Ok so I really need some advice and opinions. I'll try to keep this as short as possible. I was on a trip in panama florida with a few of my buddies. My buddy had a 1000cc bike and after the first day on the trip he let me sit on it. I'd never driven a bike before so i thought this thing was awesome. So long story short my buddy let me ride it. I barely pulled the throttle back, the bike lurched and i proceeded to grab the hand brake and the bike threw me off going around 30 mph. I was wearing no shirt or helmet, this was totally spur of the moment. I spent the day in the hospital with a head injury and my entire back ripped to shreds. The bike came out with some scuffing but ran just fine. so after the wreck the question came up of who was gonna pay for it. At first i was going to pay for it but after talking to a few family members who ride and some riders i've met around here I've been told numerous times im not in the wrong because nobody who owns a 1000cc bike should let a novice much less a person who has never rode a bike ride theirs period. So needless to say my perspective has changed over the last year on what should be done simply because the moment i got on that bike it was inevitable i was gonna wreck it since i'd never rode and it was way to powerful and he should have known not to let me. If the circumstances were different and i had just taken his bike without permission and rode it I'd pay simply because i didn't have permission but because he consented to letting me ride with the knowledge that i'd never rode It's a different matter. Also he had no insurance on it to add fire to the situation. So ya i know what i did was stupid but i had no idea what i was gettin myself into but he did. He's pestering me about and im so tired of having this hang over my head. Anyway what do you guys think about this. I'd really appreciate your opinions. Thanks in advance

 

It was your fault, you need to go ahead and pay the guy. Your responsability started the moment you sat on it.

In Florida you are not required to have motorcycle insurance, so thats besides the point.

J

 

I'd say your right in a sense that i made the choice to ride the bike so that part of it's my fault but the fact that i didn't understand the situation due to never having ridin in my and many others opinions makes this in the very least a 2 way street. I made the choice to ride and he made the choice to allow me to. So i am partially wrong having made the choice to ride but logically the person with more prior knowledge and understanding of the situation is more in the wrong so it weighs on him more. If i had been riding and knew the bike and had made this mistake I'd pay up because that would be a case of an educated mistake on my part but I was in the dark on this situation so It's different

 

That is a poor argument. I'm sure you will rationalize all day why it ISN'T your fault, but the fact is, you screwed up. How about taking responsibility for your choices/actions. If you are a poor high school/college student you can always pay it off monthly. If you were a 12 year old child, then you might have an argument regarding who is truly liable. Time to grow up.

 

How good is this friend to you? How much is he asking for?

 

When people break the law, they can't use the fact that they didn't know about the law to get out of a fine or being charged. I think the same should probably apply here. Especially as a friend, he should've cautioned you, but it sounds like maybe you didn't ask for any guidance either. Ultimately, you need to take responsibility IMO. Aside from that, if this guy is your friend, do you want something like this to come in between you two? Life is too short for that kind of crap. Aside from that it doesn't make sense that you "barely" accelerated and ended up going 30 mph, but perhaps that's besides the point.
Maybe you could agree to split the cost 50/50?

 

You break it, you buy it!! or in this case pay for it

 

Thanks everyone for the advice. I was in the wrong. This is a pretty good friend of mine and no i don't want this to come between us. He moved away a long time before this trip to louisiana but we were still cool. When i said i barely accelerated i mean it. This bike was unbelievable. It moved on it's own without even giving it gas it was the most power i've ever felt in my life. When i pulled back the throttle i was trying to get the bike to finish a turn because i didn't weigh enough to get it to do a full turn without it wanting to fall over. So when i pulled the accelerator it went. I mean it WENT. The first thing i thought to do was grab the hand brake and when i did it locked the front break and threw me off the bike. I didn't get a chance to look at the accelerator i was just estimating how fast it felt but im sure it's close. Trust me i did not intentionally try to go fast on this bike i was trying to get it back to my buddy to get off. It was unbelievable and now of course im scared sh@#tless of bikes. Maybe i was trying to rationalize and that's why i wanted to hear from you guys, simply to get a different perspective. This helped because now i understand it's more my fault then i thought. I still believe it's not just my fault but i can agree with shareal on the 50/50 thing that seems most logical way to me. Anyway thank you all again for the advice i really appreciate it. It's amazing how much this website helps me out in life. Whether it be help fixing my car, putting a smile on my face after a good read, or putting me in check like this lol

 

It's not even a question, pay the man his money.

When he asked if you wanted to ride it, you should have said no. Simple as that.

 

Your an adult..... At least we all hope you are.. You made the choice to get on the bike. No one put a gun to your head.... At least we all hope thats not the case. Point is just because someone "let" you use something of theirs doesn't mean that they are responsible when it goes wrong.
Man up! Pay your friend for the damages or at least get the repairs done and over with at no cost to him.
Also since you want to bring up insurance. You should have insurance covering you and any vehicle your operating to cover your own a$$. When you don't you pay outa pocket.