There’s a lot of things that motorcycle enthusiasts have in common, one of them being that they love to show off their ride. A great way to do so is by taking it on dates either with your partner or with people you’d like as your partner.
If you’re less practiced in this realm, you’re not alone. It’s one thing to take your motorcycle out and enjoy it yourself, but it’s a whole different ballgame when you have someone on the back with you that you’re trying to impress.
When I was going to college, I had a motorcycle that I restored and used on dozens of dates. I ended up marrying one of the ladies I took on a date on my motorcycle and we’ve been able to enjoy my motorcycles since then. Through my motorcycle dating experiences, I’ve been able to compile a helpful list of 10 fool-proof motorcycle date tips that will make your night run much smoother.
1. Inform Your Date Ahead Of Time
It can get really exciting thinking about going on a date on your motorcycles, especially with someone you’re interested in. However, sometimes that excitement can get the better of us and we forget to inform our date that we’ll be using our motorcycle as our source of transportation.
It is courteous to contact your date beforehand and let them know you’ll be picking them up on a motorcycle. Make sure they are comfortable with it because there will be some people out there who will say no. I’ve made of mistake of forgetting to tell previous dates I was coming on a motorcycle only to find that they weren’t comfortable with it and I had to go home and get my car.
If you plan on informing them ahead of time, chances are your date will agree with it because that gives them time to prepare if they’ve never ridden a motorcycle before. Also, they’ll hopefully appreciate you being a planner and being considerate of what they’re comfortable with.
2. Inform Your Date Of The Appropriate Motorcycle Attire
While you’re talking to your date about going out on your motorcycle, it’s also a good idea to inform them about the appropriate attire they should wear for the ride. In other words, make sure they don’t wear a skirt, sandals, or shorts while you’re out.
Again, there were a few times I forgot to inform my dates about the right attire to wear until I went to pick them up. Some of them were wearing skirts and I awkwardly had to inform them that skirts aren’t the best apparel for motorcycle rides.
Wearing the right attire during a motorcycle date is a lot more than just feeling comfortable during the ride. Most of it is because of safety reasons and your date’s safety should be your number one priority during this event.
If they’re not sure what they need to wear, simply tell them that jeans and ankle covering shoes will work great. Inform them that this will protect them from burning themselves from the hot pipes on the motorcycle as well as any rocks that may be flicked up from the tire. If it’s going to be cold, make sure they have a warm jacket that will keep them comfortable throughout the ride.
Have A Helmet Ready For Your Date
If you’re planning on using your motorcycle as a way to impress your dates, it’s a good idea to invest in a good helmet that your dates will be using. Most people don’t have extra motorcycle helmets handy, so being prepared is key.
Once you’ve established you’re going on a date with someone on your motorcycle, tell you’re date you have a motorcycle helmet for them so they don’t have to worry about finding one. Unfortunately there’s no universal motorcycle helmet out there that’s a “one size fits all,” but you can figure the best size by the type of people you’re taking. If you take men on dates, a size large helmet would probably work. If you take women on dates, a size medium would probably work better.
There are several good options out there for you to choose from when it comes to motorcycle passenger helmets. You don’t have to break the bank in order to get a decent one either. Click here to see my recommended list of motorcycle passenger helmets that would work perfect for your motorcycle date.
If you don’t have an extra helmet to spare for your date, make it your priority to find one for your date; don’t make your date do that. Borrow one from a friend or family member if needed.
Don’t Speed
This motorcycle date tip may seem a little obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many people forget this rule while they’re actually out and about with their date.
It’s so easy to want to show off your motorcycle and it’s full potential, including how fast it can go. But by speeding and going too fast, you risk your date feeling uncomfortable as well as getting a hefty speeding ticket. Not to mention your date may feel like their safety isn’t your priority.
Another tempting thing to do on a date is to give it a good throttle after a stop sign or a stop light. Not only is this inconsiderate, but it is completely dangerous. Your date may not be holding on to you very tight, and if you give your motorcycle full throttle after a stop you run the risk of shooting them off the back of your motorcycle. Keep to the speed limits and the road laws while you are using your motorcycle on a date.
Don’t Plan On Drinking Alcohol
You may be planning on using your motorcycle to take you and your date to a destination such as a restaurant or event. This is a great way to give the two of you a rest from the motorcycle and actually give you a chance to talk and get to know each other.
During your breaks from your motorcycle, refrain from drinking alcohol. While minimal alcohol consumption is still considered safe as a driver, it’s best to just completely avoid drinking at all so you don’t risk any sort of impairment while riding your motorcycle.
A little impairment on a motorcycle is much worse than impairment while driving a car. Motorcycles are more dangerous than cars and you have a passenger behind you to consider as well.
