My teenager wants an E-bike

[ucmgrad]

Here in the central valley, just a couple weeks ago there was an accident where a kid t-boned a car (full speed) and didn't make it. Junior High kiddo

Personally I'm against e-moto's, I rode dirt bikes/quads growing up but we took them out in the country and rode in the dirt and I wore full gear.

These days these kids are riding them without even a skid-lid.

First it was the oversized bmx bikes kids were riding in packs (ride-outs) and doing the wheelies in front of traffic.

If I had a kid (team no kids) I would get them into dirt before an e-moto for the street.

 

[sidewazzz]

Not to downplay the horror any family experienced from an ebike accident with their kid, but it is definitely being milked by the media for views and clicks

I doubt pedal bike accidents were getting much media play outside of anything hyperlocal

IDK man... kids and young adults are dying down here in Socal weekly. Its so bad, parents are now being charged with child endangerment. All three of my kids have been in ebike crashes. From my understanding of the crashes two were from speed and inability to navigate at speed, another was a passenger and was ejected from the bike after going over a speed bump at 20+. The amount of crashes is insane just talk to some ER nurses or Paramedic.

 

[Rtmac]

If I had a kid (team no kids) I would get them into dirt before an e-moto for the street.

I agree 100%. I insisted my oldest ride a dirt bike before a street bike. But he had zero interest in riding dirt bikes with me... he went straight from hard-core skater to riding harley's. He didn't even ask my permission. News flash, kids don't always do what you tell them. At least mine didn't.
(and I'm kinda glad)

 

[Holeshot]

Figure out how to give them skills and experience in the safest environment you can, in the beginning. Use the tool (be it dirt bike, Ev, or even personal watercraft) as a cudgel if they fall out line. Personally, while not the easiest instant access to riding, I believe a standup jetski provides the safest, most basic way for someone to learn core skills: vision, balance, throttle, turning, etc. The bonus is; water doesn't break bones...and an older standup can be bought for about $2K or so. 2 strokes, so the kids will also learn basic, or even more advanced, mechanic skills.

Dirt bikes are a good choice as well...just lots more injuries there to get past basic/ moderate skills under one's belt. The standup jetski trains very similar skills...and yeah, I'm biased here.

 

[nakedape]

Figure out how to give them skills and experience in the safest environment you can, in the beginning. Use the tool (be it dirt bike, Ev, or even personal watercraft) as a cudgel if they fall out line. Personally, while not the easiest instant access to riding, I believe a standup jetski provides the safest, most basic way for someone to learn core skills: vision, balance, throttle, turning, etc. The bonus is; water doesn't break bones...and an older standup can be bought for about $2K or so. 2 strokes, so the kids will also learn basic, or even more advanced, mechanic skills.

Dirt bikes are a good choice as well...just lots more injuries there to get past basic/ moderate skills under one's belt. The standup jetski trains very similar skills...and yeah, I'm biased here.

Transport, marine vessel registration, storage (wide footprint), water skills and proximity to water. You left that out. Personal watercraft are expensive hobbies, whereas a pit bike or small dirtbike is accessible to anyone. "I have a jet ski" is a rare statement for me to hear, and I live in arguably the best locale outside of FL for the sport. Where storage is expensive, it's a rich person's sport.

"Cudgel if they fall out of line?" I think you mean incentive but it came out like something else entirely. Some parents do all the heavy lifting for their kids and invite them to have a seat (or stand) on the ski no strings attached. No cleanup or purging or loading. They still resent the imposition on their screentime or favorite sport. Bed rot dead ahead matey!

 

[900ss]

I am glad my sole teenager no longer is one. He is all grown up and stuff (yes, teh grammatical suckle), and being a prototype machinist at Specialized, he does me proud. Not that that counts for shit, moreover he does himself proud. You go son, you go. Good on you.

 

[Holeshot]

Transport, marine vessel registration, storage (wide footprint), water skills and proximity to water. You left that out. Personal watercraft are expensive hobbies, whereas a pit bike or small dirtbike is accessible to anyone. "I have a jet ski" is a rare statement for me to hear, and I live in arguably the best locale outside of FL for the sport. Where storage is expensive, it's a rich person's sport.

Dirt bikes have the same needs, unless you've got land to ride on. Transport; yes. registration; yes. storage; yes. proximity to riding spot? You left those out for the DB. Dirt bikes are the same dollars as a standup. In fact, probably worse, given the abuse a DB takes. I understand you don't operate in Jetski circle, which I'd expect given your made-up cost assessment on skiis and belief that SD is "the best locale for the sport". It's not and it's not a "rich person's sport", mind you; used stand-ups are as cheap and plentiful....and massive fun for learning how to operate a piece of equipment with your body. Do you know where all the stand-up guys came from in the race circles? Dirt bikes. Wonder why? Their injuries are way less on the water....

It's like you C/P'd an AI answer...it's that inaccurate. Next thing you'll claim is DB's have less injury rates (they don't).