At what age did you start taking your young ones for rides?

K

krrakt

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Hi,

I was at Snow City Cycle the other day and there was a harness for young kids there. It looked like sort of overalls that attached to your subframe and goes over small person's shoulders, but I did not ask so not too certain how it worked.

Anyway I have a seven year old that I started to take on short rides in the neighbourhood. He loves it and can't get enough. I don't take him on the highway or out in rush our but he is quite a good passenger.

Do any of you folks take your kids out for rides?
 
My first rip was being about 4 years old, sitting on the tank without a helmet and going around the block a few times.
Next time I would have been around 7, sitting on the tank of a dirt bike and bombing around up and down some hills and trails, only that time I did have a helmet... That was way too big.
 
I was 7... Dad made me feel special by saying only 7+ are
allowed to be passengers. I was the coolest grade 3 kid in school, waving bye to my friends on the school bus.
Don't let your kid get a taste if you hope they don't get into riding when they're older.
True story.
 
I do get him after school and he feels pretty cool, does not want to even get in the car or have his mother pick him up anymore, I feel kinda bad about that.

I got him a nice arai helmet with graphics. I don't mind him getting into riding (except the COST), we have some 4 wheelers up north and he can almost steer the smallest 350cc machine. he sits in front and I assist his steering.

I keep seeing him lifting his 3lb dumbells trying to get stronger LOL. He really wants to ride alone, me I dont mind, I'm not sure his mother will allow it for some time though.
 
I believe it is more an issue of size over age. You should not take a child on the back of your bike if they are not physically large enough to reach the passenger foot pegs. They should also have the strength to be able to hang on and be aware how to behave as a passenger. Keep the first few rides shorter in length and include a destination that they will enjoy. I would usually limit these rides to less than 1/2 hour and would typically head down through The Forks to get an ice cream.
 
Hi,
Yes you are absolutely right on those points. Actually the LAW requires the child to be able to reach the foot pegs, that is the only restriction, I checked before doing this. And all the other new passenger suggestions apply, ie.lean with bike, dont shift around, tap twice to stop or pull over etc.
 
my kids started riding with me for trips around the block at about 3yr old, but they sat in front of me and we didnt have the laws we have now.

They sat on the back and both reached the pegs by age 7 but they are both tall kids. They put thier hands in my jacket pockets to hold on, keep hands warm and i could feel them holding on.
 
Great idea. Something I'm going to remember when my boy is old enough to be a passenger.


crankcall said:
They put thier hands in my jacket pockets to hold on, keep hands warm and i could feel them holding on.
Click to expand...
 
I have been taking my nephew, age 6, for short little trips around the neighborhood. He loves it!
 
For me, the decision was based on what age I felt they had a reasonable chance of surviving a fall - i.e having gear that actuall fit and having a clue as to what to do. IIRC they were about 10.

I don't always expect to fall off but I am always prepared if it should happen. Same goes for passengers, including kids. I think a lot of people feel they'll "ride safe" when they have kids on the back. I'm really curious how one does that. You "riding safe" will prevent getting rear ended? Hmm...
 
Here's a lucky 3 year old.Maybe the next goat?
[video=youtube;rdDNEJTqMQ4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdDNEJTqMQ4&feature=player_embedded[/video]
 
I pick up my 7 year old son from school, he loves it. He's a great passenger too - one hand on the grab bar, the other on the back of my belt. Don't even know he's there, I have to keep checking!
My 12 year daughter on the other hand won't have any of it.
 
my brother and sister have both been on my bikes - 12 and 9 respectively. (i'm considerably older than them lol)

i still tell them what to do as a passenger though (look and leans, hold on tight!)
 
My son was eight when I first took him out and he put his hands in my pockets to hang on. It helped his arms from getting tired :) That was on a cruiser and he was quite comfortable and felt safe enough to almost drift off to sleep one day! However I think my F4i freaked him out a bit and he started to prefer riding on my ex's cruiser. With just my bike last year, he was more reluctant to ride. This year - he's all over it! LOL! He's always asking to take the bike :D I also bought 'Love Handles' a couple seasons ago for him to hang onto. I put it around my waist and he hangs on to them.
 
son was 8 when he started riding with us. 13 now, doesn't come along often. We expect him to borrow either my wifes bike or mine between now and 18 at some point for a quick ride on his own :evil2:
 
I have a neighbour with a CBR1000 who takes what looks like a 5 year old on the back. I cringe everytime I see them. It does not take much for that little guy to lose his grip and thats it. The helmet is way to big and does not have proper clothes on. He does not just go for a leisurely ride either. I have seen him flying up the road with the little one. Hopefully he won't have to regret that one day. Personally I don't think I would have put my son on the back that young. Maybe between 8 & 10 where they might comprehend the dangers a little more. Just my opinion.
Ya Dad, you know that you are just planting the seed for him wanting his own right?
 
I have seen belts and harnesses that you can buy too to strap the kid to you. AVOID THESE THINGS. Imagine you tumbling along the road, all 100 kgs of you (or whatever), tethered to a 40 kg fragile package. Not a good thing.

The love handles idea works. I always have them put their hands in my pockets, that way I know that they're holding on. I won't let a passenger ride holding on to a grab bar. They hold onto me or they don't ride. I don't want them flying off because they "didn't know I was gonna accelerate right then" and they weren't holding on. Besides which, what good is holding on behind you when the acceleration force is coming from the front? It just becomes a pivot point to sail over.
 
Nyx13 said:
My son was eight when I first took him out and he put his hands in my pockets to hang on. It helped his arms from getting tired :) That was on a cruiser and he was quite comfortable and felt safe enough to almost drift off to sleep one day! However I think my F4i freaked him out a bit and he started to prefer riding on my ex's cruiser. With just my bike last year, he was more reluctant to ride. This year - he's all over it! LOL! He's always asking to take the bike :D I also bought 'Love Handles' a couple seasons ago for him to hang onto. I put it around my waist and he hangs on to them.
Click to expand...
I have seen you ride, I would be reluctant as well :-)

...specially on left hand turns
 
I have had my son riding with me for last 2 years he's 10 now turning 11 this year. He has a corect size helmet, proper motorcycle jacket, motorcycle boots and a back protector as well, gloves and i have the belt you wrap around over your jacket around your waist with 2 set of handles for him to hold onto. Also we have scala's to talk so i make sure he is paying attention to railway tracks and other dangers.

he is the envy of his school and always like the rides to musslemen lake for a ice cream. No highways for him or anything over 100kms.
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