QuestionMy 17 year old son just got a perfect score in his 3 day motorcyle safety/skill class and now wants to get a crotch rocket?? I have heard they are very unsafe? I worry about him on a motorcyle regardless of what he is riding. How can I relax and let him ride in peace?
Worried mother
AnswerYoung men are drawn to sport bikes (I refuse to use that "other" term") more than any other type of bike, especially if they have friends who ride them.
Even a smaller 600cc sport bike is way too much for a beginner to handle. No matter how well your son did in his BRC, he is still just a beginner, fully qualified to ride a training motorcycle in a parking lot. The skill required to successfully pilot a sport bike takes years to acquire.
Fortunately, a quick peek at insurance rates for a sport bike will probably take the wind out of his sails. My guess is $2500-4000 a year for liability insurance alone.
My recommendation is that he start on a smaller bike and ride it for at least a year or two before he starts thinking about a sport bike. A good rule of thumb is no more than 500cc if it is a 4-cylinder bike, no more than 700cc if it is a 2-cylinder bike. There are lots of decent motorcycles available, such as the Suzuki GS500 or SV650, the Kawasaki Ninja 250 or 500 or their new 650 twin, a Honda VTR250 or VF500F, or possibly a Yamaha FZR400 or even a Ducati Monster 620.
Another recommendation: buy the protective riding gear first: gloves, boots, jacket, riding pants, helmet, and eye protection, then buy a bike with the money you have left. Too many people do it the other way around. Low speed crashes are very common when learning as riders explore the limits of their skills and their bikes. Good gear can mean that these types of crashes are learning experiences rather than life-changing experiences.
I also recommend you get involved with your son's new passion and choices. Educate yourself. My most recent book, "How to Ride a Motorcycle" will give you an excellent overview of how to make decisions at this point in the riding career and what to expect over the next year or two and also what/where/when/how to practice riding in traffic. You should both read it. I know from experience and research that friends and family can have a HUGE influence in the choices riders make.
Be VERY wary if he has friends who ride similar bikes. Group mentality and peer pressure are alive and well within the motorcycling community. I cannot even begin to tell you how many riders crash trying to keep up or impress others. If he's still under your roof, you have quite a bit of control over the situation: my book's all about doing it the RIGHT way.
Pat
