A Family that Yamahas together.......stays together!

[Irv]

Its the best when the kids can finally ride along with you. I used to take alot of heat from people when they seen pics over the years with 11 and 12 year old boys following behind me on modded up 700's telling me I was irresponsable, careless bla bla bla. It made them better and more careful riders in the end. They learned to respect and under stand what was at the tip of thier thumbs. Let em' ride I say.

My 12 yr ols d son gets his sled license this year and will be riding my old 95 XLT Special.

He started riding when he was 3-4 on a Kitty Cat, then progressed to a 340 Indy Lite.
He has also rode atv's, including my Grizzly so I have a lot of confidence in his ability and maturity, but I must say, I'll likely be a nervous wreck the first few times out until I am sure he can handle it.

I do plan on detuning the secondary and "might" put a throttle block under the fun flipper, but that will all depend on what I see. And no, he will not be riding by himself or with other kids, just him and I this year for sure.

 

[2BLUE4U]

In Minnesota it's legal for kids under 12 to operate a sled on trials provided they're supervised by a parent (or someone 18 years or older if that person has the parent's permission). The kids cannot cross any roads by themselves, which is why I will cross the sleds for them. Once they're 12, they have to complete the safety course to be able to ride by themselves, and even then there are limitations. We go over the rules, snowmobiling etiquette, and simple common sense each season. I have never felt comfortable putting a younger kid on a full size machine. Even if the sled was way down on power, I think the bigger sleds are just too big and heavy for them to handle ... they have trouble getting unstuck even with the little snosports. But my 12 year is almost as tall as her mom now, and I think she could be ready to ride a full size machine ... I'm just concerned about the power. That is why I asked for others opinions on the new Doo. It could be the right fit for my family.

It is NOT legal in Minnesota for a kid under 12 to operate a sled on any state grant in aid trail. When they turn 12 and have a snow safety certificate they can operate a sled on state trails, they cannot cross any public roads until they turn 14.

Sorry...I missed the accompanied by an adult part...it is legal that way.

 

[2BLUE4U]

Residents and Non-Residents
Under Age 12
(Without safety
Certificate)
• May drive snowmobiles on public lands, public waters, or grant-in-aid trails if
accompanied by an adult*
• May not drive a snowmobile across state or county roads
• May not drive snowmobiles on streets or highways in a municipality
Ages 12 & 13 • May drive snowmobiles on public lands, public waters, or grant-in-aid trails IF
- Accompanied by an adult* OR
- In possession of a valid snowmobile safety certificate
• May not drive a snowmobile across state or county roads
• May not drive snowmobiles on streets or highways in a municipality
Ages 14 to 18 • May drive a snowmobile across state or county roads IF in possession of a
snowmobile safety certificate or drivers license or id card with valid
snowmobile indicator
• May drive snowmobiles on public lands, public waters, or grant-in-aid trails
WITH a snowmobile safety certificate
• May drive snowmobiles on streets or highways in municipalities, if not contrary
to ordinance
- Needs snowmobile certificate if required by ordinance
Over Age 18 • Residents born after 12/31/76 who operate a snowmobile in Minnesota must
possess a valid snowmobile safety certificate or a drivers license or id card
with a valid snowmobile indicator.
* Accompanied by an adult means a parent, legal guardian, or other person 18 years of age or older designated by the
parent or guardian who needs to be close enough to be able to direct the youth’s operation of their snowmobile.

 

[super1c]

Here's are crew, everyone rides from 3 to 43. My buddy and i have come a long ways since the track spinning joe supercross days. All about the family now! Now we have to try and keep the kids contained!

 

[Irv]

Here's are crew, everyone rides from 3 to 43. My buddy and i have come a long ways since the track spinning joe supercross days. All about the family now! Now we have to try and keep the kids contained!

Great story and pics Super1c.

 

[yamagone]

Here in Ontario the 12 year old kiddies also require the training coarse and its a must for my boys before they hit the actual trail. No ands if or buts. Someone said earlier that its nerve racking when they first set out and he's right. To this day my 16 year old still rides behind me on trails because it scares the hell out me the thought of an oncoming sled running like an idiot. The kid hates the fact that he has to follow but too bad!

