Mini-Motorbikes Are Not Toys
Four children have died so far in the UK from riding mini-motorbikes, also known as mini-motos and pocket bikes.
The deaths include a six-year-old boy who died when he lost control of his mini-motorbike while being chased by a dog. A two-year-old boy also suffered serious head injuries after trying to ride his brother’s bike.
These mini-motorcycles are not toys even if manufacturers claim five-year-olds can ride them. The mini-motos can race up to 60 mph more and are extremely noisy. Councils across the UK are seizing and crushing pocket bikes, turning the debris into street furniture.
Please reconsider if you’re planning to buy a mini-motorbike for your child. Even if with proper training and supervision, they don’t sound safe at all.
Have you seen or ridden a mini-moto?
BBC News, August 2, 2006
Technorati Tags: mini moto, mini motorbike, mini motorcycle, motorcycles, pocket bike, bikes, children, kids, toys, dangers, warnings
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5 opinions for Mini-Motorbikes Are Not Toys
Deb L
Aug 2, 2006 at 8:43 am
I think they’re awfully cute, but I also think that most families are not bike-savvy. And that if your little kid is going to be riding bikes, you need to know bikes. And they need to be in proper safety gear, which isn’t just a helmet, but also body protection. They certainly aren’t toys, and require training and practice. It is a terrible thing that kids are being killed and injured when it is nearly entirely preventable.
My kids aren’t getting little bikes; but when they’re big enough to reach the pegs on Daddy’s bike, they get to go riding with him- and only if they wear the full safety gear. That means so far only Monkey Boy has gotten to ride the motorcycle. heh. Tree Frog is so green with jealousy he could double as Kermit on bike-riding days.
Kerri Aldrich
Aug 2, 2006 at 9:57 am
I’ve seen similar bikes in my neighborhood and my mom’s. Never with a kid wearing a helmet, and always in the middle of a regular road. Are they supposed to be in amongst the cars and such? And the fact that they are such little kids on them scares me.
the Prince of Thrift
Aug 2, 2006 at 7:04 pm
Very interesting story, never heard of the manufactur saying they were safe for kids.
Don’t forget to promote your nomination in the Blogs of summer. The voting for the cluster you were nominated for is at DebtFree4ever.net
Hsien-Hsien Lei
Aug 4, 2006 at 9:26 am
Deb: You guys are a rockin’ family! Rebel…. hehee
Kerri: I guess there’s no where else to ride these mini-motos except on a regular road. Although I wonder if a school parking lot on weekends would be better. Less fun, though.
Prince: I would guess that those cheap bikes from China have no age limits listed at all but I’ve never actually seen one either on the street or in the shop.
PS Thanks for hosting the voting for Blogs of Summer!
ryan
Jan 2, 2008 at 3:39 pm
i have a minimoto they are pefectally safe if you are senisble and wear safety gear and ride them in the correct places like nottgiam race cort where the go karts are
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