Cheapest Insurance for 50 year old dad and 17 year old son

Forum Sponsor
Keep in mind if your dad is 50, hes gonna be able to ride that super sport for all of about 5 mins, so it sounds like its probably for you.

Unless your dad looks like Schwarzenegger in his 20s
 
See PrivatePilot, I have no issue with your response because it is intelligent, not condescending and offers insight I can actually learn from. Thank you.

It's fair you would think that I'm not ready for a supersport, but my father is definitely ready for one even though his lack of insurance records might say otherwise. He is an excellent rider and rides as if his 20 year hiatus never happened. Riding skills don't disappear over time. He has been on sport bikes, cruisers, standards, basically everything under the sun other than a modern supersport. If that doesn't make you ready for a supersport, then what does?

The argument that we would be better served with a more modest bike has merit and like I said if I was in the market for a bike solely for myself I would most likely be looking at 300cc sports. However, I would argue that 99.9% of riders, seasoned or not, do not have the skill to handle the full capabilities of supersport bikes. They are effectively track bikes that are street legal, and unless you happen to be a MotoGP rider or something, you will never be able to say that you're truly able to justify owning a supersport. The reasons some people want supersports for the street, my dad and I included, is because they are gorgeous, lightweight and powerful bikes that can serve as excellent 'Sunday drive' bikes when ridden responsibly and safely. Not everyone who owns a supersport is trying to be a track star out here on the streets.

But I digress. I fully expected people to try to steer us away from the supersports because of my age, and that's 100% understandable. I can see how I might come across as a typical brash 17 year old kid who isn't ready for any motorcycle, nevertheless a supersport, and no amount of persuasion from me will convince you otherwise. We can agree to disagree.
 
Haha yes, my dad loves everything about the supersports except for the seating position. It'll definitely take some getting used to.
 
MicSpartan said:
GateKeeper, it seems you are unable to respect my opinions which is what I have an issue with. I welcome constructive criticism, the entire purpose of me joining this forum is to learn and grow as a person and a rider. But I detest when people talk down to me simply due to my age, as you have been. As a seasoned rider, you should be encouraging and providing a positive experience to newcomers, not demeaning them. Especially if they have not antagonized you. If you have anything to say that I can learn from, I welcome it. Have a good day and ride safe.

I will be posting information about my best quotes on a few models of bikes we are looking at by this Saturday, stay tuned if you'd like to see that.
Click to expand...

MicSpartan said:
See PrivatePilot, I have no issue with your response because it is intelligent, not condescending and offers insight I can actually learn from. Thank you.

It's fair you would think that I'm not ready for a supersport, but my father is definitely ready for one even though his lack of insurance records might say otherwise. He is an excellent rider and rides as if his 20 year hiatus never happened. Riding skills don't disappear over time. He has been on sport bikes, cruisers, standards, basically everything under the sun other than a modern supersport. If that doesn't make you ready for a supersport, then what does?

The argument that we would be better served with a more modest bike has merit and like I said if I was in the market for a bike solely for myself I would most likely be looking at 300cc sports. However, I would argue that 99.9% of riders, seasoned or not, do not have the skill to handle the full capabilities of supersport bikes. They are effectively track bikes that are street legal, and unless you happen to be a MotoGP rider or something, you will never be able to say that you're truly able to justify owning a supersport. The reasons some people want supersports for the street, my dad and I included, is because they are gorgeous, lightweight and powerful bikes that can serve as excellent 'Sunday drive' bikes when ridden responsibly and safely. Not everyone who owns a supersport is trying to be a track star out here on the streets.

But I digress. I fully expected people to try to steer us away from the supersports because of my age, and that's 100% understandable. I can see how I might come across as a typical brash 17 year old kid who isn't ready for any motorcycle, nevertheless a supersport, and no amount of persuasion from me will convince you otherwise. We can agree to disagree.
Click to expand...

MicSpartan said:
Haha yes, my dad loves everything about the supersports except for the seating position. It'll definitely take some getting used to.
Click to expand...

you really need to read what you write

just read the bold portions and you get what I mean....
 
