How does your wife/partner feel about your Hobby?

Tough one. Sometimes she hates it because it's one of those sports where all-in is the only way for me. Golf, heck I can go play once a year and have fun, not get hurt. Moto, I'm training 2-3 days a week, wrenching on bikes for me and my boy, and spending $$$ that could go elsewhere. I can tell when I've pushed the limits of time spent at the track, in the garage, and in my wallet.

But then when our buddy gets hurt bad, she helps me move him in with us, feeds him, gets him to appointments, and helps nurse him back to health, allowing me to disrupt our lives for 10 weeks for a guy she barely knows.

She doesn't go watch us race anymore. Our son is now fast, and she struggles with the risk when he races. She's been on her share of ambulance rides and ER visits. Also seems that every time she comes to watch me race I get hurt so she stays away for the most part.

We've had some awesome trips to Supercross and Outdoors races, spent many a weekend in the toy hauler at OTHG events, raised our kids at the track, and she kicks my ass every year in Fantasy SX. We've had many good times toghether at tracks all over the west coast.

Now that I'm getting old and my racing days are coming to an end, she supports my need to have bikes to wrench on and lets me buy old classics to restore. She actually told me "I know where you are and what you are doing, which isn't the same for some of my friends. You can buy more bikes."

I try to keep her in mind when I'm not thinking about moto and bikes, and make sure I do what she asks, and things she doesn't ask, to show her she's important to me too. Balance in all things is a key to good living and relationships.

 My wine room. Wife is good! 

My wife picked me in part because I raced. We're an off-road family.

Wife here. MX is a huge part of my husband’s life…meanwhile, I have no clue what a spoke torque wrench is. But, I do enjoy listening to him talk about the latest bike specs, his best lap times, which supercross rider changed teams, venting about Freise… I’d say 80% of our conversations are moto-related. I check the forum here every so often (finally made an actual account) and follow some riders on social media. One of my favorite pastimes is casually bringing up some random mx topic and seeing that “how the hell did you know that?” look. Jokes on me though… I went into this with no knowledge or interest and just wanted to engage in some basic conversations. Now, I actually enjoy the sport. 

Not all heros wear capes

26 and single. I ride as much as I want when I want. My ex used to get mad at me when I went out and rode my dirtbike but she was very controlling and toxic, didn’t wanna go with me, ect. 
 

If I could find a girl that also rode dirtbikes, damn that would be a jackpot. Can’t help but feel jealous when someone is telling me about how they and their chick go riding together. That’s awesome. Gonna find one one day and marry her lol.

Because sex……best thing around

My wife hates it. She hates the expense, waking up early, the heat, the dust and especially the Porta potties. Were inTexas so 8 hrs in 110 degree weather and those porta potties get ripe.

But she knows that my son and I love it. So she supports us. She stays home on practice days but she's there from dawn til dusk on race days. She's been in hospitals all night without one single complaint.  

I have to pay her back with lots of attention and I don't get nights out with the boys. That's our compromise and one I'm willing to make. 

Apart from my wife and kids, riding makes me the happiest, I love getting out on the moto or the ebike. If your partner doesn't like you being happy, then find a new partner.

My ex was really into it with me for a while. Looking back it was too good to last. She would spend time in my shop with me, I was teaching her how engines work, even picked up an old xr for her to trail ride with me. This eventually turned into “All you care about is motorcycles and your dog”. 

Lesson learned. I keep the chicks and the moto separate now. Also if anyone wants some almost new ladies Thor boots pm me, just pay shipping. 

 

My wife understands how important motocross is to me and she enjoys camping at the track with our family.  Unfortunately, after my big crash last summer (that I’m still recovering from), I think she is just about over it.  I understand her point of view.  I’m rapidly closing in on 50, and a sport that comes with the risk of an ambulance trip every weekend really doesn’t make much sense.  That being said, I am counting down the days until spring and praying that my arm and shoulder return to normal function at some point so I can get back out on the gate.

It's all about balance.  When I was married my wife didn't love dirt bikes (or even really like them at all).  But when I was home I was 100% present and worked my ass off to do as much around the house as possible, help with the kids, etc.  I pretty much only race so it makes it easier to schedule when I'm gone and I think that helped too.  Now I'm dating and my GF is in the medical field and deals with a lot of trauma stuff so she has no interest in riding herself but is totally cool with me doing it.  She knows I take safety seriously and that motorcycles are literally my life as it is also how I make my living. I don't need my lady at the track with me but it is nice to have the support.  And she is getting into ebikes now too so that is something we can do together which is awesome.  Looks like most of the guys here get it-let your lady go on trips with her friends, support her in what she wants to do and she will do the same to you.  

Added an almost new 21 yesterday.

