If you were 16, what would affect your behavior on a motorcycle most?

Question

someone here asked about buying their kid a hayabusa...

while I KNOW it isn't an ideal bike to learn on, many of you returned with "buy him a smaller bike"...

now while I understand your intentions, I don't think the desired results will happen.

I know when I had a bike I didn't care about, I took more chances, was more reckless, and paid less attention.

When I bought my 'Bird, however... I slowed down some, paid more attention, and was overall more careful (because I didn't want anything to happen to my bike)

So logically, which is more likely to affect a 16 yr old's speed/safety?

the limit of the bike they care nothing for (600's will still do around 150)...?

or their protectiveness of something they cherish...?

thoughts, ideas?

Answer 1

I bought my 650 Bonneville when I was just short of 16.  I worked and saved for three years for my dad who didn't pay squat to get it.   It was my prized possession, I cleaned and polished it every day.  And I also pushed the envelope at every opportunity, if it were a busa I have no doubt I would not have survived.

Sorry you might be the exception, but I think the majority of 16 year olds who think a busa is what they gotta have for a first bike are going to go out and be hammerheads.  Just look around, we see that kind of stuff every day.

Answer 2

it's impossible to say how any one person will respond to a given scenario, but in general, giving a 16 year a bike like a 'busa is a bad idea- especially if he's just learning.

Your comment about being more cautious on something he cares about is accurate, but -I feel- the wrong way to go about it. Letting the kid buy his own bike, or at least pay for a large portion, will build the bond with the bike much more than having an expensive bike that was bought for him.

Also, even if the kid is totally mature and responsible, he will have friends, and those friends will goad him into doing things he probably would not do otherwise.

Answer 3

this is a hard one to answer.I have kid that age. Kids that age think they can do anything and not be hurt. In their minds they are ten feet tall and bullet proof. so safety is not a big deal to them.

Next is them more you give them the more they take, making them think that they can treat stuff how ever they want and they will just get a new one.

Next yr my oldest will be sixteen and he will be wanting to start riding a bike and I will let him. but here is my plan

1. MSF class

2. he will rebuild and spend his money on fixing it up

3. I will show him the wost pics of crashes i can find

4. he will only ride when I am with him.

5. I will set the stander for safe riding and if he fails to comply he wont ride for a long time.

Mind you he will be buying my old 883 and it is a little more bike than I think he needs but I still have not counted out the fact i may let him buy  a old 250 to start

Answer 4

At 16 most of us were young, dumb, and full of "you know"!

The immaturity and inability to make clear decisions with adrenaline pumping overdrive makes it a bad choice. he'd want to show off, go fast, and most likely stunt.

When i was 16, a pair of Jordans on your feet and a few slick words, was all you needed to pull the farmer's daughter!

Answer 5

At 16 the main things I can think of are, their thoughts of being able to do anything, no fear, lack of fine motor skills, especially in males, that is not a put down, it is a fact, lack of experience, other drivers ticking them off, inability to distinguish between right and wrong when their emotions are put to the test, wither by peers in a form of a challenge or dare or by idiots that try to make them mad.

At 16, they are still kids and that is what they are supposed to be, but to buy them something so powerful without them first proving they have the maturity is poor decision making on the parents part.

Answer 6

I learned to ride on the old KZ900. In it's day, it was the fastest thing out there.

Answer 7

mind is not fully developed, thinking life is forever, invincible ... it's just a bike....lack of respect of 2 wheels...just want speed not thinking consequences, not wearing gears just b/c it's hot or "cool"....

Answer 8

They might care for the bike, but have no concept of their own mortality.  If they are fit enough to ride a motorcycle, then chances are they have never had anything worse than a broken arm as a kid, and they lived through it.

Tell them about months of hospitals, wire brushes, skin grafts, morphine, anaphylactic shock, graft vacuums, skin stretching, physical therapy, sleep deprivation, depression, and searing pain the entire time, and it simply doesn't register.  It CAN'T happen to them, and they don't get that a mistake can and will put them in exactly that position in a heartbeat, and there is NO reset button.

