The Beginner's Ultimate Dilemma

[boristheblade73]

I'm a Los Angeles high school senior with a serious desire to own a bike. My dad did a fair amount of riding when he was not much older than me, and stopped at some point. He discourages me from getting a bike, even though he reminds me that the choice is mine. I've had probably about a total of two days experience on a bike, one day of touring through Peru which I loved, and another day of motocross type riding in the desert here in Socal. Both times were lots of fun.

Cut to now - a friend of mine, my age, just got a ninja 250. I would say he is doing the smart thing, he is riding an entry level bike, has the correct gear, and took the MSF couse. Today he let me ride it around the spacious parking lot at my school. I had been fantasizing about doing this, but also holding the idea at arm's length due to fear that whatever skill I had in the way of riding motorcycles wouldn't return. Not the case at all. My friends were shocked at how I sat on the bike and sped around the lot with ease like it was nothing. I was pretty shocked too. As soon as I got off, I realized how badly I wanted to have a bike.

I realize the ironic and somewhat pointless nature of asking a bunch of motorcycle enthusiasts this question, but is it worth it? I live in Los Angeles, possibly the worst place on the globe to ride a bike. I've seen ambulances next to piles of metal that were once motorcycles. I've heard my dad's stories that make me not want a bike for the time being. I've heard the "it's just too dangerous" and "you're playing the [eventual] probability game" rap more times than I can count. But I still want a bike. Maybe there's some option that I haven't considered, like waiting to move to a more bike friendly place, or only doing track riding (no cars or intersections) OR SOMETHING. What do I do?

[camthepyro]

I guess it's all about how bad you want it. No matter where you are, riding a motorcycle is dangerous, but to most of us, it's worth the risk. Driving a car is risky too, but people still do it. Jumping out of planes is risky, but people still do it. Mountain climbing is dangerous, but people still do it. It's all about whether or not you think it's worth the risk.

[Z (fka Sweet Tooth)]

Take the class, learn the skills and practice. Even though you live in a crowded city it dosent mean that you have to ride your bike on the freeway in rush hour. Living in California, there are alot of places you could ride. Plus consider this, when you go on vacation to a less crowded places you can rent a bike and use it the time you are there. Is it worth it? Absolutely as long as you keep it smart.

[BigChickenStrips]

I had been fantasizing about doing this

as a teen, i had many other things to fantasize about

but anyway. like the others said. it sounds like your not a mentally challenged coming in here talkign about getting a busa to go tear up your friends civic with the NOS. but it is dangerous. if you have the financial means to go take the MSF, go do it and see if you still want to ride. good luck and ride safe

[dieziege]

Get used to the problem, because it is one that everyone is subject to but not everyone faces. Life is dangerous, and sometimes the best parts of life come with extra burdens of risk. If you are blind to the risks, you can end up a Darwin Award winner... if you never take the risks you can end up looking back on a bunch of "shoulda done that"s as you get older.

So grab yourself some books, take the MSF course, learn what the statistics are... and then learn how not to become one of those statistics. Maybe that means a lot of training to handle every situation and then some. Maybe it means setting hard limits as to when, where, and what you'll ride. Maybe it means accepting that you aren't really ready to ride responsibly and you need to take some more time (though I am not saying that's the case--you must figure it out for yourself).

I'm in the LA area and am planning to commute long distances on the freeway... but I'm also planning to chose the times and places I ride fairly carefully until I build up experience. I've set my limits based on what I want and what I'm willing to tolerate. Another person will set very different but equally valid limits.

The worst thing you can do is put yourself in a position where you've "got to" do something (ride a motorcycle, fly an airplane, sail a boat, whatever). If you have a car and a bike, and you aren't feeling well or you know you'll be out really late or the weather is crappy or whatever, you can choose to drive. If you only have a bike, sooner or later you'll find yourself riding to the drug store to pick up cold medicine because you are sick or something, and that's not cool.

[Jamers!]

I had been fantasizing about doing this

as a teen, i had many other things to fantasize about

like what? all i fantasized about was bikes and off roading. . . then agian. .. i went to an all guys school. . . yaaaaaaa nothiing to day dream about at school heh

if you have the financial means to go take the MSF, go do it and see if you still want to ride. good luck and ride safe

i disagree only in that if you cant afford the MSF yet, save some money or get a job, MSF is a great way to learn and is the only way to get your liscene if your under 21 in CA. So you have to take it, so save up for that and your bike, will teach ya something about responsobility. . . and probably impress your parents, at least it did for me. . .



JWF

[camthepyro]

All guys school? that's gotta suck, I think I spent more time in school staring at the girls then I did staring at the books (which is probably why I dropped out, go figure).

[Shiv]

Don't worry. You didn't miss much.

I've spent too much of my time staring at books and still have many years left of staring at books..many, many books. Heavy, expensive, books.

College sucks at times.

[jaydubs85]

Yeah take the class and then the risk will go down a little becuse you will be a better rider.

[Jamers!]

Yeah take the class and then the risk will go down a little becuse you will be a better rider.

+1 it will increase your confidence, not to mention you kinda have to take it to get a liscene in this state.

All guys school? that's gotta suck, I think I spent more time in school staring at the girls then I did staring at the books (which is probably why I dropped out, go figure).

i hated my HS, after being in public up until then i couldnt stand it. it was a catholic guys school so it was the pits. Strict rules, beaten with rulers in math and 4 hour masses. . . not to cool


JWF