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Thread: Encouraging kids to ride

  1. #1
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    Encouraging kids to ride

    Inspired by TonyB's thread.

    How many here encourage/would encourage their children to ride bikes, possibly even competitively?

    My boys - thanks to their in utero support of such worthy charities as the Toy Run - are obsessed with bikes.

    I used to stop at the top of the driveway on returning home so Taliesin could ride on the tank as far as the garage and we used to give them rides around the lawn when Juliet had her little trail bike.

    I hope to be able to afford a couple of JR50s or similar when the boys are old enough.

    I want to encourage them to learn to ride at an early age and encourage them should they decide to try motocross or racing. I want them to build up their skills and their confidence and self-esteem and maybe, just maybe, when they're teenagers and their so-called mates challenge them to a drag, they won't feel they have anything to prove (or at least have the sense to say "better than that, let's take your POS down to the motocross trail/race track and I'll wipe the floor with your sorry arse.")

    I want to continue setting a good example of safe riding and hope that my kids enjoy riding as much as I do - for a good number of years. They would be the 4th generation of bikers in our family - my grandfather and both my parents used to ride bikes.

  2. #2
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    I was lucky enough to have a Dad that was in a mid life crisis and decides to start riding again after he had stopped for 20 years. He brought a CRF150 at the beginning of 2003 to teach my brother and I to ride. He would've got a bike earlier (were planning to get an XR100) but we were struggling for money at the time. We then got the KX80, then I have recently got hold of the CBR and my brother will get a 125 when he's ready.

    Mum took a bit of convincing, don't know why she even let us start let alone let us keep on riding.

  3. #3
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    I will be encouraging them too.....

    Anything otherwise would be hypocritical....
    Queiro voya todo Europa con mi moto.... pero no tengo suficiente tiempo o dinero.....

  4. #4
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    My main problem at the moment is trying to find a PW50, JR50 or similar for Tim, who's absolutely obsessed with getting a bike.

    Watching a 5-year-old on his old 12-inch wheel BMX hanging off at about 20km/hr on the BMS track trying to "get my knee down like Rossi Dad" is one of the funniest things you ever saw...

    Looks like the family tradition will continue as soon as I can get a bike for the young fella.

    Now to find the money...
    And I to my motorcycle parked like the soul of the junkyard. Restored, a bicycle fleshed with power, and tore off. Up Highway 106 continually drunk on the wind in my mouth. Wringing the handlebar for speed, wild to be wreckage forever.

    - James Dickey, Cherrylog Road.

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by alarumba
    I was lucky enough to have a Dad that was in a mid life crisis and decides to start riding again after he had stopped for 20 years.
    He probably had to give up for financial reasons or because he thought it was the responsible thing to do. Now he probably has the dough/ deems your old enough to find you way in the world, so he's started again. Only when you look your first child in the eye for the first time will you realise how much you mean to your parents and how much they are willing to sacrifice for you, because you will feel the same. Ahem...

    As for teaching the kids to ride. Yep, it's in the plan (Lexies 3 and Zachs 17 months). When they're ready there will be a wee mini bike turning up for sure!

  6. #6
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    I wish I got a 50 when I was younger. A nice KTM 50

    At least I'm lucky enough to own a bike now.

  7. #7
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    When I did my handling skills cert last year there was a young girl there, all of 15-16ish and a tiny wee thing, and her dad (at least I assume he was her dad) was obviously a biker and encouraging her.. I thought it was pretty cool.

  8. #8
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    If you want to get your kid to get into competition, they really need to start riding at the age of 2 sadly. Especially in MX. I see 5 year olds on KTM 50s going faster than me on my 80 cause they have had 3 years of experience. Also, those are the years when they are fearless so the end up progressing faster. If I want to compete in MX, I have to be a prodigy, or just really really reckless.

    No such problems with motard. I managed to be competitive with a 12 year old who has been riding MX since the age of 2 after 3 race days

    Another problem is kids grow fast and you have to get bikes physically bigger. A year ago, my brother and I laughed at our dad riding the KX. We though he was like a gorilla on a bicycle, now, I'm taller than him.

  9. #9
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    I taught my 8 year old brother to ride back in the 70's. I sat on the back showed him how to work the controls and once he was moving along I jumped off the back, followed him along for a bit and when he wanted to stop jumped back on and showed him how. He had his first and only prangs back then.
    Later when he had his own bikes he bought an XJ650 just like mine. He got done for drunken driving 3 up on the motorway. I didn't teach him that.
    He's now living in London with 2 kid's and no bikes. I take him for a ride on the back of mine when he visits.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by alarumba
    If you want to get your kid to get into competition, they really need to start riding at the age of 2 sadly.
    Taliesin's 3 on 21 May and Tangwyn's 2 on 10 May.

    Need to find some cheap, small bikes fast, eh.

  11. #11
    As mentioned in another thread,my daughter was in a sidecar at 2 mths,at 3 weeks she was at her first MX meeting,then I bought a trials bike and she cames to trials with us from a few weeks old,as she got older I would ride around at trials with her on the front.Later when I was riding at the dirt track I would take both girls around the track on the back of various bikes and quads,the wife would too - the girls waving to each other from the back of their parents bikes.Our second car was the XS1 Yamaha,being carted around by a bearded ponytailed biker in black leathers was normal in their world.Later we got a PW50 then a couple of old trail bikes for the girls.

    They have asked if they can ride my Stornello so they can get their bike licences - I suspect that's why the Stornello no longer runs,I am not prepard to send my girls out on the road,that's ok for me...but I'm a selfish prick,I need my girls to look after me in my old age.

    I rebuilt the Peewee a couple of years ago but the boys don't seem interested,the older boy is now too big for it - he has driven a go cart and loved it,but the bike is not a big drawcard.I'm happy,they can do whatever they like and I will support them to the hilt...if not bikes,so be it.
    In and out of jobs, running free
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  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Wolf
    Taliesin's 3 on 21 May and Tangwyn's 2 on 10 May.

    Need to find some cheap, small bikes fast, eh.
    Remember, don't force them, just give them the opportunity. If they don't like it, you'll feel like at least you have given them the chance, and it'll be hell of alot cheaper in the long run

  13. #13
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    poor kids.... think of what your doing to them.... you shouldn force bikes on them

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Motu
    I rebuilt the Peewee a couple of years ago but the boys don't seem interested,the older boy is now too big for it - he has driven a go cart and loved it,but the bike is not a big drawcard.I'm happy,they can do whatever they like and I will support them to the hilt...if not bikes,so be it.
    Mate give me a yell if ya decide to sell/lease it -for sure baby bikie will be wanting a 2 wheeler as soon as he gets his head around throttle control.
    To see a life newly created.To watch it grow and prosper. Isn't that the greatest gift a human being can be given?

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by mikey
    poor kids.... think of what your doing to them.... you shouldn force bikes on them
    As I said, give them the chance, don't force it apon them, don't turn into one of those 'Ice-skater parents'.

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