Pushy dad poll

[mikeoldcars]

Hello all, I would apreciate your opinions on the following:

My lad (14) is very keen on bikes and ive been encouraging him where i can, when its time to take him home to his mum i give him the option of going in our vw camper or on the bike, guess which he chooses also ive got the CD roms for the theory test so ive been letting him do a few mock tests ready for when he's sixteen and wants to get some wheels, ive told him there is no way i will buy him a bike he has to earn his own money to buy it (as i think he would appreciate it more if he has to work for it) but i will offer all the help i can to get him through his test and to keep his bike maintained. Ive also been encouraging him to read the highway code, the way i see it is this the more that goes in now the less he will have to learn when its theory test time
Now heres the crux, I HATE PUSHY DADS, do you think thats what im becoming? i just want to give him all the help i can.
ps i caught him leafing through my back street heros magazine, but i think it may have had more to do with the young ladies in it

[G]

[Jackyboy]

i wish my dad had been like that. He used to take me to school on his ZX6 and i loved it, but he had a nasty spill and never rode again. He's constantly trying to get me off bikes.
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Yamaha SR125 - Scrapped 13/06/2006. Hyosung GT125R - Totalled 18/11/2006.
Honda VFR400R NC30 - Totalled 09/02/2007. CBR600F - currently in 1 piece...

[craigs23]

Nope, Dad was similar with me. He used to ride bikes back in the 70s and 80s, said if I had the commitment to save my hard earned for the bike, test, gear, insurance, running, etc, he'd have no problems me riding (despite him being concerned after his accident history). He's since returned to biking after helping and working on bikes again.

Even took me up to a local car park before my CBT to teach me the basics of low speed control, gearing and clutch use. Theory and Practical I learnt myself.

[GearboxGeezer]

Most of my interests I got from my dad, Racing, Biking.

Alot of people who like football can safely say there dads got em into it, or rugby or anything. Its how it works!

Nothing wrong with what your doing by the sound of it

[RickHolt]

If he was to have an accident the week after he gets a bike, would you feel guilty? If you would, then you're maybe being a bit pushy.

We're all pushed to do everything we do, its just the way things work. Nobody really chooses to do everything without influences from other people.



Rick.

[MRX Steve]

Na i think its fine. At least he is going to have all the theory for when he starts to ride at 16 unlike most who have no idea about the road laws apart form the basics they learn in their CBT. Keep it up
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Rieju MRX 50 Castrol Edition

[stinkwheel]

Nah, if he is interested in it, you are being supportive rather than pushy.

My Dad told me that when I was 16, if I wanted a moped, I'd have to buy it myself but he would insure it for my 16th birthday.

Or put it another way, it is in your own interests to get him a moped so why not be motivated by a totally selfish reason. If he has his own wheels, Dad's taxi gets Friday nights off.

[yambabe]

Like everyone else has said, you're being supportive.

If he loses interest and you continue to try and persuade him, that's when you get pushy.

Consider yourself lucky that you and your lad have a common interest.
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[Dark]

As long as he continues to show an interest in bikes carry on mate.
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My Bikes in order:- Yamaha RXS100 / Suzuki X7 250 / Yamaha RD350LC / Kawasaki
KR1S 250 / Kawasaki ZXR750 H2 / Honda C50 / Kawasaki ZX7R P5 / Kawasaki ZX10R / Suzuki GSXR 400 / Honda CBR1100 Blackbird & Yamaha FZR 600

[carsounds_dan]

keep at it, but only if thats what he wants. because otherwise he'll get confused and wont want to say no to u
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[NSR-Rulez]

Your not being pushy, but i wouldn't say keep at it.

So I think you are doing the right thing but you also have to think of things like practicality (cars) I didn't want a car at all, but this week i'm doing an intensive driving course, i am enjoying it but not as much as the bike.

So your best bet is to as you said, help him out with prep for his test and maintenence but also don't make him single minded and focused on only having a bike, hell both licences are helpful to have.

So keep being supportive in the bike side of things but also help out when it comes to driving a car aswell.

just my oppinion though.
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Past: 1985 Suzuki GS 125 + 2002 Honda NSR 125 R-2 + Ford Fusion
Present: Honda CBR 600 RR-5 + Suzuki SV650S-K4 + Mitsubishi FTO GPX

[map]

As said, don't believe it's being pushy.
You've just laid things out and it's up to him to pick it up or not.

BTW given a choice between a camper van and a bike it's a no brainer. However, if you had 'sportier' 4 wheels would it be as straightforward?
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...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?

[cestrian]

Sounds to me like your teaching him lessons that will stand him in good stead for the rest of his life. Keep at it.

g:

[cqueen]

I'm gonna be a well pushy dad.

[mikeoldcars]