Seeking Thoughts/advice on Kids and Dirt Bikes.

Gretchen -
Maybe you should look into whether or not he needs a license to ride a dirt bike. Just because his friends have them doesn't mean it's legal. I know you have to have a license for a scooter, and dirt bikes go faster than they do. At 10 yrs old I don't think they have the responsibilty for a dirt bike.

Dirt bikes come in all sizes, my oldest son (who is now 18!) had his first 50 cc when he just turned 6. Since then he's gone through 4 bikes and does wheelies all the way down our yard! And my little-guy who is 4 just got his first quad, it doesn't even go 10 miles per hour after we governed it down. I always make sure the helmet is on!

If you decide to get one, there are training seminars for him to get his "license" (I've forgotten the link, but it's ran through the state). This is especially good if no one in the family rides and you want to take it up north trail riding, he'll need that. With the right equipment and supervision, and if you can afford it...I think it would be an awsome investment. Also, besides the helmet, I would invest in the riding pants, boots, chest/shoulder pads, too. All available at the store which sells the bikes, of course! Lastly, yup they are expensive.

So, I guess...I would be for it.

We live in the part of California known to be the dirt bike capitol!! The best thing for him is to get proper instruction. MotoVentures in California is a highly respected training company whose owner, Gary LaPlante has been a top rider and in the industry for over 40 years. They teach kids as young as 3 and supply the bike and all the protective gear required to ride. They stress safety and responsibility. The program is 11 years now and they have a perfect safety record. Their instructors really give individual attention to their students. They have a private 300-acre Rider Training Center located near Temecula, California and operate year round. I would consider sending him to a class to get excellent training.
Their website is www.motoventures.com

We live on a farm and have been through the dirt bike dilema as well. Kids die on dirt bikes, 4-wheelers, go carts and guns. Safety and getting the right helmets and safety equipment would be key. Also we never let our two boys go out individually. When you are 1/2 mile from the house, you need a buddy riding with you. We have been able to avoid the dirt bikes, because they are so busy with sports, hunting, and life. However you should also consider if the other three children will want to ride on the bike as well. Each child is different and even if the 10 year old is responsible enough, maybe the 6 year old will try it and not be safe. Good Luck.

if he has mastered the 4-wheeler and rides responibly I would go ahead and get him one. My neigbor has a 4 year old with one...it has training wheels-so cute :)

Gretches S

My dad started my 3 brothers and sister on minibikes when we were about 5 or so and then got us dirt bikes when we grew out of those.. We always wore a helmet.. of course.. We all knew the land were the bumps were, and were we couldn't go with them. I loved riding a dirt bike actually I just talked to my husband about getting me another one b/c I miss riding so much, Just make sure your child knows all of the rules and to not go where he shouldn't and he should be good. I will also be looking into getting my daughters a minibike so they will get to experience what I got to experience as a child. I'm a mother of 2 daughters and been married 9yrs.

10 is certainly old enough depending on the child - only you will know that. Just make sure you can afford the best gear - it makes a HUGE difference. Mandate the use of a helmet, chest protector and knee high boots AT A MINIMUM. Ebay is a good source as kids outgrow them quick.

I am a female and I roadraced sport bikes so I do know what I am talking about :) also have a 6 year old that has had a 80 4 wheeler since 4 but she is NOT ready for a dirt bike - moms know!

Safety first. Frankly, I am not a fan of any of those items. When my sister was 18 she was thrown (60 feet) off a 4 wheeler and now will spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair due to a spinal cord injury.

I think the most important thing is if you choose to let him ride the dirt bike or any other motorized vehicle he NEEDS to attend a safety class. You also need to look into whether or not he needs to be licensed and what those requirements are.

Honestly, I do not see why children need to be driving motorized equipment of any kind. Adults have a hard enough time handling motorized vehicles... why do we think children will be any more responsible. They so easily can loose control.

Of course every parent has to make their own decisions.
Good luck.

I bought my sons a small dirt bike when they were around that age. They had a Yamaha 80. It was awesome!

They spent so much time in the back field with the neighbors and their bikes. The boys built a track and everything.
It kept them busy and out of trouble all summer long.
No one got hurt.
Just keep an eye on any jumps they may make. I made them take down any large ones to avoid a serious injury.

