Starting Kids in Off-Road Motorbicycling

[BM-GS]

Hi All,

I'm an on-road rider, but I have a young son who loves bikes and I reckon he'd be better learning/hooning off-road than on. I also have another kiddie on the way, so I'll be needing to spend more time with No 1, doing the bonding thing and, um, getting out of the house to mess around with bikes...

Sprog's only 2 (yeah, yeah, way too young) but I figure I'll spend at least a year collecting kit/bikes/trailers/etc to get him/us going, and all the stories you hear about the big names in biking say they started riding bikes as soon as they could stand up. Genetically he'll be a big bugger, so he'll never be a Rossi/Doohan/Everts, but he might as well start riding while he can still bounce.

What I need to know is where to start. And when. What age do kids grow into gear and get enough control to ride? Once he can fit into a helmet and onto a bike, I can go shopping, but then there is the issue of a child-friendly track (or an empty field surrounded by soft bushes), and maybe a club or something? I live/work on the North Shore in Auckland, so Kumeu, Woodhill & Rodney seem the closest places where anything happens.

Any advice on bike shops? There are a few in Takapuna, but as I don't do any off-road riding myself (tried once, fell off more times than I could count and enjoyed every second, until I tried to bend my knee sideways) I don't know a lot about what I'm looking at - except that it'll cost money.

Any & all help appreciated,

[jrandom]

I will follow any replies with keen interest, since I'm going to do the same thing. But not until both my kids are over 5, which gives me about three years to figure out how I'm going to afford it.

[White trash]

Genetically he'll be a big bugger, so he'll never be a Rossi/Doohan/Everts,

Ever heard of a riding legend named David Jefferies?

Best bet is to grab a new JR50. $1900 brand new and you'll get years out of it. Two's not far from being old enough, provided you're happy with him riding on two wheels.

Training wheels on motorbikes are fuckin' dangerous so don't entertain the thought.

Kids bikes are happy in the boot of the family car so there's no need for a trailer and crap just yet.

[jrandom]

a new JR50. $1900 brand new and you'll get years out of it.

Hmmm.

Would I fit on one?

[Motoracer]

Ever heard of a riding legend named David Jefferies?

Best bet is to grab a new JR50. $1900 brand new and you'll get years out of it. Two's not far from being old enough, provided you're happy with him riding on two wheels.

Training wheels on motorbikes are fuckin' dangerous so don't entertain the thought.

Kids bikes are happy in the boot of the family car so there's no need for a trailer and crap just yet.

Cool avatar dude. How are the girls going on your mini moto by the way?

[Krusti]

Bought my son a PW50 when he was about 3 or 4. Was too big and scary for him. Left it in the shed then told him that when he wanted to learn just let me know. Sat there for about a year then one day he asked and away he went!

Biggest mistake parents make is PUSHING. My rule has always been if its not fun dont do it.

He's now 15 and during his MX years he has broken about 7 bones. Many days spent lying beside his bed in Hospital! Every time he majorly hurt himself I would give him the option of carrying on racing or giving up. He would always say "like hell" untill last year when he broke his collar bone for the third time and he said he just wanted to take a break. Hasnt raced since but has taken up road riding with mum and Dad.

His MX experiance has allready saved his bacon a number of times on the road and unlike his father in years to come he wont be able to say "what if?"

Do all you can for your kids, its heaps of fun and at least its a family thing which lasts right into their teenage years.

Just dont be one of those pushy bitching parents or I will come and smash you myself!

I found I had more fun coaching/helping my son than I did racing myself, dosn't help tho when they start blowing you in the weeds

Let them go at their own pace and they will be fine. As far as possible buy good second hand gear except for helmets which should be replaced regularly.

NEVER SCRIMP ON SAFETY GEAR. ALWAYS GET CORRECT FITTING.

Have Fun

[Krusti]

After years of spending money on faster bikes and flasher gear I finally realised that the best money you can spend is on a good coach.

[TonyB]

I will follow any replies with keen interest, since I'm going to do the same thing. But not until both my kids are over 5, which gives me about three years to figure out how I'm going to afford it.

Me too. So 3 or 4 was too young? Obviously it depends on the kid, but my daughter is the oldest and shes a bit cautious when trying new things so based on that I can't see her wanting to try before she hits five or six. Time to start putting money in the piggy bank.

[FROSTY:Me]

well just an idea here to get him out there in the bush would be woohill park.
Noone has mentioned quads yet-Baby bikie has one and he totally loves it
He's getting his head around throttle control and balance ideas.

[NordieBoy]

Do they do ClassicMX days where you are?
LaidBack trail rides?

There's always a handfull (literally) of nippers on pw's etc haring around at those days down here.

[BM-GS]

Cheers all, for the guidance. Will investigate a quad, as that takes the balance part out of the equation (until he starts tipping it over!).

Agree totally with comments about pushy parents, quality gear, etc. There's too much stuff to do without doing stuff you don't like, or doing it for other people's sake.

As for Dave Jefferies, I have the 2002 IoM TT on DVD at home, complete with his assorted 125mph laps. I'm not planning on buying the 03 version, where he failed to make it round. RIP DJ.

I'll check for ClassicMX stuff. I know there are some "family days", but they don't say what ages they start! And I don't want to start the wife doing MX, cos she's real competetive but breaks the cardinal rule and always picks somewhere hard to land...

[White trash]

Cool avatar dude. How are the girls going on your mini moto by the way?

How you like them apples?

[Motoracer]

How you like them apples?

I bet you've fliped that thing doing a wheelie...

[White trash]

I bet you've fliped that thing doing a wheelie...

No, but Hayden liquid cooled one will wheelie off the throttle and does a GENUINE 85kph. It's fucken terifying!

[soundbeltfarm]

got my boy a lt 50 he just turned 3 and he,s had it for about 8 monthes.
he loves it we just keep an eye on him in the paddock and he,s sorted out using the brake and throttle control.
i just screwed the throttle stop screw in and as he got better i screwed it out more.
i found that buying new was a far better option as all the second hand ones still fetched a good price.
so i'll put both kids on them then upgrade to 2 wheels.
lukes been on our friends crf50 and he was shady at the start but got better.
anyway thats my 2cents