ATVs and kids!!!

JDseller · Jul 22, 2011

I did not want to high jack randallnMo post. So here goes. I know many "real" ATV owners/riders make fun of the John Deere gators. I have had three of the 4x2 gators. Mainly because I felt that my grand kids could ride/drive it and be safe. It is wide and slow. There is a frond end that will help protect anyone that is in the seats. No seat no riding.

I also own a Honda Foreman four wheeler to go where the Gator is too wide. Mine only has the three lower forward gears. I took the transmission apart and put a block in the shifter. It can"t be put in the higher gears. It still has full power to pull it just only goes about 26 MPH.

SO far no one has been hurt on either the Gators or the Honda. Things are risky enough without asking for trouble.

What do you guy think??? Am I an old fuddy duddy?? Have any of you limited your ATVs??

rrlund · Jul 22, 2011

I'll just tell you what happened to my brother and nephew when the nephew was younger. He was riding a 4 wheeler,wasn't watching where he was going and hit a rock. He ended up with some stiches out of it. At the hospital,they told my brother that if anything like that happened again,they would have to report it to the Sheriffs Department. He asked,and The County Mounties told him that he could have a 2 wheeled dirt bike,but not the 4 wheeler. Some kind of crap about child endangerment or some such thing,so don't think that the kids on the Gator is even the best way to go. They might still get you in some legal trouble if they get hurt.

Chris(WA) · Jul 22, 2011

My Yamaha has a limiter built in on the throttle. A simple screw and lock nut to limit how far the throttle travels.No one but me rides it until they are old enough then the throttle will be limited.
Protecting your kids and still letting them learn and do is a GREAT thing! Nothing fuddy duddy about safety AND fun!
My grandkids have electric jeeps and ATV's to ride at my place(oldest is 6). They all know they have to wear their helmets when they ride.

kruser · Jul 22, 2011

JD,
Just like anything - It's what you teach them!

Our 14 year dotter has been riding 4 wheelers for prolly 5+ years with NO accidents. Knows how to run a tractor with a clutch, compact tractor with loader and drives most all our trucks - Yep, kinda like when we grew up.

PS: HOPE this don't change around the 16 year old mark!

kruser · Jul 22, 2011

PS: That was HER idea on the pet seat!

Anonymous-0 · Jul 22, 2011

if my 14 year old son ever gets caught not wearing a helmet his 400ex is parked for along time! He grew up on 110's, 200/350x's ect.Where's her's? He was in a crash last summer, helmet came off, fractured his skull and spent 4 days in the hospital. Get her a helmet and make her wear it!

Ken Macfarlane · Jul 22, 2011

Heads knocking solid stuff at 26 mph isn't good either. I'll probably keep our son off the atv's until older/supervised.

Bret4207 · Jul 22, 2011

I will NEVER have a 4 wheel ATV here. NO-FREAKIN-WAY. I've seen too many dead kids, had to break the news to too many parents, been to far, far too many autopsies. And every parent said, "But he never rode fast...". You cannot be there every minute.

larry@stinescorner · Jul 22, 2011

this is my daughter the quad is a small 100 cc and it came with an adjustible throttle stop, for learners

Gun guru · Jul 22, 2011

I have a Polaris Quad....A total piece of crap. It now sits in my garage. I agree that a 4 wheeler is a not a safe piece of equipment, unless an educated adult is riding it. Basically they are not for kids....cause kids do dumb things.

bison · Jul 22, 2011

ATV or Gators/mules.

I don't like them.
I don't want them
I don't have them
I think they are dangerous for kids and grown ups alike.

AFAIAC one may as well just use a 4x4 truck,it can do way more than these stupid ATV's and are cheaper to boot.

Just saying

Brad Buchanan · Jul 22, 2011

I tried out a three-wheeler when the first came out and didn't like the way it handled and thought it was somewhat unstable.

My son and daughter both rode dirt bikes (after learning on a honda xr75 from the stone ages) and took the normal amount of spills and crashes.

My concern is that if a dirt bike goes over backward usually it can be pushed to the side. Seems like when a 4-500 pound 4-wheeler flips back it lands where it wants.

Not to criticize anyone's choice I just think 2-wheelers are a lot safer.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Brad

Tyler Jackson · Jul 22, 2011

I agree with the it's how you teach em. If you think safe and act safe there's a good chance you're going to be safe. And no disrespect to anyone but if you think that they're to unsafe for anyone why does everyone have a car? I'm no survey expert but I would suspect more people ae hurt doing stupid things in cars. Same rules apply, think safe act safe be safe. My 2 cents

730d se · Jul 22, 2011

It's like the arguement with guns. Guns never kill anyone, it is always the operator.
I have ridden ATV's for many years. They are great tools at the farm for all kinds of chores. Never had an accident, not even a close call. Have had all Polaris but various sizes. Have ridden many other brands and models.

