What (dirt) bike for 7 year old?

[MotorCade]

Originally Posted by 5punksdad

Interesting choice of a number.

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Ha! yeah, well, wasn't much of a choice - was on the bike already.

He rode it great. Was a little shaky as he figured out the controls, but after a few straight line starts and stops, we worked in the turns, and within half an hour he was cruising up and down the street. Still only using first gear and neutral for now. We'll have to go put some cones out at the local church parking lot and play for a while. Dirt after that.

Cade

[troy safari carpente]

Originally Posted by MotorCade

He rode it great. Was a little shaky as he figured out the controls, but after a few straight line starts and stops, we worked in the turns, and within half an hour he was cruising up and down the street. Still only using first gear and neutral for now. We'll have to go put some cones out at the local church parking lot and play for a while. Dirt after that.

Cade

Congratulations on the purchase. Wishing you some great times; both while teaching him to ride, and out on the trails together as he progresses.

[5punksdad]

FYI. A technique I used with success is this.

Get him on the bike with u.

Ride it casual and point out the correct way. Then rev it to the moon and show him what not to do. He will recognize the engine noise and may save you a motor.

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[troy safari carpente]

Originally Posted by MotorCade

He rode it great. Was a little shaky as he figured out the controls, but after a few straight line starts and stops, we worked in the turns, and within half an hour he was cruising up and down the street. Still only using first gear and neutral for now. We'll have to go put some cones out at the local church parking lot and play for a while. Dirt after that.

Cade

hey Cade, how goes it with the Kawa' and the young fella...???

I had my little bloke out on the weekend... He's grown a tad this summer, so now we have set the forks and rear shock to the + 25mm (full travel setting). he is lovin' it!










Even when it turned to slop in the afternoon rain... he just changed jacket and boots... and kept on going and going...

[Baja Dad]

Troy!!!
the kid looks faster then YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MotorCade]

Hey! Really well actually. We're going up to Big Bear for some camping and trail riding for the latter half of next week. I'll post up some off-road pics after the fact.

Cheers!

[troy safari carpente]

Originally Posted by Baja Dad

Troy!!!
the kid looks faster then YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He probably will be...

I notice that your lad is named after a faster rider than you as well...???

[KX50002]

Should've gotten him a KX500, that way he can grow into it. He'll outgrow that thing in a few years!

Looks like he's having a blast! have fun

[troy safari carpente]

Originally Posted by KX50002

Should've gotten him a KX500, that way he can grow into it. He'll outgrow that thing in a few years!

Well, actually he started out at age five on my 950 SuperEnduro...





and has cut plenty of laps with me on a kitted YZF 450...



So yeah... a KX 500 probably would seem a bit tame by comparison... eh?

[KX50002]

Originally Posted by troy safari carpente

Well, actually he started out at age five on my 950 SuperEnduro...





and has cut plenty of laps with me on a kitted YZF 450...



So yeah... a KX 500 probably would seem a bit tame by comparison... eh?

That's how I got started, riding on the gas tank of my father's TM400, then later on a 500 Triumph.
Eventually I graduated to a Yamaha 60 that my brother brought home in boxes, and put together for me.

You're doin your son alotta favors here!! He'll never forget the time spent riding together. I'd give anything to burn the bottom of my right foot on the pipe of that Triumph again

[troy safari carpente]

Originally Posted by KX50002

You're doin your son alotta favors here!! He'll never forget the time spent riding together. I'd give anything to burn the bottom of my right foot on the pipe of that Triumph again

Yep... for sure. That's how I got my start also... on the back of my uncles tricked out TS 185 Suzuki. I have even raced with my father a couple times* (Pony Express 4 hour team enduro, when I was 14 years old - *back in the early 1980's), so I want my son to have the same sort of fond memories when he grows up... We really enjoy the time we share on the bikes together riding or training; I think that it makes for better people... as well as riders (skill sets, experience etc.).

Cheers to all the Dads with young sons that are coached to ride.

[MotorCade]

A belated and abridged trip report here from our Big Bear Camping/Motorcycling trip last week:

Trucked up one of my 'fants and his KLX 110 with my wife and both boys (first camping trip ever for the 8 month old) and a tent trailer in tow. Hit up Pine Flats campground in Big Bear, which is pretty darn perfect for his first time out on the dirt. It was even more so because we arrived mid-week and had the campground to ourselves for the first couple days. On Saturday a few other boys showed up (9 year olds) so Riley picked up his pace to keep up with them and his skills and confidence improved drastically that day. We left late in the day on Saturday, and the campground was starting to get busier.

All in all, he rode really well. He did drop the bike a couple times - first time at slow speed (first day) and he broke off the peg on the shift lever. After I scratched my head a while, I came up with a repair that kept him riding for the rest of the trip. After that, the drops were from learning more technical terrain - once in deep ruts, and once in heavy sand (tried to go too slow).

By the end of Saturday, he was using 3rd gear and keeping up with the other boys pretty well.

First day

IMG_4743 by MotorCade77, on Flickr

IMG_4742 by MotorCade77, on Flickr

Ready to ride with Dad

IMG_4766 by MotorCade77, on Flickr

Heading out for adventure!


IMG_4768 by MotorCade77, on Flickr

Busted parts and my "lemme scrounge through my tool bag" fix. Didn't have much on hand, next time will bring spares. Wasn't perfect, but was enough to be ridden for three days.


IMG_4734 by MotorCade77, on Flickr

[5punksdad]

Anybody looking for a ttr50..... I have one for sale.

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[troy safari carpente]

Originally Posted by Baja Dad

Troy!!!
the kid looks faster then YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

to be eight









Then 9...

[corndog67]

650GS. Oh wait, he's not a girl.

How about a little Honda XR? 80, 100, awesome reliable bikes.