Kids love bikes/cute kid story.

[skewterdewd]

So, yesterday is the first sunny day in forever, and I decide do do some errands around town by bike. It's late in the day, so afternoon traffic is pretty thick, and requires most of my limited powers of concentration.
I pull up to a busy intersection and wait for the light. From behind I hear a kid's voice... "Hi!" really loud and bright. I'm looking forward and don't turn around. A few seconds later, I hear another "Hi" (but not as loud, and now sounding a bit confused) I still don't turn around, because it hasn't occurred to me that the kid is talking to me.. Then, a few seconds go by, and at a gap in the traffic I hear, In this tiny little, barely audible, sweet-as-can-be, Cindy Lou Who voice.. "Hi...Mister man...on... the shiny black motorcycle..." Well, this gets my attention. I look back, where I see the most adorable little girl, maybe 7 or 8 years old, glued to the window of her momma's Mustang. She's kneeling on the seat, straining mightily to get a look at the bike. I pop up my visor. She immediately startles back off the window, eyes as big as saucers. I look at her, trying to figure out if hers is the voice I heard. She looks back, temporarily frozen. I wave to her over my shoulder. Her face breaks out in an ear to ear smile, and she starts clapping and bouncing up and down on the seat, squealing with delight, totally adorable.

Something about that kid's pure expression of delight just put a lump in my throat. You could have pushed me over with a feather.

I don't have kids, because they terrify me. Occasionally, their amazing power to disarm adults blows me completely away. Just one more experience I would have missed by not riding that day. I doubt if I'll soon forget it.

[fretbuzz]

Great story, man. I love those moments.

[Michael600r]

I love those stories.

[cpttoad1swife]

our grandkids all like our bike... the youngest is almost 2 and he will look at the bike and look at his mom and go mmmm bike.... and she will him no trent not yet you are too little then he will look at her and go but mom mmm bike!! lol treasure the moments like those. that way when you go by a kid that crys because of the big bad biker, you can remember the little girl that squealed

[V2K_CCTX]

awesome story

[murtasma]

Who dosen't like a hot ride

[cmptrmn.1]

Very nice story. And I have kids. The terrify me, too.

[lilredridingliz]

Jimmie, that was your "moment of grace" yesterday. Very sweet.

[trikebubble]

Great story.

I pulled up to a light once, and had a kid (futur biker no doubt) look out the back window of his parents minivan and flash me the headbangers (Devils) sign.
Now that just made my day, puts a smile on my face, and makes up for every ignorant fool I meet on a weekly basis.

When we roll into my sisters driveway, my 3 year old nephew always comes rushing out to greet us. He just loves to crack the throttle on my bike, and honk the horn....Again, just makes my day.

[CycleDude]

Thats great skewterdewd. Last week I heard a kid say "mommy look at THAT motorcycle. I fired her up and as I looped past them I gave him a little beep of the horn, and the kid got very excited.

It just made my day, by making his.

[vulcaneyez]

I rode my bike to the church yesterday evening. When it was time to leave, I rode out of the parking lot and stopped before entering the street. A lot of the young children from the church were playing there. Many of them stopped to wave and watch me pull off. I wonder how many of them may end up on a bike one day?

[Stormdragon]

Didja pull a wheelie for her when the light turned green?

[mcneese5]

I for one love it when the kids make a big deal, I have seen stickers that say , " Make your kids stop pointing at me " well I dont mind a bit they can point and if its possible I will wave and smile. Great post.

[CycleDude]

Originally Posted by mcneese5

I for one love it when the kids make a big deal, I have seen stickers that say , " Make your kids stop pointing at me " well I dont mind a bit they can point and if its possible I will wave and smile. Great post.

Yup - just don't climb on and try to stick a quarter in the slot in the steering head!

[skewterdewd]

Originally Posted by Stormdragon

Didja pull a wheelie for her when the light turned green?

That's hilarious. It's a 900 custom. With my KrispyKreme physique on it, the front wheel stays glued to the pavement no matter what!

[skewterdewd]

Originally Posted by CycleDude

Thats great skewterdewd. Last week I heard a kid say "mommy look at THAT motorcycle. I fired her up and as I looped past them I gave him a little beep of the horn, and the kid got very excited.

It just made my day, by making his.

It's the level of excitement in them that kills me. It's like a motorcycle kind of looks like the bikes that they ride, but bigger, louder, faster and without the pedaling and the Hello Kitty paint scheme. It might as well be a spaceship. I was always crazy for bikes when I was a kid. Seeing the faces light up just takes me right back. It's great.

[Nate]

When I test-rode my SR about four years ago I rode it down to the end of the guy's street and back up the hill. As I went back up the hill there was a mother and her daughter out in their yard. The girl put her hands over her ears expecting a roar, but I was on a 650 with stock exhaust.

Anyway, I waved and she had to uncover one of her ears and wave back and then broke into a big smile. It's too bad I was wearing his fullface helmet (law in Nebraska where I bought it) and she couldn't see my big stupid grin.

A couple of years ago I had a young teen walk up at the gas station while I was filling it up and he told me it looked great and really liked it. Hopefully, he'll find his own vintage scoot in a few years.

Remember, we are the ambassadors for our sport and every positive impact we make is not only a potential rider one day, but a voter as well.

[Mr_Martini]

Originally Posted by Nate

Remember, we are the ambassadors for our sport and every positive impact we make is not only a potential rider one day, but a voter as well.

+1

As long as it is safe to do so, I always try to wave at the little kids who stare at me on my motorcycle because it is great to see their faces light up. Not only that, it's my hope that kid grows up respecting motorcyclists on the road if not ride themselves.

I remember coming up to an intersection where I was on a small cross street turning onto a busier road. A lady pushing a kid in a stroller was starting to cross but when she saw me coming down the hilly road to the intersection she actually looked scared and hesitated. I also noticed the kid started pointing at me. I brought the bike to a slow stop and gave the kid a big wave. The kids giddy laughter was enough to put a massive grin on the mothers face as she crossed in front of me and gave me a wave back. This is definitely one way we can change the perceptions of motorcyclists.

[Capt. Redbeard]

A great story! I'd love to have a collection of positive stories like these and put them into a book. Might have to wait until I finish the one I'm writing now.

[jparent]

Great story! +1 on the lump.