Sue's Story - From pillion to rider
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.ย. 2024
- There must be many female pillion passengers who often wonder what it might be like to be in charge and ride there own bikes. This is the story of one of them! Sue had been very happy as my pillion until she decided she wanted to learn to ride - just in case of emergency and she could take over and ride back home if something happened. But once she had learned she decided she wanted to ride her own bike and a new chapter was about to be written in our motorcycling adventures!
Big thanks to Karl Karmenz motorcycle training for helping Sue - Woollaston BMW for allowing us to film and Gardner + White garage for helping to rebuild Sue's Honda 125 after the "incident!"
If you enjoy our video please give us a thumbs up and share/subscribe! Thanks for watching and we hope it might inspire more ladies to step up from Pillion to Rider!
Filmed with:-
Go Pro Hero 6 Black
canon G7
i PhoneX
Contact MMD: midlifemotorcycling@gmail.com
What a fantastic story and example to us all ❤
Thank you, Paul. It’s lovely to know my experience has had a good impact. Sue☺️👍
Interesting vid. My wife didn't start riding until her 40th birthday, what a great decision that was! She hasn't found anything she likes riding more than her Triumph Street Triple, she is on her second one now.
Banditmanuk Thanks! Did your wife ride pillion with you before riding her own bike? It certainly made a massive difference to us having our own bikes- never tried a Street Triple though, everyone rates them. Sue does find the Tiger a bit top heavy.
@@midlifemotorcyclediaries She occasionally did pillion with me but both of us didn't particularly enjoy the experience. When my eldest lad said he wanted to learn I was pleasantly surprised when she said she also wanted to learn and she passed before him.
Carol did try a Tiger 800 before buying her second Street Triple but she found it too top heavy and just a bit underpowered compared to the Street. I made a vid about two years ago about the mods we made to the bike to make touring easier and she wouldn't swap now as its ideal for one up touring. Enjoy your current trip.
Banditmanuk That’s interesting- maybe we’ll give the Triple a test ride! 😀
Well done Sue! I'm 65 and ride a Harley Sportster 1200 which I bought new in 2007! I love it. Prior to that I rode Japanese bikes. I started riding in the days when you could ride a 250cc on a provisional licence! My husband and I love riding around Wales, Shropshire and we've done a couple of trips to the South of France. We've ridden in Ireland around Kilarney but found some of the road surfaces a bit hard going on Harleys!
Hi Pat, thank you for your note and for watching our videos. It seems a long time now since my training days but I still feel I’m learning from every ride. Having gone from BMW 700 to Tiger 800 to Tiger 900, I feel I’ve now found my best bike. We’ve done a lot of miles now - both in Europe and the USA but we’d love to do north of Northern Ireland to south of Southern Ireland. Maybe once Covid restrictions are over, we’ll do it. I’ve always thought Harleys look beautiful- lots of our followers are from the USA - but they also look heavy and I often wonder how they’d cope on UK windy, steep roads - particularly around places like Scotland’s coast roads.
Enjoy your rides - wishing you both miles of smiles ☺️👍🏍🏍
Hmmm, wondering whether I should show Mrs Flyer this or not!!!
Be prepared Andy...... she just might get the bug!!
What are your concerns Andy? Sue would be happy to chat to her!👍
You should, Joy is out on a 125 in GC under Martin's tuition. We visit next month and I believe your pal Ken will still be out there. All the best Carol and Richard H
Banditmanuk Thanks for your comments! You should copy TMF in - or maybe he doesn’t want Mrs TMF on two wheels! 😀
@@midlifemotorcyclediaries I think Andy hears enough from me, I've been a fan and a subscriber for many years. Only just this week I've got my Carol to break her silence and record why she started to ride and why she rides a street Triple......Hopefully out next Thursday. Enjoy your vids. cheers
I totally vibe with how your journey it's like listening to myself, thanks for the video.
Thank you Dawn! Really appreciate your comments and thanks for watching! 😀👍
Beautiful story! Thanks for sharing...
Thank you, Michael. Glad you enjoyed it. 😊👍
Well done, your progress from pillion to rider will be inspiring for may I am sure.
