| Author | Message | ||
     Rek |
Howdy, I'm thinking of buying a Blast for my 17 y-old daughter. My wife of course strongley apposes the idea, suggesting she's too young etc. A neighbor has an '81 400cc Honda pretty cheap, but it's the quasi-cruiser style and she would rather have a sport bike. Can't say I blame her for that. Anyone out there ever put their daughter on a sport bike. What were the results? Thx, Rek | ||
| Darthane |
Well, my girlfriend was just about 20 when she went on her first rides on my Blast. Put her through the Rider's Edge course if possible - they learn on the Blast's. At least a basic MSF course. The Blast is a GREAT bike for beginners. Mine has taught four people to ride already, and I'm working on a fifth. Cheap, reliable, easy to handle. | ||
| Midknyte |
It'll be a couple of years driving a cage before I let my kids ride a motorcycle on the streets and I would implore the same to anyone else. The exception to that rule would be that I ride with them. Please at least consider that. She's in far more danger not knowing and understanding the absolute and sheer stupidity and disregard of other drivers than she is of being the cause of an accident herself. It takes a while for that to sink in... On a positive note - I wish I had a Blast myself to tool around on as a second bike. Color me jealous. (Message edited by midknyte on August 12, 2004) | ||
| Bluzm2 |
I echo Midnyte's concern. Having said that, I bought my daughter a Blast for her graduation gift last year. She doesn't ride it much but likes it when she does. She took the HD Riders Edge class first. Highly recommended BTW, they use Blasts for the road work. The class has more classroom time and ride time than the MSF version. It costs more but I feel it was worth it. She only rides when I'm with her for now. When I feel she's ready to go on her own, I'll let her know. She will turn 19 this month, but she still listens to the old man once in a while..... Brad | ||
| Whodom |
I don't know whether I'd trust my 18 year old daughter with a bike or not- it's hard enough seeing her drive off in a cage. At any rate, I wouldn't buy anyone (including myself) a new bike for their first bike. For one thing, it is very apt to get dropped a time or two. The depreciation on a Blast will be about 50% when you ride away from the dealer. Of course, that makes a used one a pretty good buy. My recommendations, if she really wants to ride: 1- Make her take MSF or Rider's Edge course. 2- Buy her a cheap but safe used bike. 3- If she's still riding after ~6 months, consider buying her something newer/sportier. Good Luck, Hugh (Message edited by whodom on August 12, 2004) | ||
| Bomber |
Rek -- the blast is a great bike for a beginer or re-entry rider -- you know, however, that anyone can get into trouble on anything if they apply themsleves . . . . I'd go with the Honda (or similar inexpensive scoot) for a first timer, all things being equal however, if the cruiser thing is a big turnoff, it may be a deal killer -- no good in buying a bike that won't be used, and, as amny can attest, Blasts suffer little crash damage when dropped at low speed, and are dead nuts easy to repair, if and when | ||
| Firemanjim |
Look at the Ninja 250,or maybe an EX 500,or SV-650,all light nimble and easy to ride.Or just get her a Derbi GPR-50.Water-cooled,six speed,Brembo brakes,upside down forks--and 50 cc's of rip snorting 2 stroke power,all in an exotic sportbike body. | ||
| Socoken |
Wow, this is crazy!! i had no idea so many of you had daughters my age!!!!!  FWIW, i got my cycle license about a month after i got my drivers license. i had been riding since i was six, but being a newbie has much less to do with actual riding skill than the mental skills it requires to be a good defensive driver. that said, where is she likely to do most of her riding, in town, in a city, or in the country? if she stuck mostly to the country, it would remove a large amount of danger. i would ride with her, in a cage, in traffic, and watch how she drives very closely. she pro-active or reactive? a second ahead of things or a second behind? she relatively safe or aggressive? then try and help her where she might need it when riding. have her drive her car, pretending she is invisible to other drivers. get her thinking about it, and see if she gets better. send her through a MSF course, whether she ends up riding or not, it should make her a better driver at least. | ||
| Newfie_buell |
Rek, My 12 yr old daughter rides a Blast. (Not on the Public Roads of Course) I am a Motorcycle Safety Instructor and sometimes I take her out to the closed compound we have and let her ride it. She has been riding dirt bikes since she was 3 yrs old and is quite competent with it. Get her the Blast - she will love it | ||
