What do you tell your son when he wants to ride?

[user 213]

Lots of great input and advice above. Only one thing I disagree with: " Stay off the freeways for as long as feasible."

Freeways are a part of riding. Especially in Houston! The good habits of entering, merging with traffic and the awareness it takes when riding in a multi-lane environment are important skills to learn and continue to develop. All of those transfer well to side streets and two lane roads. You don't want him excessively stressed out on the freeway. You do want him alert and with an understanding of what hazards to watch for and the best ways to deal with them.

I simply suggest limited exposure, but ongoing as you ride with him. Stressing the extra awareness needed on the freeway and hammer in the basics for merging and the dangers of other traffic merging poorly.

Too often I see people in the middle lane not paying any attention to merging traffic entering the freeway. Then when some dumb *** comes down the on ramp w/o finding a hole to merge into, traffic is pushed over or forced to slow/speed up to avoid a collision. This can suddenly push traffic into the middle lane, catching the unaware off guard and causing much potential havoc.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Howdy, Bob. Great post. I remember you told me about your son's learning to ride over lunch the other day. I don't know if he's into book learning, but I'd recommend ...
If my sons want to ride, ... I'd also hammer home is that ... the one thing that's hardest to control and can put you into a dangerous situation is the decisions you make. And sometimes those decisions are fueled by pride. So keeping your ego in check is an important skill, whether trying to keep up with your buddy or mixing it up with some guy who cut you off or something. Stay cool and focused and remember your prime directive: Get home after the ride, step off the bike, and say, "That was a good ride."

Hi Hans -

Good reading suggestions, but Timo's engineering major has him so busy that he's even cut out the fun reading that he used to be big into.

Totally agree with you & the others about attitude.

As for highway, I think it's statistically and from experience a lot safer in our situation to take the highway than all the cross-streets he'd have to take between home and college.

Bob

 

[CAJW]

Lots of great input and advice above. Only one thing I disagree with: " Stay off the freeways for as long as feasible."
Freeways are a part of riding. Especially in Houston! The good habits of entering, merging with traffic and the awareness it takes when riding in a multi-lane environment are important skills to learn and continue to develop. All of those transfer well to side streets and two lane roads. You don't want him excessively stressed out on the freeway. You do want him alert and with an understanding of what hazards to watch for and the best ways to deal with them.

I simply suggest limited exposure, but ongoing as you ride with him. Stressing the extra awareness needed on the freeway and hammer in the basics for merging and the dangers of other traffic merging poorly.

Too often I see people in the middle lane not paying any attention to merging traffic entering the freeway. Then when some dumb *** comes down the on ramp w/o finding a hole to merge into, traffic is pushed over or forced to slow/speed up to avoid a collision. This can suddenly push traffic into the middle lane, catching the unaware off guard and causing much potential havoc.

Perhaps I should clarify what I meant by feasible. Staying off freeways doesn't always work. If you live in the inner city region of Los Angeles, then a freeway will be the most expeditious way to move around. What I meant was that for a new rider his/her skills of dividing attention between what's happening ahead, behind and all around his "space cushion" will be taxing enough. If they're still working on getting comfortable on the bike and how to perform a emergency stop or swerve maneuver to avoid someone's lost muffler, that added extra division of attention might be the difference between a successful outcome or worse. I stress to all new riders to delay the freeway commute on Monday morning or Friday afternoon * until they've practiced swerves and emergency braking on quiet streets and can meet their estimated stopping point from various speeds. I new I should've been wordier on the first post.

*Don't know if actual statistics bear this out but, I've done most of my freeway landings to pick up accident victims during those commutes.

 

[NMRoadRunner]

I did everything right, Safety gear, motorcycle riding class, previous motorcycle experience on dirt and trails under a watchful eye, he developed good defensive riding skills, got his licsense, insurance the works. But...He was almost killed in a motorcycle accident after just 3 months of riding on the streets, broadsided by a driver running a red light at 2 in the afternoon. Nothing he could have done in that situation, but it was ALL MY FAULT :dribble: My wife (his mother) said he should have never been on 2 wheels in the first place. She knew what was going on the whole time... but you know the rest. Just so you understand her thought process, if there is one, she rides on my scoot all the time. We spend at least one day a week on the FJR, so she like bikes, just not her son on one.

