Need an advice!!?

Question

Well i need an advice in how to tell my dad that i really want a bike (motorcycle). Well he thinks that its bad and he refuses to buy it for me, but I dont care because i would earn the money and buy it myself. He thinks i will crash and die somewhere and he always gets pissed off when i bring up a subject about me getting one. Now im 16 and ill turn 17 soon anyways does anyone know what might work, because i really want this bike. I was thinking of Yamaha R1 because i like the look of it and its not that expensive.
So can anyone tell me some tips to make my dad get on my side so i can get this bike.

also i heard you dont have to pay for insurance for bikes is that true? and i wouldnt ride the bike all the time only sometimes or from and to work.

Ulrich i totaly agree with all the safety and stuff but i really want one and i probably wont get it because of my dad but i need him to get on my side. I already drive a car. And im not into doing stunts with bikes.

also i probably wouldnt buy R1 as my starter bike probably something smaller and then later on maybe buy it

Thanks for all the advice guys and I was going to start out with a small bike not R1 right away. And yes i was going to take the motorcycle course that you were talking about. Anyways thanks for all the info ill think about this one hard before i make my decision.

Answer 1

Wow, a Yamaha R1, 16/17 years old, no motorcycling experience? Frankly, your Dad's right on this one. Now, don't think I'm anti-motorcycle, I currently own two motorcycles (a Honda and a Harley Electra-Glide) and I love to ride. In this instance, though, you are talking about getting on one of the hottest bikes made (as in 180 MPH, with enough power to humble many experienced riders) without any meaningful experience - this is definitely a recipe for disaster.

If you really want a motorcycle (and I hope you do), there are several things you can do that may help convince your Dad that it will be alright. First, show him you are mature enough to own and operate what is a machine that has a much higher risk when being ridden than a car, and that you are both aware of the elevated risks involved, and, very importantly, demonstrate to your father that you have enough maturity to operate such a machine safely. Frankly, your choice of bike does not indicate that you have the maturity and level of logic to do so, as it is far beyond your present capabilities, and, even if you do start riding, it will remain so for several years. Therefore, both to demonstrate that you are capable of handling motorcycling, both on a logical and emotional level, you need to alter your choice of motorcycle drastically. I'd recommend going away from the "crotch rockets" to a cruiser, probably something in the 250 to 600, or, maybe, 750 cc range. Second, and before you even think about buying a bike, take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic Rider course. This will take a weekend, they do professional training, both classroom and riding, on a closed course, and you will learn an awful lot about the operational aspects of motorcycling and surviving on the street, and they supply the bikes for the course. It is definitely worth the investment in time (one weekend) and money (not too much, some states even cover the fees for new riders), plus, in most states, if you pass the course, you don't need to take a test with the state to add the motorcycle endorsement to your driver's license. Perhaps a good tack to take on this would be to ask your Dad to attend the course with you. If he would, he'd learn a lot more about motorcycles, especially as to their safe operation, and he may even decide he want's to get into it, thereby making your situation a whole lot easier. Also, promise to never ride without a helmet and proper gear (boots, jacket, gloves, etc.). The more you can do to show your Dad that you are responsible, the more likely he'll allow you to ride.

I'm not trying to put you down, I really would like to see you get into motorcycling, and to stay in it and enjoy it for a long, long time. Therefore, I must reiterate - don't go for the R1, or even anything similar, until you have at least 4-5 years of solid motorcycling experience. If you don't, it is likely that you won't be around long enough to develop the experience necessary to ride one. Your Dad doesn't want to have the police knocking on his door in the middle of the night to tell him that you were killed in a motorcycle accident. I've seen plenty of them, and most of the really bad ones have been young men on crotch rockets, trying things the bikes are very capable of, but they aren't. It takes a long time to get enough experience to master such a bike, and you can get in trouble faster than you can blink on one.

Ah yes, the second part of your question, relative to insurance. What you heard is completely wrong - you absolutely MUST pay for insurance on a motorcycle. You won't get it if you don't pay for it, and you can't register (license) it in any state without insurance. If you get it, license the bike, then let it lapse, you have effectively cancelled your registration, and put yourself in a pool of "high risk" drivers, which will boost your premiums to stratopheric levels, or even keep you from getting insurance, for at least two years. In addition, a ticket for no insurance is expensive (around $600 here in Arizona). You might want to check into insurance before you buy any type of "crotch rocket," i.e., sport bike, also - I'll bet you'll be shocked, if you can even get somebody to get a quote. The first year's premium for a man of your age on something like an R1 will probably be more than the cost of a new R1 itself, if you can get it. I know a young man (22-23) with no tickets who was quoted $25,000 for one year's insurance on a Honda CBR-1000 (same category as the R1) AFTER he bought the bike. Needless to say, it rode to his home on a trailer, has never been registered or insured, never been ridden, and is for sale - he anticipates taking a big loss on it.