Thank you very much! My hope was that it would inspire lots of ladies to give it a try! 😀👍
Really enjoy watching the videos and after watching this one my wifes started having lessons and is booked in for her cbt .
Thanks for your lovely note, Rich. It makes my day when I hear that the video has encouraged someone to learn. That’s exactly what we set the channel up for. Wishing you both miles of smiles. Sue ☺️👍🏍🏍
Those old 50cc restricted mopeds were death traps, I'd love to meet the guy that thought they were a good idea. I had the previous 50cc moped that could get a good 65mph (with a bit of tinkering) good on you for persevering glad you're loving it 👍
😂You’re so right. I could just about get 40 out of it - down hill with the wind behind me. It was so dangerous and lots of my male friends would drill out the restrictor. My lovely tiger 🐯 is very different ☺️Thank you for your support 👍
I've just come back to it aged 54. I'm really enjoying it again, just brilliant!
That’s fantastic Greg! Stay safe! 😀👍
@@midlifemotorcyclediaries Oh thanks! I'm beginning to watch the channel. I can see a binge watching session coming on whenever the weather keeps me off my bike! :)
Thanks Greg! Hope you enjoy the channel! 😀👍
It's great seeing other lady riders. I've been riding 2 years now. I'm only 5ft 2" so getting a bike for was was a struggle until I found my Kawasaki Vulcan. Love it. I passed my test on a Suzuki Gladius and it weighed a tonne.
Well done you! We need more lady bikers around! 😀👍
Just passed my test at the ripe old age of 54 and have a gs 700 , absolutely love it
Fantastic! Congrats Paul - welcome to the club! Sue loved the 700 GS 😀👍
Was it hard I'm 51 and want to do my test this year or next.
@@paulcummins5231 hi h
Paul, no it wasn't just signed up for the training, just a day or twos training for each test. Had a positive mindset and really enjoyed the course, didn't put any expectations on myself and as such quite enjoyed the whole process. It's never too late definitely go for it
@@kf-dk5pb no it's not life is very short. So is a mod 2 a full licence.
I've ridden and ride with many ladies who ride very well over the years, but motorcycling isn't for everyone. I had a girlfriend back in the 80s who wanted to ride and took MSF, but wasn't very comfortable on a bike even after graduating. She bought a Honda 500cc Ascot and we would go riding, but she was very slow and careful, but I was going so slow I was board. She never got to the point where she was comfortable and finally gave it up after discovering her fellow MSF graduates were going on long trips and riding abilities had improved dramatically!
You’re right, Bob Riding isn’t for everyone. I was lucky that I felt quite confident early on and Bri chose a first ‘big’ bike (BMW 700 gs) which was perfect and helped me to feel even more confident on longer trips. I really think the choice of bike is essential- even when you’ve been riding a while. I dropped my first Triumph Tiger a few times and that knocked my confidence. In hindsight, it was a little top heavy for me. The 900 is so much better. Thanks for watching our adventures. Wishing you many miles of smiles 😊👍
@@midlifemotorcyclediaries Just remember you're invisible to cars and assume around every corner there's a patch of gravel. :)
Wonderful story and thanks for sharing. I am 51 and doing my CBT in 2 weeks
Thanks very much Duncan! Congratulations on your CBT 👍 I was 50 when I did mine - best thing ever! 👍😀
@@midlifemotorcyclediaries that's excellent. Excited and nervous in equal measures
Sue, I was a bike instructor in the 1970s/80s with a class one licence. I have just watched this video and I am being absolutely truthful when I say that you are a great example of perseverance and determination and a credit to the motorcycle world. It also shows why motorcycle riders who are trained properly make the best car drivers. We learn about road surface -(smell of a diesel spill etc ) and also anticipating that every other person on the road is out to get us.
