Whether it's a mini-bike, a scooter, or a motorcycle they are all much, much more dangerous then a bicycle.
If you are thinking about giving a pair of motorized wheels to a kid our buying yourself a motorcycle for Christmas you need to proceed with caution.
My parents allowed me to buy my first set of wheels when I was about 13 years old. I ordered it through the Montgomery Wards catalog, a very basic model with a 3-1/2 hp Tecumseh engine. Sounds pretty harmless. In reality I can thank that little mini-bike for a lifetime of back problems and more.
That little mini-bike, with a couple of easy to do modifications, reached speeds up to 40 mph. Of course as soon as a friend or neighbor gets something better then a boy (or a man) needs to top it. With-in two years I purchased a Yamaha 305 Big Bear Scrambler. That bike was very unique as it was a 2-cycle engine and I got it up to 110 mph with a friend on back... no danger there.
I had spills and thrills over the years but I decided to give it up when my daughter was born. I wanted to increase my chances of seeing my children grow up into adulthood and hopefully even be around when/if I had grandchildren.
All this being said my strongest warning is weather related. If you live in an area where they sand streets for ice and snow you should not let a novice rider out on the street. NO training prepares you for your front wheel instantly skidding out from under you. When you have power you have danger and from mini-bikes to big Hogs that front wheel is going to go a direction you do not expect if it's on gravel and you crack that throttle.
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