In short, they don't cherish their own skin, and believe that no matter what happens they'll bounce back and be fine, just like always.  But paralysis wards filled with teens and 20-somethings who will never walk, never run, never have s*x, never c**p without an e***a and a wet-nurse, and never breathe without a machine say otherwise.  These kids would go back and change things if they could, but they blew their ONE CHANCE to stay safe.

When 90% of the morons that post here can't type in grammatically correct sentences, I see no reason to believe in them learning something far more vital to their personal safety on a motorcycle.

That's why kids and big bikes do not mix.

Answer 9

I think the kid asked the question No parent in their right mind would even condider buying a 16 yr old that bike OR She has no idea what he was asking for

Answer 10

i've ridden since about 6, my 1st wreck was just now at 33.  age doesn't matter.... it's just circumstances.  a younger guy is more likely to open himself up to bad circumstances though

Answer 11

I'm 19, the average male's peak testosterone level is at age 21.

I don't act like a r****d when I'm on a bike. I did the first time I got on a 600, just to test out 1st-4th gears. But I wasn't reckless, I found an abandonded road and did it. I remember that the 600 was the fastest thing ever...until I threw my leg over a R1 this year.

Then again I raced supermoto so maybe I released that testosterone on the track...

If I was a parent I would get the teenager the 250cc bike. But, I would let him take out my bike, whether it be a 1000cc or Hayabusa, just so he or she could scare the h**l outta him/herself, after they got experience on the 250cc. Then they could have a 600cc.

Answer 12

I was 28 before I got my first bike and took the State safty course. I came out it with a healthy knowledge and respect for bikes. If I had a bike when I was 16, I would be long since dead. We know, just about every bike out there is fast. Even a Ninja 250 will scoot along with a small-ish teenager on it. I would start with a small cruiser. I say that because it's hard to get stupid on something with a longer wheelbase. I don't think the expensive argument would work most of the time. Some kids just don't respect their property until they have to pay for it themselves.

Answer 13

Speed, idiots in cars, traffic, and general stupidity will influence any decision.

Unfortunately, you usually only get one chance to make a bad decision then you are dead.

Answer 14

i dont think a 16 year old should be allowed to get a street bike.  16 year olds are hotheaded, stubborn, and they think they know everything.  its bad enough they let us on the road at 16.  i know that i was a horrible driver at 16.  at 16 your over the law.  you just dont care about personal saftey or about the rules of the road.  we did some really really stupid **** in our cars when i was in high school and i dont think that has changed in the last 4 years.  now give that same 16 year old a rocket on wheels....yeah right.  motorcycles are dangerous even with the most experienced riders in the best conditions at moderate speeds.  i just watched a friend of  mine crash his bike in front of my house doing 30mph.  his bike went end over end and he got lucky.  he didnt break any bones but still ended up with a brain contussion.  good thing he had enough sense to have on a helmet.  and he has been riding for years.  i wouldnt wanna share the road with a 16 year old on a motorcycle.

Answer 15

This is a bad question, the 16 year old whether it is you, your kid, or someone elses kid, shouldnt care about the bike. They should care for their own safety. Bikes are expendable, you can get another one, But you can not get another arm, leg brain or life.......ride2die.com, think about it

Answer 16

I think you make a good point, but in most cases a 16 year old won't be paying for the bike so I'm not sure if he would really be more careful with it in that case. But a kid that age can get in just as much trouble with a 600 sport bike as well.

Answer 17

Testosterone (overdose)

Answer 18

The question I think I'm hearing is "What is the safest tactic to  let my 16yo have a motorcycle and have him/her ride it responsibly?".    My answer to that is make him/her buy it, insure it and maintain it with earned money.  That will pretty much guarantee s/he will get a bike that will give plenty of riding experience and learning but also be less inherently tempting to misbehave on.  An older, well used and sunbleached KLR250 or XT225 is not going to silently scream to the kid "turn it on, wind it up, blow it out!".  And successful completion of and MSF class (mandatory for under 21,  at least here in California) will have already taught proper techniques, skills and attitude.