Kids on back of big motorbikes ....???

[MrsEricBana]

It is DH birthday today and for his "birthday treat" he is hiring a big motorbike for next weekend. He not ridden for 14 years but back then he did have a big bike for 2 years or so and rode it a lot with no mishaps.
So he wants to take ds (11) and dd (9) out on it next weekend and I am not at all happy about it.
The plan is that he picks it up and rides it for a couple of hours to get the hang of it then he takes them out, round the block at first the further afield, on country roads, if they are comfortable with it. The man at the (reputable) bike place who will hire it to him said not safe for dd as she cannot reach the footrests properly but ok for ds. Dh has some plan to reverse the footrests so she can reach them.
I am not at all happy about this and have tried to put my foot down re the dcs going on it but dh is just not having it. I am not keen for dh to do it either but obviously no leg to stand on there, it's up to him. I would be less worried if he was a regular rider now (and dd could reach the footrests).
WWYD, dh thinks I am far too risk averse generally?

Country roads, inexperienced rider and a fuckin Harley.

Say no OP

Well Quint I just meant I can't stop him doing something if he really wants to. Yes probably is midlife crisis in that he wants to revisit something he loved in his pre-family days, but that doesn't mean the kids have to be involved.

Yes, agree re country roads.

Novice pillions tend to lean all over the place and bugger up your balance. It's bad enough if you're expecting it but as an inexperienced rider on an unfamiliar bike it sounds like a disaster waiting to happen, and Sock is spot on, moving the rear pegs is just stupid!

moving the rear pegs is possibly going to invalidate any insurance...

Actually, it being a Harley is actually A Good Thing ( apart from the cornering thing, and the wooden brakes). Harley riders who are doing it because it's "cool" aren't going to be hooning round trying to get the knee down.

Hmmm, this is going to be interesting. Dd not at all bothered and ds says "I'm happy not to do it Mummy" so will just have to state my position and let him get on with it.

Ah, just read it's a Hefalump Dumpaloon. It'll handle like a wheelbarrow full of mud even without the want-to-see-where-we're-going pillion problems then ...

( Sorry! )

No, don't think any knees will be going down! Apologies if anyone has one but the bike looked to me like one of those Goldwing things where you see older couples on a day out communicating through a headset thing.

Ultraglide?
(I suspect this might be deeply uncool )

Ah, Goldwings, sofas on wheels!

Sounds like DH will be having a fun day to himself, then. :)

Inexperienced rider

Novice pillion

Unfamiliar bike

Just NO

(biker here)

Actually a Goldwing can look like A Bit Of A Beast if you strip off the fringed canopy and the in-flight stereo and all the rest of the tat ( and no we don't have one, but DP fixed one up a while ago and frightened the life out of DS2 when he gave it a fist-full and flames shot out of the carbs! )

Think of your DCs street cred, you can not let anyone see them near that bike, they will never live it down

UltraGlide

Flames shot out of the carb??????!!!

Quite, not so cool now

Thanks all, I am totally clear about what I am going to do/say now, that has really helped.

I had a customised maggot Silverwing back in the day, Fecklessdizzy, I was once approached by an enormous man who congratulated me on having a bike that looked so big under me and said it was his life's ambition to achieve the same look! (Am a very short and light person.)

Relax, MrsE I don't think they do it as a rule! ( DP has a gift ... )

A Maggot! Now there's a steed of the gods!

DP despatched for years on a CX500 ... ( Happy sigh, drops clutch and roars off down sunlit and child-free memory lane ... )

I loved my maggot, she was bulletproof and the most ugly custom I ever owned but some fucker set her on fire. Still traumatised all these years later. :(

No way would I allow this. Never in a million years. Motorbikes are bloody dangerous even with an experienced rider.

I have ridden a bike for years but in the last 2 years since having DD I don't ride very much and my skills are rusty. If your DH rode regularly there would not be a problem.

However, a quick ride round will not give him sufficient time to regain his skills. There is a lot more traffic on the roads now.

Also has he looked at the cost of motorbike helmets and full protective trousers, jacket and gloves for them both?

Also if he is hiring the bike they may not insure him to ride with children.

Normally when anyone posts about motorbikes I feel they ABU but on this occasion you most definitely ANBU.

If he wants to ride again get him to take a refresher course and start off with a lower powered bike.

Also when the law changed regarding bike licences did he apply to change his licence? If not he will not have a licence to ride.

On this occasion he is being an idiot.

OldLady Aaaargh!

My DD is 11 and does mini moto. She has full leathers,helmet gloves and boots. Her Dad has taken her out on his big bikes
But.
She is 5"7 and knows the rules. We also had something called Love Handles. Motrax do them. It's a set of handles that the rider wears. DD can reach the foot pegs
Failing that a bungee cord round the rider to give something to hang on to.
DD grew up with both parents riding and her Dad is one of the best riders I know. A 14 year gap is a bit worrying. Would your DH consider having a few refresher lessons to make him realise how dangerous it is and how precious his children are
DEXP no longer rides for that reason.