i'v been breaking that recomondation since the day i started seems as soon as i'm the recomended age its time to move on...but thats just it its recomended not law

 

Two weeks ago my 9 year old son was run over by a "180lb 14 year old" riding a big (650?) Bombardier. The kids quads "just aren't big enough" for the tubby little 14 year old says his grandfather. My son was hit head on and thrown over the bars into the bumper of the bigger quad while the whole tangle went about 8 feet in the reverse direction of my kid who was only going ~5mph. He is still recovering and will be for some time! His quad was totaled.
I am now convinced that only ignorant morons believe that there is no problem with putting children on full sized quads. Are you willing to bet hundreds of thousands of dollars that your child on a adult sized quad won't hurt someone else? Do you have the cash to pay for the hospitalization, recovery and punitive damages that a court will levy upon you. Think about it!

<rant off>

 

guerryb, while I certainly sympathise with your plight and hope your son recovers fully and continues to enjoy the sport, I do not agree that ALL kids should be kept off of adult sized machines. Though it certainly appears that the 14 year old in question was beyond his capabilities on the DS650, this is not the case with all children. I would add that I know many adults who could have been in the same spot as that 14 year old due to rider ignorance.

I will note that I also STRONGLY support the education of kids if they ride ANY ATV and stress that supervision is a must. I suspect in the case above the 14 year old was plopped on the DS650 as a form of "baby sitting" and the parents or adults responsible simply let him go. This can be a fun family sport, but only if the parents take ACTIVE involvement in their kids.

In MN, children from 12-15 will be allowed to ride adult sized ATV's providing they pass a safety class which includes a riding componant on the machine in question. This, I feel, is the proper course of action.

 

I agree with Pechmial? (sorry if I missed spelled) Thru safety education they can and should be able to ride big quads. How about the 32 yr old moron on his buddies borrowed sport quad that put my father in the hospital when he hit him doing 40+mph and my dad was doing 15mph, totaled that sport quad and did $2100 damage on my dads. Accidents aren't age related, their skill related!!
Should there be safety education for all? It would keep any age moron off them.
My daughter started on an 85 LT250EF at 5 even learned to shift then, when she passed her course at 12 she got a 400 4X4 and can mud with the best of them, she's only 75#
With our sport there accidents as with any and if you want to avoid them your better off staying on the couch.

Soccer moms in mini vans shouldn't be allowed then either!

Rick

 

if a parent wants to be that bold to put a child on a ds650, grizzly, prarie 650 etc..... i hope they have their insurance payed up...today's thinking on a lot of folks is get a lawyer now anduse common sence later! and that my friends will ruin the sport for all [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-frown.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img] and guerryb, i sure hope your son will recover soon, i feel your pain, my 5yr old daughter was hit by a truck while riding her bicycle last week. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]