[R_Kaiser]

Hey there. I’m 22 and been feeling like getting a motorcycle for a while now. I discovered this site while looking for information on good beginner motorcycles and what I would need to do to get a license. Sadly, the only experience I have with motorcycles is back when I was 14 and drove dirt bikes off road, and I’m pretty sure that’s much different that a sport bike Thanks to this site, I’ve gotten some good ideas about what to look for in a beginner bike (mostly thinking about a Ninja 250R). There’s one thing I want to ask some help about though. There’s one thing in the way of me even beginning this entire process of beginning to ride a bike, and that’s getting my mom to ever talk to me again if I do. The thing is, she’s been an operating room nurse for 25 years and has seen, literally, hundreds of motorcycle accident victims up close, inside and out. I haven’t even brought up the topic with her recently because I still remember what she told me before: it doesn’t matter how good you are at riding your bike, there’s lots stupid people who drive cars to hit you. A lot of the accidents she’s seen are through no fault of the motorcycle rider. Anyone have any ideas on how to get her okay?

[ShannonG]

You have rough road ahead of you indeed….
Take a motorcycle safety course (they can provide you with a bike and helmet) and talk to your mom about what you’ve learned in the way of defensive driving. Ask her about the number of injuries she’s seen due to inadequate/inappropriate clothing. Just keep talking. Get bike brochures and stress the ‘beginner’ level of the bikes you’re looking at (no GSX-R brochures!) Just keep talking.
Ben had a great suggestion to someone else to get the person with the doubts to take the safety course with you. I love that idea.

[RobbieJ]

I’m willing to bet that if she’s an operating room nurse, if she’s seen hundreds of motorcycle accidents that are of no fault to the riders that she’s seen thousands from car accidents that were no fault of the drivers. Yes, there are drivers out there that do not look for motorcycles and that is why it is more important for a bike rider to be alert and aware of his surroundings. Where as car drivers are more likely to get complacent and less likely to pay attention. Insure you mom that you are not one of those fools who just wants to go fast and look good and that you want to just get the sheer joy from riding a bike and you’re gonna do it the safest way possible and it shouldn’t be too bad convincing mom. She’s your mom. Can’t promise you won’t hear about her concerns everytime you see her but, she’s your mom that’s her job, she’s not going to cut you off.

[Ben]

Both RobbieJ and ShannonG had some great advice, probably better than what I’m about to say.

In my experience people like that are ‘lost causes’ and will almost never be convinced that riding a motorcycle is an OK thing to do. My girlfriend’s parents are that way (but thankfull mine are not!) so whenever I go to their house I get a quip about, “You should get a car,” or my personal favorite, “You’re an organ donor right?”

I just try and answer them cheerfully but truthfully (I’m saving for a car, and yes I’m an organ donor!) and I try not to let the subject stay on motorcycles. Some people say i’m too harsh but when it comes to parents, but I say ‘cut the cord’. My parents only have slightly more weight in my decisions than my friends. If my friend Quinton said, “Hey, if you keep riding motorcycles then I can’t be your friend” then I would say, “That sucks, bye.”

Anyone that wants to limit what you choose to be passionate about after you have demonstrated how safety consious and careful you are does not deserve to be your friend in my opinion.

The same can be applied to parents, but I know a lot of people do not subscribe to my theory on that. If my parents did not support my riding I would say, “You know what, it’s my passion, i’m safe about it, I can explain it to you if you want and show you what I do to be safe, but I am not going to stop riding.” If they chose to give me the silent treatment then that is their problem. Once they grow up enough to realize that people need to make their own choices then they could be welcomed back into my life. Anyway, that’s my two cents and I realize that a lot of people let their parents have a lot of power over them, and that’s ok too as long as you realize you are giving them the power.

Man, I seem to be getting on my soapbox a whole lot lately! I need to tone it down I think and stick to motorcycle stuff and skip the relationship stuff

Ben
~Best Beginner Motorcycles Admin

[ShannonG]

We got the ‘you’re going to die but enjoy the bikes in the meantime’ lecture from my inlaws. The funny thing is they had a motorcycle as their only transportation for years when they were teens. And rode in nothing but shortts and tee shirts. And may not have worn helmets. And lived to tell about it. But somehow we’re doomed. Whatever.

Edited to say: not everyone who rides a motorcycle ends up as roadkill. In fact, the only person I know who was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident turned left in front of a 1980 Cadillac. He was on the wrong end of that fight for sure, but completely in the wrong.

[RydRy]

nicely put and good passion there- Ill borrow from that in discussions I imagine- thanks
and the t-shirt is a great convo starter, gotta send some photos-
also upgraded- now have a Triumph Bonneville daily- glad I took the first 2k miles smaller but loving this baby

[megaspaz]

This doesn’t really pertain to you, but my mum also was not very happy with me getting a bike. The first time she saw me in my gear, she was really upset. Didn’t want to see the bike and didn’t talk to me the rest of the night. A couple of weeks later, I came down for my birthday and she finally saw the bike in person… Here are the pics of what happened that day…

needless to say, we had a good dinner and a lot of laffs. In other words, like some others have said, if you’re an adult, your parents might not like it, but they’ll probably get used to it over some period of time and they probably won’t cut you off over something like this…

—
If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now…

[SilverStorm]

Wow, that is so cool! If only everyone else’s parents would end up on a bike like that…

Ooooh
And our freedom is consuming itself
What we will become is contrary to what we want
Take a bow
~Muse, Take a Bow (lyrics)

[R_Kaiser]

Thanks for all the advice, everyone. I think I have a better idea of what to do and say when I bring this up.

[yerkool]

Take the MSF course and while normaly driving the usual cage with four wheels observe the other cage riders on the road next to you around you etc.. this will give you some Idea why so many two wheel riders ride the way they do. few guys at my work tell me to stay far away from cars, either be ahead of all the cars or far behind all the cars. leave out EGO and enjoy!

[Author]

Posts