So my 17 year old wants to buy a street bike...

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msahr

msahr

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And of course I'm unsure. He cites cheaper insurance, cheaper gas, yadda yadda. Wants a Ninja 250. I looked up that bike, pretty inexpensive, Kawasaki has sold a ton of 'em, the internet seems to agree it's a good starter bike.

I told him he will have to take a safety course BEFORE he buys a bike.

Separate of the safety issue (I'd prefer if he's cocooned in layers of Toyota sheet metal of course) any thoughts on this bike? If I'm looking for one, what do I look for?
 
Kick him in the ass then buy him a car or truck... Its not if you crash a bike, it is when!
And at 17 its beyond stupid to put him on a street bike 250cc or not.
 
Make him buy life and disability insurance first. I'm pretty sure it'll no longer be cost effective.
 
I have one in the garage that was given to me. It cannot get out of its own way. I am however use to riding liter bikes and Harley's. If I was in your position, i'd make him buy his own beater 4cyl car and show he can be responsible/maintain it first.
 
i got family that has ties to green machine , you can always slap a Governor on it right?~
maker sure he gets good riding support stuff
both summer and winter gear alpine star armor is good
but he needs a set for both summer and winter out here to avoid going "its too hot /cold to wear all that s***"
 
He has practically zero experience and none on a two-wheeler.

I'm well aware of the "teenager on a motorcycle" deal. And I agree. He's a good, responsible kid with a real job. He's already tried the cheapo 4-cylinder car thing and it didn't work out to well.

If it wasn't for the idiots on the road, I'd be all over this.

Thanks for all the input, constructive and otherwise ;)
 
I'm 27 and have had several friends severely injured on streetbikes/cruisers. The only reason none of them were killed was because they all were wearing helmets. I only have 2 friends who haven't crashed and still ride, but they ride a few hundred miles a year- no rush hour traffic... I would suggest you do what you can to get him to change his mind, and if you aren't successful, make sure he wears a helmet and leather.
 
be supportive and give him the best advice and proper gear and direction as you can. You will not change his mind. Its a great bike to start off on, and should give quite a bit of enjoyment after he takes the MSF course.
 
msahr said:
He has practically zero experience and none on a two-wheeler.
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The only person I would recommend riding on the street with no experience would be my ex-wife
 
Been riding since I was 8 years old and my best advice is buy a dirt bike and learn to ride! The streets are so dangerous now days with distracted drivers i dont even like to ride unless its a weekday when the hills are quiet. My 6 year old has been riding a dirt bike now for 2 years and he is becoming a great rider. I started on the street with a dual sport dirtbike and slowly graduated to street bikes and ended up on my dream bike a ducati 916 superbike! Had some close calls but never lost respect and still have'nt for any bike I jump on. You can be the best rider in the world but you can never control the unkown.Common sense and experience go a long way to have a long and enjoyable ride! No experience = trouble... My .02
 
I rode dirt for a long time (YZ's) and would LOVE to ride street. Too many distracted yahoo drivers out there for my comfort.
 
murf said:
I rode dirt for a long time (YZ's) and would LOVE to ride street. Too many distracted yahoo drivers out there for my comfort.
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Back in the 80's I had a bike for cheap/easy/small transportation to work, which was only 3 miles each way. After about 2 years I got rid of it due to all the moron drivers out there. Several years ago my son's brother in law hit a truck that ran a red light. He was just riding his motorcycle a couple of blocks to go pick up some lunch. He got scrambled even though he was wearing full safety gear and he was a very experienced rider. It was over 2 years before he healed enough to be able to drive a car again. I agree with whitey45
about lack of experience making it really risky.

Before I was old enough to drive a car, I was hit by a car while riding a bicycle. That event cost me dearly, even though it was not my fault. Extreme head trauma is nightmare! Even though that wreck was 55 years ago, I still have to take drugs every day to deal with it. JOHN
 
I know you were asking for opinions on the bike and instead are getting opinions about bike and teen safety, so i thiught i too would ignore your question and answer my own.;)
Make him keep the car, get him and yourself a couple bikes and only let him ride with you on the weekends. Great way to spend time with him and teach him.
I rode a street bike in college because it was all I could afford. All my wrecks were minor but I had a few. There were also several times that I was almost killed and would have been if not for the number of years I spent on dirt bikes growing up.
To your question on the 250 Ninja, they're a reliable bike that has been around since the mid 80's. They are simple to ride and are used in some motorcycle training classes. Still would scare the s*** out of me to put my son on it and watch him drive off. My son is turning 15 this summer and has been riding dirt bikes since he was 8-9 years old.
 
