Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire who knows motorcycles?

Fish,
Just to add some more reality to your thinking.
As the guys above have very well said..
I have buddy who loved motorcycles. As a young guy, he set out one night for some biking. He was travleing... And, he hit something on the road. He got thrown over the handlebars. You know how you do the touch your toes exercise, when you bend from the waiste down and are doubled over forward? Well, he got bent the same way, only backwards, bent in half.
He's been in a wheelchair ever since, and will be for the rest of his life.
He became one of the worlds greatest alcoholic's, and has lived a pretty miserable life by our standards..
Something to ponder..
I didn't buy a bike till I was much older and more responsible, so none of the dare devil stuff that young guys do. I know. I did wild stuff too as a young guy.
Don

I'd suggest your boy stick with the car. If it's a done deal, you ought to insist on training and all top of the line safety equipment.

Once upon a time I ate it on my bike doing 85+ in the city, and it killed me. Only for ten minutes though, I am happy to report. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> The paramedics were able to jump-start my heart and get the respiration going at some point after after they managed to lift the car I was wedged under and scrape my shattered and backwards-jackknifed body out. I don't remember this of course. A coma will do that to you, they say. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> I ended up losing my right lung, suffered multiple debilitating internal injuries as well as countless fractures and all the fun stuff that goes along with a high-speed wreck. The only thing that saved my life was that I was smart enough to have my Shoei racing helmet strapped on tight. Anyway, I have foot-long zippers on both front and back and mutiple scars and other minor deformities for my trouble. I got what I deserved, however, as it was a DUI wreck. Hard lesson for a 16 year old kid nonetheless. To add to that, I lost a friend
in a M/C wreck, and every single bikie I've known has been down at some point. Most, several times. As was stated earlier, it's not a matter of 'if', but 'when'.

All said, I'd not recommend for anyone who wasn't already tainted to get involved in M/C. Since that wreck I've owned a 900 Ninja, a 750 Interceptor, a KZ 1000 and my current ride, a Yamaha FJ 1200. It'll do a buck forty without too much trouble. Don't ask me how I know this...

My handfull of coppers on the matter. I must say in all frankness though, that I am shocked that your wife would encourage your son to have a bike. She's the first Mom I've ever heard of, outside of a dirtbike. If he does get one and God forbid, wrecks, well, I'd not want it to have been his parents that gave it to him...

Cheers,

L

I KNOW motorcycles,,, AKA donorcycles,,, do every one you love a favor and don't buy it for him, its not a question of "if he'll stack it up", but rather "when he'll stack it up". When that happens, you'll be dealing with a lot of issues, but the one you can prevent is knowing that you bought/encouraged it. Trust me on this, you'll never regret not buying it, but you will most certainly regret that you did. Opinions are like armpits, everybody's got a couple, and most of 'em stink,,, but that's mind and its given to you in a spirit of brotherly love.

I blew a rear tire on a 1100 Zuk...doing 5 mph pullin' outta a stop sign...the day after I out ran a County Cop...

Food for thought from my younger days....

Damn. Timing is EVERYTHING! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

There was a time things like that didn't cross my mind...

I'm older now and a bit wiser too...

Did you get my email?

I can understand wanting to live childhood dreams through your son, but getting him a scoot could be saddling him with the nightmares you didn't have by not riding.

I raced karts, and it's a great way to get ones need for speed out in a safe and affordable venue. Not toys, real racing vehicles capable of amazing speed depending on track and engine.

I keep contemplating getting a street bike myself, but my daily commute is a steady reminder of who I don't want to be on the road with, and our roads are much less crowded than most of the US.

nay, 458, i would not live my dreams through him. he has no interest in the bikes that interest me, nor the kind of riding that interests me. riding a british style enduro out of the 60s on fireroads is my cup of tea, not cruising with other cruisers.
we shall see, we shall see. this is a hard thing.

You already have yourself talked outta it.

Good move.....................

