First Motorbike

[Target Popper]

Well my grandson asked advise about getting a motorbike despite his fathers insistence that its too dangerous and not to be considered.
Understand the grandson wanting the extra freedom to go where & when he wants, on the other hand our local roads resemble something like a scene from the Battle of the Somme, overcrowded and other drivers patience measured in microns.....hmm where do we go from here then? Considering a motorbike riding entry by asking a local farmer I know if he would allow us to do a trial ride around one of his fields, this would give my grandson an idea of what he would be letting himself in for. Any worthwhile suggestions about this?

 

[rocketdogbert]

How old is your grandson?

I know it sounds boring and old, but road riding is much more dangerous than driving, it doesn’t matter how careful you are, it’s genuinely car drivers.

I was a road rider for many years, gave up and did track days because a it’s much safer, then gave up bikes after a big accident that very likely would have killed me on the road.

If he’s old enough to drive a car, encourage him to do that, and to try track days if he wants the thrill of a bike. It’s relatively easy to get a racing licence (easier and faster than a motorcycle driving licence). Not to race, but to enable you to contract days.

Also, if he were to get a road licence, and it’s his only form of transport, autumn/winter road riding is hell.
It’s wet, cold, dirty and miserable. And useless for making people out on dates.

 

[Jesterdog]

As soon as I turned 17 and started working I wanted a motorbike.
My parents told me that they would help me to get a car (guarantor for loan etc) but I would have to self fund if I wanted a motorbike. So, car it was. Probably a good decision as I was an idiot in the car and would have probably died if I'd had a motorbike.
Less than 2 years later, the car died, due to my abuse and new RD250 became my sole form of transport. I stayed with only motorbikes for about 4 years, commuting 12 miles to work in all weather.
I don't have children but if I did, I would push for them to have a car first. If they later decide to have a motorbike they will have learnt roadcraft, will be older and hopefully wiser. It kept me alive
If there's the option of off road riding, in addition to a car and funds allow, this might be a solution

 

[Tricky-Dicky]

These days I would suggest he take course in defensive riding, I am sure someone must do this, It's very much a case of treating everyone else on the road as trying to kill you, I have done this since I started riding at 15, it's a case of choosing your road position carefully to gain maximum presence as they are all blind these days.

 

[Right Cant]

How old is your grandson?

I know it sounds boring and old, but road riding is much more dangerous than driving, it doesn’t matter how careful you are, it’s genuinely car drivers.

I was a road rider for many years, gave up and did track days because a it’s much safer, then gave up bikes after a big accident that very likely would have killed me on the road.

If he’s old enough to drive a car, encourage him to do that, and to try track days if he wants the thrill of a bike. It’s relatively easy to get a racing licence (easier and faster than a motorcycle driving licence). Not to race, but to enable you to contract days.

Also, if he were to get a road licence, and it’s his only form of transport, autumn/winter road riding is hell.
It’s wet, cold, dirty and miserable. And useless for making people out on dates.

Did you sell me your k5 1000 stealth back in 2009 mate?

 

[Scrappy]

When I learnt to ride bikes, back in the late 1980s, I took a course with Star Riders who used to provide motorcycle training on Sunday mornings over a number of weeks. It was excellent training and good fun too usually finishing off at a cafe for tea and bacon sandwiches

I would definitely recommend a similar course to any new rider, and if it were my child or grandchild I'd insist on it.

Yes there are risks to motorcycle riding, but also many benefits. As the saying goes 'You don't need a therapist when you have a motorcycle'. To put things in perspective there were 340 reported motorcyclist deaths in Great Britian in 2024 (94% of those men), whereas 4506 men died of suicide in 2024 in England & Wales.

 

[zogg364]

Dangerous things bikes (well riding one anyway), daft thing to say seeing as I have one, but given up riding as the roads are so congested these days and having lost a few friends over the years due on all three cases to actions of others..

I think @Jesterdog gives great advice in learning to drive a car first and gain some experience and road sense and then if he fancies one at a later date then that's his decision and he will be a wiser man for it

No way I would buy my grandson a bike against his fathers wishes either

 

[Spud gun]

Help and encourage him with his wish.
Rather than stopping him because he might get hurt/ killed.
Otherwise cover him in bubble wrap and lock him in his room.
I hope he never shows any interest in guns

 

[Trumpetier]

Roads where not as bad in the 80,s and 90,s when I rode. I survived 3 years as a motorcycle courier in London in the late 80,s , god knows how.
Personally if I had a son I'd try to stear him towards a car.

 

[Trev]

He'll have to do CBT to ride on the road, if he gets a 125 then 2k ish for insurance, few hundred for kit, if he gets a half decent Jap 125 then 2 to 3k, off road riding is a good place to learn bike control, having kids on bikes is a worry though.

 

[Terminal_Boy]

Let him drive a car for a year first and get some of The Stupid out of his system whilst protected by a ton of steel.

I gave up bikes when I moved to London in the early 2000s as the traffic was mental. The addition of food delivery mopeds, Boris/Lime bikes, Uber Drivers and the failed Iraqi suicide bombers employed by Addison Lee had made it much, much worse when I left in 2018 and I don’t imagine it’s improved since.

