PW50 training wheels? Yes or no?

mikec265
Posts
1668
Joined
10/19/2015
Location
Edinboro, PA, USA
3/28/2019 8:02am Edited Date/Time 3/28/2019 8:03am
Moto331 wrote:
Absolutely against them. If a Kid doesn’t know how to balance he should not be put on a motorized MACHINE.
How do you say no to a 2 year old who unfolds the kicker of a PW50 with training wheels and says "start it Daddy". I couldn't, and got my cardio up running with a leash for him and my nephew at the same time. Those kids kicked my ass! Leash was off at 2 1/2 and it was a lot of fun riding with him and my nephew the same age almost every day. Had to rebuild that PW twice in 1.5 years because he rode it that much. They had to ride a bicycle without training wheels and were ready to ride dirtbikes without them at
3.5/4. We had a strider before the bicycles.
Let the kids have fun, and put the effort into teaching them how to transition.
Seems we hijacked the shit out of the op's question here....
2
Badd127
Posts
522
Joined
12/2/2016
Location
SE
3/28/2019 1:22pm
Moto331 wrote:
Absolutely against them. If a Kid doesn’t know how to balance he should not be put on a motorized MACHINE.
mikec265 wrote:
How do you say no to a 2 year old who unfolds the kicker of a PW50 with training wheels and says "start it Daddy". I...
How do you say no to a 2 year old who unfolds the kicker of a PW50 with training wheels and says "start it Daddy". I couldn't, and got my cardio up running with a leash for him and my nephew at the same time. Those kids kicked my ass! Leash was off at 2 1/2 and it was a lot of fun riding with him and my nephew the same age almost every day. Had to rebuild that PW twice in 1.5 years because he rode it that much. They had to ride a bicycle without training wheels and were ready to ride dirtbikes without them at
3.5/4. We had a strider before the bicycles.
Let the kids have fun, and put the effort into teaching them how to transition.
Seems we hijacked the shit out of the op's question here....
It's all good! I have taken every response on its merits, and enjoyed hearing the stories of how you guys got your kids going on 2 wheels.

I was about to go to the hardware store and make some training wheels right before I started this thread. But I'm glad I didn't, because I have decided to go the route without them.
He is 5 and can touch the ground while seated, and I think he is strong enough for the bike. So I'm going to take him to a field tomorrow afternoon and see how it goes. Maybe we will be back to the drawing board with his bicycle, but I will give him a chance on the PW.
His sister is 2.5 and she wants to ride the bike now. It might be training wheels for her though.
Cheers guys.
1
agn5009
Posts
6747
Joined
6/8/2012
Location
State College, PA, USA
3/28/2019 1:32pm
Moto331 wrote:
Absolutely against them. If a Kid doesn’t know how to balance he should not be put on a motorized MACHINE.
mikec265 wrote:
How do you say no to a 2 year old who unfolds the kicker of a PW50 with training wheels and says "start it Daddy". I...
How do you say no to a 2 year old who unfolds the kicker of a PW50 with training wheels and says "start it Daddy". I couldn't, and got my cardio up running with a leash for him and my nephew at the same time. Those kids kicked my ass! Leash was off at 2 1/2 and it was a lot of fun riding with him and my nephew the same age almost every day. Had to rebuild that PW twice in 1.5 years because he rode it that much. They had to ride a bicycle without training wheels and were ready to ride dirtbikes without them at
3.5/4. We had a strider before the bicycles.
Let the kids have fun, and put the effort into teaching them how to transition.
Seems we hijacked the shit out of the op's question here....
Badd127 wrote:
It's all good! I have taken every response on its merits, and enjoyed hearing the stories of how you guys got your kids going on 2...
It's all good! I have taken every response on its merits, and enjoyed hearing the stories of how you guys got your kids going on 2 wheels.

I was about to go to the hardware store and make some training wheels right before I started this thread. But I'm glad I didn't, because I have decided to go the route without them.
He is 5 and can touch the ground while seated, and I think he is strong enough for the bike. So I'm going to take him to a field tomorrow afternoon and see how it goes. Maybe we will be back to the drawing board with his bicycle, but I will give him a chance on the PW.
His sister is 2.5 and she wants to ride the bike now. It might be training wheels for her though.
Cheers guys.
At 5 years old he shouldn’t need training wheels no matter what anyone’s opinion is here on the subject. Teach him slowly and have lots of patience. He will get it quickly! Good luck!
2
3/28/2019 3:34pm
Avoid the training wheels.... to confidence inspiring and doesn't let them develop balance on a bike. If they have developed balance learning the controls isnt an overwhelming task. My son started riding his oset a couple months before his second birthday. He was the hands down easiest child I've ever taught. He spins laps for days but still needs me because he still cant touch the ground when he stops but he just rides up to me now and let's me know he wants to stop. With the oset starting out, we turned down the speed to a fast walk for an adult and cranked the response to full so he didnt have to move his wrist much to get going. As we increased the speed we decreased the response and he quickly caught on to controlling his speed without any whiskey throttle moments.... we havent gotten to brakes yet but he only runs at a fast jog/slow run speed yet so they really haven't been needed.
1

