best age to get started

[chief]

Wow, me too Troll - last month... you just reminded me! Oh, wait... I was single for two years in-between... nevermind.

[1SG CAV]

I bought my first road bike at 16. (Bike first then a car later). I don't see any problems with age and owning a road bike. Maturity is a bigger factor, a long with peer pressure. That's when young people act stupid. I the sport bikes belong in the hands of older mature adults. Cruisers would be a better bike for younger adults (16-21) Learn to respect the bike and what it can do to you. every time I've laid mine down I thought I had mastered the bike. I will never master my drifter.

Ride With Pride

[aclone]

Florida now requires the riders safety course to get your motorcycle license. Only smart idea they have come up with!  Its amazing how smart I thought I was at 18. Now at 52 I see how much more I still have to learn.  You can't tell him no,  so encourage him to do the smart things  take the class , and take the advanced class a year latter, and ride with him.
Good luck , the last of my four children just got her permit

[Troll]

On sept. 26th, I had my 40th anniversary, 40 years married...but not all to the same wife!

[chief]

The best time to get started is when they are ready and can legally get a license. Each person is different. I did everything early... I was out of High School and joined the Navy at 17, bought a Chevelle SS at 18, got married at 19... the latter proving to be the riskiest of all my decisions!

[alamogeorge]

I was never a bad or crazy driver even as a teenager but I don't think I realized my mortality. I started riding at 40. My opinion is 30 but that's just an opinion. I know plenty of people who started in their teens. It's just that we think we are bulletproof until we hit 30. Plus, experience in traffic with a car gives us the knowledge of what to look for with other drivers. Those fender benders that teens are famous for can be fatal on a bike.

Luckily, my 19 and 21 year old have no interest even though the 21 year old has some experience with dirtbikes and a street bike or two.

My vote is that it is too early but I don't know that I would discourage it. I would definitely be involved with their learning just like I would if they were 40. Everyone needs a mentor.

[greenbarn]

You're right- I hadn't thought about that, but it stands to reason.  Another benefit to the class. 

[Troll]

One thing you might not have considered about the 17 year old...going through this class will improve his car driving ability by making him MORE AWARE of his surroundings!

[greenbarn]

Is 17-18 too early to be on a road bike??  What's ya'll opinions??

I said I'd never let my boys have a bike while they lived at home.  Too dangerous for young and dumb fearless fodder-heads (I was one once).  They both raced ATVs for a while, but there aren't any 4000 lb cars on the dirt track.

But now my oldest is 20, working, in college, and engaged, and can pretty much make his decisions, I guess.  He bought is first road bike a couple months ago, a couple weeks before I bought my Drifter.

I've convinced him (I think) to take the basic riders safety course - I'm willing to pay for it.  I'm pretty sure that I'll also take the 17 year old (18 this July) so he'll get the benefit of the training in case he ends up with a bike.  Part of me wants to say NO BIKE YET - you're not old enough.  Then another part of me thinks I'll have the advantage of a little more control right now (you know - "If I EVEN HEAR A RUMOR you're doing something dumb ONE TIME, the bike gets sold).

I should also mention, he is generally level-headed, and actualy showed more restraint on the quad than his older brother in a lot of ways.  But with all young guns, there is always that streak of wildness...

So what's the predominant wisdom?  Just say no, (to him buying a bike) or let him if he wants?  (either way, I think I'll have him take the BRC with us)  Open to any thoughts or sugestions.