Something for the kids: Karts, quads etc?
Discussion
I've been looking for some sort of vehicle based activity that I can do with my four year old - ideally the likes of twin seater karts that I could drive and he could ride shotgun or something Honda Pilots or similar but thus far, I've drawn blanks mostly. Scotkart, Knockhill and such like are all 8yrs minimum and they don't have twin seaters. Fastrax doesn't have anything suitable.
Aberdeen Beach has twin seat karts I believe but I was hoping for something more centrally based as that's a 250 mile round trip for me and everything else seems to be either really child focused such as those little electric bikes you used to get at the shows or he's not big (110cms) to have a go on anything a bit more involved, be it driving himself or as a passenger with me.
He's grown bored of Conifox and their big Berg pedal karts with me puffing and wheezing round the track before collapsing in a heap. I even debated trying to motorise his own pedal kart but I got disapproving looks from the wife. I also thought about a track night at Knockhill but again, far too young and wallowing round in a Volvo estate won't cut it.
Any thoughts / links to something I've missed.
Aberdeen Beach has twin seat karts I believe but I was hoping for something more centrally based as that's a 250 mile round trip for me and everything else seems to be either really child focused such as those little electric bikes you used to get at the shows or he's not big (110cms) to have a go on anything a bit more involved, be it driving himself or as a passenger with me.
He's grown bored of Conifox and their big Berg pedal karts with me puffing and wheezing round the track before collapsing in a heap. I even debated trying to motorise his own pedal kart but I got disapproving looks from the wife. I also thought about a track night at Knockhill but again, far too young and wallowing round in a Volvo estate won't cut it.
Any thoughts / links to something I've missed.
sherman said:
Buy him a push bike and go riding with him. Beecraigs have a few off road cycle paths that will be fun enough until he is old enough to fit in a kart.
He's been riding a 16" bike for several months now and we're out as much as possible doing the above though not at Beecraigs yet as we've plenty trails locally. Unfortunately or perhaps fortunately he does seem eager to have a go on something with an engine, but sadly it seems he's just going to have to wait but I'll have a look at the e-bikes and may have to pencil in a roadtrip to find a suitable kart.
Terzo123 said:
Not Karts, but E Bikes at IMoto
If your child can ride a bike without stabilisers, IMoto have a variety of different sized motorbikes that should suitable.
Its also fairly cheap.
Great shout. I've been there myself a couple of years back and it was superb but didn't realise they did little human bikes. Cheers! If your child can ride a bike without stabilisers, IMoto have a variety of different sized motorbikes that should suitable.
Its also fairly cheap.
In a similar vein, I'm looking for something like quad bikes or those off road buggy/kart things (you know, the efforts with roll cages), for kids age 13-16. Preferably in the Loch Lomond area where I'm going for a wee break in August. I've found a place called Action Adventure Activites near the Loch, but they are fearful expensive - £300 for 4 people for 40 minutes driving a quad is not appealing to my inner Scot. Is there anything else in the area? Must be, surely, but I'm drawing a blank.
I'm toying with the idea of hiring a Caterham for a few hours, granted for my own enjoyment but having read a few threads it would seem that my 4yr old could potentially come along too though I suspect I'd be best to run this past the hire company first. My thinking was I could get a couple of hours to myself (ahhh, what a notion!) and then take him out at the end for a cautious run round.
Dragging this back up as we're a year on and his desire to drive stuff hasn't subsided, if anything it's only gaining in strength.
Since last posting, I did hire a Caterham from 7 Ecosse (who I'd massively recommend!) for a day and he had a run it in back to Crieff which he seemed to think was pretty good fun... as did I... and he's been busy hurling himself down things on his mountain bike much to his mother's disapproval.
More searching hasn't revealed anything four wheel and fairly exciting that he can do - the only twin seater karts I can find are Aviemore and that's a 250 mile round trip. Larkhall is from 7 and up, he's only 5 and I think making fake ID for a 5 year old is frowned upon / probably illegal. We have been to Knockhill a few times and he's desperate to go on the track but that's not really viable either.
Anything new, exciting and child friendly cropped up in the past few months that would be worth investigating?
Cheers
Since last posting, I did hire a Caterham from 7 Ecosse (who I'd massively recommend!) for a day and he had a run it in back to Crieff which he seemed to think was pretty good fun... as did I... and he's been busy hurling himself down things on his mountain bike much to his mother's disapproval.
More searching hasn't revealed anything four wheel and fairly exciting that he can do - the only twin seater karts I can find are Aviemore and that's a 250 mile round trip. Larkhall is from 7 and up, he's only 5 and I think making fake ID for a 5 year old is frowned upon / probably illegal. We have been to Knockhill a few times and he's desperate to go on the track but that's not really viable either.
Anything new, exciting and child friendly cropped up in the past few months that would be worth investigating?
Cheers
He's 122cm and pretty solid... which is a bit of an issue as we were at Knockhill the other week and a rather petite child was on the karts and mine was quick to point out "But that little boy is smaller and he's allowed" so physically, he's probably ok for a lot of stuff but he's just not old enough yet.
I’ve bought and proper electric quad for my son a few years ago. My now 8 old used it from 5 years old with helmet and neck guard etc. It’s fully controllable in terms of adjusting top speed, throttle response and acceleration. Lithium battery is rechargeable and lasts about 2 hours.
Top speed about 35mph when all the dials turned up. Dark blue with brake lights and headlight.
It’s been a blast and actually I need to put it up for sale as he’s moving onto bigger things now.
I bought it as was experiencing the same angst and I live in the centre of Edinburgh so needed a quiet and fast solution for the garden.
Was also useful size as I could just squeeze it into a 7 seater X5 for traveling further afield.
Top speed about 35mph when all the dials turned up. Dark blue with brake lights and headlight.
It’s been a blast and actually I need to put it up for sale as he’s moving onto bigger things now.
I bought it as was experiencing the same angst and I live in the centre of Edinburgh so needed a quiet and fast solution for the garden.
Was also useful size as I could just squeeze it into a 7 seater X5 for traveling further afield.
Edited by And9s on Thursday 21st July 22:41
Interesting point there about the battery quad as I was idly looking at them the other day, more so as when he was smaller he had one of those cheap Halfords battery ride on Defenders and when he outgrew it, it lived up on a shelf in the garage and one day it fell down, snapping off a wheel in the process and that was that. He's never quite forgiven me for that and bangs on about how he'd like another one... even though he's far too big now, hence found myself looking at the quads instead. But it's where it could be used / transported that'll be the issue. I suppose they're not as anti-social as a petrol one for use in public places but could it go where his mountain goes just now... ie, could you use it at say Beecraigs or similar?
Just done the same for my lad.
Electric quads are a definite go.
I take him along to the old racecourse, many people have stopped to ask what it is. Bargain.
https://www.funbikes.co.uk/p5356_funbikes-toxic-10...
Electric quads are a definite go.
I take him along to the old racecourse, many people have stopped to ask what it is. Bargain.
https://www.funbikes.co.uk/p5356_funbikes-toxic-10...
I have two sessions for Firefly car driving sessions in Edinburgh this Saturday morning, 10.50 and 11.30, free if anyone is interested in using them. Royal Highland Centre, ages 4-10. PM if interested.
https://www.youngdriver.eu/4_10_lessons
https://www.youngdriver.eu/4_10_lessons
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