PW50 training wheels? Yes or no?

uneasy_rider 3/26/2019 8:09am
3/26/2019 8:09am
jbutah3000 wrote:
Definitely a no. Just went through this. I have a 5 and 8 year old. They both got very comfortable on a peddle bike with no...
Definitely a no. Just went through this. I have a 5 and 8 year old. They both got very comfortable on a peddle bike with no training wheels, then easily took to a pw 50. In my opinion training wheels teach the opposite of what they should be doing, like leaning out in turns instead of in.
agn5009 wrote:
My son used training wheels. The day I took them off he was ripping around like a natural. He had absolutely no issues what so ever...
My son used training wheels. The day I took them off he was ripping around like a natural. He had absolutely no issues what so ever with balance or turning. I honestly don’t think there’s any negatives to using training wheels. Kids learn so fast either way. For me, I was more comfortable knowing my son already knew how to and when to use the brakes before taking the trainers off.

Regardless, at 5 years old most kids should possess the proper strength and hand/eye coordination to ride without training wheels.
Agreed, I had training wheels on my son`s TTR50 at 4 years old, it gave him the confidence to learn all the controls without the worry of falling over. As soon as he was confident, took them off, and he has been a terror ever since. I think the ones that bolt to the engine cradle are better than the ones at the rear wheels, but just my opinion, alot more rigid.
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Gilby122
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Gilby122 3/26/2019 8:20am
3/26/2019 8:20am
I'd say no. I had them on a pw50 and a crf50 for my son. One guy said it best.... they lean right to turn left. The training wheel catches them. I think it creates a bit of a bad habit.

He's 11 now and still rides and does very well so it doesn't really matter, but I do think the trainers weren't a positive in the beginning.
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mark_swart
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mark_swart 3/26/2019 9:20am
3/26/2019 9:20am
We used them with my daughter when she was 4, but really just putting around. She was on a Honda 50 and it was heavy for her to balance. She could ride a bike at that point. I thought it was a good way for her to learn throttle and braking. She was probably only on them for a few months. I thibk the key is to pay attention to their development and get them off of them as soon as rhey are ready. But using them for a little while is not going to permanently damage their riding.
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109
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109 3/26/2019 9:50am
3/26/2019 9:50am
I’d say no training wheels, find a soft grassy field and run with him until he gets his balance.
Training wheels will just hinder him and slow his learning process.
Stacyc is the best training tool but at 5 years old it’s a bit late.
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sumdood
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sumdood 3/26/2019 10:03am
3/26/2019 10:03am
No vote here. Both ours started at age 4 on a pw50, but not until they could ride, (and skid) their pedal bikes. We also pushed them on the pw and made them stop before they even heard it start. I say get some basic 2 wheel skills on a bicycle first, then add a motor later. Keep it fun and don't be in too big a hurry to get them ripping around, plenty of time for that. Just another $.02



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adamdf
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adamdf 3/26/2019 10:19am
3/26/2019 10:19am
Another "No" vote for training wheels. My son is turning 4 and has been riding without training wheels since he was 3. I'm thinking of going the Stacyc route until he is 5 and then going with a PW50 or similar sized machine without training wheels.

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Sheriff245 3/26/2019 11:05am
3/26/2019 11:05am
Another vote for no. I have heard too many stories of kids getting scared or being unable to ride when taking them off and losing interest.

The path for my kids have been:
Strider at 18months until they master balance with feet on the frame
Bicycle with training wheels until they know how to pedal (not more than a few weeks ideally), then take off the training wheels
After a few months on bicycles I got them on PW’s.
After a season on the PW I got my son a KTM SX mini. I wouldn’t do it again. He rides it well but kind of lost interest.

The moral of the story is, take your time, they’ll get plenty of opportunities to empty your wallet later on so there’s no need to rush and be ahead of their skill set.
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edgo897
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edgo897 3/26/2019 12:26pm
3/26/2019 12:26pm
TJ 755 wrote:
depends on how big the kid is and if they can balance. 3y.o. here just working on throttle and brakes. thats the important part once you...
depends on how big the kid is and if they can balance. 3y.o. here just working on throttle and brakes. thats the important part once you set them loose.