Also, keep in mind, on a motorcycle everything is magnified.

And the more powerful it is, the more things are magnified.

What does that mean?

Acceleration is magnified, braking is magnified, handling is magnified.

If on a regular street bike you make a mistake, you might walk away scared.
It wont try to chop your head off for accidently twisting the throttle too hard because you hit a hard pothole.

Or for accidently braking too hard because you were covering the front brake, and you grabbed all of it while going 60 km/h because of a speed bump or pothole.

On a supersport all your errors are magnified. One small error becomes a bigger problem in a hurry. On a ninja 300 or an R3..that might mean you get 'shook' but come home with the bike and you, both in one piece.

On an Fz 07, that might mean the front wheel comes up, or the bike wheelies(as they like to do), or you go down with a couple of scrapes.


On a supersport you might not make it home.

There's a reason why all the old heads and older riders give specific advice like this , its not because they think your young and dumb, its because people make mistakes, EVERYONE does.
The difference is with little street seat time, a mistake (and i guarantee you WILL make them) on a supersport is deadly

#endrant
 
You really need to understand what I write. The whole point of my middle paragraph in that post was to prove that no rider can claim they can truly justify owning a supersport from a performance aspect, but performance isn't everything when it comes to riding. Which is why there are some riders that can enjoy supersports in a safe and responsible way on the streets.

Bolding the phrase 'typical brash 17 year old kid' also proves the point of that sentence, which was that no amount of persuasion from me will convince some people that I am able to ride a bike like that. You are one of those people. That's perfectly fine.

Admittedly I do not understand your intentions behind bolding 'my dad loves everything about the supersports except for the seating position'. If you could kindly explain that.
 
There are inherent risks to riding which yes, are amplified by supersports. Mistakes will happen, I agree. No rider is perfect. I am not disputing that supersports are more dangerous than other types of bikes. However, the we're willing to take the higher risk. Thanks bigpoppa.
 
MicSpartan said:
.....Admittedly I do not understand your intentions behind bolding 'my dad loves everything about the supersports except for the seating position'. If you could kindly explain that.
Click to expand...

You would understand if you were over 50 and have ridden a newer SS. Older bodies don't like to be bent into the position all that long....in general. That's why I'm on a sport bike instead of a race replica. Still has the performance without being twisted into a pretzel.
 
Oh no, I understand why my dad isn't thrilled with being hunched over on a supersport in his fifties haha. He's a pretty small guy though and in good shape for his age so hopefully he should be ok. My question was to GateKeeper asking why he bolded that passage as supposedly he thinks it proves I 'contradict myself', and I am unable to see how.
 
@MicSpartan tldr; sometimes the written word can be seen 2 ways. @GateKeeper has always given solid advice. Best advice that you've already said: agree to disagree.

Sent from the Purple Zone
 
MicSpartan said:
It's fair you would think that I'm not ready for a supersport, but my father is definitely ready for one even though his lack of insurance records might say otherwise.
Click to expand...

No, he's not. Go read Bigpoppas response below. A mistake made on a cruiser, standard, or even a modest sportbike is going to be forgiven. A mistake on a SS, not so much, and if you honestly think that your father isn't going to be rusty after minimal appreciable riding in two decades, well, you (or he) is mistaken.

Why do I feel that way? Keep reading.

MicSpartan said:
Riding skills don't disappear over time.
Click to expand...

Oh hellllllll yes they do.

Again, why do I feel that way? Because up until a few years ago I myself had a two decade long absence from riding.

You see, much of what I'm saying here is from personal first hand experience. Both the "I want a supersport, I know what I'm doing", as well as the now looking back on things 25 years later having returned to riding.

When I was 19 I had a 900CC high performance (at the time) sport bike and I was involved in a wreck. It wasn't my fault, but as with all things motorcycle, right or wrong the rider typically always loses, and I was no exception. I have a big nasty scar on the left side of my neck now to show for it after spending some time in the hospital and getting over 100 stitches. Even though I was not held at fault, had I been a better more experienced rider, looking back on it several decades later (now, as a much better and more experienced rider) I often think I could probably have avoided the accident all together.