Hi Howard, thank you for your lovely message. The main reason for launching the channel (apart from being able to relive our adventures) was to try and encourage more people (particularly more mature ladies) to give riding a go. I’ve had some amazing messages from people who have been inspired to learn, which is so rewarding. It’s so true - certainly for me - that learning to ride has made me a much better driver. Maybe a short ride on a motorbike as part of the driving test would help motorists to remember to look out for bikers? Thanks for watching our adventures. The next video should be out tomorrow (I can take absolutely no credit for the videos as I just turn up, ride and do the occasional voice over. Bri does all the hard work) Wishing you a wonderful 2022 - and miles of smiles 👍😀
How brilliant Sue. I am a 63 year old granny and I got my CBT on the 5th of October to my surprise. Got a new 125, but as soon as I have passed my mod1 and mod2, I will be getting "a real bike". Will probably keep riding on my L plates for a year to get my confidence up. I had a Suzuki FA 50 in the 80's, a wee automatic run-around lol. I am so inspired by your experience. My husband and I watch your channel regularly, and we regret not doing this years ago. He never rode a bike before and he also got his CBT. We are looking forward to our first long trip together. Happy riding!!!!! :)
Aww, Marlene , what a lovely message. I’m so happy our adventures have inspired you guys to experience more of getting wonderful world of biking. Thank you so much for watching our videos. Keep in touch and let us know how you’re doing. Sue xx
Hello Sue! So happy to hear your riding story. I too started on a moped back in the 80s, then sat behind my honey for several years, and this year of 2020 at 52yrs young, I decided life is to fragile to not commit to something I’ve dreamt of for so long! Plus, every time I sat behind him, I’d pretend I was riding his bike! lol! So yes, this year I earned my license and ride a Honda CB500X. Now I want a cruiser or a BMW sometime next year. It is never too late! 🏍💕💕💕
Hi! Thank you so much for your lovely message. We’re so happy that you enjoy the videos. When we set the channel up, it was initially so we could gather memories and share them with people who were also enjoying biking - or were thinking about it but maybe felt it was a little late to learn. We’ve been blown away with the messages telling us that they’ve been inspired by our experiences. It really is never too late. We met and married later in life so the timing was perfect for us. Keep letting us to know what you think of the videos and have many many years of happy biking with your lovely partner on your cruiser or BMW 😉 Sue x
Well done, Sue! Enjoy, and ride safe. I'm looking forward to more of your adventures.
Thank you for your lovely comment. Glad you enjoyed the story so far. Lots more to come 👍
Well done sue ... me and Faye have just watched it she s mega excited to get started 👍🏍
Tins on Tour Thanks very much! Faye, you’ll love it 😀 let us know how you get on and if you need any help/information/support we’re here! Go girl! 👍😀
Well done, Sue and Carl. ( especially Sue ) I, too, took up motorcycling in the last year at 67 ( loving it ) passed my test in February. Getting more confident every day and planning on doing a European trip next year. Looking forward to catching up with your other videos. Just started watching " Riding on egg shells " I think you might enjoy it.
geoff newman Thanks so much for the comments and support! Big congratulations to you for taking the plunge yourself! Hope you have many happy trips on two wheels! 😀👍🏍
well done,we enjoy watching you both.best wishes ,john linda and chris bellamy. we live near triumph hinckley.
Thanks very much John! We’re glad you enjoy our adventures and thanks for watching! 😀👍 (we guess you’re Triumph fans! 😀)
125 is a lot more work than a bigger bike . Even when your passed always practice every day is a lesson x
Thanks Douglas! Totally agree 👍 bigger bikes are so much easier than a 125 - you can never practice too much, thanks for watching! 👍😀
What a great journey! Your travels are amazing.
Thank you very much Jane! It’s certainly been a memorable journey and best thing I ever did - thanks for watching! 😀👍
@@midlifemotorcyclediaries I've been riding so long but your travels are way above anything I've done. I'm a lot shorter and old bikes but The Welsh 360 and NC500 are on our to do list. We are in SW Wales so definitely our first to do. We'll keep watching. Keep riding safe. And healthy.
@@ladyjrider666 you’ll love the 360 and 500! wishing you many miles of smiles on your trips ☺️👍
@@midlifemotorcyclediaries and many more for you too. 😎
Well done, very inspiring, thanks for the sharing, Karl, great instructor 👍
Thanks for your feedback!
Fair play to you, well done now living the dream .
Thanks Alan! Best thing I ever did! 😀👍
Thank you for making this video, you inspired me to get my own bike and start to ride on my own. I am 38 years old and I thought that i am to old for this, have kids....no time for fun like that. But I even discovered that being small isn't an issue!
