Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge 18 year old son

We have an 18 year old son who will be graduating from high school and also receiving his AA degree from college (early start program) at the same time in June. He has been drooling over Thruxtons for the last couple of years so that is our leaning for him. There's something to be said for what he has achieved at 18 and has proven beyond responsible so we will be purchasing a bike for him as a gift. Obviously a Triumph. He is an experienced dirt bike rider but no time on the street. Any suggestions or input?

That fact that he is an experienced dirt rider AND responsible helps alot. But, as you probabably know, riding a road bike is very different. He won't have to worry about the mechanics like shifting, but will have to get used to the bigger weight, watching out for vehicles, etc.

MSF training would be great, he would have fun.

Also, maybe you can get him used to some routine safer routes (i.e. to work, or school) for a while before venturing out.

I should have said this in the original post but he will have MSF training in May... he thinks that is his graduation gift from us and believes he will be purchasing a bike for himself. He'll be surprised when there's a bike in the garage after his graduation ceremony. His grandparents will take him to pick out a helmet and have already purchased boots, gloves, draggin pants and a leather jacket for graduation gifts so he's good to go as far as safety appearal, my brother will be getting him a rain suit. So everything is covered except for what kind of bike to get him. We certainly want to make sure it's something he will be able to handle as it will be his first street bike.

He's one lucky guy!
At 18 I had a Kawasaki KE100

Hey J.T., would you consider adopting a 47 year young man? I finished school a looong time ago, but it seems like yesterday. I'll even call you Dad.

At 18 I bought my first Triumph, a 69TR6R, brand new off the showroom floor for $1315, with a loan from my mother that I paid back. That said, I can't think of a better way to show him how to ride safely than to ride with him behind you. This can consist of rides around town to start and grow from there. Get out with him and ride, let your actions show him the way you ride. You might even be able to get the wife to let the two of you take a long trip together, that would be a great bonding experience. TR

JT, pack him behind you for a ride though the Avenue of the Giants, or to Lassen Nat. Park. I have ridden in your area a little and it is awesome riding country. TR

What a great gift for your son. You must be real proud of him.

Only suggestion I have is to make sure that Thruxton is what he wants, and try to be sly and find out what color he favors.

If you have room for a bonus, or if another family member wants to contribute, throw in a gift certificate to Brent's Thruxton site. You know how us Triumph owners like to make our bikes our own.

My son is soon to be 16 and he wants a Thruxton also. I told him he has to wait until he's 18 and attend the MSF course before I'd even consider helping him buy a Thruxton. My wife is panic strictened over the prospect but I figure he's got to learn someday and I'd rather have him learn while I still have some influence on what happens. He can't wait to ride with me and his uncles.

ditto... on the MSF course. Also, make sure you (someone) rides with him on the street until he gets used to his bike v.s. traffic, etc.

New riders can pick up alot from following an experienced one.

MSF course. God knows, he's gonna love that Thruxton .
What part or North CA you live in?

We currently live in Sausalito but will be moving to Portland mid-July. The house here has been sold and our weekends have been spent in Portland loking for a house. So I guess we live in Sausalito during the week and in Portland with my brother's family on the weekends.

Congratulations. I know how much my son and I bonded and the fun we had re-building a TT-600 and then riding together. One lucky and ambitious son you have there.

later, Tom.

JT, sounds like you just may be up here in time to take off for the Idaho Invasion. And what better way for your son to break in his new bike than good road trip.

Just one more quick thing, the RAT Pack up here is great. The first Saturday of every month we meet for breakfast. Stop by if you have time.

Soren

Sausalito was one of our stopping points in the early years of our marriage. We would ride from the Lemoore/Hanford area to San Luis Obispo and up the coast to Monterey and spend the night. Then on to SF and spend the early afternoon. We would go to Sausalito so my wife could get some ice cream at a little shop there - I think they were the first shop to offer strawberry and blueberry cheese cake flavored ice cream. Then we'd take off to Mount Tamalpias(sp?)for an evening walk and other activities, then head north in various directions. That makes me want to move out west again. HabuBA and AmyLee have made me remember some great times in California, and now you mention Sausalito - Thanks for the memories.

p.s. on your next trip to Oregon, stop near Redding in Anderson and tell Rick Mayer to get my seat started early. It's gonna be here the week after the Georgia Rally.
Maybe you can get some saddle ideas for your son's new Thruxton! Might as well, he's gonna spend a lot of time on it, and you don't want his hind parts hurting.

Soren,

We were in Portland (again) this weekend looking for a house. This time, after about 5 months of weekends, we found a house that is absolutely amazing in the SW hills not too far from the medical school with a view of the city, by a ton of nature trails. My wife is a nurse and will be working at OH&SU so she is excited that she can just pedal (her addictions are road cycling and mountain biking) or walk to work. We submitted an offer so, if all goes well, we will be in Portland sometime in July. The weather was incredible there this weekend. Did you get to enjoy it at all?

Thanks for sharing those memories. Sausalito is a great place... I've been here my whole life except for college. Portland is a place I (my wife and kids, too) love and it just seems right for us to be there now. It's a good transition with the twins starting middle school, one getting ready for high school and one heading of to the University of Oregon all this Fall.

We will be picking up a blue Thruxton on April 8th for our son. He likes the blue one the best. It will then be hauled to his grandparents garage and stay there until his graduation party in June. We are all looking forward to his reaction. It should be good!

You better post some pictures of the look on his face! What a lucky kid!

Sounds like a win win situation for you. Still say that the best way for your son to learn to ride is behind you. Best of luck to all of you. TR

After MSF classes I think having him ride behind me and his grandfather is the plan... start locally first then work up to longer more challenging rides. He still has no clue about the surprise and has actually been researching how to get the best financing for when he is ready to purchase his own bike. We are all just crackin' up inside. It's great for us!

You guys are lucky, I have a 22 year old daughter (raised by her mother) that was actually kicked out of the stripper bar she was dancing at for indecent exposure.....UNBELIEVABLE!!!

JT, That is an awesome area. That is great that you found a house up there. I hope it works out. My x-wife works in the neurology department at OHSU and my bosses wife works there too (not sure where). They both realy like working there.

Yes, I was able to get out and ride both Saturday and Sunday. I didnt ride yesterday to work because of a head cold.

Soren

Quick update... the Thruxton for our son is now waiting for him in his grandparent's garage. Now the hard part will be to not let the surprise slip out between now and the middle of June when he graduates.

Good luck!

Soren

God bless the child who got his own!!!!!! good luck!!!

Awesome. Good luck to you all. You really sound like a proud pop. TR