Letters to the editor

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Letters to the editor

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Letters to the editor

Letters to the editor
Subject: Children as passengers

04/23/2009

Children’s program – instead of telly or computer, go outside on a journey together! Children can easily get excited about such a program. However, the adults should pay attention to voluntary self-restraint and age ratings for the pillion seat

MOTORRAD has a reader survey on the topic for a focus in issue 10/2009 “Children as passengers” started and asked for your opinions and experiences. Here we have collected a selection of letters to the editor for you. Have fun while reading.

Letter to the editor
Hello, yes, we have two children aged four and six. My daughter, aged six, rides with me on a BMW K1200s. Yes, I also wondered if that was correct. But my daughter didn’t give in until she persuaded my wife to go with Papa too. Only the mother rightly said: “Only with full protective clothing” So my daughter was given full protective clothing. I installed a top case on the motorcycle and got myself a kidney belt with handles from Held.

After 2-3 exits, I installed a wireless intercom, which was the best investment. We can now talk and talk about driving behavior. And I could laugh a lot at my daughter’s sayings: ” Dad, let the engine roar, accelerate and so on.” I drove very carefully at the beginning and then we slowly improved.

I think riding a motorcycle with my daughter is great and I don’t regret it.

My son now wants to emulate my daughter and also drive. But I told him he had to come to school first and be six years old. … Or should I think again about buying a team???

Kind regards


Letters to the editor

“What does grandpa and grandma mean here are seldom enthusiastic?” – Grandpa Peter likes to take his grandchildren with him on his motorcycle.

Letter to the editor from Peter F.
Good day! What do you mean, grandma and grandpa are seldom enthusiastic? The opposite is the case with us! As a grandpa, I enjoy when the grandchildren come with me on tour. And for the kids, a voucher for a motorcycle tour with their grandfather is a popular birthday present. I’ve never had problems with the children on a trip like this. In my opinion, our motorcycle, a Goldwing, is ideal for carrying children on the pillion passenger. The seat is comfortable and gives you support and security. However, there are a few more points to consider for the exit.

Good equipment for the driver and kid should go without saying. The intercom system on our Goldwing is very much appreciated. Children have a lot to say and ask. Without communication, they come to each other “lost” and alone before. We also have a seat belt for passengers (bought at Polo) that the driver straps on.

It is important to plan a children’s tour. It should not be too long, especially for the younger ones (possible from the age of 7 in Switzerland). The pure driving time is not that attractive for children either. Extended stops at places that are attractive for children are essential. In summer, a swim at a lake is very welcome. Light snacks and enough drinks are further contributions for a successful excursion with the kids. And don’t forget to protect your children’s face with sunscreen in summer.

The driving style should also be appropriate for the child. A “sportier” and risky driving style is completely out of place. If the young passengers even get scared, the joy of motorcycling disappears at a young age. Prepared and carried out in this way, every trip with my grandchildren has been a success for me.

Kind regards
Peter F.

Letter to the editor from Carsten
I really like taking my girlfriend’s boys (seven and four years old) with me on my motorcycle, wherever “mummy” also 100% agree. But of course not without paying attention to a few things: sensible clothing (easily accessible from size 116) is of course just as compulsory as a sensible helmet (just like the driver). Then you should have a child seat http://www.stamatakis.net/index.html), which gives a good grip to the rear and to the side. I also mount the cases on my Africa Twin so that the motorcycle lies on the case and not on the leg in the event of a fall. It also gives the passenger a sense of security when they see suitcases next to them instead of asphalt scurrying past.

The travel times should of course not be too long or timely breaks should be taken. Especially at the beginning it is better to only do short tours so that the fun factor is in the foreground and not that “Keep up”.

Now for the effects:

Often children in school / kindergarten tell what they did on the weekend. It is probably a better feeling for the little ones to say: “I was riding a motorcycle with dad” including a camping weekend, when hanging out in front of the Playstation or Gameboy again. In any case, the self-confidence of our 4-year-old has multiplied after his 1st pillion tour, but in a positive sense. The next time is eagerly awaited, as is the first solo ride on the PW50 in the garage.

The usual statements “way too dangerous!!!” we find a little exaggerated. Of course, something can always happen, just like e.g. on the way to school or on the bike or in the car or while romping / climbing, or, or, or … But if you drive responsibly and with the appropriate care, the positive effects outweigh the rest. We will not withhold this fun from our children just because it does not correspond to the norm of our society.

With this in mind, we look forward to many accident-free and happy kilometers.

Greetings and a sunny season
Carsten

Motorcycling with children


Letters to the editor

Maite (2 years) is an enthusiastic motorcycle socia.

