Conformity is overrated.
As a parent, I feel my job is to give my daughter the broadest set of opportunities that I can. Give her tools to learn. Let her dream. And send her off into the world able to make good decisions.
I knew this would be an exciting year of change. It has been very face paced change. In the past 3 months, Lisa has gotten her driver’s license, has learned how to drive a stick shift car, gotten her motorcycle license, and yesterday, at the tender age of 16, threw a leg over her first motorcycle.
Lisa's first bike is a well cared for '06 Kawasaki Ninja 500. Came to us via a friend of a friend. I decided to pass on the 250 route...this girl has to ride alongside me! I hope the 500 is just the right starter bike.
Passing of the keys, thanks for the delivery Jesse!
The next chapter of our adventure starts in a few days when I begin to teach her what she needs to know about riding that green machine as we roll forward toward our goal of riding to the BMW National Rally in Bloomsburg, PA in July to attend Camp Gears
Spot of green in the garage
to be continued...for years to come.
15 comments:
This is a great saga...
Please continue with the next installment.
Bruce
Whoot!!
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- Shogs
This is awesome! I wish I had opportunities like that when I was that age. I started with a 50cc Vespa which was a lot of fun - later got a 450cc Suzuki which might be similar to the Ninja 500. Not too much, good starter size.
All the best, good luck, and a guardian angel at all times for your daughter! Ride safe!
Lisa is so very fortunate to have you for a Mom! Great move to get the Ninja 500!
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Great story....love seeing the family riding tradition continued!
That green sure does stand out.
Good stuff Gail, looking forward to the future ride reports and such as Lisa grows as a motorcyclist.
dom
Redleg's Rides
Colorado Motorcycle Travel Examiner
That is so awesome. My son is 9 months away from getting his mc license. It will be great having him riding along. Looking forward to reading your rides with her.
Congrats, I'm not sure who selected the Kawasaki but that was a good choice, my 14 year old daughter already selected her bike, a Green Ninja 250.
I agree, the 500 is a much better choice for the open road, good luck with it and I will be looking for the lime green Ninja at the BMW event :-)
To be continued for years to come?
Dang. I probably won't live long enough to see how it all turns out in the end. :)
"Unconventional" seems to be a way of life in the Hatch family.
Also odd was the rapidity of granting I assume a full license for operation of both motor vehicle and motorcycle. Here in Ontario a graduated license system is in place and your daughter would be past age 21 before she would have her full permit. Such a system actively discourages young people from learning to drive motorized devices. And then there is the cost of insurance which can easily exceed four figures with the first numeral being a 2, 3 or 4 or more. And that's when the new driver is on a subset of their parent's insurance!
Females are not taxed any where near as heavily as new male drivers, perhaps the females are more sensible? The males traditinally are more testosterone driven to do silly
things.
A green Ninja eh? You won't miss seeing the daughter or the machine traveling with you!
Enjoy Bloomsburg!
Very nice! But of course I'm partial to Kawi green! :D
I had a 125 loaner bike for my first few weeks of riding before we found a little Vulcan. Same motor as the Ninja, but may be tuned differently, I can't say for sure. I thought it was a nice, manageable size to learn on, yet had power enough to satisfy as I gained experience. I think Lisa will really enjoy the Ninja.
Dang that Tourmaster shell makes me look puffy. Oof.
How is she digging the new-to-her ride? Does she get to guest blog as well, or does she have to start up seeridesaninja.com?
Lisa is looking good so far, we're taking it slow and steady. I was unable to figure out the shock adjustment myself (despite best efforts at RFM). Having my trusted mechanic look at it shortly.
Maybe when school is over I can talk Lisa into a guest blog.
ps. maybe you were puffy 'cause of water retention 8^)
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