Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Hey, Im new to the forums and well motorcycles in general.
Ive always liked the open air, freedom and just the outdoors. Which is why ive liked biking (bicycle)... and i got my drivers liscense a little while ago, and have always looked forward to it. But in all honesty, i was disappointed by it. It gets me places quickly... but i miss that intimacy between me and my surrounding that comes with flying by on a bike (bicycle)... i feel so detached in a car. which is why i am interested in a motorcycle for transportation and fun.

but i have several questions...
one of the main reasons i want a bike (motor) is economical reasons... since im a teenager... i dont have a whole lot of money... nor make much... so a inexpensive motorcycle ( most likely a Ninja250R ) that gets 70 MPG is definetly a good choice for me. Also, the insurance at my age is actually almost half as much as car insurance, especially since car insurance is so inflated at my age. (about $70/month for a motorcycle... $120/month for a car). I will mostly be riding it during the summer months anyway, as during the winter i have school.

One of the major obstacle however is to convince my parents to not disown me for even thinking about riding a motorcycle. Its odd, because my mom is one of those people who think that bikes should be illegal because so many people die from them. She hates them. My dad, however once worked in a honda motorcycle assembly plant. I doubt he would care much. However i think if i was able to convince not to disown me (lol), i think they would spring for the safety equip.

Another thing is that I know noone that owns a motorcycle... So i would have noone to ride with... or help me along the way while im learning ( i definetly plan on taking that MSF course ) ...

Thoughts?
thanks.

EDIT: yes ive read pretty much all the beginner material on the site.

that's always a hard question.

you could try and show your mom that you'll be a responsible rider and wear good protection all the time.

show her some stats that help your cause.

in the end... it just depends on how you can prove your point and how stubborn your mom is.

good luck.

Another question...
Should I get more practice with a manual transmission? if im correct... i think most/all motorcycles have sequencial gearboxes ... right?
or is the transmission not too difficult to master?
or am i totally wrong and they are automatic?

The number of automatic bikes can be coutned on two hands (probably one). Personally, I'd never driven anything but an automatic before I got my bike, so it's not something you HAVE to know.

As far as convincing your parents to let you get one. There is no tried and true method. No guaranteed fix. All you can do is show that you're safe, responsible, and intellegent about it.

Take the MSF, get the gear, get a "good" starter bike. Demonstrate your responsibility in all things you do, and attempt to include your parents in your choices (bike and gear). Help them to understand and they might be more willing to cut you some slack.

Best of luck.

ska rules wrote:Another question...
Should I get more practice with a manual transmission? if im correct... i think most/all motorcycles have sequencial gearboxes ... right?
or is the transmission not too difficult to master?
or am i totally wrong and they are automatic?

ridley makes auto bikes. but yeah, most bikes are manual.

it's hard to master, but not hard to learn and get started.

but anyway... i started to learn and still have and prefer a manual car. learning to shift on a bike was not a big deal to me since the concept is the same, just different controls.

good luck.

I was in the same bout as u are in.....and to be hoestly i did it the bad way ...
which was...

I just went and bought and they just had to deal with it ...

it wasnt the best idea...but they will alwyas love you...and if you show them that u are a safe drive and wear the right gear..the eventually start to break a little lose...

yeah i just bought mine and they had to deal...now i got my first real bike when i was 21...so my wife had more choice words for me than my parents...

and i may be the only one to suggest this...

ever think of a scooter?
i love them...most people hate them...
but ska kids are really into them....thats the only reason i suggest...
also check out http://www.umamerica.com/site/usa/index.html
alot of nicer beginer bikes...i think the ninja is butt ugly...

anyways...if you are interested in scooters instead...hit me up...
also...what ska bands are you into? i can turn you on to some good good stuff.

A scooter would be great for you! Especially if you do not plan on taking it on the highway (although brand new scooters that go up to 60-70mph can be had for <2k).

well i wouldnt want a scooter because they're, to say the least, uncool.
ive always loved the sport bike look, and to look a little stylish is pretty important in high school. I dont really care about how powerful it is... noone i know owns a motorcycle... as previously stated. Idk, with my family buying a bike before asking my parents would proboly work the best, because theyre not going to make me return it, and they will most likely spring for a lot of the safety equipment. however that would never work. im 16, and i think my parents would wonder as to why i needed them to sign off on my getting a motorcycle liscense, when im "not planning to get to a motorcycle".

as far as ska music is concerned...
i like most all music... i was listening to a good ska song when i choose the sn, however some of the ska bands i like are less than jake, goldfinger, operation ivy, etc.
but im always interested in being turned onto some other good bands.

oh and yes... eventually i do plan on taking it on the freeway... after im really experienced of course.

If your mom is ANYTHING like mine, she would disown you for the sportbike purchase... But I bought a fairly large cruiser (see sig), and she actually agreed to finance it for me. Tell her the insurance and the gas efficiency, and keep trying to work it over with her, it took me literally 4 years to do it, albeit passively. Make sure though to look into the cruiser style bikes. My mom liked them because the are "More visible, Safer, and Slower." Slower, sure, safer? not with me riding it, and more visible? I tend to see sportbikes before I see cruisers... Anyway, good luck convincing your mom!
Wrider