08-15-2020, 04:45 PM
I was recently asked about the advisability of getting an 11-year old a dirt-bike. I advised against it, proposing a street-legal ride insted.
The argument ~for~ was primarily that it is advantageous for a kid to develop his motorcycle riding skills as early as possible, earlier than he or she can legally ride one on public roads. This, in principle, is not something I would disagree with.
However, I much dislike what seems to be the "culture" of youngster dirt-bike-riding milieu. More aggressive use of terrain, more "tricks", more abuse of the machine, more and more spills made less dangerous by more and more protective gear... It is the last item btw. that bothers me most.
Instead, (and especially if money was no object) I would get the 11-year old something like Honda Cub. It is no option for city-dwellers, but in a more rural setting there are usually back roads and lanes to ride on. Awareness of traffic and road rules, defensive tactics in the company of the plentiful idiots that cohabit public roads (in every jurisdiction I know) and cooperation with good drivers and riders and understanding that there are collisions which no protective gear will make you survive should come before the maximum machine handling skills. Those that develop an itch to try real motor-cross competitions when they are old enough to understand the consequences of their endevors are of course perfectly entitled (and have my encouragement) to do so.
I would be quite interested in opposing opinions.
The argument ~for~ was primarily that it is advantageous for a kid to develop his motorcycle riding skills as early as possible, earlier than he or she can legally ride one on public roads. This, in principle, is not something I would disagree with.
However, I much dislike what seems to be the "culture" of youngster dirt-bike-riding milieu. More aggressive use of terrain, more "tricks", more abuse of the machine, more and more spills made less dangerous by more and more protective gear... It is the last item btw. that bothers me most.
Instead, (and especially if money was no object) I would get the 11-year old something like Honda Cub. It is no option for city-dwellers, but in a more rural setting there are usually back roads and lanes to ride on. Awareness of traffic and road rules, defensive tactics in the company of the plentiful idiots that cohabit public roads (in every jurisdiction I know) and cooperation with good drivers and riders and understanding that there are collisions which no protective gear will make you survive should come before the maximum machine handling skills. Those that develop an itch to try real motor-cross competitions when they are old enough to understand the consequences of their endevors are of course perfectly entitled (and have my encouragement) to do so.
I would be quite interested in opposing opinions.