What age to start you kids riding?

Oh goodie, I get to be the 1st in this thread to brag on my little girl. :thumb:
She was 8 when I bought her a KTM 50. She had no probs with a bicycle, other than no fear of speed, so taking to a motorcycle was no prob for her. In fact the motorcycle was her idea, not mine and by the way I'm a single parent (just the 2 of us since she was 9 months old)

Tigger learned mobility from an electric scooter when she was little over a year old and also learned that it is possible to fall off. She got the idea of a motorcycle from a play station game I bought her for Christmas, SX98 I believe. After several months of listening to her talk about wanting a motorcycle the 2 of us began visiting dealerships to see what was available. It was suggested that we attend the local MX races that weekend as spectators, she wanted to be like McGrath. ;) The idea was for her to see some spectacular crashes that would change her mind about riding.

When the weekend came we found ourselves at the track for a great turnout of racers. Yes there were some good crashes but she was still convinced she wanted a bike. The next week we went to the KTM shop where she hopped on board a KTM 50. She had never sat on a bike before this. It was a very warm day and she was in shorts and flip-flops for shoes. The dealer said she could try and ride it if she wanted but the parking lot was pea gravel. Man was I surprised to see her go. The dealer spent all of 15 seconds explaining how to work the controls and off she went with never as much as a bobble. It would be the next day before we picked up 2 bikes, one for her and one for me, my 1st bike in about 25 years.

Later that week we went to the track for the 1st ride. It had rained and the black dirt was very slick. I think it was probably about 5 minutes before she blasted through what looked like a small lake as I lingered behind praying I wasn't going to have to wade out there and get her. Must have worked 'cause she made it through.

The following weeks were a blast for the both of us. I even took her out of school for a day to attend a MX school at her request. It was there that she had the 1st big crash. She was nearing the top of a big jump (Goat Mountain) as she looped out. I didn't see it but the instructor said it was a nasty looking spill. Right at the top she flipped over backward and made her way down the hill end over end 5 times, she didn't think to let go of the bike. By the time I got there she was still under the bike and crying. I imagined the worse but to my surprise she wasn't hurt, just mad. Her words were "this bike is too small to go up these hills." She got back on and finished the day.

It would be a few more weeks before the biggest of all crashes, a parent's potential nightmare. We were back at the local track for a beautiful day packed full of riding. There was a bunch of people out there, more than I'd ever seen but then again, we were virtual beginners. After about 8 hours of riding I said it was time to go. I loaded up my bike but every time I would go to load hers up she'd take off. The last time she hit the track and found herself stalled behind a double and in a blind spot. Before she could get out of the way on guy on a 250 came over and landed on her. When I got there she was out cold! The impact knocked her boot and goggles off and she had dirt and mud packed in her nose, mouth and eyes. A large group of people had gathered and you could have heard a pin drop. After what seemed and eternity I managed to get her to speak, I feared the worse. After determining she was able to move her head, arms and legs I took her to the nearest picnic table and stripped her down. Surprisingly the only cut on her was a scratch above her knee where the kneepads scraped her and she had a bruise on her back where she hit the ground. I had a hell of a time keeping her awake on the way home. I thought that for sure that was the end of motorcycling. :whiner: It would be about 2 months before she wanted to get back on and that took some convincing on my part. I simply asked her to test the bike in our backyard to see if it was working okay. I think it was about 2 weeks later before she asked me to go riding.

The following several months were somewhat frustrating for the both of us. We spent a lot of time following trails on the track property and she did great but if there was anyone else there she insisted that her bike stay in the trailer. I bet there were a dozen trips to the track that I unloaded her bike for her and she never even got on it. Christmas I bought her a KX60 at her request. The transition to the bigger bike and using a clutch and gears were no problem at all.

April 2002 rolled around and we were invited to the Amarillo fest at Lake McKensie with the Heartland Spodes and that was her 1st time to ride with anyone else since the big crash. She did struggle a bit when anyone else was around but when it was just the 2 of us she had no problems. Sometime after that she found the courage to make her reappearance on the local MX track but once again if anyone else hit the track she was back at the trailer and not wanting to ride anymore. It wasn't long after that we went out on a Friday night to camp at the track and ride Sat morning before anyone else got there. We didn't get up earlier enough because as we suited up, the first of many riders were pulling in. Fortunately one of the 1st to arrive was an older guy that she likes to tease. He convinced her that he'd stay behind her to not let anyone near her. That seemed to do the trick. As more people hit the track I could tell she was getting nervous. She started pulling off the track, as people would come up behind her. During a break our friend and me explained to her that pulling off the track and then back on was more dangerous than just holding her line. I failed to mention that she never once tried to go up the jump that she was landed on. She said she would her line but she wasn't ever going to go up that jump. The more she rode, the more comfortable she was getting. After some of the fast 80 riders safely passed her I could see the spark coming back into her. I told her we should be thinking about heading home and she requested the infamous "one more time." As I followed she made her way up the jump she said she would never go up again. The ride home was one of the most memorable I've ever experienced with my kid. She thanked me for not pushing her to do something she wasn't ready to do and my understanding. She also thanked me for the patience I showed her to allow her to conquer her fear. At her request we were back at the track that night for another camp out so we could spend the entire next day riding, it would be that day that she'd do her 1st double. :thumb:

