OK, this is not a question about state law limitations, but more or less common sense & what others think.

My oldest daughter (6 years old) has just been dieing to go out on a ride with me. I have been telling her no because of the fact that she didn't have a helmet & then I would have to tell her that her bicycle helmet wasn't strong enough to support a Motorcycle.

Well, somehow today she conned me into purchasing a helmet sized perfectly to her little head.

I figured what the hell, she has a helmet she can ride. Her and I took the old Yamaha XS-650 out for about a 50 mile ride together.
I think she did good. feet stayed on the pegs & she held on real tight. She was also disappointed when we pulled back into the driveway because she wanted to stay out longer.

I was given dirty looks and cussed by passer byers, including other bikers when they saw her on the back of my bike.

I have checked the laws concerning children, motorcycles, & my state.

We don't have a age limitation for child passengers as long as they are wearing a DOT approved helmet.

Do you think she is to young for a activity such as this?

 

Depends on the maturity of the kid. I know people in their 20s that shouldnt be near cycles becuase they lack maturity.I say more power to you for getting her into cycles at an early age. Once less motorcycle blind person i have to dodge in 15 yrs.

 

I took all my nieces and nephews for rides on my bike.
The only one I wouldn't take was the youngest at that time and he was 4.
The others were :6,8,9,10.
The activity was fully endorsed by the Mother Carbon Unit as she knew how safely I operated my bike, as she too was a passenger when she was 9.

 

I say no one knows your kid better than you, and if you think she's old enough thats a decision only you can make. Good call on the helmet, a lot of people would have made the mistake of using the bicycle helmet.

 

About my only restriction is their feet have to touch the foot pegs. I have to watch my youngest son. He tends to fall asleep. With kids you have to stop until they wake up. I guess I could bungie- cord him on...

 

If she wants to ride, and can hang on safely, then congrats on finding
another way to spend time together!

 

Thanks,
I feel the same as you do. I was ran down several years ago & it took me a few years to even get the courage to get back on a bike. I want my kids to learn courtesy when they are around bikes, I can't force them to like motorcycles but they will know to respect their space.
Both my oldest children (6 & 5) want a bike of their own. I was thinking it would be good to get them one soon so they can learn & become skillful with them. I have been looking real hard at beginner dirt bikes & those mini-choppers (the ones with lawnmower engines) for them.


Well the Mother Carbon Unit for these children is out of the picture. Grandma is dead set against it though & keeps reminding me of the incident that happened to me.
I tell her if you think bad thought then the chances of it happening are greater but for some reason she doesn't listen to me.

A little history here though, I am from a family of Motorcycle haters. 90% of my family won't speak to my brother or I since we rebeled and ride bikes. He has 2 right now & I'm working on getting my third.
I don't want my children to carry that gene, sort of break the mold of a old aged tradition.

I had to make some adjustments to my rear pegs, but they was able to rest her feet on them. I wasn't worried about the exaust either since it runs down on the lower edges of the frame below the pegs.

 

I wasn't much older than that when I got my own motorcycle. Honda 1975 XR-75.

 

Too young.

 

I agree completely.

 

im 14 years old and have my motocycle license etc etc and ppl will cut me off then look at me and stay to lanes in either direction to stay away from me

and the little Edited for Content by FTE tail gate me all the way down the highway i sware one of these days im going to hit the breaks and im going to get nailed

last time i checked ther were no laws on motorcycle passenger age but it does say in the license book that ur passenger should be the size of u or sumthin stupid i guess its for turning

i take my nieces and nephews out on my fourwheelers and stuff and i get less of a look on that then on my dirt bike

oh one thing if uve ever road a bike on the road or beeen a passenger on a bike

u hate the ppl that spit a big loogy out the window or there car or jew tabacoo or spit sunflower seeds out

buy hey thats what i got tear away lense screeen things

some ppl are odd

 

Good for you Parks. I am getting tired of all the pc safety stuff. Life is a terminal condition. None of us are going to live forever.

 

Straight from your states (MN) Office of Traffic Safety

And I agree with the above mentioned that it also depends on the maturity of the child in question.

 

My sone started riding with me when he was 4. I took a long belt and rapped it around the two of us and took him home. It was only from the babysitter to home (about 6 miles). He always held on tight. Now that he is 7, he rides all the time


It all depends on your child and if you think he/she can hold on and enjoys it.

 

My son started to ride on a quad at age 3. He sat on the tank & controlled the gas and steering. At age 4 he had a pw50 bike & moto80 quad and raced indoor flat track. At age 5 I bought him a KTM 50 (rocket on wheels).

I have had the police at my house numerous times when he was younger because people driving by was concerned he was to young to be riding. The cops loved to watch him ride

He is 8 now and loves competition, has alot of confidence and loves to use dads tools

If your child shows interest, explore it.