Take the MSF course, get a light to medium Japanese cruiser (not a crotch rocket/sport bike) and develop a few years experience, then decide if you want to move into a sport bike. You want to be around to enjoy motorcycling, and your Dad doesn't want to attend your funeral.

Answer 2

Ulrich is pretty much right on with all the information he gave you. I would say one other thing though. Given your age your dad doesn't want you too have a bike I assume youd have to pay for the insurance yourself and the only insurance you could probably afford would be on a 250. The insurance alone on an 600 or 1000cc sportbike, which is what I think you want, would probably cost you over three grand a year. Hope you do get a bike eventually though, ride safe.

Answer 3

My advice: Do some research, and learn how a responsible adult would best approach riding a motorcycle.

Some hints:
1. A liter bike (like the Yamaha R1) is about as far as you can get from a good starter bike.
2. It sounds like you might not be driving yet - riding a bike is difficult in itself - when you're just getting used to the rules of the road, maybe it isn't the best thing to be dealing with the bike. How're you going to overcome this concern? (Hint: safety courses)
3. Educate yourself about how dangerous it is to ride a bike, and what dangerous behaviors are on a bike. Show your dad that you understand the risks and know what to do to avoid them. (You're 33 times more likely to die per mile you ride a bike vs. driving a car - think about that!)

I ride a bike, and every time I'm on the street I'm concerned about my safety. You're really exposed out there, and it's awful tempting and easy to ride a lot faster than you can handle (a kid killed himself near here a year ago when he landed a wheelie badly - many motorcycle accidents are self-inflicted).

Right now, I wouldn't advise your parents to allow you to get a bike either, despite the fact that I ride one myself. Your choice of bike and your choice of reason for getting it leads me to believe you're not ready for it.

There's a ton of information out there - get smart about motorcycling and the dangers, then you'll be able to convince your dad that your approaching this as an adult who's making an adult choice, rather than as a kid who wants a new toy ;)

Added response to your extra question: You most definitely need to get insurance on a bike - make sure you know how much that's gonna cost before you choose your bike. Follow some of the links I gave you - these forums have sections for beginning riders where all of your questions are likely to have already been answered.

Answer 4

With the respect drivers give now, its very dangerious to ride a motorcycle. I have many firends with bikes, and most of them are trying to sell them because they find that drivers just don;t give a **** any more. I had a friend killed a wile ago when some asshole talking on a cell phone hit him and ran over him. She got Jail time for it. I had another frined that was side swiped and tipped it, Brand new bike that he built from the frame up, it was a complete restore. and it was a write off. he had major road rash and a few broken bones, he quickly gave up riding. Another friend of mine was riding her bike that her dad custom made for her, and she was rear ended on it and nearly broke her back when she fell backwords over the hood of the car. She had major back damage and is still having mashage and chiropractor sessions because of it. A family friend of my family's (I used to call him uncle when growing up, he's that close to the family) bought a bike when he turned 50. He's had it for about a year and he only takes it out when there is mild traffic. My uncle he bought a brand new Harly Davidson Touring and on the way home from the dealer he was sideswiped and put the bike down, bike was a write off, and he was ok, the only thing that saved his leg was that he had the fiberglass "trunk" on it and it kept the bike far enough off the ground, he gave it up that day. Anotehr friend of mine was riding hit a patch of gravel and went off the road, she broke her leg in 8 places and right now its being held together by pins, she nearly lost it, she has reduced mobility of her leg, and is still with surgeries, it may still need to be amputated because of its reduced function or somehting like that. Drivers now think that they are number one. and all my friends that ride still i'm trying to get them to give it up. I've had too many friends injured, hurt, and killed when riding. I'm siding with your dad on this one. Motorbikes are slowly dying because of driver inattention. If driver cared more, I would probably buy a bike, but at how things are going, i will never even get on one. I'm 19 and most of my friends are around the same age, this has all happened withen the last 2 years.

Answer 5

WOW ! ! kudos to all the great advice. Listen to these guys, they know what there talking about. So, here's all I can bring to the table. Relax, Breath through your nose........The best is the one you work for and pay for yourself. A brother has to earn his own wind. I ride a 01 Harley currently. I have a 20 year old son. I will NEVER buy him a motor cycle. Its an earned passage, and with that you will have a whole new respect for them. P.s.....People are freaking assholes one the road. Watch your ***......and have fun. Leave dad out of this.......its your deal.