Wanna take Kids On your bike?

**FROSTY:Me** · 22nd August 2004, 13:07

I must say right away I can't recomend you take young kids on a motorbike.We all know bikes are dangerous and a child is dependant opon US to make safety decisions for them.Their actions are erratic and unpredictable.
That said Baby bikie has been riding on my various bikes since before he was born. As a rule he is a more intelligent and safety aware pillion than many others I have carried. He wasn't always that way though.
I feel that life itself is dangerous and if you ride to suit the situation and do everything you can to protect the child, then the danger is minimalised.
With BB I did my reserch as well as I could.
First I always use the best protective gear for Him I have available.
Helmets are the Biggest single issue I think.
A helmet can easily double the weight of a childs head . With very little neck strenth to support the helmet let alone deal with a crash.Add to that a bad fit and you have a big problem
For BB I initially used a childs Bicycle helmet and put sunglasses on him. (the one that looks like an open face bike lid ) Which was fine for rides around the block and to the shops for milk etc.
later I attached (duct taped) a visor from an open face helmet to the lid.
That was fine for rides of up to 15 minutes at a time at 50km/h or slower.
As he got older and stronger neck muscles I bought him a polstar open face helmet with a peak and a big visor. The point there was that it was the lightest weight road legal lid available . I had him walk around with it on for half an hour to see if he could wear it comfortably.
We were then able to ride for about half an hour at a go with no problems and no complaints from him.
As a next helmet I bought him a Motorcross helmet which offers more face protection and is still light weight He diddn't like the goggles to be honest and rode with sunglasses on mostly.
His latest lid is a shoei composite full face lid. Its the lightest helmet I could buy anywhere and it came in a xxs which seems to fit him well.
Gloves-His first pair of gloves were a pair of ski mittens, I them bought him a pair of xs leather palmed childs Bmx gloves.
Up till very recently his latest pair of gloves are xs womans bike gloves
Ohh --Children and gloves dont mix. They loose em,they take em off.
I did the old wives thing and ran a string through his jacket arms and tied the gloves to his jacket.
Boots. My thinking is that as long as the ankle bone is well protected you really can't go wrong. -well The warehouse has been brilliant. First he had kids sized work boots in leather then he moved onto reinforced gumboots -Now he wears ski boots -Cudura.
Jacket-He has had a series of ski jackets over the years and recently He has moved to a propper leather jacket from a company in Christchurch --Real cheap too-Under $100
Legs-again ski gear is the way to go -I use bib n brace for him to keep the cold off his back.
The seat.-Other than up and down the road at very slow (sub 20km/h)
I have Big issues with children sitting on the bike in front of you.
My thinking is that YOU are their best asset and best protection from an accident. Preventing an accident is what you need to be doing.That is impossible if you are not only worried about evasive action but also worried about hanging onto the child
More next post

**FROSTY:Me** · 22nd August 2004, 18:59

Initially I literally tied a kids swing to the bike(the rope tied bucket seat type)- It worked really well on the Venture royalle because of all the roll bars and stuff offered a heap of protection.
I gave up on that idea and built a proper bike seat for him. It utilises the seat from an old style car seat with a solid tubular metal frame.
It bolts to the bike by four points. and rests firmly on the bikes seat base.
It has a swing down bar which stops him falling out forwards. It has normal car seat straps which only get used if he falls asleep.
In addition I have wooden blocks that attach to the bikes standard foot pegs.
I know it sounds draconic but I always give allain a pre ride brief -how far we're going and reminding him how to sit. Kids tend to forget. Also although he can put on and do up his own lid I still check his gear is all on properly.
Mentioned by someone else. It was drilled into BB at a VERY early stage not to touch the exhaust system and what side of the bike to get on and how.
What I did there was to start the bike and warm the pipes up and hold his hand on the pipe.--it wasn't hot enough to burn him but hot enoughto shock him. I laid the bike on its side to show him how easy it tips over.
Sounds mean -but he has never hurt himself on the bike

**Dodgyiti** · 23rd August 2004, 12:07

I have never taken any of our neices or nephews for a ride yet, even though they beg me every time. And that is because of the safety gear being not up to scratch as discussed by Frosty.
Something I also want to add, and it's not about taking kids for a ride. But you must explain to parents of younger kiddies [ toddler up ] about BIKE HOT !. because in my experience, the first thing they want to do when you turn up on the scooter is touch the bloody thing!. I always teach them about bike hot before I come round, and then again when I do show up on the bike.
Spitting on the pipes/ motor usually helps reinforce the lesson as well.

