Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[powercorp]

Just curious if any of you take your young ones on your bikes, and at what age it is appropriate to start this?

My seven year old daughter is dying to go out....

I am not so sure

EP

[hdbrad03]

I have ridden my 6 year Grandaughter with no issues. I just make sure she is well rested before the trip.


 
     Brad

[Twolanerider]

My niece has been on the bike while riding in fields, big yards or bike trails since she was about 18 months old.  When she started gaining vocabulary however many words she had would always diminish to two words and one sound while she was riding.  "More," "faster" and "weeeeeeeee."  We started riding the city streets just a little bit (within the neighborhood) when she was about three.  Started riding all over town while she was four.

When she was still tiny and we were not on the street used an elastic belt to strap her to the tour pak support.  She'd done it enough by the time we started riding on the street that she just sits there like a big girl.  She likes it a lot too.

Biggest hazard is naps.  Can't ride for too long if she's even a little bit tired.  She'll pass out back there. 

[JCZ]

Is she able to reach the floor boards or foot pegs?  It's the law in Calif.  That and if they have some place secure (a big fat waist is not secure for a little person) to hang onto.

I'd suggest some shorter rides to begin with and by the time you're up to longer rides.....she'll be a year older.  Every lil bit helps......

[sadunbar]

In Wisconsin, there is a state law that the feet of the little ones need to reach the passenger pegs/floorboards before they can be a passenger on public roads...

[Twolanerider]

In Wisconsin, there is a state law that the feet of the little ones need to reach the passenger pegs/floorboards before they can be a passenger on public roads...

No such statute here.  And Parker can only just barely toe the passenger boards now.  I made up some leather (someone who knows shoes will have to name them, slipper kind of shoe closed in front but no back) shoe thing with a velcro band on their bottom.  Hook them to the rear crash bar and she can slide her feet right in. 

She almost always rides with the King Tour Pak on with it's Corbin backrest.  The wings/arm-rests on it come forward much farther than does the same on the Harley backrest.  Just about fully encloses her in back there and gives her one more point to hang on to or lean against.  Though whenever I (still) hear "weeeeeeeeee" can often look in the mirrors and see arms outstretched in "wing mode."

[Sean M Cary]

I got my kids a helmet this year for Christmas...fits both of them a the moment. 

My daughter is bugging me to ride - 9 years old and really tall for her age.

Son - not so much interested at this time, figure that will change first ride for the daughter.

I'd say it depends, I am still selling the wife on the idea.

[sadunbar]

Make sure you give your kids ear protection, too!  My buddy's two little boys never wanted to ride with him, but loved the bikes - until he figured out the noise was hurting their ears.  Now, with earplugs, they are happy passengers!   

[Ditch]

When my boys were younger 8 and 10 I had a Classic with the standard backrest only worried a little. Now they are 14 and 12 and have the smaller backrest on my SEEG... No worries with them. The biggest thing I have noticed when riding with friends with young ones is the NAP!!! The younger kids seem to get lulled into the sleepy state of mind with the vibrations and movement. Bottom line it's what you feel comfortable with, just as always be safe!!!

[porthole]

I made pegs that were extensions of the upper shock bolt.

My daughter is 7 in this pic and had been riding for years when this was taken.




Foolish no doubt, but her first ride was up and down the street (dead end) sitting between me and the tank when she was 6 months old.

[TN]

i've had to use bungy cords on adult riders.




TN

[OhioDave]

I saw one of these harnesses being used during a trip last summer...slickest thing i ever saw. There was no way the kid could fall off, even if they fell asleep, and the motorcycle style hangrips gives them something to hold onto.

http://www.childridingbelt.com/enghome.htm

[BIGDOG]

In Washington State I believe the legal age is 6 . I would check with your State Patrole for legal age if you plan on taking the highways.

[BAKRDS]

New York also has The reach the footpegs law.Friend of mine started
All 3 of his kids in front of him with a piece of bar stock fixed to the
frame under the tank.Don't know if it was legal,but worked good.

[Firechief2]

Both my son and daughter refused to ride b****seat by the time they were 10 or 11 
By that age they had both been riding their own bikes for 4 or 5 years
They were raised on the farm and when they were five I purchased a couple of Yamaha Y-Zingers (because these had no chain for pantlegs to get caught in) for about $450 each (new). The kids rode the hell out of those things before upgrading to larger rides. 3 years later I sold them to a neighbor for $300 each. I can't think of a better investment as far as the kids go --- they took their lumps off-road at relatively low speeds, they learned to respect their wheels and they gained the confidence required for street riding.
BTW - I still ask them and anyone else that will listen to take an advanced riding course every few years. I do--and I have been riding for over 50 years.