A Little Help?

[Crocket07]

I'm 18 and moving off to college. I did alot of research and tried to show it to my parents as to why a bike would be a good thing to have for transportation for college. Despite what I had they insisted, my Dad saying he would even fight me tooth and nail, that I would never ride a motorcycle. They are both against it saying that they are death traps no matter if I am the best biker on the road. My Dad had an injury on a motorcycle when he was a kid... broke both of his legs... and he believes the same thing will happen to me if I get on a bike. I told him all of the safety precautions that I was going to take, the MSF course, buying the proper gear, never riding in the rain unless I absolutely have to, but all it has done is fuel their disagreement. They said I will receive no financial support for the bike whatsoever and that I can take the family minivan to run any errands I have. Just to let you all know the van has no AC and I live in Florida.

Do you guys have any advice for me becuase I'm considering using part of a student loan to cover some of the expenses of a bike and some gear?

[jonnythan]

I'm 18 and moving off to college. I did alot of research and tried to show it to my parents as to why a bike would be a good thing to have for transportation for college. Despite what I had they insisted, my Dad saying he would even fight me tooth and nail, that I would never ride a motorcycle. They are both against it saying that they are death traps no matter if I am the best biker on the road. My Dad had an injury on a motorcycle when he was a kid... broke both of his legs... and he believes the same thing will happen to me if I get on a bike. I told him all of the safety precautions that I was going to take, the MSF course, buying the proper gear, never riding in the rain unless I absolutely have to, but all it has done is fuel their disagreement. They said I will receive no financial support for the bike whatsoever and that I can take the family minivan to run any errands I have. Just to let you all know the van has no AC and I live in Florida.

Do you guys have any advice for me becuase I'm considering using part of a student loan to cover some of the expenses of a bike and some gear?

Well...

It's more comfortable in a van with the windows open than it is on a bike with gear on.

[Loonette]

Unless you're financially independent, you really don't have much say in the matter. Student loans? Well, I guess that's up to you. I can remember spending student loan money on non-school things (like the electric bill and the rent!!). Eighteen years later, and I'm still paying on student loans! But if you're 18 years old, and you don't have to rely on their financial support, then do whatever you want, but maybe be gentle regarding their feelings.

This very same scenario has been presented to us many times on these forums, and my personal feeling on it doesn't sway too much - there's no real necessity in riding a motorcycle, so if you're needing your parents to pay for it, then the decision really is entirely theirs. Otherwise, be a grownup and pay for it somehow on your own. (And remember to factor in gear, insurance, maintenance, etc...) Good luck!!

Cheers,
Loonette

[Crocket07]

as for the student loan I'd only be taking around 1250 from it. I have to get one anyways to cover some other college expenses. I got the rest in cash, or at least I will in a couple weeks (paychecks and all that). As for the insurance I can cover it myself. Paying the loan back shouldn't be too hard... Im studying to be an aerospace engineer so i should be able to pay off a 10k student loan no problem, or at least I think I should.

[Septimus]

Careful not to spend money that not only do you not have yet, you haven't had anyone agree to give you in the future.

I knew lots of aerospace engineers in college who graduated as English majors (course, so did I...)

It also may be illegal to spend your student loan money that way, and the feds have been cracking down on mis-uses of student loan stuff. When I was in school (got out in '02) the financial aid office applied the balance of your loan to either tuition or housing. You couldn't just go get cash.

Easy enough to make $1250 if you can get a job in school, though. Won't do you any good to take the money out of a loan if you can't afford maintenance, gear, registration, gas, etc.

[Wrider]

Paying the loan back shouldn't be too hard... Im studying to be an aerospace engineer so i should be able to pay off a 10k student loan no problem, or at least I think I should.

Before you start banking on that, keep in mind the average student changes their major 3 times before graduation now... I should know!
I started off as a mechanical engineering major, with an emphasis in aeronautical, then went to computer science, now I'm headed off to Motorcycle Mechanic School in the fall. So yeah... people do change their minds, whether you think you will or not (I wanted to be a mech. eng. since I was about 12...
Wrider

[Crocket07]

ok. i should probably just try to convince my family then. I shouldn't spend money I don't have, that can lead to even worse spending habits. I thought you could spend your student loans for whatever you needed. I definitely don't want to end up owing the feds anything Thanks for your advice.

[TorontoBoy]

... They are both against it saying that they are death traps no matter if I am the best biker on the road. My Dad had an injury on a motorcycle when he was a kid... broke both of his legs... and he believes the same thing will happen to me if I get on a bike. I told him all of the safety precautions that I was going to take, the MSF course, buying the proper gear, never riding in the rain unless I absolutely have to, but all it has done is fuel their disagreement...

Your Dad talks from painful experience and there is some truth to what he says. Attitude, training and gear can reduce but not eliminate your risk. You should not discount his advice.

You're starting school and last I heard education sucks money right out of your soul. Unless you have the cash in pocket to pay for 100% of your tuition, books, living expenses, entertainment expenses, clothing, etc, you should hold off on the bike. There will be ample time to ride in the future.

For me university signified a huge plunge in standard of living from what my parents were providing to...poverty. You'll need that money to just get by, unless you're independently wealthy. I know it's not what you want to hear from a biker forum, but wait until you have to buy marginally useful engineering books at $150 a book, money better spent on groceries. I still remember my eyes popping out and wondering who paid off my professor.

[Mean KaNean]

You say that you'd never ride it in the rain, but since you live in Florida you should know that during hurricane season it rains almost everyday at the same time. I also went to college in Florida and everyday when I got out of class it was raining.

How do you plan to get groceries to your place? You can only strap so much to the back of a bike.

If your parents are going to let you use a minivan while you're in school I'd take them up on the offer. You said you'd only be using about $1200 of your school loan money, that to me don't sound like you're going to be getting a new bike. What if it breaks down? How will you pay for repairs? What if it costs to much to repair, how are you going to pay for it? Sounds to me like if you buy a bike your parents aren't going to give you support for it. What about insurance costs? If you take the van, it sounds to me like insurance would be covered by your parents.

So big deal the van don't have AC, sure beats what I had when I lived in FL...a ten speed.

Be a man and take the van!

[Lil'Suzi]

Yeah, take the van. I drove a mini van in college that my parents gave me. I felt pretty uncool, but it came in handy for moving and hauling furniture and stuff and it was FREE. Now I'm out of college, barely any student loans left to pay, working full time, and buying my first motorcycle! (mini van eventually died and I got a smaller car too).

My parents won't be happy to hear that I am riding a motorcycle now, but it's now my decision alone.

Good luck to you!

P.S. I never changed my major in college, but I'm definitely not in the career field I imagined I'd be in.