Letter to the editor from Ralf K.
My daughter Maite (two years old) is an enthusiastic social partner. She loves motorcycles and riding motorcycles more than anything. However, in the sidecar of a team. I have an Africa twin with a Schmid SKB dinghy. This is built extremely robust from VA sheet metal and also has a stable roll bar. In addition, harness belts to which I am currently still attaching a good child seat. Unfortunately, there is still no suitable helmet for your age. After exchanging experiences with other teammates transporting children, I have the smallest possible helmet in the boat, but I have never had any problems with the police. Which may also be due to a certain legal uncertainty of the police in this regard, but my driving style is also more of the passive kind, especially with a passenger in the boat. In addition, as a trailer driver you also have a certain bonus.

I took my daughter on tour for the first time when she was 14 months old. First very short laps, but then quickly a longer distance, because she was enthusiastic about the thing from the start. After all, the highlight was a vacation in Denmark in Lokken. With a team, tent and a dog. At that time she was 17 months old. And even after long daily strolls, she still liked to crawl into the sidecar in the evening to play in it, crowing hamm-hamming and turning an imaginary throttle hand. Whenever I put on my jacket and pick up my helmet, she wants to go with me. The reactions are always positive. At the biker meeting there is usually a big hello. But I think that some will also look critically. But I think I am aware of my responsibility.

It is really important to take a lot of breaks and always keep an eye on the child. Communicate with the child whenever possible. And to provide variety. Which actually applies to every trip with children, even in the car. In any case, an intercom system is also useful. Well, and I’ve changed quite a few diapers on the boot lid of the boat. From the bottle to the interchangeable body and favorite cuddly animal, everything was always there. We definitely have a lot of fun driving together and I never want to be without it.

But I would never transport a child on a solo machine. After a blind stupid driver shot me down, which resulted in some titanium implants in the spine, that would be just too dangerous for me.

Ralf K.

Letter to the editor from Thomas K.
Kids on the motorcycle? Yes, of course, why not. (Safety clothing mandatory)

I’ve been taking my daughter with me since she was four years old. She was enthusiastic from the start. Super athletes are particularly suitable for children because the pillion pegs are high. Another tip is the kidney belt from Held with handles, where children can hold on. A child-friendly driving style with long breaks is important. In any case, my daughter and I enjoy every tour together.

For me the whole thing still has a very positive aspect. My mother-in-law has not spoken to me since I went on tour with Julia; a state that I have always wished for!

Thomas K.

Letter to the editor from Jens G.
Hello motorcycle editorial team, I was faced with the questions almost exactly a year ago “Driving with a child, yes or no, and if so, which machine ?”. My daughter was 7 1/2 years old and my previous machine, a BMW R65 LS Bj. 83, wanted to say goodbye to me – so what should I do? After test drives on a Suzuki DL 650 V-Strom, BMW F 800 GS and F 650 GS, BMW F 800 ST and a Honda Transalp, the decision was clearly in favor of the V-Strom. The following arguments were decisive: * Position driver and passenger very good, very comfortable seating, * Easy handling of the machine (we live on the coast of Barcelona and can enjoy every curve of the coastal roads and the streets of the nearby wine-growing region Penedes) * Very good Protection of the exhaust, especially for smaller pillion riders (does not work with the BMW series F ?? exposed, the little co-driver will burn their legs) * Very good side protection with attached Givi cases * Rear handles easily accessible for pillion rider * Wind protection very good * high-revving engine ??. * And last but not least, a local dealer who offers very good service and who is super helpful? Total failure at BMW (dealers Caño Cataluña in Sant Cugat and Barcelona a single catastrophe in terms of customer service? 3 months waiting time for test drive F 800 GS, asked 4 times by me, at the agreed time on Sat. 10:00 am, the only employee in the branch was not there (15 min. Delay) The machine’s tank was empty, I had to pay for fuel myself ??. And the machine was super hard seat, strong vibrations in the handlebars above about 4,500 rpm and for the operation with a small passenger much too much forwards inclined seat, so that my daughter was literally pressed on my back? optically hui, driving impression ugh, although the yellow-black impressed me the most visually and made me buy a new one ??)

Equipment for kids: In many shops there is no beste best solutions from Polo and Louis, whereby the cheaper jackets and pants have the disadvantage that the lining cannot be removed on warmer days with little wind, as there is a lot behind Papa’s wide back too warm ?? better a bit more expensive with pull-out lining. The protective pads are available for all important areas (back, shoulder, elbow, hip and knee). From my point of view, the topic of boots is neglected – the polo version was more of a compromise purchase.

Helmets: Due to limited selection, we started with the Marushin 111, as there are 3 different inner sizes in the SET; Disadvantage: if you are 7-8 years old, the largest size is just enough, so a new one was due (smallest adult size, fiberglass helmet from LS2). Louis and Polo own brands receive poor test results and the fit is also rather poor.