I did all three of my kids with trailing wheels and a rope. Once they are good on a bicycle without trailing wheels they're go to on a PW with no training wheels. Don't go ropeless until you are sure they have throttle control and braking skills.
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Doddy
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Doddy 3/26/2019 12:48pm
3/26/2019 12:48pm Edited Date/Time 3/26/2019 12:51pm
AngryBear wrote:
push bike -> pedal bike with no training wheels -> pw50 (once able to handle the skills of the bmx bike, and the weight of the...
push bike -> pedal bike with no training wheels -> pw50 (once able to handle the skills of the bmx bike, and the weight of the pw)
This is what we will do with our 1 year old. We did it all backwards with our daughter.

It took my daughter flipping her bmx with training wheels for me to say enough is enough. I took them off and within a few hours she had no problems at all. It hurts knowing I put her through that. The wheels on her PW have taught her bad habits and now we are paying the price.

I am now a firm believer if they can't ride it without training wheels they shouldn't ride it. This may not be for everyone though.

Edit: As others have said......have patients and be in no rush. If you gotta take that thing out 10 times a day for 2 minutes at a time.....go with it. Let em learn at their pace. Just my 2 cents.
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Falcon
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Falcon 3/26/2019 2:19pm
3/26/2019 2:19pm
No on the training wheels. They teach kids the wrong way to turn the bike.
Get your kid started on a Strider or just wait until he can do it by himself.
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109
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109 3/26/2019 2:26pm
3/26/2019 2:26pm
Just saw a kid with training wheels at the track today, most dangerous thing I’ve ever seen. Wiped themselves and someone else out. Should not be allowed anywhere near a track.
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mattyhamz2 3/26/2019 2:35pm
3/26/2019 2:35pm Edited Date/Time 3/26/2019 2:36pm
I started with training wheels, bicycle style because that's all we had back in 92/93. I was just fine after them. I have training wheels for both kids bikes(daughter just turned 6 and son will be 3 in a few weeks). They wanted to ride at young ages and both had bikes at 2 years old. Honestly for me, I really don't care. If they have fun on their bikes, that's all that matters to me. I don't care if either every wants to race or take it seriously. Kids are sponges and I'll be able to get them over relying on training wheels. As long as they want to go out to the desert for camping trips or even day trips, I'll be happy.

Btw, neither has been able to ride more than a handful of times really, and they are both begging for their training wheels off. So we will see how that goes
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clemsonsc
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clemsonsc 3/26/2019 3:05pm
3/26/2019 3:05pm
My dad put them training wheels on my pw when I was like 4 years old. First day out riding, I waded hard with this 5th gear tank slapper, down the nasty wooped out sand section at the local pit. He took them off and made me ride it back to the civic. I was fine after that.

You will know when he’s ready!!!
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Tracktor
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Tracktor 3/26/2019 3:36pm
3/26/2019 3:36pm
Lol, I love this topic. "Teaches bad habits" These are usually kids 3-5 years old just starting out do whatever helps them have the most fun. At that age they aren't developing habits that will carry them through the years as a rider. Being able to separate out dealing with the controls vs dealing with the balance part is why I started my boys on them. No "bad habits" were ever developed. They rode our outdoor SX track with them on a PW50.

I am willing to bet money my 13 year old has better form & style than pretty much anyone commenting................and he started at around 2.5 years old on training wheels..................Do whatever works and don't worry about habits other than the love of riding...
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GasGasOrAss
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GasGasOrAss 3/26/2019 5:16pm
3/26/2019 5:16pm
Tracktor wrote:
Lol, I love this topic. "Teaches bad habits" These are usually kids 3-5 years old just starting out do whatever helps them have the most fun...
Lol, I love this topic. "Teaches bad habits" These are usually kids 3-5 years old just starting out do whatever helps them have the most fun. At that age they aren't developing habits that will carry them through the years as a rider. Being able to separate out dealing with the controls vs dealing with the balance part is why I started my boys on them. No "bad habits" were ever developed. They rode our outdoor SX track with them on a PW50.

I am willing to bet money my 13 year old has better form & style than pretty much anyone commenting................and he started at around 2.5 years old on training wheels..................Do whatever works and don't worry about habits other than the love of riding...
Yeah but my dad can beat up your dad
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Tracktor
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Tracktor 3/27/2019 11:59am
3/27/2019 11:59am
Tracktor wrote:
Lol, I love this topic. "Teaches bad habits" These are usually kids 3-5 years old just starting out do whatever helps them have the most fun...
Lol, I love this topic. "Teaches bad habits" These are usually kids 3-5 years old just starting out do whatever helps them have the most fun. At that age they aren't developing habits that will carry them through the years as a rider. Being able to separate out dealing with the controls vs dealing with the balance part is why I started my boys on them. No "bad habits" were ever developed. They rode our outdoor SX track with them on a PW50.

