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Cruiser
Posts: 215
W'ford Tx | I myself am 27 and have a 3 year old and a 5 year old. I've taken my oldest around the block once or twice on my vulcan and she did very well. I don't have any plans really to take them on any rides but was curious of parents with older kiddos what age did they take there first real trip with you. IE school or the grocery store. I'm not really worried about them staying on due to the huge area in the back seat but more so just a general idea of when other parents felt comfortable letting their little dudes or baby girls ride on papas bike. My daughter starts school next school year, school being about a 10min drive not including waiting in all the morning school traffic. The kids love my scooter and it breaks my heart to say that they can't go with daddy except down the drive way. I know every situation is different just looking for a general age on witch the community here seems is "okay" Helmets will deffently be a must which I don't think any of them can fit into even the smallest ones so they'll have to wait for that for sure. Just looking for a general idea. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 752
Broken Arrow, OK | Sold my last road bike when my son was born, over 20 yrs ago.
20 years later, me and my wife are Vision happy and kid free. Pretty much like kids ourselves.
Couldn't see myself out riding while having kids at home depending on me. Just sayin'.
As long as you're riding, I like your idea about the helmets. Until you can properly fit a quality helmet on the kids, I wouldn't take them on any extended ride. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1229
Rancho Cucamonga, CA | Was abe to get a motocross DOT helmet for my daughter. They make them for kids as early as 3yrs old it seems. Do an old post search. I started a thread on this about 18months ago. Found out many states won't let kids ride until they can touch the footpegs. That sounds very reasonable. Saying that, my daughter is now 8y.o., still sits about 4" off the footpegs, but I let her ride on the surface streets with me. Her legs start to hurt from dangling anyway after about 30minutes. A good habit to get into, is to make sure they grab you and not the handrails. You get a better sense of how they are doing back there. They make belt attachments with handgrips also. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 164
Quad Cities, IL | I have four kids and the three older ones were allowed to go for "real" rides once they were 8. It started wtih rides around the 'hood, then around our small town and back roads.
Now the older two (currently 14 & 12) I will take anywhere. The longest for either of them was 360 miles in a day. My 9 year old loves riding and I am very comfortable with him back there...but he still doesn't flat-foot the floor boards. So his rides are shorter for his overall comfort and safety. My youngest just hit 8 but is a peanut and has a ways to go to reach the boards. She is very anxious for a real ride though!
All in all, it is definitely a personal decision. I won't let my kids ride without a helmet, riding jacket and long pants. Usually boots too.
They love it, I love it. It is great bonding time. I pray God keeps us (and all those around us) safe when we ride. Enjoy it!
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Cruiser
Posts: 98
Santa Maria CA | My kids started riding at 7 and 8 years old. One rode on my wifes bike and one on mine. they swithed bikes at fuel stops. We covered 19 of the wester United States by the time the were 13. Camped on the bikes. The kids are now 27 and 28 and they still talk about the great trips we had and the adventures we had. Just have to be saftey concession.
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Cruiser
Posts: 102
Jal NM | My son was 8 when he started riding with me. I bought him a helmet with my first bike and we have rode together every since. |
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Tourer
Posts: 395
Moravia, IA | I think my daughter was 4......I took her to dance class about 12 miles away on the two lane every week. ?  ?
? This bike gets the most use with the kids though....you can take 2 at a time.....3 if there small....lol. ?  ?
Edited by aaronrkelly 2012-04-18 2:03 AM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1109
| I took my son for rides when he turned 5, I think. Maybe four. It's been awhile lol. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | You need to check the "legal" aspects. I believe the general rule is they must have foot pegs they can touch. Other than that, I won't tell you how to parent your child. Enjoy them while you can.
Edited by varyder 2012-04-18 5:39 AM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1109
| Varyder, I think you're right, we only went around the block, that's all his mother would allow. |
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Tourer
Posts: 395
Moravia, IA | Check this website.....some states like TX prohibit any rider under the age of 5 unless its in a sidecar.....every state is different.
http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/asp/legisltn/laws.asp |
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Tourer
Posts: 388
Salisbury, NC | Both of my grandsons are riding on the "real road" as they call it. They started riding around the yard when they were 2, I told the oldest one(Ean) that when he turned 4, I would take him on the paved road. He is now 5 and has been riding on the road over a year now. The only thing that makes me nervous is the thought of him going to sleep while back there. The youngest one turned 4 on 3/4/12. It was a Sunday, they had a birthday party for him at the church. He never said a word about riding that day, too much going on I guess. Monday morning, he came in the bedroom carrying Ean's helmet and glasses and said "I am 4 now, I am ready for my ride on the real road. It was in the 40's temp wise. I told him we needed to wait until it was wramer because it was to cool for him to be on the bike. On Wednesday, the temps were in the mid 50's. He said"Grandpa, it is warmer today. Can we go for my ride now?" I couldn't say no. Took him on a 20 mile ride that day. They both do a great job of holding the grips on the Vision, you can watch their hands in the mirror. The biggest problem I have now is they both want to ride when I go anywhere. So we have to take turns. Since I carry Ean to school most days on the bike, I let Kegan be first when I go somewhere after school hours. It works good so far. Both pictures are their first ride on the "real road". ET
Edited by etspastimes 2012-04-18 8:24 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 1308
Sand Rock, AL United States | precious story  . I rode mine in the sidecar rig I used to have. My boy was so little , we strapped his car seat in the side car. I've taken them on short rides on 2 wheels ever since. As one poster said, we always pray for safe travel no matter what we are in. We have motorcycle camped many times also. Our kids have lasting memories of these trips.
