My 17 yr old wrecked my new ninja!!

[DiscoBriscoe]

I haven't crashed yet, but my 17 yr old wrecked my brand new ninja sept 20. Had it less than 2 weeks. He hit a curb pretty hard, went over the handlebars, landed on his head. Broke his arm. Had surgery yesterday. looks to be ok. Messed up the bike-front wheel several dents, windshield and left support caved in and cracked. both side fairings cracked, radiator damaged, left indicator gone. tailight looks knocked around (loose, bent). Don't know yet what insurance will do (or when I'll be riding again

[thisisbenji]

Sorry to hear that! Shouldn't have let him ride it!

[Bosgarage57]

ATleast he's ok. Bike can be replaced. Sounds like your kid needs a pregen

[kcaja1]

Ouch! Hope your kid is alright. Did he ask permission from you to take a ride? Even if he did you shouldn't have. I guess lesson learned here folks for both of you and you should be glad no lives were lost. Motorcycles can be replaced so don't worry about it.

[rusninja]

sorry to hear, you shoud get back on a bike but maybe think about not leting your son back on. >.<

[Vegedurden]

Originally Posted by kcaja1

Even if he did you shouldn't have.

Why not ? Can't think of a better bike to learn on.

Glad to hear your kid is not too badly injured. Get him to take the MSF after he's healed

Good thing about the bike's damage is that it's pretty cheap to fix compared to others

[HKr1]

Well, good to hear your son is going to be OK. Hope he heals up soon...

Bummer about the bike.......... maybe your son has a job to pay for it.

[Lil_Green_Demon]

Can you provide more info, OP? Did your son ask for your permission to ride? Has he ridden before?

[Live2ride]

That sucks for your bike; I hope your son gets better soon! I hope he learned his lesson; you must respect the 250.

[choneofakind]

Anyone who says that the OP shouldn't have/shouldn't let the 17 year old ride the ninja 250 forgets that if a 17 year old wants to ride a sport bike, but wants a safe bike to start on, the ninja 250 is one of 2 realistic options on the market. (I don't even consider a Hyosung here)

As someone who started riding a ninja 250 as a 17 year old kid, I'd say this is THE BEST option to get a high-school kid riding, besides a dirt bike. That being said, make sure that said high-schooler has taken the MSF course before even thinking about taking a motorcycle out on a public roadway. That was my course of action; Gear, MSF, license, insurance, THEN motorcycle

Don't restrain someone from riding when all of us here know how great riding is and how great this bike is for beginners. Everyone has to start somewhere

[kcaja1]

I'm saying he shouldn't have let his son ride the bike with my assumption that the son is a totally a beginner with no MSF, no scooter or any motorized two wheel experience. The OP himself is a beginner.

"Hey! I just bought a 2012 ninjette and I'm in Memphis! I took the MSF class in late July, just got this bike Thursday. (Sept 12)"

I had the same experience when I was in 4th grade when my dad gave me a scooter. I crashed that scooter the first time I rode it because I had no experience with throttle control.
Few months later when I was good with it and riding it to school, my teacher, who also had no experience with scooter wanted to test ride my scooter and same thing happened to her. She held the throttle and slowly pulled it. With that first jerk forward her body stayed while her hand was now pulling the throttle harder and harder as she sped away. She panicked and crashed before hitting a big ditch. She broke her ankle or elbow but I don't remember which one anymore. She wore that cast for months. I'm picturing this was the same exact thing happened to his son.

[Skippii]

The OP's son crashed, landed on his head, has broken bones, and just had surgery, and he's worried about the condition of the bike???

[JCCJMM_]

Originally Posted by Skippii

The OP's son crashed, landed on his head, has broken bones, and just had surgery, and he's worried about the condition of the bike???

+1

[jamesio]

lay the smackdown

[Trailerboy531]

Glad you're son is okay. Enough people have covered the bases on why letting your son ride isn't a horrible idea (250 is the way to go) and that he should do the MSF. Just be happy everyone is okay. As for your bike - totaled. Especially if by "left support" you mean fork, but either way it sounds pretty totaled. Personally, I like new bike shopping

Once again, glad your son is relatively okay.

[coondog]

no offense but you sound like the 17 yr. old, letting someone take your bike. real sorry about the physical hurt, screw the bike, we're talking about your boy. no need for even a chat i would imagine as he learnt some lessons on his own, the best way too, the hard way (too hard in this case) once again sorry.

[RedCromwell]

Ouch! Sorry to hear about the crash. Hope your son heals up alright.

My first time on a motorcycle, ever, was during the MSF course. Controlled environment, professional instructors, and best thing? Someone else's bike that I didn't care about dropping.

If your son is still up to riding and if he hasn't already, I'd recommend the MSF course.