I am willing to bet money my 13 year old has better form & style than pretty much anyone commenting................and he started at around 2.5 years old on training wheels..................Do whatever works and don't worry about habits other than the love of riding...
GasGasOrAss wrote:
Yeah but my dad can beat up your dad
My dad is dead so that's probably true?.............
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Tarz483
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Tarz483 3/27/2019 12:42pm
3/27/2019 12:42pm Edited Date/Time 3/27/2019 12:44pm
My vote would be no on training wheels , i would say get a balance bike, and then still wait until when they can go to pedal bike and are comfortable on it.
And after they can ride pedal bike than they should be ready, Christian Craig recently shared vidio of his son learning and he had been on a strider than a stacyc and learned in about 30 seconds to ride the PW50
I just got my daughter a Balance bike Called a go Glider
And it has a pedal kit so when your kid is ready it can turn from a balance bike to a pedal bike.
RexEasely
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RexEasely 3/27/2019 12:57pm
3/27/2019 12:57pm
cjmx wrote:
no. I told my son he couldn't ride his dirt bike until he could ride a pedal bike without training wheels. Do you have a strider...
no. I told my son he couldn't ride his dirt bike until he could ride a pedal bike without training wheels. Do you have a strider or one you could borrow? After a day on a strider, he'll be ready.
Good plan. Start after learning how to ride a bike. No 3,4,5 year old needs to ride a PW. Whats the damn hurry? Also, the helmet selection is terrible for young kids. The helmets are too big and heavy.
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kage173
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kage173 3/27/2019 12:57pm
3/27/2019 12:57pm
Tracktor wrote:
Lol, I love this topic. "Teaches bad habits" These are usually kids 3-5 years old just starting out do whatever helps them have the most fun...
Lol, I love this topic. "Teaches bad habits" These are usually kids 3-5 years old just starting out do whatever helps them have the most fun. At that age they aren't developing habits that will carry them through the years as a rider. Being able to separate out dealing with the controls vs dealing with the balance part is why I started my boys on them. No "bad habits" were ever developed. They rode our outdoor SX track with them on a PW50.

I am willing to bet money my 13 year old has better form & style than pretty much anyone commenting................and he started at around 2.5 years old on training wheels..................Do whatever works and don't worry about habits other than the love of riding...
You're right. Long term it won't matter. But near term, it does make a difference.
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agn5009
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agn5009 3/27/2019 1:59pm
3/27/2019 1:59pm
cjmx wrote:
no. I told my son he couldn't ride his dirt bike until he could ride a pedal bike without training wheels. Do you have a strider...
no. I told my son he couldn't ride his dirt bike until he could ride a pedal bike without training wheels. Do you have a strider or one you could borrow? After a day on a strider, he'll be ready.
RexEasely wrote:
Good plan. Start after learning how to ride a bike. No 3,4,5 year old needs to ride a PW. Whats the damn hurry? Also, the helmet...
Good plan. Start after learning how to ride a bike. No 3,4,5 year old needs to ride a PW. Whats the damn hurry? Also, the helmet selection is terrible for young kids. The helmets are too big and heavy.
You’re bananas. No 3, 4 or 5 year old needs to ride a bike? No one in the world needs to ride a bike. But it sure is fun no matter what age you are. My kid started very young with training wheels. He would just put around on a flat surface and had a blast doing it. Isn’t that what it’s all about, fun? No matter how “good” or how “fast” a kid is isn’t the fun factor the only important aspect? I honestly don’t care if my 5 year old hits jumps, rides a figure 8, or putts in a straight line back and fourth as long as he’s having fun at it.
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mattyhamz2 3/27/2019 2:50pm
3/27/2019 2:50pm
cjmx wrote:
no. I told my son he couldn't ride his dirt bike until he could ride a pedal bike without training wheels. Do you have a strider...
no. I told my son he couldn't ride his dirt bike until he could ride a pedal bike without training wheels. Do you have a strider or one you could borrow? After a day on a strider, he'll be ready.
RexEasely wrote:
Good plan. Start after learning how to ride a bike. No 3,4,5 year old needs to ride a PW. Whats the damn hurry? Also, the helmet...
Good plan. Start after learning how to ride a bike. No 3,4,5 year old needs to ride a PW. Whats the damn hurry? Also, the helmet selection is terrible for young kids. The helmets are too big and heavy.
No hurry, but my 2 year old loves bikes and really wanted one to ride with me and his sister. Figured why not get him one and he can ride it for the next 3+ years. My son and daughter love bikes and beg my wife and I to take them riding. Why not get them riding and interested in something fun that the entire family can do together and enjoy?
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Jerkolantern
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Jerkolantern 3/27/2019 3:34pm
3/27/2019 3:34pm
Everyone knows that kids on four wheels can't close deals. The kids riding duce make the girls loose. Nuff said
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UpTiTe 3/27/2019 4:15pm
3/27/2019 4:15pm
Nope, they teach bad habits
Josh422
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Josh422 3/27/2019 6:29pm
3/27/2019 6:29pm
Tracktor wrote:
Lol, I love this topic. "Teaches bad habits" These are usually kids 3-5 years old just starting out do whatever helps them have the most fun...
Lol, I love this topic. "Teaches bad habits" These are usually kids 3-5 years old just starting out do whatever helps them have the most fun. At that age they aren't developing habits that will carry them through the years as a rider. Being able to separate out dealing with the controls vs dealing with the balance part is why I started my boys on them. No "bad habits" were ever developed. They rode our outdoor SX track with them on a PW50.

