Small Bike for the Daughter

[StrvnMrvn]

Hi Swaggers,

Looking at getting the daughter a small quad bike for Christmas.

Have been looking at something like a Honda 50 CC Quad and others. We use Polaris at work, which also do a 50 CC Quad.

Does anyone else out there have one? What do you recommend?

I'm looking at a 90 CC so she can grow into it, but SWMBO said no, we are only going to get a 50 CC.

[Black-Pig]

What age? I have seen reports of some nasty acidents with the young ones, and I nearly came a cropper on one when I was about 12... Going too fast on unknown property rounding up cattle, and did not see ditch until nearly too late.
Quads are not nearly as bad as trikes though! Does it come with some sort of remote kill switch so if she is away a bit and going to hit something you can stop the engine?
What will she ride it on. If on sand extra oomph might help?
Will watch with interest replies to this one, with youngun of my own, I might just need this info!

[Bird]

http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=26186.0
http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=13593.0
http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=23896.5

[StrvnMrvn]

What age? I have seen reports of some nasty acidents with the young ones, and I nearly came a cropper on one when I was about 12... Going too fast on unknown property rounding up cattle, and did not see ditch until nearly too late.
Quads are not nearly as bad as trikes though! Does it come with some sort of remote kill switch so if she is away a bit and going to hit something you can stop the engine?
What will she ride it on. If on sand extra oomph might help?
Will watch with interest replies to this one, with youngun of my own, I might just need this info!

3 years old, with either me or SWMBO on the back until she gets older. The bigger bike is for the boys (10 and 13) as well. They both ride their cousins bikes at their farm and are pretty confident. The bike will get ridden on hard ground, some mud, but not sand. Will look into a kill switch or even put one on myself that I can remove if the bike needs a service.

http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=26186.0
http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=13593.0
http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=23896.5

Thanks Bird, given me something to think about. We want to get our kids into riding and though that the 2 wheel version might be to much to start with. Might speak to Jet and see how he went!

[Moggy]

3!!!!!!!
Are you f@#kin serious. Buy her a bike that she has use her own muscles to propel.
FFS she can learn the motorized when she hits double digits.
Why would you even consider putting a 3 yr old on a motorized vehicle, she's still a baby.??

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

[StrvnMrvn]

3!!!!!!!
Are you f@#kin serious. Buy her a bike that she has use her own muscles to propel.
FFS she can learn the motorized when she hits double digits.
Why would you even consider putting a 3 yr old on a motorized vehicle, she's still a baby.??

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

WOWERS! I guess you didn't read that either myself or SMWBO would be on the bike as well until she is ready to ride it by herself....... which wouldn't be for years yet!

[Black-Pig]

3!!!!!!!
Are you f@#kin serious. Buy her a bike that she has use her own muscles to propel.
FFS she can learn the motorized when she hits double digits.
Why would you even consider putting a 3 yr old on a motorized vehicle, she's still a baby.??

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

Wowser thats some passion for the subject matter... Each to their own. If you are on the back and she is steering only then 50 is going to be too small. I would not let a 3yo out on their own no matter what. But that is me. I drove my first boat at about 4, with help. And yes there are pics but not digital, and I dont really see the difference. Both can be lethal if driven incorrectly. If under supervision ie your riding with her, with correct safety gear on, ie helmet, maybe padding, and that is the only way they get on then why not. 90cc should be fine for the boys.
But again that is just me!

[Barrabart]

G'day SM,

I'm with you mate, i'd be going for the bigger 90cc version........ unless u and the Mrs are both real light weights and small of stature i reckon the physical size of the 50cc unit would be real uncomfortable after even a few mins, then there's the whole lack of power problem, and the bike will have a load rating, so i imagine the little suspension set up would be getting a bit of a hard time with an adult on board..... also, with an adult sitting well towards the back of the little 50cc, i reckon it'd be very inclined to want to wheelstand, even on the slightest incline etc......

I reckon for an all round more enjoyable experience the 90cc would be a better choice. See if you and the Mrs can take a couple for a sit test or ride....... i'm sure any good bike dealer will have dealt with this before and be able to give you plenty of advice..... And like you say, the 90 will be usable for years to come.

I believe too on most these little bikes you can get adjustable throttle locks, so you can set so the bike can't go much above idle, just enough to get it moving, and yep the remote kill switch is a good idea too.

A flexi stick with flag (pink flag of course) is a good idead off the back of the bike too, helps other riders / drivers see the little kids in between the hills and bumps around a track (obviously i'm talking about once the little one is skilled up to ride on her own)..... also when the bikes are parked, it may stop someone in a car etc reversing into the parked bike.

