Buying your teenager a motorcycle can be an unsettling decision especially given the safety concerns involved.
Compared to cars, motorcycles have fewer protective features like airbags and safety belts, which means accidents are bound to be more serious.
As such, it’s necessary for you to carefully weigh your concerns before buying your teenager a motorcycle.
What to Consider Before the Purchase
Here are some of the things to take into account before buying your teen a motorcycle:
Is Your Teen Ready for the Road?
This not only factors their driving skills but also their maturity and temperament levels too.
As a parent, you know your kid best, and an honest evaluation will help you through this.
If you don’t think your teen is responsible enough to be on the road, you might want to delay making the purchase decision until a time comes when you deem them fit.
Bearing the Costs of Your Teen’s Motorcycle
Motorcycles come with their fair share of running costs, including maintenance, insurance, and fuel.
This is an essential consideration in terms of the type of motorcycle to get, expected costs, and the person responsible for bearing those expenses.
As a parent, this could present a chance for you to instill a sense of responsibility in your teen, which may go a long way in preparing for life ahead.
Your Teens Awareness of the Risks Involved
Ensure your teen completes an official rider’s safety course under the supervision of a certified trainer.
It’s also crucial to go through the motorcycle dangers and safety as well as accident statistics just so your teen is well informed on the risks involved whenever they are on the road.
What Type of Motorcycle Should You Buy Your Teen?
Well, the answer depends on several factors, and you should probably involve your kid as well.
Is the motorcycle intended for everyday transportation? Is it their first bike? If so, you may not want to get them the fastest motorcycle out there.
The capacity rating will help you make the best choice in terms of speed and fuel efficiency.
You may also want to buy a reliable brand that will not break down often, and whose spare parts are readily available.
Buying a reliable brand will help you to sell it immediately in the future if your teen no longer wants the ride.
Understanding resale motorcycle values will help you understand how much it will be to replace the bike in the future.
It is also an essential factor that will help you make an informed decision regarding the brand and model to buy.
Talk to a trusted dealership or motorcycle owner to help you choose the right model.
Other specifics that may come into play include your teen’s physical attributes (weight and height), which determines the size and shape of the bike you’ll want.
Important Safety Tips
Safety starts with the rider. Your teen needs to understand these common safety tips before handing them the keys:
- Always wear the correct gear when heading out
- Check the weather before hitting the road
- Regularly maintain and inspect your motorcycle before any ride
- Maintain awareness and sobriety on the road
- Always remain visible to other motorists
- Obey the traffic rules and do not speed
- Always carry a first aid kit
What Else Do You Need to Know?
Even after observing all precautions, accidents are sometimes inevitable.
Negligence by other motorists may cause a crash which can translate to huge medical bills, property damage, and many other forms of loss.
Have a motorcycle accident law firm on standby, just in case the worst happens.
Motorcycle accidents can get complicated, and compensation offers might not be adequate if you’re not well represented.
Insurance negotiations are stressful and time-consuming, so it may be better to have legal support by your side.
In other cases, a defective motorcycle part may be the cause of an accident, which means you’ll need to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer.
Find help from an experienced attorney if you intend to file a product liability lawsuit because such cases are complex in nature and you’ll be facing large companies with robust legal support of their own.