The helmet intercom from Cardo Scala Rider 2 ??. The size difference prevents communication from helmet to helmet and my daughter loves to share her impressions immediately. But also that with minor problems – something is pressing or disturbing – Dad can help immediately and stop if necessary. The holding hooks that are available at Polo are unusable, at least for people with a little stomach and for smaller children, because the holding point is far too far forward. A side bracket would be ideal, but I haven’t found it anywhere. Gloves are also difficult to find as there is little choice. We helped each other with ski gloves, as my daughter’s hand size is currently the smallest woman’s size, but there it is “fun” only at about 50 ?? starts upwards – below the fit is rather poor.

Fact: both father and daughter have a lot of fun, although the mostly beautiful weather also plays its part…

From my point of view, the starting age for a small pillion passenger is 7 to 8 years and a height of approx. 130 cm, as the legs are only then long enough to find a reasonable grip on the footrests and the arms long enough to be close to the driver to be able to hold onto. The V-Strom was also exactly the right choice, even if there are perhaps more beautiful machines….

Saludos / Kind regards
Jens G.

Motorcycling with children


Letters to the editor

Denise (10 years) has long been infected by the motorcycle virus.

Letter to the editor from Heiko W.
I got myself a 650 bandit last year. Even then, my daughter Denise (10) was very curious about Daddy’s new toys and said right away: “I want to go there too!”. She then paid for her helmet with her pocket money (she insisted!). Further protective clothing, motorcycle boots, gloves and additional protectors in the clothing were then quickly selected.

The first short drive was up and down the street with a maximum of 20 km / h and a lot of squeaking under the helmet – the curiosity was aroused. The journeys got longer and longer (>50 km) and better. For additional hold, I bought a kidney belt with 2 handles (POLO) that can be worn over the jacket, but this belt turned out to be unusable because the handles were too far forward. The handles were reached, however “docked” my daughter’s helmet is already on my back – uncomfortable and not relaxed driving.

The little Bandit as an all-rounder touring machine is not so ideal in terms of the driver’s seat, too narrow and the very bottom hurts immediately, but the passenger in the back seems to like it. You also sit a little higher. A newly upholstered Bagster bench with a gel insert will probably be the next thing to come.

She was actually doing it like a grown-up pillion passenger: her hands on the back of the grab handle, or on my hips. The squeaking under the helmet has also subsided. An absolute no are motorway journeys, alpine passes and expressways, better “normal” Roads and at an appropriate speed and driving style, according to the “small pillion passenger” adapted, without complete protective clothing nothing works anyway. You should plan tours together with the child and urgently take several breaks, otherwise it will get boring back there and concentration will decrease. Also praise the child during the breaks, “great with in the curves” etc. but also the non-adapted posture should be explained to the child in detail and calmly or what can be done better, then it will also work.

She’s already at the dealer “Open-door day” I drove a quad and children’s crosser myself and didn’t want to stop.

It’s also just cool for my daughter to drive in front of the ice cream parlor and see people’s faces when she takes off her helmet, that’s a kid and a girl too! Of course, you can also hear a few opposing voices: Much too dangerous! Way too fast!

Our daughter can also be thrown off while riding and seriously injure herself, so I’m more worried. As a driver, you just have to be aware that the most precious thing you have is driving behind you, your family!

Kind regards
Heiko W..

Letter to the editor from Ralf O.
Hello, I took my two boys with me when I was three years old. However, I had a child motorcycle seat with the little pillion behind the driver “clamped” will. The feet were secured in an extra loop. The whole thing on a BMW R100R, the smooth running of the engine was probably quite drowsy because the little one basically fell asleep in it. He has never sat in any way unsafe and certainly not uncomfortable. However, I never did any tours like this because, in my opinion, it was motorized enough otherwise “Hazards” on the street there. On my current R1100RT, the now larger children sit quite safely even without a child seat and can also hold on to themselves.

Regards
Ralf O.

Letter to the editor from M.Rzadca
As the father of two children aged four and now eight and more or less year-round driver, it is difficult to avoid this topic.

Since my older son clearly expressed his desire to go with them at a very early age, I also made one or two considerations. From the outset, a child seat was different, e.g. from Stamatakis, as it could not be attached to my slightly converted Triumph Daytona. So I wedged him between me and the seat cover. So I always had good physical contact and he had nowhere to slip.

Incidentally, the first small tours only took place in very short stages of a maximum of 20 km. But after the first “optical” Checking in the shop window it became clear that the boy couldn’t really enjoy looking at the sky all the time.

