Topic: First "superbike" ride.

[faux fiddy]

I'll have to upload this one somewhere on the cloud.  I rode up to the cross country track because we're running out of riding days fast. I figured friends would be there.

Jordan is one of the kids that goes up with the crew, he's only 11, but a bit taller than the others. I asked him if he thought he could touch the ground on my scrambler.

He said can I try?

I thought what the heck he's got his gear on what could it harm, and started it up for him,  stopped him after the first lap around the parking and showed him how to turn on the headlight.  I guess he's got about five years before he's supposed to ride anything that big, but what the heck. I bet he remembers it as his first " big bike" ride.

I never rode anything bigger than a 125 until I was in my 30's.

[ekpent]

I turned my Son loose at 18 to ride with me on a 750 after he got some dirt bike under his belt. He has done well with no accidents so far and has ridden multiple large Jap and Harley bikes.Doing some dirt first I think is important for kids, has yours done the dirt ?

[dave500]

you gotta do dirt,its how you learn how to crash,once you've learnt how to crash you can improve on not crashing.

[faux fiddy]

It's a friend's grandson from a daughter, no tellin' who his dad is the've done three paternity tests but no match. They beat the hell out of their bikes, a xr 80 and a ktm 65, They ride every weekend or more, often all day so not only do they do the dirt, they're getting fast.

[strynboen]

my som..(one of them)..13 years  run all my bikes..exept the cbx..he have a suzuki 85 motocross and a lot of china 110 minicross machines..he run traktors since 8 years diggerloaders and cars just as good as i do..."slow learning "is the magig  vay to learn...and kontroll ,,only one driving at time...dangers is vhen more kids drive together..and gets vild..

they dont drive on public road

[vfourfreak]

My son has no interest in motorcycles or cars. He is 29 and does not even have a driver's licence. To my certain knowledge he has never driven a vehicle of any sort.

I was stealing drives in my dad's car at 12 (while he was away of course), and riding motorcycles at 14. I rebuilt my first CB750 motor at 16.

Should I request a paternity test for my son ?

Kev

[70CB750]

Focus on your grandson when there is one 

My dad had to lock his shop to protect it from me - my shop is unlocked and safe from all my kids. 

[martin99]

My first wife and I split when our son was a few months old, but I had him over regularly. When he was five, I bought him his first bike, a little Italjet 50. After talking him through the controls (throttle and brake ) I pointed him in a straight line in the field and told him to gently roll on the throttle. I jogged along next to him for a few yards, and then he went for it. Either I was too fat or the bike was too fast, but I couldn't keep up and watched him shoot off into the distance. He must have caught a bump, next thing I know he's in a tank slapper and off he went, breaking his arm in two places.
At the hospital I was questioned by social services, after a doctor reported me for suspected child abuse. But that was nothing compared to returning him to his mother a day early with his arm in plaster...

[vfourfreak]

My first wife and I split when our son was a few months old, but I had him over regularly. When he was five, I bought him his first bike, a little Italjet 50. After talking him through the controls (throttle and brake ) I pointed him in a straight line in the field and told him to gently roll on the throttle. I jogged along next to him for a few yards, and then he went for it. Either I was too fat or the bike was too fast, but I couldn't keep up and watched him shoot off into the distance. He must have caught a bump, next thing I know he's in a tank slapper and off he went, breaking his arm in two places.
At the hospital I was questioned by social services, after a doctor reported me for suspected child abuse. But that was nothing compared to returning him to his mother a day early with his arm in plaster...

O M G !! Seriously O. M. G. !
I'm sure your ex was all sweetness and light, full of understanding etc (NOT !)

Kev

[70CB750]

My first wife and I split when our son was a few months old, but I had him over regularly. When he was five, I bought him his first bike, a little Italjet 50. After talking him through the controls (throttle and brake ) I pointed him in a straight line in the field and told him to gently roll on the throttle. I jogged along next to him for a few yards, and then he went for it. Either I was too fat or the bike was too fast, but I couldn't keep up and watched him shoot off into the distance. He must have caught a bump, next thing I know he's in a tank slapper and off he went, breaking his arm in two places.
At the hospital I was questioned by social services, after a doctor reported me for suspected child abuse. But that was nothing compared to returning him to his mother a day early with his arm in plaster...

