Breaking it to the parents..

[iamjustifyd]

It was always different for them :) and we will always be their kids. My mom doesn't like me riding but she sees that I always wear my gear and that I'm a good driver. She will always have that bit of worry for me tho and I guess that's a good thing :)

[iamjustifyd]

Congrats on the MSF coming up!! You will learn a lot that will help when you finally get on the street on your own bike :D

[NoRegrets78]

Thanks boss. Starting More Proficient Motorcycling today. The first one was really good.

[GSXR600K2_925]

I signed up for the MSF too1!! 2/18/2009 is my date!!! hooray

[hsartteacher]

Glad to hear it gixxer600!

[NoRegrets78]

Tell them you're 29, a grown man, have made the decision to get a bike. It's that simple. http://www.photoaide.com/img/i/X.gif

I agree. I can't believe how long this thread is. I mean you are a grown man, not a child.

Back in the thread, I posted I already had the talk and that they are surprisingly being supportive...no argument at all. All is well on the home front.

And I'm 30 now :eek:

[DRivera5FBGM]

So far my parents have the mind set that me on a bike is not happening. Now my mind set and my goal is to have a bike in April and be riding everyday from May 12th to August 24th. (The end of classes and then beginning of next semester) When I'm home, I bring up the fact that I'll be getting a bike in April and all hell seems to break loose, my mom gets all defensive and tells me why I shouldn't and why I won't. Then she tries to show her softer side by saying she doesn't want anything to happen to me and that she loves me and all that stuff. Then she tries to tell me why I don't need one by saying that I have my own car and truck and that I can never ride when it gets cold, rains, is windy, or snowing and that I can't bring it to school, which I wouldn't because college kids are surprisingly immature.

I usually counter each like this: when she tells me why I shouldn't I remind her that I've been riding dirt bikes since I was 11 and that's just as dangerous to an extent of course and that I've only fallen off twice and both were induced crashes from contact with another rider at the track. When she tells me I won't, I show her the the balance in my bank account and remind her that it's all my hard owned money that I have put away for my bike and all the gear to go along with the bike and my safety.

Then she'll go soft on me and I just remind her I'm not like the rest of hot head friends that she sees doing wheelies and spinning out after leaving my house right in front of her. They certainly don't help anything, I also then remind her I'm not like my uncle who used to own a 08 Ninja ZZR 600 and took me for a crazy ass ride on a long strip while my parents were behind us. He got it up to almost 130 and scared the living hell out of mom so he's also working against me now.

Then she tries to tell me about my car and my truck that I own and that those are perfectly fine for getting here and there and that I can always drive them regardless of the weather. But I always tell her that I want a bike because riding is something I enjoy, it truly is already a passion of mine and that if I could only ride it in the summer, I'd be happy with that because it was something I love to do.

By then she becomes very stubborn and simply says, I said no and you live under my roof. But I know that she couldn't think of any other reasons as to why I shouldn't have a bike.

Right now I'm still stuck at a stand still with my mom and my so distant father tries to tell her that I'm an adult now and I can make my own decisions. I know I could go get my bike right now if I wanted, but I'm not the type of kid who likes to disappoint his parents. I just wish there was a way they would trust me and just be happy that I made my own decision not out of immaturity but instead because when I put my mind to something I do it, especially when it comes to my passions.

I guess that's just a mom's nature... to worry haha

Oh and yes I'm taking the MSF course when it warms up and I've been riding for several months, but she still doesn't approve lol

[bigmike6970]

I would explain that you are taking the MSF course. maybe take them to the location that they do the course while they are doing a class so that they can see that you have thought this out and are trying to learn the right way and be as safe as possible.

Wonder if it would help to take mom and dad to the bike shop to show them all the safety gear that there is today. I am sure that when they think of the motorcycle they are thinking of the old days when there was very little safety gear. They may even decide to help you out with getting some of the gear, if they know you are set on getting a motorcycle.

Even at 38 my mom was not happy when I decided to get a motorcycle (thats what moms do they worry about their kids regardless of age) She had all the stories about the uncle that had an accident and all that also. I showed her the gear that I got like the helmet jacket and pants with all the pads and what not. It did not make her any happier but I think that it helps ease her mind a little.

[bronx]

this is how i broke it to my parents..

"mom and dad i need to tell you something, you know my friend rob. well were a little more then friends. were lovers and hes moving in with me"

my parents looked shocked..

then i said. "im just kidding but i did buy a motorcycle"

they were so relieved.

[pfcArtie]

yeah when i tuned 16 i got my car permit and wanted to go for my motorcycle permit too but my parents said i couldnt do it. tried to go for my motorcycle permit again at 17, still no luck. Right before i turned 18 i told my parents that i was going to get my permit at 18 whether they liked it or not, because i wouldnt need their signature and they kinda agreed for me to only get my permit. After hours and hours of me talking to them about gettin a bike, they finnaly led me get a 250 cause its the smallest i could find. So i'm glad theyre fine with the idea of me driving a motorcycle and they don't mind me getting an R6 this summer so i think i was really lucky.

