Kids - Pillion
 

I took my son out for a spin at the weekend for the first time. (borrowed a bike as mine has a single seat) He is 8.

I got a bollocking from the wife when she found out.

Do any of you take your kids out? Do you think it is irresponsible?

Do any of you have older kids who ride? How do you feel about it?

My son was 7 and a half when he first went on my BMW, he went to Donnington on it last year, this year we went to Mugello (I did trailor the bike to Italy) and Donnington on my Ducati.
I use one of those buddy belt things for him to hold onto when I need him to and he's got a topbox to rest against.
He wears all the right clothing and is aware of his responsibilities on the bike and how to behave (bit grown up, but safety first).
We both love it, maybe me more than him.

Hmmm well my experience yesterday.

I ride a monster - My son Jase 19 rides a monster - My daughter Tiff 16 is mad about Ducatis - Both monsters were used in DD this year so I no longer have pillion pegs but Jasons has been put back to standard hangers so yesterdays ride out saw myself on Max - Jason on his with Tiff pillion.

I can say I wasn't a happy mummy really - If they were behind I was constantly watching his overtakes, if he was in front I was watching everymove - He did one overtake I would have considered 'slightly dodgy' and as soon as we got back his first words were ''yes i know'' but Tiff confirmed it was the only one and he only seems to make any mistakes at all when i'm following.

I also have a 9 yr old - legally she can also go pillion now - will she ? Not a hope in hell as far as i'm concerned just yet - to me she's too young - but so is my 19 and 16 yr old !!

In some ways it was nice us all out together enjoying a shared hobby - but I have to confess it's a major worry for me despite Jases excellent abilities.

Tis not right having 2 of my kids hooning around the countryside on 2 wheeled death machines :eek:

On the other hand - i'm a riding instructor but couldn't bring myself to let my daughter off the leadrein to teach her how to canter so had to send her to a riding school and leave her there !

:confused: Tis not easy at all !

It's the problem that other road users pose all the time thats the problem. Wait till you get tail-gated by some knob. I did once so pulled away for safety sake , right into a speed trap. The Ex was not too pleased when she saw it all over the front page.
Carried my kids on bikes from the age of about 3. Also used to ferry the dog about on the bike (no not the EX). But did that as well.

I think there are several issues over this.

A child has no real concept of danger. We know the risks and can make a judgement. That child trusts us to keep them safe. Taking a child as pillion is in my opinion putting them at risk.

I don't think I've ever seen a child riding pillion who was wearing a correctly sized helmet. Would you wear a helmet that would fall off if you crashed?

Ditto with leathers / boots /gloves.

Having said that, I appreciate that just living poses a risk and each one of my children has been with me several times on our local egg run, which tends to be at low speeds. Personally I think that poses an acceptable risk, but I wince when I see someone riding at 60+ wlth a child as pillion.

For me it's a once a year occassion which the kids enjoy, but I wouldn't do it regularly.

I can only speak for myself with the kit issue, I know he will grow out or it before he wears it out and good stuff is expensive, but I will not buy the cheap badly made stuff for him.
BMW kids clothing is well made and could get 2 kids use out of it easily, at about £200 for jacket trousers it sounds a lot to spend on a kid, but when my Rukka stuff cost 5 times a much I have no right to be tight with my money.
I have the correct size helmet for him and have it checked regularily at the shop I bought it from for when he need to go up a size he will do, his boots are Moto X ones and gloves he got from babybiker.com

Too young in my opinion, dont know exactly what the law states but guess the child needs to be wearing the right gear (but so does everyone) and be large/strong enough to hold on securely.

Kids vary so much in size you cant go by age alone, also a quick ride around the block has got to be different to riding along a motorway for a prolonged journey.

Its an interesting thread though as my nephew is ten and Im sure he is going to be asking soon.

Personally my first experience was riding a C90 aged 12, which of course I rode on the road !!!

I believe the only legal issue is - that they can reach the pillion pegs and wear a helmet.

The law says they have to be able to reach the footpegs, and wear the correct clothing (ie, helmet without black visor, etc).

They have to do that and also be able to take care and responsibility for themselves, I've been told if the boys in blue see a kid who is out of there depth then they can do something about it.
Maybe a quote from one of our friendly Police friends could help. :)

My daughter started coming for rides with me when she was 7.

We sourced the right gear from the bike shows; a lid from a bargain bin, because all bargain lids are either xxxs or xxxl.

A type B is also a good bet, as they are lighter than an A.

Leathers were bought from a company called Baby Biker, based in Leamington Spa.They operate a part ex deal against new gear, when junior has grown out of it (except lids) and go to all the shows.

I made a pillion belt long before you could buy them and the only difference was that the handles were closer together. that way, under braking he/she can just lean forward and push against the rider for support.

This was the most essential bit of kit, as they lean with you.

The bikes grab handles are useless and passengers are more likely to sit up in corners.

The shop ones have handles at the side, which is a long reach for folk with short arms.

I recently took my 11 year-old nephew out for his first ride and he had no problems with it.

The only legal requirement apart from wearing a lid, is that a passenger must be able to reach the footrests, the rest is down to common sense.

I never went over speed limits or took chances with her on the back.

Other than that, kids enjoy it loads and it's good to have another member of the family on your side !

My daughter has since ditched the biking thing as it ruins her hair - teenagers, pah !!

