Posts
87
Joined
12/11/2013
Location
Salem, MA, USA
Edited Date/Time
1/18/2014 5:45pm
So I've had this problem for years now. I've wanted to start riding dirt bikes about 3 years ago and my parents always said it would never happen. I love watching races, I love just everything about the sport. I'm now a Sophomore in high school and I'm getting to that age where passions and things you want to do and would love to do aren't possible anymore. My parents want me to focus on school (Which i agree with and work really hard in school), and getting my permit and license and a job and all this stuff. I finally have almost enough money saved up to get into riding and my parents are completely adamant about me not riding. They have a few reasons, and I see their point and respect them for that, but they don't understand where I'm coming from:
1. They don't want me getting hurt
I completely understand and Ik this is a dangerous sport, but in reality, compared to other sports like hockey, football, skiing, snowboarding, skateboarding...it's not that different. I longboard and race bmx and do some street and to me that's equally, if not more dangerous. I mean going 30+mph on a piece of wood on a road with crazy drivers, no brakes......I mean really...
2. Wasting my money
This bothers me the most. If have a passion that you think you can make something out of and something you will greatly enjoy, you are not wasting your money. They say I should put it away for gas money when I get a car and money for my car and all this stuff, yea Ik it's important, but too me life is too short to worry about your future and how I need to save gas money. I mean I would rather walk everywhere and have a dirt bike, than have a car and not be happy because I'm not following a strong passion I have.
I understand where my parents are coming from and I love them to death and respect them, but it bothers me when every time I bring it up they either yell at me or just completely ignore me about it. I try to tell them just because I get a bike doesn't mean I need to race like the super cross pro's, doesn't mean I need to go 50 feet in the air, doesn't mean I need to push myself to the limit. I want a bike to just ride, because to me being on a bike is just amazing. When your riding you can just let everything go and just focus on the moment. I've been bullied and picked on my whole life and that plays a huge role in why I want to ride. I feel like you can throw on a helmet and the gear and if your a good rider it doesn't matter what you look like. I just want to be able to have something that I can challenge myself with and keep myself going with, something to motivate me. Please guys help!!! Is the sport really as dangerous as people say it is? Should I continue to try and ride or just give up and stop trying?
1. They don't want me getting hurt
I completely understand and Ik this is a dangerous sport, but in reality, compared to other sports like hockey, football, skiing, snowboarding, skateboarding...it's not that different. I longboard and race bmx and do some street and to me that's equally, if not more dangerous. I mean going 30+mph on a piece of wood on a road with crazy drivers, no brakes......I mean really...
2. Wasting my money
This bothers me the most. If have a passion that you think you can make something out of and something you will greatly enjoy, you are not wasting your money. They say I should put it away for gas money when I get a car and money for my car and all this stuff, yea Ik it's important, but too me life is too short to worry about your future and how I need to save gas money. I mean I would rather walk everywhere and have a dirt bike, than have a car and not be happy because I'm not following a strong passion I have.
I understand where my parents are coming from and I love them to death and respect them, but it bothers me when every time I bring it up they either yell at me or just completely ignore me about it. I try to tell them just because I get a bike doesn't mean I need to race like the super cross pro's, doesn't mean I need to go 50 feet in the air, doesn't mean I need to push myself to the limit. I want a bike to just ride, because to me being on a bike is just amazing. When your riding you can just let everything go and just focus on the moment. I've been bullied and picked on my whole life and that plays a huge role in why I want to ride. I feel like you can throw on a helmet and the gear and if your a good rider it doesn't matter what you look like. I just want to be able to have something that I can challenge myself with and keep myself going with, something to motivate me. Please guys help!!! Is the sport really as dangerous as people say it is? Should I continue to try and ride or just give up and stop trying?
Maybe you can make them a deal: you promise your grades will increase a reasonable amount and then you make that happen. The bike goes away if your grades fall back down.
You come up with a good sales pitch about how you won't get hurt. You'll take a course, etc.
Worse case scenario: you wait a few years and buy the bike when you move out. I had to do that with my street bike. My license plate said "sory mom" and I took a picture next to it on my new street bike when I was gone and saved up enough for it. We still laugh about it now, but that was their deal. Dirt, no street. At the end of the day, it's their rules until you move out and support yourself. And they only want to stop you from it because they don't want to see you get hurt. It's something I grapple with about my son now: he's only 4, but that's when I started. But kids weren't hucking 120 ft. triples back then. It's pretty dangerous now and I worry about my own safety regularly despite having almost 40 years of experience.
I'm pretty sure if you asked anyone on this site, who has tried to ride at their "best"(fastest), if they have been busted up bad you will get a 100% response ratio
Crsip BRAAAP! up above nailed it pretty much.