 

[user 213]

*Don't know if actual statistics bear this out but, I've done most of my freeway landings to pick up accident victims during those commutes.

Motorcycle commuting is one of those oxymorons. Less space taken up, less fuel used, ease of maneuvering in/thru traffic, etc make it all sound like a great idea. However, it's not. It puts you out in the highest density traffic with the highest density of zoned out drivers oblivious to external input while they blindly drone over familiar routes to work and home. Add to that, all too often multi-tasking poorly while they do so.

 

[Wee Willy]

I did everything right, Safety gear, motorcycle riding class, previous motorcycle experience on dirt and trails under a watchful eye, he developed good defensive riding skills, got his licsense, insurance the works. But...

NM, yours is the story we all dread in this situation. It is a real-life truth that, sometimes and despite all our best efforts, lightning strikes. It was hard for me to read this post as I considered myself in your situation. May God bless you and your family.

W2

 

[FJR-RemingtonRider]

I did everything right, Safety gear, motorcycle riding class, previous motorcycle experience on dirt and trails under a watchful eye, he developed good defensive riding skills, got his licsense, insurance the works. But...He was almost killed in a motorcycle accident after just 3 months of riding on the streets, broadsided by a driver running a red light at 2 in the afternoon. Nothing he could have done in that situation, but it was ALL MY FAULT :dribble: My wife (his mother) said he should have never been on 2 wheels in the first place. She knew what was going on the whole time... but you know the rest. Just so you understand her thought process, if there is one, she rides on my scoot all the time. We spend at least one day a week on the FJR, so she like bikes, just not her son on one.

Captures the moment of truth with this 'NMRoadRunner', had this conversation with my son yesterday; letting him know that very scenario and the backlash from family was a great concern of mine. He responded with some of my own philosophy back at me; just as W2 says, lightening can strike at any time...however I told him, that when tragic/injury accidents happen...it's human nature that we have to have someone to assign blame upon. I even told him that I had posted on the forum about my concerns and sharing ideas. I explained to him how important it was for me to learn as much as I could about riding before I started, and how forums improve your awareness and knowledge base on not only how to work on your bike, but getting insight into different scenarios so that other riders can develop their own mental preparation. He responded by saying, "I wonder if the ninja riders have a forum?" He's thinking right already.

 

[Wee Willy]

Definitely get him on dirt if at all possible. He'll learn how to handle a bike in weird attitudes, what to do when the surfaces aren't pristine, and how to make quick judgements about changing his line to avoid obstacles. The mental and physical training on dirt directly translates to street.

Missed this one first time through. Big +1. Dirt riding is a quick path to maximizing your ability to control the machine.

W2

 

[phroenips]

All this talk about dirt makes me want to do some dirt learning. I started on the street and have never strayed so far (save for a packed gravel road or two)...

 

[Silver Penguin]

All this talk about dirt makes me want to do some dirt learning. I started on the street and have never strayed so far (save for a packed gravel road or two)...

It's certainly different. I learned on street bikes, in my youth and hadn't tried anything else until recently. It was a big shock to learn that total traction isn't essential and that a sliding wheel isn't always a bad thing. While I shall never aspire to the skill level of some of the five year olds that I see out there riding, I'm having fun riding in the desert. The skills that I do learn must surely help with street riding.

 

[Khunajawdge]

All this talk about dirt makes me want to do some dirt learning. I started on the street and have never strayed so far (save for a packed gravel road or two)...

It's certainly different. I learned on street bikes, in my youth and hadn't tried anything else until recently. It was a big shock to learn that total traction isn't essential and that a sliding wheel isn't always a bad thing. While I shall never aspire to the skill level of some of the five year olds that I see out there riding, I'm having fun riding in the desert. The skills that I do learn must surely help with street riding.

Oh man, you must know the lust! The OP pointed it out through his eyes, while watching his son. This mission is addictive. For me, it's the expense that keeps it in check (I think?).

What am I saying? = D'oh! :blink: