Riding with your kids?

[acalliste]

How many here are parents with children old enough to ride? Did you teach your kids to ride, or would you if they were interested?

My youngest is 17, and he has no interest (at this point) in riding motorcycles. But my middle child has had dirtbikes and one street bike (an Aprilia). He no longer has the street bike, but still has a dirt bike. He lives in England right now, but if he ever moves back here, I would love for both of us to go to the track together. One part of me is terrified at the thought of anything happening to him, but a bigger part of me is thrilled with the idea of sharing something that fun with him.

Any other parents have mixed feelings like this?

[BigCory707]

My oldest has a little pocket bike, of course I ride and his mother rides too. But according to him, he has no desire to because he wrecks enough on his regular bike, lol

If he wanted to ride, I would show him the right way to do it. I would never ride two up with any of my kids. I couldnt forgive myself if something happened.

it is a tough one for sure

[acalliste]

When my youngest was little, I used to ride him around the neighborhood on my GS1100E. He would sit in front of me, wedged between me and the tank. He had his own little helmet and riding suit.

He's ridden on the back of my GSXR600 since I got it, but I think I scared him. He was pretty pale and bug-eyed by the time we got back. I wasn't riding crazy or anything, I guess he just doesn't have the need for speed bug that I do. lol

[Suki]

i've ridden two up with my son before, but his lack of attention and moving around put an end to that. He has his own KLX 110 for dirtriding, and is only allowed to ride it with us and fully geared. I feel safer knowing that he's learning from us than either on his own or through friends (if he had any that also had dirtbikes, but he doesn't).

[seamonkeyaj]

My son (7 yrs) and daughter (8 yrs) both can't wait to get on mine - since I just started riding and don't have any gear at all for them, I told them they have to wait a bit. Thinkin Santa might get them some basic gear, though.... My boyfriend will probably be the first one they ride with, seeing as how he has 12+ years experience already.

My son tried the neighbor's little 50cc dirt bike and crashed it a few weeks ago - looking back, it was actually rather humorous. He took off just fine across the yard - just "forgot" where the brakes were!

[Girley]

My 11 yr old daughter rides 2 up all the time. She rides with Tom now, when I had my 250 I let her ride with me around the neighborhood but since I got the 600 I'm not comfortable with her on the back with me. She has full gear..helmet, gloves and jacket. We taught her to ride a dirtbike and she had a quad, she is just learning to shift. She is getting a new quad for xmas, she is happier with a 4 wheeler than the dirtbike.

[acalliste]

My son tried the neighbor's little 50cc dirt bike and crashed it a few weeks ago - looking back, it was actually rather humorous. He took off just fine across the yard - just "forgot" where the brakes were!

My youngest did the same thing on the PW50 he had when he was little. :aBigROLFMAO:

[BigCory707]

When my 8 year old saw the Honda commercial. "I WANT TO RIDE" Where they show the kids on 50s, he has said he wants to ride. And when he is old enough, I will let him. Probably start off on dirt

[itgirl25]

i just started hauling my 8yo daughter on the back of my harley. she isn't quite big enough to ride the 636 comfortably yet. i love it! she likes it too, but i am sure she doesn't get near as much pleasure outta sharing the passion as i do. i have been waiting for the day we can strap on the helmets and go. now my 6yo just needs to hurry up and get bigger. then it can be a family affair. it doesn't get any better than that!

[COtruckchick]

I know my fiance has the same feelings bout having his daughter in the car with him hes a Race Car Driver.... We are even going as far as trying to creat a chip the registers a weight up to a certin limit that will then crate a automatic govn'er so make sure you top out a SAFE speed....I think it would be awesome for bikes and cars to have this. I can't wait for the day I got to school and everyones like Hey arnt you the one with the cool mom on the bike?

[ncdixie]

I don't have any children (can't have any) but I do have a great niece who's 3 and she's expressed interest in racing a kart and riding on two wheels. She loves to hang out in the shop with my husband Dale, (DP Cycles) and her Dad. She's really every racer dad's dream kid. She loves to watch racing and she will swipe tools outta the tool box. She "pretends" to tune her on stuff. She's a trip. She's going on two wheels in the spring. She rides her kart well but needs a little better eye hand coordination before two wheels. We have a 525 KTM, but when she starts to ride I think I'll get a smaller dirt bike like an xr100 or something to ride with her and teach her.
I think encouraging your kids or other kids to ride is a good idea. I think you should help kids focus on something else besides video games and that sorta thing.

[Ninjachic]

I don't have any children (can't have any)

Same here, so ditto like you I get to have all the toys to attract the nieces and nephews over. We have had a blast with the gocarts, and quads. But the real fun has been teaching them to ride the lil z50's and stuff.

