[xXKevinXx]

So right now im 15 and im around 5″6 or 7 and I might get a ninja 250r. I am wondering if i should get it or not
due to the fact im only 15 and kinda short but still its really awesome and its hard to get one.

[Amoryl]

it’s been mentioned before on the various issues with jumping right onto a bike as a first vehicle. chances are nothing we say will make much of a difference as the insurance risk of person without even a driver’s license is so great that they will either A, not cover you or B charge so much that its essentially out of the question anyway.

most of us seemed to agree in another thread that you should start out in a car, develop your driving skills for at LEAST a year (after you get your license) before even thinking of taking a bike on the street, and then taking the MSF course (and passing) and then maybe think about getting a motorcycle.

honestly I can’t imagine anyone at 15 in today’s traffic being even remotely safe on the road. I realize that this is considered by many to be a dangerous passion, but we mitigate as many of the risks as we can. and thats not really something someone who isn’t even a legal car driver yet can really do, IMO. lord knows I’ve been wrong before but…in this case, I don’t think I am.

maybe pick up a dirt bike, get some offroad experience well away from the brainless soccer mom’s in their SUV’s who’re out to kill you. you’ll get driving exp in a car, and bike experience on the dirtbike, and in a year or two you’ll be better equiped to take that ninja 250 onto the mean streets.

[Munch]

Even if all drivers were guaranteed to see you , your skill is still just as much as a liability. You will find yourself fixating on everything, or worse getting distracted by everything. Your brain needs to get a handle on multitasking… Playstation don’t help and neither does texting under the desk as your teacher walks by and you anwer her question.
You need to minimally be able to get driving a manual shift car for atleast a year ,so you can get your brain and body to shift gears without concentrating directly on the process and being able to focus more on the road ahead and drivers and signs around. Get your reflexes set up for emergency decisions such as rampant deer. or grey hairs that suddenly decide that they need to make that 4 lane jaunt to make the intersection for the drug store.
As a rookie driver… cages are enough to handle and give you a decent amount of protection for the Oh S#!t moments.
Not sure if I’d go as far as saying “away from the brainless soccer mom’s in their SUV’s who’re out to kill you” . Though out there it can seem like it at times, but it does strike home that you are rarely seen and you have to LOOK FOR THEM.
Gonna be hard to do when your head is filled with… “Clutch….. roll throttle……oh crap shift up….now roll throttle…SLOWLY SLOWLY…. whew ok now we are really rollin…. ut oh curve……… what was that thing again… look ….press and lean or roll?”

Trust us… we are still new and remember what its like…. we sometimes get reminded very quickly.

Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is a prediction, but today…… is a Bi**h

[adrenalinerush]

I completely agree that being able to 1) have experience on a dirt bike or 2) have experience with a manual transmission are important. Before I ever learned to ride, I drove a manual for 3.5 years. That factor alone has saved me in traffic – simply being able to coordinate how to get going and how to stop (and doing each QUICKLY) is important. IT is important to have experience in traffic protected by an actual vehicle. You WILL make mistakes learning, its a lot better to make them either while your protected by fiberglass and metal around you or away from other cars/traffic so you don’t end up making it your LAST mistake :o) … either way, take your time learning and be safe :

[Amoryl]

they might as well be out to kill you, i can’t tell how often one of them tries to crowd me out of a lane, cut me off, or almost ram me.

and I’m driving a white E250 cargo van with blue and red lettering all over it.

[chromium ghost]

Agreed. You should absolutely have some cage driving experience under your belt before even considering a motorcycle. In fact, I’m pretty sure most states make you pass the road test in a car and get your full car license before you can even take the MSF.

Elwood makes an extremely important point, as a beginning driver you WILL have minor, possibly major accidents. I had about 3 minor fender benders with my first car, and had I been riding a motorcycle, I would most likely have a few broken bones to go along with the slightly higher insurance rates.

You have to develop your ability to be fully aware in traffic and anticipate traffic patterns, it is most definitely not an innate skill. Drive a manual shift car for a few years, then consider a bike. Don’t worry, you have a few years left to impress the ladies.

[Author]

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