If your child wanted to become a biker...

[Lil_Green_Demon]

What would you do?

[Heed]

I don't plan on having kids.

But if we're hypothetically speaking..

I'd force him to take the MSF and wear AGATT.

[Snake]

Yes but only after going through training and AGATT and no jumping straight to 1,000 after only a short few months of riding.

[OGjackafidy]

Really depends on the personality of the kid. If he's responsible sure. I had to prove to mu dad that I was responsible before he even said maybe

[Alex]

/moved to general

[Kurgan]

Well put it this way, Valentino Rossi started riding motorcycles at just 2 and a half years old, he was racing by 5 years old, and won his first of NINE World Championships by 17.

Yeah I'll be starting my kids young in just about everything that paranoid spineless parents claim are "too dangerous" or "not for that age", and I'll probably throw it in their faces to boot.

I don't believe in deliberately holding kids back, it damages their mental and physical development.

[kaiserz]

YES but They have to know the risk of having a motorcycle, they have to take the msf and advance msf, they have to start on a small bike, they have to be ATGATT and they have to do dishes, take the trash out and laundry.

[backinthesaddleagain]

What drives me nuts, and I feel motorcycling (on road and off) can be dangerous as I ruptured my splein at age 13 and have seen so many deaths and debilitating injuries, but what really drives me nuts is people who say their kid would never ride a motorcycle yet they let them ride horses and jump them over fences. Ever see those horse rider helmets? Not much protection and the only other gear is boots. And don't get me started on what if the horse falls on you, or the horse decides it doesn't want to jump that obstacle.

[rockNroll]

Originally Posted by backinthesaddleagain

What drives me nuts, and I feel motorcycling (on road and off) can be dangerous as I ruptured my splein at age 13 and have seen so many deaths and debilitating injuries, but what really drives me nuts is people who say their kid would never ride a motorcycle yet they let them ride horses and jump them over fences. Ever see those horse rider helmets? Not much protection and the only other gear is boots. And don't get me started on what if the horse falls on you, or the horse decides it doesn't want to jump that obstacle.

And horses got no brakes!

[backinthesaddleagain]

Originally Posted by rockNroll

And horses got no brakes!

yeah, or some noise happens and the horse goes into full gallop.

[Bassman]

I've tried to get my son interested in motorcycles. I started him out on quads, then dirt bikes. He never got interested. He just liked to go on the camping trips, lol. To each his own. I can't force him to like what I like, just make the opportunities available.

[KJohnson21]

There needs to be another option on the survey, "My kid(s) already are." Both of my girls took the MSF (with their mother! ) and have motorcycle endorsements on their driving licenses.

[backinthesaddleagain]

Originally Posted by Bassman

I've tried to get my son interested in motorcycles. I started him out on quads, then dirt bikes. He never got interested. He just liked to go on the camping trips, lol. To each his own. I can't force him to like what I like, just make the opportunities available.

good point

[massacremasses]

my son wants to. but he cant ride a bike without training wheels yet. Not sure where I want to start him. but he LOVES "vroom vroom cycles"




thats at the local bike dealership. I really wanna get him one but theyre just so damn expensive...

[alex.s]

if i have kids, they'll know how to ride before they can walk... but like i said... if i have kids...

[Mr.E]

He will have to be the right age. Today a kid almost hit my parents (by going the wrong way) on a scooter. Then, he lane split (In the neighborhood, but completely dangerous non the less because I was going to turn in the direction he came up behind me and totally cut me off while I was on my 250. Complete idiot. I wanted to turn around and yell at the father for even letting his kid on a motorized vehicle. Had to had been like 13 years old or younger. All while it was night time btw.

[massacremasses]

Originally Posted by Mr.E

He will have to be the right age. Today a kid almost hit my parents (by going the wrong way) on a scooter. Then, he lane split (In the neighborhood, but completely dangerous non the less because I was going to turn in the direction he came up behind me and totally cut me off while I was on my 250. Complete idiot. I wanted to turn around and yell at the father for even letting his kid on a motorized vehicle. Had to had been like 13 years old or younger. All while it was night time btw.

natural selection....

[adouglas]

I don't have kids and am too old. But I'd approach it this way:

I'm going to make a deal with you. I let you ride, but you do it on my terms because I'm responsible for you (assuming the kid isn't 18). If you don't, you lose the privilege to ride. I'm trusting you to do the right thing. You're trusting me to treat you as a responsible young person. There's mutual respect, right?

The rules are this:

You will take the safety course, and I will take it with you.
We will have an open and honest discussion about safety and riding technique.
I will not place any restrictions on you that I would not place on myself. You will be treated fairly.
We will ride together for a while so I know you're doing it right. When I think you're ready I'll hand you the keys. You need to convince me.
You will wear gear at all times. I will buy you cool gear so you're not embarrassed… but you will wear it. No negotiation.
I have no patience for stupidity. Mistakes and ignorance are different. Stupidity is when you know better and behave like an idiot anyway. Be stupid and you lose the bike. Even if I have to put a chain on it or slash the tires, you're not going to ride it. Period. There is no excuse for it and it will not be tolerated.
No alcohol. Period.

If the kid is 18, then he/she gets to pay for operating the bike, including insurance. This is a luxury item, not a necessity.

[nickjpass]

I want kids...they can ride if they're not dumb.

[Xoulrath]

My kid already rides dirt. She actually asked me last night after I was giving her some pre-driving advice (since she'll be there in a few years) if she could get a motorcycle instead of a car when she was old enough.

I told her that was a possibility, but training would be necessary, and when she did ride, it would have to be with her mom and me with her in the middle for some time.

