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Thank
you for your interest in our products!
Please
take the time to read this page. You are making an important investment
for your child!
We've taken the time to answer all of the most commonly asked
questions. If
you have a question that is not covered below, please send us an
email .
At
what age can my child start riding?
It depends.
Some children are ready before the age of three! Some children may not be
ready until they are much older. If the child is mentally ready, can touch
the footpegs of the bike, and is able to reach and operate the minibike's
controls, then they are ready. On average, most children will be
ready when they are 3-1/2 to four years old. Of course you, as the parent, must
make the final judgment whether or not your child is ready.
How
long should my child use the training wheels?
If the rider can
ride a bicycle, and his or her legs are long enough to put their feet on the
ground and hold the bike up on his or her own, then the training wheels are can be
removed!
How
hard is it to tip the bike over?
Very difficult, the
bike is virtually tip-proof with Stable
RiderTM
training wheels
installed. Much more stable than a mini-four wheeler, not to mention safer
because of the lighter weight of the bike.
Is
the bike hard to turn?
No, the bike turns
easily - even on asphalt.
What keeps kids feet from slipping
off the footpegs and getting dragged under the training wheel axle?
We
have never heard of this happening, but it is possible in extreme cases! It is very unlikely that the riders can or will put their feet down in
the first place due to the following:
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Experienced
riders use their feet to stabilized themselves through corners or any time
the bike becomes out of balance. This is a learned and developed
reaction, not a natural one. Brand new riders have not yet developed this
tendency to put their feet down in the first place, so they are unlikely to
do it.
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Since
the training wheels stabilize the bike the rider does not get the imbalance
sensation and react by putting a foot down.
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Most
little riders couldn't put their feet on the ground if they tried because
their legs are too short! But if they're old enough to put their feet on the
ground (5 or 6 years old), then it will be easy to teach them not to do
that.
Keep
in mind that motorcycle riding is already established as a potentially dangerous
activity. The correct safety gear should always be worn. Motocross boots are one
of the most valuable safety devices (besides a helmet) because they protect the
feet, calves, and shins, which are extremely vulnerable to injury in this sport
with or without training wheels. You as a parent should always supervise and
coach your child as he or she learns to ride.
On
what kind of terrain can the training wheels be used for?
Nearly any! Asphalt,
packed dirt, soft dirt, mountain trails, mini-motocross tracks, and much more!
They do not work well on loose sand or snow. Rutty conditions require a learning
curve where the training wheels will high-center and lift the rear wheel off of the
ground. In this situation, the child must learn to shift his or her weight
back to get the rear tire to hook up.
We
like to ride in deep, sandy conditions. Can you help?
Usually not a problem. The wheels ride sufficiently high off of the ground
so the bike's rear drive tire hooks up deeper into the sand for more traction.
Can
my child jump and hit the whoop-d-doos?
Don't
get carried away, now! The small jumps and bumps on the 50cc motocross
tracks are generally okay. If your kid is starting to catch air, you may
want to consider removing the wheels.
Why
don't you carry training wheels for bikes larger than 50cc?
Bikes larger than
50cc are too dangerous for beginning riders.
What
makes Stable RiderTM
different compared to other brands?
You
bet our wheels are more different! And the differences are worth every
penny! Our price is not inflated, you are truly getting a better set
of training wheels, both in design and componentry.
All of our competitors
use flat washers and cotter pins to hold their wheels on, but we craft
real wheel spindles that cost us 10 times as much in parts and 15 minutes of
extra labor. The benefit to our system is quiet
ride, and you'll appreciate it. Our competitors' wheels have a case
of the jingle-bells! Why would you put a noisy set of training
wheels on your precision minibike?
With
Stable RiderTM
training wheels, you will not
need to remove the bike's footpegs and re-install them to the training wheel
axle. Our peskiest competitor uses this system, and there are two problems
with it: First, the footpegs are no longer in the stock location, so the
rear foot brake is no longer under the foot. Second, their training wheels
do not mount rigidly to the frame - they rattle around over every little
bump. Ours bolt on solidly! Did we mention you can't take theirs off
or re-install them in less than 30 seconds?
Stable
RiderTM training wheels
are the only ones you can buy with a combination of large balloon tire knobbies,
no brake interference, no kick starter interference, easy on-off feature, solid
bolt-on mounting, quiet running wheel spindles, and no removal of the
footpegs. No other brand offers this combination of features. We
also supply items that others don't, such as premium finish, an excellent
set of grade 8 hardware, and a bottle of LocTite to make sure your wheels
won't come loose.
How
long does it take to install the training wheels?
