The Personal Blog Of
Boston Motorcycle Attorney

Safe Motorcycle Riding with Children
September 25, 2009

Children love motorcycles. They may even love motorcycles more than the parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or sibling who owns it. It is only natural that children want to be a passenger on a motorcycle and it will only be a matter of time before all their asking (nagging) pays off. Before putting that child on the back of a Harley or the sport bike and tearing down the highway, there are several major considerations to review.

• Age/Size: Before a child can ride on a motorcycle, they should be old enough to understand the importance of safety and large enough to ride on the seat. Children who can not comfortably hold the rider in front and rest their feet on the foot pegs should never be a motorcycle passenger.

• Positioning: The only place a child can ride on a motorcycle in behind the driver. Never ride with a child in front of the driver.

• Safety Gear: Children should wear the same safety gear as any other motorcycle rider. Protective motorcycle gear comes in a wide array of sizes for children. Most importantly, make sure they have a child sized, DOT helmet.

• Duration of the Ride: Long rides are not suitable for children as a general rule. Children can fall asleep and slide off the bike; even on a custom cruiser or a Honda Goldwing with full passenger setup.

• Back rest: Ideally, children should ride on bikes that have a bike rest or sissy bar on the rear of the seat. This added support makes it easier for the child to stay in place and minimizes fatigue.

• Test Ride: Before hitting the streets or the highway, make a couple of test runs on a deserted street or a large parking lot. A little practice can make sure the child is truly ready to be a motorcycle passenger.

Riding on a motorcycle for a child can be an exhilarating experience and can be the spark to the start of a lifelong love of motorcycling. Experienced bikers should help insure that the new generation of bikers understands safety is more important than the thrill of the ride. By helping children understand and respect the need for safety at a young age, the entire motorcycle community will benefit greatly.