Edited by jimtom 2012-04-18 8:58 AM
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Cruiser
Posts: 233
flagstaff, AZ | I started mine on dirt bikes and quads, then this is how the boys and I take vacations together now. Lots of great memories and plenty more to be made.
Edited by roundtwig 2012-04-18 11:28 AM
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 46
Western Wyoming | Between the ages of 12 and 15,until he got a driver's licence my youngest went on several week long trips and we had a blast.Yellowstone,Glacier, The Black Hills,Beartooth Pass.He was a real trooper but I kept it between 3 to 400 miles per day.Throwing a tent up and eating junk food for a week was a treat for him.I rode a Road King and later an Electra Glide back then.I had to put my foot down though when he mentioned the Sturgis Rally. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 17
| my kids are now 14,11 and 9.... they all ride dirt bikes.. started at about the age of 5 on PW50 ... then graduated to CRF50, CRF70, yamaha 90 then a real bike (clutch) CRF 80 ... they are not super into riding - they all prefer sports.. but they do enjoy trail riding.. and camping/riding... i used to have a Ural with a sidecar.. and they would routinely ride in that from the age of 4 on... as long as they could hold onto the sides... we never went too far at that age... just around the block.. and once we picked up the yearly Christmas Tree with the sidecar during a snowstorm (memories)...
As for real riding... when my daughter (eldest child) was about 9 ... I took her out to Phoenix (by plane) and rented an Electra Glide (always a bike with a Tour Pack for comfort/safety) ... from Eagle Rider... we then took a 5 day trip through Sedona, Red Rock and the Grand Canyon... total of about 800 miles in 5 days - a very relaxed pace... stopped whenever necessary to let the kid pee, or eat ice cream, look at wild life, swim, or go on a Pink Jeep Tour... or whatever... and I made the trip about her - as much as possible... the next year we flew to Sacramento.. rented from Eagle Rider and went to Yosemite, Lake Tahoe and San Francisco... the next year.. i did the Grand Canyon trip with my son... who was then old enough...and this summer.. i will do the Grand Canyon trip again.. with my youngest son...
the intent of these trips was to spend some individual father/daughter... or father/son time with my kids... the trips were amazing... sharing my hobby with my kids - without making the entire trip about motorcycles - or 12 hour riding days... the motorcycle - was simply the way we got around... the way we enjoyed the amazing weather in California and Arizona... and the adventure of packing very little.. and making our plans while on the road... all of my planning consisted of booking airfare - and reserving a motorcycle .... we booked no hotels... and had no itinerary - other than to make sure we were back for the return flight...
i like riding... i road race... and i occasionally bring the kids to the race track... i ride off road - and i share that with my kids by camping and teaching them to ride offroad... i have built bikes - and i have had one of my sons build his own custom (1975 honda MT125 - 2 stroke, street legal, lowered for an 11 year old) ... i do day trips.. and i occasionally take one of them with me..
i also ride long distance... (i just rode from NJ to Key West and back in 5 days (3,100 miles) ... i do not take my kids on trips like that...
my point simply is.. .your kids want to spend time with you... there are ways to share this hobby with them.. and to get them interested in travel.. and maybe even travel on a motorycycle... i am hopeful for the same outcome as 'roundtwig' ... and that we share this hobby long term... but either way.. we have already created some amazing memories... i encourage you all to do the same...
one of my friends has been travelling around the world for the past 8 years (Hubert Kriegel - thetimelessride.com - if you go to his website - there is a picture of my kids in my sidecar with the christmas tree loaded on the car) ... and his advice to me was invaluable... when you travel with kids - the trip is about their comfort first and foremost... or everything else will not work out...
best of luck
Edited by rfreddy 2012-04-18 7:53 PM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 763
Anderson, IN (48mi NE of downtown Indianapolis) | My gf is raising her 8yr old nephew. We all ride mountain bikes together. We have been riding 3up to the mountain bike parks on the Vision for two years now. The 3 mountain bikes go on a custom trailer. The nephew rides between the gf and I and loves it. He brags about it to his buddies.
Before testing the law with this concept I checked with 5 different local motorcycle officers for legality. They all had the same blank look on their faces when I explained what I wanted to do. They had never encountered anything like it. They said they are specially trained in motorcycle laws and safety and know of nothing preventing me from doing what I wanted. Since they are motorcycle enthusiast themselves they liked how we found a way to fit all three of us on the Vision. They were particularly impressed with how we haul 3 bicycles AND 3 people on ONE motorcycle.
