When is your kid ready to start riding?

JThompson · 04-12-2007, 03:09 AM

When is your kid ready to start riding?
This is not an age based decision. Does your kid even want to ride? If you child is showing interest then its time to get them started but don’t try to push the sport on them. Next ask your self is your child physically ready to start riding? When they sit on their bike can they touch the ground? Are the able to reach the front brake / clutch with there fingers? Is your child able to comprehend risk? If you answered yes to these questions then it is time to get them on a bike.

Do you remember when you started riding? How old were you? Did you ride with mom or dad or both? Riding can be a great family activity.

tigmaster · 04-21-2007, 11:00 AM

I think its great, all these kids ridind at such a young age. I wish I would have been given the chance to ride young. I saw a 5 year old hitting no footers on his crf50f at an mx track.

JThompson · 04-21-2007, 11:04 AM

Wow a kid doing no footers

. I want to have my daughter on a bike as soon as she meets the reqs! I wonder when my wife will start to ride

It can be a great family activity! How old were you when you started riding tig?

tigmaster · 04-21-2007, 10:03 PM

well, ive havent even been riding a year, but i can clear every jump at the mx track. my friend has been riding a quad for years and i beat him on the track. i always considered him a great rider so when i beat him easily i considered myself good. idk i think i just caught on fast. so i was 16 when i started, last summer. i think i look like i know what im doing, i get plenty of faces of amazement. yup i would like to get to the point of where i am riding 2-3 times a week but i need to get my bike running first.

JThompson · 04-22-2007, 02:00 AM

Once you get that bike running remember to never give it up! Otherwise you will be without a bike for a long period of time wanting to ride more and more. I made the mistake once and im not going to do it again!

mx4fun · 04-25-2007, 11:24 AM

I began riding through my father and brother.

I think what got me riding was my want to go fast..... LOL. ( just don't forget to turn away from them fences )

I would say that letting the child decide if they want to ride or not is the sure way to know. All you can do is try and teach them about the basics and bribe them with candy.... (LOL, just kiding about the candy ).

on a side note, the best thing to do is Practice, practice, practice.

In time, your skill level will shoot through the roof.

JThompson · 04-25-2007, 12:52 PM

I forgot how old you were BT but i do remember you riding right into that fence! Oh good times

allangee · 10-16-2007, 12:25 PM

I think confidence is a bigger issue than age.

I have a 10-year old who started when he was 8, thanks to my brother who lent us a CR-50. The first thing we taught him was how to stop. That gave him the confidence to ride. We just moved him up to a CR-100 this summer, but he still tears around on the 50.

My 5-year old is dying to ride, but a little short in the inseam to hold the 50 up wiht both legs on the ground -- so he gets nervous and dumps the bike right away. We'll wait til next year when gains that critical inch. In the meantime, I sit him on the seat in front of me when we ride. If the trail's not too rough, I get him to put his hands on top of mine so he gets an idea of what the clutch and throttle are doing. He thoroughly loves the tougher trails though. When I stand on the pegs (not as often as I should since it's harder with him on the seat) he stands on top of my feet.

I can't ride as aggressively as I'd like with the little guy on the bike, but the smile on his face when he talks about the ride is well worth it.

JThompson · 10-16-2007, 01:33 PM

Thats a great way to go about it. Bet he cant wait till he gets to start riding.

tigmaster · 10-16-2007, 02:14 PM

my kids will hopefully be riding before they can even ride a bike. maybe not even able to walk.

04-12-2007, 03:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
JThompson Administrator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bellingham WA Posts: 4,925 iTrader: (6)	When is your kid ready to start riding? When is your kid ready to start riding? This is not an age based decision. Does your kid even want to ride? If you child is showing interest then its time to get them started but don’t try to push the sport on them. Next ask your self is your child physically ready to start riding? When they sit on their bike can they touch the ground? Are the able to reach the front brake / clutch with there fingers? Is your child able to comprehend risk? If you answered yes to these questions then it is time to get them on a bike. Do you remember when you started riding? How old were you? Did you ride with mom or dad or both? Riding can be a great family activity. __________________ Tired of ads? Become a member for an almost ad free site! Also we give away monthly prizes just for posting! Register today! Looking for places to ride! Want to review a riding area? Check them out! PRE-ORDER MOTOTIPS Stickers now. Help keep mototips running! Get your order in today! Buy NOW! Special Discounts for members only! Check out our new discount forum for retailers offering to help you save money! Mototips Discounts

04-21-2007, 11:00 AM	#2 (permalink)
tigmaster Administrator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Missouri, United States Posts: 7,530 iTrader: (1)	I think its great, all these kids ridind at such a young age. I wish I would have been given the chance to ride young. I saw a 5 year old hitting no footers on his crf50f at an mx track. __________________ --'03 CRF450r-- --FMF Pipe, Pro-Tech Revavle-- --Vortex Basket With Tusk Disks And HP Springs-- --Pro Taper Triple Clamps And Bars-- --Devol Full SP With Moose HGs-- --Renthal 13/50 With R1 Chain-- --Now It Is The End, Probably...-- --'06 CBR F4I-- --Bone Stock-- Check Our Latest How-To Here