I started taking my 7 year old son out this summer, - he loves it. "love handles" is the brand name for those pillion handle thingies, - Lizzie put me onto them along time ago, - they give confidence to the pillion, - I made it a rule that he was not allowed to let go, if he wanted me to stop he had to bang me whilst still holding them. It was great to see his happy face peering over my shoulder in the mirror. I would love to bring him out to a DSC meeting as riding in a group of Ducs is the best experience in the world, - and I know from being a youngster (many years ago) on the back of my brothers Triumph bonnie chop it makes you feel like the most important person in the world!

Perhaps we could have a DSC meeting with kids on the back?

My daughter is 9 years old and regulary rides on the back of my Multi.Before that she used to be on the back of the Mrs Monster.She absolutely loves it.She has an extra,extra small sized helmet and a decent armoured Hein Gericke kids cordura jacket.We got her some small leather gloves from Baby Biker.(They also do kids leathers and boots.)
Obviously I dont go hooning around the same as if I was riding solo.I'm very gentle on the throttle and brakes.
Its nice going for a gentle ride with her on the back and the Mrs behind on the Monster,....proper biking family.

this thread just made me cringe of some distant happy memories--i use to ride pillion on my dads 650 road rocket when i was 3 maybe 4 years old no helmet just a wooly hat and i couldnt reach the foot pegs either- i use to put my hands into his jacket pockets to hang on- travelling distances of around 20/30 miles to see nan and grandad --- great times the sixties!!!!!!!

We should, I've already had Oliver out once with the DSC and I think he liked it, bit of a quiet boy at times, but then the noise the Surrey lot make it's hard to get a word in some days. :lol: :lol:

Ooo nooo - I'd never get her off it if I said she could have a go now :o

go for it Jeff, kids could be savior of this club!! No politics with kids, - only arguments when swapping Pokemon cards/tags!!

How about a Saturday or Sunday PM meeting at Boxhill? - My son has footie training Saturday AM's and tournaments Sunday AM's. He asked this Sunday PM if I could take him out on the bike.

Thanks everyone, some interesting replies.

I only took my lad for a short spin, no more than 15 minutes but he loved it. My bike does not have provision for a pillion but will be giving that consideration for my next bike. I think he is old enough to come out and have fun with his old man.

My problem will be the wife. She considers all bikes to be death traps and the people who ride them to be reckless and irresponsible. I only get away with it because I have had bikes since I was 17, a long time before I met her.

I am in two minds about whether I am being sensible in encouraging this. To be honest I am not sure if I would be happy with my lad riding a bike himself when he is older. I think as a parent you want to try to minimise the risk.



Thats a great idea, indoctinate a new generation into the joys of Ducati ownership. Condemn them to poverty for the rest of their lives because they have just spent the mortgage money on a 12K service or on some needless carbon bling!

Sunday I will be out in the morning with the DSC but the afternoon could be fine, just got to check if he's free and up for it, will post back later.

Jeff

ive seen so many dads arriving at bassetts pole with there kids on the back the dad has top of the range leathers and there child has track suit bottoms and trainers on as protection now that is bloody stupid in my eyes..are these parents brain dead or what

4 kids
 

Herb good question !

My advice
1 make sure said kid ,can place both feet on pegs (and not at a stretch)
2 sit them close to you so you can feel them relaxing IE dozzing off!
3 wear a buddy belt (I prefered my kids to put their hands in my jacket pockets.
4 Spend the same money if not more on their gear as you would on yours (TOP OF THE RANGE) correct fitting
5 dont be a hero, treat the ride out as if you were riding a brand new bike you had just collected.
6 finally do not frighten them !

I have took all 4 kids with me since they could touch the pegs!

No problems and one even rides a scooter to uni everyday !

JMHO

mav

Really ? - I was just about to post that I actually hadn't seen any badly clothed young uns. Badly clothed older kids yes and grown ups too but mostly trophy pillions I see in stillettos and cropped jeans.

Do you think thats something unique to Bassetts or places of that ilke ??

I do that all the time :(

sit them close? or doze off ?

lol

Doze off -

My eldest daughter does pillion - I never know she's there - I keep grabbing her arm and pulling it round me just in case i've lost her - easy off the back of a monster :eek:

Here is a pic of how the whole family can have fun on a bike.

Well done Herb, very interesting thread and I was going to start EXACTLY the same topic myself, last week.

As an ex-motorcycle instructor and examiner, I'd love to be able to take my 7 year old daughter for a ride on my Ducati (but if so, only with the proper clothing, helmet etc).

However, if anything happened and she was injured by either my mistake or not - I dont think I'd be able to cope with that and it could well end my road riding. The sad thing is, I know she would enjoy riding pillion but until she is old enough to make a reasonably informed decision of her own, I feel the risk is unnacceptable on today's roads.

Good job she is enjoying having a go at quad bike riding at a local facility, maybe she can get into rear end sliding before becoming the first female to win a MotoGP :)

Cheers - Frank

I started going on the back of bikes at about 6-7 years old and I had a great life. Many weekend ere spent at bike rallies and events with mum, dad and extended biking famillies.

I always had decent gear and was well aware of the danger but my dad rode sensibly and in control.

I spent many journey's fast asleep tucked safely bewteen dad and the top box with him nudging me when i headbutted him in the back when he braked.

Kids are put at risk every day of their lives and getting them out and about in a controled manner will help them with confidence and if they ever get into bikes themselves it's always good for the extra experience.

I'm impressed!
I have to say I agree with your comments.
One thing I feel is that I ride slower when my son is on the back, giving me more response time to react to the lunatic fringe.
When I was a kid I drove around lots in the car with my dad, it gave me a sense of awareness and the rules of the road before I even got to drive myself, so the time spent with me can only aid my son in the future decisions he will have to make.
We all agree the traffic conditions are getting worse any head start can only be a good one as far as I'm concerned.