Modern Vespa

I've been trying for two weeks now for my girl to come for a ride with me on my scooter She just won't, claims its to dangerous Her dad isn't helping issues by telling her years ago that she must never get on any sort of bike, as he had a friend that had a serious bike crash and was left crippled and brain damaged..so I can understand her fear. I offered to pay for her to take a CBT test just so she could get the basics and learn about safety issues..but to no avail I've showed her some of the cool scooter gear I could get her and she likes the tucano stuff but still to no avail! One day i'm gonna walk in with a helmet and jacket and literally drag her on to the scoot and she'll luv it!

I could sit on your lap if that helps you any....

My wife won't even look at my scoot.
"If it's no 500cc it's not real"
I kinda just gave up on the issue..
Not worth the fights.

Try by suggesting a short ride around the streets only about 5 mins then see what her reaction is and hopefully work up from there. Failing that dump her.

I say "Kick her to the Curb"
trying to force her into riding is simply "Bad JUJU" especially with the huge "I told you so " hammer ready to drop IF anything happens.
I would prefer a "Rebel" on the back not a naysayer and second-guesser.
My 2 cents

Failing that dump her...

Know exactly where you're coming from.

Ex-g/f : scared to death after seeing an uncle in the hospital after a motorcycle accident. Remedy? Show-up for your first date on your scooter, with no other option to go out. She was quick to get over it.

Current : Had no interest in riding (scooter/motorcycle) as she's pretty phobic of next to everything. She's sat on it during the summer just to keep warm (extreme AC at work). Then I think she started to get jealous when we talked about how I took a former friend/coworker for a ride, but not her. 8) She's pretty cool with it now. I just have to guarantee she'll keep warm with every ride.

My advice - ease her into it. Have her sit on it, see how she likes it. Ride her around at a slow pace and see how she takes it. Maybe take her shopping with you for new gear. Who knows... She may take a liking to some full-body leathers.

As for her dad, tell him that MV is all about ATTGATT.

ATTGATT?..Yes the jealosy approach could work, i've also showed her pictures of women riding pillion on some of the vintage images over the net...she reckons they look cool! she likes some of the scooter gear too...so maybe it won't be to long before I could convince her to come shopping on it

I wouldn't either. Too much of a control freak. Just buy her one and see if she likes the idea of riding together better.

Whoops! ONE too many T's.
Toreador Pants - All The Gear, All The Time.

I've already showed my g/f my favorite and preferred moto store for shopping (Cycle Gear), but I'm thinking I may have to drag her to SF for one of those Dainese All-Female Sale things to see if she cracks.

One thing I tell mine (honest to God truth), that you may want to tell yours, "I don't know what I'd do with myself if anything happened to you."
A T G A T T

Be careful, that is how my wife felt at first, now we have two GTS 250's. So it could get quit expensive if she changes her mind.

YOU ARE ON L PLATES!

Unless you have suddenly passed your test. Don't carry a pillion as you are not allowed to. Also by doing so your insurance becomes null and void for that journey. You will also get penalty points with the fuzz if they do decide to stop you....

Just some friendly advice!!

I don't think you'll ever win the safety argument. This activity is safer/more dangerous than that one can go on forever, and people tend to dig their heels in for their points of view. There's always a story of someone hurt/killed doing whatever you're doing.

I would suggest taking your time. Be sure she sees and hears more positive and fun things about riding than negative. Have some scootering friends over. Go someplace really fun that "requires" a scooter; invite her along because you really want to experience it with her (it's about her, not the scoot), but if she says no, you still go and have a good time.

Right now, her dad's voice and injured friend weigh to heavy. You need to tip the scale in your favor, but that will take a little time. And still there's no guarentee, but there is a good chance she'll hop on in time.

You never mentioned L plates!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No dont do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Once to Fuzz have finished with you the Father in law to be will have his turn.

I stand by my first answer...........JUST DUMP HER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

tell her you will give her a lift to the shoe shop and she can pick any pair she likes.

LMAO!

Not to stereotype or anything.... but if the free shoe angle doesn't work, nothing will. 8)

My first reaction was to dump her.
But now I think you should keep her around until you can find someone else.

Sounds like it is time for an upgrade from girlfriend 1.0 to girlfriend 2.0.

I had a pretty serious accident in 1998 just after getting married and wife said NO MORE MOTORCYCLES.
That lasted about 18 months and there have been 20 or so in and out of the garage since then.
Riding is just part of who I am, and she respects that.

All these responses seem kinda... to me.

Compare it to this: I can't swim. Scared to death of swimming. So, people sometimes try to get me to swim or say "Hey, I'll teach you!" I've tried, it doesn't work. Period. Leave me alone about swimming already! You go swim, I'm fine over here in the shallow end or with my big floaty.

So, if she's scared or thinks it's unsafe, she doesn't have to ride. That doesn't mean you don't get to (if she were trying to control what YOU do, that would be different). It's ok if people in a relationship do different things. Her father clearly loves her and worries about her. That's not such a bad thing, either.

Plus, with the L plate thing, it wouldn't seem like you have enough experience (not to mention the legality) to safely ride two up yet anyway.

Geez....I haven't ridden pillion for aeons. (At 16 I used to ride side-saddle at freeway speeds...no helmet...behind the BF. I was careful NOT to tell my folks I was even on the motorcycle. Good thing 16-year-olds are invulnerable.)

She needs her own scooter!

But seriously, the short little ride in a parking lot to start. Build up to around the block. Make sure she's dressed properly for even a short ride - and that doesn't mean full Toreador Pants for a loop around the parking lot but make sure she's got sturdy boots/high shoes, a cozy wool jacket at least, gloves, and of course a helmet.