04-21-2007, 11:04 AM	#3 (permalink)
JThompson Administrator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bellingham WA Posts: 4,925 iTrader: (6)	Wow a kid doing no footers . I want to have my daughter on a bike as soon as she meets the reqs! I wonder when my wife will start to ride It can be a great family activity! How old were you when you started riding tig? __________________ Tired of ads? Become a member for an almost ad free site! Also we give away monthly prizes just for posting! Register today! Looking for places to ride! Want to review a riding area? Check them out! PRE-ORDER MOTOTIPS Stickers now. Help keep mototips running! Get your order in today! Buy NOW! Special Discounts for members only! Check out our new discount forum for retailers offering to help you save money! Mototips Discounts

04-21-2007, 10:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
tigmaster Administrator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Missouri, United States Posts: 7,530 iTrader: (1)	well, ive havent even been riding a year, but i can clear every jump at the mx track. my friend has been riding a quad for years and i beat him on the track. i always considered him a great rider so when i beat him easily i considered myself good. idk i think i just caught on fast. so i was 16 when i started, last summer. i think i look like i know what im doing, i get plenty of faces of amazement. yup i would like to get to the point of where i am riding 2-3 times a week but i need to get my bike running first. __________________ --'03 CRF450r-- --FMF Pipe, Pro-Tech Revavle-- --Vortex Basket With Tusk Disks And HP Springs-- --Pro Taper Triple Clamps And Bars-- --Devol Full SP With Moose HGs-- --Renthal 13/50 With R1 Chain-- --Now It Is The End, Probably...-- --'06 CBR F4I-- --Bone Stock-- Check Our Latest How-To Here

04-22-2007, 02:00 AM	#5 (permalink)
JThompson Administrator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bellingham WA Posts: 4,925 iTrader: (6)	Once you get that bike running remember to never give it up! Otherwise you will be without a bike for a long period of time wanting to ride more and more. I made the mistake once and im not going to do it again! __________________ Tired of ads? Become a member for an almost ad free site! Also we give away monthly prizes just for posting! Register today! Looking for places to ride! Want to review a riding area? Check them out! PRE-ORDER MOTOTIPS Stickers now. Help keep mototips running! Get your order in today! Buy NOW! Special Discounts for members only! Check out our new discount forum for retailers offering to help you save money! Mototips Discounts

04-25-2007, 11:24 AM	#6 (permalink)
mx4fun C Rider Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nor. Cal Posts: 33 iTrader: (0)	I began riding through my father and brother. I think what got me riding was my want to go fast..... LOL. ( just don't forget to turn away from them fences ) I would say that letting the child decide if they want to ride or not is the sure way to know. All you can do is try and teach them about the basics and bribe them with candy.... (LOL, just kiding about the candy ). on a side note, the best thing to do is Practice, practice, practice. In time, your skill level will shoot through the roof.

04-25-2007, 12:52 PM	#7 (permalink)
JThompson Administrator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bellingham WA Posts: 4,925 iTrader: (6)	I forgot how old you were BT but i do remember you riding right into that fence! Oh good times __________________ Tired of ads? Become a member for an almost ad free site! Also we give away monthly prizes just for posting! Register today! Looking for places to ride! Want to review a riding area? Check them out! PRE-ORDER MOTOTIPS Stickers now. Help keep mototips running! Get your order in today! Buy NOW! Special Discounts for members only! Check out our new discount forum for retailers offering to help you save money! Mototips Discounts

10-16-2007, 12:25 PM	#8 (permalink)
allangee C Rider Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 28 iTrader: (0)	Confidence I think confidence is a bigger issue than age. I have a 10-year old who started when he was 8, thanks to my brother who lent us a CR-50. The first thing we taught him was how to stop. That gave him the confidence to ride. We just moved him up to a CR-100 this summer, but he still tears around on the 50. My 5-year old is dying to ride, but a little short in the inseam to hold the 50 up wiht both legs on the ground -- so he gets nervous and dumps the bike right away. We'll wait til next year when gains that critical inch. In the meantime, I sit him on the seat in front of me when we ride. If the trail's not too rough, I get him to put his hands on top of mine so he gets an idea of what the clutch and throttle are doing. He thoroughly loves the tougher trails though. When I stand on the pegs (not as often as I should since it's harder with him on the seat) he stands on top of my feet. I can't ride as aggressively as I'd like with the little guy on the bike, but the smile on his face when he talks about the ride is well worth it. __________________ On our way to becoming the Internet's biggest collection of dirt bike and motocross shirts (and stuff). Wear it like you ride it!

10-16-2007, 01:33 PM	#9 (permalink)
JThompson Administrator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bellingham WA Posts: 4,925 iTrader: (6)	Thats a great way to go about it. Bet he cant wait till he gets to start riding. __________________ Tired of ads? Become a member for an almost ad free site! Also we give away monthly prizes just for posting! Register today! Looking for places to ride! Want to review a riding area? Check them out! PRE-ORDER MOTOTIPS Stickers now. Help keep mototips running! Get your order in today! Buy NOW! Special Discounts for members only! Check out our new discount forum for retailers offering to help you save money! Mototips Discounts

10-16-2007, 02:14 PM	#10 (permalink)
tigmaster Administrator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Missouri, United States Posts: 7,530 iTrader: (1)	my kids will hopefully be riding before they can even ride a bike. maybe not even able to walk. __________________ --'03 CRF450r-- --FMF Pipe, Pro-Tech Revavle-- --Vortex Basket With Tusk Disks And HP Springs-- --Pro Taper Triple Clamps And Bars-- --Devol Full SP With Moose HGs-- --Renthal 13/50 With R1 Chain-- --Now It Is The End, Probably...-- --'06 CBR F4I-- --Bone Stock-- Check Our Latest How-To Here

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