What ATV's do your kids ride and is it the legal size

[stacktester]

I'm sure with Christmas coming up some are buying their kids a new 4 wheeler. My daughter is 12 and has a 125 Grizzly. She has had the same bike for 2 years. She's pretty tall for her age and when I took her to get a new bike she fit this one perfect.

When we 1st got the bike we went straight to ONF where she rode 2 up with me since she was 5. I had actually bought her a Baja 90 to learn on and she did well on that. I didn't just buy her the 125 and say go get it, so don't think that please. We still want to ride Ocala but she needs the safety course and now her bike is too big. If she rides an 80 I think it is for her age she will tower it and to me that will be more unsafe because she's too big. More consideration needs to be given to the ATV rules especially with these kids taking the course. I don't mind restricting her speed (we're not fast riders anyway) but I want her on what is safe for her height.

[z400250]

she can do the class as an observer and dosn't have to ride, but she will not get the cert there, they will mail it to you!!
My girl is 6 and she rides a 110 and a 90 so she had to do it as an observer. Some of the instructors have loaner atvs to do the course with

[stacktester]

Yeah but even if she get's the certificate she can't ride the 125 at Ocala.

[klutchbuster400]

Is that ridiculous age law still in place?

[ScooterB]

Yeah but even if she get's the certificate she can't ride the 125 at Ocala.

There is no law that dictates what size atv a child can operate.

Below is a list of rules for ONF from their website

Rules and Regulations
All trails are two way and are not designed for high speed use.
Riders must comply with the state of Florida's Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) titling law and possess proof of ownership.
All riders 15 and under must be supervised by and adult and wear a helmet, goggles and boots.
All riders 15 and under must possess a certificate evidencing the completion of an approved OHV safety course.
It is a violation of law to carry a passenger on an OHV, unless the machine is specifically designed to carry and operator and a sigle passenger.
Payment of a per operator (see passs and permits) fee is required to ride these trails.
Riding at night is prohibited.
No resource damage(mudding, creating new trails). Mudding is not allowed on the Ocala National Forest. You may travel through puddles that may develop on trails (i.e. from rain showers) but do not play (spin tires, etc.) If water exists on a trail due to high water from an adjacent wetland area, the trail is closed. Turn around and find another existing route.
Many areas are restricted or closed to protect sensitive biological communities, such as wetlands.  In order to protect the environment, the following actions are prohibited:

Cross-country travel (no riding off roads or trails)
Traveling on roads or road shoulders not designated for mixed-use
Riding in areas closed to motor vehicle traffic such as Wilderness Areas
Riding in or around ponds or wetlands
Chasing or harassing wildlife

http://www.flsenate.gov/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=Ch0261/ch0261.htm

[jayman]

My son is 12 years old and he has a LTZ400.  No it is not too much for him as he could out ride most on a 450.  He races his 400 at Thunderbowl in Ocala and so do a lot of other 11 and 12 year olds. As stated above there is no rule for cc limits compared to age.  Only suggestions made by the manufacture.  It is the state that thinks they should dictate the size and age limits.  Good thing this is only mandated for the stupid certification. 

It should be based on the abilities of the child not just the age.  It would be a joke to see my 5'4" 130lb child on a little 90cc quad. 

Rant over..............

[superdooty]

pull the stickers off and tell them its a 50. my son is 10 about 110lbs been riding since his 4th bday and is currently on a eton 150 which suits him well. i was told he would have to test on a 50cc as well.

[SpeedQuest]

One more time for those that didn't read it!

THERE IS NO AGE/SIZE RESTRICTION if you have completed the ATV Safety Course.

The Manufacturer's have recommendations on the Safety Placard of the ATV's, but there is NO Florida Law or Federal Law regarding what age an operator must be for a specific size ATV.

[Bigscrb15]

There may not be a "law" but dealers can be fined for selling atv's to people when the dealer knows it will be used by a person younger than the manufacturer recommends.

[superdooty]

ONE MORE TIME... for the course my son was not allowed to test on a 150 at the age of 10.

[SpeedQuest]

ONE MORE TIME... for the course my son was not allowed to test on a 150 at the age of 10.

Of course your son was not allowed to ride a 150cc at the age of 10 to take the Safety Course!!!

Their insurance won't cover your 10 your old son riding an ATV that the manufacturer does not recommend.

That doesn't have anything to do with whether or not he can legally ride one on the trails, in your yard or anywhere else in Florida.

Stacktester wanted to know the laws, he now knows the laws, not the hearsay.  He also now knows his child can't ride a 150 while taking the ATV Safety Course.

