Son just announced he wants to go today to look at 4 wheeler

[outwest]

If we do not let kids experiment (within safe ways) they are never going to learn. Its just like parent who do not let their kids get sick or get anywhere near germs, no germs, no way to build up being immune to them later in life. You can be safe at any age and still ride a 4 wheeler.

[FreeWilly]

I guess that makes sense WildRover, about the weight issue. For me I've been on both, but they were mini bikes. I never got hurt on the ATV, but I did mess myself up on the 2 wheeler. It was my fault though, because I went to fast down a hill and hit a jump and flew over the handle bars. I only knocked the wind out of myself and got a few scrapes so I guess I was lucky.

[SunnyDay]

Fortunately for my heart they came home sans a four wheeler. My husband said it wasn't worth the asking price and the guy wouldn't budge. He'll keep watching the want-ads and craigslist and try again. We had a boy in our town decapitated while riding a few years back and this whole thing really has me freaking out.

[dinosaur]

I have read all of these posts and everybody is right. CozinCowtown stated it well with his tongue-in-cheek style. You have to let the boy grow up. I had the same problem with my daughter, but I'm the one that bought the go kart, the motor bike, the ATV, and eventually the automobile.

I used to watch her like a hawk until one day I realized I was being stupid. You can't protect them all their lives. You've got to let them go and pray that you raised them properly and taught them to use the brain God gave them.

[ppine]

When we were kids we built go karts out of lumber with lawn mower engines. We had rope steering, no clutch and no brakes. It was a wonder we didn't get killed. Then we moved on to "motorbikes." If your kid is level-headed he will be okay with commercial motorcycles and ATVs.