So my 18 year old wants to get a motorcycle license..

[ram57ta]

I started with dirtbikes when I was about 10, when I found out I could get a moped license at 15 I would have sold my kidney to get one...wasn't anyone gonna stop me. My parents were less than excited although my dad had a "BIG" CB500-4 (actually my mom wanted no part of it but reluctantly accepted that I would do it regardless). I traded the dirt bike for a Honda Spree, paid for the class myself, mowed yards to pay for the insurance...and the day I turned 15 I became FREE to terrorize the streets at 30mph. As my 16th birthday was approaching I found a broke down Honda CM185T leaning against a neighbors house with a tarp over it and managed to snag it for 100 bucks and got it running. I rode that for a couple years all over the southern part of Dallas until the motor finally killed over after me running it down a hill at 90mph. My dad wasnt riding his CB500 much and I convinced him to give it to me. At 18 I finally had a bike that could honestly break 125mph...it wouldn't turn, it certainly didn't brake well..and it was not attractive compared to everything else available in 1988...but it was mine. If she takes the class and has to pay for the bike herself...I don't see the issue. She will do it with OR without your approval eventually so you might as well go along with it...that way you can encourage her to do things safely.

[Armedtrigger01]

I agree she will do it regardless but support her. My dad did I had to wear the gear etc but he helped me get a bike the only requirement was it could not be a crotch rocket and had to be 750 or smaller. I bought a vstar which is light but was nimble enough to learn on and I rode it for 6 years and didn't really start wanting a bigger bike till I was riding 2 up besides price insurance on a gixer or a cbr and she will learn real fast that until she is older they want to charge you ungodly for that little piece of paper. If you are afraid she will out grow a bike under 1000cc range to fast buy a sportster 883 and when she feels like it's time for a bigger one drop 500 bucks and convert it to a 1200 it's sporty yet won't let her do a buck fifty.

[Osiris]

http://www.dfwmustangs.net/forums/showthread.php?t=26161

[GeorgeG.]

I'm not worried about her maturaty level or her riding recklessly. It's the other drivers on the road and the amount of head-up-assery that they possess. I've never rode a bike on the street and I see it all the time... I can't count the number of times I've had to make an evasive manouver and lay on the horn or slam the brakes.

If she comes up with the money to take the course, I'll probably take it with her and then let her realize the cost of car/bike insurance, gear, the bike payments, etc...


Thanks Osiris...it's stories like this that have kept me from getting a bike since about 2007.

[hotrod66stang]

I started riding dirtbikes when I was ~6. I agree, it helps tremendously.

In your case, there isn't a really clear-cut answer of who to watch out for since we don't know anything about her maturity. The biggest problem I see isn't her, if she is the type of kid to not listen to her parents and do whatever to get what she wants. Worst case scenario is that she ends up on the back of a bike with some douchebag guy trying to show off for a girl. That's a pretty scary thought, isn't it? It might be better to try and teach her the right way to ride and make sure she has good gear, and educate her about, and keep her away from the people that meet up weekly and go ride like morons on the highway. Show her pics of motorcycle accidents and what can happen in the REAL WORLD if she doesn't respect a bike. Maybe sign her up for a track day where she can learn from Pros. It's pretty cheap insurance.

Go see Patrick at A&R. You can't beat the deals he gives us.

[TeeShock]

Not worth it! last Friday on Arapaho Road in Richardson, next to the Plano Road intersection there was a PD responding to an accident scene as I was driving by. On the ground between two cars I saw late model Ninja 250 and what appeared to be a 19 year old girl on the ground on her back. Just laying there, nice flat stomach, belly button ring, looked good from the helmet down... anyways the helmet shield was in opposite lane. She was alive and not covered in blood or anything. You can't prevent other asshats from causing her accidents.

[Armedtrigger01]

I guess how does she drive is she one of those drivers that react to an input from the driver in front of her, or is she reacting to what she sees is about to go down. If she is aware of impending problems and adjusts so she is not in the thick of it then she will probably do well. I hate drivers who only look at what is directly in front if them in their lane those are the ones who kill people.

[zemog]

along with a crotch rocket and I'm thinking "no way in hell!!" But in reality, I don't think I'll be able to keep that from happening for too much longer

I've always wanted a bike too but I'm familiar with the saying "It's not a matter of if, but when a rider lays it down". With today's traffic, this scares me shitless.

Any of you have a young rider? It makes me nervous just thinking about it.

my son grew up riding motocross from the age of 10, i bought him an r6 for his graduation present and he rides almost daily (weather permitting), but because of his back ground i had no problem with it.

[mikec]

my son grew up riding motocross from the age of 10, i bought him an r6 for his graduation present and he rides almost daily (weather permitting), but because of his back ground i had no problem with it.

Both of my boys have bikes now and they still aren't going to have street bikes. Daddy has spoken!

[03trubluGT]

I think its actually required now.

So is a license and insurance but that doesn't stop anyone.

Hell, most people run because they don't have a license or endorsement.

[Armedtrigger01]

So is a license and insurance but that doesn't stop anyone.

Hell, most people run because they don't have a license or endorsement.

It doesn't help that they all know you can't chase them and with the license plate tucked up behind the tire what are the odds you got a plate number.

[03trubluGT]

It doesn't help that they all know you can't chase them and with the license plate tucked up behind the tire what are the odds you got a plate number.

Exactly. That's why we don't recover a large number of stolen motorcycles.

We can't chase them, and we can't read a plate, so it just stays stolen.

They will never learn that what helps them stay anonymous also helps the thieves keep stolen bikes.

[ARIX]

Thats a tough call. I have been riding since I was 8. When I was 19 I got my first ninja. I then wrecked it. Fortunately I walked away. I now have an r6(I'm 34) and still feel like its the luck of the draw how your day will turn out no matter how safe I am.

[03trubluGT]

As a parent, if you tell a kid they can't do something, they will do it just to spite you.

[zemog]

Both of my boys have bikes now and they still aren't going to have street bikes. Daddy has spoken!

why?