Teaching wife to ride

[Spyug]

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Everybody is different as to how they learn. Some are intimidated by a friend or a spouse as a teacher, some are put off easily by strangers. If it works for her super. It is important to take a course as she is less likely to pick up any of your bad habits and they will teach her things you have likely forgotten and perhaps don't even know or are aware of.

Riding is a life long educational process and while doing is key, reading and practicing is also very important. I strongly recommend all new riders obtain and read David L. Houghs "Proficient Motorcycling" a two book set available from all good bookstores about $25 each. Invaluable information, well laid out with lots of pictures and illustrations, they fill in a lot of the gaps and make things a lot clearer for new folks.

Parking lot learning is very important and I think that some of the routines they teach in the courses and in Hough's books should be practiced again and again until second nature, especially things like panic braking and swerving. I wouldn't let her out on the road until she has these down and her clutch and throttle control is good and consistant.

Confidence is extremely important and people get to it in their own time but over confidence can be super dangerous too so don't let her on the street until she genuinely has the basic skills down. It goes without saying not to push her.

Good luck with it and be safe.
Cheers,
Spyug

 

[RodneyBR]

I agree. It takes years to get confident at this and she knows it. I've ridden dirt bike years ago for quite a while and I just finished the Durham College M2 Course. So I'm teaching her what I've learned. She's also doing the same course later this month or next. So she should have a heads up from me

I keep telling her, baby steps.... Thankfully she's willing to take it slow. Because on a parking lot in one thing, but on the street... Although, she has to take that step at some point, but only when she's comfortable doing it.

Everybody is different as to how they learn. Some are intimidated by a friend or a spouse as a teacher, some are put off easily by strangers. If it works for her super. It is important to take a course as she is less likely to pick up any of your bad habits and they will teach her things you have likely forgotten and perhaps don't even know or are aware of.

Riding is a life long educational process and while doing is key, reading and practicing is also very important. I strongly recommend all new riders obtain and read David L. Houghs "Proficient Motorcycling" a two book set available from all good bookstores about $25 each. Invaluable information, well laid out with lots of pictures and illustrations, they fill in a lot of the gaps and make things a lot clearer for new folks.

Parking lot learning is very important and I think that some of the routines they teach in the courses and in Hough's books should be practiced again and again until second nature, especially things like panic braking and swerving. I wouldn't let her out on the road until she has these down and her clutch and throttle control is good and consistant.

Confidence is extremely important and people get to it in their own time but over confidence can be super dangerous too so don't let her on the street until she genuinely has the basic skills down. It goes without saying not to push her.

Good luck with it and be safe.
Cheers,
Spyug

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