My son got his endorsement....

[customizedcreationz]

We worked on his 73 Honda today and we had to buy a new battery. So it had to be charged. So I figured what the heck and let him ride the Vmax.

How cool is it to have your dad let you ride his Vmax for your first real trip down the public road?!

I told him to practice in the shop parking lot first. Unfortunately he didn't have jeans on. So I was a little cautious.

Rode 50 miles after wards in gear. Road like a champ.

Said he wanted the Vmax. I am almost considering giving it to him...... :confused2:

 

[Traumahawk]

Congrats.....LOL....I can understand...but might need a bit of seasoning first before the Vmax becomes his.

 

[donnelly317]

Keep the max let him get some riding on the other bike to get familiar. With you let him ride the max and then give him a present next season??? I can't be one to talk I rode around town on a 86 honda enduro for 1 1/2 year (biggest trip about 50 miles ) then I got my FZR1000 (145hp @ the crank) LOL which I bought back and can't fricken wait to register

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Fire-medic]

Congratulations on having enough faith in his abilities to safely use the 'Max. Given his short term range of experience, I would say, rush to get the CB450 roadworthy, and let him use that as his primary ride. On occasion, allow him to use the VMax as a reward for demonstrating his ability to act in a responsible manner towards the privilege of operating a two-wheel motor vehicle.

I'm gonna say it again: my firm belief is that the best way to learn how to be ready to operate a road bike is to have lots of off-road experience. Marginal traction, sliding, threshold braking, hills, curves, fast starts and stops, it's all there, speeds are slower, and in most instances a get-off is much softer. It also reinforces the need to dress appropriately, to do required and preventative maintenance, and awareness of the responsibility of operating a motorcycle having consequences.

Frankly, I just don't believe that a VMax is a good permanent choice for a first-time rider, given its size, weight, and performance. On occasion, yes, as described above, but not as a daily ride.

 

[dannymax]

Congrats Todd....sounds like a great 'memory building' moment. :clapping:

 

[twistedmax]

COOL, I didn't realize you had a son that old. Only two people have ridden my Gen two, the other is my son.

I agree with FM, nothing like a few years or more in the dirt for experience. My son raced quads for five years and I rode dirt bikes when I was a kid, I think that's why I like "flattracking" my bike around the corners.

Todd it wont be long he'll be wanting the Bussa!

 

[invalidsession]

I have to endorse Fire Medics observations. A V Max is not for a beginner. It can get out of hand mighty quick no matter how confident you are and confidence in a Max is a dangerous thing. I gotta say though, congratulations on getting your son up on the road My wife is just now learning on a little 250 Honda and she's loving it.

Chris.

 

[Fastatv]

Kind of been there and done that with my son also, but it was with a 750 Honda. Will never forget his big smiles as he was riding around the neighbor hood, def made some lasting memories. I started him off on a CB 550, and he laid it down once, but he wasn't hurt, just a few scratches. I let him ride the Vmax once, he wont ride it again. He got on it hard, and it scared him, the weight, and the power. Anyway, enjoy, be safe.

 

[PATMAX]

It's all about maturity and respect. I showed up at my Motorcycle endorsement riding exam on my 1986. Back then, Ohio Highway Patrol administered the road course test. The Trooper about **** when I showed up on my new Vmax and specifically asked if I wanted to ask to borrow other test takers bike for the test. I remember I got a 95 but forgot why he nicked me for the 5 point infraction.
Only you know the boy best Todd and that should dictate your decision. What a Cool dad!

 

[invalidsession]

It's all about maturity and respect. I showed up at my Motorcycle endorsement riding exam on my 1986. Back then, Ohio Highway Patrol administered the road course test. The Trooper about **** when I showed up on my new Vmax and specifically asked if I wanted to ask to borrow other test takers bike for the test. I remember I got a 95 but forgot why he nicked me for the 5 point infraction.
Only you know the boy best Todd and that should dictate your decision. What a Cool dad!

I have a similar story Pat. I took my bike test and passed in 1978 but forgot to send in the paperwork and it expired four years later. I went through a succession of bikes and finally realised my lack of endorsement while I was the pilot of a Yamaha FJ1200. I rode the bike to the test center and the examiner almost chit a brick when he saw it. He loaned me a Honda CB125 to take the test (again). I passed and roared off into the distance on the FJ. The look on his face was priceless. He just stood there shaking his head.:eusa_dance:

Chris.

 

[Fire-medic]

I got my endorsement in MI back in the early '70's and it was probably on my CL77 Honda 305 Scrambler, I honestly cannot recall the exam. Hey, I'm close-to Social Security and take Ginko Viagra (so I can recall what the f___ I was thinking-about):biglaugh:. Back-then I was poor, couldn't afford but one bike, and liked to ride in the sand pits and trails around Battle Creek w/my friends. To be able to keep them in-sight, I ran a 4.00 full knobby in the rear, and would wear-out about 3 tires in a MI riding season. That lasted one year, until I saved my cash and bought a new Yamaha 360 Enduro, which lasted a summer before I made it a dirt-only ride, entering endures and hare-scrambles. That was much-more suitable for dirt fun!

I've kept it in-effect ever-since, and one of the reasons I live in FL is to be able to ride year-round. :eusa_dance:

Have fun riding w/your new riding-partner!

