Should I let my (almost) 16 year old son get a bike?

[Statler]

I got in more trouble with friends in the car than I ever did driving on my own.
just another thought.

[somegirl]

I got in more trouble with friends in the car than I ever did driving on my own.

There are restrictions on that for teenagers in California.
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/teenweb/dl_btn2/dl.htm

[Statler]

There are restrictions on that for teenagers in California.
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/teenweb/dl_btn2/dl.htm

I meant last week.   

[SVJJ]

NO WAY! . I was the same as your son. I wanted a bike when I was 16. My Dad said not until I can pay for Health, Life, Mototrcycle insurance, and pay for the bike. Cause he would not support that at all. Oh and as long as I lived under his roof I could not own a street bike. I grew up riding dirt bikes but he would not alow me to own a street bike as a teenager.
Looking back on that and several small fender benders along the way I am thankful of what he did. I think I need a little time on the road with a cage around me before I rode a motorcycle. He is a motorcyclist and once I finished college first thing I did was buy a bike and now we ride almost every weekend together.  [moto]

 MY 2 cents.

[flanman]

I think you have to realistically look at your son. You know him and what he does/ doesn't do. You know if he is a responsible kid or isn't the most "perfect". Look at the people he hangs out with and what they do etc. If you know that he will ride within limits and respect a bike then i don't see a problem with it. Also I don't know if anyone else brought this up but if he has a job that would be helpful for paying for expenses and gives some sense of responsibility (not sure any summer job for a teen requires that much ). I learned on a 125cc dirtbike then my Dads old honda 550. I reccomend thinking about how your son acts everyday and base the descision of how he will act on a bike off that.

[somegirl]

I meant last week.   

Can't trust you anywhere!

[MonsterLove]

I didn't get a bike until I was 27. That being said, I have been in numerous accidents in a car, most ALL of them were when I was between the ages of 15-22. (the ones I got into when I was older, I was not at fault)
I got my first car when I was 15 and had my learners permit. That poor car was stomped on, beaten, and left for dead finally at the side of a road. I was lucky to have survived, really, after being in six separate accidents in that car. I was a good student (3.6 gpa) was not into drugs, and had smart(read:geeky!) friends who all ended up being doctors and architects and such. But, I was a teenager, and I did some STUPID stuff when I was learning to drive.

 I also lost a friend in a motorcycle accident my first year in highschool. He was 17. It wasn't even his fault, since he was a passenger on the bike. The other kid was killed too, that rode them into the back of a car waiting to turn. Rural road, no traffic, and they still died.

In my humble and honest opinion, I'd not let a teenager have a motorcycle. I know I won't let my kids have a bike. If I were supervising and we had a dirtbike, then I'd probably let them learn, but no streetbikes. I would also discourage them from getting a bike as a college student. There is a reason insurance is so high for younger riders! My job as a parent is to keep them safe as best I am able. Once they are out of the house there won't be much I can do, but until then I'll do my best.  Good luck, whatever you decide. You know your kid best. I just remember my own teenage years a little to well to be comfortable with the idea of my own kids riding LOL!

Celeste

[Stangman]

I vote no. 

When I was 16, I got pretty good grades, stayed out of trouble (for the most part) and I still managed to nearly kill myself in my parents car on more than one occasion (no accidents were my fault).  I shudder to think of those situations if I had been on a bike.  I just wasn't looking out for other drivers mistakes.

My son is 1 year old now so I have awhile to worry about it, but when the time comes he won't be getting a street bike at 16 either.

I think it's just too much for a new driver to have to contend with when first starting out.  Driving defensively is hard enough in a cage let alone a bike. 

Let him get some driving experience under his belt, if he can keep his record clean and can afford one, revisit the situation in another year or two.  Evaluate his driving habits, those of the other drivers in the city you live in and go from there.

[VisceralReaction]

Oh ya, the rules.

Motorcycle key was the first and most effective form of negative reinforcement for any transgression.
NO TICKETS
I defined his riding area, geographic limits
No crossing the 4 lane divided at an uncontrolled intersection etc
WEAR THE GEAR

I lived BigBores method and rules here. My kids are young but already asking about riding when they get older.
I would say let him learn to ride but with restrictions like BigBore said. HP restrictions, surface streets, no passengers etc till
they are much older. I started riding street bikes at 17 and luckly had gone down enough time on dirt to respect the pavement.
Keep the rules tight and I think he'll be ok.

[m0t0g0th]

Moped.  Start with something that he can learn some balance, some traffic, and some responsibility without breaking the bank.  Advantages are it's cheap and he might have to get mechanical with it quickly, not enough power to go on squidly power trips, INSURANCE AFFORDABLE if required at all, and easy parking at school, etc.
Your bottom line might actually have to be the $$!
Moped would answer to that and be a bonus in the ways above.  Save the 250 for when he understands the responsibility and the costs.

[optiato]

I'm 24 and still stupid.  I started riding a few years ago.  Can't imagine if I started earlier, I never would have made it this far.

[m0t0g0th]

Just pay some hot, slightly older college girl to tell him how *hot* she thinks bicycles are. It could work.

+1

[GLantern]

I have had a bike for the street since i was 18, im 23 now.  And i had my car license at 17 and had been riding dirtbikes since 13.  Do NOT let him have a bike as his first means of transportation.

You need to learn the roads and how to be a good driver before you take a bike onto it.  Get him a car and a cheapo dirtbike to tool around on and learn how to ride.

O and my first bike was a 1982 yamaha virago, it was a standard.  The ninja 250 is a great starter bike when he is ready.  I say wait till 18 and if he still has a level head allow him to get a street bike.

[Hawk_Duc]

I was thinking about this the other day, and I am with everyone here who says you should hold off until your kid develops a sense for traffic.

You know how we just aware of the cars directly behind us or camped out in your blind spot? We (or at least I) didn't start out with that awareness of the surrounding traffic. It took a couple of years to get to the point where I was almost subconscisously checking my mirrors and maintaining a mental map of the space around me. Now, I think this skill plays the largest part in keeping me safe on the roads.

Why does your kid want ride? If he is more interested in the actual experience of riding a bike—rather than just impressing his friends—than maybe you should let him participate in classes and eventually track days. If I had a kid, I would be much more willing to let him ride hard on a closed track, knowing that he/she is wearing the proper gear, than let him/her joy ride on the streets with his/her idiot friends and other idiot drivers.

[oregunduc]

If it were my kid it would be a big fat NO, if he wanted a dirt bike but no street bike.