Convincing parents that a motorcycle is a good idea

NoPermitNeeded wrote: The pitch has been made, all I can do now is hold my breath.

Any news?

Close but no cigar. Parents didn't go for it...

Trans_Maro wrote: The closest I've ever come to crashing was riding a 50cc scooter. I was pushing it hard in a corner (don't want to lose ANY momentum, ever. The front wheel hit a dip in the pavement and skipped sideways about 4 inches. Scared the hell out of me. Tiny contact patches suck.

I'll preface this with stating that I've never really been a fan of the whole concept of riding a motorcycle on the street. But I did own a 50cc Scooter when I was 13-14, I think I might have put 10 miles on after I fixed the loose steering bearings (that caused a death wobble that I have no clue how I recovered from without eating it) before I said "berkeley this noise I'll wait a year for the car". A 250+ CC sportbike is dangerous (beyond the base level car vs. bike hazard) because you can ride it harder/faster than is safe/possible, a 50cc moped is more dangerous because you're pretty much obligated to go 10/10ths all the time unless you live in a dense urban area where traffic never gets past 25mph.

What worked for me when I was your age was 2 motorcycles, one for me and one for dad. Did some father-son rides. My bike got passed down to both of my younger sisters and then it was father-daughter rides. Mom was an RN and didn't really agree but tolerated it.

NoPermitNeeded wrote: Close but no cigar. Parents didn't go for it...

Take what they said and consider it and how to overcome it, if possible.

It's for the best... It may seem counter intuitive, but the vehicle you really want in you teen years is a big old sedan with bench seats, or a conversion van. You can thank me later.

Thank him after your son is born 2 months before your 18th birthday.

Maybe his parents will let him get a motorcycle if they know (remember) the true dangers of really boring cars.

Threaten them with something like "...in a van, down by the river. "

Appleseed wrote: Thank him after your son is born 2 months before your 18th birthday.

My son was born 2 days after my 18th birthday. .

65 Chevelle 4-door w/bench seats.

YOU SEE!?!?!

Mom, Dad, get this boy a motorcycle or bad things will happen.

It's all about responsibility, what others have said.

As both a rider for over 25 years, and the parent of a 16 year old involved in a full court press to convince us that he 'needs' a bike, I'll put out a few late comments.

First, don't show parents, especially mom, videos of yourself doing idiotic things that could show up on the news, Jackass, or Wheels that Fail. One example: surfing an office chair off the side of a golf cart while another buddy films from his car . Guess who won't be getting a bike anytime soon?

Second, don't tell mom "I won't crash. I don't need gear." It's possible/ probable that you will crash, despite your best efforts. My wife has already had to make a 3 hour drive to pick me up after a crash. She point blank told my son he was unlikely to survive such a ride home . She's become much less tolerant of shenanigans over the years.

Play up the responsibility side - ie talk about and plan for obtaining full gear, MSF and other safety courses, etc.

One other possibility - see if you can get either mom or dad to go take the MSF course with you. I had my wife about 90% convinced to do this with my son a few months ago.

Another protip- dont lead the conversation by saying you want to buy a turbobike that's been nicknamed the widowmaker. She will not be amused.