Should My Child Race Dirt Bikes?

Most toddlers are into dance, football, soccer and karate but our kids? No way! I know that none of us are shocked that our children are interested in riding dirt bikes. I mean, come on look at their dad! That adrenaline junkie gene he holds went right into our kids. When it comes to my own kids I think that if they were interested in any other sport, I would sign them up immediately. Everyone else’s kids are doing it, so it is completely fine! The difference of this sport compared to “normal” sports has me realize that I am asking the wrong question. The question isn’t, “should my child ride a dirt bike?” but instead it is “Do I want my child to ride a dirt bike?”

So, what is it about dirt bikes that makes us parents hesitate? Safety “I can’t believe you let your toddler ride that thing!” Says every non dirt bike person. I must agree with them though; dirt bikes are dangerous. I will not sugar coat the sport and say your rider will not get hurt. In fact, I would say that your rider will get hurt as some point. I think where we struggle when it comes to safety is the idea that football, for example, is safer than dirt bikes. I have to debunk this idea because every child gets hurt no matter what sport they are in. Dancers sprain ankles, footballers get concussions, soccer players get a ball to the face and karate kids get broken hands and feet. Turns out that as long as the rider is wearing protective gear and has the appropriate bike for their skill level and age, riding a dirt bike is the nearly the same risk of danger as those other sports! One thing I know about the dirt bike community is we take safety seriously. The moment our son got on his Strider Bike at the age of 18 months we slapped a helmet on him. It wasn’t anything crazy, just your average bicycle helmet, but we wanted him to be in the habit of always wearing a one when riding- no matter what! Safety gear for children is also made specifically for their little bodies. Riders wear full body gear. There is the helmet, chest protector, gloves, boots, shin guards, goggles and riding pants and shirt. Your toddler may look like a transformer robot on the bike, but they are prepared for the worst in case it happens. We have found great deals on gear online and even used! You can learn more about what we do here.

Its Different My 3-year-old has the skill of the average 9-year old on a 2 wheeled bike. He is incredible and when you see it for the first time it looks so unnatural. Dirt bike racing is so different than what you see for extra curriculum activities in school, in fact, you do not see dirt bike racing teams for schools at all! For me, I have found that because of the lack of attention dirt bike racing has that there is also a lack of outside support. This effects your decision of embarking the racing life because there is hardly any common knowledge of the subject. The “unknown” is scary. I will be the first to admit that I’m not qualified to be a dirt bike coach for my rider! My knowledge of dirt bike mechanics, race rules, dirt bike etiquette and everything else is very minimal. However, that can’t be the deciding factor of whether I want my child to ride dirt bikes! Thankfully, my husband is the expert in everything dirt bike related and he has passed his knowledge to me. I’ve written a helpful article about the basics of dirt bike racing with a child that you may want to check out! My role as a mom is to encourage my children in their hopes and dreams. If those hopes and dreams happen to be something different than the ordinary, than that is all the more to do it!

It's Expensive Children’s sports are expensive. I have been told by ice hockey moms that they spend about $600+ on basic equipment! There is no doubt that dirt bike racing takes first place in the money spending department. Depending on your riders’ size, the dirt bike alone can cost between $2,000 and $5,000! Don’t turn away just yet, those prices are based on if you buy a dirt bike brand new. Used dirt bikes can help with costs but be warned that they may need some mechanical work. My husband is a mechanic by trade and used bike are what we can afford. Choosing the right bike for your child can be overwhelming, click here for a guide on dirt bike brands, costs and sizing. Now that you have a dirt bike its time for the gear, aka spend more money. Adding boots, protective gear, pants and shirt, gloves, goggles and helmets you’re looking at another $500+ added to the bill. As a mom who wants to give their child every opportunity to achieve their goals, this can be a real heart breaker. There aren’t many ways around this, but I did jot down a few things that can help with the expenses. Click here for that information. There is good news though, your gear can last years if it still fits! Even the dirt bike will last years and be passed down to younger siblings until its ready to be sold again. Overall, you will decide what is best for your child. Whatever your decision I hope it is not influenced from the disapproval of others, fear, or money, but instead by what is best for your entire family. No matter what outcome of your decision I hope you have given the sport every thought it deserves.