black leather (literally) on an uncommon Italian bike.  Waaay too smart to let any guy ride her scoot, or to trust any guy as pillion.  An independent gal.

Lust at first sight.  "Dating" didn't last long.  'Lived in sin' for 5 years then 22 years of marriage.

The obvious answer is "Hell Yes"  .... you just might get as lucky as I did.

 


oh yeah, #1 you ask?  hated bikes  .... I should'a known better .... at least I applied lessons learned 

[Grrrly]

2001cromo (Terry) and I met in Sept of 2004.   Our Monsters brought us together.  I was riding a M620 at the time and he had a M900 (before the cromo).     We were both 35 when we met, I was a newbie with 6 months of riding experience and he had been riding since he was 16.    I'm the type that is always trying to learn.  So I learned what I could from following him around, but I was the one that brought him with me to the Total Control ARC courses.   And funny enough, after the Level 1 course he thanked me, because he actually learned alot, even though he thought he wouldn't get anything out of it.
I 'm the one that suggested for us to ride to Deal's Gap.   I'm the one that suggested to go to the track, and signed us up for our local Duc club trackdays and Cali Superbike School (levels 1-4).  For the past 3 years or more 99% of our riding is only track.   

It wasn't only the riding that brought us together.   The other bond is  the reason why the majority of us DMFrs are here: we both suffered mod-itis... really bad cases!   So we spent many of nights together working on our bikes!

After first meeting Terry and following him around for a month, it turned to me doing the  leading.  I think for a couple of reasons.  #1 He enjoyed watching my butt as I rode,   and #2 importantly he is HORRIBLE with directions.  I was always the one planning out our route for our spirited rides on the weekends.    If there's a road that has a simple end at a T- intersection that we can rip on, then I let him go in front and follow him for a change. 
Funny story, when we were first dating he wanted to take me to a Thai restaurant (Sea) in Brooklyn that his friends told him about.   Once we got to Brooklyn from Manhattan, I quickly noticed that we were going in circles.  I pulled over and told him, "listen I know you're lost, just call your friend and get directions".     When Terry gets lost he thinks he'll find his destination by going in larger concentric circles.  Now at the track he can finally lead, as he can't get lost.

Anyway, as far as   "competitiveness, and bitterness"  as PhilB pointed out, that's on you.  I don't know your female friend and so we can't say how she will be.

Terry has always been a FASTER rider than me, BUT believe it or not I've always been and continue to be a SMOOTHER rider than he is!   

Currently we have in our stable: 
His: 2001M900cromo (highly modded), 2007 GSX-R 750 (track only) 
Her's: 2002 M900 (award winning), 2004 SV650 (track & street) and (formerly T's) 2009 ZX-6R (track only).

[DesmoDiva]

After first meeting Terry and following him around for a month, it turned to me doing the  leading.  I think for a couple of reasons.  #1 He enjoyed watching my butt as I rode,   and #2 importantly he is HORRIBLE with directions.  I was always the one planning out our route for our spirited rides on the weekends.

I think I lead for those same reasons.  

B and I have also taken Total control ARC I & II.  

Our honeymoon was California Superbike School levels 1-3.

M. Thanks for reminder why I love hanging out with B so much.  We have been on the bikes less and less, and it shows in the intermittent strain in our relationship.  

Sometimes a  is just what the Dr. ordered.

[ducatiz]

My second (and last) wife was riding a Guzzi V50 when we met at an office party.  I was on an R100RS in those days.

A slender Canadian living in Texas with red hair and black leather (literally) on an uncommon Italian bike.  Waaay too smart to let any guy ride her scoot, or to trust any guy as pillion.  An independent gal.

Lust at first sight.  "Dating" didn't last long.  'Lived in sin' for 5 years then 22 years of marriage.

The obvious answer is "Hell Yes"  .... you just might get as lucky as I did.

 


oh yeah, #1 you ask?  hated bikes  .... I should'a known better .... at least I applied lessons learned 

that's a GREAT story