Bennington Triumph Bash

no not yet but I did get your attention
this is a quick opinion poll
Performance Cycles in MA has 2008 black Street Triple
should I buy it for the kid with the understanding that he will sell off his other 3 bikes and pay me back within 2 year? (at 5%)

if you say yes he will atend the BASH and do nice things to you

Is he an only child? And yes, you did have me worried.

no he is the 3rd son of 3
and yes I do spoil all of them equally

I think the question is, are you comfortable with buying him this bike? You can't ask us to vote yes and then if something terrible happens, we are equal in the guilt. I don't mean to get too philosophical here, but I think you already know what you are going to do.
(I hope that comment didn't upset you. It's tough to be a parent.)

I remember when I was 18 and the great times I had on my Indian
now is the time for him to have that fun before he has to "settle down" and down is the key word
I would be much more comfortable if he would stop falling off
OH what the hell I've already lost $100,000 on my investments this quarter, what's another $10,000?

[quote="drlapo"]2008 black Street Triple
should I buy it for the kid with the understanding that he will sell off his other 3 bikes and pay me back within 2 year?

absolutely not...you're teaching him nothing of character other than handouts come to those who mope. Your role as father isn't to spoil him, it's to get him on his feet and kicking ass on his own.

he can sell his other 3 and do the deed himself...it will give him a better self image than sucking off the vine far too long.

you're going to buy him another screamer...he's going to scream on it and linger in a coma until your heart is broken. If you want to buy him something, make it a vintage Indian that doesn't get beat going fast...that will at least teach him some values...but I think your main concern is he falls far too often for common sense...and a 115hp monster is no answer...unless you're sick of him and want to clear your plate.

do you adopt mature orphans with pleasant personalities? I'm handy in the shop and am up at 4AM hard at work most days...cause my folks died and I only have the 1 bike...I can also cook surprisingly well.

I'm afraid if you encourage his behavior he's going to push the limits and you're in for a funeral...think long and hard about that...I know he's a good kid...but I see the track record...and I don't like where it's going...because I've already seen where it ends far too many times.

build his character, not his ego.

+1,000,000 on Modre's post.

If you want to help the kid get back on a bike, how about using the crashed Daytona 675 as the basis for a custom? And don't have someone build it for him -- make him be a full participant in building it (with you, if you have the time).

There isn't an 18-year-old kid in the world who fully appreciates the toys he's given unless he has to work for them himself. Help him to build some responsibility, and at the same time help to save his life -- I can guarantee you that he'll be a whole lot more careful when it's the product of his own hard work that's at stake.

Or you could take the tougher path -- if he's not into riding enough to accept your offer of the 500 for the summer, then clearly he's not really into riding that much at all. So don't waste your money. If the only bike I could ride for a summer was a Nighthawk 250 or something, I'd still rather ride that than not ride at all -- and I'd have fun doing it. If your son needs a 675 to enjoy riding, then I'd argue that he just doesn't have the riding bug the way that most people on this forum do, so let him work and save up his own money if he wants to get back into it.

Given his track record, that beautiful '08 Street Triple is just going to be another casualty... and he probably will be too, because no one's luck holds out forever.

--mark

modre wrote:
absolutely not...you're teaching him nothing of character other than handouts come to those who mope. Your role as father isn't to spoil him, it's to get him on his feet and kicking ass on his own.

he can sell his other 3 and do the deed himself...it will give him a better self image than sucking off the vine far too long.

you're going to buy him another screamer...he's going to scream on it and linger in a coma until your heart is broken. If you want to buy him something, make it a vintage Indian that doesn't get beat going fast...that will at least teach him some values...but I think your main concern is he falls far too often for common sense...and a 115hp monster is no answer...unless you're sick of him and want to clear your plate.

do you adopt mature orphans with pleasant personalities? I'm handy in the shop and am up at 4AM hard at work most days...cause my folks died and I only have the 1 bike...I can also cook surprisingly well.

I'm afraid if you encourage his behavior he's going to push the limits and you're in for a funeral...think long and hard about that...I know he's a good kid...but I see the track record...and I don't like where it's going...because I've already seen where it ends far too many times.

build his character, not his ego.

yup, what Modre says and yup, what Mark says:

mark wrote:There isn't an 18-year-old kid in the world who fully appreciates the toys he's given unless he has to work for them himself. Help him to build some responsibility, and at the same time help to save his life -- I can guarantee you that he'll be a whole lot more careful when it's the product of his own hard work that's at stake.

He's a Big Boy- looks like its time to act like one....... He's crashed 2- count em 2- bikes that you've bought him???? Not cool. Seems to me he's got to get a dose of REAL LIFE. That, a job, and selling those other bikes and he can buy his own. If you need to throw money at him, throw it into his college fund?

Sorry, drlapo...no enabling from this corner!

If you said a moped or something 500cc or smaller I would say yes.


But to getting a young man a SPEED TRIPLE the answer is no, NO FUCKING WAY! The S3 will hurt him. It is not a good first bike, it is not a bike for rookies!, it is not a toy!

Please don't do it!


Tito

Ton Up!

I agree with the above listed posts, real bad idea.

Hey, you've only lost $100,000 if you sell! It's still only on paper.

And I didn't want to be the first "tough love" guy, but now I'll join in. Mark's idea of having him rebuild the 675 is a great idea.

Short story. When my father was twenty four he spent a year in europe studying to be a sculpter. He wanted me to experience what he had, so when I was seventeen and about to graduate from high school, I told him I'm going to europe and miss my graduation as I loved his stories. I had some money saved, but he chipped in a lot in order for his son to experience what he experienced.

"You can't go home again" My trip at seventeen was a dissaster. A plan for a year turned into one month and I was home again. You can't live your son's life. I know how much you'd like him to be happy. I needed to learn more of the world on my own just as your son does. Take Mark's advice and have him rebuild. Hey, put your money into hiring someone to help him if you don't have time. He'll thank you for it in the end and truly love his bike.

Best of luck with your decision.

not a speed triple
we alrady have one of those
a Street Triple: only 110 hp

rest easy I already said no

Doc - Not for Nothing but are you Fucking Insane? Listen to Modre, he is 100% Spot on in every fabric of his being! God Dammit, your older and wiser than all of us - this is the kind of information you should be giving us! Do you have some codependency issues? Do feel that if you don't do this he will not love you? Do you think if you do get him the bike - he will love you more? This is Fucking Madness and I live in Fairfield County where all these rich little fuckers get anything and everything they want and it never fucking ends! How about you let Uncle Sam take care of him for the next 4 years like I did with my step-son? He went from total Zero to Hero in 8 weeks! He is the most squared away man you would ever want to meet! He graduates SERE training today!

no I'm not fucking insane, just insane
I've been divorced for 10 years+
the middle son, not the crasher, is coming to the bash on his 675

Nevertheless - you should be dropping the hammer on us instead of us having to tell you! Your the Sage and you know the right answer! Look, both my brothers, one older and one younger both have houses with the help of my parents. My wife and I can afford to make monthly mortgage payments on a very nice home but we lack a decent down payment. My parents could easily give us 100k like me giving you a $100 and not worrying about getting it back, however, they have not stepped to the plate yet! Do I resent that? You better fucking believe it! Do I love them any less for this? Nope! Not one little bit! I have not been the model son growing up and they spent a good portion of their younger years in anguish. Today it is different, I have changed. They sleep well at night! I am very happy for their peacefulness! Do the Right Thing here Mayor and don't enable this kid!