Why do young guys buy cars????

**JimO** · 15th July 2006, 09:04

i have 14 year ild twins that are thinking about getting their licence next year one wants a bike the other wants a car look at the difference in prices a mid 90s jappa car around a grand, a mid 90s 250 cc bike $3000 to $5500. i say no wonder the biggest influx of motorcyclists is the older guy getting back into bikes, the money outlay is stopping most young fullas

**sAsLEX** · 15th July 2006, 09:08

but then again a gn250 a few years old is only a couple of k!

Another factor is those annoying parents, I was never allowed to ride at home even though dad had a bike I could of used , my first car cost $150!

**Maha** · 15th July 2006, 09:13

Maybe jimjim can help the twintwin into a bike?......$$$$$
I see your point, but i always thought to myself that, you can get alot of bike for, not alot of money, $1k-$2 car and you get a shitter, not always, more often than not. Same with boats, you get alot of yatch for little outlay, put that same money into a power boat and you end up with a reasonable dinghy.

**gamgee** · 15th July 2006, 09:20

it wouldn't be the shitty weather that putting one of them off bikes would it? I mean we are in dunedin after all, I'm 20 and lucky to have both a cage and a bike, I ride the bike in pretty much any weather, but the cage is useful when i need to carry stuff or if it's pissing down with rain snowing hailing, etc.

**gamgee** · 15th July 2006, 09:21

but if you can afford it, encourage them to get both car and bike licences it'll save them a lot of time if they change there mind latter in life

**Kendog** · 15th July 2006, 09:22

You have a good point Jimjim. On the flipside though, for 11 grand I bought a brand new 900 bike as aposed to a commodore or similar that I would have to fork out 50 odd k for brand new. Know what I would rather have too!! Yes, I agree that the prices of second-hand bikes is somewhat unreasonable, especially when compared to cars, it is almost better sense to buy a new bike if you can. Good luck with those boys too!!
Mrs KD.

**avgas** · 15th July 2006, 09:30

I had an interesting road to get to bike riding. But i kinda see the point of what most parents believe. Its alot cheaper to buy a kid a car rather than peel him and his motorbike off the road.
As for the whole price thing - bullshit, my ts185 cos $600 all road reg'd. The $3K + cbrs etc can wait untill they understand how hard the road is. Your only gonna have to fork out $$$'s for repairs otherwise.

**sAsLEX** · 15th July 2006, 09:48

Originally Posted by avgas

The $3K + cbrs etc can wait untill they understand how hard the road is. Your only gonna have to fork out $$$'s for repairs otherwise.

Dont agree with you here. If you aint a dumbass there is no reason why you have to bin! Manage your risks appropriatly and dont go riding like Rossi two days after getting the bike and I see no reason to crash, I know I didnt on my 5.5k first bike, and I aint too slow.....

Now I aint saying I aint never going to crash that riding intelligently far reduces the chances of that happening.

The other big cost most dont factor in is gear, but with great fantastic good looking suppliers like that hunchbach quasimoto.co.nz then its a little easier in theat respect!

**Hawkeye** · 15th July 2006, 09:50

I've got a 14 year old who thinks that he will go straight to bikes. As a parent who has driven cars all his life and only recently moved into bikes, there is no way I am going to allow him to do that.
My perpective is that until he learns road sense and has the ability to recognise the basics, such as cages changing lanes without indication, I want him in a car where the early mistakes are not punished by a hospital visit.
Yes he will end up on bikes and I will fully support him (unlike my parents when I was his age). But I do feel that he needs to learn to read the dangers of the raod in a safer environment, where he has some sort of protection, before venturing out on a bike.
I'm sure there are a lot of parents out there that feel the same way.

**thehollowmen** · 15th July 2006, 09:51

Licensing factor is a big one too. It takes forever to be allowed to go at a better speed on the motorcycle.

**Sketchy_Racer** · 15th July 2006, 10:03

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

I've got a 14 year old who thinks that he will go straight to bikes. As a parent who has driven cars all his life and only recently moved into bikes, there is no way I am going to allow him to do that.
My perpective is that until he learns road sense and has the ability to recognise the basics, such as cages changing lanes without indication, I want him in a car where the early mistakes are not punished by a hospital visit.
Yes he will end up on bikes and I will fully support him (unlike my parents when I was his age). But I do feel that he needs to learn to read the dangers of the raod in a safer environment, where he has some sort of protection, before venturing out on a bike.
I'm sure there are a lot of parents out there that feel the same way.

Yep thats how it was for me.

I had to have my restricted car licence before i was allowed to get my bike licence.

At the time i thought my parents were being control freaks. But in hind sight, it is a really smart mov.

**avgas** · 15th July 2006, 10:16

Originally Posted by sAsLEX

Manage your risks appropriatly and dont go riding like Rossi two days after getting the bike and I see no reason to crash, I know I didnt on my 5.5k first bike, and I aint too slow.....

We are talking about a 14 year old kid? They dont know what happens in a crash at 50kph....let alone 70. They cannot manage risks untill they understand the conseqeunce

**gamgee** · 15th July 2006, 10:19

I still don't know what happens in a car crash, or a bike crash

**Ixion** · 15th July 2006, 10:25

I quite agree with Mr Jimjim about the absurd cost of entry level motorcycling. We should all be concerned about this, anything that inhibits entry of young blood into the community is a bd thing. We need those young folk, motorcycling must not become a preserve of old crusties.

This is a complete change round to what things were when I started riding. Then, almost all young lads started out on bikes - cars were far far beyond our pockets. Though the point is well made, that it it not at all necessary to start with a $3k CBR - and unwise in many other ways.

It is not just the inital purchase price that has slanted in favour of cars. Rego for a bike used to be far less than a car. And cheap petrol in recent years favours cars.And the cost of the magic gear now deemed so essential totally reverses the economics. When I started, I got a Corker SkidLid thrown in with my first bike, so I was better equipped than any of my mates. Our normal wardrobes supplied the rest . Now, the magic gear can cost a beginner more than the total price of a decent car, even before buying the bike!

I also very strongly believe that it is far better and safer for youngsters to start on bikes BEFORE learning to drive a car. A car driver learning to ride is very dangerous. A learner in a car acquires so many bad or careless habits. In a car they get away with it. Then when they come to learn to ride they take those habits across and come to grief. Conversely , a motorcyclist learning to drive a cage will be one of the safest drivers on the road.

The Precious Lamb syndrome has a lot to answer for.

I think one of the things we as a community should be doing, through BRONZ and such groups, is pressing for a change to the licencing rules to allow a small motorcycle licence (< 125cc) at 14, whilst putting the age for a car learner licence up to at least 16.

But , in the end, the factor that will always incline young men toward cars instead of bikes, is the same one it always has been. Lack of a rear seat. Young blood runs hot.