[Paul T]

Originally Posted by javadog

It's not so much the bike as it is the rider.

Most riders, I wouldn't ride with. Most (not all) Harley riders got into riding later in life than those I consider reasonably experienced. I was involved with creating the first rider school in Oklahoma and more than a few Harley riders bought their first Harley before they ever threw a leg over a bike for the first time.

Has he been riding his whole life, or did he buy his first bike when he 'picked up a new hobby?"

How much time has he spent on dirt bikes? From what age?

How much riding instruction as he had?

Etc.

Given your history with bikes, saying no is a pretty reasonable decision that he should have no issue with,

I agree with all of this. I grew up riding dirt bikes since I was 12 and while there is a part of me that would love to have a street bike today (haven’t had one in 30 yrs), I would never do it. Living in a fairly densely populated area, there are SO many distracted drivers these days that it almost doesn’t matter how skilled of a rider you are. An accident is just a heartbeat away if some idiot is on his/her phone and not paying attention, which sadly seems to be the norm these days. I think you are wise to be hesitant given your past history….