The
initial installation takes between five and fifteen minutes
using simple hand tools. After that, you can install and remove the wheels very
quickly (in as little as 30 seconds). Click on one of the following pictures to
see the installation instructions for your particular application (you will
need Adobe
Acrobat Reader to view). These are large files, so a fast connection
is recommended:
Installation Instructions
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Kawasaki
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Suzuki
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Honda
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Yamaha TT-R50 |
Yamaha PW50
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Click an image above to download installation instructions for your model.
Does
the Stable RiderTM
come with a warranty?
Yes, these wheels
are fully warranted "bumper-to-bumper" for one full year to the original purchaser.
The axle is guaranteed not to bend or break for life. We use all quality
materials and they are made to last through multiple hand-me-downs! We also give
you a 30-day satisfaction guarantee - just return them for a full refund if you
are not satisfied for any reason. See our policies
page for more information.
What
is the best beginner minibike to buy?
This is a good
question! You will be intrigued to know that none of the major Japanese
minibikes have changed much since 1980! Essentially, all changes since then are
very minor cosmetic or suspension changes. The main chassis, engine, and
transmissions have remained virtually the same.
Honda's 50cc
offering is a four stroke, and includes the Z50R (1980-99),
XR50R (2000-04), and the CRF50 (2004-on). It has an automatic clutch, as
do the rest of the Japanese bikes. The Honda is a popular minibike for several
reasons: 1) The four stroke engine is easy to use and torquey and you do not
need two stroke oil; 2) All of the controls - front brake, rear brake and gear
shifter - are in the same place that you would find them on a full size bike so
there is only the learning curve of learning the clutch when graduating to a bigger bike;
3) It has a 3-speed gear box; 4) The sky is the limit
for upgrading this bike - there are literally hundreds of modifications you can
perform. The only drawback to this bike is that the gear shift lever
requires a lot of effort to shift. but most parents just put it into 2nd until
the kid is able to shift.
The Yamaha PW50 is
also a very popular bike, and has been discontinued and replaced by the
four-stroke TT-R50E. There are plenty of used ones on the market, though.
The PW50 is easy to ride because there are no foot
controls for the child to worry about. The front and rear brake are on the
handlebars, and the child does not even have to think about shifting. The engine
is a two-stroke, which means that two stroke oil is required. This bike is a
reliable, proven design and there are a few aftermarket high-performance parts
available for it. The only drawback to this bike is that the child may be
confused at first when graduating to a bigger bike because the controls will be
different. But for ease of use, this bike cannot be beat for a beginner.
Yamaha has replaced the venerable PW50 with
the new TT-R50E. It is a completely new motorcycle. At first glance,
Yamaha obviously was intending to compete with the Honda. The frame,
engine, controls, and transmission are very similar to the Honda. Yamaha
went the four-stroke route with this one, and did a great job. The engine
is slightly more torquey than the Honda, and the clutch engages at a slightly
higher RPM. The result is a quicker launch from a stop and a more powerful
feel. The three-speed transmission is a bit easier shifting than the Honda
as well. The extra-special feature on this bike is that it is electric
start! That's right, a two-year-old can easily press the button and get
this motor churning! The electric start makes this bike a bit heavier than
the Honda. The extra weight gives the Honda a slight edge in handling over
the new Yamaha. As with the Honda, a lot of aftermarket hop-up parts are
becoming available.
The Suzuki JR50 is
a two stroke, but unlike the Yamaha PW50 it has conventional controls like the
Honda and new Yamaha, including a rear foot brake. Although it has a gear shifter,
the Suzuki only shifts the
bike from neutral to 1st gear - but is not actually used for shifting gears.
There are not very many aftermarket upgrades for it, but they are increasing
because people are finally starting to realize what a good bike it is. One
great thing about the Suzuki is that you can raise the suspension on it as the
rider grows without spending money!
The Kawasaki KDX50
came out in 2000 and is identical to the JR50 except the plastic is green.
It is a Suzuki JR50.
HitchMount Products
rates the new Yamaha TT-R50E as the new champion minibike. The electric
start and great motor gave it the edge when compared to the Honda CRF50.
The Honda comes in a close second. It would be back in first place if only
the transmission was easier to shift and it had electric start. Third
place goes to the Suzuki/Kawasaki because of the suspension height adjustability
and standard location of the controls. The Yamaha PW50 gets fourth place,
but only because the controls are not in the standard location. It is the easiest bike
for little munchkins to ride, and is not to be passed up if you can get a good
deal on it. But you really can't go wrong with any
of them because they are all awesome, proven designs, and perfect for learning to
ride!
HMP recommends that you buy new, because
minibikes hold their value very
well - you may only save a few hundred dollars by buying used!
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