Bought a Honda 100 LS in perfect shape last week so my son could learn to ride. He's 14 and has put about 5000 miles on the back of my bikes and certainly has had the itch to ride. I have 40 acres of land over looking the Sangre De Cristo mountain range so we went there for 4 days last week.
He gets on the first time, I give him the "let the clutch out slow and give it more gas as it engages" speech, and he's riding around the land!
Never even stalled it once!! Comes back says "Dad I want to shift!"
So I tell him it's the same except let off the gas, pull the clutch, shift
and let the clutch out faster when shifting. He's gone!! Went down to the dirt road and took off. The bike never even fell over once. It's a kick start so he also learned how to push start a bike. He had a friend with him who rode our ATV so if anything did happen he could come and get me. Still, as a father it's tough not to worry a bit(or a lot!!). It's all dirt roads and he handled them with ease. Standing up on the pegs for the big bumps, down shifting for turns. He and I took a nice long ride together, me on the ATV. It was a beautiful thing. The fever is firmly implanted in him. What worries me most is he wants a Warrior when he's 16 and will probably be able to handle it.

See what happens when you drag your son on long motorcycle rides??

Steven

Yeh, he's the one you met. Next time we meet Steve he'll be on his own bike.

That's great.

Hopefully he'll also gain a respect for bikes which seems to be lacking in the guys you see doing wheelies on the feeway ... in shirts.

Doc

He has the respect now, he thinks the guys doing the wheelies are idiots.
He has learned a big bike demands respect, care and caution. Of course he is very young and the stupid years are coming. He's one of those kids you have to pull the reins in on once in a while. I will be turning more grey in 2 years.

DocShadow wrote:
That's great.

Hopefully he'll also gain a respect for bikes which seems to be lacking in the guys you see doing wheelies on the feeway ... in shirts.

Doc
I just don't understand these guys riding around with shorts, tank tops and tennis shoes
I saw a guy lay down his bike last week and he was wearing jeans, tennis shoes and a t-shirt and he messed himself up good I asked him where's your jacket and boots? and he said "I was just going for a quick ride"
After I laid my bike down and got a taste of road rash I wear a jacket ALL the time. no matter how hot! I bought a mesh jacket for summer. and leather for winter.

Steven

Kids will be kids and some lessons they all have to learn for themselves. You teach them the best you can and hold your breath! good to hear you are teaching him the right way and both of you ride safe.

I've laid mine done and always wear a jacket but I need another lesson 'cause I still wear jeans.

I guess the road rash on my hip didn't convince me that I need padded pants.

Doc

DocShadow wrote:
I've laid mine done and always wear a jacket but I need another lesson 'cause I still wear jeans.

I guess the road rash on my hip didn't convince me that I need padded pants.

Doc

I havent had padded pants since the dico years... wait.. that was a disco kit.

Cool Bru , wish my folks woulda let me ride at an early age. Teach him right , and chances are , he'll follow those lessons from here out. But Yes , the late teens is the time we all tested our parents the most , so....

I'm jealous (in a good way) of those of you who despite the court of public opinion , get your kids riding early on. Congrats! My wife does ride , so I guess that is similar......BB