Our Off-spring Riding

[Williamson]

Feel free to add comments and / or reasons for your choice.

Multiple votes permitted, (perhaps) for sons, daughters or sons-in-law.

[Bodø]

Mine are free to do so when it becomes legal for them to do so.  My daughter rides as a pillion with me from time to time.  My son is almost of the age where he can get his own licence, but doesn't seem overly keen.  He's not exactly the most proactive person on the planet.

[Nigel]

If they show an interest in riding, get them out in the paddock and get them riding.
2c worth.

[Brock]

Age to start riding can depend on location.. On a farm probably as soon as they can walk, In Thailand while still in the bassinet.

Living in suburbia depends on opportunities to learn to ride safely.

The first bike I recall was a school mates Honda step through, on the family property. (Mornington area)

Next was a monkey bike in a paddock in Brisbane, followed by borrowing  a friends bike n helmet to ride home for lunch. His parents, nor mine batted an eye lid.. A little while later, I rode a BSA (Goldstar) around the block..

These were while at high school..

My son rode bikes while in high school off road, but waited til he was in his 30s, I taught my daughter legally , but she never followed through.

[maninblack_30]

My eldest Daughter (17) loves my new ST, we were riding around Lake Hume, then stopped by a McDonalds for some lunch afterwards, then a quick squirt home. On the way home we were waiting at some traffic lights to get back on the freeway, she was holding a milkshake that she didn't finish, and decided to have a drink wearing a full-face helmet, it ended up all down the front of her gear, inside the chin guard of the helmet, and inside her jacket all down the front.

She's not ready to ride!!!
 

[Williamson]

Mine are free to do so when it becomes legal for them to do so.  My daughter rides as a pillion with me from time to time.  My son is almost of the age where he can get his own licence, but doesn't seem overly keen.  He's not exactly the most proactive person on the planet.

Both sons have ridden pillion, at separate times, but there has been a very big hiatus between then and now, except now for the oldest.

Age to start riding can depend on location.. On a farm probably as soon as they can walk, In Thailand while still in the bassinet.

Living in suburbia depends on opportunities to learn to ride safely.

The first bike I recall was a school mates Honda step through, on the family property. (Mornington area)

Next was a monkey bike in a paddock in Brisbane, followed by borrowing  a friends bike n helmet to ride home for lunch. His parents, nor mine batted an eye lid.. A little while later, I rode a BSA (Goldstar) around the block..

These were while at high school..

My son rode bikes while in high school off road, but waited til he was in his 30s, I taught my daughter legally , but she never followed through.

Yes, many variables.

If they show an interest in riding, get them out in the paddock and get them riding.
2c worth.

Paddock riding is very different to road riding (which is what I'm really asking about).

My eldest Daughter (17) loves my new ST, we were riding around Lake Hume, then stopped by a McDonalds for some lunch afterwards, then a quick squirt home. On the way home we were waiting at some traffic lights to get back on the freeway, she was holding a milkshake that she didn't finish, and decided to have a drink wearing a full-face helmet, it ended up all down the front of her gear, inside the chin guard of the helmet, and inside her jacket all down the front.

She's not ready to ride!!!
 

Yes, she's got a lot to learn.

The eldest grandson will be 17 next month, the thought of him riding a motor bike on the road terrifys me (it seems like only yesterday he was falling off his BMX), but his mum is terrified 10 times more.

[Langers]

It is a worry. Back in our day sure there were idiots and drunk drivers but today add methheads, all manner of other chemicals injected, ingested and inhaled (possibly even inserted  ), not to mention the bloody phone distraction. Actually I think the drink driving might be a bit less, the youngsters don't seem to binge drink and drive as much as back in the 70's.
My son (36) has expressed interest in something like the Himalayan (not a Hayabusa, thank the Lord), so we'll see.

[Williamson]

..... Actually I think the drink driving might be a bit less, the youngsters don't seem to binge drink and drive as much as back in the 70's.

Personal experience?  Any stories to be attached?  Enough stories for another thread perhaps?

My son (36) has expressed interest in something like the Himalayan (not a Hayabusa, thank the Lord), so we'll see.

No need to worry, I think our kids are smarter than us.

[Dragonstaff]

We bought my youngest a 250 when he moved out of his mothers place at 18 as a way for him to get his license, because he didn't need (wasn't allowed) someone to ride shotgun every time he drove. It took him another five years to get his car license, and then only because his girlfriend was pregnant and couldn't ride pillion! He also knew that he couldn't get a baby capsule on the bike.

He now owns an ST and an XJ900, but doesn't ride either of them because he works as a postie and rides for a living.

The older one started when the younger one looked like he was having too much fun, but still only has a 250.

The Grand-daughter is about to turn 12 (or maybe 13, I lose track) and will probably steal the eldest son's 250 as soon as she can. Right now she is stuck riding pillion, and loves it.

EDIT: Time to own up- Which of you voted 'Never'?

[Shiney]

I started riding at 13 in the back yard and through forest trails

As soon as I got my learners licence I began riding on the road

[Shillas]

We bought my youngest a 250 when he moved out of his mothers place at 18 as a way for him to get his license, because he didn't need (wasn't allowed) someone to ride shotgun every time he drove. It took him another five years to get his car license, and then only because his girlfriend was pregnant and couldn't ride pillion! He also knew that he couldn't get a baby capsule on the bike.