DW02 rolled around and we made our 1st official DRN fest. It would also be her 1st time to ever race. She did the poker run, kids MX and the women's MX. She was very reserved, rode at her own pace and had a great time. The following weekend, back home, she would do her 1st race at the local track, she got a 1st place overall. The following races netted her a 1st, 3rd & 5th with a 2nd at the local AX (she didn't get a trophy for that one because they didn't have enough. that sucked!)

We'll see what the future has to hold. She is a very busy kid. Karate 3 nights a week, Cheerleading camp on Sundays, trying out for 7th grade cheerleading, cheerleading workshops, band at school, honor roll and all the extra curricular activities associated with that and MX every chance she gets.

Sorry to carry on so long, I just can't help myself sometimes. To summarize, my daughter had no problem learning to ride.

heck, I ain't got near as much to type as ol' Jeff! :)

My boy ain't what you'd call gifted in the athletic ability department. He's kinda like his old man in that way, but where I was skinny as a rail, at 7 years old he's pushin' a pretty solid 90 ell bees. Balance wasn't his strong point, so it wasn't until last summer that he finally got the hang of riding his bike without training wheels.

Well, he remembered a promise I'd made him that when he learned to ride his bike without training wheels I'd get him a dirt bike. Thanks to a visit to the local Yamaha dealer, I found I could finagle a deal on a TTR-90. You shoulda seen the grin on his face -- heck, I guess you can! --

I've told the story, how he was ready to take it back before he mastered throttle control, but now he's starting to spook me because after only 3 weeks he's discovered some speed! :eek: Good thing momma hasn't been out on every ride! :scream:

On another note, my nephew is 4 and just got a PW50, so age ain't an issue.

Gotta agree with PapaK especially when you look at BigLou. He finally was capable of handling (somewhat) a bike at the ripe young age of 30 something :)
Seriously watch your child and as soon as she can handle a bicycle comfortably and shows the desire to ride a powered one it's time. Have fun your riding will go down fore a while but the time she rides will be worth it :aj:

I started my son when he we was 8. He was on a PW80

We just started my 5 year old nephew a few months ago. He is on a XR50.

They have both been around bikes their entire life and knew exactly what to do. I would always put a helmet on them and take for short rides.

On the other hand.... my older nephew started at 10 and had a really hard time. He just didnt have the natural skills to make it happen. After a new bike and alot of instruction and practice he is doing much better. I think he almost quit a few times.

I would post a "WTB" thread in the for sale forum. Their always seems to be people with kids gear sitting around.

All great replies...

The only thing I would stress is if she ever rides an MX track, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do NOT let her ride when adults and bigger bikes are out on the track. There are way too many sad, tragic stories out there that could have been prevented.

Originally posted by Amadeus
Jeff and all who responded......Great stories!

Well I have two months before her 6th b-day and to make a buying decision. Other than a helmet do you guys have any tips on where to get affordable kids gear?

I just started posting here but it looks like I'll be around for the long haul.
Thanks

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Your welcome!
I never regretted buying everything (all new ) but there are some alternatives. For sure a new helmet but a lot of the other stuff you can get from walmart or sporting goods stores, like the pads and such at a fraction of the cost.

Originally posted by RMjeff
I would post a "WTB" thread in the for sale forum. Their always seems to be people with kids gear sitting around.

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This is a good place to look also, I've sold some kids gear here they out grow so fast. Her boots were like new so I traded them in at the dealer and got almost what I paid for them toward some new T-6's.

Originally posted by Smit-Dog
All great replies...

The only thing I would stress is if she ever rides an MX track, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do NOT let her ride when adults and bigger bikes are out on the track. There are way too many sad, tragic stories out there that could have been prevented.

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Also very good advice. There is so much I didn't even think about as a parent new to the sport. We learned the hard way but was fortunant, it could have been a lot worse. I just got back from the track this morning for a short ride and there was an adult there standing in the pits while his kid was on the track on a PW50. The kid was very new to the sport and also very slow. The dad never even saw the kid fall but fotunantly some other people did. The person I was talking to told the dad to get his kid off the track and have him ride on the pee wee track and stay there to watch. The dad eagerly agreed and everyone went home happy and safe.

