Pretty much in the title. I have been toying with selling my bikes and giving up riding purely as i don't want to influence him. my daughter was not so much of a problem, as she was frightened by my bikes. But this little chap, there is no swaying him, he copies his dad, my dad, my dad's dad etc. And why stop him. He is pretty amazing on a balance bike, and his sister bike. My dad's mates, always told him to let me race, and I never did, I came off a couple of time and lost it. Anyway, the way I see it is, off road ( ie not road... its not coming off but what you hit ) so race tracks etc. I am comtemplating getting him a Oset 12.5 for his first bike, ( mine was a PW50 but I rode it up a wall so hesitant ) So my question, if you had a son, who was nearly 3, and wanted him to be the best rider he could be, how and what would you do?
Errr.... I've done a few training course and I know Roadcraft is the "bible" but.... it doesn't make you quick. Just safe on the road, observation, road surfaces, appropriate gears, brakes etc, as much are important. I think in my younger years was egding on how quick I can get round this corner.... hence for my boy... off road only lol
My daughter can hardly walk at 15 months old, so hopefully I’ll spark her interest with this. She can’t reach the controls yet, but she’ll grow into it!! I say I don’t have a problem with her getting into bikes now, but in another 15 years time I might reconsider.
My mother used to drop me off at school when I was 9, on her Honda 90. My father rode a sidecar outfit which my sister and I sat in for outings. It was inevitable that I would be into bikes. Built my first at 13 passed my test at 16 and bought a Norton 650ss. In hindsight, the best thing I did at that age was to do an RAC/ACU training scheme before going for my test. Taught me a lot, some of which I ignored and paid the inevitable price, smashed collar bone, bruised thoracic vertebrae, severed finger and concussion but in hindsight, the one thing I should have learned from other’s experience, don’t be a cock and show off, don’t be drawn into a macho contest. Meaningless to child but boy do I wish I’d be able to understand that one lesson. Andy
spent the first 15 years of my boys life trying to steer him away from bikes and towards cars, purely through fear of him hurting himself. All in vain though, he turned 16, worked and saved all summer and bought himself his first bike, its in his blood, just terrifying as a parent.
Exactly what I did, when you want to ride you will ride, just a matter of teaching them self control and awareness.
Not sure if I agree with that logic Dr.D. Off road motorcycles has caused me to need the NHS a damn sight more than on road motorcycles I can tell you
I may have misread your post but I take it your after what you can do for your son now and not when he’s 16. Got my son riding a push bike without stabilisers when he turned 4 and when he was about 8 he did a couple of motocross tryout days before I got him a kx65 then onto an sx85 before letting him ride my yz125. The YZ had a few mechanical issues so at 15 he’s now on a Yzf250, he’s 6’02”. During this time he’s had a few falls but nothing to worry about. I still ride with him but have accepted he’s now quicker than me but it’s great having the time riding together. Originally wanted to get him into minimoto as I’m a road rider at heart but there was nothing local hence the mx route. Yes he could get hurt doing Mx but to be honest I worry more when he’s out mountain biking with his mates. The issue coming up is that he has mentioned getting a road bike in the future. As a result we are now prepping an sv650 for minitwin racing and maybe this will keep him off the roads a bit longer. If he does get a bike in the future at least I’ll know he’ll have more riding ability than I ever had at that age. Do I wish he had no interest in bikes and I’d kept him away from them, not really but when and if he starts riding on the road then maybe. However bikes have been a massive part of my life since I was 16, all my close mates ride and I’ve had some fantastic times with the odd painful moment. The main thing is don’t push it on him and it should be fun and enjoyable. If he doesn’t want to be the next Rossi then so be it, likewise if he wants to stop then stop. I remember being at Mx watching one of the dads screaming at his 8 yr old son to get back on his bike and he was in tears. They must enjoy it. Sorry for the long rambling reply.
Kuberg electric bikes. I introduced both of mine - 5&7 at the time - to biking on a wee Kuberg Hero, there is a smaller version available. Whilst doing my research on the topic a few years back I had intended to go down the Osset route. However, I read that they had outsourced manufacturing to China and that quality had tanked but the price had remained; funny that....
There’s absolutely nothing you can do to stop him! I’ve got five lads and I said no way you’re riding bikes, far too dangerous! They all race now!!! Better on track than road I guess though! Experience is the key and that includes falling off! So the younger the better! Just my personal opinion though!
