My wife wants my LT, WTF????

[cali_beemer]

With the rising price of gas, and the fact that I drive my daughter to daycare in the morning preventing me from riding to work, my wife wants to start commuting on my LT. I told her no away. She has her MC license but her last bike was 6 years ago and it was a 80's honda magana 500cc, her only bike. I told her that this is way too much bike for her and that she would dump it on day one. My baby has never been dropped and I dont want to let her out of my sight. Has anyone else had this issue? She was absolutely serious about it. I was shocked and caught off gaurd. I told her that if she wants to ride we would go and look for a bike for her but not my LT.

[zippy_gg]

I bet she called you a male chauvinist pig!!! :rolleyes:
There are women who ride LTs, so it is definitely possible.
Now if you have the means to get another bike for the spousal unit and she is OK with that... all the better, at least until she is comfortable on larger bikes.

[Hilton]

It's simple. Lay your scoot over on the side and ask your wife to pick it up with no assistance. Both sides. Then go look for another ( lighter ) ride for her. :)

[SurfMan]

There is no way anybody rides my LT. An unexperienced rider will drop it the first slow turn they get into.

With all due respect, but what is she thinking? Stepping off a 500cc, not riding a bike for the next 6 years, then stepping on an LT??

Buy her another bike. A Honda Pacific Coast for example. Cheap, low maintenance, lots of storage, perfect commuter bike, easy to ride, 800cc but not too heavy (280 kilos). Been there and done that :)

[Fred]

why dont you look into a can-am spyder. You and your wife could both ride it. Then since you dont put your feet down there is nothing to pick up. ( like your pride) Get a sm5 electric shift and no clutch worries.

[paalao]

NEVER
Buy her a scooter!

[dandiver]

I personally agree with you, emotionally. Many on the forum did exactly what your wife wants to do and that is go from a smaller bike to the LT and then dropped it a few times! Guess you just don't want someone else to drop it.

My wife has never ridden a bike and I think was playing with my head the other day and suggested the same thing. My first internal response was no F%$^%ing way! Then I said that first she should take the beginners riding class. We'll See how that develops so, good luck with the family riders......

[Mike_H]

Keep peace in your family. A wife who wants to ride is a rare and good thing.

Buy a safe but disposable beater bike and ask that she ride it for a couple of months in order to reaquaint herself with motorcycling, then take her to a parking lot with your LT and teach her the slow speed handling skills necessary to use that bike.

Make sure she reads Proficient Motorcycling. Watching the Motorman DVD would be a god thing as well.

She'll be okay if you help her learn how to ride the LT.

Also, it sounds like you need a sidecar hack to take your child to daycare....one good favor deserves another.

[cali_beemer]

Well, I think my wife could handle an LT after a while of riding, but even when she had her 500 magna, some her riding scared me then. She has taken the safety course, has her MC license, has full riding gear and she is about 5'10" so I think she is more than capable. But as many mentioned her, after more experience and something bigger than a 500. The LT is in no way a beginners bike. I dont ever question that a girl could ride one, its not that hard to do. I just dont believe someone with little to no experience should hop right on a LT and start riding. Especially my LT that doesnt have a scratch on it and is babied in the garage every night. Too much invested to watch her go dump it in a rookie move.

[RonKMiller]

There are several women on this forum that ride LT's, and Connie (RIP and no she did not pass away in a motorcycle accident) was especially proficient and racked up huge mileage.

I personally know several women riders that could easily handle an LT with a low seat - what's the big deal?

Is this a MAN'S bike? :p

[cali_beemer]

There are several women on this forum that ride LT's, and Connie (RIP and no she did not pass away in a motorcycle accident) was especially proficient and racked up huge mileage.

I personally know several women riders that could easily handle an LT with a low seat - what's the big deal?

Is this a MAN'S bike? :p

As I just said, its a matter of experience, not sex. I wouldnt ever reccomend an LT to a male that has little to no experience and hasnt ridden anything bigger than a 500cc. Baby steps, thats all. My first bike was a virago 750 and my second was an 1100 shadow. I never even rode a BMW until years after my first bike. Learn small, then think big.

[LTExfisher]

It sounds like a great idea, if YOU want a NEW putt, lett'er have it!

[Bobnoxous]

Experience really matters. As I posted here a while back, my brother borrowed my Harley Electra Glide, another heavy bike. He hadn't ridden for maybe 7 or 8 years, but he rode Goldwings so he had experience with heavy bikes. Going down a twisty hill it got away from him and he totaled it.

You don't want to run that risk with your wife. She probably wasn't committed to driving the LT, just trying to figure out ways to help out. The suggestion was maybe more of a brainstorm than a serious proposal.

If the bike is a really personal vehicle to you, then don't let her drive it in any case. If I had a car that I really loved (I don't), it's not worth letting someone else drive it and scratch it. Better to be mad at yourself when you do it. Same for a bike, especially since riding a bike takes more skill than driving a car. The risk of damage is even greater.

It's cool that your wife wants to ride. If she's serious, find a lighter bike, take a refresher course, and get back into it. I don't think anyone should jump on a heavy cycle after not riding for several years.

[MNTodd]

Get her a Honda PC800 Pacific Coast.

Easy to ride, comfy and lots of storage.

Cheap too!!!

Offer to get her a cool paint job and your in business.

[eljeffe]

My wife rode my LT a couple times. Just not her cup of tea. She's been on several bikes over the years, but the one she likes the most is her 2004 Triumph Sprint RS. It's got more power and comfort than her old Honda Magna. It's lighter than the K1200RS. And it's definitely more travel friendly than her Yamaha Royal Star.

Your wife should find her own bike that fits her needs. If that is the LT, then let her buy her own. :)

[eljeffe]

It's simple. Lay your scoot over on the side and ask your wife to pick it up with no assistance. Both sides. Then go look for another ( lighter ) ride for her. :)

Hilton,

Be careful with that statement. There's this little 95lb lady who goes from rally to rally and demonstrates how to pick up motorcycles. The LT is no big deal to her -- she knows the "secret" to lifting the beast.

[eljeffe]

Keep peace in your family. A wife who wants to ride is a rare and good thing.

Amen, Brother!