Your first bike...
Discussion
So I bought my son his first motorcycle for his 10 year milestone… after weeks (more like months perhaps almost a year) of deliberation I didn’t buy the Honda CRF70 for 2k like we had planned but a copy in form of Stomp 110 4 speed semi auto, which has been modelled directly off of the Honda item. At £600 its pretty darned good all in all and will be passed down from child to child in our family. I hope we can keep on top of the maintenance.
My wife is less than impressed as I failed to run the purchase past her.. however my son and I are steadily mounting up the list of misdemeanours.
Because it was belting it down outside we decided to fire the bike up in the house with the back door open. Thankfully this bike a nice quiet exhaust but still the manic grins we had while my son is gently blipping the throttle like an old race bike.
We further cemented our infractions by riding the bike in the garden. Luckily we have a bit of space and so my son embarked on a tour of the garden. I gave him a pep talk on the fact he will fall over and things will go wrong. Its ok… the shiny bike won’t be very shiny for much longer, but that what washing and WD40 are for.
Throttle control too a bit of time to get used to. We had a few slips when he under too a few wheel spins and sideways drifts… (I hope the lawn recovers). The worst thing was the bike got away from him and he accelerated through the garden furniture , through the rose bush and into the fence… popping it out into the neighbors garden! Wife has yet to see the damage. No damage to the neighbours side as it was thankfully my fence.
A few tears and cut finger from the thorns but everyone survived.
Not sure how I am going to explain all of this… however I could see the memories of his first motorcycle excursion burning into his long term memory. It was a joy.
Something special about your first bike… I hope some of you have got better stories to make me feel better.
My wife is less than impressed as I failed to run the purchase past her.. however my son and I are steadily mounting up the list of misdemeanours.
Because it was belting it down outside we decided to fire the bike up in the house with the back door open. Thankfully this bike a nice quiet exhaust but still the manic grins we had while my son is gently blipping the throttle like an old race bike.
We further cemented our infractions by riding the bike in the garden. Luckily we have a bit of space and so my son embarked on a tour of the garden. I gave him a pep talk on the fact he will fall over and things will go wrong. Its ok… the shiny bike won’t be very shiny for much longer, but that what washing and WD40 are for.
Throttle control too a bit of time to get used to. We had a few slips when he under too a few wheel spins and sideways drifts… (I hope the lawn recovers). The worst thing was the bike got away from him and he accelerated through the garden furniture , through the rose bush and into the fence… popping it out into the neighbors garden! Wife has yet to see the damage. No damage to the neighbours side as it was thankfully my fence.
A few tears and cut finger from the thorns but everyone survived.
Not sure how I am going to explain all of this… however I could see the memories of his first motorcycle excursion burning into his long term memory. It was a joy.
Something special about your first bike… I hope some of you have got better stories to make me feel better.

Renn Sport said:
Not sure how I am going to explain all of this… however I could see the memories of his first motorcycle excursion burning into his long term memory. It was a joy.
Once the fence has been mended and the wife calmed down, that will be the bit that'll stay with both of you forever.I have mate coming tonight so we can mend the fence panel under the cover of darkness.
Motorbikes have bought a lot of joy and therapy to me personally (hard upbringing) but its still giving as I can see its brought my son closer to me as we share this too.
My 5 and 3 year old daughters can't wait. My 5 year old proclaiming that she'll be having that bike soon. lol..
lool... I do remember that feeling of when you open the throttle too much but don't have the presence of mind to let go, so the bike gets away from you?! The bloody panic!
LOL
Motorbikes have bought a lot of joy and therapy to me personally (hard upbringing) but its still giving as I can see its brought my son closer to me as we share this too.
My 5 and 3 year old daughters can't wait. My 5 year old proclaiming that she'll be having that bike soon. lol..
lool... I do remember that feeling of when you open the throttle too much but don't have the presence of mind to let go, so the bike gets away from you?! The bloody panic!
LOLA great story - dredged up a memory of one of my early rides many years ago with my old man letting me ride his Honda 50 in the back garden......as his and my confidence in my ability grew I was allowed to do a U turn at the end of the garden. I turned the throttle the wrong way (in those day they weren't spring loaded to return to a closed throttle), contact with a tree removed my hand from the throttle and front brake, and my foot from the back brake leaving me accelerating towards the garden shed and I was only halted when the brake lever got caught in between a couple of planks towards the back and ripped the back of the shed clean off. Had I not hit the shed I too may well have gone through the fence......or into a boat trailer stored behind the shed
My father was naturally upset about the visible damage to his shed and potential damage to the bike........my mother who was watching from the kitchen window was much more concerned about my well being!
