What do you do/say?

[Dnyce]

Originally Posted by azoomm

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?

yep.

most ppl only listen to what they wana hear. one of my friends really shouldnt be riding imo, but he wanted too, so we told him take the class, we'll take u to the parking lot whenever you want, practice practice practice.

id rather keep an eye on my friend to help prevent some injury and retardedness than turn my back on him and find out he got killed. some ppl learn the hard way, but sometimes the hard way kills ya.

never know what ppl are capable of when given the right instruction and proper tools

[anthonyk]

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.

[ontwo]

I don't encourage or discourage. I take the same approach when people ask me about tattoos. It is up to the individual.

[Particle Man]

It's up to them... but I'd keep an eye on which direction they're riding and go the other way.

[marko138]

MSF all the way. That should be their first exposure to riding. They can decide on their own if MC is for them or not.

[OreoGaborio]

Originally Posted by marko138

MSF all the way. That should be their first exposure to riding. They can decide on their own if MC is for them or not.

I helped a couple people discover that riding wasn't for them just a couple weeks ago. It's not fun when that happens, but it's usually for the best.

Originally Posted by njchopper87

I refer everyone to the MSF as they're the ones trained to evaluate if someone can ride or not.

The way I see it, it's the course that's designed to weed out those that should or shouldn't be riding, not the coach. And it's generally up to the customer to make the final decision, not me. I basically just give them the tools & opportunity to learn, then pass or fail and support them either way.

I actually just had one older gentleman who's goal was to get a bike so he could ride with his son. He passed the course, but still made the conscious decision that riding wasn't for him. I was bummed & a little surprised to hear him say that, but at the same time, I understood and part of me agreed.

With that said, it was just the physical skill part that he was having trouble with... with more practice he could have ironed out all those issues.

[derf]

I tell people that they shouldn't ride. I am asked constantantly at work how much money I save in gas because of my bike. For some reason people think that you save a ton in gas.

Anyway, I usually explain that the maintenance costs are well above that of a car, tires, gear and all that stuff adds up, plus the insurance cost of an extra vehicle, and the cost of the bike itself, you will never see the cost savings vs driving the car you already own.

BUT, if you want to ride the bike for fun on the weekend then thats a whole different story.

[Sixxxxer]

If they act like there gonna hop on and be Invincible Even AFTER I tell them what they should do to get started, Then I just walk away b/c I dont like to be all fatherly It's not my job in life to tell people what to do.

I do that enough at work.

[Dnyce]

Originally Posted by Sixxxxer

If they act like there gonna hop on and be Invincible Even AFTER I tell them what they should do to get started, Then I just walk away b/c I dont like to be all fatherly It's not my job in life to tell people what to do.

I do that enough at work.

if its a friend, that attitude entitles u to kick him right in the balls, right?

[Sixxxxer]

Oh Def, If its someone I know then I def tell them how I feel...But I cant tell you how many morons Come up to me when I'm out on the bike like "ZOMG YOUR BIKE IS TEH SEXORZ I WANNA LEARN TO RIDE BLAH BLAH BLAH"

Then i always say Ya take the MSF course and depending on how they react I either A. Continue the Convo or B. Ride away in Horror and Hope they never touch a Motorcycle