Most important things for beginner riders?

[SLOWn60]

It's great to see you lurking @Motofool!

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by SLOWn60

It's great to see you lurking @Motofool!

Missing many details, but enjoying the main ideas of some great posts.

[InvisiBill]

Originally Posted by csmith12

When it comes time to teach them to hang off, we are gunna start with this device at our local meijer.

If you ever come up to Grattan, the birthplace of Meijer is only a few miles away. Twice the fun!

[choneofakind]

Man... I haven't graduated past the pedal bike stage yet. I still crash those things entirely too often. Widow makers!

[HoneyBadgerRy]

Learning to hang off? Just go to a road like cherrahola skyway, then try hanging off. Unless your talking about something else.

[HoneyBadgerRy]

Originally Posted by CaliGrrl

Like you, I learned to drive without any safety assistance, in weather, and on a frozen lake and I think that was a good thing. I take comfort from the fact that I have never used the ABS in a car in a panic-stop; I learned how to hold traction and stop without it. Plus I drive super-defensively so I rarely need to panic-stop.

I've got a pre-gen ninjette and will agree that she has soft springs in the forks and it would probably do better in braking if I replaced it. So far, I've got used to the soft spring and my braking takes that into account.

When I didn't have abs I locked up my tires twice. That was with about 40,000 miles of driving. My current POS has abs and every time someone pulls out in front of you the abs goes off. You can't even brake hard without setting it off. No amount of skill would be able to panic stop without riding the abs in that SUV.

[HoneyBadgerRy]

Originally Posted by Motofool

What kind of riding?

A proficient motorcyclist in all branches is an extremely rare occurrence.

Motocross is my number one joy.
Sport bikes would be number two.
Enduro is pretty fun.
I dabble in trials.
I like stunt riding, but I suck at it, like really bad.

That's pretty much the only riding I can think of, besides cross country cruising.

[HoneyBadgerRy]

Originally Posted by csmith12

In general, my kids learned to ride like this;

Pedal Bike
4wheeler to learn controls (mainly clutch and shifting)
Clutchless pit bike pw80 open field and yard to focus on the throttle (This is where Jade still is)
125 dirt bike in open field
125 dirt bike on very easy trails (this is where Lance is)
Naked pregen on road is the next step if they can pass my other tests lol

I am a strong believer that they would have been safer on a pw50 without training wheels than a quad or a bike with training wheels. That way if they get out of control is can only get so bad. No running into a tree at 60 mph.

By 125 dirtbike do you mean a pitbike like a ttr125, or a racebike like a yz125?

[alex.s]

be humble. but don't hold back.

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by HoneyBadgerRy

I am a strong believer that they would have been safer on a pw50 without training wheels than a quad or a bike with training wheels. That way if they get out of control is can only get so bad. No running into a tree at 60 mph.

By 125 dirtbike do you mean a pitbike like a ttr125, or a racebike like a yz125?

You know, I thought the same thing, but each kid is different. I can adjust throttle cable and carbs to cut out before getting out of hand. My wife still has crazy eyes on the pw80 when it wheelies. She has absolute 0% throttle control and is 100% fearless at those slower speeds. It's a NO GO for me to move her up.

ttr vs yz 125, Sadly, I got the yz due to price. It's WAYYYYY too much for any of us in my backyard, including myself at top powerband in 5th-6th gear. I couldn't retard the gears but I could run it rich enough to cut out before 6kprms.

Not optimal, but gets the job done.

[HoneyBadgerRy]

Originally Posted by csmith12

You know, I thought the same thing, but each kid is different. I can adjust throttle cable and carbs to cut out before getting out of hand. My wife still has crazy eyes on the pw80 when it wheelies. She has absolute 0% throttle control and is 100% fearless at those slower speeds. It's a NO GO for me to move her up.

ttr vs yz 125, Sadly, I got the yz due to price. It's WAYYYYY too much for any of us in my backyard, including myself at top powerband in 5th-6th gear. I couldn't retard the gears but I could run it rich enough to cut out before 6kprms.

Not optimal, but gets the job done.

Due to price you got a yz? Around here a 2000 yz is $1500 and a 2000 ttr is $800.

About your yard, just keep it out of 5th, when you feel like your going to fast let off and stop shifting. I used to ride in my yard everyday and race at the track on the weekends. Making the bike cut out rich is a bad idea, you need to wind that bike up and clean it out everyone and then if you want to keep it running good. I have no idea what happens to them, but a two stroke that gets babied all the time will never run right again. (Even after a full topend, reeds, and exhaust).

