Parental paranoia or the reality check?

Post by **TicTac50** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 9:50 pm

Growing up in early sixties, my both parents were great motorcycle enthusiasts and traveled the world on bikes. As a kid, I always was fascinated with motorcycles and was influenced a great deal by my parents. I started riding at a very young age. It was fun to travel on my own bike together with a bunch of friends and parents. It did feel like your parents became your friends and riding buddies. It made us a very close family and I have great memories of time spent with my parents. Of course as a young rider, I remember doing many stupid things on the bike and the images of danger sometimes come back to haunt me. Not that my parents were irresponsible, but sometimes I am questioning: Ã¢â‚¬Å“How in the hell did they let me do that?Ã¢â‚¬Â Now I am a parent with a 23 year old son, and things look different. I always had bikes and my son never expressed any interest in any of them. In one way, I was happy that he had no desire of riding. Last month I did the unthinkable: took my son on 2500 mile trip to the BMW rally. Here we go!!! Now, after 2500 miles on the back of my bike, he wants to ride his own bike. What do I do now??? Should I talk him out of the idea of riding, or should I pursue his interest in the bike? I am in no position to teach him how to ride a bike, since I was not educated properly myself. In over 40 some years of riding, I picked up lots of bad habits and do not wish to pass them on to my son. If I will not succeed in talking my son out the bike, I know that I will convince him to take the MSF course, for sure. My son is 6.1Ã¢â‚¬Â and 175 pounds. Will the used BMW F650 CS, with ABS of course, be a good beginnerÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s bike, or should I go with the Honda 250 Nighthawk? Any advice or criticism from the riders in the same situation, will be greatly appreciated.

Post by **DJ Downunder** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 10:08 pm

I would recomend a dirt bike if that is possable..maybe even a road-trail bike..if not the Honda 250 Nighthawk.

He may be a bit big for it but imo a 250 is the best learning bike...a used BMW F650 CS, with ABS would also be ok..Good luck with it.

DJ

Post by **12bar1** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 4:07 am

I was in a similar situation not long ago. I decided to return to motorcycling after many years away. At first my wife was not interested but then she sat on a CS and that was it. I did not teach her to ride for the same reasons you don't want to teach your son. The 650CS was a great bike for her to learn on and two years later she traded it in for the R1150R. As for talking your son in or out of a bike that's one you will have to figure out.

riceburner · Post by **riceburner** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 5:11 am

Either bike (or similar) should be ok.

Training is the best idea, but one thing I'd recommend is a LOT of machine control practise, OFF roads. IE in a car park or somewhere away from traffic.

having the reactions and muscle movements semi-automatic instead of having to think about what to do in an emergency has saved my skin more times than I care to remember.

After the MSF course, your boy should practise, practise, practise and then go back to the instructors to check he's doing everything the right way, then enforce that learning with more practise.

NEVER stop learning, that's what keeps you alive.

Ves · Post by **Ves** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 6:38 am

There's also the Ninja 250.

The problem with men is testosterone. Especially young men. So, you don't want to give him a lot of power right out of the box. Cause he's going to use all of it.

My 14 year old daughter said soon as she can get a bike she's going to get one. Hmmmmm..... I'm not talking her into it our out of it... I'm just going to see what happens. I can't really justify talking her out of something that has given me so much enjoyment. That would be a bit hypacritical. If she does take it up then the important things are good bike to learn on, education, proper safety gear.

BITS806 · Post by **BITS806** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 8:00 am

Better to work with then against. Started on a 440 LTD Kaw, I would think any of the 500cc or under bikes would be good. As for training go take the MSF course together, and ride together as much as you can so you can have some control when he first starts. Your 40 some years riding will allow you to see trouble a new rider won't see untill to late. Either way stay positive and good luck.

wbrisett · Post by **wbrisett** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 8:07 pm

I would recommend buying a used Buell Blast. These are great starter bikes. However, be forwarned that he could be buying a replacement within 6 to 9 months. Usually there are a few of these around since HD uses these as their starter bikes to teach the MSF course on.

Wayne

Post by **scottybooj** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 10:47 pm

I may be going against the grain...but....

Florida, being our country's waiting room for heaven, has a fair share of automobile drivers (using that term loosely) that should have their licenses revoked as a duty to society.

I wouldn't want to scare the be-jesus out of him, but I would want him to realize the dangers in your neck of the woods.

wait...

WTF? I just read a post on how MIXR mixed it up with a god-dang roo in the middle of what looked like nowhere!

As for the bike, he's 23, not 16 and not female. Forget the Blast, unless you think he may want to bail out of riding. I learned to ride (at the tender age of 14) on an 800lb. hunk of bad braking, oil leaking, shovelhead thumping american iron. He can learn on anything, but why not sign him up for a riding school that teaches him on their bikes? We have them up in NY and I'm sure you must have them in N. Havana.

Good luck!

Post by **GypsyRR** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 11:03 pm

scottybooj wrote:
As for the bike, he's 23, not 16 and not female.

