That's a smart compromise. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and it's just as crazy here (probably more). In my case I gave up riding for ~20 years until the kids graduated college (yup sold that CB500, was a great bike), and started riding again several years back and I still only do short/medium runs on the weekends. I tried commuting on a bike and it was just too stressful.
My son is 6 now. When he was really young, I rode a bit less on the street and scratched any "itches" at track days, but never stopped riding completely. Took a longer break from flying. Bought a bunch of life insurance.
If your gut is telling you things that prevent you from concentrating on the bike, definitely take a break. If you're tired from waking up in the middle of the night, definitely take a break. The bike and your biker identity will be waiting for you.
+1 to everyone saying "these feeling are normal and part of being an adult." Best wishes.
(10-12-2016, 12:57 AM)holy666diver_imp Wrote: [ -> ]Recently had my first child! My wife could care less if I ride my motorcycle, but now all i can think about is "what if I get in an accident?". My brain won't turn off now when I ride I just keep thinking of getting laid up in the hospital and leaving my Wife and Child on their own. If anything this is making me ride more safe and scan every intersection.
I see more and more people I know getting hospitalized or worse who ride. Where i live people drive like Jerks too running reds never lane checking. I am always in constant traffic.
Am I crazy? I'll miss the bike but I think I'll miss my family more if one of these idiots were to plow into me. I am a great rider, but I am not worried about me I am worried about these distracted drivers. If i lived in a rural unpopulated town I'd never think of selling, but I live in an overpopulated traffic ridden town.
Congratulations on Having your first child Holy666!
My tip is get a good life insurance if you don't have one already, decrease your overall speed during your daily routine ride through these concrete jungles we live in
I was in your situation almost a year ago, My kid is turning 1 in two weeks and I have pondered the same thoughts and more when my kid was born, Totally normal.
We cant turn a blind eye when it comes to the dangers of this sport or lifestyle, in fact in my humble opinion embracing the dangers makes you much more aware. I also ride to work rain or shine through Hollywood 101frwy and the 110 downtown LA all the way to long beach and it is hellish every single time no matter what time of day. like you we need to ride through them cagers with the precision of a samurai cutting through butter. Like some said already a clear mind helps .
Nick Ienatsch a writer from Cycleworld has a weekly column called (Tuesday Ienatsch) where writes a lot about real world riding skills and everything in between. Might be a good read for you for days when you feel unsure about riding.
whatever you decide and good luck with the new addition!
Hypnosis might help.
Most of us use motorcycling as a stress reliever rather than inducer.
I took both my sons out on a bike (3 cylinder Kawasaki and then a Honda VF1100 Sabre when they were small.
Or, stay in the house but make sure not to use the bath tub.
Seriously though, good luck!
How about temporarily switching your street bike to a dirt bike, or a trials bike?
That's what I wound up doing when my first was about to be born, I reluctantly sold my '83 CB1100F (and wife's '86 VF750Fa yr prior) just for the very concerns that you had. Street riding carries alot of risks.
Once my son turned 6 yrs of age, I bought him a used pw50 mini dirt bike. He spent the first 6 months riding it in the back yard. Then when he outgrew the back yard, I bought me a dirt bike and started chasing him around bigger fields, then through the woods, then through the forests then through the mountains of CO. Over the years, we moved from dirt bikes to trials bikes to dual sport bikes to street bikes.
He's now a Jr in college. Even though we both have our own street bikes, nevertheless we still enjoy riding dirt bikes the most.
(10-12-2016, 12:57 AM)holy666diver_imp Wrote: [ -> ]Recently had my first child! My wife could care less if I ride my motorcycle, but now all i can think about is "what if I get in an accident?". My brain won't turn off now when I ride I just keep thinking of getting laid up in the hospital and leaving my Wife and Child on their own. If anything this is making me ride more safe and scan every intersection.
I see more and more people I know getting hospitalized or worse who ride. Where i live people drive like Jerks too running reds never lane checking. I am always in constant traffic.
