Child on Motorcycle or Tractor which is more dangerous

[JoelD]

I passed a guy today at a stop light, he's driving a harley, smoking a cigarette with a little girl on the back, she was between 8 and 10 years old.

Always shocked when I see little children on the back of motorcycles.

I just shake my head.

Joel

 

[brandoro]

My kids were never on the motorcycle until they were big enough to comfortably reach the foot pegs and understand what was going on and the importance of hanging on. For the tractor I would consider taking them for rides only, not operating equipment when they were smaller. I say consider because I didn't have a tractor when my kids were small. I do have a grandson and will probably take him for a ride on the tractor whenever the opportunity should arise. Since I have a cab tractor I don't see it as much of a risk.
I think the danger factor comes down to the operator of the motorcycle or tractor and the child doing the riding. Some operators of either should not have anyone within a large radius. Some children should not be taken for rides on either because they don't understand the risk and/or don't take instruction well, like sit here, hang on to this and don't touch anything else.
At least one tractor operator near here found out the reason for the FEL lock, was driving the tractor at transport speed and had his child drop the bucket to the ground. Hard on people and equipment.
JMHO

 

[JB4310]

I passed a guy today at a stop light, he's driving a harley, smoking a cigarette with a little girl on the back, she was between 8 and 10 years old.

Always shocked when I see little children on the back of motorcycles.

I just shake my head.

Joel

Depends on their size and strength, I've got a 10 year old and he has his own motorcycle, I've taken him for rides on my small on/off road bike for years. but he's coordinated and experienced so was never a problem. I've had young women on my rice burners panic in a leaning turn and try and right themselves up, almost throw us off the road. so it does have to do with experience.

When I was about 10-12 my big brother would take me for rides on his Harley, his was built and he would not hold back especially when I would egg him on. I loved it and totally trusted him. You couldn't pay me enough to get on the back of anyone's MC now.

 

[Dmace]

My 6yr old rides with me on the Harley, he rides on the back and has a backrest. He wears a full face helmet and gloves of course and loves it. Nothing is better in his mind then getting dropped off at school on the bike. I keep the rides to under 40 miles. It differs per child, I wouldn't take my 12yr old nephew because he just doesn't seem to pay attention enough or know how to follow instructions precisely.

I will not let my 6yr old operate the tractor until I feel he's competent enough but he does ride with me while snow-blowing. He's in charge of turning on the windshield wipers.

 

[JB4310]

Well about the question of which is more dangerous for a child I think the tractor wins hands down.
I've personally never heard of a child being killed as a passenger in a motorcycle accident, I'm sure it happens, but we've all heard about tractor related child deaths.

I do let my kids operate tractors under close supervision, it is a huge confidence builder.

 

[Redneck in training]

My parents couldn't afford a car when I was growing up but had a 175 cc motorcycle. All of us (we are three brothers) were riding on the bike since very early age. Here is a picture (from India I visited recently) of five people on a bike. The woman has a baby you don't see on her lap. I have seen children sitting on the fuel tank and sleeping while riding. Needles to say that people drive slow in India.

 

[JoelD]

My parents couldn't afford a car when I was growing up but had a 175 cc motorcycle. All of us (we are three brothers) were riding on the bike since very early age. Here is a picture (from India I visited recently) of five people on a bike. The woman has a baby you don't see on her lap. I have seen children sitting on the fuel tank and sleeping while riding. Needles to say that people drive slow in India.

I would see the same thing in Penang Malaysia, and when you go into the malls they'd have graphic pictures of when a moped loaded with a family would hit a pole or a car, horible horible stuff.

I raced motocross from 13 - 17 years of age (NEMA, NESC and AMA) and consider myself a proficient motorcycle rider. My last street bike was a Yamaha R1, I hit 154 MPH (and climbing when I glanced at the spedo) racing a Suzuki GSXR on my way to the beach. Him in the high speed lane (he had a girl friend on the back come to think of it) and me in the brakedown lane.

Got home, it all sank in, I sold it and never looked back.

I've lost a lot more friends to motorcycle accidents than I have lost to tractors (none).

I can't bring myself to purchase a scooter for around town now that the mini-boss is here.

I just see so much risk with a motorcycle, other drivers, mechanical failure, road hazards, etc.

Trying to be open minded on this one, but man, I could not live with myself if I were to lay a bike down with the mini-boss on the back.

Mini-boss is reason the bosses car is 5 star rated all around, the more protection for those two the better (me also obviously).

With all that said, the mini-boss does have a minibike with training wheels and a quad. I've always been of the opinion that the big difference between dirt bikes and street bikes is cars and speed.

Joel

 

[NuBota]

Joel, I'm with you. When I was a young punk, would ride at speeds 100+. If I hit a bottle cap wrong, it could have been the end.

I don't judge people that ride with their kids - there is no better thrill than riding on a bike. I get the itch every Spring. And there are plenty of capable riders, both adult and children out there. My biggest concern is not the riders but all the other incapable drivers on the rode. A bike just doesn't seem to register in their brains as a motor vehicle and an obstacle. I was hit once standing still, waiting to merge into traffic - was almost pushed into the oncoming traffic - lady "just didn't see me". Even slow speeds, when people cut you off, is enough to make you lay it down.

My wife's step-father had to lay it down when he was cut-off. Low speed (~10 mph) when he went down. Hardly a scratch on the bike and very little road rash. But the handle bars caught him in the ribs, broke a couple, punctured a lung, and he died weeks later from complications. Granted, freak scenario, but just shows it doesn't take much.

Guess my take is - if you can control the environment - the risk is acceptable. So a tractor ride on your own property with the proper precautions and experience would be fine. Same with a dirt bike or ATV. But out on the roads with all the other knuckleheads, how much control can you possibly have?

 

[JoelD]

Joel, I'm with you. When I was a young punk, would ride at speeds 100+. If I hit a bottle cap wrong, it could have been the end.

I don't judge people that ride with their kids - there is no better thrill than riding on a bike. I get the itch every Spring. And there are plenty of capable riders, both adult and children out there. My biggest concern is not the riders but all the other incapable drivers on the rode. A bike just doesn't seem to register in their brains as a motor vehicle and an obstacle. I was hit once standing still, waiting to merge into traffic - was almost pushed into the oncoming traffic - lady "just didn't see me". Even slow speeds, when people cut you off, is enough to make you lay it down.

My wife's step-father had to lay it down when he was cut-off. Low speed (~10 mph) when he went down. Hardly a scratch on the bike and very little road rash. But the handle bars caught him in the ribs, broke a couple, punctured a lung, and he died weeks later from complications. Granted, freak scenario, but just shows it doesn't take much.

Guess my take is - if you can control the environment - the risk is acceptable. So a tractor ride on your own property with the proper precautions and experience would be fine. Same with a dirt bike or ATV. But out on the roads with all the other knuckleheads, how much control can you possibly have?

My feelings exactly nubota, couldn't have put it better. Your last paragraph nailed it.

Sorry about your wife's step-father.
Sincerely,
Joel

 

[BlacknTan]

I'm surprised that an enterprising individual has not come out with full bubble wrap suits for children an adults, although I have survived and thrived in one (basically) piece for sixty years..
Getting out of bed in the morning is risky business!