Gretchen,

I have been looking through the responses and have seen both the good sides and the bad sides to this issue. In the end it has to be up to you and your husband, but either way, I would suggest your son take a dirt bike safety course. If his friends have dirt bikes at some point they will offer a chance for him to ride. An inexperienced rider who has never been on a bike before is more likely to be harmed than one who has.

I have been riding my motorcycle for 3 years and love it, but wouldn't ride until I had taken the safety course and plan to take the course again next year to make sure my skills are still up to par. At some point I plan to take my son with me, but not until he can reach the pegs and at that point we want him to take a safety course as well. Passengers need to know what to do while riding as much as the drivers do.

I have wanted to ride a motorcycle ever since I was 10. My dad rode and my brother still rides. My dad took me on his motorcycle for one ride the day he sold his Honda and since that day I have been hooked. My parents tried to quell my desire for riding by refusing to allow me to get a dirt bike, but it backfired. If you and your husband decide you don't want him riding, you need to be prepared that he may decide to learn and ride anyway as an adult.

If your husband is also interested in learning how to ride a dirt bike this would be a great time for the two of them to take a safety course together. Then if or when your son is negligent with safety rules before or while riding, one of you will recognize the negligence and be able to enforce those rules.

Good luck with your decision.

Just what you needed to hear--some kid dying:(

It sounds like he has experience. Make sure you have rules he needs to follow and wear protective gear--if the rules are broken his privlage gets taken away! I think a dirt bike is good to start off on, before he gets old enough to get a motorcycle. When I was young we did all that stuff too and I am fine!

You are just being a Mom and that is ok, but sometimes we need to let go even when it is hard.

Hi G.:

I am an avid snowmobiler, and use to race them as well as sport bikes.

I am a mom of triplets, and would detour my kids from dirt bikes at all costs. Many reasons why, unsafe, hit a bump go over the bars head first, break a jaw or worse a spine.

A friend in California just lost her brother, where at 15 flipped over the bars, of his dirtbike, he was over 6 feet tall. He was paralyzed from the neck down and lived 4 horrible years more after the accident on a dirt bike.

Up the road from me, there is a momorial for a 12 year old that lost his life on a dirt bike.

Sure there are accidents on any motorized vehicles, but the key is being responsible and safe. In the recent Parents magazine there is an article on keeping your kids safe and happy - and one of the leading causes of death is where a parent does not stand his/her ground and just say "no". Its easy to say yes, and see the happy smile, but it is the responsible parent that protects their child.

Whatever you choose to do, I wish you the best!

M.

You are being smart. In addition to preventing injury, you are teaching your child that he does not have to have every toy that his friends have. We are raising a generation of children who feel entitled to everything they desire and we are not preparing them for life. You are doing your child a favor by saying "no."

My husband is 36 years old. He lived on 17 1/2 acres and begged for a dirtbike. It is in his blood to this day. If you worry about that, then you will worry about everything. Being a nurse makes it harder because you see injuries and worst-case scenarios. But believe me, if he has the riding skills, he will be okay. He will be proud one day of all his scars, and they will become bragging rites as a "true rider"-I live with one.

me neighbor just went through this as well. She found out that if you are not licensed, you can not ride a dirtbike, UNLESS you take a safety class. The class is like the hunters safety class. Not sure where one is. But I would look into that if you think he is old enough for one.

Both of my 2 older sons had a dirt bike. The younger one hurt leg, but recovered. The older son went on to rent a scooter while on vacation. He was killed by a local Tourist driver/minivan in Jamaica. And he was over 6', at 22yrs. on a clear day.....Enough said. Say no.

There is an inside dirt bike place in Fenton. About a week or two ago a little boy was killed there. He hit something and the handle bars slammed into his chest and that was that. He was dead 3-4 hours later. When I hear of young kids riding those things it TOTALLY freaks me out. I guess if you fix the bike so it doesn't go very fast it might be all right. I'm not exactly sure how fast that kid was going but I've heard 25 mph up to 45 mph. I personally don't think it's worth the risk. Here is a link to some of the articles the Flint Journal had after the accident. I know that the ambulance was slow, it took 20 minutes, but he didn't die for 3 hours after he got to Genesys hospital.
http://search.mlive.com/sp?ff=100&keywords=fenton+Mot...
If you look around on this site you might find other info about what exactly happened.
I think you need to just stick to what you have. Good Luck!