This Father’s Day, Inspire Kids To Ride Motorcycles

If you’ve been a rider since you were a kid, you’ll know the power of those early years you spent with a motorcycle. You’ll also likely know how important a parent’s or mentor’s role is in teaching the basics and providing opportunities to ride. And if you came to bikes later in life, imagine how great it would have been to have had a chance to cut your motorcycling teeth as a youngster. 

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I’m fortunate enough to be able to speak with some experience. Growing up, my dad and I would spend evenings a few times a week at my grandpa’s farm, tending to the cattle herd, and a big part of that experience included riding around the property on an old Honda TR200. The bike was a utility machine, helping to get us out to the new calves after they were born, and when I was small I’d ride around on the back as we got the chores done. When I was finally big enough to work all the controls properly, I was let loose to ride around on my own.

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Those days are some of my fondest memories. I learned to respect the machine I was on and to ride within the limits of my skill. I also learned how incomparably great it is to spend a day out alone on a bike, riding until the fuel is nearly spent.

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And even though I didn’t ride much after my grandpa sold the farm, when I was finally able to get back into riding later in life, these early experiences continued to have an impact. They made riding feel special, connected to an amazing stretch of time in my childhood. They also made me extremely thankful to my dad for giving me the chance to make those memories in the first place. 

So this Father’s Day, consider giving your kids memories like that of their own, if you haven’t already. There’s no question that time spent on and around motorcycles, by your dad’s side, leaves a lasting impression.

Here’s some tips on how to make that happen.

Now, as an adult, the TR200 seems like a pretty dinky rig. But as a kid I remember thinking the bike was massive, and it was a real point of pride the day I got to ride off on it by myself. But I’ll  be the first to admit that it probably wasn’t the safest machine for a kid my age. 

The automatic transmission was great, but it was a heavy bike with no throttle limiter, and even though I used to love to jam it into top gear and go sailing down the access road, I would choose a much different machine for my children.

There are plenty of bikes designed for kids that can be bought for relatively little cost, even less if you find one used. Take a classic like the Honda CRF50, which is $1,599 brand new. It’s  a 110-pound, three-speed automatic bike with throttle limiter that transports easily, is small and lightweight, and gives parents the ability to control performance based on junior’s skill. The Yamaha PW50 ($1,499) is even more approachable, with an even smaller stance and single-speed transmission. There are loads of electric options these days too, which can price new in the hundreds, rather than thousands, of dollars. 

Giving your kid his or her own motorcycle is about more than just being the coolest dad ever. It gives your child a sense of autonomy, freedom, and can be a great lesson in responsibility. Bike care and maintenance is a vital part of motorcycle ownership after all. Make a rule to clean the bike after a ride in the dirt, show them how to check the fuel level, check chain tension (in the case of the CRF50), or tire pressure. Instilling these habits early on will not only teach your kids to respect their machine, it will create a better understanding of what it means to have and ride a motorcycle.

Reinforce the message of proper bike care by letting your little one tag along while you do your own maintenance.

Talk through the steps of your process, and explain why you’re doing what you’re doing. When your kids are old enough to lend an extra hand, have them hand off tools when you need them, and put ones you’re done with away. And if you don’t do your own maintenance, simply set aside some one-on-one garage time and talk through the parts of the bike and the purposes they serve. If you’re having a beer, bring them out a juice so they feel a part of the program.

The point is to create positive bonding experiences around the machine. To reinforce the importance of continuous care, and to instill the pride of ownership that comes from caring for and knowing your motorcycle. 

I’ll again speak from experience here. Although we didn’t work on bikes, my dad is a metal worker and has been as long as I’ve been alive. We’ve spent countless hours in his shop, and I remember how incredible it felt to help with a project. Even just sitting there, watching the sparks fly from the torch or inspecting the bead of a weld, was magical. You can create the same indelible memories working together on the bike. 

There’s more to riding a motorcycle than getting from point A to point B. There is a whole culture to explore, and giving your kids a chance to experience different facets of motorcycling is a great way to inspire a love of bikes.

Competition is one huge part of riding, and seeing a race live is an unforgettable experience for a kid. If the event is a pro level race, there’s bound to be lots of other moto-related activities going on as well, so you will be able to share a whole day or two completely immersed in bikes and bike culture.

There are also loads of bike shows every year and many will offer family-friendly blocks of time. Spend a morning taking in the show and seeing the different ways people have found to be creative with their motorcycles.  

Or go to a motorcycle museum if possible. Instill an appreciation for the history of bikes and show how motorcycles have changed and improved over the years. 

These types of experiences open up the broader culture of riding for a kid, and reinforce the fact that riding can be a way of life, complete with a supportive and interesting community of like-minded people who share the same passion.

However you go about it, include your kid in your motorcycling life whenever possible, encourage them to learn and ride and it won’t be long before you have a lifelong riding buddy.