The dilemma of your own children and motorbikes
Discussion
I don't have any children at present, although myself and Lady Marylebone would like to have one soon if we can.
My parents had zero interest in bikes. Never even sat on one their whole lives. They were very generous and fun as parents when myself and my brother were kids, and when I was about 7 years old, my dad bought me a brand new 50cc Honda bike to ride around our fields on as he knew I was interested in anything with an engine.
It was quite simply the greatest toy ever, and I rode the living daylights out of it for years and years.
When I was in my 20's, I occasionally mentioned in passing that I would like a motorbike, and this was always met with a firm "No motorbikes" if mentioned to my parents.
I did pass my bike test in my late 20's, and owned a few bikes. CBR600RR, that kind of thing. After about 3 years I sold them pretty much because my dad asked me to. He said my mum would get really upset at the mere thought of me being on a bike. I didn't want my mother being upset and worried.
That was around 10 years ago.
I still have the Honda 50 and I won't ever sell it. It is priceless to me, plus it is absolutely a classic bike now.
It is still in great condition, and there are just a couple of things I want to tidy up on it, and the plan was to keep it and give it to my kid(s) just like my dad gave it to me.
But I honestly don't think I want to encourage my offspring to become interested in bikes, because no doubt I would just end up worrying endlessly like my own parents did.
I'm just waffling and thinking out loud really...
Any thoughts?
Am I being ridiculous?
My parents had zero interest in bikes. Never even sat on one their whole lives. They were very generous and fun as parents when myself and my brother were kids, and when I was about 7 years old, my dad bought me a brand new 50cc Honda bike to ride around our fields on as he knew I was interested in anything with an engine.
It was quite simply the greatest toy ever, and I rode the living daylights out of it for years and years.
When I was in my 20's, I occasionally mentioned in passing that I would like a motorbike, and this was always met with a firm "No motorbikes" if mentioned to my parents.
I did pass my bike test in my late 20's, and owned a few bikes. CBR600RR, that kind of thing. After about 3 years I sold them pretty much because my dad asked me to. He said my mum would get really upset at the mere thought of me being on a bike. I didn't want my mother being upset and worried.
That was around 10 years ago.
I still have the Honda 50 and I won't ever sell it. It is priceless to me, plus it is absolutely a classic bike now.
It is still in great condition, and there are just a couple of things I want to tidy up on it, and the plan was to keep it and give it to my kid(s) just like my dad gave it to me.
But I honestly don't think I want to encourage my offspring to become interested in bikes, because no doubt I would just end up worrying endlessly like my own parents did.
I'm just waffling and thinking out loud really...
Any thoughts?
Am I being ridiculous?
Brads67 said:
Yes you are.
Stop worrying about nowt and encourage your children to maximise their lives and experience everything, including 150mph on a flat left hander
The thing is, thats easy to say and joke about whilst I don't have any kids.Stop worrying about nowt and encourage your children to maximise their lives and experience everything, including 150mph on a flat left hander
But I certainly think I would feel differently, and certainly I think my wife would feel differently, if this was a real situation.
I passed my test in 1969, have had over thirty different motorcycles including 1000cc sports bikes, never had a problem.
My eldest son (against my advice) when he was in his early 20's decided to get a new 125cc Suzuki Van Van. Three months later a car pulled out in front of him when he was doing 30mph and smashed into his left leg. He was extremely lucky to keep his lower leg, and now has a long rod in his leg which will be inside him for the duration.
My eldest son (against my advice) when he was in his early 20's decided to get a new 125cc Suzuki Van Van. Three months later a car pulled out in front of him when he was doing 30mph and smashed into his left leg. He was extremely lucky to keep his lower leg, and now has a long rod in his leg which will be inside him for the duration.
Wacky Racer said:
I passed my test in 1969, have had over thirty different motorcycles including 1000cc sports bikes, never had a problem.
My eldest son (against my advice) when he was in his early 20's decided to get a new 125cc Suzuki Van Van. Three months later a car pulled out in front of him when he was doing 30mph and smashed into his left leg. He was extremely lucky to keep his lower leg, and now has a long rod in his leg which will be inside him for the duration.