I do agree that it is not a "toy" and should not be given to a youngster, no matter how much money (or credit) his parent's have.
Think of all of the motorized vehicles that can and do kill people everyday, it is not JUST ATV's.

Ray · Jul 22, 2011

A guy near me has 4 girls all under the age of 12 who all pile on a 4 wheeler and head down the road.They go by my house sometimes probably 30 mph.I hate to think of what's probably going to happen someday.

Goose · Jul 22, 2011

Not just ATV's.

As I recall, several years ago a couple of young girls, maybe 12 or 13 were killed in Iowa when they came sailing out of a field road on a snowmobile onto a public road and got nailed by a car.

The problem is, ATV's, snowmobiles, jet skis, boats, et al, are looked at as toys, and toys aren't supposed to hurt you.

Just a week or so ago, a couple of teenagers from North Carolina were killed on Sherman Reservoir by Loup City, Nebraska. They were tubing behind a boat and were run over by a drunk on a pontoon boat.

I used to be an avid boater and water skier, but it just got too crazy. The lake would be pandemonium, people water skiing through "No Wake" zones, people holding beer busts in front of a sign that said "No Alcoholic Beverages", dogs running loose when signs said, "All pets must be on a leash", etc. And while all this was going on, there would be three Game Commission officers vigorously patroling the parking lots to make sure all vehicles had a park use sticker.

I'll get off my soap box.

toadady · Jul 22, 2011

my son started on a honda 50 dirtbike @4 years, my daughter @ 13ish , MY thinking is they know they will crash, so they go at a slower speed to learn, and they did, on a quad it's "i have 4 wheels i won't roll over, why do i need a helmet"

on my "farm" i have three dirtbikes and a lifted golf cart NO ATV's, i can do as much or more on my golf cart,more easy to get on and off, designed to take two people, i could go on and on, it has a stiffer rear sheave spring so it has lost it's top speed, it will only go 12mph accoring to my gps.

if i had a quad it would be MANDITORY that a helmet was worn, i've been known to give helmets i find at yardsales away to kids on quads, infact i sent a neighbor kid home one memorial day telling him"no lid no ride"

G.Fields · Jul 22, 2011

Dad turned me loose on a go cart at 7, bought me a 87 ATC 125 4 wheeler when i was 10 made me help him rebuild it, at 13 i started mowing yards, and washing cars to save up for my fist dirt bike. All of these came with one stipulation. If he ever saw or heard about me with out a helment on he would take a rail saw to it and cut it in half. Dad never was much of a BSer and i always wore one, even now at 28, whenever i swing a leg over my Harley i have a helment on. As a added benefit i gained quite a bit of knowledge that benefited me when it came time to drive and ride on the street. Nobody ever learned anything playing video games, make sure the kids are safe as they can be and ket em BE KIDS!

JerryS · Jul 22, 2011

My guess is that in two years four wheelers won't be real high on your list of worries.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 23, 2011

Dog seems to think it's OK too.

JML755 · Jul 23, 2011

As an aside, ATVs are currently banned from public roads in Michigan. Yet, I often see kids blazing down the dirt roads at speeds up to about 50 mph. Have almost creamed a few that came out of nowhere. There is a push to allow counties and townships to pass ordinances that would open up designated roads to them at a speed limit of 25mph. I'm against it. If they're doing it now when it's illegal what will happen when they allow it on "certain" roads. Kids won't bother to check a map or stick to 25.

karl f · Jul 23, 2011

golf carts and gators look like a lot better option
for those over 60 or with some disability. My dad
is 70 and prefers to walk over a 4 wheeler ride.
The electric shift honda is a little intimidating.
and finding reverse on it is tricky enough with
young nimble fingers. Then there's swinging a
leg over--30 is hard enough to do such things,
imagine a 70 year old with back and leg problems.

karl f

oldtanker · Jul 23, 2011

LOL yup let be kids! Buy em a bike!

Biggest problem with kids and ATV's is the fact that there is no adult supervision! I'd have no problem with that if the parents took the time to do it with their kids. 2 of my grand sons have dirt bikes and access to 4 wheelers. They are never allowed to use em without the other grandpa, mom or dad being with them! Oldest of the 2 is 12.

Rick

Anonymous-0 · Jul 23, 2011

Don't agree. Bought a used Honda for less than $800 and a new trailer for about $100. No problems and use them for everything. Keeps wear and tear off the new truck and runs cheaper. Wife loves it.

ATVs and kids!!!

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