As a result, the interest quickly flattened when asked more closely (and you should ask carefully, since the offspring does not want to be inferior to dad in any way). In the meantime, my thoughts on buying a chopper and equipping it with footrests and a place to stop in front of me were shattered. The TuV, as well as the police, could not give me any information if I asked where the pillion was sitting.

After several months (the children were driven from the parking lot to the front door, only to the great delight of mom) came the first own reaction from the older of the two.

Meanwhile in possession of a Buell STT, smaller trips were made again. Now you could see a lot more fun in the matter. The fun was so great that I could watch my son’s happy face scratching a curve in the mirror. The kid had just leaned so far into the curve that I was afraid and afraid.

After a thorough discussion with the Filius it was clear that this was the only way for him to see something (except the clouds, of course). After this “Adjusting the facts” and a real shock, I had to turn my ideas upside down.

In my opinion, it is only possible to take small children with you on the back of a few motorcycles and, above all, makes sense. First and foremost, the parents’ ambition and ego are being pushed. Buckling up, especially in a child seat, and whether on a bike or motorcycle, I consider life-threatening. If the worst comes to the worst, you must be able to detach yourself from the motorcycle.

Choppers are certainly one of the few machines that can be used to tour relatively sensibly. I would particularly like to point out the raised seating position in connection with a sissy bar. Anyone who dares to ride a motorcycle with children must be aware of the consequences. If an accident happens, the worst can happen. Whole families could break up and have to answer for the death of their own child, I don’t want anyone. I have learned my lessons from these experiences.

The first thing I did was to put my son Arvid in front of me. The next logical step was to put your own footpegs at the right height. The center strut of my enduro handlebar was the perfect grab handle. So we rush through the country a few times. Now I was constantly informed about the speed at which I was driving, to blink I only had to say right or left and my son’s broad grin was reflected in the fittings of the Buell.

We have found the best solution for us. By the way, the whole thing was stopped on our last exit by the friendly police. (my son, now eight years old, just got too big so that I no longer had enough freedom of movement and we agreed on a graduation trip)

After a few puns as to whether I had the full taste, they rummaged in your catalog of fines, but where you could not find the appropriate accusation (I refer here to the inquiries at the TuV and the police). We then agreed on “Violation of the security obligation” which gave the officer a happy, almost childlike expression. I was born with 75, – ?? and three points rewarded.

Since my son’s world has collapsed because he has to sit in the back again, I can only say in conclusion? It’s a shame I didn’t think of it earlier. No one can take the trips that we have made from us. Who knows if he will be able to experience being pushed out of the curve with a fat V2 sound in 10-15 years, if he has his driver’s license himself. I don’t think so – it will probably be the hum of electric motors.

M.Rzadca

PS: On our trips, my son always wore full motorcycle clothing, gloves and a well-fitting children’s helmet. When he was in the back, I attached a padded roll of luggage behind him and carried a kidney belt with handles myself.

Motorcycling with children


Letters to the editor

Jonas, Lukas, Martina and Heinz prefer to go on tour as a whole family.

Letter to the editor from Heinz D:
Yes, we also take our children with us on motorbikes and have a lot of fun doing it. On our tours we have met enthusiastic, but also worried, even angry fellow human beings. For us, this way of traveling creates a very nice and intense feeling of togetherness in the family.

Our sons are now 11 and 13 years old and we have had wonderful motorcycle tours together. We have made various trips within Germany over the past four years. When arriving by car and trailer, we experienced Austria, southern France and northern Spain on two wheels. The highlight was our last year’s motorcycle vacation trip along the Baltic coast through Poland, Lithuania and Latvia to Riga.

Our requirements for great and relaxed tours are:

1. Maximum safety on the motorcycle
– the child must be able to sit safely on the motorcycle (height)
– it must be possible to rest the feet properly on the footrests.
– the child must be dressed in full, well-fitting safety clothing
– a defensive driving style of the parents

2. A joint tour planning

-the children plan the tour with which attractions / sights they would like to visit
– Interesting overnight accommodations (places and / or accommodations e.g. youth hostels in old castles – Altena Sauerland Castle)
– Planning of “driving-free” Days

3. while driving
– Communication, mutual references to attractions along the route
– sufficient breaks in driving
– frequent inquiries about the condition of the children
– Entertainment, e.g. MP3 player with music and / or audio books

4. Stage length
– If you are going on your first tours with a child, short distances are advisable. You should always reassure yourself how the child is feeling. The length of the tour can be increased depending on the child’s liking.
– With our current experience, daily driving times of 5 – 6 hours are possible, interrupted by 2 ?? 3 long breaks.

