Yeah, I'm waiting to see which one of my kids inherits my obsession with motorcycles. All we can do as parents is teach them to use their heads and ride defensively. There's very few second chances on a bike, vigilance and attention are key!
But if either of them end up with the same feelings about motorcycling as I have there's no way I can keep it from them. My mom tried, and failed. I showed up at home with an almost new Vmax at the age of 19. That was one hell of a first bike
unk:
It's true, I was 14 when a customer tried to give my parents an old CB350 as partial payment for some roofing (Mom and Dad were both carpenters/contractors), all three of us were there working this job. I jumped off the roof and ran over to this weathered CB350 leaning against the side of a garage. IIRC I was caressing it and he started it up and showed me the gears, clutch and brakes. I took off on it in such a fit of glee, everything was surreal. I do not come from a motorcycle family. There was no motorcycle in any part of my upbringing, ever.
They said NO NO NO!! they were pissed that I even took off on it. For the next week I pleaded, fussed, threw multiple tantrums, fought, threatened to run away and/or quite school, everything I could think of, I didnt let it die for a second. I beat that shit to death until I wore them down. All my waking moments were spent negotiating and fighting. They finally caved, I got the bike and the rest is history. It's the only time I got anything by not taking no for an answer. Never have I wanted anything so bad, I just HAD to have this marvelous magical machine!
I'll help my son get into the saddle after he's had more experience driving, he's actually a very responsible driver so there is that. If he conjures up the passion for it I'll have no choice, just as with guns, I'll have to teach safety, make him take courses and coach him. We did talk about how much fun a father & son tour would be.
My daughter drives like Guy Martin, I will do everything I can to keep her off bikes.
Oh yea. The young man in the video will be a motorcyclist. Might as well accept that now haha.