I've ridden along side the Kawi Ninja 250 many times, some group longer distance day rides with an older middle aged gal. While the bike is a motorcycle and it seems to me to be pretty capable, but isn't a crotch rocket by any meaning of the term. On the other hand, it has enough go to get out of the way when needed and can maintain 75 down a freeway without smoking.

In my opinion, it's a pretty good first bike. But a few rules: the MSF course is primo, and always wear a helmet and skid-protection; but for a kid, don't let it go to his head that any class makes him an expert rider: remind him that after 50,000 miles of assorted riding he'll still be learning ways cars try to hurt him - some are pretty damned imaginitive. After lots of miles on five bikes, they still try to get me, and I've seen them get friends.

And, one last observation: AZ drivers are the WORST I have encountered in all my travels. People drive crazy down here - all the cars doing lane swapping and cutting people off is a motorcyclists worst nightmare.

'66 305 Dream - sold 22,000 miles (purchased used abt 12,000)
'76 550 K - sold 39,000 miles
'78 750 F2 - sold 47,000 miles
'80 750F3 - sold 54,000 miles
'07 ST1300A - 23,000 miles (22,000 in first two years of ownership, back injury has dampened my riding days, no more 800 mile days)

Oh - and I agree 100% with Funner -- learing to ride alongside an experienced rider is the BEST and SAFEST way to learn. Doing it on your own is perilous.

ps: mileage apprx - my brain is fading as I get older.
 
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Got to thinking about my early days... that first touch of oil on the road where I put my foot down and nearly dropped the bike; the first oil on the road where I nearly lost control pulling away from a light; the first oil on the road where I locked the front wheel while stopping for a light; the first time a guy in an old beater pickup looked me square in the eyes, smiled and then yanked his wheel sideways into my lane; the first time the old fart in the Lincoln Town Car didn't stop at the stop sign I was at and ran right beside me within inches; the time ... I could go on, but you should be able to get a sense of what's lurking out there. The only thing that saved my butt in each of those occasions was experience on the bike and knowing what the warning signs were for the drivers (visual scanning 360 degrees; front tires of cars and trucks tell a great story of what the thing is about to do). Sound ties or comes in second: too many events were foretold by a slight change in noise around me. Loud pipes are dangerous for that reason alone.

And I am glad and was fortunate I had someone more experienced to ride with when I started. Think about it; did he learn drive by himself?
 
Thanks again for the input. The more I think about it the more I want him to get a car. Although all the bike talk has got me thinking about them again... I had tons of fun in my teens and 20s riding all manner of dirt bikes, fun times. A KX or YX 450... :hmm:
 
GWcruiser said:
Got to thinking about my early days... that first touch of oil on the road where I put my foot down and nearly dropped the bike; the first oil on the road where I nearly lost control pulling away from a light; the first oil on the road where I locked the front wheel while stopping for a light; the first time a guy in an old beater pickup looked me square in the eyes, smiled and then yanked his wheel sideways into my lane; the first time the old fart in the Lincoln Town Car didn't stop at the stop sign I was at and ran right beside me within inches; the time ... I could go on, but you should be able to get a sense of what's lurking out there. The only thing that saved my butt in each of those occasions was experience on the bike and knowing what the warning signs were for the drivers (front tires of cars and trucks tell a great story of what the thing is about to do). Sound ties or comes in second: too many events were foretold by a slight change in noise around me. Loud pipes are dangerous for that reason alone.

And I am glad and was fortunate I had someone more experienced to ride with when I started. Think about it; did he learn drive by himself?
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WOW and to the last part... good point.
 
Uh no if you love your kid...... When he is 18 and ready to move out he can do whatever he wants. :)

No way I would let a 17 yr old have a motorcycle. A friend of mine just got destroyed on his bike 6 months ago. Driver pulled out in front of him. He has been riding for 30 years and he was doing the speed limit. Broke just about everything in his body. Back, pelvis, shattered his wrists, and I don't know what else.

Kids do stupid sh$t. Even if you have the best of the best don't give him a tool that he can easily kill himself with or get killed. Yeah cars are tools of death but not like a motorcycle. I used to ride and wish I still could. Just too many idiots out there.
 
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