Do your kids ride? (If you have kids that is.)

I have to tell this - my 9 yro daughter is moderately autistic so we're never quite sure where she's at on certain subjects. Last weekend I was working in the garage and I set her on the bike which was up on the center stand. She immediately edged up to the tank and grabbed the grips and said "One, two, three! Let's go!"

The words in and of themselves were a shock because she almost never speaks intelligibly on the subject at hand unless she wants something or we convince her to do so.

I was curious so I got on the bike, with her on the back, and she immediately assumed a proper passenger's position! Feet on the pegs, arms around my waist and everything! She was actually disappointed when I told her we couldn't go for a ride yet.

It's unfortunate that I haven't been riding more than a year otherwise I'd consider taking her around the block.

As a side note - she runs from my friend's Sportster when he starts it up but she's ok with my Seca.

 

If it were me I would latch on to, and promote, every special interest your daughter is comfortable with. I believe they sell "seat belts" that go between driver and rider. Maybe start out real slow, even just around the yard, to allow her to get accustomed to the movement, and for you to judge how she'll do. Then gradually increase distance and speed.

Z

 

Absolutely! Unfortunately I'm just getting used to riding myself now so it's going to be a year before I'm comfortable putting someone on the back - even in the back yard. :-/

As for seat belts - how do those work on a bike? What happens is I have to drop the bike? Do I have to learn to slide rather than roll if when I fall off?

 

My 4 year old daughter chomps at the bit to ride with me, she sits on back and says FASTER, FASTER daddy!!!!

 

I think you're on the right track. I read a stat somewhere that a great number of motorcycle accidents happen within the first six months of ownership of any bike, regardless of experience. So I give myself six solid months on a bike before carrying any passenger.

I have no experience with them, but heard of a harness that ties the driver and passenger together. I believe it was designed for child passengers.

Z

 

I'd be looking all over creation for a decent tandem bicycle to buy new, used or restore.

I'd paint it her favorite color and let her put decals on it until you'd have to guess what color the bike was painted.

I'd pop for a whole riding get-up for her and rig her handlebars with more bells and whistles than the pipe organ in St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Throw-in a "Chatterbox" intercom system, just for fun, and ride around the block until the cows come home.

 

WOW! Great idea :!:

 

I ride my 6 six year old around our neighborhood all small streets all said and done 5 blocks. He loves it my wife not so much. I take my 9 year old out a little further maybe 15 or 20 min rides. He has a dirt bike that he rides & understands a little more what’s going on when we ride. In your situation though I would really wait till you get more riding under your belt which comes with miles & time. Maybe take an ERC if you’ve already taken a basic riding course. They go more into 2up riding in the ERC class.
Until then though I’m with Rick find a tandem bike and ride. Don’t let something that could possibly open her up and be so much fun for the 2 of you slow you down.

 

Oof. I'm gonna need more room in the garage...

 

Rick had a terrific suggestion! Once you get her acquainted to the bike you might consider doing some short, really slow rides in a parking lot on the bike once you get comfortable. I started taking my son on rides when he was 10 or 11-old enough to understand that he needed to hold on, sit up straight, and not make sudden or unexpected movements. We logged a lot of miles and bonded on our rides. I refused to let him ride without the proper gear every time- no excuses. Make sure your daughter is ready before taking the plunge.

 

A major dilemma!

My disabled child has total fear of my bikes and has no interest. Only a parent can decide for an autistic child when and if they have the capacity to ride. Autism is 10 steps ahead of my child.

My other children enjoy riding. I know they like the dresser much better since it has the trunk on the back, a bigger seat, a nice radio, someplace to store their MP3, game boy and whatever else while we're riding. I took the youngest on the 650 Seca and he couldn't get over the difference between a "gentleman's sport bike" and the Kawasaki Voyager.

Now my biggest problem: my 15 year old son *thinks* he gets the Yamaha. Not! But I will teach him to ride safely. He already knows that we never go out without proper gear. I will send him to an MSF course. That still does not (and will never) address that there are no fender benders in motocycling.