 

[jesim1]

I've been riding bikes for decades and still have one, with that comes a lot of experience, and I got the speed crap out of my system many years ago (very mostly ), which sadly, still lives within young lads

The problem with bikes on rough and congested roads is that it only takes a bump to knock you off, and youngsters are impatient, and wont spend the time looking the way they should, so they are far more, likely to get into difficulty unfortunately.

Perhaps look at getting a training session to help start him off, they do them in fenced off areas before they go onto the road, you can hire the bikes to give him an idea of it.

The main thing is to emphasise just how careful you have to be, looking out for the idiots and the uncaring, because it does not matter who fault it is if you come off, your the one who has to deal with any injuries, and blame is of little comfort from a hospital bed

 

[NEIL MCMLX]

As has been said previously, the roads today are more dangerous than back in 70's and 80's. I can remember the sheer terror picking up my new moped from Coburn and Hughes in Luton. I could ride a bike across fields, but negotiating traffic in a busy town centre was something else! . Back then you could ride a 250cc on 'L' plates at 17. It seemed that we were attending someone's funeral every other month! If OP's grandson is hell bent on riding, I'd recommend enrolling in a training programme of some kind. There is nothing to beat the thrill of twisting that throttle, and the sense of freedom and independence, but it can come at a high cost.

 

[MoggyM]

Some youngsters get the off road bug and aren't interested in road riding.

Get him CBT training locally and if he's interested buy a secondhand good quality 125cc

125cc scooters have excellent storage and weather protection. Ideal for local runs and shopping

Being part of a local bike club with members looking out for youngsters on 125s is a good idea

The next stage is A2 licence and id recommend IAM training https://www.iamroadsmart.com/courses-services/for-individuals/advanced-rider-iam0076/

Im a firm believer in increasing the cubic capacity of a motorcycle gradually. Matching cc with ability gradually. 125CC 300CC. 500CC

Id only consider a brand new bike when he's reached a cc or A2 A1 licence where he is happy. There are lots of people riding 125cc bikes with no intention of progressing further

 

[keithy]

I hate to have to say this but today's traffic is alot more than when probably most of us started motorcyling! Years ago if you got a car driver playing games with you on for example on the motorway you could open the throttle and leave him in the dust and get away from the idiot. Not now! You also have people driving on drugs very aggressively lts lethal around 5 pm. If he must have a motor cycle start with a 125cc.

 

[BARNEY20]

No contest, i recommend a ducati 1299s, panigale. Surprisingly reliable and bright red so visible to other drivers. 205 bhp, just enough for those difficult situations when you need that extra push.On a more serious note I would not get involved as a grandad and let your son work things out. Best of luck. I encouraged my son into motorcycles and he has been riding for 17years, i worry tremendously when he is out.

 

[Target Popper]

Many thanks for the responses, when his next visiting I'll show him your comments, just may influence his plans about this!

 

[Mark E Smith]

How about getting him on a dirt bike at an off road centre ? Amazing fun and convince him that 2 wheels are for mud only and get him into a cheap car that has a heater for Winter and his GF won’t need a lid & full leathers to accompany him on jaunts ?!

 

[JohnnySweden]

I bought this 11 year old bike when I turned 18..

It had made just north of 20.000 km and I felt it to be incredible heavy with 250 kg wet weight but back then I was a skinny 59 kg young teenager...

Dispite the weight I loved the rattling on idle and the wonderful roar when revving it up, at first MOT I got informed it had removed cores from the mufflers...

Gudbrandsdalen, mountains hidden in cloud

I bought a chrome luggage rack, put a girl on the back and added a magnetic tank bag before we loaded up the bike with gear and toured Norway with it.

Hadangervidda, rode a a whole day without seeing another person...

The tent roll was strapped to the high bars, above the instrument cluster. Two rolls each containing sleepingbags and sleeping pads on the rear rack with a bag containing lighter items above. All the heavy stuff was kept in the tank bag, with a map on it's the top under a plastic window.

Down the ocean, going north to Trondheim.

Then we rode trough Gudbrandsdalen and across Hadangervidda ending up in Trondheim.

How time flies - 37 years ago now..

 

[Target Popper]

I bought this 11 year old bike when I turned 18..

View attachment 966285
It had made just north of 20.000 km and I felt it to be incredible heavy with 250 kg wet weight but back then I was a skinny 59 kg young teenager...

Dispite the weight I loved the rattling on idle and the wonderful roar when revving it up, at first MOT I got informed it had removed cores from the mufflers...

View attachment 966294
Gudbrandsdalen, mountains hidden in cloud

I bought a chrome luggage rack, put a girl on the back and added a magnetic tank bag before we loaded up the bike with gear and toured Norway with it.

View attachment 966295
Hadangervidda, rode a a whole day without seeing another person...

The tent roll was strapped to the high bars, above the instrument cluster. Two rolls each containing sleepingbags and sleeping pads on the rear rack with a bag containing lighter items above. All the heavy stuff was kept in the tank bag, with a map on it's the top under a plastic window.

View attachment 966296
Down the ocean, going north to Trondheim.

Then we rode trough Gudbrandsdalen and across Hadangervidda ending up in Trondheim.

How time flies - 37 years ago now..

OK so there is a lot of empty road in Sweden and probably better maintained than the UK, have fun!