As many of you know, after finding out that the MSF dirtbike school was too expensive for my daughter and I to take together, I decided to see if I could afford to purchase a dirt bike.  For just a few hundred bucks more, I could purchase a bike and teach her myself (MSF instructor with 18 years of riding experience) and take her to a local track about 30 minutes from our house.  What started out as a "maybe I can swing this" has turned into a definite event....

I bought a dirt bike for her this weekend - a 2002 Yamaha TT-R 125.  I went to take a look on Friday, rode it around the yard (damn dirt bikes are fun!), and put a deposit down.  I'm picking it up on Tuesday evening, maybe Saturday if Tuesday does not work out.  It's very rideable as-is, but i'm going to replace the chain and sprockets and then do the tires over the winter.  I wanted to talk the price down some, but it turns out I was buying it from a 18 year old boy that had outgrown it and he was selling it to pay for books at college in the fall.  So, $800 it is. 

I went home and managed to purchase a helmet, goggles, jersey, pants, boots, and gloves for a mere $154.00 with shipping!!  Thank the Lord for Ebay and some other various websites.  All brand new gear (except the boots; wanted somewhat used ones so they were broke in) mostly last year's models, etc.   I should receive all of it by the end of the week.

My kid (daughter) has NO idea; and she's going to FREAK OUT when she sees this thing.  And the most exciting bit is: she's going to be able to bring it on vacation to Myrtle Beach and go riding at a place that's only about 30 minutes from where we are staying.

To get her to the place to pick it up, i'm "white lying" that i'm going to pick up a "donor bike" to start fixing another bike that i've got in my basement.  Totally plauseable - she'll fall for it hook line and sinker!

I will post some pictures up from the "surprise" event when I get them.

I've already figured out that if she likes riding, i'm going to sell my little cruiser and pick up a 2 stroke 250 for me.   [moto]

Tuesday should be AWESOME!! 

You are the coolest mom ever!!!

Can't wait to see pictures (maybe you can get some video too?) [moto]

Talk about a score on both the bike and the gear!

Your daughter will be thrilled to death, I'm sure.

Can't wait to hear about her reaction when you surprise her! 

you ARE the coolest mom ever 
after she's done freaking out, i'm sure she'll say it too

definitely the COOL mom!

Last night I got the rest of the trailer done.  I have an old boat trailer I converted to a motorcycle trailer a few years ago.  It's been sitting for about 3 years since I didn't have a car that had a hitch - until today!!

Had to do the following:
tear off all old wiring
install new lights and wiring harness
take off wheels
get all rust off lug nuts with the dremel; coat them with tiny bit of 3-1 oil to keep from re-rusting (dirty job)
take off axle hubs and regrease bearings; reinstall
wheels back on

my hubby/stepsons (twin 16 year old boys) are going to repaint the wood deck this weekend I imagine.  I also have a removable pingel wheel chock coming.  Sort of wish it had been here yesterday, but it's not.  I guarantee (the way my life works) it will show up this afternoon AFTER I get the bike.   

The only thing that could put a "fly in the ointment" for picking up the bike this evening is my daughter is with her dad going to ride/buy a new horse (she shows english and western; sold her horse a few months ago and has not been able to find a new one yet).  They might be longer than expected.  I sure hope not...

awesome...

mom's buying her a dirtbike
and dad's buying her a horse

i hope your daughter realizes how lucky she is 

Well, the joint pickup did not go as planned (did go and ride a horse and get it; his name is Homer  ), but I got it home and she was there.  I called her cell phone and asked her to help me unload the groceries.  She came out and I said "can you help me unload this bike, too?"  She stared for a minute, and then ran down the steps, out to the street and the trailer, and then just hugged me for about 20 seconds straight.

She climbed up on it and was so excited.  She said "I can tear around on this!"  [moto]

I will post up some pics tomorrow of the kid and her new wheels.

The funny thing was, my husband was even more geeked out about it.  You'd though i'd brought it home for him!!

 

yep... you've got one happy kid

well done mom 

I think we need pictures of the bike and horse 

yeah, pics are coming this evening.  got way, way too late last night to post them and then I forgot my darn data cable to do it at work.  you'll see the one horsepower and the 20 or so horsepower pictures tonight.   

Ok, here's the pics:

my car and the trailer, in a reflection at a business near me.  sort of can see my "towing package"  LOL


the new bike, with kid, too!


the new horse, named Homer


Can it get any better for a 13 year old girl??
Dad paid for the horse
Mom paid for the bike with motorcycle class (MSF) earnings.  I was 1/3 the way to the BST carbon fiber wheels with the $$ I spent.  She better ride that thing!   

Wow, thanks for sharing.  She is one lucky kid!!!

What a beauty!

The bike and the horse ain't bad, either....   

With the horse named Homer, will she name the bike Odysseus?

What a great mom you are.... 

Congrats on making your daughter the happiest girl in the world!!!

Too cool!!