Special needs child: what bike

[bignige]

My son is 9 and special needs. He is OK physically but has learning difficulties. He wants a motorcross/pit bike for Xmas but he will not be able to operate gear levers, clutch and probably not even a foot brake.

The Yamaha PW50 seems to fit the above bill - but is too small.

The PW80 seems to have footbrake and gears?

Any ideas on a bike that he will be OK with please?

I don't really want a cheap Chinese bike but if I have to have one then I will.

Nigel

[Irn-Bru]

Don't get a Chinese one unless it's good a good backing, some of them are built so badly they catch fire and alsorts of nonsense.
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KTM 990 SMT & Suzuki DR-Z 400 SM

[stinkwheel]

I was going to sugest a Honda ST50 or 70 but they do have gears. What they do not have is a clutch though, it's automatic.

It would in fact be perfectly possible to take the gear lever off and just let him ride it in first until he got the hang of it.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Drake]

just say no?
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was: derbi senda, aprilia sx125, nsr250 mc16, cagiva mito, cb600 hornet now: mk1 bandit, KR1S, landrover series 3 light weight 2.5 petrol, 5speed box

[CaNsA]

I totally understand that parents of a special needs child want to give the child everything that a child without special needs has.

Believe it or not those children are told "no", but not as often as previous generations.

That's the main reason kids these day think they are entitled to everything and are complete twats.

[Ste]

minimoto minimoto minimoto minimoto minimoto minimoto!!!!!

No gears, no clutch, no foot brake, just a throttle and two brake levers on the handlebars.

Having said that, if he's a Downs child then one of these would probably result in less crashing cos minimotos can go quite fast.

[J4mes]

Not being funny but if he can't operate gears, clutch, brakes etc how can he safely operate the throttle?

[delsol]

[Ste]

What've you got against minimotos?

[CaNsA]

[delsol]

[Ste]

nobcat.jpg

[CaNsA]

[goto10]

[CaNsA]

[goto10]

[Nope.]

What bike will he be ok with?

From the sounds of it he wouldn't be able to handle a peddle bike, let alone a motorbike with an engine. Would it not be more appropriate to get him a small electric powered one that doesn't go too fast? Then all he has to worry about is the on-off throttle and the lever to stop.

Where is he going to ride it? If you intend for him to ride it on a track or area where there are other people I would personally be concerned not only for his safety but for theirs if he were to loose control of it.

Perhaps if you give us a more general idea of his condition we may be able to find a bike that is more tailored to his needs. We may have the wrong end of the stick here.

EDIT: Alternatively, a fireblade would be very suitable.
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Former: Derbi GP1 50, Sachs XTC 125, Suzuki GSXR 400 GK73A, Kawasaki ZX7R, Suzuki DR250, Yamaha RD350
Current: 2011 Yamaha XT660Z Ténéré, 2003 Yamaha YZR-R1 5PW (In Build), 2009 Kawasaki ZZR1400

[bignige]

Thanks for the couple of useful replies.

Not sure about the rest and references to 'sicko'.

N

[bignige]

Thanks Computid.

He has learning difficulties. He can ride a push bike and has done since he was 7 (in fact earlier than some kids at mainstream School).

I am told we can turn some bikes down to walking pace to start with so the throttle won't be an issue.

I just do not think that he will understand the concept and operation of the clutch and gear lever - so need something that is automatic.

A footbrake I think he could get the hang of.

Hope that explains more.

N

[CaNsA]

[Andy_Pagin]

Okay, I'm 48 years old and therefore pre-date political correctness. So (no offence intended) what precisely is his disability? I wonder to myself if you're under-estimating what he may be able to grasp, and here's why...

When I was in the fifth year at secondary school a new boy joined our class. He'd been backward in his development and been in special schools up to that point. However he'd been lucky enough to be mentored by a very determined social worker who pushed him achieve more than anyone thought a shambling thicko was capable of...

... He achieved A'Levels in pure and applied mathematics and physics.

The point I'm trying to make is he may well be capable of more than you think he is, but you'll never know if you don't push him or let him push himself, so get him a bike where he has to shuffle the cogs and see what happens. What is there to lose?
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the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[Pete.]

[Nope.]

[nowhere.elysium]

[J.M.]

My neighbour at my parent's house has a semi-automatic pit bike. I don't recall its name.

Your child would probably get on well with it. To drive you just twist the throttle and it goes forwards. There is no clutch. If you want to change gear you just press the gear lever and it will change gear for you. There is no clutch to worry about.
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900