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riceburner · Post by **riceburner** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 7:01 am

scottybooj wrote: As for the bike, he's 23, not 16 and not female. Forget the Blast, unless you think he may want to bail out of riding. I learned to ride (at the tender age of 14) on an 800lb. hunk of bad braking, oil leaking, shovelhead thumping american iron. He can learn on anything, but why not sign him up for a riding school that teaches him on their bikes? We have them up in NY and I'm sure you must have them in N. Havana.

Good luck!

You think that masculinity is linked to the size of the bike??

Where's my bargepole!

Post by **MikeCam** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 7:55 am

I guess the best advice has been given. MSF, smaller displacement bike.

I cannot help wondering why a parent is still that involved in a 23 y.o. adult life.

wbrisett · Post by **wbrisett** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 8:41 am

riceburner wrote: You think that masculinity is linked to the size of the bike??

You beat me to it.

The Blast is a nearly 500cc bike, last time I checked that was a pretty decent size bike. We still own that bike and I take it out for rides and enjoy it. The nice thing about that bike other than just plain being super easy to maneuver is the ability to have almost zero maintenance. Put in gas, oil, plugs and you're done. Like a lot of Harley's the Buell uses a belt and they put an automatic choke on the thing to boot.

Ultimately it's about learning how to ride and ride safe. Put an 1150+cc bike capable of doing 100+ in the hands of a 23 year old as their first bike and you're asking for trouble. That's not to say they can't handle it, but let's face it, the idea is learn how to enjoy motorcycles and ride them safely regardless of conditions (weather, traffic, etc.).

I've seen people recommend 250cc Ninja's and such, and never have I heard people say, "that's a girl's bike"... A bike is a bike and we all need to learn to ride it safely. I stand by the statement that it is best done on a smaller engine.

Wayne

Post by **sjbmw** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 9:05 am

GypsyRR wrote:
scottybooj wrote:
As for the bike, he's 23, not 16 and not female.

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Rut roh.

pinecone · Post by **pinecone** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 4:54 pm

I've been watching this thread and am kind of surprised no one finds it odd that the parent of a TWENTY-THREE year old is trying to decide these things for the kid? Maybe I was extremely mature for my age (or maybe not) but I started riding about the same age on a KZ650 and didn't have any problem making my own decisions (some good, some bad). On the other hand, it's nice that you are so concerned for his safety. Good luck!

johno · Post by **johno** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 11:19 am

I believe the XT 600 Yamaha is a good all round bike to learn on, especially as he is tall. They are not over powerfull, but are ultra reliable, and heaps of fun to ride. And he wont get bored as quickly as on a 250.
The upright riding position is best for a beginner, and the dual purpose bikes give them the opertunity to do some on, and off road training.
Most good road racers started in dirt bikes, so a good training area.

thenewcamus · Post by **thenewcamus** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:30 pm

Parental Paranoia for sure. It's to be expected but needs to be sublimated (10 dollar word, just learned that one, impressed?

)

I was 24 when I got my first (and current) road bike, the 2004 Rockster. I am also about the same size as your son. I dropped it during the road test doing a slow speed U-turn because I took the test without practicing and thought I was hot $hit. No problems since. Chances are the kid has the strength to handle it and the weight is enough that you really respect the seriousness of the power that goes with it. As others have said, you can get tore up on a 400cc just as easy, especially if it feels like a toy and you treat it like one.

I say buy the bike you want. You will ride more, build skills necessary to handle it specifically and hold onto it for alot longer.

Post by **TicTac50** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:33 pm

Thank you all for your very helpful responses. I did not talk my son out of a bike and wound up purchasing a very slightly used 2004 F650 CSA as a graduation present. He is very excited and so am I, because I now have a great riding buddy. He will start MSF classes next week. For those of you who wondered why I am so involved with my son's life, it is my belief that a child's future and safety is always a parent's responsibility no matter what his age. Besides, he is still living under my roof.

thenewcamus · Post by **thenewcamus** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:43 pm

Great choice and congrats on the new riding buddy!

As for the family counseling advice that was posted on this MOTORCYCLE BOARD, ignore it. I would welcome some more involvement from my Pops, guidance and control are two different things.

Post by **TicTac50** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 1:37 pm

Thanks, Josh.

JakeThePimp · Post by **JakeThePimp** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 5:17 pm

pinecone wrote:I've been watching this thread and am kind of surprised no one finds it odd that the parent of a TWENTY-THREE year old is trying to decide these things for the kid? Maybe I was extremely mature for my age (or maybe not) but I started riding about the same age on a KZ650 and didn't have any problem making my own decisions (some good, some bad). On the other hand, it's nice that you are so concerned for his safety. Good luck!

I was thinking the same thing, I became a homeowner at age 23 and was married at 25. Beyond that I ask my father for advice on things, but choices are mine. I guess it was all those years of "when you pay the bills you can....bla bla bla, until then.....blah blah blah". Well Pops, now I pay the bills I can mess things up for myself.

-JTP