Fantastic! Well done for giving biking a go. There are so many people write to tell me they’re learning in their 50s and 60s so 38 is certainly not too old👍 Hopefully we’ll be able to get out and ride more really soon. Wishing you miles of smiles! Ride safe. Sue 👍🏍
Great video, You’re an inspiration Sue, cannot understand the thumbs down on this. Wish I’d listened to my head and gone for it, really is too late for me now, but more than happy to sit as pillion.
Never too late 💕 but pillion is fun too. Thank you for your lovely note. Glad you enjoy the videos. We really enjoy making them. Happy riding 🏍🏍👍
Hi Guys, it's great to see more content encouraging women to ride - thats what we try to do with our channel to! Safe riding and happy touring :)
Bacon Bike Tours Thanks very much for your comments! We’ll check your channel too! 👍😀
@@midlifemotorcyclediaries many thanks. We had triumph tiger 800s on our tour of New Zealand - amazing bike, good choice :)
Bacon Bike Tours I toured South Island many years ago, my favourite biking place on Earth! 😀
@@midlifemotorcyclediaries my equal favourite. If you want a place that matches it, try Romania.
Put my Daughter through her test couple of years ago, then bought her a Yamaha MT03 660cc (A2.) Great fun wee bike that she loves ! Changed the rear spring to lower it by 20mm as she is only 29” inside leg at 5’5”....We have had lots of great trips together 😊...I have a Ducati multistrada 1200s & am 5’9” but have the same inside leg as her !!....So yes for a beginner bike light & not too tall 🤣...Well Done Sue 👏🥃🏴
Thank you very much! I really did love that 700 😀 for me it was perfect and helped me build my confidence! Hope you’re having a great time and creating fantastic memories with your daughter! Thanks for watching! 😀😀
Great story well done sue ,
Thanks so much - glad you enjoyed it!
Well done.
Thank you! 😀👍
Well done Sue, what a fantastic achievement and a very motivational and inspirational video for many wanna be riders out there, female and male too!! Amazing!! 👍👍
Thank you, Nelio. I’ve actually had a few people write and tell me that they watched the video and decided to learn. It really was a good decision. We love our trips. Hope you enjoy the other videos. We’re looking forward to getting out and making more memories 😊👍🏍🏍
Absolutely well done superb story of encouragement for some👏🏽👏🏽💯😊
Thank you very much Stan! We really appreciate your comments and thanks for watching! 👍😀
Hi folks thanks for the videos, I have just subscribed after coming across your channel which is very apt as I have just bought my wife her cbt course as part if her birthday present in a few days time. She's said she has wanted to learn to ride for quite a while but I think it's one of those things that would have always been put off 'til another day. You've inspired me too, I think I will keep a diary of her progress and hopefully if she likes it we can follow her journey as another midlife woman starting out on two wheels.
Thanks again, stay safe! 😊👍
Hi Andy, what a great gift! I’m sure she’ll be delighted. While, as you can see from the Pillion to Rider video, I had my ups and downs during my learning; a good trainer, lots of practice and masses of support from Bri really helped. I hope your wife loves riding as much as I do. Here’s to miles of smiles and making lots of memories 👍🏍🏍😊
@@midlifemotorcyclediaries thank you. I'll introduce her to your videos after I've given her the certificate and hopefully it'll give her the inspiration to see her through to her full licence. 👍
Congratulations, Sue! Great history and I hope that it boosts the confidence of other women to became riders! I’ve been riding since 16 and I’m now 55. I just never travelled abroad but will do it one day pos-Covid! All the best on future rides! 😘
Hi Cecilia, thank you for your lovely note. Glad you liked the video. I’ve had a lot of messages saying it’s encouraged people to learn, which is great. Hope we all get to go out and ride again soon. Wishing you miles and miles of smiles 🏍👍x
That was just brilliant xxx just what I needed to hear. It's my goal to do my CBT this year and then take some time to get used to biking. Please do loads more vlogs xxx
Thank you. Thats exactly the route I took Sue, rather than just doing the DAS straight off. Riding the 125 helped build my biking skills and confidence. Lots more Vlogs in the pipeline. Thanks for watching. Good luck with the CBT.👍
Well done, enjoy yourself and stay safe.