Am I crazy? I'll miss the bike but I think I'll miss my family more if one of these idiots were to plow into me. I am a great rider, but I am not worried about me I am worried about these distracted drivers. If i lived in a rural unpopulated town I'd never think of selling, but I live in an overpopulated traffic ridden town.
Hi, Congrats on your first child! It's an amazing experience and the little ones grow up fast! I was there for the births of all 3 kids. A very special moment for me to remember for a lifetime. Motorcycles have been part of my Dna since I was 16 years old. I'm 67 now and still riding my CB1100 and riding the bike still gives me the same thrill as when I was 16. When the kids were young, the bikes were just put away for a while because life took on different priorities. There were always birthday parties, sleepovers, and sporting events to go to like little league, soccer etc. When there was a window of time as the kids got older I returned to riding again. I rode all the back roads around the Bay Area and even up to Skyline and Alice's Restaurant out by the coast. That would be similar to the Rock Store and Angeles Crest Highway down your way. There are always risks in life with no guarantees. When I found my CB in Scottsdale, Arizona I took a road trip and drove it all the way home to Portland. Yep, had to drive through the LA maze and it was fun. That's the word FUN. A great ride home and it gave me time to think how grateful I am to ride and really appreciate life. When I'm on the bike, life is so engaging! Yes, there is that danger factor and that is just something you accept along with the sport. I gear up and am dressed for battle when I ride and it doesn't take away from any of the enjoyment. All the kids are adults now and all college educated and we have 3 grandkids now. Life was just flashing by when raising our kids. The one constant was riding my bikes. It was a time for me of relaxation and reflection. I still have my first bike too. A 1967 Honda 305 scrambler that has been down PCH, highway one and all the way down to El Cajon. My suggestion is, just park your bike for a while and enjoy those moments of being a loving father and husband to your wife. Your Season of riding has not ended, it's just been put on "hold" for a while. Congrats and take care, Russ
Everyone's experiences and fears are different, but be that as it may, think about how ridiculous it is to stop living life and doing things you enjoy.
Given, our hobby has danger built into it, but so is life.
Taking this to the extreme: don't shower since, you can fall and break your neck, only drink food processed on a blender, you could choke on a piece of steak, don't swim on a pool, you could have a cramp and drown, don't swim in the sea, a shark or jelly fish can kill you, etc.
Just make sure ATGATT and be well insured, so that in case you were to depart early (because a cagger), then your family will only miss you and not be put in a precarious situation. Enough to pay mortgage, school and living expenses.
Term insurance is cheap while you decide what to do.
I went through the same thing when my daughter was born.
I took a 3 years break from diving and motorcycling, that was 12 years ago.
During that period, I would see bikes go by and I would start drooling.
Enjoy life and be safe with your decision.
I think it's becoming more and more dangerous with distracted drivers in my town. Only so much preventative steps I can take. I love riding don't get me wrong and I fully understand the risk. Priorities changed now so those risks have a bigger impact on my life now. Now comparing riding to taking a shower... slim chance I'll fall in the shower.. slimmer chance someone will push me down in the shower. Riding it's not me I am worried about, it's the other cars. Every accident I have seen with my friends / family have been other drivers plowing into bikes. Not the rider driving reckless. I think I am just going to giv eup the commute for a while and do some back roads on the week end during the day.
Spend your money on high payout, high coverage insurance, and again on high quality, high protection riding gear.
My riding gear alone costs several thousands of dollars- but think of the alternatives....
We have all been there i am sure. been riding since 11 and owning bikes since 14. I gave up riding after heart problems and blood thinners and sold my BMW R1200R as I was done with riding.
that lasted 6 months as i spent more time in my replica Ferrari F355 Spider and thought it was close enough being in the open air.
but then one night i uncovered my old CB750 and wanted to hear it run again. soon i was riding only around the block , to Walmart and back etc while secretly at night lusting at Ebay's bike porn and thinking about the old days when i spied this beautiful CB1100 and confessed to my wife i couldn't control myself and had to have her.
having said that and being a responsible person i say give up riding , look after your health , eat right , be there for your family , exercise and you will die healthier than me but without a motorcycle.