Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

I've got 2 kidlets, my matey whos is 7 shortly, and my sweety who is 3 going on 4 next month. 'Matey' is a bit of a wus and allthough he says he loves my motorbike and he can reach the footpegs he panics when its running nearby. But 'sweety', my little girl, is.....well......nuts! She jumps on the bike and gets all excited and laughs like an evil scientist when it comes time for the bike to be ridden back into the shed to be put away.

Now to my question (and its probably been posted before but i ran a quick search and couldnt find anything), is my theory of 'if you can reach the pillion pegs, you can ride' correct? or is there an exsisting law that states how old pillions have to be (Vic)?

Any one have some experiance with youngins on the back of their bike? i'd love to hear from you.

I do that all the time back home, go shopping, school etc. but for some reason always cringe looking at people who put kids on the motorbike in Melbourne.

Perhaps due to the size and weight of sportsbike as supposed to scooters/moped. Also traffic is much faster. Here I just go around the block to give them giggles

dutch80au wrote:Any one have some experiance with youngins on the back of their bike? i'd love to hear from you.

My boys have both been on the back of my old ZZR, but only down the driveway (it's a few hundred metres long and we're the only ones down it).

For a little one I'd be more concerned with them:
(a) being distracted by the sensory overload and not hanging on
(b) not having a helmet anywhere near the right size
(c) deciding they want to bail when it becomes too scary and having little idea what the consequences are.

They aren't going to bounce very well and if they fall in front of traffic then it's game over. Even the seven year old I'd be careful with, after all they are behind you.

My eldest is now 16, I offered to take him to the doctors on the weekend on the back of the Hornet and he declined saying he didn't have all the safety gear...guess he's picked something up from me.

mick

Not sure bout Vic, but pretty sure in NSW you cannot pillion anyone under 8yo.

Our guys got on at 11 years old; no magic number - that was when they were big enough to hold on, mature enough not to let go... seriously, how much of a risk do you want to take with your own kids? I know everyone will be different, but I think you need to be honest about whether they can stay on unassisted.

Eldest son's going for his bike licence in 5 months.

My Young bloke is 7 and he is a great pillion, hangs on, leans into corners, he has a good jacket and helmet, always wears it when he wants to come for a ride, he looks around but doesnt get distracted...

BUT...

I live out of town a little so I dont ride around with to much other traffic, he has a 90cc honda that he has been learning on riding around our paddock, and I gave him a number of small rides first to be sure he was going to be ok.

My Daughter on the other hand who will be 9 very soon, is not so good a pillion and I really dont like taking her at all, I really dont feel confident.

I think it depends on the child a bit, but I am certainly not going to put them at risk if I didnt feel they would be confident riding with me.

ZXRobyn wrote:Not sure bout Vic, but pretty sure in NSW you cannot pillion anyone under 8yo.

It's a bit vague:
Mick

Don't know about Vic but NSW just made it 8 years old.

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=20426

Page 16 of the linked article, section 5a.

I used to cart the young lad from 5yrs onwards but back then (over 12 years ago) it was a common site to see young kids on bikes, biggest hassle was getting a helmet that would fit. looking back if I had the chance to do it again I wouldn't, he used to nod off & the only way I could get around this problem was an intercom which I hated so anyway I could not concentrate properly because I was always concerned he would slip off the back I really don't think it was worth the risk....the length of my rides did not help either
To be honest with you the risk involved these days (more traffic & more carnts out to get you) I would not do it & I haven't pillioned for 12 years, I don't know what I would do if one of my young ones was injured or worse killed whilst on the bike with me... & although my eldest son got to ride, the girls will not have that experience, it was a learning curve for me & I grew more wary of the dangers.

thanks all so far. as i said earlier my little girls far to small and my boy is shat scared of the bike so there was no way they were actually getting on. will continue with the backyard rides though. thankfully i live in country vic so when they are compitent enough to give it a shot i wont have to worry about mass traffic.

In QLD I understand it's 8yo.

I can tell you without any doubt, In Victoria there is NO age limit. The only stipulation is that the pillion must be able to touch the pillion pegs.

I have two sons who have been on the back of the bike for years now. They started when they were six years old.
Mind you, we did it in baby steps. Little trips around the block, slowly building up until they felt confident to go on long rides.

They wear full protection.
Jackets, pants, boots, helmets and motorcycle gloves (not motocross gloves).

The one thing that was the best invention ever for kids on bikes and that is the pillion gripper.
Take away my bias (I sell them)
I can refer you to every parent that has ever bought a set from me. It gives the kids so much extra confidence. It also gives me, the rider, a lot of comfort, feeling them behind you. My boys are such brilliant pillions now, that I cannot feel that they are there, but the pillion grippers give me a heads up if they are going to move.

Have fun, it sure has brought so much joy into our household