**Blakamin** · 23rd August 2004, 12:24

Thanks guys, bloody excellent advice!

I'll be having my daughter on the bike soon... even if its just for a ride around the yard!

**750Y** · 23rd August 2004, 12:53

I can't comment, but Man, be careful(which I'm sure You are).

**riffer** · 23rd August 2004, 13:05

Originally Posted by 750Y

I can't comment, but Man, be careful(which I'm sure You are).

Tim has been for a few rides around the yard (he's nearly 5) and I would definitely follow all of Frosty's advice before taking him for a decent. Ride.

The building up longer and longer rides until he's used to it is a great idea.

Frosty - I read your original post in this thread to Gini last night and as usual she rolled her eyes and reminded me that he's not allowed out on the bike until he's 8.

**dhunt** · 23rd August 2004, 13:32

Well I use to always give my little sister rides when she was about 2 & 3 have her on the back and then another brother on behind her. That way she wouldn't fall off. Never went on the roads at all. All off road. She use to love it. Learn how to read the clock to tell when it was motorbike ride time.

David

**FROSTY:Me** · 23rd August 2004, 15:53

Originally Posted by celticno6

Tim has been for a few rides around the yard (he's nearly 5) and I would definitely follow all of Frosty's advice before taking him for a decent. Ride.

The building up longer and longer rides until he's used to it is a great idea.

Frosty - I read your original post in this thread to Gini last night and as usual she rolled her eyes and reminded me that he's not allowed out on the bike until he's 8.

OHH Shit --and Im plannin on bringing allain with me to pick up the zxr.
This could get VERY interesting.

Ohh bugger I knew I left something out --the hot thing and pre ride brief

**toads** · 23rd August 2004, 16:34

Actually the whole point of me getting a bike is to not have them anywhere near me, I'm gloriously alone on my bike, although I can understand you newer parents enjoying sharing your love of bikes with your profoundly cute offspring.
I have never had to encourage my kids to have a love for things on wheels, they all made brrooom brrrroooom noises pretty much from birth. I am acutely conscious though how easily they lose concentration and can let go or do something stupid, kids never think about consequences, I would find it very hard to live with myself if a kid fell off the back of my bike, I really think it depends on the kid, but I'd never contemplate taking a kid on a bike on the road till they were at least 8 years old and had some idea of what is required of them as a pillion in order to remain safe.

**FROSTY:Me** · 23rd August 2004, 20:04

toads --yep true--thats why i did the car seat bit..
and i think bb is more road aware than most 10 year olds

**EZAS** · 23rd August 2004, 23:09

When i got my first little 50cc honda at 6 years old, I was doubling the neighbours kidz all the time (4,5 and 8 years old), and riding with my uncle (who was invincible at the time)

on his giant show pony Triumph, didnt seem like much of a big deal (he imported one of New Zealands first 10 second V8 Ford's and various other SUPER BEAST VEHCILES).
Im the same age as he was then, 23, and I cant seriously ever consider taking either of my children on my bike (nor any of my younger counsins). Perhaps its more of a confidence issue than a skill issue. As my children 10 weeks, and 2 years, I dont see me being able to ride with them in the near or distant future. I think maybe my major issue isnt the doulbing of just children, but perhaps the doulbling issue altogether

**FROSTY:Me** · 24th August 2004, 15:14

Dude I respect your choice.

Ultimately yep the decision has to be yours . And if you aint comfortable with taking pillions good onya.

**FROSTY:Me** · 28th January 2005, 23:45

I'm just reviving this thread for Biff Baff.
Funny though how times change. baby bikie had a big growth spurt and now is comfortable on the back of the bike with no car seat.
And celtic me ol mate --lets see if we can twist the wifes arm a bit on the tim front

**Cleve** · 29th January 2005, 20:00

My son at 3 1/2 (now 4) went for his first small ride around the block VERY slowly and he loved it. Jammed him hard against the pillion seat (not on it) and he was wedged in safe where he couldn't fall off. I haven't done much since despite the nags to go for a ride with Daddy. At the time I thought it was all cool but having since done it I worry about what some other road idiot might do more. As my own Dad (who took me for rides on his bike when I was a young fella) taught me all many years ago. "Treat ALL other road users as idiots!"