My daughter is riding!

[gregp]

As a father, this is one of my proudest moments. My youngest daughter (19), Jennifer, went off and obtained her MC permit two weeks ago. I lowered my DRZ-S and she is riding the bike confidently. Jen had ridden motorcycles since she was about 8 years old, and had a Blaster at one point when she was around 14 or 15, but riding on the street is a whole different ball game. She has not taken the safety course yet, but I hope to get her enrolled in the spring, right after she gets some ice riding experience.
I do not have any beginner friendly bikes in my garage right now except for an XR100, and she can throw that bike around pretty good. The DRZ is a tall, heavy bike, and Jen weighs in at about 100 -110 pounds and is maybe 5'-5", so she is a small girl. I lowered the DRZ substantially by making and installing spacers under the damper rods and the shock piston. That actually worked out very good.
Her boyfriend has an '07 ZX-6, and I am a bit worried about letting her go off with him, but he is a good guy and I do trust him to keep her out of trouble.
Anyway, Jen and I rode out to Valley Motorsports last week and I was as proud as a father could get. Unfortunately we arrived just as they were closing, but she did have time to try on a few helmets before they started shutting the lights off.
Now, she wants a sport bike, and I just bought the wife a new Civic so I do not have a lot of scratch to throw around right now. I do have a line on a nice Ninja 250, so hopefully that pans out by spring time.
Now I just have to get my older daughter (23) on a bike, and all will be right in the world.
I just wanted to let everybody know how good I feel about this! My wife? Eh...not so much, but she has been surprisingly neutral about it. Maybe the nice new Civic is keeping her distracted...
GregP

[KillBill]

Congrats! Now you'll never have to ride alone

[MissTwisties]

It has to be the civic...LOL

As a mom who rides, I am obviously hoping my daughters will ride as well (they are 8 and 13, and they already stated many times that they are going to ride!) BUT...as hypocrit as it may sound...I'm also afraid of them riding, specially if they start too young on street bikes. So many young adults get sportbikes and then go kill themselves riding like clowns. I just hope that riding on the back once in a while and having some insight about the sport will teach them to be responsible later on.

Congrats, you must be very happy.

[NINJA_GIRL750]

Congrats! Your daughter is very lucky also. I would give anything for my mom and dad to be into riding. I had to fight with them every step of the way. From my permit, to my first track day. My 'rents just don't understand, or care. They think motorcycles and people who ride them are all gang members or something. Well anyway I guess the point is that u are awsome for helping your daughter, and being so into it. I wish I had that...

[Hauptman]

like this?

[ThisBitch]

CONGRATS! Hold out for a month or two on buying the new bike and you'll be able to find an absolute steal on craigslist.

My mom and I ride together and it is definitely some of the best time we've ever spent together. There isn't much we agree on, but it doesn't matter when we ride!

[Cheese]

I don't want to tarnish a proud moment in your life but try to teach her everything you can about the street. Young riders with a lot of off road experience still have SO much to learn about being noticed, looking ahead and predicting what can happen at intersections. MSF will help her skill set but with so many driver distractions available today, it's equally important to learn to avoid situations instead of using the swerving and braking skills taught in motorcycle safety classes. Congrats on your new ride buddy!

[Doc]

:

[Jaynnus]

Sweet.....enjoy her while you can.

I wish mine would ride

[Kitt]

Greg,

denno and I teach a ladies only riding course... we'd be willing to help out a fellow NESR member and provide our services for free. Please send course requests and pics via PM. please ignore denno's crash experience, he does it for the kids, and we don't include this aspect of his riding in our course.

[-jro-]

Congrats!! My little sister just got her license this summer too. Its great going for rides with the entire family, do it every chance you get

[Ken C]

My 18 year old daughter has been dirt riding since she was 8 years old and has been on the street since she turned 16. She rides an 01 ZX6R.

It is very important that you give her as many opportunities to learn, including the MSF course (both BRC and ERC). I had Jeannine attend a track day as soon as possible to really help her develop her skills in a controlled environment.

Be sure to train her over the winter by talking about hazards when driving in the car. Read some books, also.

[gregp]

Thank You all for the kind words!
Kitt, that is a very generous offer and I will be contacting you to see when we can get this done.
I have been riding motorcycles for my entire life and they are a big part of my life, as such, it is very gratifying to have my daughter share my interests. I have had my share of accidents and injuries (mostly off road), and Jen lost her first boyfriend to a tragic quad accident 2 years ago, so I do have my reservations about this endeavor. However, I believe that one must live life...certainly it is prudent to move forward with caution and take proper safety precautions, but in no way would I want her to be sheltered in a closet for the rest of her life. We are both very excited for her to begin riding and I will do everything I can to make sure that she obtains the education and experience that she needs to fully enjoy the sport.
As for pics, well, I normally don't go around posting pictures of my daughter on the internet...but here is one that I feel she would be comfortable with:

[gregp]

Yes...she is squeezing the front brake and digging a bit of a hole with her rear tire.....that's Daddy's Little Girl!

[-jro-]

As for pics, well, I normally don't go around posting pictures of my daughter on the internet...but here is one that I feel she would be comfortable with:

hahah omg that is the cutest thing ever....your daughter rocks

[SixWatt]

I have a 13 yr old, and it's cool to see them doing things you hoped they would but worried they wouldn't. My daughter plays filed hockey & made me proud recently by going back into the game after taking a solid shot to the face guard from a stick. Coach asked if she still wanted to play & she didn't hesitate, just wiped the tears off & went running in. Made me melt a little.

Anyway, congrats!

[Ken C]

Um, I'm pretty sure the "course" Kitt and Denno run is no place you want your daughter to be.

[Kitt]

Yes...she is squeezing the front brake and digging a bit of a hole with her rear tire.....that's Daddy's Little Girl!

noice - a pw80 was my 2nd bike !

I bought my nephew a ttr90 last year, and he rips (he's a little afraid of the motoX track we built him, since his little tree incident overshooting the tabletop), and my 6 year old niece likes riding around with me. My girlfriends little sis has been learning to ride my quad on her own (old moto4 80cc)... If my kids don't ride, I'll auction them off on nesr.

[Pittenger5]

If my kids don't ride, I'll auction them off on nesr.

Joel just set up a lifetime subscription to this thread.

[Jaynnus]

If my kids don't ride, I'll auction them off on nesr.

The bikes or the kids?

[Kitt]

The bikes or the kids?

never the bikes!

[gregp]

Jennifer is kind of a Tomboy. She owns and rides her own horse (Freckles), handles a snowboard pretty well, and pretty much takes to any physical sport fairly quickly. I do believe that her riding the DRZ has made her a bit more comfortable with the weight and size of a larger machine. I still would not throw a GSXR1000 under her, but I have ridden a Ninja 250 and am starting to think that they might feel a bit anemic for daily road use... Any thoughts on this?
Just so you guys know that she is not an Ogre here is the last pic I will post of her (with her best friend - Freckles)

[CEO]

If you think the ninja 250 would be anemic and she has lots of 'other' riding experience, grab her the ninja 500. You can get a used one cheap.

Jennifer is kind of a Tomboy. She owns and rides her own horse (Freckles), handles a snowboard pretty well, and pretty much takes to any physical sport fairly quickly.

Her boyfriend

[Kitt]

here is the last pic I will post of her (with her best friend - Freckles)

just got the portfolio you sent denno and I to review

we'll get back to you and let you know if we have room for her in the class

[hqp921]

That's great! Hope you two enjoy many many many miles together!

like this?

Okay, that might give me nightmares... or ideas...