No trip has been too long for the boy. He can sit peacefully for 2 hours on the Vision.
I have heard a few negative comments like "how safe is that". Well, apparently it is much safer than bicycling because I have 3 friends on the couch right now with broken bones from bicycle crashes. And I witnessed a crash this evening that left a guy with much less skin on his arm and blood pooring from it like a milk carton turned upside down. I can roll out a longer list of youth football and basketball injuries as well.
On the other hand, we have received hundreds of compliments on how the three of us figured out how to "Ride to the riding spot, ride, then ride home". We all enjoy riding together on both the motocycle and bicycles.
Here's the real kicker: My dog goes with us. He rides in a dog box on the trailer then chases us on the bicycles. He can run 30 miles and wants more. He does all the jumps and drops. The pic below is a 10 foot verical drop onto a descending landing. He's better at it than most of the Expert riders.
I know of no other physically active hobby where the whole family (including the pet) can be actively enjoying it all at the same time.
Life became good with the Vision.
Edited by victoryvisiontour 2012-04-18 10:15 PM
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Tourer
Posts: 395
Moravia, IA | victoryvisiontour - 2012-04-18 9:59 PM
My gf is raising her 8yr old nephew. We all ride mountain bikes together. We have been riding 3up to the mountain bike parks on the Vision for two years now. The 3 mountain bikes go on a custom trailer. The nephew rides between the gf and I and loves it. He brags about it to his buddies.
Before testing the law with this concept I checked with 5 different local motorcycle officers for legality. They all had the same blank look on their faces when I explained what I wanted to do. They had never encountered anything like it. They said they are specially trained in motorcycle laws and safety and know of nothing preventing me from doing what I wanted. Since they are motorcycle enthusiast themselves they liked how we found a way to fit all three of us on the Vision. They were particularly impressed with how we haul 3 bicycles AND 3 people on ONE motorcycle.
No trip has been too long for the boy. He can sit peacefully for 2 hours on the Vision.
I have heard a few negative comments like "how safe is that". Well, apparently it is much safer than bicycling because I have 3 friends on the couch right now with broken bones from bicycle crashes. And I witnessed a crash this evening that left a guy with much less skin on his arm and blood pooring from it like a milk carton turned upside down. I can roll out a longer list of youth football and basketball injuries as well.
On the other hand, we have received hundreds of compliments on how the three of us figured out how to "Ride to the riding spot, ride, then ride home". We all enjoy riding together on both the motocycle and bicycles.
Here's the real kicker: My dog goes with us. He rides in a dog box on the trailer then chases us on the bicycles. He can run 30 miles and wants more. He does all the jumps and drops. The pic below is a 10 foot verical drop onto a descending landing. He's better at it than most of the Expert riders.
I know of no other physically active hobby where the whole family (including the pet) can be actively enjoying it all at the same time.
Life became good with the Vision.
Ive had only 1 negative comment....and it was from another rider. The rest were all positive. I think alot of the older folks remember how it was when you didnt have safety seats, seat belts, speed limits etc - the younger crowd seem to have the "if it only saves one life" mentality.
.....either way, I could care less if I offend anyone or they dont like what I do.
.....and god knows Im not preaching to you here cause, just look at my picture above with my 4 year old on the back of my bike with no helmet - this is just information for you:
Indiana Code 9-21-10
IC 9-21-10-1
Passengers; number; seating restrictions
Sec. 1. In addition to the person who operates a motorcycle that has only two (2) wheels in contact with the ground or pavement, one (1) person may be carried on the motorcycle. A passenger may be carried only on a firmly attached and regular seat designed for passenger use.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.
So by definition and this code section you are violating the law with 3 people on a motorcycle with 2 wheels. Now near as I can tell this means that if your riding a hack or trike.....you can pile on as many as you want.
http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title9/ar21/ch10.html
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Cruiser
Posts: 208
Edmonton Alberta, Canada | Oh the good old days!!! Riding a bicyle with out a helmet, riding in the back of a p/u truck, lying on the back window of the car on the highway, driving a snowmobile/motorcycle with out adult supervision, diving off grainery bins into piles of snow, hunting mice with bow and arrows, shooting guns, driving long before one had a license, children not in car seats, toboganing on hills with trees, riding in ol car hoods behind snowmobiles( all the sharp edges) playind shinny hockey on an out door rinks with no faceshields or safety equipment!
Those were great times, fortunatly no one was hurt seriously! But still great memories.
I have a 3-1/2 y/o grandson who will be on the back of my vision once Mom and Gramma say yes, mom is ok, but Gramma is worried about loosing her seat on the Vision!!!!!! Not not long rides, just around the neighborhood or to ice cream parlour. He has had a couple of rides in the cresent in front of me, but any futher he will have to be able to hang on to me so I have a feel of what he is doing behind me. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 50
| Took my girls for their first real ride the other day. Three and five years old. |
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