Hi All,

Let me say a little something about myself, before you start thinking that I am another teenager hammering on the ever so controversial "parent-child" conflict

I am 24 years old, and work in Bangalore at an IT firm. My parents stay in Chennai. I have been riding since I was 14, and have never met with any major accidents till date (touchwood).

Lately, I have developed an interest in doing long distance trips on my motorcycle, and am really getting hooked on to such butt-breakers. But my parents are REALLY worried that i do such trips on own. I have tried every trick up my sleeve to convince them that this is not such a bad idea. I wear proper gear while doing these trips, have decent enough knowledge on amatuer motorcycle fixing, and constantly keep in touch with my folks while I am on the road. Yet, there is a strong opposition on their part. I have even tried the lame excuse of "festival time, so couldn't get tickets for the bus/train/plane, and hence rode down home, to be with you , mom/dad " My father went to the extent of suggesting that I should sell my bike, and get a new car. Now, I care a lot for them, and would not like them to feel that I do not respect their feelings, just because I stay away from them, and am independent.

Is it me, or are there any other poor folks out here, who have have been in a similar situation. There are a zillion questions on my mind, but I'll stick to asking the more important ones. What is it that makes parents think that we (Motorcycle tourers) are risking our lives. How does someone in my position go about convincing them otherwise

MODS, please merge this if there is an existing thread on this.

Thanks all!