Child pillions?

[NinjaNanna]

Hi guys

Was wondering what age you would consider appropriate before allowing YOUR child to go pillion behind yourself or your partner?

Please this is a serious question so don't screw the thread

Cheers

NN

[deanohit]

Once their feet can reach the pillion pegs. That way they aren't relying on you to brace them. Make sure they got good gear and a proper fitting helmet too. The big thing is they have to be comfortable riding on the bike. I started riding on the tank in front of my dad until I could reach the pegs. Was great riding in front as it felt like I was driving, a big thing for a 4y.o.

[Ocean1]

Hi guys

Was wondering what age you would consider appropriate before allowing YOUR child to go pillion behind yourself or your partner?

Please this is a serious question so don't screw the thread

Cheers

NN

Seriously? With me, (and briefly), from about 12.
With anyone else? Cold dead hands etc.
Just too many fuckwits per square metre out there dude.

[Qkchk]

Was wondering what age you would consider appropriate before allowing YOUR child to go pillion behind yourself or your partner?


Would probaly go with the idea of when they are big enough to be able to place both feet on the footpegs and be able to hang on to you. Ive dubbed my niece when she was 8 on my RF900 and she loved it - no probs at all.

You might have trouble finding a helmet small enough, small adult helmets are ok but they weigh a ton in comparison to kiddes. HJC make a junior fullface road helmet.

Ask Frosty, he takes his son out every now and then.

[babyblade250rr]

Good point actually are there laws on pillion ages??

[sidecar bob]

I made a rule of 5 years old for both my kids, it made it fair for both & really gave them something to look forward to about turning five, other than going to school.
They were both ready & able to go pillion by then.

[NighthawkNZ]

Good point actually are there laws on pillion ages??

as above I believe to be their feet must reach the pillion pegs

[mstriumph]

Good point actually are there laws on pillion ages??

it's the footpeg ruling here in Aus - not legal if the child can't reach them ........ mind you, with the positioning of some sprotsbike footpegs that means about 5 :niceone: ........ so then it's down to whether you can get a small enough helmet i guess

[sunhuntin]

*tucks away screw driver*

as mentioned, feet must reach the pegs. other than that, as soon as they feel comfortable. i was being taken around the house on dads bike from at least the age of 2, if not younger. make sure they have gloves... twice ive been on group rides with young teens playing pillion, and neither had any gloves. both were bitching about cold hands.

[Qkchk]

make sure they have gloves... twice ive been on group rides with young teens playing pillion, and neither had any gloves. both were bitching about cold hands.

That would be the least of their problems - try making skin graphs stick to hands without binding to the tendons........ :sick:

[avgas]

When the nephew can ride his future pit bike/pocket bike....he can sit on the back of the FZ. But in saying that i wouldn't do a serious ride until he is about 7.

[MD]

Here's a discussion about pillioning your Kids that I kicked off last year.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=43955

No way I'm taking mine on to the open road.

[sunhuntin]

That would be the least of their problems - try making skin graphs stick to hands without binding to the tendons........ :sick:

no kiddin. one girl had on sky high heels, thin jeans, fakey "wanna-be" biker jacket [you know the type, looks like what fashion designers think we wear, lol] and a helmet. [open facer too. ok for an adult, not so good for a kid.] silly girl.

[johnnyflash]

Yep, I agree with many here. my rules are.
1. they must reach the pegs.
2. If its on the road and not around the back lawn, they must have full fitted gear, lid, gloves jacked pants & boots
3. they gotta be able to hang on and be confident..
4 they have had some basic riding instruction, ie, balancing etc (usually for us its around the back lawn...

[oldguy]

no kiddin. one girl had on sky high heels, thin jeans, fakey "wanna-be" biker jacket [you know the type, looks like what fashion designers think we wear, lol] and a helmet. [open facer too. ok for an adult, not so good for a kid.] silly girl.

Its is the adults responsibility to make sure the child has the right gear, a child will put on what they think will do the job or what looks good, they don't understand the danger if anything goes wrong .
I myself have been guilty of that very same thing.

[Daffyd]

I wouldn't pillion a child under about eight, and certainly not without the proper gear. Legally they must be able to put both feet on the pegs but I also make sure they understand about leaning into bends etc.
Funnily enough, the best pillion I have had was a neighbour's 9yo girl. She was so good I almost forgot she was there.

[civil]

I have been taking my children on the back since they were 4yo. By then they had their own bike so knew how to ride themselves and had a full set of their own gear.

I got stopped one day with my son on the back (4yo), with the cop saying my sone had to be in an "approved safety device". I just asked what that was? The cop had no reply, turned away, and drove off.

I have always taken the children on the bikes off road, with them in front of me until they could reach the pegs then on the open road with me. I often pick them up (7yo), from school on the bike and they love it.

[Renegade]

i was about ten when i started going on the back of my stepdads guzzi, i loved it but at times on the open road i would get a lil scared especially cos the helmet was to big and would flap around a bit, still it got me hooked on bikes and motorsport in general, what a fantastic influence he was. :first:

[canarlee]

if you are that worried and you really want to take your kids on the back i think (i could be wrong?) you can get some straps/harnesses to keep the child firmly in place behind you. these i believe hold the child to you (the rider).

this type of device has been used for disabled (paraplegics (sp?)) people to go on rides without a problem so i cannot see a problem for adapting one to fit a child.


although what the law is i do not know.