 

[customizedcreationz]

I started my son on dirt bikes around 12 years ago. He has ridden a succession of bikes and drag raced a bike for a short time when he was 8-10 years old on a built Honda XR 70 ( with a 120 cc 4 spd motor I built with cam, port work big carb, exhaust etc, ran 16's @ 82-84 mph 1/4 mile ). He moved up to a built CR 80 and ran that in the dirt for a couple years. During that time I had a couple CR 500's and a YZ 250. I think he may have even rode my XR250. But that thing was a heap of junk. I used to tell everyone if they could start the 500's they could ride them. Well he started one and I could back down on my offer. I think he was 13 when he rode that one CR 500. Which as you guys know is a complete beast. The 500's weren't as much fun being so torque filled you needed room to ride, we didn't ride in real open areas. The YZ250 he rode and wanted that , but after my motorcycle acciddent I didn't ride for a few years. I sold my YZ, but kept my Gixxer 750 and my 86 Vmax just incase. But sold them to purchase a machine for my shop. He never rode either one of those bikes. He took a hiatus from riding shortly after I had my acciddent, mainly because we rode together. But now he wanted to ride again and obviously on the street would give us more father son time.

Here is his ride. I ve owned this bike for close to 20+ years now. Only 5200 original miles on it. We redid the carbs yesterday and put a new batter in it.

My concerns weren't with the power of the Vmax, because its not a super scary monster unless you hit a corner too fast. And its weight. That was my biggest concern, that at slow speeds the weight would be hard. But he rode it like a champ. If I don't sell the bike this year, I might give it to him or let him buy it off me. Not 100% sure yet. But I would like him to start and get more street miles on a smaller bike and I am thinking even the CB 450 might be too old to really be a daily ride and maybe something like a Ninja 250 or Rebel 250 would be a good everyday rider.

Todd

 

[invalidsession]

Wifes ride is an 82 Honda CM250 Custom(pre Rebel) Zippy enough for short commutes and good around town but you have to rev the bejezus out of it on the highway. That 450 should be a little less frenetic and not much heavier. Ida given my left nut for that as a starter bike.

Chris.

 

[Traumahawk]

Now I understand....you son DEFINITELY isn't a new rider.

LOL...I work with a guy that likes the looks of my Vmax, and so talked to me about buying one. He is 56, and it has been over 25 years since he was on a bike. I talked him out of it. I told him flat out that the first moment that he didn't respect a Vmax, it would kill him.

With your son's experience now I understand why you were comfortable with him being on a Vmax. Tell him congrats on getting his endorsement.

 

[cgswss]

I think it would be an excellent "prize" for him if he kept his nose clean riding the 450 and behaving his self. Besides it means you would still have a VMax and might stay around here instead of going off to the land of Crouch Rockets.

Good luck!

 

[Fire-medic]

Yes, he's got the skills, I see that now. Still, you need maturity, and hopefully, your guidance has shown him that too. There are plenty of good used $2000-3000 bikes that will be cheap-enough to operate, and are fun to ride. Occasional VMax forays make a good segue to perhaps giving him his own key to it in several years, after am appropriate demonstration of no tickets. Okay, maybe one, it happens. Like an alcoholic, it's not so-much when you have your first drink, it's how-soon you have the next, and so-on.

 

[CrackerRican]

We worked on his 73 Honda today and we had to buy a new battery. So it had to be charged. So I figured what the heck and let him ride the Vmax.

How cool is it to have your dad let you ride his Vmax for your first real trip down the public road?!

I told him to practice in the shop parking lot first. Unfortunately he didn't have jeans on. So I was a little cautious.

Rode 50 miles after wards in gear. Road like a champ.

Said he wanted the Vmax. I am almost considering giving it to him...... :confused2:

Very cool, my son is getting his endorsement soon & maybe getting him a Fazer

 

[cgswss]

I started my son on dirt bikes around 12 years ago. He has ridden a succession of bikes and drag raced a bike for a short time when he was 8-10 years old on a built Honda XR 70 ( with a 120 cc 4 spd motor I built with cam, port work big carb, exhaust etc, ran 16's @ 82-84 mph 1/4 mile ). He moved up to a built CR 80 and ran that in the dirt for a couple years. During that time I had a couple CR 500's and a YZ 250. I think he may have even rode my XR250. But that thing was a heap of junk. I used to tell everyone if they could start the 500's they could ride them. Well he started one and I could back down on my offer. I think he was 13 when he rode that one CR 500. Which as you guys know is a complete beast. The 500's weren't as much fun being so torque filled you needed room to ride, we didn't ride in real open areas. The YZ250 he rode and wanted that , but after my motorcycle acciddent I didn't ride for a few years. I sold my YZ, but kept my Gixxer 750 and my 86 Vmax just incase. But sold them to purchase a machine for my shop. He never rode either one of those bikes. He took a hiatus from riding shortly after I had my acciddent, mainly because we rode together. But now he wanted to ride again and obviously on the street would give us more father son time.

Here is his ride. I ve owned this bike for close to 20+ years now. Only 5200 original miles on it. We redid the carbs yesterday and put a new batter in it.

My concerns weren't with the power of the Vmax, because its not a super scary monster unless you hit a corner too fast. And its weight. That was my biggest concern, that at slow speeds the weight would be hard. But he rode it like a champ. If I don't sell the bike this year, I might give it to him or let him buy it off me. Not 100% sure yet. But I would like him to start and get more street miles on a smaller bike and I am thinking even the CB 450 might be too old to really be a daily ride and maybe something like a Ninja 250 or Rebel 250 would be a good everyday rider.

Todd

Whats wrong with this picture???

Well Todd has owned it for 20+ years, AND ITS STILL STOCK!!!

 

[customizedcreationz]

I replaced the original tires last year