As you have probably seen with your boys, the kids (boys and girls) will learn quite quickly how to get around on the quads, mini bikes etc........

oh, and don't forget the pink streamers in the hand grips, little girls have got to have some bling!

Good luck!

Barrabart.

[Swogjb]

Gday StrvnMrvn,

We went through the same as you about 3 years ago.
I really wanted to go for a 90cc machine but the sheer size of the bike made it hard for my 3yo daughter to steer at very low speed.(at 3yo it's all very low speed)
After test riding both the 90cc and the 50cc it was obvious that the smaller quad made more sense.
Ended up going for a Suzuki LTZ50, it has been  an absolutely brilliant bike that my daughter still rides today with no problems, I simply wind the governor in for the young bloke (3yo) to have a go, slowing the bike down to a walking pace taking no more than 20 seconds.
IMO I'd definitely stick with a Jap bike or the polaris machines look good also.

I copped a bit of stick on here a few years ago for asking a similar question about quad bikes and young kids from the fun police on this forum.
These people obviously dont understand, with strong adult supervision these small quad bikes can be a lot of safe fun for the kids.
Sometimes makes me wonder what some of thes sad bastards do for fun, they are the first to jump in and ridicule people about things they clearly know very little about.

Wrap the kids in cotton wool and put them in front of a bloody playstation..... Yeah that the way to bring up kids...... NOT

All the best with it all
Your daughter will absolutely have a ball.

 
Glenn

[nick_4x4]

Go the 90cc we got out daughter a 50cc when she was around 6-7 years old and she loved it but after a year she was too big for it. Her sister who was only 2-3 at the time loved it, she ended up riding it for a few years before we passed it onto someone who couldn't afford a new one as our kids were too big for it and had thrashed it for years.

A mate has a 90cc for his 4 year old and we just throttle limited it so he couldn't go too fast.

They are great for kids to learn on, only thing i hated was having to start it all the time.

[chester ver2.0]

Dude just buy a quad for yourself and wait she is only 3 she would not be able to handle one of any size untill she is at least 6 or 7 so by the time she can ride it by herself it will almost be time for trade up any way

Even at 6 or 7 the cognative reasoning is not there to realise it is a powerful machine even a 50cc one can get up to 35kph plus

I personally would just throw her on with you till she hits double digits

[britts]

Obviously not for a 3 year old, but my yamaha 350 has throttle screw that we wind in when my boys ride it. Boys are 11 & 13, top speed becomes about 30kph, push bikes don't work due to all the cateye burs,

[Coolblue80]

Get the kids on a bike as young as you can I say. Here's a pic of my boys bike I got him when he was 2.5 y.o. To say he loved it was an understatement. Not long after he turned 3 we took his training wheels off his pushbike. The training wheels come off the motorbike  just before he turned four. Just after he turned for he started racing Bmx. He's now 6 & loves the bikes like you wouldn't believe.
 Cheers, Mike.
 

[Team Evil]

Try   Cougar  Aussie company 3 year warranty  and safety specs below.

http://www.cougarrp.com.au/Claw90.aspx

In the safety department we have a fully adjustable throttle governor to allow you to control the top speed of the MINI CLAW90. It also has a rider fall off engine cut out switch to cut all power to the bike should the rider fall off. It also has a rear mounted parental/supervisor engine cut off switch so that you can cut all engine power to the bike to prevent an accident and stop the bike. Finally, the Mini Claw has an optional remote engine stop module that can be fitted at an extra cost.

[StrvnMrvn]

Get the kids on a bike as young as you can I say. Here's a pic of my boys bike I got him when he was 2.5 y.o. To say he loved it was an understatement. Not long after he turned 3 we took his training wheels off his pushbike. The training wheels come off the motorbike  just before he turned four. Just after he turned for he started racing Bmx. He's now 6 & loves the bikes like you wouldn't believe.
 Cheers, Mike.
 

Thanks Mike! That looks to be a Yamaha?! SWMBO did ask if you can get training wheels for 2 wheelers which I wasn't sure of. Now I know you can. Did you get them when you bought the bike?

Cheers Strvy

Try   Cougar  Aussie company 3 year warranty  and safety specs below.

http://www.cougarrp.com.au/Claw90.aspx

In the safety department we have a fully adjustable throttle governor to allow you to control the top speed of the MINI CLAW90. It also has a rider fall off engine cut out switch to cut all power to the bike should the rider fall off. It also has a rear mounted parental/supervisor engine cut off switch so that you can cut all engine power to the bike to prevent an accident and stop the bike. Finally, the Mini Claw has an optional remote engine stop module that can be fitted at an extra cost.

