<p>He’s 24, single, with a good job, two years out of college.
Living the good life in the big city.
He took the course.
He has a license, insurance, and a helmet.
And a mom who is silently freaking out.
His dad/my husband is not so thrilled either.</p>
<p>He came by to see me with the bike (as a surprise) at work and at home yesterday – but I was out with the dog so I didn’t see him.</p>
<p>Virtual hugs appreciated.</p>
<p>Sending you a hug. MY 24 yo son, good job, 3 years out of college, married, bought a motorcycle about six months ago. Took the course, always wears a helmet and full leather gear. I am still freaking out. D-I-L just took the course and got her license endorsement, too. Every report of a motorcycle accident in the daily newspaper almost stops my heart.</p>
<p>Ugh! Sending hugs to you and prayers of safety to your child. </p>
<p>I would be freaking as well. I would probably be outright bribing my child by now…pick a car any car…lol</p>
<p>Knowing how I am, I would go into the kitchen, hand him a knife and ask him (dramatically) to just plunge it into my heart right now because it would be less painful than having my precious darling risking his life so callously.</p>
<p>Good luck to you!</p>
<p>You have my sympathies, cnp. I can relate, as S rides all over creation on his bicycle and has already had one accident. I’m a wreck just thinking about summer :(</p>
<p>Ick. I am so sorry. I broke up with a boyfriend in college because he promised my mother that he wouldn’t let me on his bike anymore, but I would not hesitate to use a similar technique if I thought it would be effective.</p>
<p>If he took the MSF motorcycle training course, he’s WAY ahead of the game. It is by far the best highway safety training available in the United States. I took two of the courses: the basic intro course on their motorcycles and the advanced course on mine. It’s nothing like driver’s ed.</p>
<p>When my daughter got her learners permit, the first thing we did was head to the parking lot at the local community college where the motorcycle course was given and do many of the same drills in the car – for example, all-out-slam-on-the-brakes-as-hard-as-you-can stopping drills.</p>
<p>We then spent the next month calling out situations on the road ahead that could become problems – a car backing out of a driveway, a car turning left that could turn into our path. On a motorcycle, you learn that you have to take safety into your hands. Blaming the other guy isn’t going to help you much. So, it’s a different perspective on the road that the MSF drill into you.</p>
<p>I think zoozermon’s approach makes the most sense.</p>
<p>:eek: cnp55, I feel for you!</p>
<p>DH and DS and DD all have their motorcycle licenses. Got them seven years ago. DH and DS still ride. DD has given up motorized transport, mostly (sold her car and her motorcycle).</p>
<p>Yes, people die on motorcycles, but most people don’t.</p>
<p>Make sure they have current donor cards, good safety gear, an excellent helmet, and make sure they take all the safety training they can get. Lots of it. They should also have concentrated practice sessions, preferably in huge empty parking lots, just as they did when they were learning to drive.</p>
<p>Make sure the motorcycle has good tires and nice bright lights. They should be using their lights 24/7. The brake lights that strobe for a moment when braking improve safety.</p>
<p>
Right. ER docs call them “donorcycles” for a reason.</p>
<p>Get him motorcycle safety books and a bright green reflective vest as gifts.</p>
<p>Oy. My heart started beating faster just reading the post. It’s not the driver of the cycle, but the other drivers on the road, the HUGE SUVs, those 18 wheelers, and the texters/talkers that I worry about. (although I’ve had motorcycle riders do crazy stuff around my car on the freeway that scared the $&*# (my censor) out of me!) :(</p>
<p>Virtual hug for sure!!</p>
<p>As long as he just goes up and down the driveway with it, I’d be fine. :)</p>
<p>Assuming that he rides at a reasonable speed (yes, it is probably unlikely), is it any less safe than riding a bicycle?</p>
<p>There have been a couple of incidents here in which motorcyclists were intentionally targeted by automobile drivers. There seems to be a real bias against them. I don’t know why.</p>
<p>The MSF course even goes into detailed safety strategies to always leave yourself an escape. For example, when stopping in a line of cars at a red light, pull up to the car in front at an angle so that, if a car approaching from the rear isn’t going to stop, you can just pop the clutch and drive up on the sidewalk. Always assume that the cars around you are going to do absolutely the worst possible thing. Motorcycle riding can be reasonably safe if done as very pro-active endeavor.</p>
<p>I always pumped the brake when stopped to flash my brake light until it was clear the car coming from behind saw me and was stopping.</p>
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<p>I felt much safer on a motorcycle than on a bicycle. Bicycles have all the safety risks of motorcycle, are even less visible, and don’t offer the avoidance capabilities or higher stability of a motorcycle.</p>
<p>I would be freaking out, too. I agree with iDad about bicycles, too. My H and WildChild are cyclists and it scares me to death. WildChild is now triathlon training, and I felt a lot better when he was only running. I bicycle some, too, and only occasionally do I feel totally safe.</p>
<p>But…do you drive your bicycle on the freeway? I have been hit while on my bicycle and now I will NEVER feel safe. In my 30 years commuting here in So Cal, Ive seen my share of nasty,deadly motorcycle wrecks. Bicycles? Not really. It is the vulnerability of the motorcycle combined with the speed on the freeway that really scares me.</p>