I was about 7 or 8 at the time and having spent the afternoon repairing the shed, didn't ride motorbike again until 12......but have been on one ever since.
I hope you both survive the wrath to come and your kid is able to get straight back in the saddle......the memories will indeed last a long time - about 40 years and counting in my case
My father was naturally upset about the visible damage to his shed and potential damage to the bike........my mother who was watching from the kitchen window was much more concerned about my well being!
I was about 7 or 8 at the time and having spent the afternoon repairing the shed, didn't ride motorbike again until 12......but have been on one ever since.
I hope you both survive the wrath to come and your kid is able to get straight back in the saddle......the memories will indeed last a long time - about 40 years and counting in my case
Edited by Huffy on Monday 13th November 14:46
Great story!
My first bike was a KX100 at the age of 13, I used inheritance of a next door neighbour, to whom I used to do her weekly shop and help out with odd jobs around the house. I spent many weekends riding up and down the garden using mums plant pots and garden ordainments as a slalom course.
@ 16 I took my moped licence and used that as a method of transport until I could drive - the winter was always unpleasant, but it taught me so much about road and space awareness.
Earlier this year, at 24 y/o I took my DAS and bought my first 'proper' bike, a K8 GSXR 1000 and I'm not looking back, totally hooked by the bike bug!
My first bike was a KX100 at the age of 13, I used inheritance of a next door neighbour, to whom I used to do her weekly shop and help out with odd jobs around the house. I spent many weekends riding up and down the garden using mums plant pots and garden ordainments as a slalom course.
@ 16 I took my moped licence and used that as a method of transport until I could drive - the winter was always unpleasant, but it taught me so much about road and space awareness.
Earlier this year, at 24 y/o I took my DAS and bought my first 'proper' bike, a K8 GSXR 1000 and I'm not looking back, totally hooked by the bike bug!
Edited by mattwade24 on Monday 13th November 15:16
Renn Sport said:
Thanks for sharing Huffy... that actually made me feel better.
What an adventure!
No problem - its a great age for making memories and I imagine it will be something you will both laugh at in years to come - we still do. Both my kids are itching to get bikes - they are 8 and 4 - my son has already been for a little run on the back of mine (private road after I had washed it this summer) - he loved it (wife not so much!!). My daughter is itching for her turn but couldn't reach the pegs last time I tried.What an adventure!

mattwade24 said:
Great story!
My first bike was a KX100 at the age of 13, I used inheritance of a next door neighbour, to whom I used to do her weekly shop and help out with odd jobs around the house. I spent many weekends riding up and down the garden using mums plant pots and garden ordainments as a slalom course.
@ 16 I took my moped licence and used that as a method of transport until I could drive - the winter was always unpleasant, but it taught me so much about road and space awareness.
Earlier this year, at 24 y/o I took my DAS and bought my first 'proper' bike, a K8 GSXR 1000 and I'm not looking back, totally hooked by the bike bug!
Wow straight to the 1000 huh?! Nice.My first bike was a KX100 at the age of 13, I used inheritance of a next door neighbour, to whom I used to do her weekly shop and help out with odd jobs around the house. I spent many weekends riding up and down the garden using mums plant pots and garden ordainments as a slalom course.
@ 16 I took my moped licence and used that as a method of transport until I could drive - the winter was always unpleasant, but it taught me so much about road and space awareness.
Earlier this year, at 24 y/o I took my DAS and bought my first 'proper' bike, a K8 GSXR 1000 and I'm not looking back, totally hooked by the bike bug!
Edited by mattwade24 on Monday 13th November 15:16
@Huffy - I take my boy on the back of my bike. He liked the Z1000SX we used to have but he finds the new Africa Twin super comfy. When he was 7 I used on of these harnesses.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/172803817293?chn=ps&d...
It ties you together and tethers you together, which gives a lot of confidence to little ones. I am also going to eventually get a top box and seat pad he can rest against.
Renn Sport said:
mattwade24 said:
Great story!
My first bike was a KX100 at the age of 13, I used inheritance of a next door neighbour, to whom I used to do her weekly shop and help out with odd jobs around the house. I spent many weekends riding up and down the garden using mums plant pots and garden ordainments as a slalom course.
@ 16 I took my moped licence and used that as a method of transport until I could drive - the winter was always unpleasant, but it taught me so much about road and space awareness.
