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

As to your question, IF you do buy him a bike i'd suggest the Honda nighthawk... New they run 2500.00 are easy to learn on and have Minimal power... Enough to hurt you (trust me on that) but more than enough for a new rider.

I've mostly ridden dirt bikes but decided i wanted a street bike. So i ordered the one above and have a friend letting me learn the street thing on his 250. I've laid the dang thing down 1 already (in my driveway)....

YMMV.........

I'll chime in with the "just say no" crowd.

30 years ago I was a pallbearer for a good pard. Who knows maybe it was just his time to go as he had a passenger on the back that ended up with a sprained wrist.


And Steve had certainly lived his whole life like he was on borrowed time.

We struck out on our own with a couple of other high school buds by moving to Chicago, drank, chased girls, got high, went to great concerts, did some barroom brawling and just generally wasted time when we weren't working like young men are wont to do of teen years. I was 17 he was 19.

Couple of years later he moves back to our small hometown, to be closer to his folks as his mom had some health probs.

While I was home visiting I took him to Springfield so he could buy a bike, helped talk him into the 750 even though it was over budget for him versus the 500 that was more affordable.


He was happy, thought I was too.


When I got the call about the wreck and that he was in bad shape, I figured the tough little bastid would pull through.

Didn't happen that way.

Still carry some guilt about my role in the gig. Still known to shed a tear when I make the rounds at the cemetery back home when I come upon his grave.

He'd a bought it I know whether I approved or not, but if I knew then what I know now. I'd a had the satisfaction of having my ass whupped or I'd a whupped his before he bought it. Serious as a heart attack here.

I'd a liked to waste some more time and beers with him.

Your 21 and weigh a hundred fish, I won't pretend it's any of my biz telling you what to do or not do concerning your own flesh.

But I will tell you this, I hope and pray, you never have to make a post like this. I still miss him. Good luck on your decision.

fish, sorry man, I had this typed out, computer went blank and when I figured out the prob with computer post was still here, finished it and hit send.

You've heard enough and didn't need my post, should a checked the thread before hitting "send". Wasn't meaning to pile on sir, hope you can forgive me. 1ak

For 10 years and 200,000+ miles of my life, my motorcycle was my only transportation. I love motorcycles.

I was already 26 and back from the Peace Corps before I ever threw a leg over one, and I still coulda killed/maimed myself any number of times. It weren't ALL luck, but luck surely is a big factor in why in all those miles I only went down hard once, and walked away without a scratch.

I would never buy my one for own son in a million years. If he wants one bad enough, he can scrimp and save for it. That way if it should kill him (God forbid) I might still be able to live with myself.

The ONLY bike I might buy for him would be a dirt bike, guys who learn to ride in the dirt wreck on the street far less often than guys who start out on the street, ain't my opinion, actual stats. Mostly I expect on account of they take so many spills in the dirt.

Take $2,000 and invest it wisely for him, in something he can't touch for 25 years. I figure in his early forties that'll make him a whole boatload of cash just about the time the kids are old enough to travel, or hunt in the boonies, or go up the Amazon whatever.

Take the othe $500 and buy him a good mountain bike, then take him to a good mountain bike trail. If he doesn't like it, keep the bike for yerself <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

OTOH, if he bought his own motorcycle, I would prob'ly end up crossing the country on my own bike with him, showing him hows its done. Go figure <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />


Just my $0.02

Birdwatcher

Gotta GSXR in the garage. 186MPH on radar and the cop didn't write the ticket.Honest.

That's haulin azz.... Not into the speed thing. To much...Grin

One...DON'T get a cruiser. Get a STANDARD. The Nighthawk has been suggested, also the 500 Suzuki and Kawasaki twins. Cruisers, quite frankly, have a compromised riding position which means more work fighting the wind, and slower response times when you need to MISS that Kenworth that just turned left.
Two...TAKE THE MOTORCYCLE SAFETY FOUNDATION RIDER PROGRAM. Period. End of Story. Unless the experienced friend knows about the friction circle, countersteering and a whole boatload of other stuff, forget it. MSF. Period.
Third...bettter look at the insurance costs before buying anything.
Fourth, a street bike is like a gun...actually, it's like trying to balance on the biggest, sharpest knife in the world. You can slice and dice, but mung up and it'll cutcha.
All that said, this is a question of, is your kid mature enough to handle it? If he drinks and drives, ever...he isn't. If he's got speeding tickets with his car, or a wreck, he isn't. Motorcycles demand the rider's full attention to the point of paranoia.
But a bike in the right conditions is the best....you can see everything, smell all the good smells, and get 50 MPG while blowing everyone else off the road. AND they are easy to park.
I've been riding the same KZ 750 E for 25 years, I got it when it was a baby, raced it at Sears, put the lights back on when it got slow, and it still is a pleasure on a windy, gnarly road. I have some minor scars, and I've had some bad get-offs, but I have always wore heavy gear and ALWAYS, ALWAYS the best helmet available.
This is a serious thing. Think hard...choose wisely.

