Really considering givin up riding

[holy666diver_imp]

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.

[EGAlvarez_imp]

Crazy? No. Those same thoughts have swirled around in my head over the last 13 years as well...it's all about how much risk management you are willing to accept. I have a teenage girl, and a 10 year old son who is an avid rider as well.

I do my best by being a responsible rider (i.e. no booze, full high quality gear, commuting less on my bike during rush hour, reflective tape, no riding like a jack a**) and by doing responsible things like pre-paying my kids college tuition, investing heavily, paying off my house early and maintaining the equivalent of 15 years salary on a term insurance policy for my wife and kids to live on. I'm not saying that $$$ will ever replace you as kids need good dads, not their insurance money. But if something happened, at least I did my best to make their lives easier.

You have options:
1. Take a break from motorcycling
2. Sell your street bikes and get a dirt bike/track bike
3. Find a safer hobby until you feel comfortable retuning to two wheels.
4. Buy a fun convertible until the kids are older
5. Do everything to minimize your risks and keep riding!

[pdedse]

Maybe just let it sit for awhile. Do you have to sell it for financial reasons? It doesn't appear to be so. Enjoy your first born and don't fret the bike situation for the time being. Perhaps you can select certain times of the day to minimize the risks: early Saturday morning, Sunday evening? If nothing changes after some time, maybe you do think about selling, come back to riding later on. Bikes will still be there.

[nhawk7504_imp]

I was looking at Jefferson Ave, on Google Maps. I would wear High Viz gear and a Yellow helmet and have louder pipes so people can see and hear me. I ride in Melbourne FL when I am down there sometimes and it's similar. Red Ducati Multi (My brother's), Red pants, yellow helmet. Everyone saw and heard me for sure. I looked like a two wheeled Fire Engine. They heard those Duc pipes I'll tell you that! I think if people see you they will respect that. Otherwise I would drive a fun stick shift car and have a family car as well. - While crashing in 2010 on my way over the bars I thought, "Couldn't you just take up fishing or something!" - But yeah, it's not an unreasonable thought. Some of us live in quieter areas than others.

[TCBronson_imp]

You are not crazy, you are being a responsible adult, father, husband. Good advice from the others. I gave up riding for several years while my kids were very young. I new it was temporary and that riding was my passion.

[the Ferret]

Certainly things to consider. You sound a bit distracted yourself. When you ride your mind has to be clear and lazer focused on the job at hand.

I live in the country so can't imagine what the conditions you have to ride in are like (although I might have got a glimpse when I rode to Cali a couple years ago and got stuck in gawdawful traffic)

Ii think pdedse has a great suggestion...if you don't need to sell, just keep it around. Ride during lower risk times.

I do know there are no guarantees in life and I believe in fate. I know of several motorcycle friends that have succumbed in the last 10 years...all to something other than motorcycle riding...the big C, car wrecks, heart attacks etc. You can't live your life afraid that something is going to happen.

I've ridden since 10 years before my first child was born, ridden all the time they were growing up (as did my wife), and now our daughter, our "first child" is 41 and our "baby", our son, is 37 and has been riding himself for 18 years, and he has sons 4 ,2 and a baby on the way. I've never talked to him about the "what if's" but he is a safe and sensible person that actually works in the insurance industry, and I'm sure he realizes the risks and takes steps to minimize them as you do.

That said, that is a decision that you have to make for yourself. I would assume you are young. There is plenty of time to ride later if one of those other things I talked about doesn't get you first... and that's the catch.

[LongRanger_imp]

I think a lot of new adult riders have similar concerns, and they're valid. Only they can decide if the thrill of riding, even with their undeveloped skills, is worth the risk. Many fail to progress beyond the newbie stage and give it up. Others continue to ride due to peer pressure or overconfidence, when perhaps they shouldn't. I used to live in San Diego and know the Murrieta area very well. You have a lot of very nice riding to the south and/or east of you (Idyllwild, Palomar, Cuyamaca, Julian, Anza Borrego) which isn't congested. Perhaps you can avoid I-15 and simply refocus your riding to these areas.

[uscgmac_imp]

I know how it feels. My daughter will be 5 next month. I live in a more populated area then most people on this forum. I'm dodging bullets almost every day. I fight the good fight and keep on keeping on. Don't sell the bike. Take a break and just let the bike sit for the winter. Next spring see how you feel. Maybe just go out for a 10 to 20 mile spin occasionally just to keep that feeling of love for the bike. If you don't feel better by spring then you can sell and more people will be shopping for bike in the beginning of the season. Sometimes we all need a break and chill. Spend some time with the family. You may need the bike for a mental break later, lol.

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk

[rboe]

Many many people give up motorcycles until the kids are in college (or just graduated). One common refrain I hear is "I never should have sold the bike" so one thing you may want to do, mothball the bike until you get back to riding so she is there when you decide to ride again. I'm pretty sure she'll be a classic collectors item by then.

I got into motorcycles for the transportation, stayed on them (with a 26 year break) for the entertainment and joy I get from riding. If you don't need the transportation and it's too stressful then it's probably not worth riding. At least for now. Only you can decide that though.

[holy666diver_imp]

You guys have some great advice! I hate the I-15 especially in Temecula I have rode Anza, Palomar, Julian all great rides. I fear intersections and the freeway where I live. At least every other month a rider is killed in my town!

I commute everyday on my bike in rush hour traffic. I've had several close calls. I can afford the bike and have 2 cars so I don't need to sell it. I'm going to take a break and just do a few short runs on weekends like you guys said and do more relaxing rides.