How can I convince them to see that if you're responsible and safe about things, it'll be fine. People argue that it's not the motorcycle driver's fault, it's all the irresponsible, wreckless drivers in their cars that make driving motorcycles dangerous? I just wanna' be able to drive that bike and zig zag throughout the freeway and wear those cool helmets and jackets . . .
2007-08-20 08:21:34 · 25 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Motorcycles
I bought my bike without telling my parents about it, and when i got around to telling them they told me to get rid of it... and that's the same situation the guy i bought it from was in. Sometimes parents are going to be against the idea without even listening to reason, as is the case with me and the previous owner of my bike.
If you want to really get a bike, show your parents your interest by doing a lot of research on how you can be safe. By showing them you're not only looking for a good bike but interested in good quality safety gear (i.e. those cool helmets and jackets), you're showing them that you're taking the risks seriously, which might help win them over.
Also, something that I'd suggest to every biker... take the Beginner Rider Course (BRC) that's regulated by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF). It teaches you the basics about riding and will allow you to skip the road test part of your license test (depending on your state of course). It also teaches you a lot about how to deal with dangerous situations and teaches you important riding skills such as counter-steering.
And if you're looking to be zig-zagging through lanes on the freeway, I might suggest waiting a while until you realize what having a motorcycle really means. The reason many people say most accidents are car drivers faults is because most riders nowadays understand the dangers of having a bike and drive very safely themselves.
Good luck with your parents, hope everything turns out well.
2007-08-20 08:40:09 · answer #1 · answered by PhrozenPhoenix 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Let's fire these off one at a time, shall we?
1. You live with your parents. You're under 18. You haven't even learned to drive a CAR well enough yet, let alone a motorcycle. If your parents say no, then you're outta luck.
2. Crashes can almost always be avoided, but a new rider doesn't know how to do that yet. So in your first few years YOU are the cause of your problems. Consider that 90% of people don't see you, and the other 10% only see you because they HATE you, and you're a target every minute of every ride. But learning to be a good rider involves staying safe NO MATTER WHOSE "FAULT" IT IS!
3. You still think that a motorcycle is a toy; probably from watching StupidBikes on TV. You want to look "cool" and don't mention ANYTHING about learning to ride correctly. All you want is a piece of Butt Jewelry to boost your ego, Junior, and we don't need anymore squids on the roads.
4. Back to you being a minor: you have no idea what it costs to insure someone under 25 on a sportbike, do you? Consider that it would be more than the bike costs EVERY YEAR, and your parent's aren't going to pay $500/month for your TOY.
2007-08-21 02:12:07 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
First of all, how old are you? Wanting to "zig zag" and "wear cool helmets" doesn't sound very mature or responsible, and I'm sure your parents are getting that vibe from you too.
If you're really serious, and prepared to be a responsible rider, then ask your parents of you can sign up for a Motorcycle Safety Foundation beginner rider's course. They offer classes all over the country. Check the website for a local venue. They teach you everything in a controlled environment, on bikes that are 125-250 cc. Plus, if you pass their riding exam, you don't have to take the state test at the DMV, because the MSF exam is harder. Passing their exam also gets you discounts on your motorcycle insurance!
If you're new to riding like it sounds, I don't recommend a sport bike of any kind. Get a good used cruiser, no bigger than a 600 cc to start. I started on a 1986 Honda Rebel 250. Get a used one so it won't freak you out if you drop it, which EVERYONE does at some point. Also, bikes are pretty inexpensive if bought used person to person, not from a dealer. A good classified site is Craig's List.
2007-08-20 08:37:29 · answer #3 · answered by Heather Bree 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
You are fighting yourself with the zig zag statement, that is not safe or responsible..
I have been riding for 25+ years. Other drivers are very dangerous. I have been cut off doing over 100mph and went over the bars. I lost a lot of skin off the right side of my body (it took 8 months to grow back) and broke my back in 2 places. All I was doing was speeding (it happens a lot on a bike) and a car pulled out in front of me and I had no where to go.