Thanks Steve! 😀👍
@@midlifemotorcyclediaries You're welcome, been trying to take my theory test for the last 12 months. Postponed again from April to June. At 60 hopefully won't be long before I have my own big bike. Take care of yourselves and stay safe.
That must be so frustrating 😩 fingers crossed for June 🤞 let us know how you get on Steve! Good luck! 😀👍
@@midlifemotorcyclediaries Thanks for the reply. Take care and stay safe x
Great video and took the same route back to motorcycling in early 2016. I failed the Mod 1for exactly the same fault, but pushed on and am so glad I have started riding again. It is not an exaggeration to say that being out on a motorcycle is good for the soul 😊
Hi David, I think I had been on the the test ground for about 3 minutes when I put my foot down. 🙄 I gave myself a hard time right up until I was able to do it again but, in hindsight, it was all just more practice. It’s been a few miles since then and you’re so right, it is good for the soul ☺️Ride safe and thank you for watching the videos 🏍🏍👍
@@midlifemotorcyclediaries As well being annoyed with myself, the guy teaching me was also irritated and had been convinced that I would pass which made it even worse 😅 Several friends who had previously failed highlighted the difficulty of obstacle avoidance part, where you have you exceed a certain speed and which I found straightforward 😀 I have covered just over 20k now and have several tours booked for next year. Your video are great so please keep up the good work. You take care too and ride safe 👍🏍
Brilliant David! Look forward to hearing about your tours next year! Take care and thanks again for watching ! 👍😀
I’ve been riding for over 40 years.... when it comes to those slow manoeuvres, Sue would run rings around me.👍
Thank you. I practiced until I was bored to death! 😂 Thank you for watching 👍
Wow ! So impressed 👏🏻
Thanks very much Andrew! It’s still the best thing I’ve ever done! We love riding together!😀
Well done Sue. Good on ya lady. X
Thank you! I’ve had a few people saying it’s encouraged them to start riding 😀 ! Thanks again!
my good lady doesnt want to have her own bike but does love going as a passenger.thankfully.
It’s great to share a common passion John whether it’s pillion or rider! 😀👍
well done sue !!!!
forrest richardson Thank you very much! We appreciate your comments and thanks for watching! 😀
Trying to get my wife through riding school, but its so narly and expensive in this country so it takes time
It does but it’s worth persevering 👍 Sue says it was one of the best things she ever did - now, after all the ups and downs we can really enjoy riding together! 👍😀
@@midlifemotorcyclediaries lts just the nicest thing, riding motorcycle with my wife. 😊😊
Nothing better! 👍👍👍😀😀😀
Sound very similar to my better half Carol. Us Carl's albeit ( spelt slightly different) do make very good instructors
😀👍
Cool lady
Thanks very much Robert! 😀
She's a keeper.. 😍😍😍😍💋💋😁😁😁👌🏍️🏍️🏍️
Definitely!! 👍😀
Passed mi test 18 month ago at 51years got a fazer 600 s2 but now looking for slightly bigger bike 🏍😅
Well done Steve! I passed when I was 50 and started out with a Suzuki 650 ( it wasn’t long before I upgraded to!) 😀👍
Passed my motorbike first time but it was no way as difficult as it is now ,failed my car and hgv test first time so swings and roundabouts!! Failed my HGV medical at 45 so lost my job ,glad in way I had had enough of the stress! Everything happens for a reason , so back down to 3.5 tons now they even took the 7.5 ton of me hay ho
I think you’re absolutely right Stuart! Everything happens for a reason - I’ve always believed that 😀
The motorcycle test process, from beginner to test pass, is hugely complex and far too expensive. When compared to a driving test, a driving test is simple in comparison. The motorcycle test process is almost designed to put people off riding in the first place. The process came from our beloved EU, unfortunately. Luckily, through pressure from MAG and others, our Government is supposed to be looking to simplify the hugely costly and overly complex process. Fingers crossed then!
You’re absolutely right - it is expensive ☹️ but definitely well worth it! 😀👍
It was all going so well until she mentioned work😂
😂Sadly that’s what pays for the bikes, Adrian! 🙃😉Thanks for watching! 👍🏍🏍.
FAKE...
too attractive for a lady biker 😉
Yes, I’m a lucky man ! 😀👍