Take my son riding around the neighborhood: Good idea or bad?

[jh2586]

Two part question. My son is turning 4 this month and he is tall enough to reach both passenger pegs. I was thinking of taking him around my neighborhood (pretty much non-existent traffic) a few times a week. We live in a VERY rural neighborhood here in FL and there are more empty lots than not. He would be in FULL ATGATT and we wouldn't go faster than 25mph. Do you think that's a good idea or bad? He's been wanting to ride with me since he was old enough to talk (about 2 years now).

Second question, where does one go shopping for motorcycle gear for a 4-year-old? There isn't a "Cycle-Gear" type of store around here and if there was, I doubt they'd have his sized gear. Are online stores really good about return policies if I purchased something that doesn't fit him?

Motorcycle is Ninja 300 btw.

 

[Maddevill]

I don't know about Florida but I would check laws about how old the kid needs to be to be on the bike. I took my 7 year old daughter on a ride. Had her wear her bicycle helmet. Got pulled over and ticketed and her mom had to come get her. Said the bicycle helmet was a no go on the bike.

 

[mean dad]

Hell yes it's a good idea. I took all my kids and quite a few friends' kids on rides well before they could reach the pegs. Just plop 'em on the tank and cradle 'em with your arms and torso as you ride.

:love

Maybe one of those thick belt thingies that the rider wears, with grab handles for passengers?

 

[Enchanter]

I think that I'm in the minority here, but I'm against putting children on streetbikes.

Previous discussions on BARF:
http://bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=217502

http://bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=245179

 

[Honey Badger]

If he's mature enough to hang on and the rides are short (let's face it, kids attention span for things like hanging on is short), then I would totally do it - but, I'm not a parent, so there's that.

I'd also consider finding a mini bike for him if he's really into motorcycles. Wish my parents would have let me on a bike as a kid, would have made the learning curve a lot less steep!

 

[auntiebling]

Knowing your domestic history, you need buy in from the baby momma or she's going to use it against you

 

[rob linders]

I did it with my kids, through the neighborhood. As I recall, I put a small dirtbike helmet on them with googles, or possibly glasses. I know I didn't use a bicycle helmet.

 

[Sofa88]

Return policies with revzilla and cyclegear are very consumer friendly so definitely no worry there, if time is an issue order two sizes and return the one that doesn't fit. If you're staying on your street and not straying far and avoiding any busy roads I say sure why not. Keep the distance short, straight and slow with the kid in full gear and I think you'll be fine.

 

[1962siia]

I always put my kid in front of me when he was small, that way he could hold on to the bars and not me, plus I could keep him there with my legs if needed. Of course this was on a dirt bike, not a ninja300. Have fun!

 

[Whammy]

why not

If he can reach the pegs and understands that he has to help you keep him safe (hanging on to you) I say yea.

AGATT absolutely. Buy that helmet and gear for him.
I'm a dad and the only way to teach is by example.
When I was that old that's exactly what my dad did for me.
Anytime I go near a bike even today I hear my dads voice "gear up son":thumbup

 

[ctrvl]

Short trip, no problem. My son has a DOT-legal helmet he wears on dirt and supermoto track as well as full gear for dirt that I make him wear when he hops on the back on the street. I don't know if I would take him on a long trip yet, but putting around the city at an easy pace is no issue.

Really the only problem is he wants me to go faster.

 

[i_am_the_koi]

I remember getting pulled over as a kid because my dad would have me ride on the tank and I couldn't reach the pegs.

I loved it.

 

[corndog67]

And when some neighborhood busy body chases you to your house and starts yelling at you, tell her to eat shit.

 

[injun]

Back in the 70's would put the boy between us and ride out to the falls and hang with friends and there kids, the girl wouldn't get on anything with only 2 wheels.

 

[dowlinginchico]

I would think he should easily reach the pegs, with knees a little bent. My nephew and I are going through the same thing. He is not quite ready yet, but soon enough. It is dangerous, but what isn't. I think the potential for serious injury is far greater in a car on the highway than putting around the hood at 25 mph.

 

[sckego]

I was all excited when I saw the "smallest DOT helmet" thread - I thought that maybe it was finally something that would fit my 3-yr old daughter so we could put-put down to the playground together. Although, I don't think she's quite ready for the passenger seat behind me, and I don't think her feet would reach the pegs yet either. She's been riding around the neighborhood (small circle street, no thru traffic, no intersections) sitting in front of me since she was 2. I'll get home and she'll come running out calling for me to take her for a ride :laughing

Just last week was my son's first motorcycle ride. He's 11 months. :teeth

Obviously I have no issues with your idea to take your son out for a neighborhood ride! :thumbup

 

[Norcalslowpoke]

Avatar, see mine...

 

[storm]

Hell yeah! Here's me and postcholo's demon seed about the same age on one of his first rides....[but be ready for the nay-sayers who abound]

 

[boney]

Two part question. My son is turning 4 this month and he is tall enough to reach both passenger pegs. I was thinking of taking him around my neighborhood (pretty much non-existent traffic) a few times a week. We live in a VERY rural neighborhood here in FL and there are more empty lots than not. He would be in FULL ATGATT and we wouldn't go faster than 25mph. Do you think that's a good idea or bad? He's been wanting to ride with me since he was old enough to talk (about 2 years now).

Second question, where does one go shopping for motorcycle gear for a 4-year-old? There isn't a "Cycle-Gear" type of store around here and if there was, I doubt they'd have his sized gear. Are online stores really good about return policies if I purchased something that doesn't fit him?

Motorcycle is Ninja 300 btw.

That's the best idea I've heard this week. :thumbup

(Used to get rides from dad around the neighborhood myself. Before helmet laws even!)

 

[shouldnthave]

I had my first bike at 4. Didn't get the training wheels off till I was 6 though... Slow learner I guess. Some of my first memories were straddling my pop's gas tank while ripping around the hood too. Good times!

Only reason I ever wanted kids was to teach them to be faster than me, but it just wasn't in the cards this time around.