I just got off the phone with my friend…
He’s 16 and a very responsible. He was learning to ride this weekend on his dad’s bike….
ITS A 1600! I warned him but he said he could handle it thanks to past dirtbike exp.
Well he was calling me to tell me he might ditch riding because of today…
HE TOTALED HIS DAD’S BIKE! He was learning how to shift and goosed the throttle and with such power it could only be bad. He ran into a tree at 35-40 mph but he was ok. The sad thing is that it was his dad’s fault. His dad told him to learn on the 1600.
LESSON LEARNED.
He’s a little shaken up and in about a week I’ll give him the Vulcan 500 idea =]
Just goes to show… if the bike is too big you’re F***** =]
Though I wonder, if your friend really is responsible, why didn’t he object to riding a 1600cc motorbike? I wonder how much riding experience he’s had; you don’t even need to be a motorbike guru to know that riding a 1600cc requires much more experience and maturity that your friend apparently had but failed to show.
I wouldn’t fault him for not saying no to his dad. Especially if he looks up to the man. When it comes to parents or pussy a more primal urge tends to take the place of common sense.
It’s his dad’s fault he didn’t drill simple concepts into his sons head before he even sat on the bike. Like clutch in = no power transfered to the rear wheel. I think the best thing for him to do is get himself on a bike asap, one that fits him better like a 125 or 250 (sorry but I think 500cc for a borderline child is too much), so he can see the right bike for his skill level and size and get his confidence back. Seriously, putting a 16 year old kid on a 1600cc motorcycle is tantamount to reckless endangerment. His dad needs a beatin’.
I warned him but he said he could handle it thanks to past dirtbike exp.
I call him just as much at fault. He let his over confidence get the better of him. Now how much of that is his father is something unknown. Either way, he still had to make a decision to say yes. And I’m not disagreeing with you either on his dad needing a kick in the nads either.
—
If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now…
I do think that it was the whole parent/pussy aspect.
His dad is a daredevil. I think he thought if he said its too powerful his dad would think a little less of him.
Yea, I didn’t mean to sound like there should be no accountability on his part. Even if he had a gun to his head the final decision does come down to him on doing what is right or wrong.
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