I want to get a motorcycle?

Question

I really want to get a GSXR 600 for my first bike. It will be easy to really learn on, get to work and school easily on, and save me a ton on gas. Mom has this whole "you arent going to be safe" mentality. How can i convince her that i will be safe on a motorcycle to the best of my ability. OH by the way, im not some 17 year old child, im turning 21 in december.

Answer 1

What's up with Wordnerd and his crusade against steering dampers? Besides the fact that the guy has no clue what he's talking about, it's just dumb advice.

Seriously?

There are probably better choices for a first bike but most people skip that advice anyway.  No motorcyclist with any common sense will tell you that you will be safe when you ride, so there is no way to convince your mom that either. You won't be safe. It's just the nature of motorcycles. They are dangerous... and FUN!

But really?

Give old Momz a hug and tell her the cord was cut a long time ago. It's her job to worry anyway. It's your job to get out there and enjoy life.

Get a helmet, gloves and a good jacket. Take the class and get your license. Don't get in over your head until you know what you are doing. And when you do get in over your head? You will be glad you were wearing the gear.

Then?

Go out there and have fun. I have over 20 years of riding and wrenching. If I had listened to my momz I would have taken up knitting instead.

Nothing wrong with a nice set of pot-holders if that's what you're into....

Welcome to the sport!  

Answer 2

sports bikes like this can be expensive when your a learner 1 little slip(and let me tell you they happen) and you have a paint job issue,they are also extremely fast!even for a 21 year old with experience.try a smaller trail bike 1st it can fall off the stand and not cost 400 dollars which any fully faired bike will.they are also very forgiving to ride i can think of plenty of other reasons but i wont bore you

Answer 3

h**l with asking for permission. Do a package check and go buy it. Lots of things are not really safe. So what?

Answer 4

you are 21.just get it then,you are an adult.

Answer 5

You are an adult so you can get whatever you want. If you want a GSX/R 600 get a used one. 97 to 2003 models. You'll be fine. Take an MSF course and get plenty of practice. it is dangerous so don't be showing off and stunting.

Answer 6

well, it's your life now you'r eover 18... you don't have to have her approval.. all you can do is get it and come back a couple of years later like 'what happened to it was dangerous, i haven't been hurt once yet... if it was so dangerous i should be dead by now!'

motorcycles are dangerous... in the hands of idiots and those who are careless or neglegent of saftey... there is always going to be a certain danger no matter what precaution you take, but that's present with everything in life... there is not one thing in this world that can't become dangerous.... in extremes even oxygen or drinking too much water can kill us.. and both are essiental to our lives. a cute little baby bunny could have rabies, bite you and kill you... feathers could leak out of a feather pillow and clog your throat and kill you in your sleep... nothing is absolutely safe... there is always and will always be danger...

judging that danger is what we need to do (you have to move on and accept there is danger and just judge the level of danger) and in properly trained hands, and someone with a saftey/defensive mentality can easily avoid accidents longer then even the 'average' driver of a car... in my car i didn't care so much about my saftey cuz i have a steel cage around me... but i drive extremely diffrently on my bike... i won't go around blind corners... if i can't verify there is a car around that corner, i don't just ride past and ignore it, i come to a stop or near stop and make SURE there isn't a car i'm just not seeing yet... i don't have the same metal cage luxury in a car.... if i get in a wreck my fault or not... 9 times outta 10 i'm gonna be the one in serious pain while the other person probably just pissed their pants and that's the end of it for them.

Answer 7

Statistically, young males on sports bikes are 4 times as likely to die in a crash over other bikers. But that's not why she's right. No matter how old you are or what motorcycle you ride, it's not as safe or practical as driving a car.

Any family that cares about you will pester you about it, now and then. They will not share your enjoyment of riding, but they WILL share the suffering if you get hurt. So if you want an endorsement from her, you may be in for a long wait. You have to decide for yourself whether riding a motorycle is worth it, because the risk is REAL.

I would never encourage any of my family to ride a motorcycle. I would never endorse their choice or tell them I think they could handle it. Heck, if I had kids and they wanted to ride a motorcycle, I'd probably quit riding if it would stop them.

There's no way around it. Riding a motorcycle is one of the most selfish pleasures in the world. Even if you're single and have no dependents, think about your mother if you were to be maimed. Do you think you can tell her to leave you in the gutter, because it was your own choice? She will be the one changing your diapers and feeding you through a tube while she slowly shrivels away with the grief and sadness for all the things she hoped for your future that will never happen. And the ONLY justification for doing it is "I like to ride." Saving gas is not a justification. A small car gets as good gas mileage as a 600cc sport bike.

*side note: any motorcycle with a conventional steering damper wouldn't be my choice for a first bike. That includes all GSXR's from the last 10 years or so. Happy riding. :)

** my "crusade" is just a preference. I probably have had a bad experience... the damper was probably overly tight. I'd like to give it another try one day. But I don't ride hard enough to really need one. I've only ever experienced violent headshake, once. It was scary... but riding around making turns at <15 mph happens several times a day.

Answer 8

YO im 14 , but i lvoe sport bikes, and i have lots of knowledge on them. lets me tell you if you have never rode a sportbike vefore of a dritbike or any other motorcycle dotn start out on a 600. Your best choice would be the new 2008 kawasaki ninja 250 its great for begginers. if u do have expirence good luck! they are fast machines and a blast to ride. Just be careful tkae the msf safety classes and wear protective gear.  and btw u are 21 its your chooice!   oh and also u'll be getting some good cpmliments on a gsxr 600! i love the gixxers my favorite when im ur age im gunan get a sportibke too.! good luck and be safe on the road.