Topic: Whats a safe age for children pasengers?

[bender01]

 Besides common sense. My 5 year old wants to ride passenger. He has ridden some (with improper fit helmet) and is not antsy at all. I also have a 3yr old that likes to ride in the yard. Does anyone have some proper sized helmets to part with?  Or some advice on the law? Please dont cuss me out as my first ride was in front of Dad on his red 70 750. .. I think! I was @ 5.

[seaweb11]

I was a single father in my late 20's early 30's for quite a few years before I met my 2nd wife.
Before that time "Brieanna" and I were hooked at the rib. She rode with me from 5 years on.

I want you to read the next part clearly..........
Never have them on the back of the bike if you think they are tired!!!!!!!!!!   These little munchkins fall asleep anywhere!!!!!!!!!

Caught my daughter from falling off with my right arm after stopping for gas one night   Dead a sleep.

She is now living in China teaching English, she made it through, so will yours

[mystic_1]

In IL the law is that the passenger must be able to reach the footpegs.  Easy solution, mount a second pair of passenger footpegs higher up.

mystic_1

[Soos]

In IL the law is that the passenger must be able to reach the footpegs.  Easy solution, mount a second pair of passenger footpegs higher up.

mystic_1

Necessity is the mother of invention, and statements like that prove it.


If it puts a smile on your kids face, it's well worth it!




And FYI, my 8 year old has been riding on the back of mine since about 5 or 6.
the youngest rides, but he likes riding in front of me.
Yes I have been pulled over.

The cop let me off. Ended up telling me stories about him riding on his dads bike when he was a kid.
Had a "safety talk" to my kid on bike riding, and warned me not to do that anywhere but my neighborhood roads. Mentioned it is completely illegal to allow my boy to ride on the tank as well.

Before he took off, he complimented me on making the rugrat wear a helmet though.
No ticket either.

Surprised that the cops that patrol the area I live in actually LIVE in the neighborhoods they patrol.


l8r

[Retro Rocket]

I have had both of my kids on the back since about 4 years of age. I got around the "tired kid syndrome" by using an old large sized belt, i put it around both of us at waist height, worked a treat..

Mick

[tramp]

the small kids sit in front the older ones sit on the back

[CrisPDuk]

My 7yo niece has ridden on the tank and the pillion of both the CB550 and the H100 for the last three years or so with no worries

We've never done more than the couple of miles between my house and my Sister's on public roads, always when it's quiet, and always with a helmet & MX type joint protectors, but we've put plenty of mileage in on carparks, private roads and fields, especially on the 100    She prefers that because when she sits on the tank she can reach the bars and 'steer'


When she learned to ride her first pushbike, she told her Dad to take the stabilisers (training wheels) off after just two days, because 'I can't lean over like they do in the racing on Uncle Jabba's (that's me) TV'

Between us my stepson and I are making sure this kid grows up right, despite the best efforts of her Mum to stop us

[HondanutRider]

Ontario (Canada) has a very controversial and much criticized (especially by motorcyclists) proposed law (Bill 117) that would outright ban passengers under 14 on motorcycles. 

Currently in Ontario all passengers on motorcycles (as the rider) must wear an approved helmet.  To carry a passenger on a motorcycle the operator must have at least the second level of license (an M2) and the bike must be equipped with a proper pillion seat as well as foot pegs or boards on which the passenger's feet will rest.  This implies that riding in front of the operator is illegal, as well as ensuring that if it is a child they are large enough to reach the pegs.

Besides the above sensible "restrictions" already in place, as a motorcycle rider instructor, a motorcyclist for many years, and a grandfather with young children that I enjoy taking for an occasional ride, I would also propose the following restrictions:  First, the operator in the jurisdiction of Ontario should be required to have more experience than just an M2 license if they are to take any passenger, especially younger ones.  Second, I would insist on more than just a motorcycle helmet be worn by young passengers - proper gear should include a jacket, heavy pants, gloves and ankle-high boots.  (I know that sounds cumbersome, but every motorcyclist should be wearing that gear, and young passengers are the most valuable to protect.)  Finally, for young passengers (maybe under 14 is the age) the motorcycle should be equipped with a passenger backrest and provisions made (other than just holding-on to the waist of the operator) for handholds.  (A "buddy" belt worn by the operator with hooks for the passenger to grasp is one device - besides "rails" or handholds on the actual bike.  The straps commonly found on motorcycle seats are NOT appropriate, in my assessment.)  That's how I want to carry young passengers on my motorcycle, and that's even how my wife insists on riding with me.

