How can I convince my parents that I can get a motorcycle?

Question

My parents seem to think that a motorcycle in inherently too dangerous and that it doesn't matter how I act on it. I just turned 16. (I get my car license in two weeks). My dad started riding motorcycles when he was 14 or so and had a 750cc when he was 17 (at least a little hypocritical?). no training and no safely courses. he got into two accidents (one he was swerving to avoid and accident and the other a car took a 'no blinker left turn' in front of him). I have saved up money (bout 4.5k) for about 3 years now. I am plan on taking the MSF safely course and buying protective gear (helmet, jacket, gloves). I can also pay for insurance. The bike I want to start on is a Ninja 250cc (any model from 1999 to 2003), which I am told is an excellent starter motorcycle. maybe in about a year or two depending on how confident I feel, I could advance to a 600cc. I would use this to go to and from school, my job, and sports practices. I am a safe and competent driver in a car (no urge to speed, no crazy lane changing ect.). I have also brought up statistics to help them understand my reasoning. (http://www.r1-forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=202781, http://www.msgroup.org/forums/mtt/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=242). If I am paying for everything and am willing to do everything I can to be a safe and informed rider on the road, why can't I buy myself a motorcycle? Am I being unreasonable? How can I better present my argument such that they will allow me to purchase and ride my own motorcycle?

Answer 1

OK this is not so hard. Tell them you are at a crossroads in life and are uncertain as to your sexual orientation. Tell the parents you either want to become engaged to your new friend Bruce or dump him becoming a real man and getting a motorcycle. You probably won't even have to pay for the motorcycle. Also, get a Harley.

Answer 2

Clint

From your post it would appear to me that you are going to be a safe and reasonable rider. Good for you.

The problem (as already pointed out) will be the other people on the road. The idiots. They are out there, I've seem them, so has your dad. Guess why he doesn't want you out there. He doesn't want you dead.



I took the MSF course years ago when i got a bike. A few years ago I had my son (16 or 17 at the time) go thru the course. Not because I had any intention of turning him into a biker, I just thought it would be a good "drivers ed" course for him. He begged and begged to ride my bike so I started letting him ride around the lot at work (huge) and made him practice turns and sudden stops a hundred times before I ever (finally) let him on the street. He dumped the bike one day, didnt tell me about it and I never let him ride again. I don't want him dead.



If your dad still rides, here is what would work for me:

1. Buy the bike and pay for equipment, registration & insurance.

2. Agree to ride only with your dad following (each on your own bike) until you have demonstrated that you are safe.

3. Agree to let your dad give you his own version of a riders test before turning you loose on your own.

4. Listen to his advice. Try his suggestions. Benefit from his experience. If he gets the idea that you will do things the way he wants, he will feel a lot more comfortable about you riding.

5. Don't ride at night except maybe around the neighborhood on streets you know like the back of your hand. (I love to ride at night and I'm a lot more visible because of the lights but unfamiliar roads, potholes, dips and other surprises are bad on a bike)



Don't push the bike thing for a couple weeks to let it cool down and then hit them with your proposal. Agree to let them "ground" your bike if you get a ticket or do something stupid. Good luck!



Domi: Love your answer -but- what happens when his folks tell him to ask Bruce over for dinner?

Answer 3

Clint you seem to going about very reasonably. Keep it up. First enroll in the MSF course get a helmet and get your license. Once you have license then you have more leverage at getting the motorcycle. Then you can ask your dad if he wants to ride with you. Just because he has had two accidents he can not hold that against you because you have license and completed the course. Ask him and mom if they want to take MSF course with you. People are bias against things they do not understand. Bring up the cost of gas and fuel efficency. Global warming but I would only bring it up as last resort. Bring up the fact you being able to transport yourself around. Now that is tough one mom is going not give up look after her liitle boy to easily. Might point out the price of gas everytime you drive by a gas station. Or see a guy on motorcycle with helmet and gear going to work. By the way June 15 is Ride to Work Day. So motorcyclists get out there. Rain or whatever. Represent. Help Clint out. Explain the positives. Next is the hard part. Their objection is that is inherently dangerous? There is another reason you need to find out. Keep trying. Persistence.

Answer 4

theres really no way to change their minds once they r made up that ur not getting a motorcycle ur not gonna get a motorcycle i can promise u that no statistics or anything will change that

u may be a good driver but riding a motorcycle is much diff from driving a car..people dont see u u can get up and go alot quicker the ur car and not relize it...as stated in the people above me they arent souly worried about u itz the other drivers mainly and u dnt have alot of expirence on the road either i dont care if ur a great driver ur only 16 theres no way u have NEARLY enough expierence driving a car let alone a motorcycle on the road

Answer 5

Their Fear.



They want you to enjoy life yet not get injured. Motorcycle riding is a high risk practice regardless of how we look at the stats. Riding is a high risk when compared to driving.



The reality of life is, you could in fact be the best rider on planet Earth yet it only takes a single idiot (also on planet Earth) to wipe you out, maybe that mistake will result in minor injury yet in the extreme this could end your life. A death that was the result of a single act of stupidity.



You don't need to watch people driving around you for long to realise that most drivers should not be on the road. This is one of the major reasons we will never address the road toll. A parent teaching his child to drive teaches him his own bad habits.



I personally believe that all drivers regardless of license, we should all be assessed at regular intervals. Maybe 5 years after getting our license and then at 10 year intervals. The pass mark should be 100%.



Your parents are simply doing as they are required by nature to do as loving parents.



Here is a example of a modern day foolish driver.

I personally know a guy who put a fellow motorist in a wheel chair for life by drink driving. 3 years later and with 12 months in jail served, he was again caught drink driving. That is the sort of person you will be sharing the road with.



You simply cant control the behaviour of the people around you. That is 360 degrees of fools and you will pay the price for their mistake. That is the fear your parents have.

Answer 6

do not own a ninja or a crotch rocket, there way to fast for a beginner and you WILL end up hurt. start out on a cruiser, yamaha v-star or honda shadow, without all the "stupid" power you wont be tempted to act stupid, believe me, theres nothing wrong with cruiser bikes, i started on a 650 v-star and have moved up to a 950 v-star, they both have plenty of power for beginners. also take the riding course, class. it will teach very good safety and cut your insurance cost a little.

Answer 7

Joe is correct, you can be the safest, most experienced rider out there but all it takes is a blind old man in a SUV pulling out in front of you that could end it all.

I have been riding motorcycles for a long time and EVERY-TIME I take my bike for a ride I get involved in a close call incident, yes,, it scares me cause I know that someday my luck will run out.

Answer 8

I ain't you that's the problem . It's the other people that will kill or maim you.