Advice please

[southpaw]

Hi
I need some advice from you guys. I was planning on getting a bike for my 16th birthday this summer, to finally give me some freedom and independance. I've been planning it for a few months now, having my eye on the Aprilia RS50 and motorhispania rx50.

Anyway, it has now been decided that I shoudln't get a bike when I'm 16 because:
-[b]its dangerous[/b]
-its expensive
-you'll get wet
-you won't use it much
-the bus is cheaper
-you can't use it in the winter
-you'll look like a d!ck going at 30 (yeah right, new exhaust + de restricted, good for 50mph+)
-it won't accelerate
-its makes a horrible sound

Any advice you guys can give?
Cheers
southpaw

[FunkyNige]

Anyway, it has now been decided that I shoudln't get a bike when I'm 16 because:
-its dangerous
Only as dangerous as you make it, ride like a tit and yes it is dangerous.

-its expensive
If you get the Aprillia it's expensive, but if you can afford it, why not?

-you'll get wet
you get wet waiting for the bus.

-you won't use it much
that's up to you.

-the bus is cheaper
depends where you live.

-you can't use it in the winter
yes you can, and it's only one winter of riding until you turn 17 and you can get a cheap car.

-you'll look like a d!ck going at 30 (yeah right, new exhaust + de restricted, good for 50mph+)
If you use it around town you can only do 30 anyway and you'll be overtaking the cars anyway.

-it won't accelerate
yes it will.

-its makes a horrible sound
so? the freedom your own mode of transport can give you is the best feeling in the world.

Any advice you guys can give?
You're only young once, why not go for it? You'll only regret not doing it in a few years time if you don't. Just make sure you get decent protective gear and don't ride like a tit.

[southpaw]

Cheery funkynige!





stupid bloody parents, always think they are right....

[dern]

southpaw said:

Anyway, it has now been decided that I shoudln't get a bike when I'm 16 because:

I take it that your parents have decided this. If you so don't stand a chance unless you can elequently argue your case and your parents aren't completely anti-bike and then you're stuffed in my experience.

-its dangerous
When my kids are old enough to ride bikes (they're a bit young yet at 1 and 3 though) I'd rather they spent a year on 50s than jump straight on bigger bikes. The younger you start the better you'll be. I started in my mid-20s as my mum catagorically refused to let me get a bike when I was at home and I couldn't afford it when I left and I tend to ride like a lady-boy sadly. If you kit yourself out correctly you'll stand a much better chance of surviving... I know it's down to individual choice and all that but not wearing decent gloves and boots is always going to end very badly indeed if you fall off and at your age I suspect you'll be adventurous enough to fall off a couple of times. Yes it is dangerous but the severity of the outcome of any accident is pretty much in your hands.

-its expensive
True.

-you'll get wet
Get some waterproofs and you won't get wet. If you ride in the wet then your control will be better and you won't be one of these pansy-foo-foos who check the weather forecast before going out on their bike.

-you won't use it much
Up to you I guess.

-the bus is cheaper
Possibly.

-you can't use it in the winter
Nonsense... see point about riding in the wet.

-you'll look like a d!ck going at 30
We all have to start somewhere and you'll have experience and no claims in hand when you trade up after a year.

-(yeah right, new exhaust + de restricted, good for 50mph+)
I wouldn't use that arguement if I were you as it'll invalidate your insurance and not present the mature image you're going to need imo. Riding without insurance is very very stupid too.

-it won't accelerate
I've never riden a 50 but the 80 I rode did and you're probably substantially lighter than me.

-its makes a horrible sound
Now that's true I'm afraid

Mark

[Mon Ami Mate]

southpaw said:

Hi I need some advice from you guys. I was planning on getting a bike for my 16th birthday this summer, to finally give me some freedom and independance. I've been planning it for a few months now, having my eye on the Aprilia RS50 and motorhispania rx50. Anyway, it has now been decided that I shoudln't get a bike when I'm 16 because: -its dangerous -its expensive -you'll get wet -you won't use it much -the bus is cheaper -you can't use it in the winter -you'll look like a d!ck going at 30 (yeah right, new exhaust + de restricted, good for 50mph+) -it won't accelerate -its makes a horrible sound Any advice you guys can give? Cheers southpaw

Life is dangerous, in fact it's a terminal illness. Do fun things with your life, because you have no right to tomorrow. You can have fun without being reckless.