5. after the ride
– intensive discussion of the impressions of the day

We can only express our personal attitude towards motorcycling with children here. Everyone knows that the statistical risk of accidents for motorcyclists is higher than when driving a car. Motorcycling parents have to decide this for themselves, it is important that everyone involved feels comfortable.

Have a nice motorcycle season 2009 and best regards

Jonas, Lukas, Martina and Heinz D.

Letter to the editor from Heinrich K.
For a few years now, around twice a year, I’ve been taking my grandchildren on a day trip alternately. From the beginning it was important to me that the right motorcycle clothing, kidney belt, helmet and shoes were available.

Both wanted to ride much earlier, but my statement was: As soon as you get on the footrests with your shoes, nothing stands in the way of a tour. Every time I woke my motorcycle from hibernation in the spring, both of them were standing by and had to try out whether they could put on the footrests.

You have to talk to the kids about it and explain how they should behave, otherwise they can fall asleep because it is too boring for them.

Kind regards
Heinrich K.

Letter to the editor from S. R.
Hello, on the subject “Driving with children” I only have good experiences. Our son has been traveling with us since he was three years old. Of course, ONLY with a child seat.

We have the Stamatakis, which is super easy to attach to all mopeds (that we own / owned). The only disadvantage is the strap for the child’s feet – it is actually too long, so that the driver occasionally sits on the buckles, which can be uncomfortable depending on the position. It goes without saying that he has a helmet and a motorcycle jacket and gloves. Leather boots for the winter have to be used as a replacement for motorcycle boots – there aren’t any mini-sized ones, and neither are motorcycle pants, which I don’t really like, but can’t be changed either . But soon one should finally fit!

First we used a Black Widow, on which, due to the driver’s seating position, the child cannot even fall out of the child seat when they fall asleep – we already had. However, it still helps to stop immediately and let the dwarf romp around a little, then he’ll hold out for a while. In the meantime he (now five) also rides a VFR, but the contact with the motorcycle and the driver is not as intensive and therefore perhaps not ideal for the beginning.

In general, I recommend an intercom system in which the driver always hears what the child is saying, even without having to press a button – otherwise the little ones forget too often.

The driving distances should not be too far and if possible allow a break in an interesting place (for the CHILD!). In my experience, 20 to 30 minutes are still OK for a 3-year-old, then he needs a bit of variety. ‘But stretches of up to 60 minutes at a time are now feasible. Certainly not a trip around the world, but if junior is to have fun with the ride for a longer time, it is better not to overwhelm.

Of course, I had adapted my driving style. I first drove extremely carefully through the place where my pillion passenger had extensively tested the wind, visibility and freedom of movement. Despite the cruiser and the certainty that he actually can’t get out, there is definitely one or the other rush of adrenaline. Best to stop and talk about it – helped with our child. He still likes to look down at the street, but more cautiously now. Country road speed of 60 – 70 km / h seemed sufficient to me at the beginning, but after 2 or 3 exits I became for the first time “admonished” but please drive a little faster – it was boring so slowly (interview: “Papa finally give it all out!!!”) So, once the children have got used to it, you can definitely accelerate the pace a bit and try inclines from time to time – everything else is boring for ours.
So that there are no misunderstandings – I still drive cautiously and even more foresight than usual! The freight is just too valuable to me! If you want to work off your home route in record time, you should leave your child at home!!!

In summary, I can only say, take your children with you, listen to them drive and talk to them. Point out interesting things on the roadside (you won’t see it until so late) and turn your brain on! A well-planned, short stretch with a break is enough to get you started. Then it’s a great experience for everyone!

Oh yes, you should be prepared for the fact that driving with a child is considerably more strenuous than with an adult pillion or even solo, if only because of the increased concentration!

Kind regards

S.R.

Motorcycling with children


Letters to the editor

Taking breaks is important when riding a motorcycle with children, but Lena (10 years old) doesn’t mind longer stages either.

Letter to the editor from Winni M.
Here are our experiences on the subject of motorcycling with children: Our daughter Lena is now ten years old and is already an enthusiastic companion in her fourth year. At the age of seven, she expressed a desire to ride on the motorcycle. It was big enough, the feet easily reached the footrests. Before the first tour, we dressed her completely with properly fitting clothes and a well-fitting helmet. as “backrest” serves a baggage roll stuffed with pillows. This is both comfortable and a backup to the rear. She is also connected to her dad, with whom she usually rides, through a helmet intercom. So he always knows if everything is okay with her. Time goes by faster too, because the two of them tell jokes and sing a song.

The first tours were very short (up to approx. 50 km) and super smooth, no high speeds or accelerations. As soon as Lena didn’t feel like it anymore or it got too warm, too cold, too boring, ……, we started on our way home. We stopped whenever she wanted. We often had a picnic with us that we enjoyed on a beautiful meadow. We also tried to combine activities with a small tour so that the driving was interrupted by other interesting things (e.g. visiting a knight’s market, visiting friends).

