Best trike for kids?

[CrazyPollock]

Last memorial day, husband and I took the 250R and the 200x to a big get-together with a bunch of friends and folks we'd never met. The trikes were a total hit with everyone and we spent the entire weekend riding. There were 3 kids, ages 8, 11, and 12 who were absolutly addicted! we taught them how to ride, and explicitly warned them of the dangers, and only got a few groans when we told them that the helmets were manditory lol. They all learned quickly- (though only one of them, the 12 year old girl learned to shift!) the 11 year old, i saw last week, he has been enlessly pestering his mom for a 3 wheeler (and he says that a 4 wheeler wouldn't be acceptable!). The 8 year old did the best out of all of them, riding the 250R (with a twist throttle too) his little hands weren't strong enough to pull the clutch in on the 200x, he burned through a full tank of gas, riding back and forth across the field all day long, a big 'ole grin plastered to his face the entire time.

which brought an idea around to me and the other half, of having *another* trike just for occasions like this one.
We have a 200s (though its in a state of repair right now) but it still seems a little big...
What would be the ideal trike for kids in this age group to learn on?

[dougspcs]

I started my 8 year old nephew on a 110 last year, auto-clutch, throttle stop adjustable, Hi-Lo range..a nice safe place to start.

Good on the little guy for taking to the 250R so quick, but just the same that's nutz!! Where was his mother during all this..if I even thought about putting him on the demon of all trikes I might as well hang up my manhood right now..cause they'd get ripped off and handed back to me!

Good judgement on the helmet rule, I've seen way too much of that discussion. Now putting a 8 year old child on the seat of an 'R'..judgement like that is why they got trikes banned in the 1st place. The sticker on the tank tried to tell you it was a bad idea..many family get-togethers go south really quicky from such choices!

Get a 'kid friendly' trike and leave the adult toys in the shed next time..

[Blown 331]

ATC70. If they are big enough for me they will be big enough for the kids. lol.

[sinsayers]

I agree with the 70! I rode one years ago and fell in love, ofcourse it wasnt a power house with my 5'10 220lb butt on it but I gotta have one! Anything from a 70-185 is pretty good for kids as long as the kid is pretty big the 185 is almost perfect. Our kids range from 11-15 and they have the same response, NO QUADS WE WANT A TRIKE. They play with my toys obviously. The 200X is too big for the 11 year old but the 14 and 15 year olds love that thing so I am hunting for a 125-185 just for them to ride.

[CrazyPollock]

It was pretty cool, the kids were totaly respectful of the bikes, it was the adults and teens we had to watch out for, it got to the point where we had to pull spark plugs because people were helping themselves to the bikes when we weren't there.
70 sounds like a good idea to me, it seems like parts are pretty available too.

[110klt]

I say with the younger one being 8 a 70 would be a good place to start the other 2 I would start on a 110, specially if you can get one with an adjustable throttle stop.

[RIDE-RED 250r]

My son is now 8 years old and has been riding an ATC110 without me on with him since he was 5. Didn't show him how to shift till he was 6. The 110 is nice for the hi-lo subtransmission as it's top speed is only about 20mph or so when in lo range. I haven't yet allowed him to try hi range yet..

But I can't not say anything about one thing in your original post... You let an 8 year old ride a 250r??!!! No offense, but BAD IDEA ALL AROUND! My son won't be behind the controls of my R till he has proven his ablities both mentally and physically. I'm thinking at least 14 years old, maybe older (since I still remember my attitude when I was 14). A kid of 8 years doesn't have the mental capacity to know and respect a machine as unforgiving to rookies as a 250r is. How many inexperienced adults get hurt or killed on machines that are way beyond their ability?? PLEASE, for the love of God, keep the younguns on the smaller, less powerfull, more forgiving machines. I'm not trying to be rude or disrespectful in any way, but to me, letting a kid that young/small operate a machine like that borders on endangering the welfare of a child. And I would bet that God forbid if that situation ever had to be resolved in court, that would be the charge.

I'll step off my soapbox now....

[bkm]

I guess I was 11 or 12 before my dad let me ride the R. I was ten when we got it and had to show him that I could ride my 200s before I stepped up to the R. For about the first year I never left 2nd gear and then the rest is history. I agree that an 8 year old is way too young to be on an R. Looking back I was probably to young for my R but it was the way things were.

I say get a 110 for the little ones.

[just ben]

I disagree with the majority here. The rigid/semirigid trikes are why we cannot go to the dealer and buy a new one today. They were and still are dangerous in the wrong hands. If you want a trike pretty much anyone can ride and be safe,I would look for a 200x that has been converted to an engine with a semi auto transmission

[gus]

70, 110 and 200s are great for kids! You should pat your selfish on the back your giving trikes more of hope by teaching younger generations that trikes are still fun and not as dangerous

[dougspcs]

I disagree with the majority here. The rigid/semirigid trikes are why we cannot go to the dealer and buy a new one today. They were and still are dangerous in the wrong hands. If you want a trike pretty much anyone can ride and be safe,I would look for a 200x that has been converted to an engine with a semi auto transmission

Within reason I don't disagree with that..I still wouldn't put my 8 year old nephew on a 200x though personally.

The adult controllable design of the 110 is what made me get it for the youngest/smallest riders..once they are in the 10/12 range and at least have the fundamentals of riding a trike down, I agree the 200AutoX would be great. Still a pretty fast machine for an 8 year old without the motor skills and reflexs of an older kid..I've seen kids in a panic move pin the throttle before..I'd rather that be on a throttle stop adjustable trike with me controlling the top speed.

[three_wheelin45]

When I was 8 I drove a 01 fourtrax 300... shifted and everything, I was about 11 when I rode my first trike a 200s. Great begineer trike, Then again I owend the fourtrax, a bayou 250, and a xr100 at 11