New Rider - perhaps ?

T

Toadboy

Hi guys, just been hit with a bit of a dilemma and after any advice from members who may have had the same.

My son (27) has just told me today he wants to learn to ride a bike so he can get to work and back and also take the girlfriend out on weekends....

What's wrong with that you may say......problem is, he has never had 1 jot of interest in bikes and his pushbike experience as a young lad lasted about 3 minutes 48 seconds, honestly he was terrifying to behold on two wheels.

I know he will do what he wants to do as I know nothing !! but he is already talking about buying a Yami MT07 off a mate as a first bike :?

Question is ; 1. has anyone had similar experience and what, if anything, did you advise.
and 2. Does anyone have an old 250cc'ish road bike, chook chaser, anything, I could borrow/rent for a day or so to see if he really wants to go that way - would be riding in my back yard.

Cheers :|
 
I got my bike license at age 26 :D

However I did have more experience on a pushy at younger ages... rode 700km's in a week once... but I see your concern and best thing I reckon is what you're doing. Let him have a ride around the yard and see what he thinks...

Can't help on a bike unfortunately and I'd be getting him to look at something like a GS500 as a first bike, still enough power to get the girl on the back but a newer MT07 might be asking for a little trouble...
 
Hi Eric, like you say he will do what he wants to do however, showing interest in his new found lifestyle (re: Girlfriend thinks bikes are cool) and offering advice (not the bad things right) and supporting his choice could be helpful. The bike he wants and what he is allowed will be sorted by LAMS, although that doesn't always work out.

See if he is willing to do extra riding courses to gain skills and knowhow even before the mandatory hoops new riders have to jump through. You are in a pretty good position with your years of riding experience to guide and advise, not the bad things we all did when starting out on two wheels. Have a few beers with him and just talk bikes and how it all comes together, the good and sometimes not so good like wet weather, hot weather, breakdowns, the cost of decent gear and why it's important and then the perfect days when it's magic and the smile is a mile wide.

Start off with small steps and be positive, at 27 he'll understand and appreciate what you are trying to do rather than an 18 year old who knows everything, is 10 feet tall and bulletproof like most of us here would have been as we were tearing around on 1100s at 19 and may even have had a license to go with the bike, maybe. :wink:

Good luck mate,

Cheers.
 
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Also, find out if he has had ANY accidents in a car, that will give an indication if he is 'co-ordinated' enough to be able to handle a bike on the road.

For a new rider, the mates MT07 is out, best be an old chook chaser and sort out the basics of riding before something larger or expensive, even better is to bash around paddocks for a bit so the basic mechanics of riding are mastered before getting on the road.

Good luck Eric
 
Theres a wealth of training by professionals out there now, no need for the crash n learn technique we used.
Most of the rider training schools offer "try it" sessions from as little as $75, using there bikes, and they will teach anyone. no experiance nesscessary.
his GF should have a go too, cause he wont be taking pillion to R license at least 12 months away...
if MT07 is LAMs version and a bargain, grab it cause if he takes to riding a chook chaser wont cut it for long, and if not LAMS bikes are a easy to flip.
 
Hey Eric, I hope all goes well and he gets his licence on a LAMS approved bike but down here in Sydney you are not allowed to double anyone unless there have a full licence in the first twelve months. Lets see if the girlfriend has patience.
Nick
 
Mate, I think John's "try it session" is a good idea. You could test him to a degree on the scooter or would that confuse him when he tries a motor cycle....cheers Ian.
 
Had a simular experience with Lesley who at 51 after being one of the worst back seat drivers in a car and never ever been on a motorcycle, completely out of the blue announced she want to learn to ride.

I found a really experienced instructor and went from there. A few months later she successfully passed her test. Now I am bugged when are we going for a ride.......... Also gave me a reason to buy another Kat; the baby 250.
 
ThomasJ said:
Had a simular experience with Lesley who at 51 after being one of the worst back seat drivers in a car and never ever been on a motorcycle, completely out of the blue announced she want to learn to ride.

I found a really experienced instructor and went from there. A few months later she successfully passed her test. Now I am bugged when are we going for a ride.......... Also gave me a reason to buy another Kat; the baby 250.
Click to expand...

Nice! win-win situation, lovely.
 
I got my son riding trials for a while before a road bike. It is cheap and great experience. Learn balance, throttle, brake and clutch control at a safe speed with no traffic. The trials clubs are fantastic. My lad is 6'3" and 105kg but got him on a Kwaka250 Ninja for his first road bike. Again cheap, light and not too powerful.
 
Hey Eric
Looks like you got all the advice you'll need here, but it seems the young fella may not be too aware of the new rider rules. I've only had my licence for a couple of years. There is a book that the TMR Department publish on rules for new riders - he should take the time to have a squiz (there may even be an online version) so he can get his expectations set (including no passengers as an RE and no filtering). The MT07 is a no go if he wants to keep his licence - I mean there is nothing stopping someone from riding a non-LAMS bike on their RE licence but get pulled over and ....... There is a list of LAMS bikes on the TMR website so you can see what is in - rule of thumb is about 660cc is the biggest (to allow the Yamaha Tenere in which I think is the biggest capacity bike on the list) and there is a power to weight ratio also. I got a dual sport first up as it was a 650, big enough to be seen, useable in traffic and easy to sell cause lots of people want them. Also there are many models where the bike is restricted for LAMS and there is a full power version too so you can look the goods without putting yourself into the hedge - the Kawasaki ER6N and ER6NL are an example. I did the Q Ride day two day course to start and hadn't ridden a bike beforehand - we rode Honda VTR250's so no risk to life or limb but I did go sliding down the road at one stage (it was the rain storms that led to the 2011 floods). If you get through you qualify for your RE licence - if you do it and hate it you get enough time on the bike to make that call while getting good instruction at the same time.
 
All good advice here Eric. Get him a start on dirt if you can. A lot of fun for him and minimal damage to all. And avoid your despatching day stories in London mate!! This is a positive even though it is your child.

Nige
 
Thanks guys, blown away with the response and suggestions, really appreciate it.

I think the Q ride or other good quality training course is a must and will give him the first indication if he wants to continue or not.

I will have a good yarn next week and mention things like maintenance, jackets, helmets gloves etc.

He messaged me today and said he would give the MT07 a miss (it is LAMS approved believe it or not) and look at a smaller Ninja type bike. Will try to get him on a course before he races out and buys something.

Thanks again guys
 
I taught wifey to ride by-
1- pushed her around with it off
2- pushed her around with it on
3- let her click it in gear and idle around
4- use the throttle a bit
5- click it into 2nd and repeat.
Then she went and did a course and then a test.

On the other hand my brother (at about the same age as you bloke 12 years ago) did Q ride and bought a CBR1100XX Blackbird for his first bike. He still has it to this day.
So it depends on the person as to the approach that will work for him/her.
 
Thanks Ben, yep would like to see him putt around the backyard first up but with only the Harley or Black Kat to use it ain't happening. :o

He rode my little scooter about 20 yards a few years ago and fell off so..........:-|

The Q ride sounds good, especially if they supply a bike.
 
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