The tours got longer from year to year, Lena more and more patient and courageous. In the meantime, she cheers her dad on when things are not going fast enough or the lean angle is not enough.

Last year we were on vacation in Tyrol, daily stages of up to 300 km are no longer a problem. On the way back we even had to survive a 500 km rainy motorway drive, which she went along without complaining (she also wanted to go home instead of driving around in the rain for days).

We really enjoy that our daughter shares our hobby and that we can do a lot as a family. Naturally, the grandparents don’t think our decision to take Lena with us is a good one. But they respect it and don’t let Lena know when she enthusiastically tells motorcycle stories.

In our experience, with a little patience, it is very easy to get a child used to riding with you. You just can’t force the child, then they’ll lose their appetite. Thank god it worked for us!

Winni M.

Letter to the editor from Lothar E.
An interesting as well as difficult topic. Basically, from my point of view, nothing speaks against taking your children with you on the pillion. However, some requirements should be met. Proper clothing with the highest level of protection, sufficient body size for relaxed sitting even on longer stretches, regular breaks and a slow increase in tour lengths are the minimum for me. In addition, every child behaves differently on the pillion passenger, and every machine places different demands on the ergonomics of the child. But also important: the child has to have fun with it himself and not just see it as the only chance to do something with his or her father or mother. Parents should keep in mind that children like to mirror their parents’ enthusiasm in order to please them. You can see in their eyes whether they really enjoy it when you invite them to a round … Because basically, even after 15 minutes at the latest, we would be sitting behind a much, much taller person and condemned to passivity, very, very boring . Children get bored much faster, but may not show it because “Dad thinks that’s great”.

So I can only say one thing in general: it depends on the child and the circumstances. I consider it irresponsible to force children to do so or even to take them with you in a child seat. From my point of view, anyone who is so small does not have the neck muscles to wear an incredibly heavy helmet for long enough.

So my conclusion: if the little ones enjoy it, if adequate safety precautions have been taken and the parent is aware of their responsibility for the valuable cargo – why not? But also a word of warning: it is very, very difficult to take responsibility when something happens. I experienced that myself in 2 families. In one of them, the 18-year-old son (pushed by his father to tour together, self-drive) had a fatal accident and the family broke up. The other family had 1 child in the sidecar, one on the back of the team. Team overturned, son on the pillion under the motorcycle with a cracked spleen and bladder and several burns. The father is still nibbling on it today and no longer drives a motorcycle – not even alone.

Lothar E..

Letter to the editor from Robert S.
Our children have been riding motorcycles with us since 1987 and have now
even motorcycles.

How did it all start??
In 1986 I had an accident with my Kawasaki KL600 on the way to
Work. Our firstborn was just under a year old. The broken Kawa was traded in at the dealer and a Moto Guzzi California II was ordered. At IFMA 1986, sidecars and sidecars were examined and a Jewell sidecar was ordered in November. It was one of the first to come to Germany via Helmut Walter in Kassel-Korle. At the beginning of February, the Guzzi and the sidecar were there and I was able to marry them off at the dealer.

In 1987 our second son was born and in the summer of 1988 we spent our first holiday in the south of France with a team, when Bjorn couldn’t even walk. Then in the following years we always drove our kids around in a team. In 1991 our daughter came and moved into her own house. First of all, it was time to take a break.

In 1994 a BMW R 1100RS was supposed to enable us to enjoy motorcycling with the whole family, because my wife always rode with us. Vacation in Schleswig Holstein and Denmark or again in the south of France was brilliant and unique. My wife drove the team and I drove the BMW. 2 kids in the sidecar and one on the BMW pillion. But in 1999 the Guzzi broke in southern France.

In the meantime a Triumph Sprint ST was in the garage and the team was no longer so important, because our sons now also rode on the solo motorcycles. Another Sprint ST replaced the BMW and holidays in Trentino on Lake Idro or on Lake Trasimeno brought a lot of driving fun with and without children.

It was always important to us that the children also wore the right protective clothing. That is why helmets and leather clothing were always required as a pillion passenger. Compromises were made in the sidecar because the leather suit wouldn’t have been of much use. The clothes were then passed on from child to child and this gave us good use of the equipment.

In 2003 it was our eldest son who had a driver’s license and soon owned a Fazer 600. We hardly believed that he would take our direction and he drove quite well from the start. The second son got his driver’s license in 2005 and started with a cheaply bought Daytona 600. In the long run, however, the seating position was too sporty, so that tours were generally not fun for him. He has been driving one of our Street Triples since 2008 and the Daytona has been sold. Our daughter finally got her small motorcycle license in 2007 and started with a Honda CBR 125. Sure, what she does when she is 18, right??