The Shop

109
Posts
473
Joined
4/2/2012
Location
Murrieta, CA, USA
3/28/2019 8:31pm
There’s a huge different between a 2 year with training wheels and a 5 year old.
My 2 year old rides a stacyc no training wheels but won’t pedal a bicycle. He’ll put his feet on the pedals and roll down hill until he stops but wil not pedal - go figure lol. Actually it’s annoying AF for me.
Anyway kids are on spring break, tomorrow is first day I’m going to take all 3 to Pala. 7 year old on cobra, 4 year old on PW and 2 year old on PW. We’ll find out if he can ride it or not - whether he tries or I just ride round pits with him, who cares, he’s 2 and it’s fun.
My 4 year old is the first of the stacyc generation and everything has been easier for me to teach her. Hands down the best training tool out there and a hell of a lot of fun to boot.

Anyone with a young child, skip the strider and get a stacyc off the bat. Just don’t put the battery on til they ready. Be the best move you ever made. PW50 at 3 will be a cake walk.
2
Chopin
Posts
39
Joined
9/19/2018
Location
Sacramento, CA, USA
3/28/2019 9:34pm
We had four rules before our kid twisted a throttle.
1. Be able to wipe your own ass
2. Be emotionally mature enough to handle conflict before resorting to tears
3. Be able to read (still working on this one)
4. Be extremely comfortable and confident on a BMX
He's two months away from 6 and it took him less than 5 minutes to ride the PW50 on his own. No regrets waiting.
1
3/29/2019 5:25am
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 have a good point regarding helmets. My daughter wore an MX helmet on her BMX bike last summer (she was 3). Her neck wasn’t strong enough to control her head when she fell. We got her a BMX helmet and she did much better. She’s getting into MX this summer and she will be wearing the BMX helmet.
Wilson116
Posts
45
Joined
9/22/2017
Location
Pittsford, MI, USA
3/29/2019 5:59am
I would say it depends. If the kid can touch with their toes good enough to not fall over sitting still then get the training wheels off. There is a place for them but many people leave them on way to long. I generally say no because if keeping them off is an option then keep them off.
devotid
Posts
834
Joined
12/16/2018
Location
Saginaw, MI, USA
3/29/2019 6:06am
Only if you see a nice trike in his/her future. Or maybe a sweet side by side. (Just kidding... but im not)

To the people saying... "If they can touch the ground". If they cannot touch the ground and start off....IMO they have no business being on the bike in the first place. FIRST RULE is get a bike that fits the rider or you are just doing a disservice to the rider.

I never had them and I am thankful. I started riding at 5-6 on a JR50. The skill of riding a motorcycle IS hard to learn.. Let them enjoy that. It will help in the long run.

Just my $0.02

Good luck Pops!
kage173
Posts
3092
Joined
11/27/2015
Location
USA
3/31/2019 11:08am
Chopin wrote:
We had four rules before our kid twisted a throttle. 1. Be able to wipe your own ass 2. Be emotionally mature enough to handle conflict...
We had four rules before our kid twisted a throttle.
1. Be able to wipe your own ass
2. Be emotionally mature enough to handle conflict before resorting to tears
3. Be able to read (still working on this one)
4. Be extremely comfortable and confident on a BMX
He's two months away from 6 and it took him less than 5 minutes to ride the PW50 on his own. No regrets waiting.
1 out of 4 riders in the 250 B class at Lorettas this year will still be working on 2 & 3 so sounds like your doing a good job.
1
plowboy
Posts
14827
Joined
1/3/2010
Location
Norwich, KS, USA
3/31/2019 11:24am
I didn't read this whole thread cause I'm far too busy and important (lazy)....but that doesn't stop me from having an opinion. Start your kids on a bicycle. If they learn to ride that without training wheels they won't need them on a PW. The bicycle builds all the core muscle groups that will be required for a motorbike. Of course it depends on the innate talent o f the kid. Some are born to it...some "get it" later on. There's no hard and fast rule to development. A parents job is to provide the opportunities...and support.
racerx217
Posts
1204
Joined
10/10/2008
Location
USA
3/31/2019 11:31am
no, right from stider bike to PW when he was 3. No issues.

Post a reply to: PW50 training wheels? Yes or no?

The Latest