It's getting cold this time of year, and if she's freezing as well as a bit frightened that won't make for a good first experience.

But what's with the "L" plate thing. If you're not legal to have her ride, do both of yourselves a favor and don't do it.

Best of luck!

You should trust her judgement and stop pressuring her.

There's always one that has to spoil it witha sensible answer!!!!!!!!!!

+1

I don't pressure my wife to ride the scooter with me and she doesn't make me go with her to book sales.

Happily married for 30 years.

SShhhh....I could take em off for a day or two or maybe your right

Don't even think of it. Apart from the fact your insurance would be invalid, you could get done for several other things as well - three points for each missing L plate for one, riding outside the conditions of your licence, etc etc. Big hassles. Plus if you haven't got many months of serious riding under your belt you won't have the experience to cope with a pillion, or the knowledge to instruct them properly.

Get your test done, then get an experienced friend to be pillion for a practice session or two - slow manouvers can be *very* different with a pillion.

Then if g/f still says No, dump her, you need someone who shares your fun, Shirley...

I'm just so eager to go for a nice long ride with her on the back...somewhere nice like kent or guilford, stop off for a picnic or something although it's a little cold for that! But i'm sure you know what I mean..but yes maybe by the time I get a full license she may have come around a bit

Just keep begging. My wife came aroud after a couple of years. She still screams in my ear though "aren't you going a little fast?"

Mine too but nothing to do with riding a scooter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If she won't ride because her dad and her dad's friend, guess what; her going for a ride is going to put a giant effing rift between you and her dad.

That would be the worst thing you could do that you can instigate and be blamed for, between a daughter and her father.

PuLEASE don't put yourself through that kind of suffering.

Go meet her dad one on one. Go on your scooter and maybe meet at a pub (soda for us riders though) and talk to him about anything OTHER than riding. Don't tell her about it, let her father tell her and then treat it as no big deal when she questions you on it.

If things work out, recommend doing it again. *(sounds like you really have a thing for this girl-kid gloves) Get to know the guy without ever bringing up the scooter or riding. Just get to know her dad without tossing your love of riding into his regret of someone else riding.

You're seeing this from your perspective. Try to see it from her family's perspective. The effort, whether you stay with this girl or not in the long term is something guys should learn to do anyway.

Besides, winter can be kind of long. You should get to know her family and see what you're really getting into. Because you never marry just the girl. You marry her whole family.

ps: Any girl who loves her dad so much she'd rather not do something unless she can without hurting his feelings is pure gold. Because how she treats her dad is a pretty good indicator how she's going to treat you in the long run.

Good luck

Harv

Far easier to ditch the nay-saying woman. You'd not want to be lumbered for life with 'My Dad says this, My Mum says that...'. Find a girl with a mind of her own, preferably with a slightly rebellious streak.

Dude thats a problem you shouldn't anounce to the world.

said Mr. Small

touché 8)

Yeh she's kinda cool..She wants me to meet her parents but ain't got round to it just yet see how it goes Oh shit is this starting to sound like a dating tips site just kidding I think your tips will come in handy cheers mate

+1 ditch her = kick her to the curb

Trust her?

Stop talking nonsense. This is serious.

Chloroform? When she wakes up she'll be duct-taped to the scooter and she'll see how much fun it is...

My partner has been trying to get me to go crazy downhill mountain biking for 5 years. He's finally given up. I have no effing desire. Every time he comes home and asks for $1000 for a new bike because he wrecked his last one I have an aneurysm.

Maybe she just isn't interested. I'd be afraid that it would eventually drive a wedge between you. You want to ride and she wants to do something else and the two don't go together? I don't know. I've heard there are some hot scooter chicks on here...some of 'em can even ride a manual!

hahahahahahahaha You are SOOOOO bad!!!! hahahahaha

You sound way serious about this girl! The thing is, the rest of your life is a long time. I mean a long long time ! I personally would be looking for a girl that has similar interests to what I have. I also agree with the post that said you need a woman that has a mind of her own, and is willing to make her own choices. Life is so much more rewarding when you can share experiences together. Either ditch the scoot or the girl and move on!

Now wait. There is something to be said for having your own interests and not being joined at the hip. I mean, we all love scooters and riding, but what if she wanted you to...I don't know...enter ballroom dancing competitions? Would you all say that nightrider should just fall in line?

It's great to have shared interests, but they don't ALL need to be shared. You need some space and breathing room in a relationship too.

My husband and I take "together" vacations and "alone" vacations. If I had to trail along behind him while he pursues some of his interestes I'd be bored and eventually resentful. If he had to follow me on all of mine, the same result.

If the relationship is otherwise great, having her ride pillion is no big thing. For example, she might happily drive the support vehicle while you go on some exotic trans-Europe scooter jaunt! Think outside the box!

I tried to get my wife to ride with me for ages, but the only time she was on the bike was once when it was in the garage.

There was a street fair going on in town. I was on the bike parked in a blocked off alley and she was parked 4 blocks away. She said why don't you take me over to my car. Whoopee ! She's going to ride. She said and I quote "What can happen in a couple of blocks? "

She got on and we started back up the alley and onto the blocked off street. Made a right turn to head toward the stop light and a someone pulled out of a parking space right in front of us ! I'm sure they assumed since the street was blocked off no one was coming. I jammed on the brakes and swerved to miss them. No big deal.

As my wife got off she said "That's two rides for me. My first and last ! "