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It's the old "Do as I say, not as I do" isn't it?My eldest son (against my advice) when he was in his early 20's decided to get a new 125cc Suzuki Van Van. Three months later a car pulled out in front of him when he was doing 30mph and smashed into his left leg. He was extremely lucky to keep his lower leg, and now has a long rod in his leg which will be inside him for the duration.
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I would happily ride bikes again, but I wouldn't want my kids doing it, or wouldn't want to encourage them to do it.
My daughter is nearly 5 so I've not had to deal with motorbikes yet.
But you can't wrap them up in cotton wool. Better to let them experience these things in a measured way before letting them off the leash.
Are you going to stop your kids cycling? Horse riding? Mountaineering? Drinking? Where are you going to draw the line? When you've drawn the line....which side do you think they'll want to be on?
But you can't wrap them up in cotton wool. Better to let them experience these things in a measured way before letting them off the leash.
Are you going to stop your kids cycling? Horse riding? Mountaineering? Drinking? Where are you going to draw the line? When you've drawn the line....which side do you think they'll want to be on?
Three sons here, all grown up now. No bike rule in our house too. Mainly from Mrs Bigmowley but I did grudgingly concur.
However the flip side of this is that everything else goes. so we have loads of quad bikes, carts, done rallying and racing, including BGT, Britcar, and GT Cup. Lots of track days and loads of very fast and silly cars.
A perfectly acceptable trade off in my view.
However the flip side of this is that everything else goes.
so we have loads of quad bikes, carts, done rallying and racing, including BGT, Britcar, and GT Cup. Lots of track days and loads of very fast and silly cars. A perfectly acceptable trade off in my view.
stang65 said:
My daughter is nearly 5 so I've not had to deal with motorbikes yet.
But you can't wrap them up in cotton wool. Better to let them experience these things in a measured way before letting them off the leash.
Are you going to stop your kids cycling? Horse riding? Mountaineering? Drinking? Where are you going to draw the line? When you've drawn the line....which side do you think they'll want to be on?
It's true that you can't wrap them in cotton wool.But you can't wrap them up in cotton wool. Better to let them experience these things in a measured way before letting them off the leash.
Are you going to stop your kids cycling? Horse riding? Mountaineering? Drinking? Where are you going to draw the line? When you've drawn the line....which side do you think they'll want to be on?
But if I encouraged my kids to use a form of transport that is statistically far more dangerous than driving a car, and they were killed or injured, I would never ever forgive myself.
Riding a bicycle, Drinking and mountaineering aren't as dangerous as riding a motorbike.
But interestingly Horse riding is more dangerous than Motorcycling.
At the age of 16 my mother told me that no one in our family would EVER own a motorcycle. It was a red rag to a bull. Her and my Dad were in the process of getting a divorce so it didn't take much manipulation to get him to fund my moped at 16. I've had a bike ever since.
My sons are 18 and 15. They grew up around my bikes. My wife and I decided there was nothing good that would come from any suggestion that bikes may be dangerous, and that our kids should not be around them. It would be nothing but hypocritical. Like all parents we worry about our kids. But that worrying includes that they may not fulfill their potential and that they'll miss out on life experiences.
My kids have pillioned with me and a friend on biking trips to France, had a PW80 to use around the garden and each have a full set of kit. I offered to get them a moped at 16 with the only condition being that they also take further training (beyond CBT), that I would pay for.
Neither want a moped, or a bike at 17! ... I'm seriously thinking of putting them up for adoption!!!
You can't (and shouldn't) stop your kids from doing things that will worry you, You'll worry about everything they do. Supporting them to enjoy life and manage risks sensibly is, I think, both more important and more realistic than trying to simply stop them doing things. Especially if it's something you do.
My sons are 18 and 15. They grew up around my bikes. My wife and I decided there was nothing good that would come from any suggestion that bikes may be dangerous, and that our kids should not be around them. It would be nothing but hypocritical. Like all parents we worry about our kids. But that worrying includes that they may not fulfill their potential and that they'll miss out on life experiences.
