My mom

[ofblong]

My mom said I can get a bike when I have a job and move out, but I said, "Whoa.... I'm only 45, what's the rush ?"

Only 45? I'd like to intoduce you to my daughter. She's turning 40 and is living at home.

hmm sooooo kick her out .

[badinfluence63]

However old one is is a debate but I believe a rider should endeavor and own every step of the process. No gimmes or freebies. You want a bike, you buy it with your own money. You shoulder the total process. My 24 yo son would love to have a bike but I am neither co signing nor giving him the money. He wants it he cowboy up and make it happen or do with out.

Quick story...a motorcycle family, meaning mother and father and 2 kids who ride at various levels. Parents were riders of big boy bikes, kids for the longest time had quads and small cc dirt bikes. Recently dad assisted 19yo son to purchase first mid range cc what I call a crotch rocket (sport bike) street bike. Took all the work out of it. Made it too easy. No safety course. Went from low cc dirt bike to sport bike. Everyone just figured he would easily transition from dirt to street. Makes sense. 30 days later son went around a corner too fast, laid the bike down and was pronounced dead at the scene. It is very sad because now the father not only lost his son, but is wracked with grief, guilt and its hard to make him understand it wasn't his fault. Which of course it wasn't. Is there a lesson to be learned here? I don't know? My thoughts, which are just my opinion and why I will not assist my son monetarily in any way with the $$ to get his first bike. I think when one has all the effort invested it creates a better level of appreciation. I don't know.

My heart goes out to that family and I hope my sharing the story does not creat a air of hostility or misguided fear of riding a motorcycle, as that is not my intent.

[Jadien]

my mom said that I cant get a bike until I am 18 I have been talking to her for a few weeks now I already tried the "does good on gas" and the " dad had one when he was young" and " im responsible" and "i ride dirt bikes all the time"
any other ideas to make bikes sound better to my mom

When you turn 18. Get a job and move out. Then you can do what ever you want. Nothing shows more responsibility than that.

As a teacher, I'd like to add a caveat.......

When you turn 18: graduate from high school, go to some type of college/university/trade school, then move out (or move to college), then get a job, then buy a bike. There truly is nothing more responsible than that!

[ElChado87]

As a teacher, I'd like to add a caveat.......

When you turn 18: graduate from high school, go to some type of college/university/trade school, then move out (or move to college), then get a job, then buy a bike. There truly is nothing more responsible than that!

All well and good if you know what you want to do AND have the money AND have parents that will let you stay...

And you gotta get to school somehow...

[crazypj]

[quote
I agree olebiker, atleast where I'm from that's what everyone thinks. Guess if I ever have a kid and he starts riding at 18 i tell him to steer clear of upstate NY [/quote]

I have driven in upstate New York, (Syracuse/Liverpool/Verona Beach etc) not as bad as I-4 through Orlando)
I think a lot would depend on the bike he kid wants, a 1000cc is too easy to point and squirt (point and squid? )
Anything in the 400/500cc bracket will be good fuel economy and enough power to LEARN to ride.
If worried about 'street cred', get a Motard, you can always drive over curbs and stuff if needed to avoid being run over (Suzuki DRZ400SM is popular, plus it looks more like a dirt bike so may be more acceptable)
PJ

[neverbybus]

OK, I'm 26 and living with my parents (though in my defence I did live away form home for the best part of 6 years) and I recently put myself through my CBT and DAS then bought a bike.

My Mum was never going approve, especially with a bunch of 'ped-owning organ-donors living just around the corner) so had to take the 'responsible adult' tack.

First of all I paid for the whole lot myself. Must have forked out about £2k all-in-all. This is money I'd saved up myself for this expressed purpose.

Secondly, to show that I was taking my safety seriously I made sure that I got decent leathers. I wound up spending about as much on leathers as I did on the training itself, but all in all, it's gone a long way towards assuring both my parents, and my somewhat sceptical friends, that I'm not about to wrap myself around the first available tree. Oh, and don't let any organ-donor mates you might have give you a digging about not riding around in shorts and t-shirt on blisteringly hot summers days. For good leathers this isn't a problem as they breath when you're moving along, but more importantly chicks dig guys in leathers

Thirdly, whilst I had my heart set on getting a 535 Virago as my first bike I instead opted for the somewhat more sensible Honda CB500S that is my current steed. So don't insist that you want your first bike to be some ludicrously fast 600cc sports bike aim for something sensible to build confidence and skills up first before progressing on to something more wild... personally, I'm aiming for my next bike to be a Ducati 749.

So all in all the best advice I can give you is to be sensible about the whole thing. Be calm and collected (throwing a tantrum about not being allowed to ride won't do any you favours) and above all, show that you're serious about being sensible and that it's something you're determined to do even without their help. At that point they can either help out be giving contributions towards proper safety gear and training, or let you get on with it and risk you taking cheaper shortcuts

[Bubba]

Get you life together. Graduate High School. Go on to collage or tech school. Put your life and career in a streight line. Learn what it means to be self sufficient. Then buy a bike.

My Mom was against me getting a bike when I was your age too. Mom is always right.
Then after I had just turned 40, good job, married and a kid, I got my first bike. A 550 Suzuki. I'm now 65 and ride the beauty shown at the left.
It's never too late.

[Gurgus]

Whats the rush? I've been wanting a bike my whole life, as far back as I can remember. My Mom wouldn't go for it, Dad was cool with it, but it wouldn't happen 'cause Mom put the keibosh on it. I just turned 33 and bought my first bike. A 450cc Nighthawk. I waited because I got married, bought a house, had kids....you know, life. It gets in the way.

Had I got a bike when I was teen, I'd probably be dead now, what with all the mentally challenged things I did with cars when I was younger. Now I've got 16 years road experience driving cars to help identify the dolts that wanna kill me. Just wait till your on your own and then they can't say anything.

Well, they will still say things, you just won't have to listen to them then.