I work with 7th -12th grade students in a quiet little town on the MI/WI border. Recently, I started bringing my bike to school and it draws a bit of attention. As I left one afternoon there were a few of the HS boys waiting in the parking lot wanting to see the bike which i was glad to show them. One of them also owns a bike and asked if I wanted to go for a ride and of course I wanted to but it didn't take too much thought to realize the risk that could entail. I told him I'd like to ride but I couldn't do anything too crazy. He assured me, "what happens out of school stays out of school." So we head back to his place and he rolls this crazzy looking old gixxer 750 out of the garage. It has no fairings except for the tail which looks like a huge black egg, no lights, no muffler at all just the header blowing out on the sole of his shoe, a single front brake and an extended swing arm. It was one of those bikes that looked like it was straight out of Mad Max. It was so loud, it actually made my bike sound kind of normal. I told him to go first and don't go faster than he normally would go. He seemed to be keeping a reasonable pace and wasn't really cornering too aggressively. He didn't have a problem with spinning his rear tire on pavement but other than that, it was going pretty safe. I had to stop for gas so he lead us back to town where several other kids from school were also visiting the gas station. After gassing up, I had to push the kid on his bike to roll start it (because he doesn't have a battery) and we head out with him doing a little burnout through the parking lot and bouncing off the rev limiter. So much for what happens out of school stays out of school. It was a hot day here and the conditions were good. This kid knows some nice roads and we had about a hundred mile ride. We ended up doing a quick race down a long straight stretch. I knew I was going to win so I started at a little lower rpm than I might have if it was serious competition. He pulled ahead at first but I passed him after my first shift. 130 with no fairings must have been interesting. I'd like to go riding with this young guy again but I'm not so sure. I mean, I'd have to draw the line at beer parties with minors but riding at triple digits...I'm not so sure that is any less illegal. Also wouldn't look good for the school and just seems a little weird. It was a lot of fun though.

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Well Rook I just got home from dinner with one of my old school teachers that I use to hang out with outside of school.We've been friends for over 30 years. I say you take some time and your knowledge and help the kid get that turd fixed up so it's safe. Your teaching abilities don't have to be limited to inside the school. I say ride with him...maybe even offer his mom a ride.

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I say you take some time and your knowledge and help the kid get that turd fixed up so it's safe.

I was thinking the same thing today. That would be comfortably within the bounds of acting as a positive role model. It might help compensate for some hooliganistic rides on the back roads.

I say ride with him...maybe even offer his mom a ride.

LOL I did meet his mom and she was very attractive and nice. Married though so offering a ride would be way out of bounds. LOL, I had my helmet on so I'm not sure she knew how old I am. I can picture her asking her son, "who was that guy? Is he out of college?"

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