The whole family is infected with the TRIUMPH bacillus, in the garage there are 3 Street Triples, a Tiger 1050 and a Speed ​​Triple 1050 and the little Honda. Motorcycles and triumph are part of our family’s daily life.

Today we go on tours together, just as everyone feels like it, no one is forced, and the tour is discussed beforehand, because the length of the tour already plays an important role. Sometimes friends come with you on the available pillion seats or with their own machine.

Requirements for the motorcycle: a sensible pillion seat with sensible opportunities to hold on. Most of the time, the kids hold on to mom or dad. The feet must be able to reach the notches. The protective clothing must be appropriate as well as the driving style. You can always improve. And plan enough breaks, because the children need time to do something different and to exercise. So don’t plan a marathon on the first tour. You can develop your hobby with fun and joy, but you can also build up frustration at the normal level of an adult.
Yes we can!

Greetings Robert S.

Motorcycling with children

Letter to the editor from Heinz T.
Hello, our son is 9 years old and now and then accompanies us on different tours. Our experiences that we have made are as follows:

– The child should definitely be well rested and fit, otherwise there is a risk of falling asleep
– Several small breaks should also be taken. We usually do it in such a way that after an hour’s drive there is a break of approx. 5 – 10 minutes. The child should then dismount and take a few steps
– The driving style is definitely more restless, as the little people normally cannot see over the driver, so they are forced to look past on the right side, sometimes on the left
– So that you don’t always have to go to a restaurant, you should definitely bring something to drink with you
– The driving style should be made more defensive, as the kids cannot overlook the driver and thus cannot see exactly what is happening

Heinz T..

Letter to the editor from Tanja L.
As a motorcycle enthusiastic parent, at some point you face a problem: the offspring also want to ride. However, the focus is on the child’s safety. But buy a complete set of equipment right away if you can’t be sure that the offspring will continue to ride with you?

I, Tanja L., myself a motorcycle enthusiastic mother, have taken on this problem and opened a rental shop for children’s motorcycle clothing. With me you can get a complete set of equipment from helmet to boots, intercom and kidney belt with handles to “transferred over there” rent for the driver. If you are interested, you can try on the child on site to ensure that the protective clothing fits correctly. This gives you the opportunity to slowly introduce yourself and your child to the topic without having to make a purchase decision straight away.

Information at www.motorradmaeuse.de

Kind regards
Tanja L.

Letter to the editor from Rudolf A.
Hello. For me, the question of age was not decisive, but rather how the dwarfs can deal with the issue of riding. For my part, there was a dry briefing with the subject areas “Braking, cornering, holding on and looking past me to the side”. I repeated this several times before starting my journey, which later turned out to be useful.

Yamaha XJ 900 F:
Both girls were currently 8 and 12 years old. A Givi pannier rack was mounted on the motorcycle. That made support easier. Driving with both girls was problem-free. A lot was down to the moped. Large bench with a seat width that didn’t allow the kids any space to slide.

Suzuki Bandit 1200 N:
Like before. However, the girls sat a little higher here. That contributed to unsafe behavior. I had to drive more carefully to make my passengers feel just as comfortable.

Honda VF 750 C:
Here, too, very straightforward. The pillion bun couldn’t stop the girls from having fun. Only for me was the sitting position unbearable.

Suzuki DR 800 BIG:
Now the little one comes into the matter. Min Jong is 7 years now. He is truly not a hero and approaches everything with great caution. But that’s what he wants to ride the motorcycle. The Big is more moderate compared to the previous mopeds. I had mounted a top case. The boy sat there practically as if in a child seat. Me in front, behind him the back support. Driving was great, for me as well as for him. I just had to point out to him many times not to lean to one side to look past me. Otherwise he didn’t slide back and forth, he sat securely. So driving with a child was the most fun here.

Suzuki SV 650 S:
My son is 8 years now. The SV is effectively unsuitable after 3 test drives, so based on my experience. That’s why I’m not going to sell the moped. We’ll probably wait another year until the next ride. The boy is sitting here high behind me with no real support. If he holds on to me, he slips into the driver’s seat. If he holds on to the handles, I’m afraid he might fall off because there is too much play.