| Boomerm2 |
I highly recommend the Rider's Edge course and the Blast. My wife used a Blast while learning to ride because she liked them from the course. I was really impressed with the bike. It has enough power to keep learning riders interested but out of trouble. Also, it is very easy to handle. The part I like the most is that they seem to have designed it to take low speed spills and tip overs. Hers went down three times and only broke a turn signal once. | ||
| Ezblast |
Yeah - you don't have to buy new - 2002 on up are pretty bullet proof - the early ones had the rockercover gasket problem, leaner jetting, older style bearings, and a few bikes assembled late friday too close to quiting time. However, by 2002 they could do it in their sleep and quality level much improved vs. build issues. Got Thump?! Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ  | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
2 of my kids ride...well mopeds but they ride  And yes Ken you are a kid around here. I think at least a couple of mine are older than you. | ||
| Chaser |
Just give here the rules. TAKE THE MSF!!! WEAR GEAR!! (Fullface Helmet, Jacket with real armour(Joe Rocket), ect...) RIDE YOUR OWN RIDE KNOW YOUR LIMITS!!! DONT RIDE LIKE KNOW ONE CAN SEE YOU RIDE LIKE THEY CAN AND THEY ARE TRYING TO KILL YOU!!! Tell her the reason your taking out a big life insurance policy on her is so if she fails to follow the rules you can be rich. (Message edited by chaser on August 12, 2004) | ||
| Rek |
Thanks for all the input folks. It seems to be pretty much echoing our household here in MT, 50/50 for and against. That said I'm inclined to get her one, a decent little used number (post 2002, thx EZblast)and let her putt around after taking the safty course (of course!). It's not carved in stone yet as Momma ultimately has the final say (whether I admit it or not). Rek | ||
| Chaser |
2003+ blast had new internals for the motor. so 2003 + 2003 around here used go f0r 2500 +- | ||
| Crusty |
My older daughter will get my wife's Blast when she's old enough to get her learner's permit. My younger daughter will get the Blast 1 1/2 years after that. My wife, of course is going to get my M2, and I'm going to get an S3-T. Both girls will take the MSF Beginners course, as soon as they can after getting their Permits, but before getting their Blasts. I will drill the importance of defensive driving.(already do) | ||
| Rek |
Hey again, Tell her the reason your taking out a big life insurance policy on her is so if she fails to follow the rules you can be rich. the best and possibly the only advice yet that will be productive. Rek | ||
| Swampy |
My 14 YO son rides my spare Blast around on some of the back roads. Its a bike you can trust him on. | ||
| Fullpower |
yeah blast is a good choice. might also look at the ducati M620. my son is 13, he rides my 1458cc sportster, XB12, and moms 620 Monster. he is pretty careful, has had some practice with throttle control from learning to keep both sportster wheels on the ground. that life insurance seems an ethical dilemma to me. like putting a price on a family members head. a little uncomfortable. now putting one on some stranger randomly exiting a yamaha dealer ship with a brand new R1 might be a good gamble. | ||
| Chaser |
Make her read this. http://dcsportbikes.com/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=3&TopicID=10069&Search PagePosition=1&search=chaser&searchMode=allwords&searchIn=Author&forum=0&searchS ort=dateDESC&ReturnPage=Search The money was a joke / point. Fullpower the real dilema explaining to Laya why mommys gone Anyone wants to donate to Laya Please do http://dcsportbikes.com/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=3&TopicID=10312&PagePo sition=1 BTW Katie could outride us guys on our best days | ||
| Buellblastrider |
midknyte i can understand your concern but i personally think that i am a better driver because of the motorcycle. i look for things that normally i would never notice. i just felt like saying that, no offense or anything. oh Rek i have a 2000 blast and all though i have been working on it since i got it (bought it from Riders Edge and most of it has been my own little touches.) i highly recommend it, i'm 16 now (thats right Dyna completely legal) and i have had it since i was 14. Never been down. easy to flip around and balance. VERY FORGIVING BIKE. if she already knows how to ride then there will be no problem. If not, it could get much better on the blast. only complaint i have about teaching someone on it is the blast has a small "friction zone" but not hard to get use to |
