to think that taking dd on back of motorbike would be completely STUPID FFS

[DHisBARKING]

DH loves his bike. There is no age requirement by law to take a pillion rider on the back. No matter how big or powerful the bike. As long as the pillion can touch the footpegs (a 4 year old could on most) and wear a fitting helmet, they can ride!

DH thinks its OK once dd (now 3) is about 6 to ride on the back "just a short way, taking it very steady".

I am livid. Is he F'ing brain-dead or what?!?!

Yip
I would tend to agree he sounds braindead - but for the sake of 3 years down the track I wouln't make a major issue out of it now, but it definitely wouldn't be an option in 3 years

I agree, won't be making an issue. Maybe he thinks a 6 year old is majorly grown up and once she gets there, he'll realise it isn't.

Oh and he's going into the "maybe I could make some sort of seat belt to attach her to me.."

In Asia, you see kids on motorbikes all the time. They sit in front of the driver though.

They do the same with bikes.

You are being unreasonable, as long as your husband drives carefully and your child has a helmet on, everything should be fine.

I would smile swwetly and say "Let's just wait til we get there shall we?"

Mind you I do think you ought to decide in your own mind when you would be happy for him to take her for a little ride.

Speaking as someone who was put on the back of a horse at 2 and was taught to use an air rifle at 6, I don't see this as as much or a no-no as some might.

I do think the seatbelt idea needs really stomping on - that would make it more dangerous, not less IMHO!

What age would you consider acceptable?

I reckon when she can reach fully around his waist as clasp hands she is OK - so about 18 then

seriously, how can a child fully hold themselves on? And we do live in Asia, but are British, and see kids on the backs of bikes all the time..... i hate it!

Well I remember my dad taking me to school on the back of his bike aged 10, and it wasn't at all hard to stay on. In fact I remember sometimes putting both arms out behind me whilst I was on it, so it must have been easy to stay on using just legs.

Age 6 does feel too young to me, but 18 is probably unrealistically old, particularly if everyone else over there is doing it much younger.

It depends, if he is talking once round the block, slowly, with no traffic around, then fine. (I am a rider myself)

If he is talking about the open road, I would hesitate strongly. It ain't about his riding, he might be a fantastic rider but it is about the other road users who might not be so great.

Motorcycling is putting yourself (and child)in a vulnerable position. That is why it is dangerous.

Get him to take her to an airfield or something, and ride around there a bit if she is keen. That way the worst that can happen is they fall off and the bike lands on them, well you can see why it is not a good idea can't you...

Ds1 climbed up on my bike once when I turned my back for a second, it was stationary but had it fallen, his legs could have been crushed. I can't get over it even years later.

Tying her to him would be the worst possible thing to do - if they were hit she would be better being thrown clear, rather than potentially crushed under a grown man.

He is being ridiculous.

thanks flight attendant
sensible words

Being fair - maybe he wants to involve his child in his hobby.

Being a mother - he is crazy.

i wouldnt let my kds on a bike full stop.

in fact should they buy one whilst living under my roof - or befopre the age of 21 dh and i shall take it to back garden and burn it
BOOOOOOOOOOM

tell him there is always a shortage of child organ donors!

Sounds utterly crazy to me.

i went out wiht my older cousin when iw as about 8
god i loved it

I agree with Flllightattendant. Its not about how good a rider he is, but about entrusting the care of his darling daughter to all the other idiots on the road.

Yebbut cod, there were only a few mangy horse drawn vehicles arbout in them days innit. Now it is a seething mass of metal at every junction.

YANBU
My kids will not be riding pillion with DH until they are 13+

I rode pillion on the back of my brother's bike when I was a teenager and he was about 20.

I would say 6 is too young, and if you are not happy about it, your veto should be respected at any age up to her adulthood.

I was riding pillion on my stepdads motorbike 'just round the block' probably at about 20/30 mph by about eight. I did longer journeys by about 11 and by 13 I would beg him to take me to school.

I don't think he is braindead tbh, better to teach her to respect bikes if she is going to be around them, I'd say six is probably a bit too young, but then I know my 7yr old would be stupid enough to elt go.

Enough kids go on electric bike/trikes alone younger.

yanbu but yabu to worry about it now.
in 3 years time if he still wants to and you don't agree. have ago then.

YANBU. I wouldn't consider letting my dc on a motorbike until they are at least old enough for me not to be able to stop them. While I can keep them safe I will. A family member is a surgeon and has some horror stories about what he has had to do to repair people after motorcycle accidents (if they can be repaired ). No way, not EVER would I let a child on a motorbike.

In three year's time he'll probably change his mind anyway, but if he's just talking about a few short rides down quiet roads and going slowly surely it's no more dangerous than kids being on the back of bicycles? (which I always worry about, if a bike was hit the child is strapped in, isn't that really dangerous?)

I'm not sure what I think of this really as I rode on the back of my dad's bike from the age of around 5-6 to around 12. It being the 70's nobody batted an eyelid of course (including myself, I enjoyed it), but tbh I think I would be quite shocked to see a child that young on a motor bike now.

The worst that happened to me was that I burned my (bare) leg on the exhaust pipe getting off once, causing nasty blisters.

Agree about seeing children strapped onto the back of bicycles in town traffic, it's dangerous enough riding bikes in traffic anyway without having a toddler strapped on the back.