Both of my sons started riding when they were five. Their 1st bike was a QA50 Honda that I had lowered the seat and bars. I judged when to start them, by watching how they were riding their bicycles. Now many years later, we started my oldest Granddaughter at 4 1/2 after watching how she progressed on a bicycle. She is now 7 and is off the PW50 she started on, and is able to handle some reasonably challenging single track on her PW80. I just purchased a really clean XR80 that we will put her on when we feel she is ready to use a clutch.......CRX

You have to start when they are in the womb. Grab momma and bring her to the garage. Now, there are two paths to go down, first, the good side, start your 2 stroker and blast away, get that lil one used to the noise. It'll also help drown out mom when she's yackin back at ya. You can hook up a small nipple to a clean premix bottle and use it for feeding too, works wonders. The other path, well, it's the dark side path. Grab your favorite 4 stroker and fire away with mom sittin right near the end of the pipe. I know, I know, she'll complain and say it just isn't good for the little bundle but I saw HOGWASH!

After the birth, make recordings of your bikes and play them to put him/her to sleep, screw the high dollar fancy devices they got at Walmart. When they are ready, you will know. Push them down the road, helmet on of course and see what happens. If they fall, forget to put their feet down (common problem) they just ain't ready yet. Some never are ready, look at Milk, PK and Twinny to name a few. Those baffoons are just accidents waiting to happen. Anyway, don't let mom sway ya and say it's too dangerous. It's all about being a good Daddy and watching over the lil tikes at there times of need, and any other time for that matter. Teach them respect of the land, the neighbors and the faster riders, not necessarily in that order. Good luck
Elk

I think most the pro guys started when they were about 3yrs old

just my .02 cents

My 14 year old started at about 6 on a PW50. He now rides a YZ125, and will probably get my YZF400.

His brother will get a PW50 at age 3 (his birthday is in August). Of couse, it will have training wheels.

My boys started when they were 3 and 4 yrs old. Tom (then 4), was riding a PW50 and Ty was on an ATC 70. It wasn't six months (then 4 & 5) and I had two KTM SX 50s and we were at the tracks. My wife and I never pushed them at that age, they just wanted to ride and race all the time.

I honestly believe it depends on the child's maturity and physical development. Balance, control and fear are not taught at that age. Sure, you instruct them, tell them what to do and what not to do, but their enjoyment and skill comes from within.

One "tip" I always pass to parents and when you have a young rider just starting out... Take them out in the yard and "play" with them on how to wreck. Have them sit with their legs extended out and lay the bike across their legs and teach them how to get out from under it. Try different positions of sitting, laying and even face down (helmet on) and lay the bike across the back of their head. When they realize that they can get out from under the bike no matter what position they are in, they won't freak out when they fall over and the bike is on them. That is one of my biggest issues with new "racers". Some kids barely know how to pull the brakes and they are on the track. When they wreck they just lay there, cry and you don't know if they are seriously hurt or they are just upset because they might have scratched that Jeremy look-alike helmet. ;-)

Seriously, once they are over how to get out from under the bike in a wreck they are much more safe riding in the trails and on tracks. I used to speed drill my kids on getting up, picking up the bike, pushing it off the side of the track and THEN decide if they are hurt. Hey, I am not that mean, at the ages of 4 to 8, most of the injuries are bumps and bruises as their bones are still flexible and they can take a hit that would land some of us adults in ICU.

At the AX one winter, Tyler was in the lead and had a beautiful power slide going through this big sweeping turn (OK, but for 50s). The track was wearing down to the concrete and one lap his bike hooked up, threw him straight and he hit a concrete wall head on. Over the bars, head first into the concrete. You could hear EVERYONE in the place gasp. He bounced up, was dazed a little, grabbed his bike and pushed it off the track before I could even get to him. I asked him if he was OK, had him follow my finger with his eyes and he started crying. I asked what was wrong, he said he was losing the race so I started his bike and he was on his way. I figured if he was in shape enough to worry about losing the race after that hit he would be OK. He was just fine afterwards. Oh, in case you care… He was almost a lap down to the leader when he got back on the track and he went back to win. He was the only 50 doubling and the crowd went NUTS when he came back and won. As a parent, it makes the hair on the back of my neck stand just thinking about the arena that day.

