When a kid paws your bike

[oldrider]

Most times after I have parked the bike someplace in a town, I find the side bar lights and the hot grips have been switched on!

It makes me wonder just "what" has been going on in my absence.

I don't use my hot grips very much and the first time my throttle hand just kept getting hotter and hotter.

I thought at first that I must be having a heart attack or another stroke or something!

Then I checked the hot grip switch.......

Once hot they take an age to cool down, specialy in the summer.

Doesn't catch me out very often these days.

I try to be nice to little kids that love motorbikes but they gotta learn that they are not just toys.

Sounds like the boy you struck might have been a bit slow or something.

It can be difficult, you seemed to have handled it OK! Cheers, John.

[The Stranger:Me]

If it was a littlun (like... 6) I'd have asked if they wanted to sit on it - and reinforced it's only ok because you (the owner) had said so - a lot of people get pissy etc

Obviously if he was 18 that'd be a different story

And if it was an 18yr old chick would you let her sit on it?

[The Stranger:Me]

What you worried about?
It's only a POS Suzuki.

[madbikeboy]

Right again MBB.
BUT.
I do think there is a difference between admiring a bike and just coming up to a complete stranger on a bike, grabbing the throttle and twisting shit out of it...if he had asked could he touch it I would have said "yes of course"..but to just grab it? Without asking? Not this bike...!
I am more than happy to have kids look at the bike, talk about it, touch it etc IF they show due respect. But this fulla did none of that. To me, he was way out of line.

Oh, I totally get what you're saying, I should have written "by way of explanation, the kid wouldn't have intended harm, it's just that there's something incredibly fascinating about a bike to a kid......"

I think he was out of line, and I would have grumbled, but I would have done it under my breath. If a teenager had of done that, I'd have yelled at it...

[slofox]

What you worried about?
It's only a POS Suzuki.

Wash your mouth out!

[Molly]

I made the mistake of taking my Road King into school recently (I'm a teacher). You'd think the kids would just understand that this is clearly someone's pride and joy and would leave well alone. Sadly that's not the case. One little bugger was seen sitting on the bloody thing. It's a big bike and not easy to get on without dragging your shoes across the leather saddle bags (my mother-in-law scraped one the very bloody day I bought it) so I was surprised he didn't damage it further. It just pisses me off that they don't get 'private' or respect another person's property. The times I find them leaning on staff cars.... FFS.

Also, a friend in the UK told me about an evening at the pub recently where some dumb tart put her drink down on his tank so she could take a phone call... You can guess how well that went down.

[slofox]

Oh, I totally get what you're saying, I should have written "by way of explanation, the kid wouldn't have intended harm, it's just that there's something incredibly fascinating about a bike to a kid......"

I think he was out of line, and I would have grumbled, but I would have done it under my breath. If a teenager had of done that, I'd have yelled at it...

Well in the event I did maintain my friendly manner with him - just. He did test the old patience a bit though...

[Maha]

it's just that there's something incredibly fascinating about a bike to a kid......"

Really? most just spit on mine....oh no wait, thats when I had the Yamaha.

[oldrider]

And if it was an 18yr old chick would you let her sit on it?

Definately not on my bike but I might let her sit on my face! If she asked nicely. John.

[lb99]

I see it in my oldest boy (4), To him his bike is his wheels and about the coolest thing in his universe (though I helped by buying him the metallic green bike with the flame paint job) ........

I know what you mean, we got our 4yo(now 6) a CHROME one with flames on it, and he still thinks its the biz 2 years later.
oh and he is the only kid on the block with his OWN motorbike, we made the miatake of taking one of the neighbours kids for a blat once, he thoroughly enjoyed it.
now whenever we load up the ute I have to manoever very carefully through the assembled crowd of kids all wanting to come...

[The Stranger:Me]

Really? most just spit on mine....oh no wait, thats when I had the Yamaha.

Now you ride a Honda I expect they are spitting something else instead.

[<Rhino>]

10 years old you say! - from the way you describe his speach sounds like he may have been austistic. Good on you for extending your patience to the kid, he probebly would have apreciated that.

I have three kids 6-5-2 1/2 funnily enough the 2.5 year old absolutly loves my bike (because he's not old enough to understand the difference between a ho-bag and anything else) because its big and shiney and makes a loud noise and I dunno why probely just because its a bike and he dosn't see as many around as cars? anyway I really think he will be the rider out of the three of them, the others they could take it or leave it!

[klingon]

...
I do think there is a difference between admiring a bike and just coming up to a complete stranger on a bike, grabbing the throttle and twisting shit out of it...

Could have got interesting if it was a (automatic) scooter - a twist of the throttle and the thing would be crashing into the nearest wall.

I haven't had that problem with a kid, but my bike was in the staff carpark one day and I looked out the window to see one of my colleagues sitting his kid (about 3 years old) on it as if it was a toy. You'd think adults would have some clue, even if kids don't.

[Max Preload]

And if it was an 18yr old chick would you let her sit on it?

Of course, if she was hot. Hot chicks get all the breaks. No point in fighting it - it's just how it is and always will be.

[ManDownUnder]

...but my bike was in the staff carpark one day and I looked out the window to see one of my colleagues sitting his kid (about 3 years old) on it as if it was a toy. You'd think adults would have some clue, even if kids don't.

Genuinely curious - would that same person also take stuff ofrom your desk (i.e. stapler, pens etc) without returning it? I wonder if it's a lack of consideration for property in general, or a lack of understanding about bikes.

I feel the same way about tools for instance. No problem with people using my tools (as a general rule) IF they ask me first. 'Help yourself' is not an option, but anyone actually interested will get hours of my time.