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Should 5 year olds be allowed to ride motorbikes in competitions?

Or in general?

Public Comments

1. No, I really don't think they should.
2. yes they should,i started rideing when i was four
3. No, their motor skills (pardon the pun :) have not developed enough yet so they cannot react as quickly if needed. They don't have the coordination yet either.
4. No its irresponsible. At five they have no concept of fear and are unable to handle that kind of responsiblity and consider their own safety.
5. No they don't understand the danger when crossing the road at that age never mind riding a bike. Anyone who allows their child to do this needs there head examined
6. Should 5 year olds be allowed to ride bicycles? We teach them as early as 3. So sure why not. If he or she is not quite coordinated, there are trainer wheels even for that dirtbike. with all the gear they are required to wear for a dirtbike and the combination of the height and speed the bike is limited to, injury factor is also limited. If you think he or she is ready, I will root for them. Be safe wear your gear and ride fun
7. yes they should,but they shouldnt be pushed to hard into it,they should be pestering all the time to ride the bike if theyre not then its time to let them get on with other things.
8. Well gee whiz, guess the bad parent patrol will be out for me now. I'll bet none of the respondents that are against this even have kids... I started my son out riding when he was five years old on a Z-50 Honda with training wheels. He was litterally riding a motorcycle before he could ride a bicycle. At 7 we started racing hare scrambles. By 9 he had won a state championship. By 15 he was racing a 250 in the expert class. At 16 he had his motorcycle endorcment on his licence and is now an accomplished street rider as well. We have trail rode and raced all over the south east, camped and traveled extensively to ride and race. He was responsible for all of his own maintainence, and obviously at 5~8 he was supervised by me and his mom. Still. I have pictures of a 6 year old installing tires on his Z-50. He is now in his second year of college, majoring in mechanical/motorsports engineering and doing very well. Some of the best memories we have involves riding, racing and motorcycles and to be honest, I'd rather ride with my son than eat when I'm hungry. He feels the same way. Like anything else, riding/racing with kids involves heavy parental supervision and involvment. Like anything else, injurioes are a possibility. Unlike anything else that we could have done, bikes have bonded my son and I together in a way that far transends the normal parent-child relationship. You folks that are speaking out against this must not have any real experiance with it, or dropped the ball with your own kids and at this point can't see the forrest for the trees.
9. Like pretty much everything else, it depends on the kid. Some kids would be fine on a motorcycle at 5, and some people shouldn't be on a motorcycle at 25. My cousin was racing motorcycles (ice racing) when he was 5. Now he's an adult, and a successful pro racer. With proper supervision, and for the right kids, I see no problem with letting them race. By the way Nomad, good post.
10. why not if they can reach the controls ok then sure
11. earlier you start em the better rider they will be when they get old enuf to ride on the road.
12. Yes why not,not only are they learning balance, bike skills and responsibility it also increases the brains perceptiveness and response time not to mention people skills and being part of a team.The downfalls are they might get hurt but kids are resilient and recover fast from small falls,the toddler bikes arent all that fast anyway ...but if u feel as an adult that you don't want your child to do it then so be it... it's your choice my friend .
13. Anyone with the coordination to ride should be allowed to. All racing should be done on a closed course where everyone knows the liabilities and their own limits.
14. With the right equipment, training and supervision, I see no reason why not. Like any skill, the younger you start learning the better.
15. Yeah why not, you can always make a new one if the worst comes to the worst
16. yes, of course, pee wee motocross is great for the tykes and the earlier they get started the more skilled they will be in their teens, when they can get noticed by sponsers and maybe one of the factories.
17. Yes.