[csmith12]

You seen the video's of "My Backyard" right Ryan.

When I want to ride it, there are NO LIMITS aside of the self imposed ones. Throwing a 20ft rooster tail happens every now and then when I am on it, but I am fully aware of what I am up against running it rich for the son. Hopefully it's just a temporary thing and I can let him loose soon enough.

The yz is a stupid tall bike for him at his height of 5'8'', but he has already got kick starting it and taking off one legged. He is on his way, it's just my standards are crazy high.

[HoneyBadgerRy]

Originally Posted by csmith12

You seen the video's of "My Backyard" right Ryan.

When I want to ride it, there are NO LIMITS aside of the self imposed ones. Throwing a 20ft rooster tail happens every now and then when I am on it, but I am fully aware of what I am up against running it rich for the son. Hopefully it's just a temporary thing and I can let him loose soon enough.

The yz is a stupid tall bike for him at his height of 5'8'', but he has already got kick starting it and taking off one legged. He is on his way, it's just my standards are crazy high.

I don't believe I have seen a video of your yard.

Also 5'8" is a good height for a MX bike. I started riding my 250 two stroke a bit shorter than that. Now I'm 5'10" and I had to buy fastaway pegs and high rise bars. I live on two acres and I've had her fourth gear screaming front tire a foot in the air before. I'm not sure why he had trouble starting and taking off before. I think I first ride a full sized MX bike when I was 14 and broke my shift lever on my 80.

[Misti]

Originally Posted by InvisiBill

My fear with excessive tech is that you're isolated from all those minute details, so you never learn how to best handle them.

Agree with this. Tech is great to some extent but I think it's best to learn those minute details, sliding the rear, good throttle control, emergency braking before having to relay exclusively on tech to save you.

Originally Posted by csmith12

In general, my kids learned to ride like this;
Pedal Bike
4wheeler to learn controls (mainly clutch and shifting)
Clutchless pit bike pw80 open field and yard to focus on the throttle (This is where Jade still is)
125 dirt bike in open field
125 dirt bike on very easy trails (this is where Lance is)
Naked pregen on road is the next step if they can pass my other tests lol

My kids, 7 and 4 are following this riding program:
Run bike 18mos-3yrs
Pedal bike just before 3 yrs-
BMX racing
PW50 in the dirt age 4-6
PW50 on a road race track age 6
DRZ 70 on a road track age 7
Still BMX Racing
Go kart age 4-7
mountain biking age 4-7

My son will stay on the DRZ 70 until he's about 9
My daughter will learn PW50 in the dirt this summer, she's 4.5

Originally Posted by HoneyBadgerRy

I am a strong believer that they would have been safer on a pw50 without training wheels than a quad or a bike with training wheels. That way if they get out of control is can only get so bad. No running into a tree at 60 mph.

By 125 dirtbike do you mean a pitbike like a ttr125, or a racebike like a yz125?

Training wheels are not helpful, whether on a pedal bike or dirt bike....just dial the throttle way back!

Originally Posted by alex.s

be humble. but don't hold back.

Humility! Totally!

[HoneyBadgerRy]

PW50 on a road race course? What?!

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by HoneyBadgerRy

PW50 on a road race course? What?!

Kart tracks mang.

[HoneyBadgerRy]

Originally Posted by csmith12

Kart tracks mang.

How do you guys ride on gokart tracks. That sounds awesome. I would make an epic kx65 super moto if I had a place to ride it.

[EternalNewb]

There are a bunch of mini-bike race organizations that run different classes of minibikes on kart tracks. They're even getting some attention through MotoAmerica at World Superbike this year. Look around in your area, and there is likely at least one.

[RacinNinja]

For the PNW, hit up Cascadia Supermoto. They have a mini class.

http://cascadiasm.com/

[Misti]

Originally Posted by HoneyBadgerRy

PW50 on a road race course? What?!

YES!! It's a mini road racing club that races on a go-kart track. They let kids age 6-9 ride for free to encourage families to participate and get young kids involved. Most of the kids start on a PW then move up to a DRZ 70 which is what my son is on right now. He just turned 7 and is rippin on the new bike. We put it in 3rd gear and off he goes

I race there too, last year on a KAYO 125 and this year on a Honda Grom In the "GROM PRIX" so much fun!!