 

[ViperTurboPete]

My son was born in Nov 93. I had him on my Indy 500 SKS in January. He would be stuffed in my dad's snowmachine coat (which was over sized). He seemed not to complain. Anyway, he was riding with me until he graduated to an Ovation. The sled was still too big for him but he would ride in circles on the lake, but he couldn't start it on his own. I had the throttle set up so he couldn't hold it to the bar by accident. When he was in Grade 11 I bought him a 600 MXZ Renegade X. Lots of power, but I trusted him. At the same time I was concerned. I got the sled for a smokin deal.

Kids these days seem to want power sleds and I often see them being too young. I was 23 when I bought my 500 Indy new and it had lots of power back in the day. It could easily kill anyone. Nowaday kids who are 14 or 15 ( or even younger) want big sleds and would think a 500 is a mickey mouse sled.

 

[yamagone]

My son was born in Nov 93. I had him on my Indy 500 SKS in January. He would be stuffed in my dad's snowmachine coat (which was over sized). He seemed not to complain. Anyway, he was riding with me until he graduated to an Ovation. The sled was still too big for him but he would ride in circles on the lake, but he couldn't start it on his own. I had the throttle set up so he couldn't hold it to the bar by accident. When he was in Grade 11 I bought him a 600 MXZ Renegade X. Lots of power, but I trusted him. At the same time I was concerned. I got the sled for a smokin deal.

Kids these days seem to want power sleds and I often see them being too young. I was 23 when I bought my 500 Indy new and it had lots of power back in the day. It could easily kill anyone. Nowaday kids who are 14 or 15 ( or even younger) want big sleds and would think a 500 is a mickey mouse sled.

I also restricted the throttle on the old Phazer for my two younger boys. I drilled a hole in the throttle and used a 2" long threaded bolt as a posiitve stop to limit the speed. as they got more comfortable I adjusted the lock nuts accordingly. A bit caveman style but simple and it worked.

 

[Fro-1]

I am a single full time father of twin 2 yr old boys. Traditionally, or at least when I was a small toddler, my brother and I would ride in front of our parents. Behind the handlebars of Bravo’s mind you as this was the mid 80’s. Having two babies and just myself, I had to get creative on how I would take them on snowmobile. There was no way I could have two 1 year old in front of me behind the handlebars. It’s difficult enough with one child, especially when they fall asleep and seats/fuel tanks are so big these days that their poor little legs would be so spread apart sitting forward on a sled it would be very uncomfortable for them I’m sure.
So I came up with making a two-seater, enclosed, cushioned, insulated, heated child seat and my boys Kaiden and Karter had their very first snowmobile ride alone with just me at 13 months old.

 

[Fro-1]

Fast forward (and I do mean FAST, because they grow so quickly) to 2 years old now and this winter I’ve taken one of the Bravo’s I have tucked away for when they are old enough to drive them out for laps in the back yard. My twins have lots of practice in turning from peddling little tricycles around in the house and now with these couple GT’s they are getting into leaning in the turns lol. Before they are big enough to ride the Bravo’s I have an original Yamaha Sno Scoot for them to share. The 3 of us may be a small family but we sure are a Yamaha one

 

[Fro-1]

GT laps with Grandpa lol

 

[Fro-1]

Not Yamaha related but being Canadian and living next door to Quebec, back in the day these snowmobiles were widely used where I’m from. My grandfather had one, great uncles had them and their neighbors and so on. Keeping in the traditions of transport here in Labrador and again, wanting to get my sons into snowmobiling as early as possible. I built this winter baby push sleigh to resemble Kaiden and Karter’s great great Grandfathers 12 seater Bombardier.

 

[Fro-1]

Favourite toy in the house to play on. They’ve had it since they were 11 months old, just after walking and now at two years old there still isn’t a day where they don’t double up and go for a ride on their Coleco toy Yamaha Bravo lol.

 

[swampcat]

AWESOME !