Dilema coming up son wants first road bike wife not happy

[oldpink]

its a bit away yet but my 15 year old son is already on biketrader and gumtree looking for a bike
nothing new there as he has a KTM 125sx and always wanting to sell it to buy a 450 moto x
which is fine in his mums eyes as he's off road and not among cars etc
but now he's looking at road bikes, well that was on the cards since he was about 4
when he got his first bike

he is set on doing his CBT as close to his 16th as possible and having a bike ready to go
I doubt he'll have any problem getting it so theres no stopping him
he has a part time job in a Garage thanks to a BCF member
and likes nothing better than working on bikes or engines of any kind
and therefore has money of his own (not a lot but he has time to save)

I did buy my oldest son a 125 when he was 17 but he's gone off bikes by then
(Music, Beer, weed, Girls in that order) and only goes out off road now and then if he can be assed
so youngest son expects me to fork out for said bike he wants Oh and its not a second hand scooter
he wants the Aprilia RS50 Biaggi rep well at least he has some taste in bikes

now the big issue is the Mrs
its not that she's anti bike far from it she watches Moto Gp and is well informed
she gave up on me long ago on the bike issue when I told her from my hospital bed
I'd already sorted out a bike to replace the one I'd trashed and put me there in the first place
she doesn't like the idea of our youngest (or any) of our kids out on the roads on a bike
and has already stated her case and will give me hell if I help in any way
god forbid the consequences if I get him the bike, I'll be in the doghouse for a year at least

I'll most likely get some stick from said son as well for posting this
he has an account here (recently) but he goes to a lot of bike stuff on the net
and knows a couple of BCF members through his job

any of you "Older" members been in this situation
do any of your "kids" ride bikes, now I know how my mum felt when I was 16
I had a bike for 3 months before she caught me coming out the newsagents
with the crash helmet on my arm and leathers and bike parked outside
got a right ear bashing for that one, as my father was a biker and had his fair share of off's
I was banned from owning one while under her roof and I got the "I Told You So" while in the
same hospital bed where future wife gave up on me
some 28 years ago at the tender age of 17 my one and only bad spill

how would / did you handle this situation ???
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I have become comfortably numb

Theory & hazard 24-may 2016, CBT 8th June 2016, MOD 1 2nd Aug 2016 Mod 2 2nd-Nov 2016 - Current bike CBR 600 RR

[dodsi]

Simples, Punch her in the tits and do her up the garry?


(this is so old it's now retro)

[stinkwheel]

I've always thought a combination of breaking them in gently and emotional blackmail are the best options.

For the first part, making sure the first bike is as unthreatening and non-motorcycle looking as possible. So some sort of "shopper" type moped that absolutely does not look like the ones you see young lads screaming round the town centre on.

Once she's used to that, you start with the "Well, it would be safer if he was riding a bike with better tyres and brakes to be honest and that wee thing doesn't really have the road presence oif a geared bike.". Etc.

For the second part, a sensible discussion along the lines of. Is is fair to have a 16 year old who is sensible enough to be holding down a job being entirely reliant on his parents for transport beyond bicycle range and outwith public transport hours/range? A greater degree of freedom is surely both deserved and appropriate, under current conditions, the only way of doing this is by moped.

Worked for me, although I was 25 before my old dear stopped insisting I called her on arrival (when she knew I was going somewhere).
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[G]

If nothing else, it'd seem fair to say you'll buy him a bike at 17 same as your other son - and suggest he spends his own money on a cheaper 50 at 16.
You could also suggest that how good a bike he gets at 17 will depend on how 'well' he rides on the road in the mean time; which may help placate your missus.

[oldpink]

[blurredman]

Tell her it's just a phase.

My mum thought my bro would be off bikes by now, but she has two sons riding instead hehe
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CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S, 1979 MZ TS150.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 18k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 10k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 52k.

[Tonka]

I've never had kids so not speaking from experience but I was a particularly bolshie and difficult child and haven't grown up much so my contribution to this would be; keeping things open to discussion and not out-right banned is the only way to maintain any control over it. If Mrs OP has an interest in Junior OP's bike and makes if very clear that she cares and notices stuff I'm sure he will be more careful/less reckless. If she 'flounces' or tries to ignore it the dangerous stuff will still go on, but just be kept quiet and probably only come to light once it's all a bit too late.

If he's gonna do it anyway, embrace it as a family and try and make sure he's as safe as he can be.

Just a thought!
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'The core of a man's spirit comes from new experiences'
Suzuki SV650S (Clean); Yamaha XT250 Serow (Dirty)