So, several decades later...I come back to riding and it didn't take me long to realize that I was not only rusty, but I remembered my history. I took some training, and I spent a lot of time rebuilding my skills to the point where I felt comfortable again...and then last summer I rode 15,000 event free Kilometers.

The *last* thing I would have felt appropriate would be to immediately buy a twitchy 100+HP supersport and dive back into things headfirst, thinking I was neither rusty, and that I had somehow *gained* skills during a 20 year absence to the point where I would have been safe on said bike.

So, with all due respect, riding skills DO disappear with time, not to mention that skills from 20 years ago (on 20 year old technology bikes) don't automatically translate to today, either. I did things on my 900CC bike that if I tried to do on a modern day equivalent would probably bite me in the *** in short order.

The mantra "never stop learning" is something I've come to appreciate with riding. In a few weeks I'm headed for more training with some friends, as well as a first aid refresher, and I consider it an opportunity to further hone my skills.
 
And yes, I'm a few years your dads junior, but unless he's as fit as a 20 year old and doesn't have all the aches and pains that old people have (I know all about them) there's a good chance that he's going to despise the supersport in short order from a comfort perspective.

Personally, I know I could do about 30 minutes before I'd have to get off, and the getting off part would probably be a time consuming lesson in de-pretzeling myself.
 
bought my 1st R1 3years ago, I'm 57, sold it last year and bought a 2016 r1 love the bike have been on a 1500km trip last summer and going on another 1700km trip this summer no problem with being 50 something and riding long trips . your dad will love the suppersport but it is defiantly not for you yet. A 300 would be a perfect size for yourself for those 1st couple years
 
^^ I'm jealous of how apparently flexible and pain free you must be at 57. Life goals. ;)
 
Has anyone responding actually ridden a modern 600? It's about as tame as a kitten until you wind it out. Have the same people ridden a modern 450 mx bike? 50hp, 250 lbs and geared to go!
Op tell your dad to buy what he wants (I bet he doesn't keep a ss long at his age) and enjoy.
All kinds of people will tell you that dirt doesn't translate to street, it translates a lot more than some think.
Certain members seem to think that it's their personal job to keep younger people (and apparently their dads) off of ss bikes.

Sent from my SM-A500W using Tapatalk
 
his dad might be able to control his wrist, but i doubt a 17? year old can on a SS.


Buy what you want, but you have been warned.
 
Good advice Joe, thanks.

PrivatePilot, that's a great story and obviously that accident had a lot of impact on you as a rider and made you the rider you are today. Glad to see you still have an open mind and willingness to learn. I like to think I have the same mindset, as does my dad.

Now, while your first-hand experience is indeed valuable and has merit, my father has also had first-hand experience quite similar to yours actually. He was always the type to wear gear and ride properly, even though most other people in India at the time did not. Like you, he was in an accident that was not his fault. It was a hit and run and he was left on the side of the road to die. He would have died for sure if it had not been for a keen roadgoer that spotted him and his bike lying in the ditch on the side of the road. Like you, he says that he probably could have avoided the accident if he had the experience he had when he did when he was 30. Basically what I'm trying to say is, you and my dad aren't all that different except for the fact that he says he hasn't lost his riding skills. Now, from what myself and others have seen this appears to be true. Including the MTOHP instructor who asked why my dad was bothering to take the course as he performed almost every maneuver flawlessly. You could be correct in the fact that he might be mistaken, and he's just been lucky so far. But, everyone has their own life experience and everyone is different, so perhaps both you and my father are right. Some will lose riding skills after years of not riding, others may not. Thanks for sharing your story, very inspiring!
 
From the few times I've ridden a supersport so far I've been able to control myself, but if we actually buy one that might be a little tough haha. Maybe a couple track days here and there would be a good idea. :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom