250cc bikes OK for a 15 year old? Which bike? By jensenbreck (Read 710 times)

[jensenbreck]

Hii...





Would you get one for your kid? Why or why not? This would be for back and forth to school and to a job, mainly. No freeway travel nor "dangerous" roads. He stated last night one road he'd avoid at all cost because "People drive like berkelying idiots on that road."



Second question is, what bike? I know almost zilch about motorcycles. Searching CL, I can specifically type in 250 or 250cc, but something tells me there's still a bunch I'm missing. He's said that he does NOT want a moped, but we'll see. So far, I've found Ninja 250's, Honda Rebel 250's and a couple of Korean brands (Dong Fang?). I know there were lots of classic bikes in the 250 range, but have no idea what to look for. Of course, he leans more towards the Ninja, but he likes classic cars and some of the classic bikes he's seen. He's already said that if we got a Ninja, he'd want to convert it to a cafe' racer style.

Thanks..!



For More Details:



Wearable Product Demo

[cyborg]

Get the rebel

[lostforawhile]

that's a decently big bike and fast enough to get into serious trouble make sure he takes a safety course

[richardv]

Definitely with the safety course no matter which you get. I think he would be safer on the Ninja.

[rks]

Preface to my comments:
1st motorcycle/motorbike...52 years ago
38 years as a commercial driver, in that time frame, over 4 million miles operated.
Have seen countless fatal accidents traveling those miles
At 70 years old, I still have 2 good knees, hips, shoulders.....and truely enjoy riding all 4 of my bikes (including my scoot)
Close calls?....Lots of them
Crashes?.....Zero

15 years old, first road bike a 250cc? Maybe... if he'd been doing dirt/trail machines since age 10......otherwise, no way. Something a bit tamer will get him to school or work just fine. Llike all of us, he will make mistakes, and be affected by the mistakes of other drivers. Hopefully, when someone does something stupid in front of him, he isn't going 70mph, with insufficient time to take corrective action. He has plenty of time for bigger bikes.....let him get some road experience first.

[ucwt]

Back story on the kid?

Has he rode dirt bikes, quads, mini bikes?

Has he rode bmx/mountain bike? Not meaning have they put cards in their spokes and rode around the block but has he jumped it and pushed it to the extremes?

Kids now a days are a little farther along than kids back in the 60s 70s and 80s In regards to Knowlage and use of motorized implements but ultimately it is up to you and how you feel about it.



We are not you and don't know of him and his abilities so teach and buy accordingly.



As far as the bike keep it as new as possible to keep gremlins and mechanical failure to a minimum.

[crwford]

I think a Ninga is the worst for a beginner rider even with a safety course a 125 or 150 cc is more then enough to go to school and work. Now saying that a few year back lost a few friends on those type of bikes they found them selfs over the hoods of cars never to be seen again. The speed seems to get to the riders head and off as fast as they can go. Now on the 150cc tell him prove he self take of it and himself then your see and it's better then walking and it's no moped it will get him a ticket or to. As far a china bikes they are good look at there country that's all they use that's the main way to get around. By the way a moped is a bike with pedals and a motor I never said that here it's more like a 50cc also with pedals