[bigtim6656]

lol that just about made me kill over from laughing. Good way to break it to them. So did rob move in or just stay over. lol just joking. A friend of mine told his parents if they got him a dirt bike he would pass every class. He did got his dirt bike and within a week he was failing every class. he told them it was because he was spending so much time fixing the bike. They had a guy come to buy it and he got his grades back up.
I have heard alot of people talking about breaking things to the parents like there grades. Who there dating. What ever but your is by far the best, this is how i broke it to my parents..

"mom and dad i need to tell you something, you know my friend rob. well were a little more then friends. were lovers and hes moving in with me"

my parents looked shocked..

then i said. "im just kidding but i did buy a motorcycle"

they were so relieved.

[DRivera5FBGM]

this is how i broke it to my parents..

"mom and dad i need to tell you something, you know my friend rob. well were a little more then friends. were lovers and hes moving in with me"

my parents looked shocked..

then i said. "im just kidding but i did buy a motorcycle"

they were so relieved.


That takes the cake. My mom is a die hard Christian too... wow this would make me buying a bike look like a great a idea now haha

[NoRegrets78]

LMAO, that's awesome!

[Prodigy]

LOL that's hilarious great idea ah ah!

[Gooble]

That idea wouldn't work so well for me because my father would probably have choked the life out of me before I had the chance to tell him I was kidding.

[Arete]

I guess my attitude towards my parents has always been: I am my own person, with my own decisions to make. If I make decisions you can either support me in those decisions, or not. Either way, they are _MY_ decisions to make.

If they don't support you, then they don't support you. But it's your life to live. Please live it the way you choose.

[vito]

I started riding almost 40 years ago at age 25, and even though I was already married and had one son, my mom at 54 went bonkers! I am still riding, as a father of 5 and grandfather of 8, and my mom who is now 94 still gets upset about it. I tell her that she chose how to live her life, and I have chosen mine. When my sons rode I worried about them, but I was thrilled that they shared the love of motorcycling with me. Life is far too short, and too full of crises and problems to not enjoy the good moments. And few moments are better than when riding.

[NoRegrets78]

MSF starts tomorrow. Wish me luck!

[Dodsfall]

MSF starts tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Good luck. You will do fine.

[wutzcrack3n]

good luck :)

[roadster]

Dude, your 29 it's long past time you grew up. Sorry to say but it is sad that you are wanting advise from a bunch of strangers over breaking the news to your parents that you are going to buy a bike.

[NoRegrets78]

Dude, your 29 it's long past time you grew up. Sorry to say but it is sad that you are wanting advise from a bunch of strangers over breaking the news to your parents that you are going to buy a bike.

Thread recap...

I'm 30.

Had the talk with the rents...they were resistant but surprisingly cool with it. They understand I'm doing it the right way with all possible gear and not just hopping on and going.

See what you miss when you just read the first post in a long thread :D

[SOG]

I have also heard alot of stories about bikers get into accidents, but I seriously wonder if motorcycles actaully gets more accidents, so I looked it up, actually cars have more accidents than bikes.... but then again, it could be because there are less people riding bikes... but one thing worth notice is most accidents seems to happen in city, downtown area or on highway...

[roadster]

Thread recap...

I'm 30.

Had the talk with the rents...they were resistant but surprisingly cool with it. They understand I'm doing it the right way with all possible gear and not just hopping on and going.

See what you miss when you just read the first post in a long thread :D
Yes I should have read all the postings. Glad you are taking the MSF course. I took the MSF last year, great course. Enjoy the ride, be safe.

[danielchan]

Glad to log motorcycleforum.com, best wishes!

[MICopper11]

HA!! That reminds me of my dad. He's been a rider for the past 30 years. He told me that he did not want me to get a bike because of the other idiot drivers out there. He said that was part of the reason he sold his, because he wanted us to grow up with a father. The funny part is, no matter how bad he didn't want me to get a bike, he still gave me his old riding jacket for when I get one.

My mother went nuts at the idea of me getting the ZZR. But as soon as she saw it, she loved it. The color is what drew her to it.

[Ithinkimamaniac]

I was 16 when I told my mother I wanted a bike. She said hell no =\ but I kept at it, kinda slyly giving off hints and stuff for about 3 years lol. And now at 19 I got my mom to 100% finance my 2008 ninja 250 yay =D

[NoRegrets78]

I was 16 when I told my mother I wanted a bike. She said hell no =\ but I kept at it, kinda slyly giving off hints and stuff for about 3 years lol. And now at 19 I got my mom to 100% finance my 2008 ninja 250 yay =D

Yea I told my mom I went for the class and gave the update after it was over...she was very proud that I did so well just wants me to be careful.

Here's my eval thread http://www.motorcycleforum.com/showthread.php?t=90809