Bikeforumuser0019

Hello. I'm fixing up a little 14" coaster brake bike for my friend's 5 year old daughter. The plastic chain guard is broken at the mount, and I'd love to just leave it off. Do you think leaving the sprockets/chain exposed would pose a significant risk for a child rider, or is the chain guard there mostly for convention? Before/after pics attached. I think it looks better without the chain guard, but obviously my aesthetic preference should not be put before the safety of the rider. Also, I'm not sure where to find a replacement chain guard for a 14" bike. Interested in your thoughts - thanks very much.

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brianmcg123

When my daughter was 6 I took the chain guard off her bike fixing it up. I left it off, and she got back from a ride with grease all over her jeans. It went back on.

mixteup

Wax the chain - the treatment will last for a couple hundred miles, a long time for her

FiftySix

Indeed. If you want to P.O. whomever buys and washes the clothes, leave off the chain guard and lube the chain with traditional petroleum products.

KLiNCK

I'd be more concerned about the possibility of little fingers getting pinched (or worse)...
Could the old mounting point could be glued back together?
There are lots of good adhesives that, when used properly, would do the job.

Moe Zhoost

Have you noticed how many kids have loose shoelaces? At best, they'll be shortened a bit by the chain ring. At worst, the kid may rudely meet the pavement.

You could probably repair the broken guard with a bit of ingenuity.

Gresp15C

I'd try to repair the guard if possible.

dsbrantjr

Definite safety issue. Did you call Tonka Customer Service to see what they could do for you? You might be pleasantly surprised.

Edit: Google "bicycle chain finger amputation."

CliffordK

For the tens of thousands of miles that bike is likely to be ridden, you could likely also leave off the chain lube, thus also reducing the grime.

Shoelaces as @Moe Zhoost pointed out would be a potential issue, but you can also train a kid to tie one's shoes before hopping on the bike.

The chain tends to protect the sprocket somewhat, so I don't believe a pinch points, torn jeans, etc are a significant issue.

I've left guards off of slightly larger kid's bikes (20" wheels), for slightly older kids.

JoeTBM 

You might be able to add a small metal strap to repair the guard, I have been successful using a roll of perforated pipe hanger to extend the rear screw mounting in the past.

sdmc530

YES, dirty clothing, not to mention pinching of fingers and well everything kids manage to get pinched and adults. the biggest risk is definitely kids riding with untied shoes and that never ends well.

Please put something on there. You many never have an issue but one accident could taint a child's view of biking, and that would be a terrible loss!


Also you did a great job on the bike, looks awesome!!

dsbrantjr

That stuff, AKA plumber's tape or hanger tape, has a million uses. I'll bet that attaching it to the backside of the guard with high-temperature hot-melt glue will make a strong invisible repair.

FiftySix

In double knots. Some laces are just prone to coming undone unless tied in a double knot. I have a pair of work boots like that.

wipekitty

Love the fix-up. That bike has gone from Disney Princess to girly but tough. Make one in my size, I'd ride it!

I'd recommend putting the chain guard back on. Some little girls like to cruise the block (and around here, MTB trails) in dresses, which can easily get caught in the chain. If you can take that chain guard and paint it black, I think it will fit with the aesthetic of the bike. Maybe add a purple butterfly!

Bikeforumuser0019

Hey everyone, thank you all so much for your good advice, suggestions, insights and encouragements. I will confess, that part of my goal in fixing up this little bike is to get the kids and the mom excited about riding. And I think it's working, so I definitely don't want to do anything that would give daughter or mom a sour experience.

I love the idea of waxing the chain, because that's a bit of know-how I'd like to add to my metaphorical bike toolbox anyway. And, I think I'm going to go to the hardware store and see about getting some materials to fabricate a new chain guard. I did once make a pair of fenders out of corrugated plastic that were effective (even if a little tacky). Making a box for the drive train of this little bike can't be that complicated. I'll let you know what I come up with.

(by the way, I often tell my friends that my last words and/or the epitaph on my gravestone will probably be: "It can't be that complicated.")

JoeTBM 

I have also been successful at re-fabricating a chain guard for a kids bike by taking and cutting a chain guard from an adult bike

or check out ebay, here is one

https://www.ebay.com/itm/BLACK-PLAST...610b092316ec0d

or this one

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-ABS-P...cAAOSwbpVbhi-C

There are many others depending on chain rings and length

Bikeforumuser0019

Update on this bike. Thanks again all for your guidance in the matter of the chain guard. I used the broken chain guard as a model and whipped this up from coroplast, plastic string, and a couple of zip ties. I don't know how much abuse this will stand up against, but at least I can give it back to her now and she can start riding... hate to let another mild summer day go by separating her from her new big-girl pedal bike. And, I've bought myself a little more time to decide on another chain guard option, fix the old one or find a new one.