I will still grab a 23 at some point.

Glad she is so understanding 

Stoked to see and read all these stories.

In short, I am extremely lucky and my wife is incredibly supportive/understanding.

In long, back in 2012 both of my bikes and all of my families back were destroyed due to a wildfire. My wife and I were in the process of purchasing a house and buying a new bike wasn’t really in the cards…aside from my dad most of my friends had quit riding so I sort of thought that was the end.

Fast-forward to 2016, I was in a bit of a bad place and completely over my job, and just a lot of things honestly. My wife set up a weekend trip to Atlanta and got us tickets to the SX race. Within a month of being back home I had purchased a used bike and was hitting the track a handful of times each summer. Not much, but way better than nothing.

Starting last year a childhood friend I used to ride with got back into bikes and drug another friend along with him, we started hitting trails/single track fairly regularly. This summer we decided we were going to do one long weekend (Thursday/Friday-Sunday) a month for riding, and we also try to sneak in a day ride or two a month. It got to a point where my mom started giving me a hard time and told me “I better check with my wife and see if she’s okay with all this riding/time away.”

My wife never showed any signs of being upset, but I figured it would be smart to heed my mom’s advice so sat down with her and talked about it…thankfully she’s as stoked as I am. She understands that’s my therapy, one of my greatest motivators to stay in shape as I get a little older, and one of the best ways I have to stay close with old friends. She really sparked the whole thing for me, I honestly don’t know if I ever would have picked up riding again…I just wish I could get her on a bike for more casual trips, but her response to that was a more politely phrased “eat shit.” 

This was yesterday morning. I turned 46, the wife and lad got me a new helmet for my birthday. We had a full day planned but cancelled/postponed and insisted I go ride. My wife supports and encourages my lifestyle. We’ve been together for 23 years and still going strong. Riding is therapy….

Sex? Doesn’t everyone have sex with their wife? Lol, you can find a chick that doesn’t rule your life to do that with as well. 

Looks like most spouses are cool with us having time to ride. 
 

The thing that can get you in the feels is when you go to head out the door and the kids beg you to stay home and play with them. I’ve definitely had to abandon some of my ride days at last minute to stay home with them. No complaints, though. 

I can say I have had it both ways. My ex didn’t care for it much. Riding trips were hard to go on because she felt left out, but wouldn’t go. So you know what that means……. I didn’t go 

My fiancé now absolutely loves is. She would go to the track every time and would give me perspective on how I’m riding from another angle. “Your turns suck today” So on so forth 😂. She was also there the day I got injured and hasn’t left. 
 

Perspective 

Someone either didn’t ride much, or they were very good with maintenance. All of my bikes looked brand new because I couldn’t stand a ratty looking bike. 

Congrats on the great purchase!

Johnson Valley and yeah her Husky is lowered. We bought it used from a guy that had it lowered for his wife by 3Bros in Costa Mesa. 

Damn man you got a keeper for sure!

Very similar to me. Although my wife only went to a couple of races during the past 21 years of being married, she always supported my riding. Even the day of my big crash, was the day of our 21st anniversary. She wanted me to go and have fun with my friends.

But after 13 days in the hospital and a long way from getting back to work, she has mentioned that maybe I should hang it up. Although she said she would never tell me that I had to stop, she would be disappointed if I kept riding. And I can't blame her. I have put our family in a tough situation. 

I'm a pretty lucky guy. My (now) wife is as much, and sometimes more, of a fan as I am these days. She follows all the news and the pros on social media, and often tells me stuff before i find out about it. She has strong opinions of all the riders now and loves the drama and entertainment that goes on preseason, midseason, etc between riders and teams.

When i met her back in 2014 she didn't even know what a dirtbike was. I took her to her first Supercross race at Metlife Stadium in April of 2015 and she absolutely loved it, on the edge of her seat the entire time.

 Here's us at the Glen Helen pro national in 2017

 Enjoys coming to the local races with me:

Has strong opinions during the season and is competitive in fantasy SX/MX

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8jm9xHgkHn

She has even dabbled in a little bit of dirtbike and motorcycle riding!

Loves going to the races!

I'm a super lucky guy, thats for sure.

Long time lurker here. My wife came along about the time I started getting serious into riding. She enjoyed coming to races and hanging out with my riding buddies. Eventually she wanted to learn to ride. She’s now at the point where she’s racing as well. I can’t make riding plans without including her. It’s great always having a riding buddy you can count on to ride. We share the same hobbies from riding to the boat. A year ago we decided to move south to our favorite lake, was a win win as the riding here is better and all year. Life is pretty great when your wife is your best friend.

guess the guy was a first time rider.

The 450 was too for him and he decided to get a 250f.

I added a few goodies already