My conclusion:
I am of the opinion that my pillion shouldn’t be under 7 years of age. But the development status of the passenger is also decisive in every respect. If I think it could work, a briefing will take place on several days beforehand. I also put the respective passenger on the motorcycle so that they get a feel for sitting on it. I’ve always done it that way. On the first trips there was always a stop after a few kilometers. Clarify the situation. Fear? Do I still have to give tips / instructions on what to do? So it has always worked out well so far. At SV, I had to see for myself that my son is probably still too young / too small here. Otherwise, I cannot object to taking small passengers with me. You must be able to understand driving physics within the framework. You have to show physical strength to be able to hold yourself. And my opinion: Enduros or vehicles with a comparable construction are better suited. Here the kiddis sit upright and close to the pilot. If there is still a top case on it …..

Greetings from the northern Eifel
Rudolf A..

Motorcycling with children

Letter to the editor from E. Hanisch
Hello, our grandchild is growing up with us and is now 10 years old. At the age of four she was already riding my motorcycle – on a special child seat. She had a good grip backwards and the feet were in loops. She has been able to use the footrests (BMW) since she was seven and no longer needs the child seat. She is very fond of motorcycling and particularly loves winding roads. She is not afraid because I drive even more gently with my child than before. The granddaughter has full safety equipment with motorcycle trousers and jacket, but doesn’t like them because she feels cramped in them.

I myself am a pensioner (formerly a teacher) and 63 years old. I drive in all weathers, including winter except snow and ice. I like to take the machine with me on a trailer on vacation with the motorhome. However, we cannot go on trips that are too long as the two of us, otherwise the child will fall asleep. Frequent breaks are important – they are a good idea anyway, because we often want to admire the landscape in South Tyrol, Trentino or Lake Garda. My wife no longer drives because she is afraid after an accident with her scooter through no fault of her own.

Many greetings

E. Hanisch

Letter to the editor from K. Janke
When my grandson turned six, I took him on a small tour for the first time on a 125cc scooter. But I made sure in advance that he had a child seat. I also made sure that he has something to lean on. So a top case, to which I attached a back cushion that had small side supports. (I made it myself, as you can’t buy something like that) In my opinion, this is important so that if he falls asleep, he doesn’t tip over from his seat. This gives me the opportunity to fix it with my body in the seat while driving without having to stop immediately. We had two vacation trips to Denmark behind us, which we had a lot of fun. It should also be mentioned that my wife drove behind us and alerted me when something unusual happened with our grandson. Furthermore, we have agreed not to drive faster than 80 km / h and not to use motorways. We also took a longer break after 1 1/2 – 2 hours. It remains to be mentioned that the seat and the back cushion paid off because our grandson actually fell asleep while driving (we couldn’t stop right away) and I was able to keep him on the scooter until the next possible stop. Meanwhile I ride a motorcycle and I also make sure that it has a secure hold at the back.

Kind regards

K. Janke

Letter to the editor from Christian T.
Hello, I read your call to the editor and I remembered my childhood when my father took me on his motorcycle. At the beginning of the 80s, I rode up front on my father’s motorcycle, almost on the tank. I was three years old at the time and lay a little more on the tank instead of sitting. I was able to hold on to the handlebars in the middle and sat between my father’s legs. Even today I think that’s the best solution, up to a certain age, to take children there on the motorcycle, because you have the child better under control than on the back of a motorcycle. Later and from a certain height, I find it better to put children backwards, but this requires a little practice with the children in an enclosed area beforehand.

Kind regards,
Christian T.

Letter to the editor from Thomas
YES, absolutely if the following requirements are met:

1. Child wants to ride a motorcycle! Never force a child to ride a motorcycle. It wouldn’t be fun for either the child or the driver and that’s what we ride motorcycles for.

2. The child can safely reach the footrests and has enough strength to hold on to the driver.

3. Complete equipment from head (helmet) to toe (boots). If this is too expensive for the few trips with your child (that quickly adds up to a few hundred), you shouldn’t even think about taking your child with you.
Jeans and winter jackets are absolutely taboo.

4. As a driver, you should be able to adjust to the child! It takes more breaks, it takes one “worthwhile” Aim and often we have to stop because our head itches under our helmet.

These are the rules I made on myself.

My two boys, 9 and 12 years old, drive motorcycles with enthusiasm.
My wife is also a motorcyclist, so we can go on tours as a whole family from time to time. Our motorcycles, Honda CBF 600 and Honda Pan European (ST1100), are always equipped with at least one top case for these trips. This gives additional security that the children do not fall backwards when accelerating quickly. Both children have different styles as a pillion that you have to adapt to.
While the smaller of the two behaves completely neutrally, the older one is a bit more active and has to be slowed down from time to time.

Even if you might not be a fan of bikers’ get-togethers, you should take a trip there with your children. Because that’s easy “fully crass” and the chests of the little ones swell between all of them “tough guys”.

When the temperatures reach 30 degrees in summer and we are addicted to motorbikes, the children don’t feel like driving anymore. Accept it or it will be an ordeal.

greeting
Thomas

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