I never thought I'd be writing about babies on a motorcycle blog, but I just became a father for the first time-- which, believe me, shifts your perspective on all things two-wheeled.
I received all sorts of advice before my son came along, but some of the best pointers emphasized how kids have a way of dramatically changing your worldview. And naturally, my little seven pound, thirteen ounce bambino has already inspired countless questions about the two-wheeled world: Will I bring my son along when I test bikes? Will I encourage him to learn to ride? And even more crucially, will I groom him to become the next Valentino Rossi (pre-slump, of course)?
I took motorcycles for granted in my youth, voraciously riding minibikes, sportbikes, and everything in between. I've often said that I'm lucky to have emerged unscathed from all these years of risk exposure, and I've had an incredible run so far that I have no intention of abandoning.
But when you think about your tiny boy climbing aboard an inherently unstable two-wheeled machine, it's suddenly a different game.
Do you have experience with introducing a kid to riding, or directing him or her away from bikes? I offer my perspective, and want to hear your thoughts and reasons in this Readers Respond feature: Do You Encourage Your Kid to Ride Motorcycles?
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Congrats again Basem, I wish you and your family health and happiness! As far as kids and bikes, my father got me into riding (dirt bikes at first) and I could not have thanked him enough but I guess it’s like anything else with kids, see when he is old enough what he likes to do and help him pursue it.
Congrats Basem, great news. Guess you’re looking forward to your kid riding with you. When’s the first motorcycle?
That’s a mega grin under the mask! Congratulations Basem to you and your wife.
Now….you’ll have to hide the keys to the XR50 for at least a month….
Oh SXXX, there are no keys for it. Hmmmm….I know – chain it to the garage floor until January! No chance he get’s on a bike until his 3rd (month) birthday.
Congrats and best wishes!!
My father skied for the U. of Vermont and then put me on the mountain when I was four. Big gaps between my skiing years, but I can still plunge into deep powder without a blink.
Early reflexes live on.
Bring that young man to NYC soon so he doesn’t think this world is all sun and surf.
My 7 and 10 year old boys both have motorcycles and as the 7-year old said last weekend when we were out riding, “Riding dirt bikes is my favorite thing to do.”
And they each have their gear and ride on the back of our street bikes with us.
First, congratulations on becoming a father! It is an exciting, terrifying, testing and amazing experience.
My son is 2 1/2 years old. He went for his first motorcycle ride with me about 1 year ago. We strapped on his bike helmet (which he wore in the trailer we towed behind our bicycles) and sat between me and the gas tank. We rode around the parking lot for a few minutes at speeds below 15 MPH. His grin stretched from ear to ear, and he said “Weeeeee!!!!!” over and over and over. He loved it. Before his vocabulary exploded he’d point and say “Weeeee!!!!!” EVERY time he saw a motorcycle on the road.
Since that first time he’s gone on dozens of parking lot rides with me. Next summer he’s getting his own motorcycle, a little 50cc dirt bike. My wife and I look forward to the day that he can join us on motorcycle adventures, first on the back of my bike and later on his own motorcycle.
I do worry about the danger to which he’ll be exposed but if I let fear rule my world we’d never take him backpacking in grizzly bear country, let him ride a bike, go bouldering or roast marshmallows on a camp fire.
I guess what I’m saying is that I will encourage my son to ride motorcycles. If he likes it as he grows older – fantastic. If not, that’s okay, too. In the meantime, I’ll continue to daydream about long rides together on our adventure bikes.
Congratulations Basem.
Congrats, Basem! I was thrilled to read your news of becoming a dad. I like that floppy helmet in the picture above.
Congratulations! Like many things (everything) in your child’s life, you will have no control. They actually try to think for themselves!!
But you can be an excellent role model on why and how to enjoy life on two wheels.
Congrats Basem, Wishing you and your family lots of health, happiness and safe riding. When my daughter’s friend came over to take her to a movie, he came on a motorcycle. I would not let her go. I took them, and picked them up. I’m riding for 30 years, and perhaps he was a better physical rider than me, though that was still my little girl. He understood. I trust myself, but hardly trust younger less experienced riders.
My father said to me when I asked him for a motorcycle, which I wanted to pay for: ” as long as you live in this house you will not own one of those things”. He hated them. He knew before his passing that I owned one. He was not happy. No. I guess I’m a hypocrite. I love riding, but would not encourage my children to ride. I would certainly not stop them, nor could I, at this point, if they chose to pursue this hobby. I guess it would just be something else to worry about. None of them appear to be interested.
Safe riding to all, anyway.
Congrats, Basem! Time to look for a junior Harley!
In India, we had a Rajdoot Bobby 175 cc 2-stroke bike that looked like a kid’s bike but was one feisty machine. Do a google on it.
Cheers!
It’s the best feeling in the world being a Dad
CONGRATSULATION DAD, HOPE THIS FINDS EVERYONE WELL !!!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! You are probably walking on clouds right about now, enjoy every minute of his young life because before you know it he will be two years old and then you will look the other way and he will be four and so on and so on! I spent my entire career in the service of our nation and was gone frequently 30 years flew by and before I knew it my son was grown and a man. He is now graduated out of Temple Univ. and on his way to be a surgeon. SPEND as MUCH time with him as you can your children will help you spend some of your childhood again you are truly blessed and be careful out there because he needs you too! slow down and enjoy. PLR.
Congratulations Basem
Great news.
Congratulations, It takes awhile but both of my boys (29 & 24)
ride with me.
Thanks to everyone for your warm wishes!
Basem
Congratulations and best wishes for you and your family. Enjoy the precious moments with your baby!
Congratulations on the wee one Basem.
I feel I’m taking a risk here after all the other thoughts, but some might argue that being at risk while raising children could leave them without a dad. I know for me I went many years chomping at the bit, so as to be there for my son. Also, because he was a more rambuctious character than me, I was also concerned my endorsement of motorcycling would lead him to trouble.
Again, many would say well if you educate them on safety, etc, it will be better, but I know a sensible couple who ride bikes, where there son did a wild wheely into a pick-up truck and died.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Time to add a Baby Crib on that bike!
congrats Basem,
its my dream to ride with my sons,only till they get in late twenties,early thirties.