I was hit at age 15 by an illegal mexican who went back the next day. Almost lost my leg and two years off and on in the hospital. I have road off and on since then and I am now 58.
I recently picked up a goldwing and am riding again sometimes in heavy traffic. I went through the motorcycle safety course and consider it absolutely necessary. Then you have to get to the kid, maturity, where and when he will be riding, etc. Yes, they are dangerous, so are many things. A car is not perfectly safe, but alot is in reconizing limitations and self control. I asked the question of my grandson tonight who just got a crotch rocket, he is 24. He said is the parents nuts? He got his first bike at age 18, and within a week was hit by another driver, but no serious damage. He drives a car like an old lady, and a bike the same way. He is capable of handling it and reconizes the risk. His comment was it depends on the kid. Every person is different, some can handle it, some can't. A bike is exposed certainly, but it is quicker, more manuverable, and can stop faster than a car. You have to use these to your atvantage. A lot of it is learning to avoid situations where you can get hit. I ride either slower or faster than traffic, refuse to have a car next to me and have gotten so paranoid that my driving in a car is a lot more defensive. I also won't drive the bike at certain times on certain roads because of traffic.
I notice that doing the speed limit most times everybody passes me leaving me to ride alone. If I were to do it, there is no way I would let him ride alone for a while. You have to judge ability and maturity. Having said that life is a risk. Has the kid never handled a gun, rode a bicycle, rode a skateboard, gone swimming in the ocean, etc.? Walked accross the road? It is all about reconizing danger and learning how to avoid it. Come to think of it, I was first riding a motorcycle at around age 11. it is an absolute certainty that if you have a bike eventually you will drop it. Again, comes back to the driver, and protective clothing, and where and what speed you drop it. I have dropped a number of times a dirt bike, and once a street bike at over 70 due to a blowout, and survived all of them without a scratch. Experience is a great teacher.
If you get a used bike, have it gone through by someone that knows what they are doing, and be extra careful on tires, like buy new ones. I just spend about 250dollars putting tires on the 84 goldwing.

I remember from high school days the old Hondas had those beepers to remind you your turn signals were on.

I always thought they beeped to get you accustomed to the ICU... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

badger

Tough choice to make eh fish?

I rode a Kawasaki for about 3/4 years when I graduated HS.I loved the bike but as they have all said you'll dump it eventually ( I hadn't but I know I would have probably).The Rider courses they have are a must if you decide to go the route of getting him one.

This time of year in Upstate NY we have a bike rally called AMERICADE. http://www.tourexpo.com/data/

There are always a few casualties. Why? The majority of the accidents are caused by people in things that have 4 wheels.

Another 2 cents worth from someone who has been there. 40 years ago just out of high school I broadsided a vehicle making an oncoming left turn across my lane. Major head damage (egg-shell fracture) broken leg and arm. I had been riding for 2 years and thought I knew everything. I learned that day that I have no control over what other people do. Anyhow, after a rather long recovery, my parents and I decided that its just not worth the risk.

By the way, I was not wearing a helmet. The neurosurgeon who operated on me later told my parents that had I been wearing a helmet that my neck would most surely have snapped from the impact.

Do yourself and your kid a favor and pass on 2 wheeled transportation.

as another former bike owner... ditto.... I didn't get a street bike until my mid 20's... I'd had dirt bikes for years. I was a very conservative and defensive rider... (anyone can say they'll ride that way, but it takes a fair amount of skill and vigilence). One day I stopped at a green light to let a fire truck (with siren blaring) through the red light... guy behind me was too engrossed in his cell phone conversation and rear ended me. Could've been worse... knocked the bike about 15 feet into the intersection, but I walked away. But, it's no fun picking yourself off the pavement from under the front bumper of a car!

