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I just bought my first bike, a 2016 Sportster 48 1200. I'm not completely new to bikes. I have rode a couple friend's dirt bikes and have owned 3 ATVs myself. I've been practicing on country roads with little to no traffic and one road only has a couple people living on it. I think I have done great so far and haven't came close to dropping it...yet. I have been sloppy a few times taking off while turning though. I'm also not going over 45mph.
I have let a cousin ride it so far because he use to have bikes years ago and rode a lot. Well so far I've had to tell another family member no. He had a bike 30 years ago but never rode it much at all. It was a garage queen. Never even put tags or insurance on it. I felt bad but I just didn't trust him on it. The last thing I want is for my brand new bike to be dropped with only 40 miles on it.
So who do you allow to ride your bike? If you did let someone ride it, did they crash or drop it?
Without fail, every person I've let ride one of my bikes has crashed it. This range goes right up to an amateur racer (active) who low-sided a racebike of mine on the first turn of a lapping session because they forgot about cold tires.
So I don't let people ride bikes of mine. This has a long history for me (the racebike incident was more than a decade ago), but I don't even let people who are buying bikes from me ride them till they are bought and paid for (save the title/paperwork til after their ride).
On the flip side, I have ridden LOTS of other peoples bikes. Just sorta comes with the job as a mechanic. Different story, though, when you are 100% responsible for any/all damage and can't shirk that without destroying a reputation...
I'm a little looser about it than most I talk to. I throw the keys at anyone who I know who a) I know they can ride (by my standards, not by what someone told me or what their license says) and b) understands the 'you break it you bought it' policy. Now, I've had arguments with good friends before about that second one and I can understand, legally, that perhaps that's not the way it goes. But, if you're going to ride my bike or drive my vehicle, I expect to know and trust you well enough that you're the kind of person I know to show some integrity in that situation and pay your way.
So, my bikes have been ridden by my brother and my very close circle of friends, as well as prospective buyers if I have cash in hand first. And yes, probably a mechanic or two as well.
being selective and allowing some friends/relatives to ride your bike while denying others causes hurt feelings, it is easier to tell them all "no, my insurance does not cover you" ....has been an easier way for me to handle it
and by the way...... your insurance probably does not cover them!
She's been riding bikes for 10 years or so, and therefore I trust her implicitly.
And in any case she's on my insurance as a named rider with 8 years NCB, and hasn't dented my premium at all
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