Well, there's a switch...
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Driftless Area
Well, there's a switch...
Some good friends of ours have a son who has gotten the itch to ride. He's a good kid and has taken the Harley safety course. Of course it was one of the crappiest weeks this year, rainy and cold. He did well on a supplied Road King, and got his permit. They have an '05 Dyna that's been sitting in the barn a couple years. I went over there last week and went through it, made sure it was in good shape, stuck a battery in it, and got it running good. He can ride if he's with someone who is licensed, and I've been watching him. Last Saturday, we got up early and went two towns over to the DMV for his test (again, overcast and cold - no windshield). He never complained (much). I hung back when he took the test, but could see him from by the door. He did well and passed. As we got ready to leave, I congratulated him, and then grabbed him by the collar and said "Now...always ride careful, and don't ever make me hide from your mother because I was the one who brought you here." That was the first thing he told his folks when he got home.
Who would've thought? I'm a good influence.
Who would've thought? I'm a good influence.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2015
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From: New York
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 9,980
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From: Michigan
Ya did the best ya could
Two of the (several) things that I enjoy are motorcycles and guns but I would NEVER encourage or coax anyone to guy either. That's a personal decision and if either one is not respected and handled very carefully bad things WILL happen!
I remember years ago is was stated that the FIRST 600 MILES that a person rides a motorcycle are the most dangerous ones that they will ever ride.
I don't know for sure that it was true then OR if it is now but I will tell you that looking back to when I started riding, and he fact that I rode in the city, it was probably true for me
Years ago ('95 I believe) when my wife started riding, it took quite a while before I accepted the fact that all I could do was to allow her to learn at her own pace.
Through the (25 or so) years she rode with me I believe that gave her a "heads up" over a person that had never been on a bike (as a passenger) as I took her through mountains, forests, deserts, rain, sleet, hail, hot and cold and even "dropped" her once when a plug popped out of my rear tire!
She's "turned over" a few times (who hasn't) but she's never really dropped any of her bikes and I'm so thankful for that.
My advice to any new rider is to ride as much as possible with an experienced rider and follow their lead, but ride at a speed that YOU feel comfortable. It's much better to be slow than it is to be dead.
Two of the (several) things that I enjoy are motorcycles and guns but I would NEVER encourage or coax anyone to guy either. That's a personal decision and if either one is not respected and handled very carefully bad things WILL happen!
I remember years ago is was stated that the FIRST 600 MILES that a person rides a motorcycle are the most dangerous ones that they will ever ride.
I don't know for sure that it was true then OR if it is now but I will tell you that looking back to when I started riding, and he fact that I rode in the city, it was probably true for me
Years ago ('95 I believe) when my wife started riding, it took quite a while before I accepted the fact that all I could do was to allow her to learn at her own pace.
Through the (25 or so) years she rode with me I believe that gave her a "heads up" over a person that had never been on a bike (as a passenger) as I took her through mountains, forests, deserts, rain, sleet, hail, hot and cold and even "dropped" her once when a plug popped out of my rear tire!
She's "turned over" a few times (who hasn't) but she's never really dropped any of her bikes and I'm so thankful for that.
My advice to any new rider is to ride as much as possible with an experienced rider and follow their lead, but ride at a speed that YOU feel comfortable. It's much better to be slow than it is to be dead.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,341
Likes: 178
From: NY
Great of you to take interest in starting a youth out riding safely. Although the MSF courses are great as well I don't know how the DMV takes at face value that a passing grade from a two day course makes a person ready for the road.
Last edited by Johnnyh14; May 17, 2016 at 05:50 PM.
