Total Motorcycle Community Forums

What's the youngest child you'd consider taking on your bike, and under what circumstances? Anyone have anything to say about kids and helmets?

I've got three kids and the only one I've given any serious thought to, other than maybe a ride around the block is my oldest, she's 7. The other two are younger than her and I just don't trust them to sit still and not bounce around on the back. Even though I think I can trust my oldest to sit still, I'm still leery since there's nothing preventin her from flying off the back if she lets go for whatever reason.

Me and the wife also have a rule for the bike, nobody on it without a helmet, especially the kids. Seeing as how the only helmet in the house right now is mine, sucks to be them. I do want to get one for the kids though, especially as they get a bit older.

I'd be curious to hear what everyone else thinks as I've had the same thoughts lately.

I think a good rule of thumb is that if they're not old enough to, say, pilot a quad/ATV by themselves, they're not old enough to ride pillion. Not with me at least. And they have to have a helmet, as well.

Hey, I know you.

How you doing Karl?

Anyways.... I have never taken any children on my bike, so I can't say. But it probably varies from kid to kid. They need to be big enough to reach the footpegs and get a good grip around you, and mature enough not to jump around or freakout.

I remember my first ride. I was 3 and the dude who babysat me rode an Kawasaki triple smoker of somekind. I can picture the bike, but was too young to know what it was exactly. I remember it scared the living hell out of me.

But I seem to have gotten over that.....

To actually take out n the road, as bizz says, must be able to Reach the footpegs cofortably, and able to grab on around me securely.

As for helmets, absolute necessity for anyone, young or old, that's riding with me. I wouldnt take any pillion without one.

I think Age and size have something to do with it. They need to be able to hold on and their feet should be able to rest with ease on the foot pegs.
I agree that if they can ride an ATV/ dirt bike its a bonus, but I have also seen 3 and 4 year old children on mini dirt bikes and I wouldnt put them on the back of the bike. Proper gear is important for children as well, the right size of helmet, jacket, gloves and good ankle high protection on the feet.

How you doing Karl?

Good thanks! You?

Ok, so feet on footpegs is a good idea, as well as the ability to hold on and be mature enough to do so, etc, etc.

And a helmet was assumed. But how about the fit of the helmet? We all know that for adults a helmet should fit snug and secure and judging by that, ideally it should be the same for kids. But if you have a kid (which I don't but I have nieces and nephews) isn't this going to mean buying a new helmet every six months or a year? To what point does one stretch the limit? Do they even make kids helmets in all sizes? What about full-face vs open?

Regarding circumstances, intuitively I think there is also a difference between taking a kid eveywhere including highways, and a 30 k/h ride in a park. Surely such considerations alter the acceptable limits of ideal fit. Or perhaps not? Having a kid on the back every day you go riding makes all the questions easy to answer. It's the kids that I want to put on the back seat maybe once a year that make me scratch my head.

I don't plan on buying a helmet for my kids, or at least if I do it will be a cheaper, but still snell approved, helmet that hopefully all 3 of them can share. Ideally, since my wife is pretty small I'm hoping her helmet might fit the kids. Don't know yet since the wife doesn't have a helmet yet.

I went looking for a full-face helmet for my two kids today, a 8-yo boy and a 9-yo girl. I asked for a DOT and Snell approved helmets and all that was available was the HJC CL-14Y ($100) which is DOT only approved. We tried a XS adult helmet but it was a little loose! The sales guy told me that he is not aware of any helmet manufacturer that spends the money to Snell-certify its youth helmets.
Does anyone know of any available youth helmet that is Snell certified?
Also, how about other protective gear? Pants and jackets? What is available?

My kids will have to be big enough to flat foot the pegs. As far as have a tight grip, I've read somewhere (here maybe?) that they make harnesses you can strap the child into then on yourself some how to keep them snug against your back so that can't lean back or side to side. I may explore that when the time comes.

When my kids are big enough to be interested in riding with me they will have to have a helmet, full face(double standard cause I wear open face), and a leather jacket and gloves.

I've never seen snell approved kids helmets but I haven't really looked at them seriously yet as my kids are still a couple years away from being big enough to ride. I've seen kids sized leather biker jackets in some accessory shops and in leather stores (one's the sell motorcycle grade leather, not fashion leather). I think I remember seeing kids sized chaps in one but not any full out pants. Kids gloves are common. The only full gear I've seen for kids is dirt racing gear. We have some friends who's son is about 6 and races mini bikes. I will be lucky in that when my daughter outgrows the gear my son will be growing into it. Saves a little anyway.

I don't think I would take my kids on the interstate. Just for rides around the neighborhood.