Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I think the best way to convince your parents is to have lived the last 16 years in a way that makes them believe you're responsible. You've done that, right? Your parents don't know if you'll be a responsible driver or bike rider, all they can look at is how responsible you've been so far -- things like putting your bicycle away at night, doing your homework without complaining, not jumping off the garage roof with an umbrella, taking care of a housepet or your sister -- basic things to show your responsibility level.

Also, I'd seriously choose a cheap used bike for your first. Why? Because you WILL drop it. It's a certainty. I said "I'm not dropping my bike" too, and I still did it. Drop a plastic bike at 0 mph and you have costly plastic repairs. Drop a cheap bike at 0mph and you scratch something metal. That's it.

In my case, my mom had ridden bikes when she was younger, and she drove me out to pick up my first bike when I was 15, a 125 enduro that was only 1 year younger than I was.

I was thinking about this and another way to get your mom to buy into the motorcycle would be to start out by getting a scooter. Sure, they're not a REAL MOTORCYCLE but theycan be a hell of a lot of fun. I had a Yamahopper 49cc to get around campus and back and forth to work during my college years and loved it.

Whether or not it's reality, there's a good chance that your mom will percieve that it's much less risky as you can't take it on the freeway or go extremely fast. Perhaps if you started out that way and demonstrated responsiblity on a moped or scooter for a year or so you could soften your mom up to the concept of a motorcycle.

I had a funny experience with my parents. I'm currently 22 and it was my dad who got me into motorcycling. A couple weeks after I bought my bike I told my mom about it and showed her a picture of my Ninja online (the one below this post). I was expecting her to freak out but she was like "AWESOME!@!!!1" and was actually interested in it.

Of course, like every single person that finds out about your motorcycle, you have to go through the same ol' repetitive discussion about the dangers of riding. I know and sincerely believe safety is the most important thing here (ordered Proficient Motorcycling about 3 minutes ago off Amazon and am taking the MSF course this Saturday) but that conversation still gets old, especially when they get irrational calling you "crazy".

dieziege wrote:No, there's no age restrictions to buy vehicles. That would be nuts... not only would it serve no purpose but it would people (e.g. orphans, child actors, little schemers, etc) from using their money...

I bought a car when I was 14... no problem. I could even register it. I just couldn't drive it.

I didn't finance it of course... that's a different subject.

Actually...this is the second time I've had this exact same conversation on this forum... aparently there are a lot of people who have invented this idea that you must be "of age" to own anything... very weird. The last time, the person also actually thought that only people could own cars, if you can believe that... they thought a corporation couldn't own a car.

I know we are getting off topic, but in my state you must be 18, no exceptions. I used to be in the industry so I know that much, but like you said....Your state may be different.

What part of the southwest are you talking about? It isn't CA, NV, NM, AZ, or TX....

dieziege wrote:What part of the southwest are you talking about? It isn't CA, NV, NM, AZ, or TX....

In AZ, a juvenile cannot legally enter into a purchase contract, nor own property. If you're under 18 and not emancipated, your parents are considered the owners of your property.

The difficulty with juveniles owning property in most states is that contracts with persons under the age of 18 are unenforcable.

But they can be the registered owner of a car.

The car I purchased at 14 was not expensive... I paid cash... and there was never an issue with my registering it. Nor would there have been an issue if I'd been in Arizona.

I may be wrong, but im pretty sure that in Ohio you must also be 18 unless you are emancipated, but im not sure. you can get a moped license at 14 motorcycle and car at 16.

Yep, Ohio has this:
So a minor in Ohio can be the registered owner of a vehicle only with the signature of their guardian.

Not all states have that.