Let's hope that the draconian Bill 117 in Ontario dies on the committee floor!

[Caaveman82]

I used to ride with my dad when I was five, in 1987, I had a jean jacket and jeans and a helmet and gloves. We would stay around our neighborhood and he never went over thirty miles per hour. At that point he had been riding since 67, so he had a good twenty years of experience. Of course this was before a lot of people started getting insane about saftey.

It's your kid. Equip him with the same stuff you would yourself.
Check out with the local PD as far as the laws go, make the necessary modifications to make it legal, then go for it.

[heffay]

i haven't read anyone's responses yet because i wanted you to get my own formulated opinion from a motorcycle cop's son, a motorcyclist's son, a long-time rider, a person never intending to have children and a promoter of motorcycle safety...


i really think that, ultimately, you are your child's lifeline... especially on a bike.
i would never want such responsibility on anyone.


if you think they are capable to ride along with you... put them on a little pw50 or somthing to help them understand what a crash really feels like.  there's no learnin' like the hard way!


i also recommend sticking to non trafficked areas and small trips... kids fall asleep at the most inopportune moments... and they'll never know the difference between the autobahn and your local area.

[74cb750]

back in the days when I had some fast bikes....my kids would ride on the back of the GSX1100 and were fine up to 120mph. The wife though...

[Johnie]

I agree...when they can touch the footpegs for some stability.  If they are riding in front of the driver then they are to small.  Can you imagine what would happen to the poor child riding on the gas tank if there was a crash.  Good chance the driver would crush the little fella.  Safer to have them wait until they are older and longer. 

[KARamsay]

I was riding around behind my dad when I was between 6 and 8 years old, and started to get longer faster rides when I was around 10.  Things were different then, no helmet laws (pre-1992). 

I will say he took me down to the MC shop and got me a perfectly fitting bell helmet - and later got me a newer better one as I got bigger. 

Me - personally, I don't like riding passengers purely for the reason I dont want to ever have to make the decision to lay down a bike wih my wife, friend, kid on the back.

Two bits of advice:
I still make my wife grab through my belt when she rides.  That is how my father rode me and it was very easy as a kid to get a really good gold of something. 

Buy the kid a 50cc.  You will have a field day riding along side with them.  That is something I remember vividly growing up... saturday morning rides around the neighborhood with my dad.   

[Gordon]

As much as I can't wait until I can take my son on rides with me, he's not going until his feet can reach the pegs and he's had some passenger training. 

I remember my dad teaching me how to ride as a passenger on his motorcycle when I was about 7 years old, and it's stuck with me to this day.  He taught me to always look to the side of his body that the bike was leaning to in a corner, which would keep me from instinctively trying to stay upright and fight the lean of the bike.  He taught me to always keep my feet on the pegs, and to not get off the bike until both of his feet were on the ground and he told me it was safe.  And above all else, he told me to never, ever fall asleep.  If I started feeling drowsy, I tapped him on the shoulder, pointed to the side of the road, and we would stop and walk around for a while.     

[CaféElite]

I started giving my daughter rides to the park (two blocks) right around four. She actually nagged me much earlier but I held off tell I felt when I spoke in a serious tone she always listened. I only give her rides on the buell though cause she sets in front where she is snug, the frame protects her legs from the engine and she CANNOT touch the handle bars. I have a general rule the she adheres to: hands on the buell logo at all times.

She wears a helmet, coat and little dirt bike gloves that are a bit large on her. I have actually been thinking about getting a side car for the 550 so I can take her to daycare in it. Still a little iffy on that though incase someone hit it or something. Might have to go hardcore w/ a roll cage and high end recaro child seat.

Its hard to say no cause everytime she gets off she has the largest possible smile she can produce. One time while riding she asked me to go faster (low second 25mph) and I said no. When she got her off the bike she gave me a dirtly look and walked up to the door w/o talking to me. She would talk to me for like 15 minutes (a long time for my little chatter box).

Your the parent.. think about the situation and make a good judgement call. Thats about all we can do.

[bender01]

Thanks for the advice. Hes tall for 5 so he can wait a little longer for actual traveling more than the 1/2 mile to boat landing /beach. Im definitley looking for a z 50 to toy with as the younger one will enjoy it too. Our yard is large enough for a minibike and we could restore by the time theyre teenagers

[mark]

Q: Whats a safe age for children passengers?

A: at least 30