AIBU & WWYD DH & DD1 motorbike trip....

[Babylon1]

DH and dd1 (7yo) are planning to go off to top of Scotland on DHs motorbike for approx a week in July.

I'm shit scared something bad will happen while they are away, and the last few nights it's played on my mind :(

DH says I'm bring daft and they'll be fine. He is a safe rider, but it's other road users that bother me.

DD has been on bike before, she has ALL the necessary safety wear and is comfortable on the bike. They will be doing a mixture of camping/travel inn and b&b.

Do I let her go? I will be at home with small DCs during this trip.

Your definition of "high speed" and mine are rather different then, badtaste. I'm a former motor dealership technical manager, I tend to lean more towards Jeremy Clarkson's interpretation than that of an anxious MNer. I wouldn't consider a steady 60, for example, on a tourer to be "high speed".

I have the perfect solution to the problem. Babylon, tell DD that she can't go and send me in her place. God I could use a break!

I think it's a bit young for such a long trip (unless you already live in Scotland?). But the likelihood of an accident is honestly quite small if you take the showing off/speeding around bendy roads element out of it. He might well call it off if the weather's horrific as it will be no fun for anybody.

BTW DH is a lifelong biker but we have told our DC no riding pillion until they are at secondary school. Most of our older nieces and nephews have been out for a ride and loved it.

Can't you all go up in the camper van and DH "follow" you on his bike then take your DD off for a few rides/ an overnight away? We do this from time to time, guess who has to drive the van )

Then you've blinded me with your superior technical-ness Graham

To me 'high speed' is any speed that would cause you huge problems were you to fall off on your arse

You want to watch out for those seaside donkeys then, badtaste.

What bike is it?

No way no how would a 7 year old of mine be going to the back of a bike for 5 seconds let alone a trip around scotland.

However your 7 year old clearly is used to being on the back of the bike.

No YANBU to feel that it shouldn't happen, but given that you regularly allow your DD on a bike with your DH it's a bit hypocritical to insist your DH doesn't take her now.

Perhaps the point to put to your DH is how would he feel if the last ride before selling the bike was the one that killed your DD?

Graham you wouldn't get me riding one without a helmet

badtaste.

I'd be OK with this. Intercom is a great idea - She's unlikely to get bored/tired, and will be able to tell your DH when she needs/wants to stop. We regularly use our intercom and it makes rides much more interesting.

If she's used to riding I'd trust DH. I was riding when I wad 9 months pregnant and my DS will be pillion as soon as we think he's safe (He's only 1 now, so a little while to wait though!).

As long as DH will make sure she's fully kitted up and the intercom is working and charged, my only problem would be me missing out!

God I'm so bored I've morphed into Barbara Windsor

Truthfully, I wouldn't be thrilled and I would spend the week worrying BUT he us her dad and he has as much say in the decision as you, so contrary to what people up thread are saying, you can't forbid it.

I'm sure your DH knows her capabilities and will factor in plenty of stops and will drive sensibly.

Let them go. My DD is only 2 so nowhere big enough, but many of our friends take their kids on their bikes and they all have a fantastic time. We quite often all go to France for weekends away.

Without exception all the kids have a fantastic time.

Let me pose some of these statements another way - if you knew someone who died in a car accident would you never drive again? Would you smash your car into little pieces etc?

Sorry but many of these responses are hysterical.

It actually takes a lot more skill to pass a bike test than a car test.

Also, to the "I know a biker who..... brigade"

I know several hundred bikers and not one of them has been killed or injured in an accident. We all get a few bruises when riding off road but then you don't have pillion passengers when doing that.

If you are a careful and attentive rider, you will spot the other idiots on the road and get out of their way.

As for the poster who didn't see any bikers get hurt what was the bloody point of your post?

God I could get into a huge rant about this.

OP, I am 30 and I am still not allowed to go on the back of my dad's motorbike!

I really wouldn't, mainly because the A1 to Scotland is an awful road - it goes down to single carriageway after Newcastle - so there's no way they would be able to avoid lots of traffic overtaking them all the time.

I would say no

But you have somewhat of a fait accompli on your hands here, don't you ?

Whose decison was this in the first place and did you initially agree/were you even consulted ?

I was consulted, yes, and initially said a tentative ok

The bike is a TDM850.

They have a fully functioning intercom which is on an open channel, so neither has to press buttons etc to spk to the other.

GrahamTribe I'm sure DH would love your company, DD however I don't think will forgive me

I think I have to bite the bullet and worry it out don't I? I've had a more varied response here than I expected, which has actually made me think I'm not being completely unreasonable by even thinking about letting her go if that makes sense....

She is my PFB, DH is FULLY aware of this!!!!

Oh and in terms of the bike being visible, it's a bright banana yellow.

I did just suggest to dh that he try and fit bike into van and then tour once they're up there - he made a face like this >

My best friend spent her childhood on the back of her Dads massive bike...she had no Mother and that was normal to her. She was tiny too!

He never once had an accident with her on the back or when he was alone.

you were consulted and said "ok" ?

I think you are stuck with it then

tbh though, I would say I had changed my mind (and take the consequences of sulks, tantrums etc), but it seems you are happy that some people have said yes and that is enough for you

biker here.

if it's the last time ever i'd let them go. does she have leathers, proper boots?

if not i'd be a lot less happy.

i would be concerned though, that if it's a huge success, he won't want to sell the bike.

biking becomes burnt into your SOUL.

A bit off topic (sorry about this OP) but I am surprised at how many mnetters are bikers...

I live in the home of the TT & have 2 small children, if there is a biking family out there that needs family friendly unofficial Homestay accomodation for TT2013 then PM me! I'm not a biker myself but being Manx I have an appreciation of bikes!

I'd let her go too, especially as it'll be the last trip on the bike.