[blink]

Why does it matter he's 17? you make it sound like a big deal.

if experience is there...any age can do anything.
if he hasn't ever had experience with at least a car assuming not with bikes...then that is on you. MSF offers bikes for use in a safe environment to teach in so dropping isn't an issue...
you don't seem too fond of your son stating out on a forum

"17 year old son crashed bike"

[alex.s]

sorry to hear about your boy (and your bike)... he hit his head... while wearing a helmet i hope?

[DiscoBriscoe]

thanks to everyone with the kind words of support.
I'd like to point out that in the orig. post i said he seems to be ok.
As for caring for the bike more than the kid, that was harsh, considering I was in the hospital with him for ~30 hrs over the 2 day period, and spent 13 hrs yesterday at the hospital for his surgery. I've spent about 15 min on the bike.
After saying he was ok, I talked more about the bike because this is a bike forum and I thought it ironic, (or something sorta like it) that my bike was crashed so soon, but I didn't crash it.
Neither of us are total noobs. We both have been riding my dual sport in the dirt and on the street. He is licensed.
He didn't want to take the MSF course. He did read the book and knows it pretty well, it seems, from my verbal quizzing. From watching him over the past year, he's a good rider. As good as the MSF course is, I'm not sure it would have prevented his accident. My wife (who isn't at all happy) wants him to take the MSF course before he rides again. (he says "of course I riding again") That's fine with me, (haven't mentioned it to him yet), but that's not a guarantee you'll never again have an accident.
As for not letting him ride the bike, as some others have eloquently said, it would be cruel to have a motorcycle riding son and not let him ride a ninjette! I know if my dad had one, and wouldn't let me ride it, I would never forgive him!
We're both ATGATT, btw.

[Lil_Green_Demon]

Good of you to clarify this incident.
I've got another question, though:
Did your son target-fixate? Is that what caused the crash?

[RaZeDaHeLL]

Ouch!!! Does your insurance cover the costs if someone else wrecks your bike? I'm not sure how that works. I would think that they consider bikes as single owner vehicles and probably wont cover the costs if an unregistered rider crashes.

I need to check my insurance policy...

[Mountain Dew]

Why did he not want to take the course? There's absolutely NO reason not to. Since you mentioned that he hit the curb, but didn't mention any other vehicles or adverse conditions being involved, I'm assuming it was a single-vehicle crash and no other factors except rider error caused it.

[Skippii]

Originally Posted by RaZeDaHeLL

Ouch!!! Does your insurance cover the costs if someone else wrecks your bike? I'm not sure how that works. I would think that they consider bikes as single owner vehicles and probably wont cover the costs if an unregistered rider crashes.

I need to check my insurance policy...

If it's an "occasional" thing and the person has your full permission, it's covered. If they ride it more than "occasionally" they need to be added to your insurance.
That's what the lady at Progressive told me when I called to ask--obviously, different insurance companies have their own rules.

[thisisbenji]

Nothing wrong with letting him ride it but he should take the MSF course. I learned to ride when I was 10 on a 50cc dirt bike and have been riding motorcycles in some form or another since then. I took the MSF course last year when I was 20 and I learned a ton.

[RaZeDaHeLL]

Originally Posted by Skippii

If it's an "occasional" thing and the person has your full permission, it's covered. If they ride it more than "occasionally" they need to be added to your insurance.
That's what the lady at Progressive told me when I called to ask--obviously, different insurance companies have their own rules.

Thank you, I also have Progressive so this info helps me a lot. Not that I actually let any of my friends ride. Most of them do not have a license to ride, but they love to sit on my bike and that makes me really nervous. I never let anybody put my bike in gear and attempt to ride.

[RaZeDaHeLL]

Originally Posted by thisisbenji

I took the MSF course last year when I was 20 and I learned a ton.

I agree, they teach you stuff you don't normally learn riding in the streets... until its too late.

[Skippii]

Originally Posted by RaZeDaHeLL

Thank you, I also have Progressive so this info helps me a lot.

No problem. What they told me is that "The bike is insured, not the person."

Of course, you should probably check with them yourself or check the documents, since if the worst case scenario occurs, saying "But some stanger on the Internet told me I was covered!" might not help you a whole lot.

[rusninja]

Originally Posted by Lil_Green_Demon

Can you provide more info, OP? Did your son ask for your permission to ride? Has he ridden before?

Sound like the police.

[rusninja]

Originally Posted by blink

Why does it matter he's 17? you make it sound like a big deal.

if experience is there...any age can do anything.
if he hasn't ever had experience with at least a car assuming not with bikes...then that is on you. MSF offers bikes for use in a safe environment to teach in so dropping isn't an issue...
you don't seem too fond of your son stating out on a forum

"17 year old son crashed bike"

lmao coming from the 17 year old with smart speeding very mature for your age.

[Honko]

Originally Posted by blink

Why does it matter he's 17? you make it sound like a big deal.......you don't seem too fond of your son stating out on a forum

"17 year old son crashed bike"

You're jumping to a pretty big conclusion don't you think, as is everyone who's saying he cares more about the bike than his own son.

