Children as pillions?

[Stella]

My boss keeps asking about the law regarding age of pillion passengers.

He has his full motorcycle license and will eventually get a bike in NZ. He has a couple of kids, I think 6 and 7, and likes the idea of being able to take them on the back.
He has also been wondering about some kind of strap or harness to hold the child to him in case their grip loosens.

I imagine some kids would be make better pillions than some adults! I saw a girl of around 8 riding pillion once....

Thanks,
Stella

[Oakie]

I guess you could be guided by where the threshold is for the offence 'Allowing a passenger to rode in a dangerous manner' perhaps?
I've done it up and down the drive with my granddaughter in her car seat with the seat well secured to the bike.

[Grub]

Stella, PM FROSTY. If you look at his profile you'll see that he has a seat made for his son

[MyGSXF]

I first took my oldest son with me on the road a week after his 5th birthday! :Punk:

I rang the Police to ask about any law about it.. they said there wasn't one regarding age. All that was required by them, was that he had to wear a decent safe helmet & clothes/shoes, be facing forwards & feet to be comfortably on footpegs. :yes:

I dunno about strapping them to the rider though.. in a bin, the adult could possibly roll on & crush a child strapped to them. If separate the child might have more of a chance at surviving.

I did see these advertised on Quasi's site which I thought looked rather good idea for kids/pillions on the back!!

http://www.quasimoto.co.nz/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=16

A packrack would be a good idea, to have something 'behind' them, so you know they couldn't just 'fall off' the back.

With my own personal experience, I do not see the need to 'strap' them onto the bike/rider at that age. As long as the rider is responsible & rides in such a manner as not to do 'stupid' things & put BOTH rider & pillion at risk, then there shouldn't be much to seriously worry about. Frequent stops are also a good idea, as 'sitting still' for a length of time, can be a bit of an issue for a little person!

Hope this helps. My son is now 11 & still loves coming with me!! :scooter:

Jen :rockon:

[Lorax]

My first vivid memory was my dad pillioning me on the way to kindy. Maybe I was 4? Bloody great!

There was a Fire Hydrant shooting water about a metre high in the moddle of the road, guess that's why the memory was so vivid.

[fireliv]

I would have thought that as long as the child and rider were both considered responsible it would be fine. And they are wearing safety gear. I saw a guy the other day wearing leathers, but his kid only had on a helmet and SHORTS!! Not cool. Real important the the kid knows what is expected of them, and that they can reach the foot pegs

[NighthawkNZ]

I thought that the age was as long as if the child can sit with both feet touching the foot pegs... :scratch:

[sunhuntin]

yep, gotta be able to reach the pegs. but i think you are allowed to move the pegs up higher for them.
dad used to take me round the backyard with me sittin on the tank. great fun! [this is when i was 2 or so]
definately get a sissy bar, i hated riding on the back and having to lean on the rider. i prefer to sit and hold my own weight.

[McJim]

I thought that the age was as long as if the child can sit with both feet touching the foot pegs... :scratch:

That's a bit harsh on Finn - he STILL can't reach the pegs!

[Delerium]

Iv been a pillion since I was in primary school. My dad had to have higher footrests and and a packrack for me to hold on to, but it was no problem, used to do it regularly taking me to school etc.

[jtzzr]

Uesd to take my daughter on the bike and she was fine it was`nt till we got home and tells the other half we were lane splitting at 140km/h .p/t

[Stella]

thanks heaps, that certainly gives me some good things to tell him.
Will hopefully direct him to the forum too :)

[Colapop]

A pack rack and duct tape - perfect for small kids....

[Hitcher]

I thought that the age was as long as if the child can sit with both feet touching the foot pegs...

That is exactly right.

[kiwifruit]

i have fantastic memories of being pillion with my Dad.

the first time i was on a motorcycle with him was before i saw my first birthday, he would ride around the house etc with me perched infront... apon some sort of land and surveys issue machine...

it basically went from there.... its a trust thing..... my first time on the road was when i was bout 6 years old, aboard his rz350. what a blast!

i remember when i was 11ish being pissed off when he bought a 1988(?)ducati 750 sport,traded in the pop up katana.... we did did the south island (with home made saddlebags which went over the rear seat, made of slippery shit) remarkables rally etc..... best days of my life

poor old fella never got to ride alone..... "DAD, can i come??????"

now when im pillion with the old man i cant go 2km without falling asleep