potential rider with a problem

[plainsman]

Bob;

Follow Sevulturus & Dragonhawk's excellent advice - you've taken the first step by taking the MSF training. Further demonstrate your intention to be as safe as you can be, by equiping yourself for the crash.

As a father whose father wouldn't approve of me buying a bike when I was "a kid" (anyone under 30? ) and as a father who wouldn't approve of a bike when my son asked ( ), about the only fairly certain method of gaining approval, is to do everything you can to show your parents that you take this very seriously and you aren't going to be a "cafe racer".

If you have access to a bike that you can use to demonstrate to your parents that you actually KNOW how to ride, that might be helpful.

I guess the most relevant thing I can say here, is it's almost impossible to explain to someone who has never had a child, the thoughts that race through a parent's mind when the prospect of their child being hurt or killed, is staring them in the face. That's what a prospective motorcycle launches in a parent's mind, especially if they've never ridden one, although sometimes, having ridden a bike with a bad experience can be even worse.

FWIW - I'll never forget the sight (and sound) of my dad as he wept after seeing my "baby" (16) brother in the ER after a car wreck. It took 277 stitches to sew up his face and my dad just repeated over and over, "his face is hamburger; his face is just hamburger", as he held his head in his hands and sobbed.

So.... Bottom line, keep your parents' perspective in mind as you work to educate them and convince them that you will not subject them to a similar experience. Good luck in your quest and safe riding.

Kurt (an old timer, former biker, semi-rookie, revived rider & lovin' it)

[Skier]

You could also try your hand at persuading them with statistics. For example, show them you are already part of the least likely to have an accident group, riders who received professional training (Hough, Proficient Motorcycling, p. 24). Also, point out you are less likely to crash since you will not drink and ride, ever: rider who drink and ride make up over 40% of all motorcycle fatalities (Hough, Proficient Motorcycling, p. 25). Just remember to not ever throw a leg over your bike if you have had anything to drink that night.

Research more facts, purchase and read books on proper street riding technique and show the parentals you are doing your best to stay safe. It should allay much of their fear.

[BuddhaBob]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I talked to my parents and after A LOT of haggling, they agreed to let me have a bike (or at least seriously consider it) as long as I waited until after I graduated college. Plus I don't drink so they won't have to worry about me being drunk while riding. All I can say is it's gonna be a long year and a half wait until I graduate. But yeah, all the advice I recieved here was a big help. Thanks again.

[Jamers!]

First of all, I'd like to say this is a great forum with tons of useful info. Well, I'm 20 yrs old and I passed the MSF course last December and now found a 04 Suzuki GS500F with 8k miles for around $3500. The problem is that my parents (dad, in particular) strongly disapproves of me getting a bike. Have any of you had this problem with your parents when you first started riding? And if you did, I'd really appreciate any advice you could throw my way so I could try to convice them to let me get a bike. Thanks.

present to him the info supporting getting a bike, the cheaper insurance, the better MPG, the enjoyment factor. If he still disapproves then, well it depends on how much you really want to ride


JWF

[camthepyro]

I don't have a motorcycle yet, but I can give a little advice as far as talking your parents into it. My mom absolutely hated the idea, but I kept bringing it up, over and over again. I talked to her about it, told her why I wanted it, told her how good the gas mileage is, etc. But she was really concerned about safety, so I looked up every relevent statistic I could find on motorcyles and compiled them into a list, so she could see that statistically, a safe, trained, and well protected rider has a pretty small chance of dying.

Anyway, here is the list:

About 26% of drivers have been involved in a car crash in the last five years. Only 2% of motorcycle drivers are involved in accidents.

People who voluntarily wear helmets are 28% less likely to be in an accident and 30% less likely to be killed in an accident then those who mandatorily wear helmets.

66.6% of accidents on motorcycles are due to rider error, which is why I would take a motorcycle safety class in order to get training on safety, proper handling, etc.

Weather is not a factor in 98% of all motorcycle accidents.

The average speed at the time of a motorcycle accident is only 21.5 mph, which means, on average, serious injury is unlikely.

92% of motorcycle accidents involved a rider who had no formal motorcycle training (people who were taught by family and friends), which, again, supports that taking motorcycle training classes (which I would take) significantly reduces the chance of an accident.
A very significant amount of drivers involved in accidents do not even have a motorcycle license, or any license, or their license was revoked.

The use of jackets, boots, and/or gloves significantly reduces the injury to the rider (And I would definitely use them).

73% of all accidents were from riders who rode without any eye protection, which is because the wind in the eyes of the rider caused vision problems (I would wear a helmet with a visor).

60% of riders in accidents weren't wearing helmets.

50% of all motorcycle accidents involved alcohol.

49% of motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes were not wearing helmets.

[Sev]

Where did you dig all that up. It's good to know, but we all know the assumptions about statistics.

[rodzbike]

my parents were really against me getting a bike too...I was 31 and didn't live with them, so they just had to deal with it. Things are fine now (6 years later). It's just kind of a they don't ask about it and I don't mention it. They still freak a little when my kiddo rides with me though...she's 12