[skidMark]

if you are that worried and you really want to take your kids on the back i think (i could be wrong?) you can get some straps/harnesses to keep the child firmly in place behind you. these i believe hold the child to you (the rider).

this type of device has been used for disabled (paraplegics (sp?)) people to go on rides without a problem so i cannot see a problem for adapting one to fit a child.


although what the law is i do not know.


u mean duct tape right?:banana:

[discotex]

I got stopped one day with my son on the back (4yo), with the cop saying my sone had to be in an "approved safety device". I just asked what that was? The cop had no reply, turned away, and drove off.

What the heck was he expecting?? Car seat on a pack rack? :clap:

[90s]

if you are that worried and you really want to take your kids on the back i think (i could be wrong?) you can get some straps/harnesses to keep the child firmly in place behind you. these i believe hold the child to you (the rider).

Theres are plenty of companies that make belts that goes around the rider with handles - they are meant to be pretty good. I am thinking about them for the missus. (they can be called love handles, but as the mrs. points out, I already have those ... )

See:
http://www.edirectory.co.uk/pf/880/mia/d/love+handles+pillion+straps/pid/5944333

and

http://www.hideout-leather.co.uk/folders/bags/motrax_pillion_straps/

[canarlee]

Theres are plenty of companies that make belts that goes around the rider with handles - they are meant to be pretty good. I am thinking about them for the missus. (they can be called love handles, but as the mrs. points out, I already have those ... )

See:
http://www.edirectory.co.uk/pf/880/mia/d/love+handles+pillion+straps/pid/5944333

and

http://www.hideout-leather.co.uk/folders/bags/motrax_pillion_straps/

yes there are those ones, the ones i am talking about go round both the pilot and pillion holding them together. not too dissimilar to double parachute harneses.

am trying to find the website i saw it on the other day........

[ManDownUnder]

My little boy was big enough, and expereinced enough to securely sit on the back of the RF at open road speed at 6.

My criteria were:
1) Must have good gear (MX gloves are good for little hands)
2) Must be secure on the bike at all times.
3) Must be legal.

[Angusdog]

I've taken our 6yo and 4yo sitting in front of me, but around the block as they can't reach the pegs. We borrowed a friend's 'child' helmet (HJC), but when our kids get a bit bit bigger, I'll get them open face helmets, glove and jackets. I really don't think a full face helmet is safe with small kids - it's equivalent to a 5kg helmet on an adult, in my view. With their little necks, they'd snap like celery with that weight on board. A lightweight helmet will give them a fighting chance, hopefully although it's not something I like imagining.

And it won't be open road riding until they're a bit bigger, mainly because it takes a bit of stamina and maturity to ride for a hour or so - unless She Who Must Be Obeyed is driving the support wagon.

[007XX]

My son got his first ride on his 9th birthday (and yes, he's been hooked ever since...)

Anyway, definitely a must for them to be able to reach the footpegs and be able to grasp such concept as not moving violently, be able to not fall asleep, ....

[discotex]

And it won't be open road riding until they're a bit bigger, mainly because it takes a bit of stamina and maturity to ride for a hour or so - unless She Who Must Be Obeyed is driving the support wagon.

And you can't see them falling asleep when they're behind you. Assuming small kids fall asleep on bikes the same way they do in cars.

[deanohit]

And boats. Used to be funny to watch meg when she was 5 sitting on her seat hanging on and moving with the boat all while asleep. She never fell off her seat either.

[MaxB]

My kids were on the back from 5 years old just going round and round the section. They were regular pillions on the road by the time they were 10.

If you take it gradually and don't force them onto the road too soon they will gain confidence over time. I just took my 12 yr old son to the Cold Kiwi, no worries.

As others have said, getting gear the right size is a problem especially when they are young. I used mostly MX gear and shopped around. You might have to get creative. For example UVEX made some really cool tiny sized safety boots I got from a health & safety book at work.

The only other thing I can think of is to take it easy and allow more travel time. Kids tend to add a couple of hours to every long trip. They need to to fed and watered regularly!

BTW your Ninja is a great pillion bike.

[BarBender]

IMHO the child, regardless of age, has to be able to take in and follow instructions...to the letter.

The other piece of advice Id suggest would be to the rider to control their own behaviour and curtail any tendency to ride the bike as though they were riding on their own.

[FROSTY]

Have a look at my profile picture--Baby bikie has been riding with me for a long time but then he was in a car seat at age 3 on a Yamaha venture royalle and a GTR thou
Did his first tour of New Zealand at age 5
Gear wise --
For anyone concidering this path a few bits of fast advice.
1)LID-- HJC now have kids size lids --as in the shell is smaller/lighter than an adults lid. reduced risk of neck injury

2)Jacket/leggings --the ideal/perfect world would be leather I guess -BB and BBB both have real biker type jackets --as in propper jackets made of leather
Mostly baby bikie has worn SKI gear -second hand ski gear--its usually well padded /warm/dry and abrasion resistant
3) boots--second hand Motocross boots work well -get em a bit big and stuff the toes with tissue paper
4) gloves --first off BB had BMX then MX gloves --then into xtra small womens gloves
5) I had BB in a car seat for a few years just to be sure
6)Footpegs wise Ive used wooden blocks on the standard pegs to raise em up