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by coondog

no offense but you sound like the 17 yr. old, letting someone take your bike.

Woah. I started out when I was 17. Besides myself, only one other person has operated my bike since it has been in my possession, and that was my friend's dad, who has been riding since the early 80's. It's my baby. Not just anyone with a license can ride it.

same with my car. Sure it's a piece of crap, but it's my piece of crap and no one outside of my family drives it.

[massacremasses]

I hate when people say "no offense" then say something that is offensive.

Hey no offense, but stfu...
/rant

but hey the OP said his son was fine, he knows hes fine and now he can vent about being bummed about his new bike being wrecked... WTF IS WRONG WITH THAT?! I seriously read this and was angry at everyone flaming the poor guy. He's bummed his bike was wrecked by his son. He doesnt hate his son, he didnt even seem mad. He seemed bummed his 17 year old wrecked it... because THAT IS A BUMMER.

glad your son is ok. Sorry about your bike. That sucks. My sons got a few years before he can start riding motorcycles. Hes 3

[DiscoBriscoe]

Thanks again for the support!!

To answer some questions: Did he target fixate?
Maybe for a split sec. I dont't think it was for long enough to miss the curb. He says as he was turning left, his rear tire jumped to his right. He over compensated and that put him at the curb. (it's one thing to fixate on the wrong thing while there's time to miss, but if your'e already right on the curb...) The location is a little tricky: a right to left ess curve that ends at a traffic light. I wonder if he locked the back wheel, but he hasn't been prone to do that. He says he didn't lock the back wheel and there were no skid marks. (could've been an acorn, etc., but I didn;t see anything) He had permission. I was following him, but I was ~300' behind, and I was making my left turn onto the road when it happened. We were going to play tennis.

If I may talk about the bike for just a brief update: Adjuster is to look at it today.

To reassure everyone: I love my son. (I do have to say his pain and frustration with the cast has made him a bit testy...)

[massacremasses]

Originally Posted by DiscoBriscoe

To reassure everyone: I love my son. (I do have to say his pain and frustration with the cast has made him a bit testy...)

Just tell him it coulda been worse.

Testy children are no fun. haha

[CThunder-blue]

Originally Posted by massacremasses

I hate when people say "no offense" then say something that is offensive.

Hey no offense, but stfu...
/rant

but hey the OP said his son was fine, he knows hes fine and now he can vent about being bummed about his new bike being wrecked... WTF IS WRONG WITH THAT?! I seriously read this and was angry at everyone flaming the poor guy. He's bummed his bike was wrecked by his son. He doesnt hate his son, he didnt even seem mad. He seemed bummed his 17 year old wrecked it... because THAT IS A BUMMER.

glad your son is ok. Sorry about your bike. That sucks. My sons got a few years before he can start riding motorcycles. Hes 3

Well said Justin. Some of you need to get off the high horse and not jump the gun. You act as if his kid died and he's crying over his bike. His kid's alive, not paralyzed, and will be riding again. OP didn't cause the accident and in no way contributed to it. Yeah, maybe his son should take the MSF, but if he's already got his M1, he's at least skilled enough to pass the DMV test, which is more difficult than the MSF skills test (at least in CA).

Ken, next time, you should include some more detail in the first post so people don't jump to conclusions I'm glad your son is ok and ready to ride again, mentally. I see a lot of father/son bonds strengthened by riding together. Good luck and as long as you had collision insurance, the insurance company should be helping you out.

[NathanF]

Glad to hear he is alright!

Originally Posted by DiscoBriscoe

He didn't want to take the MSF course.

The correct answer to this as a parent was "Tough ****, you're going to do it if you want to ride. End of discussion."

[Pyro]

Lucky kid

Around here we're limited to 125cc until we hit 18.

[Firehorse]

Glad your son is okay and the bike can be fixed. Scary stuff for a Dad.
Hope he heals up well and as his payment for his mishap? MSF!!! It can't hurt to give him some extra knowledge and a discount in insurance.
Did you ever take it? Maybe it would be fun as a father and son thing? Lots of experienced riders on my course, they had a blast!

Checked my ins. papers: Jevco - not insured for other riders (bike or rider) in any capacity. However if someone steals it and crashes it, bike's insured.

Speedy healing thoughts going out to the kiddo!

[zartan]

I agree with Justin and CT... Sh*t happens. I did not feel you were saying anything bad about your son. So many judgemental vermin in the world. Glad your son is ok ? Sounds like a lot of healing. I would be sad about my bike also , and Boy oh Boy NEVER let you kid ride your bike. Might grow up to be Freddie Spenser or Valentino or sombody cool like that. Egads that would be horrible!!
I did the MSF course in 87' but it isn't completly necessary to do it. Millions of people don't. It is a lot of excellent information. It made me a better cager too! I recommend it if you can talk him into it. Best of luck to you and your son.