Ducati Sporting Club UK > General > Idle Chat > Kids and bikes...

[Nattyboy]

Went out with my 3 year old lad on his LT50 quad bike this morning across some fields...which he really enjoys !!!

All of a sudden, as I was watching him tazzing around..it suddenly dawned on me...hes going to be wanting to get a road bike when hes old enough..gulp. And its gonna be because of me !

Now ive got mixed feelings about this. Yes ive had a very serious accident, and yes the roads are getting increasingly busy and full of complete herberts and id worry sick about him (as im sure my parents did when I went out on the MBX50 all night at 16 and often kipped at a mates house without telling them...).

But lets face it how could I possibly talk him out of it having the passion that ive got for all things shiny and italian with 2 wheels..??!!

I just remember the feeling of complete freedom as a 16 year old yoof..riding along into town on a friday night in a procession of AR/RD/DT/TSX 50's!!

Id love him to experience that one day but will just worry silly over him... especiaslly with the increase of traffic (and subsequently idiots) and just wondered what all you parents felt really..??!

Suppose at least we can make sure we give them the benefit of our riding experience.

Cheers
Nat

[monstermob 998]

have got a similar dilemma -but with my god son(got none of me own) hes only three an a bit and already shows an interest in things shiny and italian (my bike) and also his dad is an ex racer with TT experience,super mono and many amatuer-european titles and the best part of twenty years racing behind him -gave up due to injury, his mum was PR with a top level sidecar team so the interest in bikes and bike racing is all around him -mum and dad wouldnt bat an eye lid at him taking up racing either moto cross or track racing but live in fear of him getting out on the road when the time comes- so if he wishes to have a go at raceing when he is younger we'll give him every opportunity to do so -hopefully he'll grow out of the idea of road riding and get a car when hes old enough

[Eamonn]

I had the same thoughts when my son was 16 (he's 23 now). But I bought him a lowish mileage MBX50 in reasonable condition and taught him how to ride it. We went onto the local green lanes and he quickly found out what it feels like to fall off - and he didn't want to do that again!
Sliding around in the mud teaches balance skills and gets you used to feeling when somethings not right - it' salso useful for throttle control (not that there's much on a 50 !).

After a year of using the 50, we bought a TS125 (one of the older unrestricted ones) during the time he was riding this he also took driving lessons and passed his car test. Once he realised he can take 3 of his mates in the car, the bike spent most of its time in the garage.

So although not a committed biker, he has experienced riding bikes (something that I strongly believe all road users should experience) and now only rides pillion now and wagain with me.

The most important thing is he had the choice. My wife and I supported and helped him every way we could to enable him to be safe on the roads without trying to persuafe him one way or the other. You have to let your kids grow up and make their own decisions - it's hard, but think back to when you were in the same position.

My Mum hated me having a bike, even tried bribing me with paying for flying lessons if I bought a car and used that - but to me biking had something extra that nothing else had. I don't know if I can define it even today, but the feeling of freedom rates pretty highly in there somewhere!

Nat, you describe your feelings at the age of 16, would you deny that feeling of elation and excitement to your son ?

[Nattyboy]

Good points Eamonn...

Think some of you may have seen this but it gives you an idea how keen he is ... he even used to spanner my old monster..

Goggles and tools by fisher price..who needs snap on..??!!

Cheers
Nat

[Edited on 5-3-2005 by Nattyboy]

[sparkin]

I see you didn`t let him near the T8 Nat My 4 year old Mallory loves bikes and crazes me to have a sit on the T8 when I`m in the garage,she`s been to WDW,and is mad on Fankie Chilli(trying to steer her way now he`s on a hon,hon, unrecognised word )she`ll watch MotoGP all day and is saving for a yellow 748 What`ll happen as she gets older God only knows

[Nattyboy]

Mallory..what a great name !!!!

Shes in good company tell her...here are my two urchins meeting him at WDW..! (well its p***g down, ive finished tidying the garage and ive got nothing else to do but sit here with carlsberg !!). Biggest fan is my wife though..fluttering her bloody eye lids at him she was after he chatted with her when shed took the pic..!!!

And yes Connors well away from the T8...pity I let me guard down and we wouldnt have had the 'lobbing of nuts and bolts down the silencers' routine....remember that ..!!!??

Nat

[sparkin]

Any excuse http://217.199.188.40/xmb/viewthread...6&pid=114 876

[Nattyboy]

quality! (better looking than her old man too im glad to see..)

Nat

[sparkin]

[GsxrAge]

Originally posted by Nattyboy

And yes Connors well away from the T8...pity I let me guard down and we wouldnt have had the 'lobbing of nuts and bolts down the silencers' routine....remember that ..!!!??

Nat

Our lad who is 10 now did something simular to that 2 years ago.

I let him rinse the bike off walked away for 5 mins only to come back and find he had filled exaust pipes up with water

I did tell him to keep the water away from them but I know he could not resist.

Engine would not turn over so had to strip it all down

Only good thing to come out of it was that the 916 had a service

Age