I'm the truest "sissy" about riding with my husband...?

My second wife was deathly afraid of motorcycles... Maybe part of that was my fault, but it was a big source of contention when I wanted to go somewhere on the bike, and she refused to join me. I think we both missed out on several chances to enjoy adventures together because of this.

Part of riding motorcycles in a group is the social activity that revolves around the motorcycles and the trips you can take with a group. After my divorce, I rode as a 'lone wolf' for several years, and always felt kind of out-of-place when I attended group activities as a solo rider.

Even if you don't ride with your husband, you should make an attempt to join him in the social activities of his motorcycle group... Attend group meetings and get to know some of the people (men and women) he rides with. If they do an overnight or weekend ride, you could volunteer to drive the luggage van so the bikes aren't loaded down so much. You could even carry some extra tools and spare parts in case one of the bikes breaks down on the ride.

A final suggestion... If you really want to conquer your fear of motorcycles, perhaps the best way is to learn to ride your own bike! Sign up for a Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF-USA.org) beginner riders course. They will teach you about motorcycles in a safe classroom environment, and then give you the opportunity to do it yourself. You never can tell... You may learn to like it!

Good Luck!

1st question: how long has he been riding?

2nd: does he have the endorsement, and if so, how long?

if he doesnt have the endorsement, he's illegal to ride any passengers, reguardless of age, or operator age.

if he hasnt been riding long (under 1 full season solo), it wouldnt be a good idea to take a passenger on any bike. the entire bike changes in all charateristics. a bad passenger will be a handful to even an experienced rider, but that same passenger will cause a rookie to riding with a passenger to dump his scoot.

for ur first ride, forget about dual lane roads with heavy traffic, or extremely twisty roads. would be best to start out on residential, very light traffic streets...25 mph or under, until u get used to what it's like on a bike.

passengers need to only remember 2 things: look in the direction where the bike is going; look over the rider's shoulder into the turn, and 2: SIT STILL. u dont lean any more or less than the rider. u stay directly behind him. never lean the opposite way or he might not make it thru the turn. all bikes have to lean to turn. its designed that way. think of having a line between ur shoulders. these 'lines' should match up.

as long as he has good tires on it, avoids sand, oil, gravel, wet leaves, the bike will handle 2-up...but any 1 of these will take a bike down period...2 up or no 2 up.

slow speeds for a few days will ease u into riding alot better than attempting to jump on the interstate. just sit back and enjoy the view and let him handle the bike. a good passenger is one that i dont feel back there. they dont move or wiggle around. btw, if he doesnt have a sissy bar on it, that would be a huge help. that will eliminate that 'feel like i'm gonna fall off' feeling. i've seen passenger's fall asleep on the back of bikes. it just takes getting used to, and some need a bit more time getting used to it than others.

Courage is not the lack of fear, but the ability to overcome it. Here are the 3 questions to ask:

1. Is he a good driver? Does his driving scare you all the time? If he's a good driver, he will be able to negotiate all the obstacles, including other drivers.

2. Why are you scared? Did you ever ride before and maybe have a bad experience? Fear is an instinctual response to the unknown.

3. Is this his first bike? Is he a beginner, or has he had a ride before.

Anything can be unsafe if used improperly. If you can ride a bike, you'll be fine as a passenger. Take it slow and easy, start with short trips and work your way up. Build confidence by experience. Please don't give up. When my hubby bought his bike, I was terrified. I don't think a part of me every completely gave that up, but I trusted him and am I glad! We had some of the best times together on that bike, and I really did like it(everything but the helmet head)

My wife also had some reservations, I however didn't try to pressure her into riding. She wasn't comfortable on the bike until I added a passenger backrest to my bike (also a sportster).

Lot's of people above have given great suggestions - find a quiet street and just get comfortable. Riding a motorcycle is a very freeing experience, but it's not for everyone. He may need to understand that not everyone dig's motorcycles the way he does.

My recent wife was "afraid" of motorcycles when we first met. I asked her to come with me but I would start out slow. I told her that I would just go to the end of the street and turn around if she said so. Well, we went to the end of the street and she was okay. Then around the block. Then for a few miles.

Now she loves it as much as I do. In fact, sometimes she asks me to go riding! The important thing was I went slow at first, she always knew that as soon as she said stop I'd go home and never ask her again. I think this way not only did she feel she had some control but she was able to see that I was a safe and competent rider.

As it turns out her fear came from 1 ride she had when she was 16 (were now 49). The guy was drunk, didn't know how to ride, tried to show off and crashed (no one hurt). That was her perception of motorcycles. But because she cared for me she decided to give it another try. And, because I cared for her I took it slow and easy and gave her the option to say stop at Any time.

So my advice to you is try it. My advice to your hubby is to take it easy until your wife is comfortable.

Take him to the HD dealer and pick him out a new bike. You take the Sporty and take a learners class. Riding your own is the only way. I have been riding for years and have no problem with passengers but would rather not carry one, if I pile it up it's my butt and I don't want to take someone with me. I bought my wife her first bike {and gun} as soon as we got married {along with a sports car} and taught her to ride. She wouldn't dream of not having her own at this point and would rather not sit behind me {I'm a bit aggressive}.

if you don't feel safe on the back of a bike I would say stay off or start taking short rides around your neighborhood so you can get use to being on back and making small turns then as you get more comfortable start going further and further with him when doubling on a bike both rider and passenger need to ride as one or you'll go down in a hurry trust me ,whatever you do on the back of a bike has a big effect on how he controls the bike you have to lean with him not against him in turns

first off a Sportster is not a comfy two person bike........and if you dont want to ride then you done want to.

But if you want to give it a chance what might help is taking the motorcycle safety class. We get a lot of woman that take the course just to see what its like.

Or we get woman who take it with there husband and will not get on the bike with him until they both take it.

I've been riding for almost 35 years and I would walk before I jumped on the back of a bike with anyone.I give lots of rides to people but wouldn't think of trying to convince anyone to get on if they didn't want to.

Maybe you should buy him a new solo seat.

Try this...

Pound it into your hubby's head that you're scared! Then, sit up straight and gently wrap arms around hubby's waist, remember - he has to breath!

Your weight added to the bike can actually make the bike more stable and the ride smoother. Hubby might notice it'll take a

little more "umph" to get moving.

DON'T lean over to look around him or "lean into turns"...

just sit upright. Keep your eyes level to the horizon.

When a bike turns through a curve in the road, you actually

do what is known as "counter-steering"!!! IE - you have a

left-hand curve in the road, you (actually) steer the bike

slightly to the right!!! It's true! When you lightly "steer" to

the right, the bike will naturally lean slightly to the left and

begin to turn left.

Watch some motorcycle racing on TV and you can see it

done by professionals... and their going alot faster!!!

Then, relax and enjoy the ride! You might get comfortable

enough that you can get your own bike and ride with him!!!

I know many women that drive their own bikes!

Oh, they LOVE it when hubby has to ride on the back!!! lol