hey everyone,
i am 19 years old and i was thinking about getting my motorcycle license, but my cousin said to not get one because it is dangerous, and the only reason i want to get it is to look cool becuase i do not need the bike. he is 25 and he got his motorcycle license at the age of 20. he also said that it is a "mistake" that he got into the lifestyle because now he is addicted to riding, but he still thinks that it is too dangerous. sometimes when he rides he still gets scared because of drivers in cars that don't pay attention, he has been hit twice and down a few times. we also had a relative died in a bike accident.
what i need help on is should i listen to him or should i follow my heart and go get my bike license?
also is there any place that i should post this up at where i can get alot of opinions?

Where do you need a license to ride a bicycle?

my bad motorcycle license

This is a bicycle forum specifically, not a motorcycle forum.

I don't think you're going to get a good answer. Everyone that rides motorcycles thinks it's fine (until they die at least) and people that don't probably don't think too much of it. I suppose somewhere you could look up the odds of getting killed on one, but that still wouldn't tell you if it was too dangerous or not.

Now that I think about it, one of my coworkers lost a son a couple of years ago in a motorcycle accident, and another coworker's dad has been in a wheelchair for years due to one.

2nd opinion
"your ugly too" HAHAHAHA
no seriously When I was 19 everything you did was based on the "cool" factor
Be sensable if you need one get it if not why worry
All youll be doing is buying a car anyway and paying double insurance rego gas etc etc etc
good luck

Well...you need to be as careful/safety conscious as if you were riding a bicycle. Lots of crazy drivers out there, mainly cars but also motorcyclists. Go ahead and get your license, just be careful out there. Car drivers only look out for other cars.

With a chosen name of eatsleeprace is it possible that you might be often tempted to explore the speed and handling limits of a motorcycle? That would add considerable risk.

i am 19 years old and i was thinking about getting my motorcycle license, but my cousin said to not get one because it is dangerous, and the only reason i want to get it is to look cool

Your cousin maybe correct;)

19, a year out of high school? Are you attending school to advance your life experiences in the safety of the education environment?

Your given reason is not enough to support your need. And your present driving experience may indicate that you may have difficult time to anticipate what those 4 wheel vehicles unpredictable moves.

Before attending motor cycle school, you want cool, attend ground school and attempt to obtain your pilot's license.

That training truly teaches you much respect for knowing your limits, to make safe decisions, and travel plans. As well as a new respect for mechanical technology and human control.

Best regards.

I always wanted a motorcycle..
Wheni was on my bicycle when i puledd up next to a motorcycle my mantra was. I can aride you bike 5 miles you cant ride mine 5 miles.

A few years later i got a 600 katana I loved it. when i started riding motorcycles I was 205. 2 years later i said let my get ol roadie out for a spin. 500yds down the road I was dieing. I was 240. I became the other guy.
Yes i looked cool on it or near it. but other then that i was just a fat balding middle age guy.

depalted the motorcycle got back on roadie. back down to 210 so far.
I was 34 when i stated riding. I got hit by an SUV. (no injuries and they had to tow his suv away i rode off. )
Maintenance on motorcycles is $$$$. 2 years 3 sets of tires. chain maintenence tuneups. if you skimp you will get hurt. wear Armor! ! ! !
Expect that every ride will be your last. and dont B$T%& if it is. you know the risk you made a choice.

Glad i did it yes.glad i am not doing it yes.
PS just got my son up on 2 wheel he doesnt remember ewhen i was out of shape due to the Kat.
he sees this guy park his HD an come into the donut shop where we where having our post ride treat. and says to me. Dad do motorcyles make you fat? I said yes they can just like cars make you weak.

When I was 19, I wanted a motorcycle more than anything in the world. Now that I've had KIDS who were 19, I think motorcycles ought to be banned...
No, they're a lot of fun, and I rode one for a couple of years. But I also worked as an ambulance attendant in a town with an Army base and three colleges, and I can't even estimate the number of dead, deformed or crippled motorcyclists I picked up in three years. It was a regular occurrence, not just once in awhile but several times a week.
Nobody here (or anywhere else) can say whether YOU should get a license. Only you can answer that. But you should be aware that riding is many times more dangerous than driving, and most 19-year olds don't have the brains or judgment to stay out of trouble. No insult intended--I used to be one, and I didn't have the brains to ride, either. In the ambulance business, when we went to a cycle crash, we used to say we were "going out to pick up an organ donor."

thanks for all the feedback

I think that "looking cool" is not a good reason to get a motorcycle licence. Best to leave motorcycling to those who love motorcycling and motorcycles.

Paul