Be considerate and stick with a soda during your date. This will show your date you’re considerate of their safety; drinking during your date might make them uncomfortable and you don’t want your date to feel any sort of discomfort if you hope for a second date.
Things may get a little tricky if your date ends up having a few alcoholic drinks. See this article I wrote that talks about whether or not you should take a drunk passenger on your motorcycle.
Study The Route Beforehand
While you’re planning your motorcycle date, it’s a good idea to know where you’re going and know what specific route you’ll be taking to get there. You can never go wrong with too much planning for a date.
Once you know what route you’ll be taking, look online for any closed roads, traffic, or construction that my be along the way. If possible, maybe take your motorcycle out beforehand and physically see for yourself what the road conditions are going to be like.
You’ll want your motorcycle date to run as smooth as possible, so making sure the road conditions are ideal will make your date that much better. It’s incredibly frustrating running into construction or something similar and have to turn around and take a different way.
Taking the scenic route can always add a little romance to the evening, so consider the road less traveled if possible. Just make sure it’s available for you to do so.
Have A Dedicated Place For A Purse, Wallet, Or Phone
Whether you’re taking a man or a woman out on a date, chances are they’ll have some sort of personal belongings they’ll be bringing on the date with them. Chances are you’ll have some personal belongings, too.
If possible, have some sort of compartment or bag available for your date to place their personal belongs in. Such personal belongings may include a purse, jacket, wallet, or a phone, so make sure you have enough space to place them.
If you simply don’t have any place on your motorcycle to store such items, contact your date ahead of time and inform them to bring minimal personal belongings if possible and to wear pants with pockets. Not everyone is comfortable placing their wallet or phone in their pockets during a motorcycle ride because they may be afraid they’ll fall out while on the road (which is a legitimate concern).
You can always offer to carry your date’s personal belongings in your pants pockets or in the pockets of your jacket. They may feel their items are more secure with a seasoned rider.
Inspect Your Motorcycle Beforehand
One of the most annoying and embarrassing things that can happen during a motorcycle date is your motorcycle breaking down. Unfortunately I ran into this problem several times while on a date and it was humiliating.
As a rule of thumb before any motorcycle date, always inspect your motorcycle beforehand and make sure it’s in good working order. If you notice any potential problems, promptly get it fixed so it won’t be a problem on your date later on.
Don’t forget to check the smaller things such as the oil and if you have a full tank of gas. Running out of gas is the most common reason why motorcycles break down during a date. It’s a very simple fix but can leave you stranded and leave you in an embarrassing situation.
The last thing you want to do is make your date walk miles down the road to the next gas station or have to get in a car with a complete stranger to drive you to the nearest gas station.
Sometimes there is simply nothing you can do to prevent a motorcycle break down during a date. Motorcycles can be finicky that way, unfortunately. Have a plan beforehand of what you will do in case your motorcycle does break down during your date. Have a friend available that night to pick you up with their truck or have a few handy phone numbers of tow companies that can help you out quickly.
Look At The Weather Beforehand
One of the wonderful things about technology is that we get to look at the weather days in advance and know what to expect. Use these tools to your advantage and look at the weather before your date.
Again, this may seem like an obvious motorcycle date tip, but this is one that most people forget to check before they leave for their date. Forgetting to look at the weather can put you in a really sticky situation and may not leave your date very happy by the end of the night.
Make sure to check the weather several times, including the day of, to make sure mother nature doesn’t give you any surprises. Don’t assume it’ll be a nice day because it’s sunny and warm. Sometimes the weather likes to surprise us with sudden rain storms that can ruin your night.
Be Respectful Of Your Date’s Comfort Level
Your motorcycle may mean a lot to you, but that doesn’t mean other people feel the same way about motorcycles.
Your number one priority on your motorcycle date, aside from your date’s safety, should be respecting your date’s comfort level. They may enjoy the ride with you, but that doesn’t mean they love motorcycles as much as you do. Assess their comfort level throughout your date and make sure they are enjoying themselves.
It’s especially important to be respectful if you’re halfway through your date and they decide they don’t want to ride your motorcycle anymore. Is that annoying? Yes. Is it their choice? Also yes.
Hopefully you’ve chosen to date someone who shares the same interests and passions as you so you won’t have to worry too much about their comfort level, but always be aware and respectful to what they’re asking and what they are comfortable with.
Related Questions
What are some motorcycle date ideas? There are a plethora of ideas out there you can use for motorcycle dates, but the best ones include scenic routes during comfortable temperatures. Sunsets and out of the way restaurants have always proven to work well on motorcycle dates, too.
What are the best motorcycle passenger tips? Motorcycle passengers should always wear a helmet and the appropriate attire, get on the motorcycle after the driver, look out for any potential danger, use hand signals, and help direct the driver. Click here to see my guide on more helpful tips for motorcycle passengers.