kids and dirtbikes: yes or no?

[Roper_imp]

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.

I have the same concerns. I live in a small rural town. A lot of kids ride dirt bikes and four wheelers. Earlier this year, a 12-year-old boy was tearing down a neighborhood street on his dirt bike. He hit a 7-year-old girl who was riding her bicycle. Thankfully, she only suffered bruises, road rash, and a bent-up bicycle. The kid on the dirt bike rode off and hid until the police found him.

That's not an argument against kids on dirt bikes or about of lack of traffic enforcement. It's really about parents who didn't teach their child to ride responsibly. Too many parents want their child to ride WFO and be aggressive in order to win the local Junior Motocross on Saturday.

That said, I grew up riding dirt bikes. I still do. My kids ride dirt bikes. We learn to ride them legally and respectfully. There's nothing wrong (and a lot right) with challenging yourself and improving as a rider, on dirt or on pavement. What's wrong is breaking laws and hurting others.