Marc the Librarian

 

I was talking to a friend this morning about this post his brothers son has downs syndrome they don’t ride but he brought up the idea of a sidecar bike. Not a bad idea I thought from someone who doesn’t ride. I know you can’t do that with an XJ but it maybe an idea for further down the line on a different bike. I think there are classes out there for sidecars as well. I don’t know much about them having never piloted one myself but maybe they can be equipped with a seat belt. There a bunch of friendly people on the board with many years of riding under their belts I’m sure someone has more insight then me on sidecar riding.

 

Who says you can't add a sidecar to an XJ? I've seen pictures of such out there.

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/submitte ... -Small.jpg

( Or for those without widescreen computers: http://shorterlink.org/1275 )

I have a welder and I'm not afraid to use it!

 

XJ's are great sidecar bikes even the 650's, my kids went to school there first day in the sidecar and it was a great ice breaker for them. They have been carted around in sidecars since birth and have been riding since they where 3 year old in my son's case. Given them great self confidence.

I have been taking my sidecar to charity events for over 15 years and giving kids with disabilty's rides most love it.

Buy an a single chair cheap and don't fret about paint or scratches let kids climb all over it- bikes are about fun and lack of stress. tuck the exhaust up underneath if you will be have real little ones around (I learned that one the hard way) but other than that no injuries in many many years.
Santa on a sidecar is always popular.

 

no i don't she takes herself...lol
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but seriously,i did and she loves it (7 years old) but to be quite frank last year around here about 5 CHILDREN WERE KILLED on the backs of bikes. And the funny thing is qas not the bikers fault in any of the accidents. I could and would not live if MY child was to die on the back of my bike ,but hey rhats just me.

 

I took my 8 year old son out with me for a quick rip around the block. Well that lasted in about a ten minute ride around the block. I told him that when I lean into a turn then he needs to lean the same direction. He caught on pretty quick.

This was his first time on the XJ and he loved it. He doesn't have a true full faced helmet like me (dot and snell approved.) So I let him ride on the back with his bicycle helmet ( i know, i know.... my wife already read me the riot act.) he kept saying go FASTER DAD!! I don't think I got out of 2nd gear. But we both had a blast. Funny thing, he doesn't even want to be in the garage when I start up the SV.

Here are a couple of pics my brother in law took while in action.









He wan't to go riding again. But I told him that until I get him a full faced helmet we have to hold off. The weather has been cooperative but winter is coming and the roads will be getting wet soon (well out here in Elk Grove.) We may go riding again in the spring.

Regards,

 

My grandaughter loved riding pillion up the garden on my Virago back in the UK from when she was 4, my boy trotted along side making sure she didn't take a tumble.
Here in Spain in our village I've seen little one's of 2 years old standing on the running board of their mum's scooters while they are out shopping. It would worry the life out of me but they seem content with it.

Faighaigh.

 

hey amidroc you may want to edit the one picture to get rid of the licence plate number. Especially considering the unapproved helmet...

 

Both of my pride and joys...

 

I took my 3yr old boy for a quick ride up my driveway for his birthday last week and he loved it... Mum was out and if she knew she'd chop my you know what off

lol

 

they make a side car that articulates with the bike now...pretty dam cool!ride the same as a reg. bike,the car leans too!also sell them with an acrilic bubble top to keep the passenger out of the weather!a person could probably fab one up themselves with a lil patients,i made a trailer for my kids bicycle that has a hitch that pivots and pitches,so it doesent bind up when he goes down thru the ditch. the other day he took it upon himself to install a seat and haul his cousin arond in it,had to comend him on his work,he did a geat job,but had him take it out when i saw them slidin aroun corners with it...looked like a blast...but wasent very safe. tempted me to build a side car instead,not hard...gotta do the math though! think ill give it a whirl see how it go's

 

Here's a pic of what my youngest rides. (stock pic) but just like it.