[choneofakind]

I'm in college. Avoiding the thought of having kids like the plague

but with me, my parents trust me. It took more convincing in the monetary sense than the responsibility sense. I know the dangers of riding. I've eaten it hard too many times on a mountain bike, and I've been literally run off the road on my road bike by stupid idiot drivers, or angry drivers. I cannot believe that someone would take a 2+ ton SUV and take a swipe at someone on a bicycle just because they wanted to make a left-hand turn and got into the left turn lane...

anyhow, my parents and I agreed that I should take the msf course before ever getting on a bike. So i got my gear, took the course, and then got my bike. In that order. I payed for the entirety of the bike, insurance, gas, and do my own maintenance.

If I ever have a kid, and he/she does their research and comes to an agreement like that, I have absolutely NO problem letting my child ride. But if I feel that they aren't ready to be on two wheels (reckless behavior, speeding, drugs, etc.), they will NOT be riding. I ride because my parents trust me to be safe, and I trust myself to know my limits. I can only hope my child will be able to say the same.

[bluepoof]

If my future kids want to ride motorcycles, I'll know I've raised 'em right.

[Art Vandelay]

Honestly, I wouldn't be comfortable with it until they reach full maturity, which means after college.

[n4mwd]

I'm probably not ever going to have kids, but if I did, I'd want them to ride as soon as they could get on the thing. They have those little mini-ninjas that a 5 year old could ride.

[massacremasses]

Originally Posted by n4mwd

I'm probably not ever going to have kids, but if I did, I'd want them to ride as soon as they could get on the thing. They have those little mini-ninjas that a 5 year old could ride.

haha where? I need to get one of those!

[KJohnson21]

Originally Posted by bluepoof

If my future kids want to ride motorcycles, I'll know I've raised 'em right.

[akima]

Originally Posted by Heed

I don't plan on having kids.

But if we're hypothetically speaking..

I'd force him to take the MSF and wear AGATT.

Same here.

I wouldn't encourage them to get a motorcycle, but if that's what they wanted then I wouldn't hold them back. I'd just help them get the most out of their riding in the safest possible way.

[massacremasses]

Who here even has kids beside me... lol

[akima]

Originally Posted by Xoulrath

My kid already rides dirt. She actually asked me last night after I was giving her some pre-driving advice (since she'll be there in a few years) if she could get a motorcycle instead of a car when she was old enough.

I told her that was a possibility, but training would be necessary, and when she did ride, it would have to be with her mom and me with her in the middle for some time.

Aww. How old is she? What kind of dirt riding does she do already? Does she compete or is it just for fun?

[sombo]

If/when I have kids they won't be allowed to become bikers, but they will be encouraged to become motorcyclists.

[Live2ride]

If my kid isn't interested in riding a motorcycle then I wouldn't force him/her. If (s)he plays a sport and I role up to their games on a sportbike then I have a feeling I might be the coolest dad there.

[akima]

Originally Posted by Live2ride

If my kid isn't interested in riding a motorcycle then I wouldn't force him/her. If (s)he plays a sport and I role up to their games on a sportbike then I have a feeling I might be the coolest dad there.

If you role up to <x> on a sports bike then you will probably be the coolest person at <x>.

Replace x with pretty much anything! We so cool~

[n4mwd]

Originally Posted by massacremasses

haha where? I need to get one of those!

They are all over craig's list. I don't think they are street legal. They are not real ninja or made my kawasaki, but they look similar. They stand about 12" tall and about 3' long. I think an adult could probably ride one, but I think they are really meant for kids.

http://miami.craigslist.org/brw/mcy/2546039735.html

[massacremasses]

there arent any of those here, or at least not a lot here. I was looking for even little 50ccs for him yesterday and couldnt find anything decent

[n4mwd]

Originally Posted by massacremasses

there arent any of those here, or at least not a lot here. I was looking for even little 50ccs for him yesterday and couldnt find anything decent

Just keep an eye on craig's list. People call them ninja superbikes and stuff like that. The price should be in the $300-$600 range.

Since you are in CA, it might be that they aren't legal there.

You might check the neighboring state's CLs.

[massacremasses]

Originally Posted by n4mwd

Just keep an eye on craig's list. People call them ninja superbikes and stuff like that. The price should be in the $300-$600 range.

Since you are in CA, it might be that they aren't legal there.

You might check the neighboring state's CLs.

They arent street legal, but the same way a fisher price car isnt... lol he would ride it up and down our street....

[n4mwd]

Originally Posted by massacremasses

They arent street legal, but the same way a fisher price car isnt... lol he would ride it up and down our street....

I was thinking more in terms of pollution control. I mean, you guys have catalytic converters on weed eaters and outdoor barbecue pits right?

[massacremasses]

hahahahaha it hasnt come to that yet, but im sure it will... I suppose thats true. Not sure what the laws are on them, but the off road laws were pretty loose I thought...

[ally99]

Originally Posted by adouglas

I don't have kids and am too old. But I'd approach it this way:

I'm going to make a deal with you. I let you ride, but you do it on my terms because I'm responsible for you (assuming the kid isn't 18). If you don't, you lose the privilege to ride. I'm trusting you to do the right thing. You're trusting me to treat you as a responsible young person. There's mutual respect, right?

The rules are this:

Not gonna repeat your whole quote, but that's friggin' awesome! +1! +1! (Yes, I get 2 votes.)

Originally Posted by bluepoof

If my future kids want to ride motorcycles, I'll know I've raised 'em right.

Oh yeah! You said it, girl!

[Bassman]

Originally Posted by massacremasses

Who here even has kids beside me... lol

I have a 16 year old boy and a 21 year old girl. Both have been riding since they were 6. I started them on Lt 80 quads with a throttle governor and lots of supervision. Neither one is interested in riding on the street. To each his/her own... You can only provide the opportunities and instruction.