What do you do/say?
 

Someone asked me about riding today. I was nice about it and tried to be helpful, recommended the MSF, etc... But what do you say to someone that you KNOW shouldn't be riding but wants to learn?

I'm not saying this person shouldn't ride but they have their days where I think they would be OK and then there are other days that I'm like WTF!

be honest about it. dont be mean, but be honest. if its someone important to you, put it gently somehow.

Exactly what I was how to do. Fortunately I have come across anyone I don't think should ride but was questioning today how I would go about it if I did ever have this encounter.

Tell them they are a moron and that if they don't take MSF, they will kill somebody and you will testify against them!

Seriously... tell them to take MSF and say you'll even take it with them. Normally they are only $25 per person and its not a bad thing for anybody... beginer or seasoned vet.

If I think they shouldn't ride? I'd probably share with them a few of the "incidents" I had with cagers targeting me and explain that riding takes a lot of concentration and alertness and hope they take the hint. If I know them really well I'd be more frank with them and tell them straight out I don't think they should be riding, but also work with them if they decide to anyway. After all, who the hell am I to say if they should or shouldn't?

I'm sure there are plenty of people out there that you'd think shouldn't step within 100 feet of a bike that ride really well. Not saying that's always the case though..

All that said and done, I refer everyone to the MSF as they're the ones trained to evaluate if someone can ride or not.

I told a female friend that she shouldn't ride. At the time her husband was looking for a bike and she was gonna get a ninja 250. I just told her its a lot of physical and more mental work to ride. I told her she gets freaked out/frantic when stuff happens and I just wouldn't want to see her get hurt. She's always listened to me from what I've seen and she doesn't have a bike to this day.

That's one of the reasons I keep all my thrashed helmets and gear. I've show a few people my box of mangled shit and watched their attitude change right in front of me.

I always ask them how bad would it hurt running as fast as you can and flinging themselves on the sidewalk....now what happens at 60 mph...

I walk away.

I was told many times before I started riding that I shouldn't be riding.... I didn't listen, why would I expect anyone else to listen?

Tell them motorcycles are heavy! :lol:

I don't really encourage people in either direction. They make their own decision. I have a friend who I'm terrified to ride in a car with (and not in the fun, good way), and he picked up riding recently. I gave him all the resources to get good training, checked out his first bike before he bought it to make sure it was sound, but have pretty much stayed out of it ever since.