Ducati Sporting Club UK > General > Idle Chat > Kids - Pillion

[madmav]

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

[phoenix n max]

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 ??

[phoenix n max]

Originally Posted by madmav

2 sit them close to you so you can feel them relaxing IE dozzing off!

I do that all the time

[madmav]

Originally Posted by phoenix n max

I do that all the time

sit them close? or doze off ?

lol

[phoenix n max]

Originally Posted by madmav

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

[Herb]

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

[Iconic944ss]

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

[Lily]

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.

[jeff st4s]

Originally Posted by Lily

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.