Letting Kids ride atcs ?

[Nubbinz]

I'm 14 and have an 83 185s in pieces in my basement, and I recently got a 93 kingquad 250. I've never wrecked anything before and I go mudding and do hill climbs and drifts. My friend wrecked my trike the one time he ever rode it on flat ground at 10 mph. One time I had to bail off his dirtbike because he slammed the brakes on his quad at the top of a hill and i had to bail so i didnt rear end him or roll back down the hill. You never know what that other person might do when you ride with someone else , so riding together could be sketchy. I personally prefer the feel of trikes, you can tell when they feel like there going to fall apart, my quad has IRS, you can be going 60 and take a 4 foot drop down into a field and not feel a thing, I never take it beyond 4th gear because you cant feel when things are getting too rough for it. But what it all comes down to is what you think the best thing to do would be.

[briano]

My brother and I have both been riding since we were about 4 or 5 on my dads 83 atc 200 and 84 Big Red. We would bug dad to "go start the Honda" and we would ride around the house for hours. Now my brother has a 2 year old daughter that loves 3 wheelers, she rides on the front of our 70's and gives them gas and steers when we are on the bike with her. She is a bit of a show off already, and when she finally gets to drive by herself it's going to be hell on wheels. lol

[Trip]

...as long as you have gave them some kind of instructions on how to be safe.... then..ye let em ride... if you just say whatever...go outside get away from me....and dont supervise ...then ye... maybe should re think parenting. (not insinuating) If th child is capable of riding, and they ride safe.... let the kids enjoy themselves...im 25...and just now finally got me one and would have loved to been able to ride one as a child. No sense in depriving them of a good childhood memory because of some snobby douchebag bumpin their lips. Just explain to them to be careful and keep an eye on them.... far worse things out there then riden a 3 wheeler.

[fabiodriven]

Big, gaudy, annoying signatures are the best.

[atc007]

I can't say I agree with anything to do with 2-5 yo's riding. I've seen it a lot being a dealer,and have no bad reports other than a few broken bones. Obviously,,no matter WHAT the age,,they MUST wear helmets,and gloves are good,,other than that,,teach them well,spend the time it takes to get them COMFORTABLE. I like big open fields where there is nothing to hit. Learning brakes,and turning safely. Just my 2 pennies

[hoosierlogger]

I had my own 110 when I was 10. I have been looking and considering a 70 for my daughter who just turned 1. I think momma is on board with it, but I still have a few years to find the one. Heck yeah let them ride. They nay-sayers will always be there. My mother in law is one of them. She tells me all of the time that 3 wheelers are dangerous. I just tell her it is the rider not the machine.

Only you can make the decision that is right for your family. If your kids are mature enough to handle the responsibility of the situation, then let them ride till they get tired.

[hoosierlogger]

Big, gaudy, annoying signatures are the best.

Then look up. LOL that will make your day.

[Frankencelery]

I bought my son a little 90cc Chinese quad for his 5th birthday, because I was concerned about him being on a more stable platform. But within a couple years, he really wanted to ride a trike like his dad, so we got him an ATC70, and he totally prefers that over the quad. With one exception. He really likes the quad for doing donuts. He tried it once on the trike, and the inevitable happened, he tipped over. So no more donuts on the trike, at least until he learns how to lean!

[honda4h]

i got my girls 2 atc 70s and i showed them how to ride the bikes safe. they love riding the bikes. and have fun. in the years coming i will upgrade them with bigger bikes. there Friends think the 3 wheelers are cool. but i do get some comments about safety . i think if you teach someone how to be safe. and still have fun. thats all that matters. its to bad the other parents don't take the time to show there kids how to ride. but instead. tell them 3 wheelers are dangerous. its to bad for that id even offered to teach the other kids. but all i get is no way.

[RottN]

I started riding my dad's '85 Big Red when I was about 8 years old and i'm still here...

[dougspcs]

I have an 11 year old who is displaying interest in the trike thing..so I bought an ATC110. I figure with the dual range gear box, I can drop it into low range and leave it in 2 or 3rd gear and let you try it. Once she is good at it and feel more comfortable I can move her up!!

My only issue is with the number of mullet wearing idjits that post youtube clips of them or their kids, 'just cuttin it up a bit in the back yard' at stupid speeds and without a helmet. This is where most of the accidents happen..they think there is a golden halo around them as long as they are on their own property!!

Rule #1: use your brains and common sense..

Rule #2: never deviate from rule #1...EVER!!

[RIDE-RED 250r]

They are your kids. Don't worry about what others say, wether they are on this board or not. You should be able to gauge wether or not your kids are responsible enough to ride trikes. Heck, when I was growing up, trikes were all that there was. Also when I had my first trike, atc90s were all that there was! LOL

Well said.

A few years ago, I picked up the ATC110 for my son. When he was 4, I allowed him to fisrt take the controls with me on it with him, (1st gear/low range only). Later that summer I allowed him to put around the backyard as I supervised. Again, 1st gear/low range. The next summer as he got a little bigger I let him get into second. Now at 7 years old, he is big and strong enough to zip around the yard using all the gears in low range. I havent yet showed him the range selector, lol! We also let him tag along when we go down in the woods on our 'Zuki 230s. Obviously we go at a nice slow pace due to some of the terrain in the woods, but he is learning fast and will be quite an accomplished rider in a few years. I like the old hi/low range trikes better than the mini quads of today because I can start teaching my kids how to properly upshift and downshift without worrying about them getting going too awful fast. The full auto machine they have for kids now kinda hampers learning half of the skill set of riding in my opinion.

Point of the story is, if you judge your kids to be capable of safe, responsible riding, who cares if its on 2, 3 or 4 wheels. Anyone can get hurt on machines, the number of wheels on it is irrelevant. Its all about knowing the limits of each machine and the rider operating it.

Trike on!

[scruffy390]

I got my first 3 wheeler when I was 12, it was a brand new 1979 atc70. My oldest nephew got a 50cc suzuki 4 wheeler when he was 2 1/2 !! and he lived to tell about it. If they are on machines there size (it scares me to see very small riders on very heavy machines) and wearing proper safety equipment and riding in a safe place and if there age and or riding experience requires supervision they have the supervision I can not think of anything any safer. I would rather see them doing that than on a skateboard with no safety equipment riding on pavement

[nickvanorman]

ive been riding since i was about 4. i rode my Dads 250SX when i was 4. my brother rode it at the same time at the age of 7, no helmet, jumping off a stump. hit it and flipped over and my mom made my dad get rid of the 250SX. ever since then ive been riding 4 wheelers and stuff. the usual Foreman, polaris sportsman. kinda forgot that 3 wheelers existed.

after seeing my neighbor get his 200x running i wanted one. so i started searching but had a hard time getting my parents on board. i finally just had to go out and buy it against their better judgement. now i have 4 of them. hahaha

i guess it all depends on the parents. if you trust your son/daughter enough to climb on a trike then by all means go for it. just make sure they have the proper gear on.

[MarineRabbit]

i started on my dads klt 110 when i was 4 i had to reach down and shift with my hand i was to short to reach back break or shifter. never got it outa 2nd gear tho.