Earlier this year, at 24 y/o I took my DAS and bought my first 'proper' bike, a K8 GSXR 1000 and I'm not looking back, totally hooked by the bike bug!
Wow straight to the 1000 huh?! Nice.My first bike was a KX100 at the age of 13, I used inheritance of a next door neighbour, to whom I used to do her weekly shop and help out with odd jobs around the house. I spent many weekends riding up and down the garden using mums plant pots and garden ordainments as a slalom course.
@ 16 I took my moped licence and used that as a method of transport until I could drive - the winter was always unpleasant, but it taught me so much about road and space awareness.
Earlier this year, at 24 y/o I took my DAS and bought my first 'proper' bike, a K8 GSXR 1000 and I'm not looking back, totally hooked by the bike bug!
Edited by mattwade24 on Monday 13th November 15:16
@Huffy - I take my boy on the back of my bike. He liked the Z1000SX we used to have but he finds the new Africa Twin super comfy. When he was 7 I used on of these harnesses.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/172803817293?chn=ps&d...
It ties you together and tethers you together, which gives a lot of confidence to little ones. I am also going to eventually get a top box and seat pad he can rest against.
Can you not see a problem having a crash with a child tied to your back?
SAS Tom said:
I can’t believe that’s actually thing. People have asked me for this and I thought they were mental. It’s even more mental that it’s actually been made!
Can you not see a problem having a crash with a child tied to your back?
Having any crash with a kid is unthinkable... however the tether is fastened with plastic clips and they would probably snap off in a big off. Can you not see a problem having a crash with a child tied to your back?
End of the day we ride flipping motorbikes and taking a kid on the back is an added risk... but you choose your risk. I have seen kids on scooters with trainers and shorts. I have seen sport bike riders leathered up with a kid in little more than a lid and sports jacket.
My kid wears the full gear whenever on the bike so I am happy with the risk.
My son found that the tether gave him confidence of not falling off the back. He survived it and doesn't need it any longer.
Renn Sport said:
SAS Tom said:
I can’t believe that’s actually thing. People have asked me for this and I thought they were mental. It’s even more mental that it’s actually been made!
Can you not see a problem having a crash with a child tied to your back?
Having any crash with a kid is unthinkable... however the tether is fastened with plastic clips and they would probably snap off in a big off. Can you not see a problem having a crash with a child tied to your back?
End of the day we ride flipping motorbikes and taking a kid on the back is an added risk... but you choose your risk. I have seen kids on scooters with trainers and shorts. I have seen sport bike riders leathered up with a kid in little more than a lid and sports jacket.
My kid wears the full gear whenever on the bike so I am happy with the risk.
My son found that the tether gave him confidence of not falling off the back. He survived it and doesn't need it any longer.
I did think about getting a Tiger but I am kind of attached to the Daytonna and am not in a position to change at the moment anyway - there will be time in the future.
My first bike was an AP50 when I was 15.
Some of the older ones in class were 16 and were riding their 'peds to school.
Didn't take long for me to decide I'd do the same, and so started my early biking career and its general lack of legality.
Wasn't long before Plod pulled me over for speeding (45 in a 30) on my way to school. I gave a false address but my real name (Duh!) but nothing came of it, those were the days.
Some of the older ones in class were 16 and were riding their 'peds to school.
Didn't take long for me to decide I'd do the same, and so started my early biking career and its general lack of legality.
Wasn't long before Plod pulled me over for speeding (45 in a 30) on my way to school. I gave a false address but my real name (Duh!) but nothing came of it, those were the days.
Renn Sport said:
SAS Tom said:
I can’t believe that’s actually thing. People have asked me for this and I thought they were mental. It’s even more mental that it’s actually been made!
Can you not see a problem having a crash with a child tied to your back?
Having any crash with a kid is unthinkable... however the tether is fastened with plastic clips and they would probably snap off in a big off. Can you not see a problem having a crash with a child tied to your back?
End of the day we ride flipping motorbikes and taking a kid on the back is an added risk... but you choose your risk. I have seen kids on scooters with trainers and shorts. I have seen sport bike riders leathered up with a kid in little more than a lid and sports jacket.
My kid wears the full gear whenever on the bike so I am happy with the risk.
My son found that the tether gave him confidence of not falling off the back. He survived it and doesn't need it any longer.
I just don’t see how parents don’t work out that if they can’t trust their child to hold on then it’s probably not a great idea for them to go on a bike yet.
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