How old to start your kids on a bike

[cheese]

So I was talking about this to my wife, and how old did you guys start your little ones?

[EgliHonda]

Not before they can wear (and support) a helmet properly. Guess this depends on the kid...?

[grotto]

I always held out until they can ride a push bike with no training wheels, mainly as I'm too lazy to run around after them holding the bike up. This seems to have been late 3/early 4.
Never saw the point in putting training wheels on a motorbike, I reckon it teaches them bad habits.
As said, they have to be able to wear & support a helmet, although there are some nice lightweight ones around now.
Also depends on the bike, attitude of the rider, and riding environment.

[vazza]

When I have a kid i'll get him started when he's about 5. Gonna breed a champion!! ( I hope ) hahaha

Will probably start him of in Trials like all the other pro's seem to have done.

Taddy, Birchy, Knighter.. All trials since they were young :P!

I wished I started racing when I was young!!

[cheese]

LOL I said to my wife, when he can say motorbike he can have one. But yeah I like the helmet idea. I was just going to get him a we quad to start on, but I was thinking of a CRF50 and put training wheels on it.

[crazyhorse]

Whatever age you as a parent would like them to take up this interest.

We had a child's 4 wheeler. My daughter was only 3 and hooned up and down the beach on it. But we didn't get into dirt bikes until they were about 6and 8,. If I could do it again, I would've gone to a two wheeler at about age 4. She could ride a bicycle by herself at 3, so no difference. Small bikes do not go too fast, or you can adjust the idle speed too I believe.

They could be the next Josh Coppins if you start 'em young :whistle:

[NordieBoy]

So I was talking about this to my wife, and how old did you guys start your little ones?

My nephew was 4 when he got his first bike.
Some birthday shots on his new bike.
Including his first bin.

[Cheshire Cat]

I was a foetus

[L Rider]

We got the first LT50 when Brooklyn was 3yrs 2mth & Atlanta was only 1.5 yrs. Brooklyn started riding straight away & Atlanta we use to double her. She just used a bike helmet. She started riding by herself just before 3.
Brooklyn started on 2 wheeler at 5 - bearing in mind he has super short legs (like John) so couldn't touch the ground & hold the bike up till that age

[fergie]

i think it depends on the childs ability to handle a pushbike and also the brains to work out the concept of brake and throttle etc.some kids are natural,others,like mine, can't sit on a chair without falling off! so have no show on a bike!

[Genie]

So I was talking about this to my wife, and how old did you guys start your little ones?

my ex bought our son his first bike when he was 4....now at 7 on his second one and getting geared up for his next.

[Rupe]

So I was talking about this to my wife, and how old did you guys start your little ones?

not yet mate. teach him to peddle, steer, stop and start well first. Reckon my boy is still 1yr away.

[P38]

Once their ears are working Properly.

and

Once they can reach all the controls levers etc.

All four of my boys were riding a small dirt bike by the time they were 10yrs old.

Pillions on my road bikes from about 8yrs old.

[soundbeltfarm]

luke was on lt50 at 3 and on ttr at 4and half then ktm 50 sx and now on ktm 65 at 7
jake was on lt 50 at 3 and onto ttr at 5 and on ktm 50sx at 5 and half so every kid is different.
one tip i got was a guy said they are old enough once they can lift the bike from a lying down position as this means they have the strentgh to get bike off them if it is on them and if they carash they can lift it themselves.

[B0000M]

Once their ears are working Properly.

and

Once they can reach all the controls levers etc.

All four of my boys were riding a small dirt bike by the time they were 10yrs old.

Pillions on my road bikes from about 8yrs old.

10! thats old! by 10 me and my mates were all on 80cc mx'ers!

[NordieBoy]

by 10 me and my mates were all on 80cc mx'ers!

What happened when your parents found out?

;)

[barty5]

10! thats old! by 10 me and my mates were all on 80cc mx'ers!

my 1st bike was a rm80 was a good way to learn only have 1 scare in me left leg from it

[oldguy]

my grandson was 5, he always had a can do attitude, with any sport, so was easy for him, just told him what to do.

[BM-GS]

Got #1 & #2 an LT50 a year ago, after one of Frosty's Kids' Days. #1 now (6 3/4) about to leave a CRF50 as he can no longer grip it with his knees - there's no bike there. #2 (4 & a half) still on the quad as he can't reach the ground on the CRF - but he's hankering for the day. If I win Lotto he might get a JR50, but some days I wonder if he's ready. Other days he's really on it.

Both were ace on a bicycle before we let them on a powered bike (ie: they both are now, #2 was good on a trike before getting on the quad.). The local skate-park gets a weekly work-out from #2 when the big kids are in school. Mountain biking and ramps/see-saws/cones all good for teaching control. Once you're happy that they're able to control a bicycle, try them on a mate's or local dealer demo bike. Then watch the red mist descend!

As for working ears, I find that whatever I say never gets through, but any random stranger can say the same thing, and suddenly it's like they hear it for the first time... I suspect I'm not alone in this.

[one fast tl1ooo]

I think i was 6 or 7 when i started to ride

[daddycool651]

So I was talking about this to my wife, and how old did you guys start your little ones?
Mate , my kids have all been on dirtbikes ever since they could support themselves sitting up ( with me doubling them on a qr50) , the bug was instilled then , they all started riding by themselves at 4-5 yrs old ... 20 years and 6 kids later they all still ride and my only daughter ( 4 yrs old ) is riding the qr50 without the trainer wheels now ... " I used to run around the backyard with rope tied to the back of the bike to slow her down " , now I can sit back and just watch from the deck ... it was all worth it ...

[krad_nz]

I got my first bike when I was 28. *sob*

[rogerh]

my 1st bike was a rm80 was a good way to learn only have 1 scare in me left leg from it

Got my boy a late 90's yz80 when he was 10. 11 now, and I hope the chicks dig scars! I thought about getting one earlier, but I am cheap, and I figured to wait until he can handle gears was good. The bike gives him plenty to grow into, and is a good confidence builder, but now I need to pay for gas, and he seems to be able to burn it at quite a rate. Need to get out on some trails with him now, but need to get myself a proper dirt bike to keep up with him.

All real good though. For both of us.

[mfordy]

My boys started at 5 and 7 - they shared a QR50 for about 6 months (Don't recommend sharing a motorbike!... :argue:) Went to PW80's for about 12 months then to KX65's and haven't look back since.