Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Im 20 live with my parents and im trying to convince them to let me take the MSF since im extremely interested in riding a motorcycle. They say no because they dont want me to ride a motorcycle so long as im living in there house. Im fine with that i even told them i wont get a motorcycle while i live here, and they still refused. Now i could just go and "pee" them off but im not that type of person since i still have to follow there rules.

Could anyone enlighten me as to what im doing wrong, i know they dont want me to ride a motorcycle period but hell nothing else interests me. They both seem to have a very warped image on motorcycle riding which im not sure how to fix.

If you could, tomorrow ask your parents specifically (and nicely) why they wont let you? They might think you are just getting a "spur of the moment" and don't want you wasting your money on something your not passionate in. Not saying you can waste your money on a momo

They care a lot about you, and probably think you will instantly die on it or something. Whenever I see a motorcycle on the news, It's always about them crashing/dying, BUT I see 10,000 times more car crashes than bike ones, even though there are more cages on the road.

Heck your 20, tell your parents you can make your own adult decisions.
I'll bet if they saw how fun a bike is to ride, they would buy you and themselves one.

Better replies to follow.

Kensh wrote: Could anyone enlighten me as to what im doing wrong,

Time to move out. You're 20, so definitely not too young. Their house, their rules. Your house, your rules. Of course, remain responsible in your riding decisions when you live in your own house.

See, I think I did it the better way: bought a nighthawk at 19 years old without asking my parents, learned behind their backs (at 1am...in the rain...), then moved out soon after and told them not to give me any money. They kinda freaked out on me, although that was also due to me getting a girlfriend who was 9 years older with lots of tats etc.....hmm, maybe they weren't all the best decisions I've made..... (although I would spring for a bad decision again if it involves a hot woman with tats any day...but no kid next time!)

I think my first bike might still be chained up, but that's why I bought a new one where I live now.
....I just have to tell em about it sooner or later.

Seriously, if you can, moving out is a great thing to do, and the fact that more and more kids aren't doing so is and will be a negative aspect of our society. Motorcycling is dangerous. If I had kids, I would not let them ride, unless I felt they had an outstanding maturity (but then they'd be related to me...). It sounds messed up, but try to understand their fears, and be reasonable as you can knowing that the roof rule and dependency rule is just that...rule.

the young hot babes ur age LOVE guys on bikes, I mean you can be a total loser and still pick up a hot babe if you have a bad bike, start off with a 600 cc crotch rocket, you will look good riding it, its easy to ride and believe me, anybody can ride a wheelie on a crotch rocket, it takes no special skill, do that and the girls will notice. Maybe you can find a girl with money and a good career, I know one guy around ur age his girlfriend is a CPA making almost $100K income. Believe me! get a bike, a bike is a babe magnet!

oh yeah,one more thing. Disregard EVERYTHING motoF150 sais.
you idiot moto, I thought you have changed.
grrr

Why do you need their permission to take the class? Are you expecting them to pay for it?

As someone who was 20 just a couple of years ago:
#1 Move out. You are too old to be at home. If you are in college, move to your college.... if you aren't in college, get a job. If you are still living with them, respect their decision. They don't want to see their kid hurt or dragged into the "lifestyle" they see on the 10 o' clock news.

The problem is that they likely do have a warped image of motorcycling. One way to try to fix it is to research statistics, show them that the majority of accidents are related to alcohol, riders without formal training, etc. Also, show them the type of gear you would be getting (armored jacket, kevlar jeans, fullface helmet, gloves, etc). They might not receive it all at once, you will probably have to chip away at them.

See if you can drag your dad to a motorcycle shop just to look at bikes. Who knows, you might get him interested in it too, and you might do a father & son thing. I got my whole family interested in riding, now my dad and brother have bikes as well, and my mom wants to get one.

Be sure to point out that you would be starting out on a good beginner bike too, like a Ninja 250 or a small cruiser (depending on your style choice).

Sit down and have a mature conversation with them. Explain that you are very interested in riding and by taking the MSF course you will learn the safe and proper way to ride. Tell them about safety gear, etc.

My parents felt the same way when I first brought it up...but once I sat down and had a serious, mature conversation with them about it, they let me go ahead with it. My mother still doesnt like it, but she doesnt give me a hard time at least.

If they still dont let you, then you dont have much of a choice. You'll just have to wait then. I think just showing up one day with a bike is a bad idea because it makes it seem that you dont have any repsect for their feelings.

You've got a hard problem. It's one I faced, but faced differently. You might not like the answer.

I waited. Some say 'seize the day' and I agree most of the time, but if its something you want badly enough, you'll want it just as much in six months, or a year (or more).

So you might not like it, but it's an alternative way.


Ed