Born Again - should he???

[Eliminator]

Friend and neighbour has been looking with green eyes at my Eliminator and 1150GS. Now he's decided to return to biking as a "born again".

He has a full license and last rode a CB600 - the original one. Now he intends to buy a Fazer 1000 and "keep it steady for a couple of weeks".

I'm tempted to jump in with advice concerning both bike choice and training - should I????

[ultimasimon]

Eliminator said:

Friend and neighbour has been looking with green eyes at my Eliminator and 1150GS. Now he's decided to return to biking as a "born again". He has a full license and last rode a CB600 - the original one. Now he intends to buy a Fazer 1000 and "keep it steady for a couple of weeks". I'm tempted to jump in with advice concerning both bike choice and training - should I????

Catch 22 I'm afraid. If you do you'll wish you didn't and if you don't you'll wish you did, should the unthinkable happen.

Maybe a brief mention of born again biker stats might help There again at least a cbr 6 is a lot better than a superdream or similar

[Eliminator]

Guess I'll keep quiet then

[Steve_T]

I'd say yes, but with some refresher training from a suitable school to make sure he's got no dangerous habits. All you can do is highlight the risks, he's still responsible for his own actions. I'm wondering if the Fazer 1k is too much bike to return to biking with, but since I don't know this chap it's unfair to say. Whatever, part of me is thinking he might be better with a slower second hand purchase initially, where he'll lose very little on depreciation if he finds it's not what he wants and has to sell.

Steve.

[Davel]

Take him to look at some where he'll get independant advice.

That way, whatever choice he makes - it's not down to you!

[wolf1]

Let him get on with it. I am assuming he is a GROWN MAN! Who's to say he wasn't one of the most skilled riders ever before he stopped riding and for the sake of argument hasn't lost any of that skill.

Had a friend who had a seven year lay off bikes. Got back on and within 10 laps was only 5 seconds off the pace at Snetterton.

Not meaning to be rude to anyone but stop being a bunch of interfering self-righteous doo gooders.

[TheLemming]

On the other hand, saying:

"Dude, you really should get a bit of a refresher course before hopping back on after seven years"

It isnt going to hurt anyone and may save not only the guy's life but other peoples as well.

I wouldnt contenance someone hopping back into a car after seven years of not driving, let alone a bike!

[wolf1]

Saying DUDE! to Any of my mates is more likely to earn a slap that telling them they're crap on a bike

[Eliminator]

Like I said, I decided to stay out of it. But I did "mention" training and he's now keen on that. I have reservations about the choice of bike but they're my reservations and I will keep them inside.

Wolfe1 - not trying to tell him (or anyone) what to do. But being out of bikes for (more than) several years means they do move on. And anyone's abilities fall after a spell away from biking. Also, with all respect to your friend, getting aroud a track in good time is nothing like avoiding psychotic van drivers, diesel land-mines, lemming-like children (sorry, Thelemming), tractors, mud, horses (where we live), suicidal rabbits (always on a bend!) and Deer (usually on the straights!). He is a friend and neighbour. Looking at the stats for myself I think it's worth trying to avoid attending a funeral.