I am willing to bet money my 13 year old has better form & style than pretty much anyone commenting................and he started at around 2.5 years old on training wheels..................Do whatever works and don't worry about habits other than the love of riding...
THIS.

You guys gotta remember kids and toddlers are the fastest learning, most adaptive creatures out there. I want to expose him to as many motor skill scenarios as I can. He'll learn what works and what doesn't.

Turned 2 around A1.




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Brandon_Lake
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Brandon_Lake 3/27/2019 6:31pm
3/27/2019 6:31pm
Badd127 wrote:
My son is 5, he is on the verge of riding a bicycle without training wheels, but just as he was getting the hang of it...
My son is 5, he is on the verge of riding a bicycle without training wheels, but just as he was getting the hang of it winter set in. Now the snow has melted I got his PW50 out of the garage (that he has never ridden) he was pumped to get going on the moto. I took him for a ride with me on the back, doing all the controls.
Now he is really keen to ride more, but I don't want to be on the back with him all the time obviously. I just did it to show him that the bike isn't scary. Do you guys think I should go with training wheels till he gets the throttle, brake and balance thing sorted, or just let him figure it out?
I don't want him to become dependent on the training wheels, but don't want to scare him off the bike if he gets out of control or crashes.

Any tips?
Take him to a fenced in baseball field that is not widely used and let him learn how to ride it without training wheels. That’s what I did with my boy and after a couple of tip overs he figured it out on his own and he was only 3 at the time.
mattyhamz2 3/27/2019 7:53pm
3/27/2019 7:53pm
2 years and 3 months old. He wanted to ride so bad. We got his bike, threw the training wheels on and I didn’t even have to go over anything with him. He took off and stopped all on his own. I think he will be fine when the training wheels come off. He turns 3 in 2 weeks.
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Moto331
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Moto331 3/27/2019 9:58pm
3/27/2019 9:58pm
Absolutely against them. If a Kid doesn’t know how to balance he should not be put on a motorized MACHINE.
EAmato88
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EAmato88 3/28/2019 5:31am
3/28/2019 5:31am Edited Date/Time 3/28/2019 5:33am
No training wheels, ever! Teach proper balance techniques, your son is 5 not 3. You can have him riding that bike without training wheels in 2 hours
Bugger
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Bugger 3/28/2019 7:03am
3/28/2019 7:03am
There is no problem with training wheels for young kids. While some have issues with not being able to lean. Here in Australia, we make suspension training wheels that do allow the kids to lean over. Check out www.springerstrainingwheels.com or on facebook @springerstrainingwheels
Sweetd31
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Sweetd31 3/28/2019 7:21am
3/28/2019 7:21am
My friend’s little brother rode a PW with training wheels. He ended up going full quad
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