Motorcycle riding with kids

[nostatic]

I have pics somewhere of me around age 8 on a Honda 90 - with both my dad and mom, riding in the desert. But that is in the desert (dirt/sand), low speeds, and no cars around.

If my son wants to get on the back of the GS (which he hasn't yet - I think seeing me clean my knee out for a month when he was 10 years old may have had some influence), it'll be the same rule as for my wife or anyone else - full gear, no exceptions. And that means real boots, armored pants/jacket/gloves.

He did ride a dirt bike a few times, and in that case it was helmet, gloves, and boots. But same deal - dirt, no cars, low speed.

[Gogar]

As soon as I was old enough to ride that TS400 in the pic, I used to strap my .22 to the handlebars and I'd be gone for hours at a time. I wonder if that would still fly now.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by nostatic

I have pics somewhere of me around age 8 on a Honda 90 - with both my dad and mom, riding in the desert. But that is in the desert (dirt/sand), low speeds, and no cars around.

If my son wants to get on the back of the GS (which he hasn't yet - I think seeing me clean my knee out for a month when he was 10 years old may have had some influence), it'll be the same rule as for my wife or anyone else - full gear, no exceptions. And that means real boots, armored pants/jacket/gloves.

He did ride a dirt bike a few times, and in that case it was helmet, gloves, and boots. But same deal - dirt, no cars, low speed.

But theres still coyotes in the desert Todd....

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by nostatic

He did ride a dirt bike a few times, and in that case it was helmet, gloves, and boots. But same deal - dirt, no cars, low speed.

That was us - my brother and I rode dirt bikes from 11 until we were old enough to drive. I got my first street bike then, but he'd taken a spill doing hill jumps and stuck with cars.

[trader220]

I can only imagine the storm that my ex wife will become the first time my son rides with me.

Having been run off the road by a cell phone wielding not paying attention to anything but her own world driver a couple years ago I appreciated all the gear I had on. The gash in my helmet, the tear in my mesh armor jacket and the rash on my pants boots and glove are my only reminders. Fortunately I walked away and was just sore the next day or days.

I look forward to the time when my son is old enough to ride with me but it wont be without full gear. These days i remember fondly how I used to ride with a tee shirt and no helmet and how cool I thought it was when PA repealed the helmet law, I am older and wiser and a dad now.

[trader220]

This picture is a couple years old and its just a posed shot we were not going anywhere like that

[JavaBrewer]

This was way back in 2005 - Zack was 6 or 7 then.



Looking at the picture now I think he's a bit under dressed for the ride but was the best we could do. No real exposed skin. If he was a regular passenger I would have sprung for better jacket, gloves, and boots. Wow time moves fast - he's 17 now and driving his own car!

[Scott Douglas]

I'll never forget the day I came home from school (third grade) expecting to go for a motorcycle ride with my dad as he'd promised we could go when he got home from work.
He was already home when I got home.
He was on crutches.
He had a sling holding one arm.
Some one had turned left in front of him at Centinela and Bundy and he'd gone over the hood.

No more motorcycle riding until I could afford to pay for my own bike and insurance.

[Tanick]

My kids wear a lot of protection and I also ride super carefully when they're on board.

I do love this picture though. (not my kid!)

[Evans, Marv]

In the late '60s (before helmets were a requirment) when I was working for the USNPS, I came upon a guy on a something like a Honda 125cc bike. His wife was sitting behind him and I could see a kid was behind her. I turned on my PA system and told them to pull over and stop. I was amazed when the kid on the back got off, the wife got off, a kid between her & the husband got off, the husband got off, and a kid sitting on the gas tank got off. That was five people on that little Honda. Plus, the guy was 6'7" tall. I warned him but didn't ticket him & took the wife & two of the kids back to their camp in the campground.

[Noah930]

Love the pic of that kid above with the shiner and a smile.

My little girl, with her best impression of Rollie Free.

[Schrup]

My son & I went dirt biking Thursday. I couldn't get his KX60 to start, so I rode my bike around a bit. My son was all geared up with nothing to ride, so I asked him if he wanted a ride with me. I was surprised when he agreed. I put him in front of me on my Husky WR300 then blasted through the first three gears a couple times to give him a feel of the power band. He screamed pretty loud, but seemed to enjoy it.

I see guys on quads all the time with little or no protective gear, I can't imagine riding without all my protective gear strapped on. I still managed to bruise my shoulder pretty bad last year & my chest protector probable saved me from breaking my collar bone. I was sore for 3 months.