Young Rider + convince parents

Hi,

I'm new to bikes. I'm just turning 18 and would like to get a bike. I was thinking maybe a Ninja 500R for a first bike. What do you think about that as a first bike?

Also my parents don't want me to get a bike. They feel they are not safe. I understand that they can be dangerous if you act stupid (squid) and would like to learn safely and take the MSF Safety course. What is there that could help convince them?

Thank you!
Kevin  

Yeah, they're dangerous.  I lost a leg from a wreck with a car where the car behind me couldn't stop as quick as I could after I had to slam on my brakes because the car in front of me slammed on his.  I lucked out and they were able to reattach it, but I was walking with either crutches or a cane for 4 years.  I've had worse (i.e. more life threatening) wrecks also.  Ones with 2 liters of internal bleeding.  I read a study once that said that motorcyclists are 16 times more likely to die in a crash on a per mile basis than someone driving an automobile.  It is a VERY rare accident that would leave the motorcyclist alive and the car driver dead.  Your parents have invested 18 years of their lives in raising you and they don't want that to have gone to waste by you killing yourself on a motorcycle.  You're at the age where you *know* that you are invulnerable.  It's been many years, but I was at that age once also.  If you're lucky, you'll live through it and at the very worst, you'll come to a deep understanding of why breaking your own bones is not really all that fun.  If not, oh well, in the end Darwin always wins.  Yeah, I still ride... I probably should be like all the other geriatric bald headed old farts and ride a Harley, but I'm still riding sport bikes.  But then again, I can still remember what it feels like to break bones in accidents.  I'm quite a bit more milder in my old age than I was when I was your age.  

Yea, convincing parents to allow you to get a bike is quite the task. A couple years ago I had to do the same thing. Just make sure they understand that you will take the MSF course to get your license and you will be a safe rider.  

i was in the same boat.  You just have to keep bringin it up relentlessly.  ALSO, im not sure how much you drive your car, or do various commuting, but a good angle to consider is gas prices.  "Mom , Dad , gas is costing me a fortune, why only get 20 miles per gallon in my car when i can get 45-50 on my bike!!!"  Just make them realize your mature enough to own one.  Good luck man.

-Andrew  

I am in the same boat but i am a girl.My dad being a dad said NO.I was in love with bikes.It helped when the gas prices when up.Just be safe and be smart.I finaly got my dad to day yes and i am shopping for a bike right now.I wish u the best and its not about looking cool its about the love for riding

Good luck and Your lucky to have people that care about you safty!!

Ty  

Wear a helmet if you talk them into it at all times.  Your going to get so bored on a 500 and want more.  It's a proven fact that young people on bikes=death.  I'm 30 years old and they give me *** all the time and I have been riding for 8 years.  At your age your going to want to start wheeling eventually and doing stoppies and end up hurt.  I said the same thing I will take the course and drive carefully and this and that.  You will meet other people doing crazy *** and you will want to do it to.  Riding is an adrenaline rush like no other.  It's better than sex sometimes.  The open road the wind in your hair, people starring at you from the windows of there cages on the road.  Its awesome but extremely dangerous for a young person with little experience.  Get a dirt bike for 2 or three years and then go street.  Insuracne would prbably run you anbout 300 a month, then when you turn 30 like me it gets a lot cheaper.  The course doesn't prepare you for a gravel line in an unknown corner at 75 miles an hour.  Your ass cheeks get sore form squeezing so tight.  be careful.  

when i was your age i just brought one home one day after work. you wanna be a biker, right? rebel yell, born to be wild and all that? you know you want to!