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Parent child moto trip.

The rule for us was when he could reach all the way around me with his arms, then he would be big enough. Every once in a while we would test and he could only reach my boobs 😆 When he could reach around I would take him to school, which had exactly 0.0% cool factor for him. Sometimes on the way home I would feel him completely relax and I would realize he had fallen asleep so I would slap his thigh to wake him up again.

We took two moto trips: the first was to collect a one-way Dubbelju rental. We flew to San Diego to pick up the Honda shadow. I had bought a cushy seat topper for the terrible passenger seat and when we took off I let him know that he could slap my thigh if he needed us to stop. I started the bike, pulled onto the highway and he immediately started tapping. I pulled off at the next exit and he informed me that his butt hurt and that he was the most uncomfortable he had been in his whole life. I said oh sweetheart we have two days to go! we had good hotels and hotel pools and good food and we made it back without too much misery.

The second trip we took on a borrowed 2017 Goldwing so that he could have his own recliner back there. He was older now, maybe 11, and I was a little alarmed about not being able to tell he was even on the bike. One of the happiest moments of my entire life was when we were riding on Alpine Road and I was moving along effortlessly with that magical Bike scraping the pipes a little bit every now and then and he was behind me humming the sweetest little happiest song. Years later he told me that he didn’t really love those trips and that I made him go anyway so it wasn’t really like he had any choice. Ugh!

He’s ridden Dirt off and on with me for much of his life, but he’s not really into it. He’s 18 now and he has his whole life to explore or not explore the motorcycle part waiting for him if he chooses to pick it up again.
 

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We’ve been going out for rides since early 5 years old or so. He can outride me. Well easily put on 100+ miles through 9, skyline, 1, 280, etc and when we get back home, he still wants to stay out riding. He loves cruising on the freeway and seeing the world.
 

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I want to put my 5yr back there. too young i reckon though

Never too young! Mines 5 and we do 100+ mile days all around the coast and alices. Amazon sells an awesome body harness that fully goes on their body like a vest and then has a huge thick strap that goes around your waist. They’ll love it I’m sure!

Mine would be sitting on the bike when I got home from work all the time and asking to go for a ride. I figured they wouldn’t like it or it would be too loud. One day I just said okay we’ll go up the street and back. And that’s all she wrote. It went from a ride up the street to being gone most of the day riding all over the bay.
 

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This is the motorcycle safety harness my 5 year old and I use when riding if anyone is curious. It’s fully adjustable to grow with them (or you if you’ve had one too many little Debbie’s, cakes, etc 😉) plus the straps are very good on them and don’t slip when weight or force is applied. I really like this one because many are just waist bands but don’t help if they doze off or lean. This covers the waist and the torso, keeps them very safe.
 

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This is the motorcycle safety harness my 5 year old and I use when riding if anyone is curious. It’s fully adjustable to grow with them (or you if you’ve had one too many little Debbie’s, cakes, etc 😉) plus the straps are very good on them and don’t slip when weight or force is applied. I really like this one because many are just waist bands but don’t help if they doze off or lean. This covers the waist and the torso, keeps them very safe.
I was looking at this one because it should hold them snug even if the front wheel comes up accidentally https://www.amazon.com/TOKCKYBL-Upgraded-Motorcycle-Safety-Harness/dp/B0DQ8Z8Q38 1789513241976.png
 
Am I correct in saying that there's no specific minimum age requirement in California - it's just whether they can reach the passenger pegs?
They have to be big enough to fit into DOT approved helmet, and reach the passenger footpegs.

My daughter started riding with me when she was 8. When she was in 5th grade I would drop her off and pick her up from school as it was on my way in to work.

Now she has her M1, and some significant general anxiety, but she does want to start riding.

We'll see how it goes.
 
Sometimes on the way home I would feel him completely relax and I would realize he had fallen asleep so I would slap his thigh to wake him up again.
That was my main worry when I took my daughter on camping trips - I used the helmet intercom thing so w could talk back and forth all the time, and then every so often I'd just say "Look! An eagle!" to make sure she was still with me. Most of that was advice from Paul and Joe at the old MotoJava...
 
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