I ride daily and still lock my bike up 3-4 times a week on the freeway due to another car not seeing me.
2007-08-20 10:23:53 · answer #4 · answered by mybuttstinks2001 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
So you want to get a sportsbike / Crotchrocket, and obviously become a statistic. Well I'm not against ANYONE riding motorcycles, but they should do it for a better reason than yours. First do some research. Either online or God forbid....read a book! think about this. Before a jet fighter pilot straps into his fighter, he/she must first learn to fly on a similator. Then they go in a prop driven aircraft. They never just jump into a jet and go. Like others have said, take a motorcycle safety course , buy yourself a "small" bike anda fullface helmet, and take your time getting some skills under your belt. Remember every mile travelled is one closer to your first accident. Like the old Boy Scout motto. Be Prepared. Also a good frame of mind when driving. Never Never let your guard down. Good Luck! Hope you take everyones advise to heart and keep your own beating.
2007-08-20 13:22:32 · answer #5 · answered by Claude B 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Many people will argue the fact here, but the latest statistics actually show that more motorcycle accidents are single vehicle and/or the fault of the rider. Remember, here in the U.S., we live in the land where anything bad that happens to you is someone else's fault - that is why we have so many lawyers! A lot of riders blame the cages, but if they would learn to ride by the SIDPE, they would be able to avoid most situtions that get riders in trouble. A large portion of accidents involve alcohol consumption and riding also.
You don't need all that power to enjoy riding. Get a 250cc - 350cc on road/off road bike now and learn the ropes on the trail. Learn how to manuever and how to recover from a slide. Then, in a few years when you have mastered these skills, take the MSF course, learn the SIDPE, and THEN get a sport bike. You'll live to enjoy riding a lot longer - you have your whole life ahead of you.
2007-08-20 11:31:09 · answer #6 · answered by CafeTBird 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
How old are you?
Well, sorry to burst your bubble but it's not always the other persons fault when a motorcycle crashes.
Motorcycles (or murdercycles as people call them) can crash at the hands of the driver. A rock in the road, a rut, a rainslick roadway, not paying attention as well as for all the reasons a car can crash.
The difference is that when you crash on a motorcycle, there is nothing to protect you. No airbags, no metal encasing, nothing to keep you from flying 100's of feet and coming to a hard and painful landing.
We had a crash where the driver of the motorcycle was not looking and hit the back of a car that had stopped in front of us and we went flying. Broken kneecap, road rash galore. Thank goodness it was at a low speed.
BUT...you can be hit by a bus too.
Nothing is really safe. Good luck convincing them. You may just have to wait until you are over 18 and buy it for yourself.
2007-08-20 08:30:54 · answer #7 · answered by Crunchy Sweet 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Your parents are probably right. By your own admission: "I just wanna' be able to drive that bike and zig zag throughout the freeway and wear those cool helmets and jackets " you are clearly not mature enough to handle the responsibility of operating a motorcycle. Grow up and wait until you're old enough to handle the dangers and won't need your parents' permission.
2007-08-20 08:40:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Forget it until you are on your own and self supporting. They would be hard enough to convince if you actually were responsible, but obviously you aren't. How do I know?
"I just wanna' be able to drive that bike and zig zag throughout the freeway and wear those cool helmets and jackets . . ."
That, and the fact you want to blame the car in any accident between a cage and a rider. And just for your information, it's "reckless" which is:
reckless (adj.) Heedless or careless.
reckless (adj.) Indifferent to or disregardful of consequences: a reckless driver.
And not "Wreckless" which is not even a word.
2007-08-20 08:36:35 · answer #9 · answered by oklatom 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
I wanted to say it is all based on the rider and their maturity and ability level. If you think that you want to zig zag through traffic and wear cool gear, look out. You parents may be right and you will be nothing but a squid. Take an approved safety course and respect the bike.....
2007-08-20 08:32:59 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