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Help convince my wife

Hey all new here and thought you may all be able to help me. I live up in Canada and am thinking about getting a bike for commuting during the summer/spring. My wife is deadset against it as she is afraid i'll get in an accident and die the first time i get on a bike. Any of you know where I can get some good solid reliable information(hopeully current) about how a bike can be safe if the rider is responsible, and/or statistics to help me convince the wife to be okay with it?

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Permalink Reply by tnharleygirl on March 10, 2008 at 8:16pm: You should sign up for a Motorcycle Safety Class if it is available in Canada. This will give you good information and ask her to go along with you. The class is very informational and will help you break bad habits and make you more aware of dangerous situations.
All I know is, if she starts riding with you, she will never stop. It gets in your blood.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Aaron on March 13, 2008 at 10:51am: There are some available in Canada. I'll have to give it a shot. Thanks for the advice.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by RideAGlide on March 20, 2008 at 5:48pm: Well Aaron, if your looking for statistics there isn't good reliable data. No matter what you find it'll be biased one way or the other. However, may I suggest that both of you watch the video "Welcome to the Ride" that can be found on the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's website at http://www.msf-usa.org/.? It's a good place to start and it really hits on great points with riding and don't forget to check out the other videos.

Riding a bike is something that me and friends live for every season. We take group rides on weekends and we take week long rides for vacations - there is nothing I'd rather be doing every single day. And I would be remiss if I didn't mention that all the wives and girlfriends either ride themselves or they ride along with us.

I agree it's dangerous but only if you put yourself in dangerous situations. Keep your eyes open, anticipate moves, and always give yourself an out. And, like tnharleygirl mentioned, the Motorcycle Safety class is WELL WORTH THE TIME AND EFFORT. They will teach you things that most of us found out in the school of hard knocks!

Good luck!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tim Corban aka Two Wheels Tebo on August 6, 2009 at 7:04pm: Here are some stats that may or may not help, but it's some good food for thought anyway. Not to mention a lot of fun to tell people and watch the expressions and reactions.

There are 700,000 doctors in the USA and 98,000 accidental deaths caused by them each year.

There are 4,000,000 motorcycles in the USA and only 2,000 accidental deaths caused my motorcycle accidents each year.

Therefore, you are 280 times MORE LIKELY to die and accidental death at the hands of a doctor than riding a motorcycle!

Ride on baby, ride on!; ▶ Reply to This