I love this site still (yup, sent you email before about the importance of learning to ride on a scrambler!)... Got to make another comment on your tips. 

See, I am a male and I am under 30 and my bikes are my only transport...(can you feel what's coming?) So to comment on your curmudgeon's point of view (please put this with the other comments): I agree with you. I agree with all those categories of person who shouldn't ride bikes. But I qualify that agreement - I believe you are making a blanket generalization and knowing it. I believe that generalization is a very useful tool, and if someone doesn't understand the REAL POINT behind that article, then they need to lose the chip on their shoulder (there are those other 2 disagreeing comments that I think just missed the point). I believe every rule has exceptions, but there needs to be a rule first. Maybe a lot of us are exceptions and we should be riding, but I think that it requires a lot of insight into your own heart. 

Basically anyone with a temper is going to get hurt. The one time I have dropped my road bike was cos I was so annoyed at the guy who cut me off that I jammed on the hooter and in doing so lost control. Almost happened a second time, but I rescued the bike. I have a new rule: if someone annoys me on the road, then I must just get away from them (faster or slower matters not - just clear them). Cos by being near them, I am in danger of losing temper, and then I will get hurt. I know that younger folks, and particularly guys have the tendency to do stupid things on a bike. Was the gist of the article not just to warn us all against acting like a dumb kid? 

Anyway, hopefully you can edit this reply and put it on the comments page, cos I think it makes sense and might help the other younger riders who were offended understand a bit more of the severe repercussions of acting "young, dumb, and full of cum" (please excuse that rudeness, but I think the quote sums things up). 

Cheers Ric 
25 yrs old Cape Town South Africa 
'83 Honda XL500R 
'89 Honda VFR400R NC24

Since a few years we have new regulations on motorcycle drivers licenses. Before these new regulations everyone above 18 could get a drivers license and buy any sort of bike he/she liked, including, for example, hayabusas.

The new regulations state, however, that everyone under 23 gets a drivers license for a bike with a maximum of 25 kW power. Above 23 people can choose whether they will take driving lessons for the small license or for the big license.

If you start with a small license then after a year the license will transfer into a big license. Although people under 23 will probably not like these new regulations, I think it is a good idea. I'm driving a Triumph sprint 900 now, after having had a Honda nighthawk 650, and the bike is powerfull enough to get into trouble if you don't pay attention.

You indicate that riders of both sexes should be over the age of thirty before riding. Clearly the insurance companies side with you in assigning higher premiums for younger (particularly unmarried male) riders. I will submit that older folks tend to be more mature and act more responsibly than younger folks.

I was fortunate in being able to save my lawn-cutting and paper route money and buy a dirt bike at age 14. I was lucky also in having nearby woods in which to ride. My crashes, and there were many, were of very low consequence. I was able to develop skills and coordination riding in the dirt that were extremely beneficial when I purchased a street bike at age 17.

My street bike had a displacement of 350 cc and a top speed of 85 mph. My only crash on the street occurred shortly after getting that bike and I was hotdogging it (pretending I was Kenny Roberts hanging off while turning). Fortunately I was only going about 30 mph and was not hurt.

The frightening thing is that today a small bike is considered to have around 600 cc and some of these can go 150 mph. I'm glad I didn't have such a bike when I was 18.

Thus, as a modification on your assertion on limiting riders to those over the age of 30, I would propose that young (or beginning) riders begin off-road where consequences of crashing are low. Further, I would restrict young riders to bikes of a more limited displacement (say 350 cc). I would also make it mandatory for rider training, similar to Driver's Ed taken by most high school students. Refresher training and skills demonstration should also be mandatory (for car and motorcycle drivers).

Thanks for letting me express my view.

-- Ride Safely

Rob Tayloe

Columbus, Ohio