What age do you let your kids start riding their own snowmobile?
- Thread starter SledsWest
- Start date
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MNSLEDNECK56308
Well-known member
Depends on the def of "ride" my oldest son now 9, started riding sled by himself at 7. But just in the field by our house.
It's all in the kid. My oldest, now 9, started on a one of those electric quads when he was 3 and was doing a gasser one when he hit 4, on a 50cc dirt bike at 5 tearing it up....my youngest son makes me nervous on the dirt bike and he's 7. We got the 120 when they were 6 and 4. so the key is how well they comprehend the need for brake or gas and getting around the obstacles.
My youngest at 5 jumped on the gasser quad and pinned the throttle, wound it up in 1st gear, dodged 2 cars and was turning to miss the house and ended up tipping it over pinning him between the house and quad and then turned in to high speed cartwheels....luckily it was only in first gear and he didn't really get hurt. So it really is all about the kid..if they got it, then let them do it and if they don't learn first aid!!!
My youngest at 5 jumped on the gasser quad and pinned the throttle, wound it up in 1st gear, dodged 2 cars and was turning to miss the house and ended up tipping it over pinning him between the house and quad and then turned in to high speed cartwheels....luckily it was only in first gear and he didn't really get hurt. So it really is all about the kid..if they got it, then let them do it and if they don't learn first aid!!!
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Team Wild
Well-known member
Our kids started at 8 riding there own. We have triplets(2 boys and 1 girl) The boys do great at riding down the trails (not very busy here in Montana. They love tearing around open meadows. My girl isn't as good at trail riding. She would rather ride with me and go fast. She does a good job in the meadows. This year the boys got new sleds (new to them, 88 indy trails). We worked on them this summer together so they are pumped to get going. My girl wants to still ride with me or Mommy. So I think it depends on the kid.
On a 120 my son was 2, my daughter would not ride it until she was three. They both started in the back yard then moved to a wide open area in the hills. My son is now 6 and this will be his first year on the trails on a full sized snowmobile.
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Arctic Thunder
Well-known member
Like others, my boys started really young on anything with a motor. But it was very supervised and under controlled conditions. When I think of "How old to ride a sled by themselves", I think of when they can actually take a 30-50 mile groomed trail ride, make standard trail rules without direction, what side of the road, following distance, cornering, etc. And then to have the stamina to complete the ride. IMO around age 10 you can start doing this. Before that it really depends on the kid, the area, and the conditions.
So again full size sled, 550 fans, 600's, etc. 100% by themselves. 10 years old.
Thunder
So again full size sled, 550 fans, 600's, etc. 100% by themselves. 10 years old.
Thunder
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IndoubtGASIT
Well-known member
I started on my 340 when I was 6, followed my dad everywhere with that thing! After all, I probably only weighed 50lbs. So to actually start following you and riding in the mountains and getting him into actually riding not just on the trail. I would say 6 or 7.
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theultrarider
Well-known member
I voted for for 5 since that was the youngest on the list. He was actually 3 when he started to solo pn "pogo"....an 80's skidoo citation 300 twin. Great little sled. From there he went to an indy lite with a 136x 1.5 paddle track. He could follow us most any where!
I was about 2 1/2 when my dad let me ride my kitty cat around the meadow up at greenwater by myself. By 6 I was rocking the snow-scoot riding from the trailer following my parents to the cabin. At 8 I had an indy lite (340 polaris) and would start "riding with the guys" on the trail and some meadow riding. The winter after I turned 12 I was on a 500 SKS climbing hills. As most other parents have stated it depends on how the kid reacts to obstacles and uses gas brake relations. My daughter is now 5 has her power wheels down and will be trying sledding this year.
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suitcase
Well-known member
They can ride as soon as they pass there saftey course. That is in OR. not sure if all states are the same.
My nephew started the day he turned five. This is a pic from the other day. He turns six next week.
My Son started riding my M8 at 9 years old and my Daughter at 11. They have both been riding their Z-120 prior to that for 4 years
The Date at the Bottom is wrong....Stupid digital cameras!
The Date at the Bottom is wrong....Stupid digital cameras!
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BackCountryBob
Well-known member
Colorado State Law 33-14-109, Restrictions on young operators.
The language is so convoluted even a Philadelphia lawyer would need help BUT the jist of it is that an operator 10 years or above may ride in public lands if directly supervised by a person 16 years of age OR a by a person 14 years of age that has a State Safety Certificate OR has obtained his own State Safety Certificate. Violation of this section is guilty of a class 2 petty offense subject to a $50.00 fine.
So, if you are 10-16 without a Safety Certificate and riding alone without immediate supervision you could be subject to a fine.
I read it that a person 10 years old with a Safety Certificate is legal to ride alone in the State of Colorado.
No age restrictions on private land.
BCB
The language is so convoluted even a Philadelphia lawyer would need help BUT the jist of it is that an operator 10 years or above may ride in public lands if directly supervised by a person 16 years of age OR a by a person 14 years of age that has a State Safety Certificate OR has obtained his own State Safety Certificate. Violation of this section is guilty of a class 2 petty offense subject to a $50.00 fine.
So, if you are 10-16 without a Safety Certificate and riding alone without immediate supervision you could be subject to a fine.
I read it that a person 10 years old with a Safety Certificate is legal to ride alone in the State of Colorado.
No age restrictions on private land.
BCB
My son started on mini-z when he was 4,last year he was 7 and rode a z 370.This year he will be on an m5 with a 141 2" track should be cool.He rode my 800 xpx in the fields up at Rabbit ears last year.
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Bkinz
Well-known member
I started on a indy lite 340 at the age of 7. Rode all most all trails till I was about 8, then slowly started going off the trail following big bro and pops around. Now by the age of 14 I can go anywhere my dad can and then some. Starting your kid off young will be good in the long run, he will be a much better rider by the time he is 10.
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