My kids have pillioned with me and a friend on biking trips to France, had a PW80 to use around the garden and each have a full set of kit. I offered to get them a moped at 16 with the only condition being that they also take further training (beyond CBT), that I would pay for.
Neither want a moped, or a bike at 17! ... I'm seriously thinking of putting them up for adoption!!!
You can't (and shouldn't) stop your kids from doing things that will worry you, You'll worry about everything they do. Supporting them to enjoy life and manage risks sensibly is, I think, both more important and more realistic than trying to simply stop them doing things. Especially if it's something you do.
I sold my Fireblade about 12 years ago when my kids were young for just this reason. Didn't want them growing up thinking they were cool.
As it happens, though they can both drive, they have no interest in cars or bikes and have never owned a car. They use mine occasionally, but on the whole just use their Oyster cards.
I'm quite pleased. The thought of them riding bikes fills me with dread.
As it happens, though they can both drive, they have no interest in cars or bikes and have never owned a car. They use mine occasionally, but on the whole just use their Oyster cards.
I'm quite pleased. The thought of them riding bikes fills me with dread.
My Dad had motorbikes for as long as I can remember. I started at 7 when he would take me to work on Saturdays and let me loose round the company car park on a 50cc moped. Needless to say I was hooked and spent my teens thrashing a variety of field bikes before getting into motor cross then road bikes.
Naturally my son had a KTM balance bike age 2, progressed up the range of Osets from 4 and is quite happy being a pillion on mine.
I feel I may have missed the boat to suddenly announce motorbikes are too dangerous.
Naturally my son had a KTM balance bike age 2, progressed up the range of Osets from 4 and is quite happy being a pillion on mine.
I feel I may have missed the boat to suddenly announce motorbikes are too dangerous.
Whilst I help Louis with his finances or provide in any way for him I will not see him ride a bike on the public road. Once he is is his own man financially then it’s up to him as long as he knows I will worry about him endlessly.
I fully accept and understand the “life is for living” mantra and I like to think I’m absolutely not a killjoy in most ways but I have seen simply too many people robbed of their lives/faculties to be able to countenance any other view.
I fully accept and understand the “life is for living” mantra and I like to think I’m absolutely not a killjoy in most ways but I have seen simply too many people robbed of their lives/faculties to be able to countenance any other view.
Julian Thompson said:
Whilst I help Louis with his finances or provide in any way for him I will not see him ride a bike on the public road. Once he is is his own man financially then it’s up to him as long as he knows I will worry about him endlessly.
I fully accept and understand the “life is for living” mantra and I like to think I’m absolutely not a killjoy in most ways but I have seen simply too many people robbed of their lives/faculties to be able to countenance any other view.
Sadly, I think that sums up how I feel.I fully accept and understand the “life is for living” mantra and I like to think I’m absolutely not a killjoy in most ways but I have seen simply too many people robbed of their lives/faculties to be able to countenance any other view.
I could see this creeping up on me when Little Miss H67 approached driving/riding age.
We had a small quad bike business for a couple of years when she was 10/11 and she loved riding them off road.
I bought her a car for her 17th birthday and used it to teach her to drive.
This was 6 years ago now and the question of bikes has never arisen since.
I did feel somewhat hypocritical at the time though.
We had a small quad bike business for a couple of years when she was 10/11 and she loved riding them off road.
I bought her a car for her 17th birthday and used it to teach her to drive.
This was 6 years ago now and the question of bikes has never arisen since.
I did feel somewhat hypocritical at the time though.
As BN has said, I don't think it's about encouraging your children to take up hobbies that as a parents we may disapprove of it's about supporting them in what they want to do.
I think any parent that uses they own fears or prejuicios to prevent their children from doing what they want to do are not only selfish but it's also a little bit condescending too. IMO it's as wrong as parents forcing their children to take up hobbies they don't want to do just to please themselves.
I think any parent that uses they own fears or prejuicios to prevent their children from doing what they want to do are not only selfish but it's also a little bit condescending too. IMO it's as wrong as parents forcing their children to take up hobbies they don't want to do just to please themselves.
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