Minimum age for pillion rider?

[flyby]

I am thinking of taking my 7yr old on her first pillion ride and was wondering is there a minimum age limit for the pillion rider?

Thanks in advance

 

[Geekay]

Here in the uk the law says they have to be able to comfortably reach the foot pegs and hold,grab rails (where fitted). I've taken my 7yr old out, but only on very short rides to the village and back. She doesn't sit still for,very long, that's the problem. My 10 yr old daughter is much better and has covered many miles with me. Your call of course, just make sure they sit still! They do not see danger in it at all and assume that as they are "with daddy" it must be perfectly safe.

 

[Geekay]

Oh and I always use the top box - then they have nowhere to go off the back. The 10yr old loves it as a back rest!

 

[flyby]

I see, I don't have the back rack yet . I will also take her on a very short ride, may be couple of blocks only but want to introduce her to motorcycles. Till now she has only watched me ride.

 

[Newbie81]

Over 5 years old. Americanmotorcyclist.com you can check state laws

 

[Big Blu]

If the pillion rider can easily reach the foot pegs and can be trusted to hold on tightly and obey your instructions I think your good to go.

You, as the rider, have a responsibility to ride cautiously and within the capability of your pillion passenger and to ensure the pillion wears ATGATT.

There are several manufactures that market a harness that allows the pillion rider to be strapped to the rider, not sure if this is a good idea or not..



Paul

 

[Geekay]

If the pillion rider can easily reach the foot pegs and can be trusted to hold on tightly and obey your instructions I think your good to go.

You, as the rider, have a responsibility to ride cautiously and within the capability of your pillion passenger and to ensure the pillion wears ATGATT.

There are several manufactures that market a harness that allows the pillion rider to be strapped to the rider, not sure if this is a good idea or not..



Paul

i've heard of the harness - personally, i don't think they are a good idea, but each to their own.

Especially on a large, pillion friendly bike like an S10 - plenty of room (my kids bums only take up half the seat!) - and good grab handles.

That said, i can see the point of one of those belts you get that the rider wears and has two plastic handles attached for the pillion to hold on-to.

I, personally, wouldn't take them out without the top-box as i said - my oldest daughter has covered lots of miles but can be trusted to sit still - i went out with the eldest a few weeks ago and met my wife and the youngest at a local starbucks (no jokes please) the youngest wanted to come home - only a few miles on rural roads so they swapped kit (the jacket and pants have zipped-in "extenders" that allow a child to grow - or in this case, allows it to fit both my kids! - the kids have roughly the same head size too - kid have remarkably large heads eH?)

anyway - my wife followed us home and was amused (and maybe a little concerned) that sophie, my youngest rode the whole way home dangling her arms and often her feet in the air!!!

 

[Checkswrecks]

Over 5 years old. Americanmotorcyclist.com you can check state laws

::026::


State laws are easy to Google, too. For yours in Washington State, there are 2 things to be aware of.
The first is 5 years or older, so you are good there.


The second is "requiring that the child be properly secured in a manner approved by the State Commission on Equipment"
In other words, if a kid can't reach the foot pegs, it's grounds to pull you over.

 

[Big Blu]

Dangling hands and feet sounds like a bad idea. I too would be concerned if I witnessed such behavior.......

Paul

 

[Geekay]

Dangling hands and feet sounds like a bad idea. I too would be concerned if I witnessed such behavior.......

Paul

Sorry dangling is the wrong term. She was waving them about. Arms at her side in the wind - feet off the pegs ( which she can reach quite comfortably) and out to the side.

She was loving it - but yes, Not good to see and proving my point about the fact that they need to be able to sit still!

 

[flyby]

I haven't checked if her feet reaches firmly on the pegs. Will do the dry run today.