Total Motorcycle Community Forums

hi-side wrote:Nothing that couldn't heal with time or a large cash injection

It's awe-inspiring watching races on the TV and seeing those guys just get up after a crash and go running to see if their bike is ridable.

And deceptive.

Saw one guy the other day go into a turn right on top of the guy inside of him. Obvious how it happened; the guy inside was slightly behind, and looking at the curve instead of the outside guy, so they were each behind each other's peripheral vision. Two inches of overlap and both lose it.

In slow motion, you can see the outside guy basically put his hand down on the outside and roll off the bike when it high-sided. Like rolling off the back of your sofa.

Makes you think for a second that crashing can't be that bad.

Only that ain't ANSO-IV, it's asphalt going 90 mph the other way.

To put it into perspective, 2 racers died this weekend. One was getting ready for a race at Road Atlanta and the other was during a race at Nelson Ledges. I was just lucky. Any time you hit the pavement it can get very ugly very quickly.

readytoroll08 wrote:First off the reason I put this post in the experienced riders area and the beginning riders area was so I could get more assistance with the goal I'm trying to accomplish.

Don't worry about the multiple post.... A lot of people new to the site do it because they don't realize the the same people reading the first post also read the second one. We don't limit ourselves to any specific topic or forum, we read threads in several or all the forums, depending on the member...

As to your dilemma, being honest with your parents is the key to acceptance. Explain your precautions, buy good gear, better yet, prove your ready by being mature about any decision made. When you're out from under that roof, then you can make your own choices. By the way, you're how old???

Well thank you for letting me know that, I don't have much experience with forums. To let you know I am 18 and am gonna be a high school senior. The case that my dad was a rider and is supportive appeals to me but getting the idea past my mom is difficult because she is very biased of her opinions. Thanks again for the help everyone.

So have you been successful with persuading your mom? To give one mom’s perspective: My younger son is 20, and recently asked if I would approve of him getting a bike. Putting aside the fact that I know he is an adult and is living on his own and can do what he wants, my honest “mom” answer to him was no, even though my husband and I both ride. I don’t care that a bike uses less gas than a car, or that it can be more environmentally friendly. I care about my son being safe. The idea of a bike being “safer” is not going to sell with me either, because I do not think being on a bike is safer than being in a car should any kind of collision happen. So I would suspect that those reasons might not work with your mom.

Focusing on how safe YOU are going to make biking, as has been suggested, is probably your only route to persuasion. But your mom may have a different perspective on you. My son considers himself a safe driver and I think he honestly intends to be. From my view, though, he doesn’t have a lot of high traffic driving experience due to where we live. He is not reckless, but he is not defensive enough either. He tends to assume that other drivers will follow the rules. This combination of limited road experience, and trust, are to me a recipe for disaster on a bike. Your mom may have very good reasons for wanting you to wait.

Your dirt bike experience will enable you to handle the bike, but it hasn’t given you the road driving experience. Nor does the MSF course which, as my instructors jokingly told me, enables you to be proficient at riding in a parking lot. At 18 you have probably only been driving for 2 years, not 20 or so like your mom. Perhaps your mom is not comfortable with your thinking that riding a bike will be “safer” at this stage in your life.

Anyway, that is this mom’s view. You will have to work this out with yours, which might mean waiting until you are older and on your own. BTW it is nice that you care about what she thinks.

Thank you for your input for it definately helps to get a mom's point of view. I have tried to bring up the subject with my mom so far yet the sheltered home she grew up in isn't helping me accomplish my goal. I do find that working on being a safe driver and studying to become a safe rider is the best method. If all fails though there is always college in my near future that will give me some freedom. Thanks again.

readytoroll08 wrote:So folks I currently have a dilemna that I was hoping some of you experienced folk could help me with. Last weekend I completed an MSF Saftey Course so I can get my motorcycle liscense. I have riden dirt bikes for about 9 years, 2 years competetively. My inspiration to start riding was the freedom, pleasure, economical advantage, and because my dad rode for years until he crashed while racing at Black Hawk Farms. My situation is that my dad is completely supportive of me getting a motorcycle yet I need to convince my mom that this is something she should allow. My thought was to tell her the advantages of riding a motor cycle instead of my 92 volvo. I'm thinking that telling her about how it is more safe now, how much gas they save, and environmental advantages will open her up to the idea more. If you all could help by giving me some ideas or statistics I would greatly apprectiate it because I cannot wait to get out on the open road but it would be better if my mom approves of it. Thanks.

Always listen to your Mother.