Total Motorcycle Community Forums

RideYourRide wrote: You get out and rip it up with the kids too?

I've got a sport quad as well as a 4X4 that I ride with them when we go out in to the bush. This year they have improved to the point that they can tackle some decent sized hills and air-box deep mud-holes. I thought that I could remember how little fear I had as a kid riding dirt-bikes but these kids are giving me grey hairs. The list of differences between when I was a kid and now is endless. Starting with helmets, chest protectors, gloves, supervision.....

ofblong wrote:(note one of the threads there was someone who was VERY adamant about stating that children that age dont understand the consequences that they shouldnt be on a bike at all. Yeah they may not understand but imo what is life if you dont try something because of the "consequences" that may come about because of it. What is life if you dont let your children try something that might be "dangerous"? How would they know if they dont like it if they dont try it? But thats how I feel about it)

Right, so, extending that line of logic, why not load up a .45 and let them plink away at pop cans in the back yard? Or strap a chute on them and bunt them out of a plane at 20,000ft. Get them all liquored up and hand out the lawn darts. Organise a neighbourhood "run with scissors" race. Give them a bunch of small items wrapped in tin foil and see if they can walk through Turkish Customs without getting caught. Step back and keep your mouth shut when they jam a fork into the toaster to unstick that pesky bagel. Hey, you can always breed another one, right?

Children do not have the capability, knowledge or experience to discern dangerous situations from safe ones - that is why adults are supposed to be around at all times to caution and advise them until they are old enough to make their own decisions.

Gummiente wrote:

ofblong wrote:(note one of the threads there was someone who was VERY adamant about stating that children that age dont understand the consequences that they shouldnt be on a bike at all. Yeah they may not understand but imo what is life if you dont try something because of the "consequences" that may come about because of it. What is life if you dont let your children try something that might be "dangerous"? How would they know if they dont like it if they dont try it? But thats how I feel about it)

Right, so, extending that line of logic, why not load up a .45 and let them plink away at pop cans in the back yard? Or strap a chute on them and bunt them out of a plane at 20,000ft. Get them all liquored up and hand out the lawn darts. Organise a neighbourhood "run with scissors" race. Give them a bunch of small items wrapped in tin foil and see if they can walk through Turkish Customs without getting caught. Step back and keep your mouth shut when they jam a fork into the toaster to unstick that pesky bagel. Hey, you can always breed another one, right?

Children do not have the capability, knowledge or experience to discern dangerous situations from safe ones - that is why adults are supposed to be around at all times to caution and advise them until they are old enough to make their own decisions.

you completly misconstrued everything I said.

i read it the same way he did, and he replied the with what i was thinking. albiet, funnier...


LOL

If I have kids later in life, I will certainly interest them in a dirt bike and snowboard as soon as they prove capable! Riding two wheeled vehicles was something I constantly yearned for when growing up...

I think exposing the youth to explore their limits and develop an early talent is great for their health and future. But a guardian must continuously supervise and regulate such risky activity at all times.

Safety first. Without safety and awareness consistently enforced, someone's child could be severely hurt or sadly depart during their short life.

I started riding on the back of my parents bikes on the road at about 5. I didn't get my honda 50 until 7 though, thats when I really fell in love with bikes As long as parents supervise their kids on bikes I don't see why they shouldn't be able to learn at the same age they learn to ride a bicycle. As for street motorcycles, I'm glad I waited till after I made my new driver mistakes in a car before I got a bike. My two accidents would have been totaly different on a bike, doubt I'd be able to ride today if I didn't learn to drive in a car.

hmm ive never been in a car accident (close calls though) could that be my problem ?

I was born in India but moved to the US when I was 2.5 years old. I'm in no way saying that this is right or okay but our family's only form of transportation when they lived in India was my Dad's motorcycle (A Jawa no less, if you don't know what a Jawa is then you might sleep more soundly at night). My Dad tells me that they used to go everywhere with me at the age of 2 sandwiched between my Mom and my Dad on his motorcycle. I think back now at how crazy that was, especially because now my Dad flips out when my little brother forgets to wear his seatbelt in the car. He was born in the US and missed out on all the crazy times

The basic rule I always heard is long/tall enough to reach the foot pedals to ride behind dad (or mom if she rides). I've always intended that our daughter should learn to ride as soon as practical and...AND!! if she's interested. If she ain't, nuthin' in the world I do is gonna change that.

As far as age is concerned, she can just as hurt on a bicycle as she can on a dirt bike. The argument that he/she doesn't have the wherewithall to understand the consequences of actions is a load of codswallop. To put it another way, if she can ride a bicycle, she can ride a small dirt bike, or how else is she going to learn? Put her in a helmet, knee pads, shin guards, all the appropriate safety gear and go out with her.

My two cents....

I am not even going to try and give advice but instead will relate my experiance with my kids. Both my kids, my boy of 24 and my girl of 18, were both brought up around bikes and had a bike available to them from the age of 6. As there is 5 years between them there was never a problem.

Both started on an 80cc observed trials bike. The Yamaha TL 80 mini. They came with on my observed trials outings and of course got spoilt rotten by the whole fraternity as they were so cute. I also believe that trials is one of the best ways of learning bike skills in a controlled enviroment.

As time went by the boy upgraded to 125 then 175 then 350 all before the age of 16 and all still off road at this time. At 16 we bought him a street legal 125 and on the odd occasion let him ride my SP 1000 Guzzi. At this stage he was a very proficient rider.

The girl went a different route and at age 12 had a 50cc scooter that went with us on holidays and we used wherever it was safe. She upgraded at age 16 to a 125 scooter and worked up to riding a CBX 250 twister to get her full test.

As for pillioning a child, I was never comfortable although I did on occasion. Both of mine were probably 16 before it was regular thing.

I have also experianced through a friend of mine who would not allow their kids similar experiances, and would often try to belittle me, total rebellion from his kids as they got older. They were like dogs off a leash and would try anything dangerous and stupid. They did get a scooter and crashed it on the first day leading to a delay of three months until they grew up.

Circumstances are going to be different for everyone and there is no manual for bring up kids. Common sense should be the guiding factor.