You've never been to SE Asia then?  - Families & the business on the one bike at the same time. Most I saw were 5 visible on the bike. . As Brock said, in Thailand, in the bassinet.


My father was a motorcycle cop before I was born. Also did crash investigation after that. In the 70's, he & my brother in law shared a Yamaha 650 single (I think), nicknamed "the bastard" due it's habit of kicking back on kick start.

Due to his background in the job, he had a few prejudices on transport options. Especially Minis or Ford Escorts or Capri's. (They must have been bad ones)

When I was starting Uni in the early 80's, there was no good public transport to get there, so I convinced the parents to get me a CB125 - agreed on the condition I wasn't on the road before I knew how to ride & put he me through a Police riding course in our backyard.

Well that started a love of riding well & truly. I taught my future wife to ride on her bike after being pillion on my 250 & she went onto various bikes over the years, both with me & after me.

One of our boys wanted to ride in his early teens, we had 20 acres, so got a cheap Chinese chook chaser. Again, he got lessons in how to ride. All three boys rode to an extent, the youngest not that interested. I probably used that bike more for stock roundups & it was fun for what it was.

The son who wanted to ride settled instead for cars & decided a car on a racetrack was safer than riding a bike, so does that every now & then.

As a parent, I think I've done enough to educate them to the basic skills that have seen me survive 40+ years riding on & off.

Would I prefer them not to ride, despite having both parents as riders? Absolutely.

Would I discourage them from riding if they wanted to? No - that would be absolutely hypocritical, but I would want to make sure that they were as well protected (skills, gear etc) as they could be.

Would their partners allow them to ride? Probably not, even though 1 of the partner's parents also rode.

[Wild Rose]

I got a learner's licence when I was 18
My Mum & Dad taught me how to drive
Doing hill starts near Brisbane River in Fairfield Brisbane
Got my licence then owned 2 bikes Honda XL125 & XL350 before I purchased my first car a VC Valiant
So that's my early days with car's and bikes

[John g]

 . 
           I think the younger the better.
           How many moto gp  rider’s started riding in their twenties ?
           You don’t learn a lot of road-craft skills learning to drive in a car (longe chair on wheels)compared to a motorcycle.   
           The younger you develop muscle memory and responce to emergency road conditions the safer you will be.

[Dragonstaff]

One thing I will add to this.

I actually believe that all drivers who are physically capable should start on a bike and ride for at least two years before moving to a car. This will give everyone the experience required to be bike aware, and will make it safer for all of us.

[NTRebel]

One thing I will add to this.

I actually believe that all drivers who are physically capable should start on a bike and ride for at least two years before moving to a car. This will give everyone the experience required to be bike aware, and will make it safer for all of us.

Totally agree with this.

[Williamson]

One thing I will add to this.

I actually believe that all drivers who are physically capable should start on a bike and ride for at least two years before moving to a car. This will give everyone the experience required to be bike aware, and will make it safer for all of us.

Totally agree with this.

I don't agree,

In a past life I was a motorcycle rider trainer with RTA / VicRoads (in VIC), and trained over (probably) 1000 to get their Learner's Permit - this was passing the MOST Motorcycle Operator Skill Test, which invloved demonstrating very basic, but critical skills, basically enough the keep most riders out of trouble whilst they were learning on-the-road.

A few were very capable, many were good, many were adequate and many were terrible, but all still passed the MOST.  Thankfully the really terrible didn't pass the MOST.  The numbers of terrible and really terrible were not tracked, but I'm guessing 10%.

That 10% would probably equate to 100,000's of riders over the years, who in my experience would have ended up as a motorcycle crash statistic.  Motorcyclists are already over represented in the crash stats, let's not add more.

[Brock]

One thing I will add to this.

I actually believe that all drivers who are physically capable should start on a bike and ride for at least two years before moving to a car. This will give everyone the experience required to be bike aware, and will make it safer for all of us.

That is something I have said for a great many years, as it will make the drivers more bike aware.

[ruSTynutz]

Great idea but it will never happen...If you're unfortunate enough to live in Queensland, prospective riders must hold a provisional or open car licence for at least 1 year before being able to get a motorcycle learners permit. 

[John g]

 .     
              Motorcyclists are already over represented in the stats.
               It would be interesting to know what percentage of deaths
                Are the drivers fault ,eg didn’t see you mate!!!
               The amount of cars that I have seen with a dent in
                The drivers door or fender are numerous suggesting that
                 The driver didn’t give way to the right
                 I would think most of the problems that motorcyclists
                 Experience are due to poor skills of the motorists not the motorcyclists

[ST2UP]

Our young bloke started with a JR80 when he was 9, then went to a CRF125 at about 12.

Now on a KTM350 that’s ludicrously fast…..no interest in road riding. It’s only half worn out…..only ever seams to be on 1 wheel.

I started on a TS125 when 12 bringing the cows in…..then PE250, a XT500 and a Husky 490…..the dog and the cows arrived at the dairy panting when those rockets came along all before I was 15.

 

[Gadget]

My son showed low interest, and only pillioned a few times and said not for him.

My daughter was not interested at all, and then in her early 20s, a very close friend was killed while riding so she really hated that I still ride.

The 2 Grand-daughters climb onto the Spyder while it's parked in the garage every chance they get. Our daughter is adamant they won't be going as pillions.

I'll be 73 by the time the eldest is old enough, so I'm not sure they'll get a choice of being my pillion.

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