Kids as pillions. Who does it?

[Mom]

Yepper taking kids out is special in a way that scares the shit out of you for a couple of reasons. I took my step daughter out a year or so ago, she was 15 and it was the first time on 2 wheels for her. I am an experienced pillion taker (or used to be) but still had more than a few OMG!!!!!!!! moments going round the block, with her gripping on for dear life, or refusing to lean at all, and me worried we would get a real close look at the road........LOL all good fun.

Your young'n did well yesterday, just go with the flow........my Mom hated bikes....(my first set of wheels)......now she says GO FOR IT!

[Clivoris]

I'm just about to start pricing some gear for my 10 year old girl. She's determined to come to a Cold Kiwi too but I told her she has to wait till she's 14. As soon as that came out of my mouth I was conflicted. Maybe I'll have less to worry about if she's 10? It might put her off motorcyclists before she starts looking too grown up. Smelly dangerous lecherous bastards all of them.

[FROSTY:Me]

Um --riffer--Im having a big ol sort out of BB's gear --doing the BB/BBB thing
I might have a spare leather for timbo--and Im darn shore Ive got spare gloves

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.
2)Jacket/leggings --the ideal/perfect world would be leather I guess
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
4 gloves --first off BB had MX gloves --then into xtra small womens gloves

[Blondini]

I take my kids around the garden and they pester me every day as to when I am getting my full licence and can take them out on a bike "we will have to have our own leathers aye mum? My dad used to take us for small rides but mum hated us being on the back.I cant wait to be able to take my babies on the back with me

[FROSTY:Me]

My opinion
Ignoring the ever present danger from cagers.
I believe the earlier a kid goes on a bike the better.
The limit to me has always been the childs neck
with a full face helmet on a kids head can double in weight --not an issue normally but in a crash situation not so good.

[MD]

Clivoris- yeah I know where you're coming from on the 10 vs 14 age thing - a whole different set of worries is going to face us then! Good to see we agree, all bikers are bastards- stay away from our daughters.. ha ha..
Like frosty said HJC make a ýouth' helmet which is much lighter to reduce the chance that the weight might break their neck. That bit of advice frokm Kerry sold it to me! I hadn't thought that bit through. There is bugger all clothing available and the cost to buy what is around for the odd short ride puts people off.

Kiwifruit- that's the worry mate, Kids have absolute trust in their parents, so the ideal of letting them down would be hard to live with (no matter how minor or how much it was beyond your control). I bet you had total faith in your Dad and knew he was a great rider but he may have had doubts at times himself.
Riffer/MDU- thanks for sharing. Sounds like MDU has overcome the parental fear barrier
Nasty- that's the sort of thought that goes through my head. My 10 y.o. is small and I can't see her well in the mirrors or feel her behind me.
My wife used to ride pillion years ago and often fell asleep but just hung in there somehow?

[Oakie]

Ummm, my children and now my grand-daughter (but only up and down the drive so far as she's only 16 weeks old...and dammit, she doesn't fit in the tank bag anymore).

[sidecar bob]

My daughter first went on the back of my old Katana as soon as she turned five, & i had to stop her earlier because she was so keen.
Now age seven, she is the perfect pillion, 22kg cute, & my best mate, i can hardly imagine riding without her.
she regularly decides which bike we take & knows exactly how to behave at the Okirorie.
I dont alter my riding style with her on the back, i always ride with maximum effort on not binning & having small friend on the back dosent alter that.
Just like her dad, if she dosent get a ride most weeks her mood deteriorates sharply.
I think i may have created another addict, which is ok, aint it?

[SwanTiger]

I take my 14 month old daughter pillion (wedged in between the tank and myself) and have done since she was around 6 months old. Now that she is getting older and is capable of holding on by herself (instead of me with one arm) I am going to get a little strap to tie her to me, custom leathers and a propper road helmet so that we can go on longer rides.

Fuck knows if it is legal but I'm doing it anyway, aside from that she has her own quad too.

[oldguy]

The most important thing I do is change my riding style, slow down, don't do shit I do when I'm on my own.
With my daughter on back on long trips I'm constantly checking to make sure she still on the back, but she is an excellant pillon, then again she started riding motorbikes when she was 5 being the baby of the family she is spoiled. I love her company, sad she's not coming to Paeroa this weekend.

[Mom]

sad she's not coming to Paeroa this weekend.

hope to see you there Sunday!

[terbang]

My oldest Daughter (when she was between 7 and 10) and I rode Darwin, Alice Springs, Ayres Rock and then back to Darwin (go figure the Kays). Rode from Zurich across France to London, around the North Island of NZ and Christchurch to Queenstown via the West coast. All on a 1200 Bandit.
She doesn't ride with me that much now (at 16) cos it aint cool but she still talks proudly of her motorcycle travels.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

The most important thing I do is change my riding style, slow down, don't do shit I do when I'm on my own.
With my daughter on back on long trips I'm constantly checking to make sure she still on the back, but she is an excellant pillon, then again she started riding motorbikes when she was 5 being the baby of the family she is spoiled. I love her company, sad she's not coming to Paeroa this weekend.

I change my style when I have any pillion... but with smaller kids extra care... I make sure they are holding on to me so I can feel they are still there...

I use to pick up my friends daughter after school and he would pick up his other daughter on the bikes... (they were about 8 or 9) there friends though it was cool... but both of them were bought up around motorcycles and were comfortable riding...

I remember once taken one of my ex's son for a ride, and he was scared shittless and first... just took it nice and slow and slowly built his confidence, by the end of the ride he wanted more...

[DMNTD:Me]

I take my 13y/o daughter pillion and have bought here a full set of Quasimoto armoured leathers and back protector.
Have to say that since having my random bin a couple of saturdays ago I'm more than a little concerned.
One thing binning on one's own but...armour or not it sucks and I'd never forgive myself ever even though it wasn't caused by me...was road surface related and speed or riding style had nothing to do with it.
Will I pillion her or any of my other kids again...more than likely but will be sorting my routes prior

[BarBender]

I love riding with my children. Have a done a ton of miles with my son - who is now 12. I've found that working with them to build their confidence levels at the initial stages has helped them...like making sure they are comfortable, protected and informed. Slower and shorter rides are good when they first start pillioning. A good 2 up bike and suspension can make a hell of a difference to providing a positive first experience also.

As a rule of thumb I try not to ride on unfamiliar roads, never push around corners and avoid riding in the rain with the kids on the back.