(I am going for the longest reply here <LOL>) Seriously, I believe if you teach them HOW to wreck, or deal with wrecking, before they actually have one they will do much better, not get discouraged and certainly the fear factor is greatly reduced for them. If their instinct is to get off the track or trail quickly, it will reduce their injuries from other riders running them over too!

Originally posted by Amadeus
Of course my brother was laughin his pants off.

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<LOL> I was the older brother, so I can relate. Let me share another one...

I was probably about 7 when my grandfather took a Honda Trail 70 in trade for some work he did. When we went to pick it up my grandfather said "hop on and take it for a spin, it's yours". No one showed me how to use the brakes, throttle, nothing. I jumped on, the older guy put it in gear and I twisted the throttle and ran straight up a big tree about 15 feet in front of me. Looking back now it was funny, but then I was scared to death of that bike. It took me a couple weeks until I was ready to try again and (as we all did at that age) I rode the wheels off that bike.

When my own kids started riding, again at 3 and 4, I did NOT want them to have a bad experience so we "practiced" wrecking. It worked for us, I recommend it to all Dad's out there. It also shows the Moms not to panic too! (hint, hint) I have seen several mothers that said "That is the last time that will happen".

In our years of racing, my kids NEVER laid on the track... Except for when Tyler knocked himself unconscious. As a parent, THAT gets your heart pumping!

*That's* where I went wrong! I've been trying to teach my kids how to ride and TMax is teaching them how to crash!

I told Tommy that he'd have to ride without training wheels before he could get motorcycle. No way was I going to chase around a bike with training wheels.

He started riding his bicycle without training wheels at 4 1/2 then got the XR50 shortly after that. BTW, he has TMax's attitude: http://www.mindspring.com/~mnyland/TNT_041303/Tommy_3.jpg

He still doesn't seem to have enough strength to ride hard, but he enjoys it and manages to scare me: http://www.mindspring.com/~mnyland/TNT_041303/Tommy_2.jpg

Originally posted by High Lord Gomer
*That's* where I went wrong! I've been trying to teach my kids how to ride and TMax is teaching them how to crash!

I told Tommy that he'd have to ride without training wheels before he could get motorcycle. No way was I going to chase around a bike with training wheels.

He started riding his bicycle without training wheels at 4 1/2 then got the XR50 shortly after that. BTW, he has TMax's attitude: http://www.mindspring.com/~mnyland/TNT_041303/Tommy_3.jpg

He still doesn't seem to have enough strength to ride hard, but he enjoys it and manages to scare me: http://www.mindspring.com/~mnyland/TNT_041303/Tommy_2.jpg

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Man Gomer,

That's some "Good Air" for an XR50!

Man Gomer... I didn't know they made Red bikes that small! No wonder he can't ride. Get him off the Honda and the kid would probable do circles around you. Of course... That is why you keep him on the XR50. <LOL>

Mike it is hard to believe the kids are getting so big. Remember the first SpodeFest in Atlanta? Someone took a pic of Tanner swing chair asleep while we were all standing in the rain. I can't get that little fart on a bicycle, let alone any 50. Either this one IS yours, or the mailman doesn't like motorcycles.

Gomer's kid is probably one of the cutest little guys I've seen buzz around the track. ;) Very good kid. He showed myself and MadMark how he rode power wheelies the last time we were at TNT. Like most kids he seems to have just as much interest w/ playing in the dirt w/his toy motorcycle as he does w/his real motorcycle. I just hope that one day my little one has an interest in the sport I love so much as well. :thumb:

Let's see... I got a PW50, except I believe they were called YZinger's back in those days(it was an 83), when I turned 2. Didn't actually get to ride it till I was about 3 and a half. I rode that thing some, and out grew it. My next bike was a ragged out 84 KX 60. That was the hardest bike to ride ever, I'd recommend going with something that's at least younger than your kid for the first bikes (I was born in 85). After putting up the the clutch that wouldn't pull and in general the bike from hell, I basically quit. I got so frustrated with it all. My dad, by that point (I was probably 9) was burnt out with the sport too, so it didn't matter to him. Fast forward 4 years and I decidet that I want an 80 for my birthday. I got a CR 80 for my 13th bday, and rode it for about a year. I grew out of that thing in a little over a year, but we rode it a lot. Instead of doing the normal thing and moving to a 125, we decided I was big, and mature enough to handle a 250. Shortly after we got the 250 I decided I was ready to race, and here we are.

Now, I'm sure you're probably wondering why I just gave you my riding history, and to tell you the truth..so am I! I guess the moral of the story is never to push your kids and if they really like it, they will come around eventually, and if they don't, it's no real loss. Just support them in what other activity they do like.

BTW, now I'm 17 and, pending a new job, will be moving up to a 426/450 very soon.