My Son Wants to Start Riding

[EGAlvarez_imp]

As usual, great advice in this thread. It makes me look at this subject with more of an open mind.

Compared to most of you, I'm a new rider. I didn't buy my first bike until four years ago at age 50. Why did I wait, some may ask? I waited until both of my parents passed away in 2010. The reason is that I knew they would worry sick about me if I rode a motorcycle. Thinking back, I wish I had started much sooner in life.

MG, soon I will be in your shoes as I have a 16 year old son who just got his driver's permit a couple weeks ago. Him on four wheels is scary enough, and he keeps talking about getting his MC license and getting a street bike when he turns 18. I selfishly keep telling him he has to wait until his mother and me die like I did lol...

After hearing different perspectives maybe I'm wrong. My son has been riding quads and dirt bikes since he was 11 and from what I've seen he's a very good rider; he handles his YZ250 with great skill. Being a sensible kid, doesn't get in trouble and works hard in school, what more could I ask for? As long as he takes the MSF courses and agrees to ATGATT --at least until I'm too old and senile to know the difference -- I will support his decision.

Awesome, I'm glad to hear that you would give it some consideration.

Just remember that the MSF courses are the absolute, bare minimum amount of knowledge required to throw a leg over a bike and ride around town. The MSF classes are a great start, with great instructors, however nothing beats professional instruction in high performance, real world, street riding skills.

http://www.classrides.com/

http://totalcontroltraining.net/

http://www.cornerspin.com/main.html (VERY fun!)

I wouldn't let Gabriel take off in a F-22 Raptor after completing 20 hours of lessons in a Cessna 152 at the local airport