small passengers

[HP Junkie]

hey all ive got a dilema,
my 9 yo loves bikes as much as me hes been riding since 5 and races amatuer motocross has a bike and a quad(were all a little obsessed in my house) and hes always asking to go for rides on my busa. i usually say no partly because im unsure if their is a legal age minimum where i live, and also he doesnt have the right gear, although i have taken him a couple times its just slow speed around the block stuff i make him wear all his motocross gear and he fits into my wifes agv full face. im not sure what to do i mean hes a good kid and a good rider and im even thinking about getting him a vanson suit (they make them for kids) .  i will take my wife out all day so why do i have such a problem with this? if anything he will learn how to be a responsible rider in the future......any thoughts?

HP

 

[Lumpy]

i'm not sure about the legal age thing, but i think the biggest question here is are you willing / ready to live with the consequences of taking him for a ride?? kids are a lot more succeptable to trauma than adults, and basically get hurt / die easier. i say this cause i see it first hand every day ( in the er and icu). i'm not saying you are going to go out and intentionally hurt the little guy, but we all know that poop happens, and usually when you least expect it. me personally, i was riding with my old man when i was 8, on the back of his hog. had my own bike since i was 6. never had anything bad happen on behind him. my opinion, and this is all this is, (MY opinion that is) is that if you feel comfortable taking him riding, and your wife doesn't freak and is cool with it, rock on man. i'm sure you would have to look long and hard to find a kid that wouldnt think getting to ride behind his dad is awesome. would also be a really good opportunity to start teaching him safe riding habits. if he is as obcessed as you say he is, it wont be long he'll be wanting to ride his own bike on the streets. either way, keep it shiny side up man.

Lumpy

 

[MET]

My boys rode ther ewon bikes growing up. I very seldon took them on my bikes (various) other then short rides. Don't know why it just bothered me.

 

[RaiderDm]

One of our favorite memories is my step kids first ride. He was 7 she was 4. A 1/4 mile up the street she was forcing her helmeted head under my arm saying," Go faster, go faster." I say do it. Just exercise extreme care.

 

[Thinker62]

I take my kids around the cul-de-sac all the time and the other day, ik took the 11 year old to my softball game. I took the backroads instead of the hwy. I don't think I would have done it if I didn't have a Corbin backrest. That makes a BIG difference.

 

[fatjap]

I take my 7 year old daughter. I just made sure her gear was good, kid sized approved helmet-gloves and a jacket.
I also don't ride her at speed. just neighborhood and local roads no highways or interstates.

 

[vincent]

If your not comfortable with it, then don't do it. If you slip up with your wife on back, she is old enough to have made the choice to get on back with you based on her willingness to accept the risk of what MIGHT happen. Your children get on because its "cool". If you are willing to accept the risk, then there is nothing wrong with it. Once my kids are old enough they will be gettin rides if they want but they will damned sure have the right safety gear on. Just my .02

 

[Revlis]

One other thought on this. Someone above mentions kids are more likely to be injured. I have never heard this to be the case. My understanding is that Kids are remarkably resiliant, and they heal real fast. Not saying it's a good idea to punt them off the back for fun, just saying that they are pretty tough. Not to inclined to argue with Lumpy about it I have just seen and heard differently.

Both my Granddads used to take me for rides all the time, all over Denver, long rides on the Gold Wing. Short trips on the Harley. My Uncle Jerry used to put me on the back of his Gold Wing as well. These are some of my fondest memories.

If the kid is all for it and has the concept down I don't see why not. Just so long as they are family and they are geared up.

 

[VaBusa]

I remember riding with my Dad on his motorcycle in Denver when I was just 6 or 7...now that I have kids, that seems young, but I hope to take my boys out with me when they're older...

Also, I have a friend who's 8 year old is quite at home on the back of his Road King...everything's a chance, but doing your best to be careful is all we can do...

I agree with Vincent up there though; if you're apprehensive, then perhaps you should just say no...

 

[ks-waterbug]

I take my kids around the cul-de-sac all the time and the other day, ik took the 11 year old to my softball game. I took the backroads instead of the hwy. I don't think I would have done it if I didn't have a Corbin backrest. That makes a BIG difference.

With a back-rest equiped Busa I have no problem doing this...... My eight year old loves to ride, so I bought him all the right gear to be safe! Plus I use a little common sense avoiding real busy roads/highways and unnecessary speed, wheelies, etc.......


Just joking about the wheelies I only do that with the wife on back................

 

[Postal]

I ride my 11 year old son and 5 year old daughter every now and then. And only on around-the-block rides with their helmet on. Accidents can happen anywhere though so I exercise extreme caution.

 

[dezzy7]

you guys got more courage than i imagined... but i don't have any kids.......yet

 

[Thor]

I would guess that you have to ask yourself just one VERY important question: Do I trust myself? Get him some gear and make some memories. Just ride smart.

J

 

[HP Junkie]

thanks all i appreciate the comments, to anything there is a risk and my wife and i have talked about this subject more than a few times and we feel the same. back roads only low speed and invest in proper gear. i wont be taking him out often but i dont feel he shouldnt ever ride with me. when he hits 17 and gets his own bike my feelings will be the same. i think that a little expierience with me might help him see the responsibility of motorcycling. contrary to what you might think of an 8yo he rides and maintains his own bike (with a little coaching) and our little trips are more of a bonding thing(to him cool is catching air on his kx) btw i should be getting that corbin backrest anytime soon.

thanks, HP

 

[vincent]

kinda same topic,

What age would you guys say is good to get children started on the little 50cc dirtbikes? My 3 yr old is all over the things everytime we go to the dealership that my wife used to work at and I can get a really good deal on one if I want. They have the training wheels on and when center mounted they are wide enough that you can push the bike and it won't tip over. Thinking about gettin him one either for Christmas or when we do our taxes. Opinions?

 

[VaBusa]

We've got a 3 year old too...he loves anything that resembles a motorcycle...putts around on his battery-operated Harley all the time (and has cornered it hard enough to roll it!)

Sounds like you've found something he'd be able to maneuver vincent...I'd love to see pics of it; haven't seen anything like that around here (yet)...I'm interested in it as well...

 

[HP Junkie]

your kid will outgrow the training wheels pretty quick. i bought my son his first bike when he could pick it up by himself, that wayhe wouldnt get his leg pinned under the hot exhaust.

 

[HP Junkie]

your kid will outgrow the training wheels pretty quick. i bought my son his first bike when he could pick it up by himself, that wayhe wouldnt get his leg pinned under the hot exhaust.

 

[vincent]

VaBusa, don't have any pics of it right now, but the one that I am talking about is from yamaha. The suzuki with the training wheels has them bolted on back by the rear wheel like any bicycle you can get for a child and I know that he can tip that thing over. Most dearlerships around here have atleast one set up like that at all times but they all say that they can't sell one to you for you child until the kid is 5. Plenty of easy ways around that though .

HP Junkie, thats about what I was thinking. The bigger problem would be keeping the younger one away from it. My youngest is 10 months but already tries climbing up on the busa whenver he is able to get close to it.:0 Have to keep an eye on him!

 

[VaBusa]

Thanks vincent...I'll look on the Internet for some pics...

All the local dealers have small "dirt bikes" for the little ones, but I've never seen anything with the training wheels. It's definitely something my oldest would want! I can't keep him away from the dirt bikes when we go to the shop anyway...he walks right up to them and says "see, these are mine!"

I've got a younger one right behind the 3 year old...keeping an eye on those little guys is an understatement, isn't it?!