| Author | Message | ||
     Badrap |
I’m sitting here dreaming of warmer weather and riding my bike. I’ve been preparing for what I expect to be a great year for motorcycling with my Uly and my 9 year old daughter. I am soooo looking forward to the adventurous road trips and local rides we will be taking together this year. I just purchased her a full faced helmet and jacket with armor in it incase the expected happens, even though I haven put a bike down on the street in 27 years, I want to be ready. This year I’ll be upgrading my personal apparel and helmet also. It’s time to update my Shoei Snell 90 helmet. I have already made reservations for a trip planed to Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks this summer. She is also looking forward to the trip. I’ve sat down with her and gone over the map and some the things to do and see on our trip, giving her some of the decisions on what she wants so see. I think it’s great to bring the passenger, especially your kid into the planning of the trip; it really gives them ownership of the trip and they don’t just feel like a passenger. I hope she can stay awake on me. She has a bad tenancy to fall asleep on the back of the bike. Last year, on a trip around Lake Tahoe, she was falling asleep on me. The bigger problem was we were riding my Bandit 1200 with no passenger back rest. I had to stop multiple times and try to get her to take a nap but that didn’t work. It was very difficult and unsafe to drive because I kept putting my left hand on her leg just incase she started to go off the bike. Fortunately we made it home safe and sound. One thing I am looking into is a rider/passenger communications system. That way we can talk and point out things of interest to each other and she can even listen to MP3s. I would hope this helps keep her awake. I just wanted to share with everyone my excitement and hope you all have a great riding season. I will post some a trip report with pics this summer. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
Badrap- Sounds like you have a great summer planned out! It's great that you are outfitting your riding partner with good gear. We just got our XT in October, and one huge reason we got it was the room it has for 2 up riding. We have a 10 year old son that has outgrown 2 bikes: a sporty and a bmw k75. A backrest/sissy bar has always been something we've had on our bikes for him. The Uly was perfect in so many ways for his 5'7" frame (good viking genes!) and we are looking forward to logging some miles with him this summer. We are fortunate, he has never fallen asleep on the back of the bike. Hopefully a communication system helps to keep her alert. I've heard that some kids are quite prone to this, I hope you find a safe solution, enjoy your summer, and post lots of pics. Ride safe! BeLinda. (Message edited by fltwistygirl on February 11, 2010) | ||
| Mojo |
Badrap Have a great trip with your daughter. You will have memories that will last a lifetime. I have two daughters and have taken them on all sorts of trips in Canada. My oldest daughter (who is now 17) has been to Inuvik with me, and also all over the Yukon on three seperate trips, starting when she was eight (she went to Inuvik when she was 12). We camp and have a great time. My youngest daughter (now 12) has covered most of BC with me in a series of summer trips, including a tour of Vancouver Island. I deal with fatique(both of us, but mostly my kids) by simply travelling when they are energized. Sometimes that might only be for three hours a day. I like to travel in the early hours each day (start at 6am) when riding solo, but with kids I let them sleep in and don't wake them up early that way they are at least raring to go when we do hit the road. It usually means a mid-morning start, but at least they are rested. Have a great time sharing the adventure with your kids. Cheers. Darryl | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
Badrap and Mojo- It's awesome that you are both introducing your daughters to motorcycling. Even though the sport is increasing in popularity among females, I still see too many women in my classes that want to learn to ride but lack confidence in their ability to control their own bike, are terrified of the power, and don't "get" how to use the clutch. As dads, one of the coolest things you can do is expose them to the sport in a positive way at a young age. Good on ya both. Mojo- Speaking of being terrified of the unfamiliar, aren't you camping in Grizzly Bear territory? Two things that both fascinate and terrify me are Grizzly Bears and tornadoes. I know the subject guy was a bit of a wack job, but I never should have read "The Grizzly Man Diaries". Like "Titanic", we all know how it ends but want to know the whole story anyway. B. | ||
| Badrap |
Thanks for the positive comments. It's great to see other people getting their kids out on their bikes and sharing the experience. I wish more people would expose their kids to motorcycling. Sometimes when you talk with someone who doesn’t ride and you tell them you take your kids on the bike they freak out. HOW CAN YOU DO THAT, IT"S DANGEROUS! Yes it is and it's also a lot of fun. At least they aren’t doing drugs or getting in some other trouble. Enjoy the time with your kids, it goes by too fast. | ||
| Nittanyxt |
Hey Badrap, my son,who turns 14 next week, has been riding with me since age 8. Awsome experiences! I'll never forget the time he said "lean it over more Dad!". We're combining Homecoming with a major trip afterward. From Wisc. to Minn. then down the Miss. river to La., across Miss.,Al. to Ga., up to the Smokies for a few days of playtime then home via BRP and other twisties. Should be AWSOME! By the way, I have some outgrown gear to get rid of,pants,vented jacket, gloves, helmet and some dirt gear, PM me if interested | ||
| Court |
You will be thankful every day of your life . . . These guys, both in their 30's . . are my two best friends in the world.   | ||
| Trevd |
Badrap, This is going to be a great summer for your daughter! I still remember very clearly the first week-long ride I took with my dad on the back of his Gold Wing back when I was 11 back in 1982. It's funny how I remember small details of that trip that are really insignificant, but stick in my mind just because I was on a bike trip. My dad had gotten a teenager he knew to make us a mixed cassette tape of the hits of the day, and we listened to that tape on the bike's stereo over and over again for 3,000 miles. When I happen to hear one of those songs today, it brings back many good memories... I think it's great what you're doing with your daughter, and I'm sure she'll have fond memories of it for years and years. | ||
| Paralegalpete |
I've done a ton of trips with my son (he's now 16 and talking about his own bike)  They make handy photographers  One thing you need to be aware of is on long trips kids can fall asleep (Message edited by paralegalpete on March 05, 2010) | ||
| Deltablue |
I can't wait til my daughter can ride, she is just a little short for the pegs on the uly yet. One of the first things I'm going to buy is a child restraint vest, to keep her on the bike should she fall asleep. http://www.childridingbelt.com/engabout.htm | ||
| Badrap |
Deltablue, that childs belt is cool idea. My one concern is how the child may be hurt in the event of a crash. But I do like knowing that the kid can't fall off the bike. My understanding is that the childs feet must be able to touch the pegs to be legal to ride. It probably varies from state to state though. | ||
| Deltablue |
Yeah, I was hoping with this last growth spurt she'd fit, but not yet. I can't wait I really want to share my joy of riding with her, but I don't want her to grow up too soon. | ||
| Badrap |
Enjoy every moment, they change too fast. |
