convincing parents motorcycling is okay?

[MattL]

Well see here the first step would be to take the actual MSF. Once that has been completed you have some ground as to put you're foot down. This shows you're father that you were willing to drop close to $300 for the class which shows you have good interest. You're mother may allways appose you to getting a motorcycle but she is not the only factor in the decision. Unfortionatly (to her) you are 21, a full legal adult, and can make you're own decisions. If you feel you should get a motorcycle by all means weigh her consideration into you're decision but just remember, she does not rule you (hopefully).

[ejshotgun]

LoL make sure you have some pamplets from your local sky-diving school as well.

I love it!
Because when my Mom heard that I was trying skydiving, the fact that I rode a Bike wasn't even addressed.

[CNF2002]

Moms usually arent very rational when it comes to their kids...but ask her if she's ever seen an automobile accident and ask her why she lets you drive!

Auto accidents are a fact of life. On a motorcycle you are doing your part by reducing use of unrenewable resources, easing traffic congestion, etc etc.

For those reasons, its a good idea to get a motorcycle. If you just want it because its fun, your mom probably has a very good point. In the end, your parents will respect your decision if you make it for rational, good reasons and are safe and responsible while doing it. That'll take time, so dont expect mom to drive you to the dealership so you can ride the bike home.

That said, if you're a grown up responsible 21 year old (I dont see many anymore) go get the bike. Mommy and Daddy wont like everything you do. Face it...thats just part of growing up.

[KroSha]

My Mum still doesn't like the fact that I ride. But I've gone 2 years without getting killed and also managed to convert my sister and Dad. So she's in the minority now Fact is, my sister has a pocket-rocket, so she's actually more likely to come a cropper than me. When we all get round a table, the converstaion has changed a lot from a few years ago

[storysunfolding]

Bikes are inherently more dangerous than cars. No matter what statistics you find that show safety courses or gear protecting you reduces your risk, and no matter what precautions you take you can't make the bike less dangerous. You can take actions to reduce the probability of you getting into an accident (MSF, learn good avoidance procedures and their scanning techniques), you can take actions to reduce the possibility of getting certain injuries (helmet, jacket, boots, pants, gloves etc). However, if the day comes that you contend head on with a car, everything you've done means very little. A seat belt in a car is more protection than riding a bike in full leathers, and top of the line gear.

But motorcycles are a hell of a lot more fun.

My mom is a nurse practicioner, my dad is an orthopaedic surgeon, my step mom is a reconstructive surgeon. Were they all behind me getting a bike? No, but I told them that it's what I was doing, and took every action I could to make them feel better (gear, class etc).

Do what you can, but if your parents are the kind that would hold back if you needed their help because you have a bike, wait a few years. 21 can be kind of rocky.

[flynrider]

LoL make sure you have some pamplets from your local sky-diving school as well.

I love it!
Because when my Mom heard that I was trying skydiving, the fact that I rode a Bike wasn't even addressed.

I had to leave home when I got my first bike. They were not allowed (Dad was a doctor and had dozens of ER/motorcycle stories). Mom took a short ride on the back of my bike, but never really warmed up to the idea. Even after decades of daily riding and ultra-long cross country bike adventures, she still doesn't like it.

By contrast, she wasn't all that happy when I took up flying, but after a few rides in the plane, she loved it. She's always bugging me to take her up.

She didn't get to upset when I first went skydiving, of course by then she might have just given up worrying about me

As it stands, she likes flying, doesn't mind my skydiving, but still hates the motorcycle. Go figure!

[PrettyInPink]

It's actually funny how opposite my parents are. I guess the issue of riding a motorcycle is always taken from a different perspective. I lucked out in having my older brother get his licence first (about 4 years ago). My mom is a nurse and yet she had few worries over my brother's interest in motorcycles. My dad followed suit getting his licence almost 2 years ago. So, after moving back to Ottawa from England, the instant I showed the remotest interest in rding myself my dad already had me signed up in a safety course.

I absolutely love it, I'm taking it slow and working on the basics. I suggest you just do it, forget about what every one else wants and just show your sense of responsibility through your safety.

[Icarus]

+1 to the recurring themes in what has already been said.

I brought up the subject when I was first considering getting a bike and my mom was extremely against it. She even told me that if I got one not to tell her... so i didn't haha. I'm really bummed that I can't tell her about it, but I suppose its for both of our peace of minds. My grandparents (mom's parents) know and think its a great idea - go figure.

I try to ride as safely as possible but like storysunfolding said, in a contest between you and a car, the cage will always come out on top in one way or another. That is most definitely not to say any accident vs cage will result in serious injury - quite the contrary - but you will end up in worse shape than the driver of the cage guaranteed.

I work as an EMT for a 911 response ambulance and have had my fair share of motorcycle TAs, so I've seen/treated first hand the results of motorcycle accidents. But I've also had amazingly bad cage accidents with severed limbs, decapitation, etc. dodo happens. If I let the things I see at work influence my thoughts of "what if", I would never set foot outside my room.
Funny thing is, a fair amount of the EMTs and police officers I work with ride as well. The people who see all the crap, it seems, are some of the most likely to ride. Maybe its because we're invincible

Everyone has their own level of acceptable risk - find yours and live life.

[desper]

my parents were a little freaked out, but they new they had no say in the matter... although something I found really odd was my mom was more concerned about me being shot while on the motorcycle! wtf? don't ask me why.

buy the bike man!

[flynrider]

...my mom was more concerned about me being shot while on the motorcycle! wtf? don't ask me why.

You wouldn't happen to have one of these on your bike, would you?

http://www.buymotorcyclehelmets.com/Bul ... ~~339.html