Now if you can reverse this around for a minute, how about children riding with parents?! My Dad(who is very uncoordinated, and is notorious for popping the clutch and hitting her full throttle from a stop on anything) Decided this summer he was going to get a bike again so he could ride w/me. He hasn't been on a streetbike in over 20 years....first day outta my drive he landed in the ditch across the street. Scraped him up good but this shit is stressful, he worries me to death! My turn to get gray hair from him I guess :)

[MistressOfMayhem]

Same here, so ditto like you I get to have all the toys to attract the nieces and nephews over. We have had a blast with the gocarts, and quads. But the real fun has been teaching them to ride the lil z50's and stuff.

Now if you can reverse this around for a minute, how about children riding with parents?! My Dad(who is very uncoordinated, and is notorious for popping the clutch and hitting her full throttle from a stop on anything) Decided this summer he was going to get a bike again so he could ride w/me. He hasn't been on a streetbike in over 20 years....first day outta my drive he landed in the ditch across the street. Scraped him up good but this shit is stressful, he worries me to death! My turn to get gray hair from him I guess :)


I'm in the same boat.

However, when I was a kid he used to take us for rides all the time. For a while it was our sole means of transportation to get around town, he'd put my brother behind the gas tank and me on the back and off we'd go. I have to say that I have fond memories of that and really I think my kids would appreciate it as well... if I ever had any. So I can say that while I'd be concerned, I would at least expose them to it.

[seamonkeyaj]

So, I've gotten some looks from people when I mention getting my kids some basic gear so that they can possibly ride with my boyfriend and one of his buddies next year (they're FAR more experienced than I am).... How old do you think kids should be before they start riding along around the neighborhood?

[Ninjachic]

So, I've gotten some looks from people when I mention getting my kids some basic gear so that they can possibly ride with my boyfriend and one of his buddies next year (they're FAR more experienced than I am).... How old do you think kids should be before they start riding along around the neighborhood?


I've always just thought as long as they are able to touch feet to the pegs, and good listeners to follow what you tell them to do for safety reasons.....I was riding around on the interstates on the back of my uncles bike at 8 or 10.

[Cutty72]

I don't have any kids yet... so I can't answer very well, but I would say kids should be close to teenage before they get on a bike as a passanger. They can ride a little dirt bike (50) or pocket bike younger, but I wouldn't want younger on the back of my bike.
As for getting them into it right away, I think it's great. I will do what I can to spoil my niece and get her into motorsports!

[R1Gurl]

Depends on the kid. I put my son on the back of my bike as soon as he was old enough to hold on. I won't take him on any major roads, just around my neighborhood around the block and only at like 10mph.

He's 5 though and has his own bike, a little electric pocket bike that he rides around. The sooner you start them the more motorcycle aware they become, IMO.

[seamonkeyaj]

Thanks for the insight.... Mine will be 8 and 9 next year. My daughter (9) is a really good listener, and my son (8) wants it bad enough.... So I think they should be ok for around the neighborhood. We'll see though!

[Cutty72]

I started on ATV's (4 wheeler) when i was 6 or so. Graduated to a 3-wheeler when I was 8. Got on my first dirt bike at 17, and my first street bike at 24.

[acalliste]

So, I've gotten some looks from people when I mention getting my kids some basic gear so that they can possibly ride with my boyfriend and one of his buddies next year (they're FAR more experienced than I am).... How old do you think kids should be before they start riding along around the neighborhood?


You might want to check the laws in your area. I think they have to be able to touch the footpegs to be legal on a streetbike.

That didn't stop me however, I put my son on my GS1100 between me and tank starting when he was around 4 and rode around the neighborhood. :D

[ncdixie]

Depends on the kid. I put my son on the back of my bike as soon as he was old enough to hold on. I won't take him on any major roads, just around my neighborhood around the block and only at like 10mph.

He's 5 though and has his own bike, a little electric pocket bike that he rides around. The sooner you start them the more motorcycle aware they become, IMO.
Good post R1gurl. That's what I would do if I had a kid.

I plan to put my 5 yr old niece on a 50 in the spring. Should be fun teaching her how to ride too.

[Girley]

I know my fiance has the same feelings bout having his daughter in the car with him hes a Race Car Driver.... We are even going as far as trying to creat a chip the registers a weight up to a certin limit that will then crate a automatic govn'er so make sure you top out a SAFE speed....I think it would be awesome for bikes and cars to have this. I can't wait for the day I got to school and everyones like Hey arnt you the one with the cool mom on the bike?

Hahaha my daughter just had her first dance at school. We picked her up on the bikes and all the boys were like "oh cool, Heavens mom rides a motorcycle" She jumped on the back like she was a bad ass LOL it was cute

[seamonkeyaj]

Hahaha my daughter just had her first dance at school. We picked her up on the bikes and all the boys were like "oh cool, Heavens mom rides a motorcycle" She jumped on the back like she was a bad ass LOL it was cute

That's awesome! Can't wait to do that with mine.... :dirol: