Kid as pillion passenger

russki

Hi Guys!

Kid goes to school this September and I'm going to be the one to drop him in the morning, as the traffic is a no go for mamy to drive him there.

I found this belt to fix him to me while riding http://www.childridingbelt.com/engprod.htm

What are the options other people use for riding with kids? I won't consider side car :-)

murphaph

I think the kid has to be able to reach the footpegs to be legal in this country. It's nowhere near as restrictive as it is elsewhere where they have minimum ages and all sorts. Looks like a decent product. Is it far to the school? My nerves would be shattered carrying a kid on the back, don't even like carrying an adult pillion. Best of luck anyways!

russki

murphaph wrote: »

I think the kid has to be able to reach the footpegs to be legal in this country. It's nowhere near as restrictive as it is elsewhere where they have minimum ages and all sorts.

Yes, that's another one to check. I was trying to find the age limits and couldn't so far. He will be 5 this September.

murphaph wrote: »

Is it far to the school? My nerves would be shattered carrying a kid on the back, don't even like carrying an adult pillion. Best of luck anyways!

The school is not too far away. Few roundabouts down the road, but the traffic in the morning is stand still and you can spend rediculous amount of time just sitting there. The funniest part is that we leave only hundred meters away from the nearest school, but they won't take us because we are just outside the parish. So we have to go to the farest one in town.

MrPudding

russki wrote: »

Yes, that's another one to check. I was trying to find the age limits and couldn't so far. He will be 5 this September.



The school is not too far away. Few roundabouts down the road, but the traffic in the morning is stand still and you can spend rediculous amount of time just sitting there. The funniest part is that we leave only hundred meters away from the nearest school, but they won't take us because we are just outside the parish. So we have to go to the farest one in town.

There is no age limit or requirement that I have found, it is as murphaph says, they need to be able to reach the footpegs. To be honest I don't think you would want them on it if they couldn't reach, very unstable and dangerous. I also would not fance having my child pillion attached to me. I think, in the event of an off, I think they would be better off on there own. You would not be able to do anything for them and in fact the close proximity may cause injury.

MrP

Krusty_Clown

Each to their own, but 5 years old sounds a bit young to me (don't bite me, just my humble opinion). To be a pillion, I reckon the child needs the maturity not to get bored and start messing about, falling asleep, etc.. You'll also have trouble finding protective gear in those kind of sizes, and I would imagine that it would be very unwise to put an ill-fitting helmet on a 5 year old's head. At that age, they won't have the kind of neck muscles to carry a serious amount of weight. Again, all my opinion, so please treat it as such..

When my son was around eight, I judged him old enough to be a pillion. My daughter's seven, and she's going to have to wait another year, until I reckon she's old enough (too brave at the moment!).

I use a pillion pal sometimes, which would seem like a better solution for you. It's like an extra set of handles for the pillion, without having them strapped in. They sell them in Halfords, among others. Around 20 euro. There's a picture of them here, along with some pillion carrying advice.

Run_to_da_hills

I would be reluctant to have any child strapped to me on a bike. Would you not consider a sidecar option?

russki

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

I would be reluctant to have any child strapped to me on a bike. Would you not consider a sidecar option?

I would, but then it's the same thing as just driving there by car. You will be sitting in the traffic the same way, why not to sit there in comfort at least?

I don't like strapping ma boy to me either, that's why I wanted to run this through here and see if somebody is using something like (or better than) that. The last thing I want is to get the little dude hurt.

Saw a guy on GoldWing once with a kid sitting behind him. But that was a GoldWing :-) with a propper sit at the back. I wonder if it's possible to craft some sort of holders to clip a child seat on anf off. That'd be cool.

Run_to_da_hills

russki wrote: »

I would, but then it's the same thing as just driving there by car. You will be sitting in the traffic the same way, why not to sit there in comfort at least?

I don't like strapping ma boy to me either, that's why I wanted to run this through here and see if somebody is using something like (or better than) that. The last thing I want is to get the little dude hurt.

Saw a guy on GoldWing once with a kid sitting behind him. But that was a GoldWing :-) with a propper sit at the back. I wonder if it's possible to craft some sort of holders to clip a child seat on anf off. That'd be cool.

I have ridden combinations on and off for over 15 years, You can get away with alott more than with a car ie traffic wardens and clampers tend to keep a blind eye to them ie free parking in the city. If you are handy you can creep through traffic and turn sharp into any gaps between cars.

russki

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

I have ridden combinations on and off for over 15 years, You can get away with alott more than with a car ie traffic wardens and clampers tend to keep a blind eye to them ie free parking in the city. If you are handy you can creep through traffic and turn sharp into any gaps between cars.

Are you talking about bike with sidecar?

We have some guy (still to find out who he is) here on Campus, who rides black Ural with sidecar :-) . Lovely machine (have a look at the picture) . Brings many happy memories from my childhood, when my uncle used to ride around on one of those.

Run_to_da_hills

russki wrote: »

Are you talking about bike with sidecar?

We have some guy (still to find out who he is) here on Campus, who rides black Ural with sidecar :-) . Lovely machine. Brings many happy memories from my childhood, when my uncle used to ride around on one of those.

Yes, the Ural is an east German equivilant of the BMW, some of these had power to the sidecar wheel and reverse! a bit dated looking! I know a guy from Cashel who took his wife on a honeymoon around Ireland on a Honda 50 with sidecar last year!

Steffano2002

MrPudding wrote: »

I also would not fancy having my child pillion attached to me. I think, in the event of an off, I think they would be better off on there own. You would not be able to do anything for them and in fact the close proximity may cause injury.

I fully agree with the above. I sometimes (only happened twice mind you) have to give my nephew a lift and I wouldn't fancy having him attached to me if we fell... I could crush him to death and I do agree that he would be better off by himself. The pillion pal Krusty_Clown suggested is far better in my opinion.

I actually have to carry my nephew on the bike the week-end after next and I'm not looking forward to it... But I ain't spending 4 hours in buses either! :mad:

russki

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

Yes, the Ural is an east German equivilant of the BMW

Ural is a Russian bike

Krusty_Clown

russki wrote: »

I wonder if it's possible to craft some sort of holders to clip a child seat on anf off. That'd be cool.

This would be the worst-case scenario. If you had a crash, you would be thrown free of the bike (and potentially the accident) while the pillion would be permanently strapped onto the motorcycle during the crash.. Cringe..

Pillion pals are really your best option. What kind of bike do you have? You should be able to fit a back-rest, or a top-box with back support.

russki

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

What kind of bike do you have? You should be able to fit a back-rest, or a top-box with back support.

Honda Shadow VT600CX '99.

I guess I just need to put the whole thing to rest, guys. You are all right. He is too young to hold on to the pal thingy and I won't take chances with self-made solutions either (including that back strap one).

As it stands side car *is* the only safe option for his age.

Thanks anyway for the feedback! Much appreciated.

Splendour

I remember when my daughter started school, I brought her on the back of a moped. Now I appreciate there's a huge difference between a bike and moped but really not much difference in having a kid as pillion passenger.

Given as it was just a moped ,I had a bar screwed and soldered on, so she had something to hold onto. Had it been a bike-the bar wouldn't have happened! My daughter is now 24 and still hasn't forgiven me for the all in one padded suit she had to wear-she claims she felt like the Michelin man in it!

If you are gonna do it though, that Pillion Pal thing Krusty suggested sounds like a good idea.

MrPudding

Splendour wrote: »

I remember when my daughter started school, I brought her on the back of a moped. Now I appreciate there's a huge difference between a bike and moped but really not much difference in having a kid as pillion passenger.{/quote]No difference at all if you and the pillion are sliding up the road…..

Splendour wrote: »

Given as it was just a moped ,I had a bar screwed and soldered on, so she had something to hold onto. Had it been a bike-the bar wouldn't have happened! My daughter is now 24 and still hasn't forgiven me for the all in one padded suit she had to wear-she claims she felt like the Michelin man in it!

I am quite luck, my daughter loves her bike gear. She thinks it is very cool.

Splendour wrote: »

If you are gonna do it though, that Pillion Pal thing Krusty suggested sounds like a good idea.

For sure. And proper gear as well. I tak my daughter to school every now and again. To be honest getting the gear on and off is a pain, as is putting it somewhere, but the rules are the rules….

MrP

gipi

russki wrote: »

The school is not too far away. Few roundabouts down the road, but the traffic in the morning is stand still and you can spend rediculous amount of time just sitting there. The funniest part is that we leave only hundred meters away from the nearest school, but they won't take us because we are just outside the parish. So we have to go to the farest one in town.

At the risk of being booed off this forum (:)), if the school isn't too far, what about one of those old-fangled jobs....a motorbike without an engine (aka a bicycle) with a child seat on the back? Child gets to school without too much bother, dad beats the traffic and gets fit as well!

Krusty_Clown

gipi wrote: »

At the risk of being booed off this forum (:)), if the school isn't too far, what about one of those old-fangled jobs....a motorbike without an engine (aka a bicycle) with a child seat on the back? Child gets to school without too much bother, dad beats the traffic and gets fit as well!

Boooo..

russki

gipi wrote: »

At the risk of being booed off this forum (:)), if the school isn't too far, what about one of those old-fangled jobs....a motorbike without an engine (aka a bicycle) with a child seat on the back? Child gets to school without too much bother, dad beats the traffic and gets fit as well!

Dad doesn't mind to get fit at all :rolleyes: and the idea was on the table. Only I need to get to work after I drop the kid to school and that is another 20 kilometers to cover on the way to and 20 back. I'm risking to get super fit.

I did cycle before to work Skerries<->Santry. It didn't last long. It was tough.