Thanks mate, did look at these on bikesales. Do they have any suppliers in the Brisbane area? Weipa and Toowoomba are a fair way out of the way.

[speedcomm]

I don't get his logic either, all 3 of my kids have learnt to ride our PW50 ( 2 wheeler ) without training wheels and without remote any things at around 4 years old. My youngest who is 6 is confident and capable on the PW50, able to safely and smartly ride around, all 3 have definitely understood speed versus hurt, the eldest daughter and middle boy both ride bigger bikes now, they all wear proper safety gear and everyone has a ball. To the OP I say go for it ! Motorcycling learnt properly is wonderful skill to have for the rest of your life.

Dude just buy a quad for yourself and wait she is only 3 she would not be able to handle one of any size untill she is at least 6 or 7 so by the time she can ride it by herself it will almost be time for trade up any way

Even at 6 or 7 the cognative reasoning is not there to realise it is a powerful machine even a 50cc one can get up to 35kph plus

I personally would just throw her on with you till she hits double digits

[Coolblue80]

Thanks Mike! That looks to be a Yamaha?! SWMBO did ask if you can get training wheels for 2 wheelers which I wasn't sure of. Now I know you can. Did you get them when you bought the bike?

Yep Yamaha Ttr50. Leccy start with 3 speed semi auto. Got the training wheels when I got the bike.
Cheers, Mike.

[Pog]

I just bought my 6 year old boy a Yamaha TTR110 2 wheeler. It is his first bike, and after 2 or 3 rides, he has become fairly comfortable on it. He can start & stop by himself.

I have just ordered my 4 year old boy a Yamaha TTR50 2 wheeler. He has had a few rides of a demo bike, and has picked it up really well.

Of course, the boys are well supervised when riding, and they wear all of the safety gear I can get on them.

OP - Go for it, but teach the children safe use of bikes, and ALWAYS gear up with safety, even if it's a quick ride.

[Jasman]

Hi Swaggers,

Looking at getting the daughter a small quad bike for Christmas.

Have been looking at something like a Honda 50 CC Quad and others. We use Polaris at work, which also do a 50 CC Quad.

Does anyone else out there have one? What do you recommend?

I'm looking at a 90 CC so she can grow into it, but SWMBO said no, we are only going to get a 50 CC.

Hey Mate, I know this isn't answering your question but I would encourage you to do a bit of research on the safety of quads, I would never put my kids on one because they offer a false level of confidence that kills too many kids, in fact a recent government report has called for them to be banned for kids.

I think a two wheeler is much better option because it requires them to master a few more fundamentals before they get into as sticky situations and when they do come off they typically get thrown clear of the bike and even if it does fall on them they weigh a lot less.

My two boys have a PW50, TTR50 and a CRF110 - went for the Honda because it has a throttle limiter, the TTR110 doesn't and these things scoot along even lugging around my fat butt.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/quad-bike-safety-ban-children-and-make-helmets-mandatory-20140301-33t1f.html

To prove I'm not a member of the fun police here's one of my boys on the 110 learning to jump, needless to say I was proud of him:

[Mrs smith]

I think a two wheeler is much better option because it requires them to master a few more fundamentals before they get into as sticky situations and when they do come off they typically get thrown clear of the bike and even if it does fall on them they weigh a lot less.

My two boys have a PW50, TTR50 and a CRF110 - went for the Honda because it has a throttle limiter, the TTR110 doesn't and these things scoot along even lugging around my fat butt.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/quad-bike-safety-ban-children-and-make-helmets-mandatory-20140301-33t1f.html

To prove I'm not a member of the fun police here's one of my boys on the 110 learning to jump, needless to say I was proud of him:

What people don't consider is  if the worst should happen and the child ends up under
a quad if it rolls, even at low speed is the weight of quad bike landing on a small child would be considerable.
Plenty of adults been crushed while spaying just by the shear weight. 

[speedcomm]

Valid point ! All the crashes my kids have had on the 2 wheelers they have gone one direction and the bike another.
The only other thing I will add is that my kids all were riding 2 wheel push bikes before we got them on a motorbike, didn't like the idea of training wheels

 

What people don't consider is  if the worst should happen and the child ends up under
a quad if it rolls, even at low speed is the weight of quad bike landing on a small child would be considerable.
Plenty of adults been crushed while spaying just by the shear weight.