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But, to answer your question - yes, it is as dangerous as it looks. Especially in the beginner stages, which you will be going though in the event you score a bike to ride. But if you start slow, know your limits and give respect to the danger you can learn and grow as a rider. It takes years to learn how to get around a track "safely" but your BMX background will help for sure. If its what you want, go for it. All of the things you are looking for that you mentioned above can be found behind a set of handlebars.
Buy ALL the gear first. Full chest pro, knee braces, neck brace, expensive helmet and boots. When it comes to dirt bikes there are two types of people: Those who have been down, and those that are going down.
If your 'rents won't budge, simply come up with a plan of when you will start riding. Money for the bike, gear, transportation, upkeep and where you can store it at. It's more expensive now then it ever has been, and you need to be prepared for that.
Good luck.
her boyfriend at the time,now husband,had a motorcycle in the past.
one day,i approached them while mom was in a very relaxed moment,asked for x amount of money to match the amount in my pocket to get first mini bike.he reached into his pocket ,although mom wasn't for it,then gave me safety rules etc as I thankfully took money.
moral of story,timing.
I can say this much,the passion you have seems to be the same as what I had.
I didn't have erge to drink back then,but something tells me,i could of gone that direction if never got into bikes.maybe that may wake them up.
keep your grades up if you do end up buying a bike.show them you area responsible young adult.
well,you will take your spills during the learning curves.how you approach your riding can be safe or risky.i went safe ,baby steps.and I mean baby steps.first race started last.lol.protective gear! emphasize to them you don't want to do this sport without protective gear.your are their baby.the more you vocally express protection for injuries,the easier their guard will drop.
also x2 as to what MIKE OXMALL said above.
If there is no convincing them then just wait. One day sooner than you think you can make that decision all by yourself. I am 46 and have never lost the itch to ride.
Way more bicycle injuries than moto.
Pat
it's not if, it's when.
walking around the house after breaking bones and being in a cast to hear your mother say " I told you so" isn't worth the risk.
Show it to them... that'll convince them fo sho!
Whats Sam going to do, blow $2000 on some old dirtbike that will cost him every time he goes riding? WITHOUT SUPPORT FROM HIS PARENTS he wont be able to do afford to maintain and ride his cheap old bike he will buy.
They're being realistic. They dont want... OR CAN'T AFFORD....to spend money on this and they can see him coming to them for help in his new "passion".
Sucks for Sam I know, but we all cant be blessed with parents who will spend the money that it takes for us to even sniff the enjoyment of mx.
Pit Row
It is in my opinion, the funnest thing in the world to do. I have nice bikes, but my cars are not so nice, priorities. Like you said, it's your life, but you have to live with your parents rules for now. In the beginning, you could get bummed, bike breaks, you have bad crash. With bmx background, you will be able to ride decent. And boy will it be fun. Thing is, bikes are so good, you will feel like superman in the beginning, even though frankly, you suck. You will actually go way bigger and faster than you thought you could go, but you should really take baby steps, make sure you are good to go, not just 'go for it'. Try to balance the feelings of being superman and worried about getting hurt. Just ride like you know how, push a bit here and there, until you get comfy, then push a bit more. No showing off, or thinking you can actually go fast, because things can happen too quick, work up to things at an easy pace. Remember, even the very best crash, alot!
ask them to reflect back into their life and they will realize the money they wasted away on a lot of stuff.
His first post clearly stated he knows quite a bit about moto. He's aware it's dangerous, he isn't 6 years old.
Do what you can that get that bike, kid. But if your parents aren't adamant about it, don't worry, you have many MANY years ahead of you for motocross and dirtbikes.
A lot of guys start out on BMX and then naturally transition to moto. They usually have quite the knack for it as well
Racing moreso. Especially in a pileup.
Way more chances of getting hit or hitting others.
Being that you say you have been picked on and bullied your whole life I would recommend getting some self defense training and commit to being incredible at it. Not advocating fighting in anyway, but to know you can is not a bad thing.
As for convincing your parents to let you ride there is some great advice in this thread already. I think if you could get your parents to meet some other parents with kids that ride would help a lot.
Good luck with everything.
However ....if you progress at a reasonable pace and advance as your abilities allow......I think you would be just fine. Ive been in the sport for about 24 years now and like you got a very late start with it. (first bike at 18) I advanced fairly quickly and became pretty decent at it and though I have had a few misshapps and have been injured, most of those injuries were in actual competition. I no longer raced the past 8yrs but I ride my own SX style track 3+ days a week during the summer and have had no injuries more than taking some good sized rocks and hard dirt clumps in the knuckles , arms and chest off the back tires of my riding buddies 450! but welts go away and ya just go back for more! I would say Im more addicted to the sport now at 43 that I ever have been.....so you still have time so be patient.
Just realize that its highly unlikely that you will ever be pro so don't put any stock in it being more than just a fun hobby. Stay in school and trust me when I say your parents are 100% correct if they are pushing you to pursue a career path as a first priority!PERIOD! Just remember....the better the job you move into after your schooling the better the bikes you will afford later on.
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