Advantages of a bike over a car?

[Yupty]

Ok, so my parents think me getting a bike when I'm 17 is a terrible idea. I've been trying to convince them. I want to be able to get around whenever I want instead of getting the bus - but I don't want to buy a car right away and pay for driving lessons at 17.

I want to be able to get around - but not buy a car! Can you imagine the insurance for a car at 17? It will cost more than the actual car. Simply won't afford it.

I need to convince my parents that a bike is a good idea. They say bikes are way too dangerous. I'm not a person to show off or do stupid things. I've already explained I'll only be able to do about 40mph on the thing. :/

[shaanaleem92]

You mean 70 mph

[P.addy]

You'll be able to do 70 on it.

It is dangerous, accept it or don't try to ride, you are small and insignificant on the road in comparison to 1.5 tons of metal.

I just went and got a bike when my parents said no.

[shaanaleem92]

But yes bikes are a lot cheaper than cars at the age of 17.. Only dangerous if your stupid

[Alice-In-Sunderland]

My dad didn't like me getting a bike, I just told him to stop being a faggot and he let me? Maybe try this with your parents?

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Car license 1st.
____________________
Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[P.addy]

[Yupty]

[Yupty]

Wow I didn't know a 125 could do 70?! Never really looked it up though, never thought it would be that powerful...

[Alice-In-Sunderland]

[Yupty]

[von1papen]

Motorcycling is more dangerous that driving a car, however so are many things including the age old horse riding example.

I would add that I do think it depends what sort of roads and traffic you drive in too, some areas are particularly bad. Tootling around the shops and to uni in non rush hour times are in my own experience fairly safe.

On a bike you have more awareness and visibility and are more likely to avoid an accident. However if you have one the results are more dire than in a car.
____________________
Honda CG125<Honda CM200< Kwak GT750 (SOLD) < BMW R65

[Ste]

[obvious] Cars are also dangerous, especially in the hands of young male drivers. [/obvious]

[Craig321]

I'd still get my car licence if I was you (and I did at your age) even if you're not going to drive for now. It's something well worth having.

If your parents refuse just wait until you're 18 (or now) and get a bike anyway
____________________
Sept 2012 - Current: Hornet CB 600 F4 '05
Aug 2011 - Sept 2012: CBF 125 '09

[shaanaleem92]

[Rogerborg]

[Corvus]

Parents worry about their kids. We don't want them to make the same mistakes that we do, and even those of us who ride still get the collywobbles at the thought of our offspring getting a bike.
I have first hand knowledge of how you can and will be hurt, no matter how careful you are as a rider. I would hate the thought of either of my children riding. I know this is hypocritical, but hey - we can have very conflicting ideas all at the same time.
In spite of nearly losing my leg in a smidsy, do I still ride? Oh yes.
Do I want my kids to ride? Nope, it's too dangerous out there.
____________________
If men had wings and bore black feathers, few of them would be intelligent enough to be crows.

Currently riding SV650

[Christoffee]

I use my horn liberally. My CBT instructor tooted everything.
____________________
Bike: CBF125

[Paris2]

Pros:

You will get there quicker
It will cost you less

Cons:

You WILL be cold
You WILL get wet
You are in danger the whole time

But damn will you look cooooool*




*when you eventually have a big bike
____________________
Current Ride: Daytona 600

[Teflon-Mike]

Motorcycling is DANGEROUS! - Will I REALLY kill myself??

There is a section devoted to dealing with concerned parents/missus/ other parties.

Basically, its an emmotive reaction; and it's correct. Bikes ARE dangerous.

You need to get out of the argument and into 'discussion'... end of the day its all relative, and while biking IS dangerous the emotive reaction to it tends to magnify it.

But the 'Logical' arguments; like the fact that they probably stuck you on a push bike aged 7 and never made such a fuss when at 14 you were bouncing off kerbs on a bmx without a safety hat; or that they wouldn't bat an eye-lid at asking you to go up a step-ladder with an electric drill to put a shelf up for your mum; and if you said you were going out on the town on a Friday night, they would as like give you a tenner for a taxi home; and ALL those things are 'about' as dangerous as riding a motorbike.... will NOT get you anywhere, util you address the reason for their 'Gut' reaction.
____________________
My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[-Matt-]

I did the same, had the same concerns aired from family, friends and everyone. Was the first person in my year to get a 'proper bike' after most having a ped at 16 and getting a car at 17.

Main benefits id say were saving a LOT of money in terms of car cost (unless you get lucky with a banger thats got life left in it). Insurance is a lot cheaper than a car. It isnt cheap though for a 125 which is all id consider at your age itll be a good few hundred probably, but you will save a ton on tax and fuel costs too. Id avoid anything below a 125, in my opinion riding at 30-40mph on 60-70mph roads with idiotic impatience car drivers is unfortuantely asking for trouble sooner or later.

Downsides are of course cold and wet in winter, you need good gear and you need to budget this in but its still all vastly cheaper overall. I liked bikes so much i didnt bother doing my car test until i was 22 by which time i had my current 636cc bike, and then it was only as the mrs forced me to get a car . It is nice to have a car in winter but id never give the bike up for it. And once you start biking young when you get to the age to do your bigger tests/ride bigger bikes youll be able to get insurance for nice ones tha doesnt wipe your bank out of you can build some NCB up.

Regards safety, its as safe as you make it. Remember your training. Read up on riding techniques or furter training if you have time and money for it and you have as good a chance as anyone if you remember youre not immortal

Also with the knowledge a cage is 'protecting' you in a car i think my attention would of lapsed and id of have some bumps n crashes in a car as my 17 year old self. On the bike youre aware you cant lapse for a minute or its likely to end painfully. This benefitted my greatly when i finally did do my car driving, passed with 0 mistakes and felt very comfortable with road awareness

[Hefty]

You don't have to worry about Parking. (much)
You don't have to worry about Traffic. (not as much as cars, anyways)
You look cool. (results may vary)
It's cheaper than driving. (eventually)
You get nuff gash. (results definetely vary)
You get nodded to by people you never met.

You get wet. (some people like that sorta thing)
Nowhere to put the shopping. (rucksack, tank bag or topbox)
You can't take all your mates on a roadtrip. (you can however go on rideouts..)
Transit vans and minicabs try to kill you on a daily basis.
____________________
'13 Honda CBF125 // '99 Suzuki SV650s // '98 Honda CB600F Hornet

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

It's more fun.

I could go on, but ultimately there is really no more to it than that.
____________________
"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[Derivative]

Simple.

Ask them to buy you a car, pay for the insurance, and get you lessons.

If not, tell them you're getting a bike because you can't afford a car.

Job done.

I don't know why you'd even bother with anything else at all. Put up or shut up.

I like bikes. I also like cars. I'd have a car if they cost the same as my CB does and could filter.

[Rogerborg]