Sportster for 16 year old
Honestly the bike doesn't matter, sportster, crotch rocket, honda shadow, they will all go plenty fast, if he's a smart kid and responsible, that will determine if he hurts himself on his bike, not what bike he is on.
Assuming he is smart and responsible, if he's going to be hurt, it will be by another driver. What he needs to have experinece at is driving decison making and having time to develope good defensive driving skills. In a car, if he makes a mistake in town, will most likley involve low speeds (45,35,25) and most likely he will be fine........make a mistake in town on a bike, even at low speeds and it will be critical.
Let him learn in a car.......and when it's time to ride........ride with him, bike to bike headsets.........teach him about traffic conflicts, eye contact, lane position, following distance, recogonizing drivers prone to mistakes, distracted drivers.....paying attention to road surfaces and obstacles............I respect the right on a father to make dicisions regarding his son and only want to help with a good decision....just my .02,
Assuming he is smart and responsible, if he's going to be hurt, it will be by another driver. What he needs to have experinece at is driving decison making and having time to develope good defensive driving skills. In a car, if he makes a mistake in town, will most likley involve low speeds (45,35,25) and most likely he will be fine........make a mistake in town on a bike, even at low speeds and it will be critical.
Let him learn in a car.......and when it's time to ride........ride with him, bike to bike headsets.........teach him about traffic conflicts, eye contact, lane position, following distance, recogonizing drivers prone to mistakes, distracted drivers.....paying attention to road surfaces and obstacles............I respect the right on a father to make dicisions regarding his son and only want to help with a good decision....just my .02,
Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 923
Likes: 43
From: New Hampshire
My 17 year old got his license this summer. Also no interest in Harley's, so I helped him purchase a 2013 Honda CBR250R w/ABS. Not too aggressive seating, quick but not crazy fast, low miles, practically brand new, cheap to buy ($2900) cheap to insure, cheap to ride (70mpg). He's put 1500 miles on it so far and has plenty of season left. Loves it to death. He "wants" a 600 for the pee-pee measuring contest, not because he's unhappy with the bike.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 989
Likes: 286
From: West Virginia
You wrote previously:
BTW My wife starts her riding class this Saturday and I can't help but wonder how they can teach a person who's never set on a bike how to ride and all they need to know in 2 days ?"
Yogi, i'm one of those MSF instructors and i've taught hundreds of classes for folks who've never been on a bike before; in a 20+ hour class, it's amazing to see the learning curve of folks who've never ridden. In fact, it's easier to teach a newbie than an "experienced" rider because "experienced" riders have a lot of bad habits they've acquired over the years. The MSF basic rider course is just that . . . a BASIC rider course that gives the student the techniques and basic skills to get themselves out of trouble on the road, tand the mental attitude to make good judgments on the road. The rest is up to them and to 'practice, practice, practice." And yes, sometimes I have told people that MC is not for them. Your wife will love it. You should take it with her -- as a 'refresher' .
BTW My wife starts her riding class this Saturday and I can't help but wonder how they can teach a person who's never set on a bike how to ride and all they need to know in 2 days ?"
Yogi, i'm one of those MSF instructors and i've taught hundreds of classes for folks who've never been on a bike before; in a 20+ hour class, it's amazing to see the learning curve of folks who've never ridden. In fact, it's easier to teach a newbie than an "experienced" rider because "experienced" riders have a lot of bad habits they've acquired over the years. The MSF basic rider course is just that . . . a BASIC rider course that gives the student the techniques and basic skills to get themselves out of trouble on the road, tand the mental attitude to make good judgments on the road. The rest is up to them and to 'practice, practice, practice." And yes, sometimes I have told people that MC is not for them. Your wife will love it. You should take it with her -- as a 'refresher' .
Thanks for all you do for all of us.
That's hilarious, as I was reading the post that's what I was thinking. When I was 16 I bought a neighbors wrecked cb650, nobody offered me a Harley...
Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 923
Likes: 43
From: New Hampshire
In NH, driver's ed students are required to have 40 hours of driving with a licensed adult before getting their automobile driver's license. There is no such requirement for M/C license. So I instituted a similar rule for my son of 1000mi of riding with me ( or one of my close friends ) minimum before I let him off the chain on his own or with his buddies (40 hours x 40 mph average came to 800, so I figured 1000 was a rough equivalent).
He did so with a smile on his face given the help in buying the bike. And it was glorious time together....
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,456
Likes: 2,859
From: SW FL-Jersey Shore Emigre
He's lucky to get anything! I had to buy my own Yamaha YJ2 (a 60cc two-stroke behemoth!) with my own $285 saved from paper routes, odd jobs, etc. in 1966 at age 17. And it's a good idea to keep him off a crotch rocket as long as possible-and have him take the MSF course too.
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 438
Likes: 57
Yes, He & I will take a MSF class before the bike goes on the road. I have heard nothing but good about these courses & know several experienced riders who retake these courses every couple of years.
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2007
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...I was always nervous when she left the house to ride , young riders don't have the proper paranoia and decision skills to survive the street.
I've been totalled twice on a bike (from behind) by distracted drivers , and I do have the skills to survive.
Just keep the kid off the crotch rockets as long as you can , the sportster is fast enough...
I've been totalled twice on a bike (from behind) by distracted drivers , and I do have the skills to survive.
Just keep the kid off the crotch rockets as long as you can , the sportster is fast enough...
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2007
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Likes: 57
Honestly the bike doesn't matter, sportster, crotch rocket, honda shadow, they will all go plenty fast, if he's a smart kid and responsible, that will determine if he hurts himself on his bike, not what bike he is on.
Assuming he is smart and responsible, if he's going to be hurt, it will be by another driver. What he needs to have experinece at is driving decison making and having time to develope good defensive driving skills. In a car, if he makes a mistake in town, will most likley involve low speeds (45,35,25) and most likely he will be fine........make a mistake in town on a bike, even at low speeds and it will be critical.
Let him learn in a car.......and when it's time to ride........ride with him, bike to bike headsets.........teach him about traffic conflicts, eye contact, lane position, following distance, recogonizing drivers prone to mistakes, distracted drivers.....paying attention to road surfaces and obstacles............I respect the right on a father to make decisions regarding his son and only want to help with a good decision....just my .02,
Assuming he is smart and responsible, if he's going to be hurt, it will be by another driver. What he needs to have experinece at is driving decison making and having time to develope good defensive driving skills. In a car, if he makes a mistake in town, will most likley involve low speeds (45,35,25) and most likely he will be fine........make a mistake in town on a bike, even at low speeds and it will be critical.
Let him learn in a car.......and when it's time to ride........ride with him, bike to bike headsets.........teach him about traffic conflicts, eye contact, lane position, following distance, recogonizing drivers prone to mistakes, distracted drivers.....paying attention to road surfaces and obstacles............I respect the right on a father to make decisions regarding his son and only want to help with a good decision....just my .02,
Thanks to you (and many others as well) that have provided me with well thought out replies.