In the 3 or 4 years I rode, I had another about 1/2 dozen close calls in addition to this one. All related to cars not driving carefully.... If you think other drivers are bad when you drive a car, it's much worse on a bike! Sometimes people look right through you and then lane change into you or pull in front of you. If wasn't for other traffic, riding a bike would be great.

Anyway now that I'm older with small kids, I won't take those risks (for their sake) ....

I'm amazed seeing so many young riders these days that are oblivious to the dangers... pulling wheelies in busy streets, or weaving through rush hour like they're on a road course. Superman complex meets Darwin. Just a matter of time.

Last thought, maybe you should print out this thread and show it to your wife... maybe will change her enthusiasm.

As the guys above have pointed out, bikers are at a huge disadvantage in traffic. Other drivers don't respect two wheelers, give them little room, and are a bikers worst nightmare.
Don

guys, here's the deal:
reyn and i both will take the motorcycle safety foundation course either this weekend (if they will make room) or in three weeks.
if he passes with flying colors, then we will seriously consider getting an appropriate motorcycle (appropriate is key word here; NOT a middleweight cruiser). but we both will also take the intermediate course a little later on.
he is 18, extremely mature, careful, non-drinker, non-partier (you dads who have caught your sons drinking and assume they ALL do it: not him; i'd know; he is a rock of our faith). he had one stupid minor rear-ender bender when he was 16; he has gotten one speeding ticket for 62 in a 50 on a straight country road. i suspect the deputy wrote the ticket only because my cherokee is so stinkin' loud (free-flow cat, straight pipe) - and he's a teenager. well, good for him. he SHOULD have gotten a ticket - and he is paying it.
that is where it stands. will update.
and thanks again for ALL your advice.

It ain't the kid,or the machine,it's ALL the other azzholes on the road.

I know I could never forgive myself,so would never put myself in a position for that much remorse.....................

I know you will come to your own conclusions in good time. Training and Experience are the keys to mitigating the risks as much as possible. If you move forward with this plan the MSF course is the best decision you can make in the short term. GOOD LUCK!!

Let me know if I can help.

As has been said over and over, it's all the mindless zombies in their cars that cause you problems.

At 16, I had a Suzuki 750 in the early seventies, what some nicknamed the water buffalo because of the radiator. Went down several times. Once a patch of gravel, another time a big oil spill and twice more because of cars that just pulled in front of me and I had nowhere to go.

Haven't had a bike in 20 years but absolutely love them. But I'll repeat what everyone else has said, you will go down.

I just love motorcycles. Started riding when I was 8 yrs. old. Raced MX , hare & hound ,rode some trials and generally tore up the streets. You are doing the right thing by taking the courses metioned above as it will show him what he doesn't know. The Big Stick has hit it on the head though as there are all those other idiots out there. It's getting the experience to handle a bike and not hurt yourself that's tough but what is tougher is how defensive you've got to ride in todays traffic. It's a fun sport but MUST be taken seriously at all times...

Taking the MSF course is a must. Good for you. Go to Amazon and order David Hough's books Proficient Motorcycling and More Proficient Motorcycling. Another piece of advice is to follow the credo of ATGATT which is all the gear, all the time. That's boots, gloves, jacket, pants, and full face helmet. You might also look on www.motorcycles.about.com. They have a beginer specific forum with some good information. Another good internet site is www.advriders.com. I'm not going to try and sway you one way or the other. That decision is yours. If you decide to get him into riding though help him to to get the best training and gear possible.

Jeff

With all and total respect for all who posted above, you will go down ONLY under one of two reasons:

1. You had a mechanical failure (trans locks up, tire blows etc. Not much you can do with that one except keep your equipment up on maintenance and ride only with excellent tires.)
2. You aren't paying attention.

How do you think some truck drivers get to the 'million mile' mark (accident free)?

To the guy who got rear-ended on his bike: Why weren't you watching traffic behind you? You failed to give yourself an escape route and you weren't paying attention. You can argue, but it's fact. That #2 reason will get the vast majority of riders into accidents.

I had two minor car accidents before I got my first motorcycle. Since 1968 when I got my first bike, I"ve not had a single accident with the exception of the damn deer that got my truck last November, and I fully state it was my fault; I wasn't paying attention. I had my eyes off the road for 2 seconds checking the RH outside mirror and the doe timed it perfectly coming in from my left.

When you ride, you pay attention EVERY SINGLE SECOND.