Puzzled

[Alexx]

Hi guys,nice to meet you,I have a Ninja 650 and I wanted to get your thoughts on this : so since I got my bike my son who is 9 asked me if he can ride with me so I said yes why not.So I got him geared up with everything plus I got a safety harness.So we started riding but sometimes in traffic there are some people that are looking kind of angry at me probably thinking that I shouldn’t risk my son life riding on the bike.

I was curious to hear your opinion on this,I know there are some experienced riders here,thanks.

[Mold]

Personally I think you shouldn't take any notice of what other people think, although we both know why they're thinking that. This is a massive time in your kids life and he'll enjoy your rides as much if not more than you, it's one of those core memories that he'll never forget. I'd much rather take my kid on the back than give them a bike of their own, at least until they're a minimum of 14yo and wearing full gear for off road riding.

[Simon Davey]

@Alexx

I bet he has a great time, and that's all that matters. 

There aren't many ways to bond with our children these days, this is one of them. Besides, he'll have something to look back on when there's only electric bikes available. 

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

I used to take our girls on the back of the bike when they were younger. They enjoyed it. My wife on the other hand was a nightmare on the back. 

[Alexx]

It s so hard today to find bond activities with your child because let’s be honest most of them spend most of their time on their phone or tablets.So imagine how happy I am when my son comes to me and says “come on dad let’s go for a ride”. I must admit that the wife was not very fond at the beginning but now she accepted it so happy days.

Edited Saturday at 21:50 by Alexx

[bonio]

I'd have loved the chance to have my kids on the back when they were younger. Sadly I started riding too late, and they just think I'm a bit crazy. 

[Stu]

Teach him the difference between people who are happy for him and people who don't like it 

 

Then for that latter teach him how to show them the bird 

 

The only thing I will say is lose the harness! If the inevitable does happen then you don't want to be tied together 

 

Get a headset so you are in communication 

[V650]

As above I would also say loose the harness ( just my 2p worth )

Don't mind the angry birds they are just begrudging muppets jealous that they are stuck in traffic while you are free to go on your way  

Enjoy your time with the youngster that's all that matters at the mo

[Old-codger]

Take no notice of them, as long as your son feels safe and holds on I see no harm in it. As long as your son can sit on the seat and has his feet firmly on the pegs it is not a problem. As others have said think about a headset so you two can enjoy whats going on around you.

[JRH]

I took my daughter out on the bike when she was able to sit with feet on the pillion pegs and hold on.

Think she must have enjoyed the  rides out as she now has bikes of her own

[_amw_]

People will have their opinion on everything, you don't have to take any notice

 

Also: When I was a child I also used to ride horses: they are also quite dangerous, but no one thinks twice about letting their children have a go at riding.  I don't see too much difference with a child riding pillion.

 

 

[Alexx]

Thanks for the comments but now you got me thinking about the harness,I like the fact that while we ride I can feel him close to me but as somebody said I don’t know what will happen in case of a accident.

[Fiddlesticks]

Where abouts are you? I have one of these I no longer use. Might be a good compromise.

[Alexx]

I live in Wellingborough that’s in East Midlands ,but let me show you what I use at the moment.

[Fiddlesticks]

Never seen those before. I could do with one for when Mrs Fiddlesticks falls asleep on the back!

[Essexboy]

My daughter thinks I'm a bellend and won't go anywhere near my bike...... She has a point I suppose

 

It would've been great if she had ridden pillion when she was younger 

[RideWithStyles]

To be honest fook these ignorant and uneducated muppets! These Aholes think filtering ain’t allowed!

 

i have ridden with my only child, daughter who’s was only 7, I bought a bike so she could get on and off herself, all the best kit that was available to her, bought an extra comm system to go on her helmet so it she wanted to talk it was easy, I worn a harness for extra support to her which she hardly ever wanted to use.

when the bike didn’t have a topbox for back support even when I looked high and low for one.

I rode realistically, appropriately and extremely defensively to her needs only. A lot of time while the wife was on the 125 behind so even her mind was at extra ease and she was extremely protective than i was….

 

now I be honest this is very dependent on you, your attitude, your experience, your child, their attitude, your bike and kit.  Over that it’s just finer details. 

Edited 9 hours ago by RideWithStyles
Autocorrect

[Steve_M]

On 27/04/2025 at 08:17, V650 said:

As above I would also say loose the harness ( just my 2p worth )

Don't mind the angry birds they are just begrudging muppets jealous that they are stuck in traffic while you are free to go on your way  

Enjoy your time with the youngster that's all that matters at the mo

I took my son pillion from age 9, we did many thousands of miles on Sunday rides, attending BSB and WSB races, bike meets and shows. I took additional training to make us as safe as possible and ride smoothly. I don’t recall too many negative reactions: That said, I was usually too busy concentrating on my own riding to notice; knowing my son, he would either waved, given a thumbs up, or similar. 

 

Without knowing what you mean by harness, my assumption is something that attaches your son to the bike. If that’s the case, like V650 said, I would lose it. Being attached to 200kg+ bike would be really dangerous in the event of a spill even at low speed. Or do you mean a set of grab handles that attach to you? 
 

[RideWithStyles]

38 minutes ago, Steve_M said:

I took my son pillion from age 9, we did many thousands of miles on Sunday rides, attending BSB and WSB races, bike meets and shows. I took additional training to make us as safe as possible and ride smoothly. I don’t recall too many negative reactions: That said, I was usually too busy concentrating on my own riding to notice; knowing my son, he would either waved, given a thumbs up, or similar. 

 

Without knowing what you mean by harness, my assumption is something that attaches your son to the bike. If that’s the case, like V650 said, I would lose it. Being attached to 200kg+ bike would be really dangerous in the event of a spill even at low speed. Or do you mean a set of grab handles that attach to you? 
 

The harness attaches to the rider (waist) with grab handles for the pillion to hold on…much better than trying to wrap their arms around you waist or loose jacket also not having to grab around behind them  to a rear handle (the bike I had had grab rails at the side which is far better but a harness is great.
so if you was to speed off to quickly they will pull on you so you know to cool it (-if you got too excited). If you grab too much brake then theyre arms go around the sides while still having a good purchase of the handles, spreading the force onto you.  also I found it less likely to bang helmets. 
you known where they by the tension of it…I found it reassuring. 

[Steve_M]

14 minutes ago, RideWithStyles said:

The harness attaches to the rider (waist) with grab handles for the pillion to hold on…much better than trying to wrap their arms around you waist or loose jacket also not having to grab around behind them  to a rear handle (the bike I had had grab rails at the side which is far better but a harness is great.
so if you was to speed off to quickly they will pull on you so you know to cool it (-if you got too excited). If you grab too much brake then theyre arms go around the sides while still having a good purchase of the handles, spreading the force onto you.  also I found it less likely to bang helmets. 
you known where they by the tension of it…I found it reassuring. 

I was hoping it was one of those.
 

My lad always held on to the bike’s grab handles so he could sit up and see what was going on. He soon learned to read the road and brace accordingly to whether I was about to brake or accelerate as required.