motorcyclebloggers.com

One of the things I have struggled with is how to make motorcycling a family sport.  My wife likes to ride on the back of my street bike every now and then, but hasn’t in the past six years - ever since she found out she was pregnant with our first daughter.  Back then I had a Valkyrie, and ever since the bikes have been more sport oriented and not so-comfy looking for the passenger.  I now have two daughters, three & five, and as they get older I want to introduce them to the sport.

This weekend my wife went skiing in Denver with her family and I was solo with the kids.  It just so happened that a bunch of folks from work were camping this weekend in the desert about 45 minutes from my house.  I decided to pack up the SUV and head for the sand.

I brought my dirt bike just in case there was some good riding (there wasn’t), but more or less relied on the ‘camp’ quads for entertainment with my daughters.  As it turned out, there were plenty of volunteers to take them around the area on the quads.  They had a ball.  When I took my oldest one out with me, all I heard was “go faster! go faster!” (sniff, sniff).

They are not quite ready for their own equipment, but the five year old is getting there.  The problem is that my wife doesn’t really have an interest in the Great Outdoors beyond hiking and skiing.  I don’t mind if it becomes a sport for my daughters and I, but I am trying to figure out a way to spark her interest. 

I’m not a rich guy, but I could easily find a way to afford quads for the family so its not a hardware issue. 

As a knuckle-draggin’ neanderthal, this is where I will seek the wisdom of others in my quest.  I would be interested in the success stories as well as the not-so-successful stories to help me.  Any input would be appreciated.