I got my first bike when I was 16, and I've never been without one since. I used to ride that thing all day, every day. I fell off it a few times, but at a velocity that ensured nothing worse than dented ego and valuable lessons learned. I reckon I've travelled more than a million miles on two wheels, spread over four continents of the world. I can't imagine being without a bike, it is an intrinsic part of my identity. Give it a go, it may change your life for ever.

[rsvmilly]

The RS50 is very expensive for a moped. Why not endure a normal twist and go for a year and then get yourself an RS125 - a proper small bike, which when derestricted has 33bhp and 100mph!!

[Mad Dave]

I'll probably get flamed for this, but I wouldn't want to ride a 50cc in today's traffic, especially not with the amount of training you legally have to have - the CBT is a joke, offers IMHO nowhere near enough training to be unleashed into the fray with the class of numpty our roads are full of. I see kids on 50cc bikes/mopeds all the time and almost invariably they are riding like total feckwits - just like 17yo lads in cars, but the car driver has more chance of survival in the event of the inevitable.

Personally if I had children I would be advising some road experience in a car before getting onto a vehicle that by design offers you less protection from the lobotomised numpties of today.

But then what do I know - 5 years driving experience in a car and within 3 months of passing my bike test I land head first in someone's garden, swiftly followed by my shiney P&J after bouncing off Mrs Blinkered Numpty in her Vauxhall Corsa.

HTH

Dave

[Mon Ami Mate]

Mad Dave said:

I'll probably get flamed for this, but I wouldn't want to ride a 50cc in today's traffic, especially not with the amount of training you legally have to have - the CBT is a joke, offers IMHO nowhere near enough training to be unleashed into the fray with the class of numpty our roads are full of. I see kids on 50cc bikes/mopeds all the time and almost invariably they are riding like total feckwits - just like 17yo lads in cars, but the car driver has more chance of survival in the event of the inevitable. Personally if I had children I would be advising some road experience in a car before getting onto a vehicle that by design offers you less protection from the lobotomised numpties of today. But then what do I know - 5 years driving experience in a car and within 3 months of passing my bike test I land head first in someone's garden, swiftly followed by my shiney P&J after bouncing off Mrs Blinkered Numpty in her Vauxhall Corsa. HTH Dave

Shiny? I think you hit the 'n' key by mistake whilst attempting a double 't'!

>> Edited by Mon Ami Mate on Monday 13th June 16:58

[Mad Dave]

Mon Ami Mate said:

Mad Dave said: I'll probably get flamed for this, but I wouldn't want to ride a 50cc in today's traffic, especially not with the amount of training you legally have to have - the CBT is a joke, offers IMHO nowhere near enough training to be unleashed into the fray with the class of numpty our roads are full of. I see kids on 50cc bikes/mopeds all the time and almost invariably they are riding like total feckwits - just like 17yo lads in cars, but the car driver has more chance of survival in the event of the inevitable. Personally if I had children I would be advising some road experience in a car before getting onto a vehicle that by design offers you less protection from the lobotomised numpties of today. But then what do I know - 5 years driving experience in a car and within 3 months of passing my bike test I land head first in someone's garden, swiftly followed by my shiney P&J after bouncing off Mrs Blinkered Numpty in her Vauxhall Corsa. HTH Dave Shiny? I think you hit the 'n' key by mistake whilst attempting a double 't'! >> Edited by Mon Ami Mate on Monday 13th June 16:58

Cheeky fecker! Fair point though. And which key did you hit by accident then, to merit editting the post?

Tut tut, and here I was expecting a long and eloquent reply from your good self, citing just how wrong I was!



PS How was Sunday? Sadly the holiday got in the way of my joining you. Another time.

[southpaw]

Thanks for the advice guys. Sorry for the late reply.

[mrmaggit]

Don't forget, treat EVERY other road user (and that includes pedestrians) as if they're on a mission to kill you, and you'll be halfway to staying alive. That goes for when you get a car too.

Anticipation. Expectation. Satisfaction.