[stacktester]

I wanted to make sure she can ride her bike in Ocala after the certification. I wasn't sure if the age sticker was law or suggestion, but I do now. Thanks for the help.

[cheropride]

My son just turned 10, and rides a Honda 400, for just about a year now.  He was over powering his 90, it was just crazy to keep him on it.  He does really good, kids just MUST know the rules.  He is really good, and cautious rider, I would hope it's because he respects what it can do to him, but it could just be that he also knows, in no uncertain terms, goof off, you are done, ATV is gone...   

I look at it this way, and I have yes, I have said this before, but anyway.  At 7 years old I started Barrel Racing Horses, rode horses from the time I was three.  Been bucked off, thrown into a tree, rubbed off, fell on, kicked, stepped on....  all things an ATV can't do, my point is, riding something that has a mind of it own, and riding something that you have total control of, I would say that ATV is much safer, you must just teach respect! 

[MadMudder]

Yeah but even if she get's the certificate she can't ride the 125 at Ocala.

There is no law that dictates what size atv a child can operate.

Below is a list of rules for ONF from their website

Rules and Regulations
All trails are two way and are not designed for high speed use.
Riders must comply with the state of Florida's Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) titling law and possess proof of ownership.
All riders 15 and under must be supervised by and adult and wear a helmet, goggles and boots.
All riders 15 and under must possess a certificate evidencing the completion of an approved OHV safety course.
It is a violation of law to carry a passenger on an OHV, unless the machine is specifically designed to carry and operator and a sigle passenger.
Payment of a per operator (see passs and permits) fee is required to ride these trails.
Riding at night is prohibited.
No resource damage(mudding, creating new trails). Mudding is not allowed on the Ocala National Forest. You may travel through puddles that may develop on trails (i.e. from rain showers) but do not play (spin tires, etc.) If water exists on a trail due to high water from an adjacent wetland area, the trail is closed. Turn around and find another existing route.
Many areas are restricted or closed to protect sensitive biological communities, such as wetlands.  In order to protect the environment, the following actions are prohibited:

Cross-country travel (no riding off roads or trails)
Traveling on roads or road shoulders not designated for mixed-use
Riding in areas closed to motor vehicle traffic such as Wilderness Areas
Riding in or around ponds or wetlands
Chasing or harassing wildlife

http://www.flsenate.gov/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=Ch0261/ch0261.htm

And thats why we dont ride in Ocala anymore. I remember back when that place was allot of fun. Park under the 316 Bridge, ride through the sandpit and just go with the GPS set at the trucks. Come back have a drink play in the mud under the bridge. Then lawyers found the forest. Game over...


As for the age rule. Dont you find the other side of the rule funny too. Its like ok im 15 i can only ride a 90cc. Ok tomorrow rolls around and im 16 which means i can hop on daddys Arctic Cat Thundercat 1,000cc Legally and go flying down trails. Ive always been very amused by that. Also the fact that just last January i was allowed to ride my 250 that i have been on for 7 years. I swear so many lawmakers just have no clue about anything. Most of the people who write these "recomendations" could not spell atv if you pointed a gun at their head. Yet they get to decide who rides what. .... I was reading a story or something where this lady was at an atv dealership inspecting the saftey features of the bike and checking stuff. While the dealer was standing there she poined to the throttle and said "ok what does that do"?   ........    really?....  you dont...you..... WTF       

[SpeedQuest]

As for the age rule. Dont you find the other side of the rule funny too. Its like ok im 15 i can only ride a 90cc. Ok tomorrow rolls around and im 16 which means i can hop on daddys Arctic Cat Thundercat 1,000cc Legally and go flying down trails. Ive always been very amused by that. Also the fact that just last January i was allowed to ride my 250 that i have been on for 7 years. I swear so many lawmakers just have no clue about anything. Most of the people who write these "recomendations" could not spell atv if you pointed a gun at their head. Yet they get to decide who rides what. .... I was reading a story or something where this lady was at an atv dealership inspecting the saftey features of the bike and checking stuff. While the dealer was standing there she poined to the throttle and said "ok what does that do"?   ........    really?....  you dont...you..... WTF       

Is any of this actually pertinent since there is NO AGE LIMIT law or regulation?  It's like a collection of somewhat random thoughts pieced together with some really strange grammar and puncuation.  Not trying to pick on you Mad, but it doesn't make any sense.

[MadMudder]

It was basically just random venting. I wasnt really going for a correct formal post.