First time motorcycle rider blues.?

Question

Hi all, I'm 17 years old and I've really been interested in getting a motorcycle. The problem Is my parents won't have anything to do with it. I'm going to have to pay everything on my own If I get one. ( They have said If I get a car instead they will help on payments....*Sigh*) I understand where they are coming from though.

What I'm asking is how hard will it be to finance it? Also what will the insurance be like with a clean driving record.

I have been looking at this Kawasaki model, and it will be the one I purchase if I do end up getting one.

http://kawasaki.com/Products/Detail.aspx?id=160

Answer 1

First off, excellent choice for a first bike. It shows that you have applied some common sense to the situation.

However, there are some things to be considered here:
1. road experience - at 17, you really cannot have adequate road experience - the average teenager had 2-3 accidents between the ages of 16-20. You'd much rather have those accidents with a metal cage around you, trust me.

2.weather - what are you going to do when it rains/snows? Believe me, that cute young lady you are envisioning on the back of your bike won't want to be there on bad weather days, so you will need an alternative.

3. credit - you don't have any, so you are going to have a tough time getting financing without a co-signer.

I think you would be much wiser buying an inexpensive used car (basic transportation) for right now. That way in a year or so, you can have saved up the deposit for your new bike and you can keep the car around for inclement weather days.

A couple of tips for when you get your bike:

Helmet - you want to get a helmet that is rated for both the U.S. (DOT approved) and Europe (E.C.E. approved). They test for different things and by getting an ECE approved helmet you are getting superior protection.

Insurance - make sure you check with your parents insurance company, progressive insurance and geico insurance.

Safety - take a MSF safety course (ask your dealer as to where) - this may save your life and definitely should get you an insurance discount.

Good luck and ride safe!

Answer 2

You cannot finance it- you're not an adult. Even if you were 18, without a good credit history nobody will give you financing anyway (unless it's stupid high, like 28%).

Here's the other thing: insurance for a teenage male will be HIGHER than your motorcycle payments. Probably close to double, no joke!

If you can somehow scrape together enough money to buy the bike outright by the time you're 18, you will be "bike poor", as in every dime you make will go towards paying for your toy.

You do at least have the right idea for a first bike, and if you take an MSF course it will help with your insurance premiums. You should also budget at least $500 MORE for full gear, including helmet, jacket, boots, gloves and pants. You WILL go down, so decide what you want to crash in.

I'm sure your parents' argument is that "Motorcycles are dangerous! They're called Donor Cycles!" this is horsesh*t. Motorcycles are not dangerous, it's the rider that tells them what to do. They are an inanimate object, and that argument is like saying that computers are dangerous!

Answer 3

At 17 you won't be able to get financing without an adult to co-sign for you so I say start saving your money. Secondly buy something used and cheap to get you by on and to learn on while you are saving your money. After you have learned to ride and have showed your parents that you are smart and are still alive maybe they'll change their mind.
When I turned 18 my parents said the same thing. I had been riding for 6 years already and had paid for all of my bikes myself up to that point anyway (plus the bikes were much cheaper back then) When they saw that I was going to do it one way or the other they gave in.. If they hadn't helped I would have bought the new one anyway it just would have taken a little longer. Good choice by the way.

I was going to suggest what "runswithscissors" suggested but decided to be an adult. Gosh that was hard.

Answer 4

I had the same problem. I wanted a crotch rocket but my parents said if I bought one I had to move out of their house. I've got a bike now, but not a crotch rocket because I've seen too many nasty accidents as a result of kids being dumb on them. I have a kawasaki vulcan and it's just as fast but it's not a crotch rocket. Insurance on a crotch rocket is much higher than it is on a cruiser. My bike is a 96 and I pay 300 a year for full coverage. Also, you are 17...to finance a bike you need good credit. Unless you have had a credit card or other monthly bill before you'd probably need a cosigner. In fact, I think since you are 17 most places would require someone over 18 to sign a finance deal with you since you're not legal yet. (Just something else to think about)

Also, I think your parents are right....get a car. Bikes aren't fun when it is raining, snowing, too cold or too hot. A car is more practical and at 17 you need experience driving on 4 wheels before you try it on 2.

I'm with you though because the same thing happened to me, just be patient, wait a while, and maybe get a job and start saving for your bike and get it in a year or so.

Good luck.

Answer 5

Don't be down. Tons of guys want a motorcycle, especially young guys.
I bet your folks know there's no way you would be able to get a bike on your own. Financed, I mean. Nobody would, and I believe, since you're under 18, there's no way that they could.
You could take the money for a motorcycle and get yourself a pretty nice first car, though. Especially if your folks are willing to help you out.
Plus, the motorcycle insurance is really expensive! And don't forget about maintenance on a bike is more often and more expensive than a car.
At your age, if you do nothing more than think of "bang for your buck", you'll get a lot more out of a solid running, fairly cool car.

Answer 6

Hi,

my Mom said the same thing when I decided to get a motorcycle at 17. She even went so far as to pay for all my driving lessons AND buy me a car. After I wrote the car off 6 months on (pure accident I loved that car) I bought a motorbike and paid for my own bike lessons with the money I got from selling the good parts off the wrecked car. You might want to have a look at a great fourm for Kawasaki owners. You'll get some good advice about a good first bike on there and some great tech tips.

Answer 7

First of all, your going to pay a little higher interest on a bike loan, verses a car loan. Insurance is higher too because theres alot more risk involved while riding a motorcycle. If this Kawasaki is a sport bike, you will be paying alot more. Another thing to remember is, it's not enjoyable when riding in the cold, or the rain, and I could never imagine riding my bike during the winter. If you live in the desert, get the bike, if you live anywhere else, get the car first then start saving up for your bike. Bikes are alot of fun, but I could never live without my car, you will find this out soon enough.

Answer 8

#1 They are not always the color Black #2 Leather has been a known source of warmth from cold weather, and it protects the skin should a rider go down on his motorcycle. #3 Other Jackets that are NOT made of Leather may keep a rider warm, but may not act as a second layer of skin like leather does. Road rash is not pretty.

Answer 9

first the financing for a motorcycle at your age is next to impossible you dont have the credit history to do it without a co-signer and the notes will be out of sight then add insurance payments 2000.00 per year would not be hard to get at you age hell im a couple centuries older than you and my new hd is around 1200.00 per year. you are going to have to do it the way i did, start with a smaller/older bike that you can pay cash for. There is alot of responciblity to you ridin you have to be responcible for yourself and everyone around you cause the cagers (cars) will try to kill you as soon as you put your leg on the bike. If you take a AMA riders course and KNOW not Think you are ready go for it. Ride extra extra extra careful for the first year thats when you are more than 50? times more likely to bite it. Remember everyone else (cars bikes trucks) are TRYING to kill you good luck

Answer 10

You're 17. No bank will lend you money because you can't sign a contract as a minor. Motorcycles are considered luxury items and the lending criteria is strict and the interest will be higher than on a car.