I wish you would speak to a guy that works with me every day, out of compassion I might add. He's far from being mentally capable after a bike crash several years ago and being in a comma for nearly two months. It�s a daily reminder of the danger of bikes and cars. Even if your son is safe he has no control over other drivers. Just Saturday I witnessed a car blow through a light that had been red at least 10 seconds and t-bone a car in the perpendicular lane. Had it been a bike that was t-boned the driver would have been dead for sure. It�s just not worth it.

Also, a guy up the road from me, in his mid 20's, hops around every day on one leg, the other amputated in a bike crash.....

A High School classmate lost his older brother to a motorcycle wreck. He ran a Honda 750 into a bridge abutment at 70 MPH. And another classmate is a quadraplegic after losing control of a big Kawasaki street bike at 100+ mph. Seeing what was left of the bikes and the boys riding them is something I'll never forget. You couldn't pay me enough to ride a motorcycle on the streets.

I'll add another vote for the pickup.

HBB

I have been riding on road and (mostly) offroad for 30 years. I managed a Kawasaki / Yamaha dealership in the mid 80's- mid 90's. I have friends that have died in bike accidents and i have a friend that is in a wheelchair for the rest of his life from a bike accident.
If you decide to get him the bike FORGET the experienced friend who will teach him to ride. INSIST on a Motorcycle Safe Rider Course. This will teach him a tremendous amount in a classroom and on the pavement. The experienced friend will do the best they can but most riders have some bad habits that they dont realize.
As for the bikes you have chosen they are all good bikes but, the Yamaha Virago is the pick of the litter.
You have a tough decision to make motorcycles are an awful lot of fun in all shapes and sizes. There is a lot of responsability that goes along with it.

.....I won't add alot of horror stories,enough have been mentioned. BUT not for my lack of them! I've ridden bikes since the 1960's. I've had a number over the years. I love the freedom of the OPEN road. Not alot of that around these days! I've had my spills too. Lost alot of flesh in a few of them,but i've been very lucky,never had a broken bone or permenant injury. I'd never buy a bike for any of my three sons. I've lost friends too. I do have a small bike now, a Honda 400CM. I DON"T ride in the city,but enjoy the ocassional ride thru Georgia's rural mountain roads....Be smart,don't get the bike for your boy. Thats a bike lover's vote.

Fish,

I've seen plenty of deaths from bike accidents over the past years. Some from hotdogs in the saddle and others from someone else's mistakes. You know your boy better than us but please give it some more thought. Imho, a teenager is too yooung, especially on today's crowded roads.



Mac

Ditto on having him take the motorcycle training course. I took it.
You really learn how to handle your bike in the course, like you get real good at counter steering, slow speed, sharp corners, the whole bit.
Don

All this said is for the good, but I'll add that after 8 years working fire/rescue in rural Virginia, I-81 corridor...I seen more dead and or really messed up teens via car wreck than bike crash...

It's more, kids and speed don't mix, than anything else...

Get the truck....so yall can haul the dirt bikes to the woods.......

Well I guess I'll pile on here. I drove a bike for years and always felt that I was such a good defensive driver that I had nothing to worry about...in all honesty I rode like a little old lady, and I still went down twice.

I rode back in the eighties, early nineties...things have changed somewhat depending on where you live.

If you live in a place where for the most part people drive at a slow pace, well maybe then give the kid a chance...but I don't think I would let one of my kids have a bike where I live now...too much attack driving going on out there.

If you do stick it out, get him a single or twin, no four cylinder jobs, I haven't met a kid yet who wouldn't sucumb to the thrill. That exceleration can be addicting and most youngsters will want to feel it here and there. He is a kid after all, every kid I have ever known likes to give the gals a show once in a while.


Gee, after reading this post I don't know how you are going to do it and sleep at night...did I tell you my gun smith is in a wheel chair...funny but true..well OK, not funny either.

harsh, boys.
but i asked for it.
thanks.
will update as reflection continues.

Dang, Guess i shouldn't have just ordered this..



It's cool though, I've got a room with my name on it at the local hospital....