To Lend Out Your Bike Or Not

[emperorjordan]

Only my dad (who also rides) and my good friend (who also rides) are allowed to ride my bike.

[oldnslo]

Never, ever, period.

[isaac]

I let my mom ride my month-old, showroom condition GZ once. She'd ridden when she was my age (her 20's), then took the MSF course and passed 5 years ago (she's now 50). I told her to put on my helmet and riding jacket. She refused. I predicted a wreck.

Five minutes on my bike and she comes limping up my street with her leg and arm road rashed and my bike's fender, mirror, crash bar, and headlight bashed up. She said she had no idea what happened. 8 months later both of them still have the scars. No, she didn't pay for it either.

To this day every time I let somebody on one of my bikes I immediately envision the worst. It was particularly horrific when my brother rode my GS around a parking lot. He looks like he has no idea what he's doing, which may not be far from the truth, despite having a good amount of experience on the GZ. He also managed to dump the GZ pretty badly somehow, and he was two up at the time, which wasn't exactly a hit with the lady. He also said he had no idea what happened.

So I'm quite torn about the whole lending out the bike thing. I still do it, but it almost bites me in the "O Ring" every time. My friend Andres is really the only guy I trust on my bikes. I taught him how to ride, and he's very responsible.

My lesson learned: If after they crash they say they have no idea how it happened, they probably shouldn't be riding your bike.

I always know how it happened.

[oldnslo]

A good question might be why do you, in the face of evidence you get burned with almost 100% certainty, keep lending out your bike for joy-rides by inept people?

[madmax]

2 words------ NO WAY!

[redneck273]

im open to let any one ride my bikes....if i see them ride there own or some one elses bike first and they got a decent idia of what there doing they can rip mine all they want....iv let alot of strangers ride my stuff (in a place were i can see them so i know they cant take off...and if i have a faster bike there with me lol)...and i havnt got burned yet...it's gunna be dif. if i get this katana im lookin at..dont need any one crashing a 140+ lol only good freinds and paps ride that one

[Hondarider]

No chance, no way. I let on person ride my old bike and it ended up in the shop for a month. No Thanks.

[polarelf2003]

I've let two people ride my bike . . . both have dropped it. But then again, I'm on a "beginner bike" that I dont mind few dings on so long as the bike remains safe to ride. And I have historic tags, so if they rip off the mirrors or turn signals it's still legal to ride it (they didnt, but I'd replace anyway for visibility and safety). I might be a little different when I roll out on a new bike, but for sure I'll let my best friend ride it.

[ronboskz650sr]

Vulcanman500 let me ride his vulcan a few times. I have let vulcanman500 ride my kz650. Next thing I know, he buys a cbr600f hurricane. Yes, he let me ride it. I don't honestly think either one of us would let anyone else, though. Furthermore, I'm trying to envision the scenario where anyone would want to. I think all the non-riders we know are scared of our bikes, to be perfectly honest.

You know, bikes are so personal and unique, I think ownership is the only sure guarantee of proper caution,,,besides, my bike has the fairly common UJM "quirk" about first gear, sometimes, after a stop. If you don't go to neutral and release the clutch, then reapply and shift to first, occasionally it feels like it's in, until you get about halfway into the intersection, and it pops out! I don't think I want anyone else to experience that on their first ride on my bike, especially a non-rider trying to learn! In a slow turn, the sudden loss of power can be a little sporting !

[ronboskz650sr]

A good question might be why do you, in the face of evidence you get burned with almost 100% certainty, keep lending out your bike for joy-rides by inept people?

John, you have such a way with words!