My middle is turning 21 soon and is buying himself a sportbike (600cc to liter) as his first bike. I know. His group of friends all have bikes so he's ridden a bunch. R6, zixxers, gixxers, etc. He's been on a Fireblade and even a ZX-10RR (homologation). He told me he had the 10RR to 170 and ofc we were pissed, but he's made the money (huge long vol trade) where he doubled his account and then doubled it again the following month. He's not exaggerating about the 10RR (saw the insta360). His mom is JT on the trading and checking and the only safeguard from him buying what he wants, now. She has the 2FA for debiting the account. So nothing is imminent but I am out of the loop/have no input unless I am on board and helping him with which bike to choose, color choice, etc. ofc I pushed towards something like the ZX-4RR which was his choice before riding a stock model w/o airbox, tune and pipe. Help me persuade him to limit it to a 600cc SS or lower displacement. What's a great first bike for a kid with some experience? I am thinking the new Yammie R9 would be accessible enough yet has some power. ofc it's much more power that he should start on.
I am pushing the R9 bc it won't be available until March/April 2025. He won't ride in rain so it pushes it back to May/June. He likes the naked (MT-09) but won't buy a naked bike. He's 6'1" 140lbs. Crazy athlete/reflexes.
You won't listen to me... but if he were my kid.... anything on two wheels is a potential kiss of death. And yeah I know you can throw a 1000 things back at me.... and odds are you'd never convince him anyway, verifying the justification of your defense I just mentioned..... but imo..... figure something else out. It's too dangerous. Not on his part, but on the part of the multitude of idiots out there. 2 wheel vehicles aren't worth the risk. ~due respect.... case closed. EDIT: Buy a bad ass dirt bike instead. Let him get beat up on that. Roads are made for cars. Thick, Volvo-Like cars.
He turns 21 in Feb and he's got the means to rent where/what he wants and buy a bike. He has no interest in dirt bikes. This is the kid that does back-flips off Bonsai rock in Tahoe.
ducati scrambler husqvarna fe 350s for sport bikes suzuki gsxr and a back protector ce-level 2 (i use leatt)
I second @vanzandt . Only a few weeks ago an acquaintance of mine (46 years old, with wife and child) met his end on a motorcycle. Police report says "Lost control of the motorcycle while doing a left turn, due to the speed not adapted to the road conditions. The motorcycle skidded and the man fell off, crashing into an electricity pole." So no way my kid is going to get support from me if he wants a motorcycle.
Yeah I know. But who's smarter, you or him? They're dangerous bro. Back flips are one thing, a crotch rocket that has a tendency to build more stupid confidence each time its ridden is another. Whatever. Just let him know. One mistake, and its game over. He needs that beat into his 21 yo brain. I'd buy him a $70K beast factory new race car, before I'd let him spend $14K on one of those death machines. And you can afford it.