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by Oregon Runner

HI,
im wondering if you would let your kid get a motorcycle if they wanted.

my grandfather was a physician and would not let my mother or her sisters ride motorcycles.
so Im wondering if this had to do with the number of motorcycle related deaths/carnage he had seen. Do you see many motorcycle related accident victims?
thanks

[kae rn]

No way, but of course when they are adults it can be hard to stop them. I have cared for lots of motorcyclists in rehab. They usually have many fractures, as well as a head injury, and sometimes a spinal cord injury. Those wearing helmuts do better, but still have deficits. Makes me extra careful on the highway around them.

[donmurray]

Yes, but then I ride.

[P_RN]

No. My family has 2 cousins and 2 uncles gone due directly to motorcycle collisions.

My older child dates a man with a bike and she has ridden. But then she is an adult and all I can do is pray it will be OK.

[Jo Anne -OLD]

Not my kids.

Not until they are of legal age. 18.

If they want to take the risk, after age 18, be my guest.

A trauma doc I once knew called motorcyclists "kidney donors". He was probably tired of seeing the carnage after an accident, the head injuries, etc...
The same thing can be said of people who drive like maniacs and end up the same.

[skislalom]

NOPE! I won't even let my husband ride. I've almost lost a brother and seen too many motorcycle fatalities. MOST of the time the accidents aren't due to the cycle riders - it's usually other drivers who don't look out for the bikes or just don't SEE them. I do have a large group of friends that have taken up Harley's and we even have another friend who owns a motorcycle shop and I still won't let my loved ones ride. I grew up with motorcycles, my dad, my brother and I each had one...it WAS fun - we've switched to watersports now.

~T

[LilStudent]

No. My uncle lost his leg in a motorcycle accident. Of course once he's 18 I can't stop him. He's only 8 now though, so I have awhile.

[maggiecheung]

I just talk about it today with my hubby. He used to ride motorcycle in Maui (b4 marriage) and I discourage him every time it come to his mind. He explain to me today when we saw a motocycle tied on a truck that the engine actually is in the front of the motorcycle. I said "can't imagine myself hugging the engine on the road".

[TinyNurse]

yeah, with a helmet with a driver I trust, just around the block.

[zambezi]

Yes, but I ride and my husband and his father own a motorcycle shop, my dad, my mom, and my brother ride as well...so it would be tough to defend a no. My husband has pics of his parents back in the day, carrying him in a front strapped baby carrier on their bike (that would never happen legally in today's world) and he spent half of his life in a sidecar. I would start my kids out on dirtbikes though and hope they stick to the dirt or ride only on racetracks...
A helmet and all protective gear (leathers/synthetic pants, jacket, gloves, and boots) of course, would be a must.

It is funny...a ton of people, docs included, in my workplace (a critical care unit) ride...in fact, almost everyone I ride with I work with too!!