That is monumental! 

[ekpent]

I keep this one around the shop for the little ones to ride on my property if a friend brings down their tike. My wife's grand daughter almost drove it into the side of the shop this summer though before she laid it down and got skinned up a little bit in front of her parents and us. After the drama she did get back on it though, but with a little more respect what a throttle and brake is   

[faux fiddy]

My dad had to lock his shop to protect it from me - my shop is unlocked and safe from all my kids.

One of the three friend's grandfather was picking up, and one of the bikes was in the sprinter. I was about to help them get it, but after they started pulling the ramp around and unhooking the tie downs I figured what the heck I would bother to help, They know what they're doing. Waking up early and ready  to go ride is making them more independent little kids.

nice littel honda..

.china kopi are bad kvality...but better then nothing...and them my japanese almost are safe for the kids..

They're okay, but the KTM is better. But he got his use out of one of those 50's, now it's the spare.

 

[ofreen]

you gotta do dirt,its how you learn how to crash,once you've learnt how to crash you can improve on not crashing.

One benefit to learning on the dirt is that you learn how to manage traction.  People who have never been off the pavement tend to react inappropriately when they lose traction and crash.  But in the dirt you lose traction deliberately to steer the bike (plus it's fun to slide around), so losing traction on pavement doesn't freak you out and you react correctly.

[dave500]

we used to practise locking the front wheel in a big boggy patch and powering straight ahead fast with the front wheel locked,you learn to work both controls in one hand better that way,people have trouble manipulating the front brake lever and throttle at the same time,i wouldn't want to try it on a superbike though or any road bike?

[strynboen]

i alvays do that front brake test..on vet grass..to get a feling of a new bike..but with care

[vfourfreak]

Learning to drive or ride in all conditions is very important, I think.
If there is a "sandbox" environment available  like wet fields, quarry etc  go for it and train your kids ! Personally, I think nippers as young as 5 yrs should be introduced to riding.

Here in the south of France we rarely get snow ( but when we do, 99% of drivers / riders have no frikken clue how to proceed, with predictable and disastrous results. Oh, and when it rains also.

Kev

[Retro Rocket]

we used to practise locking the front wheel in a big boggy patch and powering straight ahead fast with the front wheel locked,you learn to work both controls in one hand better that way,people have trouble manipulating the front brake lever and throttle at the same time,i wouldn't want to try it on a superbike though or any road bike?

Yep, dirt is a great place to learn confidence in front brakes and control techniques. Back in the early 80's We used to ride our 750's round my mates Dads truck yard, all gravel roads , we had great fun fish tailing and speedway sliding all over the place, its nice to know how a road bike reacts when sliding around, adds to your confidence and skill set on the street...

[faux fiddy]

Swapped brake parts when I flatted, so the dang thing squeaked for the first hundred miles or so...

Finally uploaded the video.

[grcamna2]

my som..(one of them)..13 years  run all my bikes..exept the cbx..he have a suzuki 85 motocross and a lot of china 110 minicross machines..he run traktors since 8 years diggerloaders and cars just as good as i do..."slow learning "is the magig  vay to learn...and kontroll ,,only one driving at time...dangers is vhen more kids drive together..and gets vild..

they dont drive on public road

Strynboen, That's how to keep driving more fun  so we keep enjoying it as we get older while we remembered how much fun it was when we were younger.

[strynboen]

engines and gas...and boys...BOOOOMM .....but the grass is not get long groving

[dave500]

great fun for kids,improves fitness and balance skills,also learn a little mechanical stuff along the way?

[faux fiddy]

great fun for kids,improves fitness and balance skills,also learn a little mechanical stuff along the way?

Yeah, they dig into the van and get the bikes out themselves, too.   Hopefully they haven't learned how to score pistons yet, someone might have to be back on the 50 or not riding tomorrow.

[grcamna2]

great fun for kids,improves fitness and balance skills,also learn a little mechanical stuff along the way?

Yeah, they dig into the van and get the bikes out themselves, too.   Hopefully they haven't learned how to score pistons yet, someone might have to be back on the 50 or not riding tomorrow.

lol