| thinking about buying a dirt bike for your kid but don't | | | | smallest beginning racers. There is also the 50 SX |
| know which bike to choose or look for? Well, this will | | | | which is bigger and suits a little taller beginning racer. |
| give you info about the name brand bikes for kids and | | | | These bikes both have a one-speed automatic |
| help you make a decision. Choosing the right bike for | | | | transmission and are liquid-cooled. KTM 50s are |
| your young rider can be very important, especially if | | | | expensive, but they are perfect race bikes for your |
| they've never ridden before. Kids start riding as young | | | | little kids that are ready to tear up the tracks. There |
| as three years old, so basically once they are able to | | | | are also Chinese companies with 50cc motocross |
| ride a bicycle without training wheels they should be | | | | bikes, such as LEM, Cobra, and others. |
| capable of riding a dirt bike. And please don't put | | | | 65cc |
| training wheels on a little dirt bike, that just defeats the | | | | KTM and Kawasaki are the only name brand |
| purpose. There are a few factors that come in to play | | | | companies that still make a 65cc two-stroke |
| when finding the right dirt bike for a kid. Age, | | | | motocross bike. KTM has the 65 SX which is more |
| experience, size, and where you are going to ride all | | | | expensive and usually the racers that are serious buy |
| come in to play when looking for a bike. There are 50, | | | | them. Right from the factory KTM puts aftermarket |
| 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 125, and 150cc four-stroke dirt bikes | | | | parts on their bikes, such as VForce reeds on the |
| that are mostly meant for off-road and trail riding. For | | | | two-strokes, handlebars, and Brembo brakes. The |
| the smaller two-stroke dirt bikes, there are a couple | | | | Kawasaki KX65 is what riders that just want to race |
| different 50s, 65s, and 85cc bikes. These are used for | | | | buy because they are so cheap. That does not mean |
| motocross racing. | | | | that they aren't fast, they just aren't always as reliable |
| Off-Road Bikes | | | | and don't have a very high re-sale value. Both are |
| 50cc | | | | great race bikes for intermediate younger riders in |
| There are a few different 50cc dirt bikes, but the most | | | | around the age 7-10 that have been riding for some |
| common is the Honda CRF50F/XR50R. This is where | | | | time. These bikes are usually not used for trail riding |
| dirt biking starts for every little kid that has never ridden | | | | because they are not as easy to ride and lug around |
| before. These things are almost bullet proof if you | | | | as a four-stroke is. |
| maintain it properly. If you are looking for a first bike for | | | | 85/105/150cc |
| a kid that is under 7 then this is probably the best | | | | 85cc motocross bikes are the start for a young teen |
| choice, unless they are bigger/taller than the norm. | | | | aged racer. They have more power than most any kid |
| There is also the Suzuki JR50, Kawasaki KDX50 and | | | | could use, which makes these bikes a blast for adults |
| Yamaha PW50; all of which are oil-injected 2-strokes | | | | or adrenaline-junkies as well. KTM, Suzuki, Kawasaki, |
| that are very light and perfect for the smallest of | | | | and Yamaha all make an 85cc two-stroke mx bike. |
| riders, and the Yamaha TTR-50 which is about the | | | | Honda put a stop to their two-stroke inventory after |
| same as the CRF, so it just depends what color you | | | | 2007, but people still buy their late model bikes. Instead, |
| like best. | | | | Honda wanted to start a revolution for mini-bikes with |
| 70 & 80cc | | | | their all new 150cc four-stroke motocross bike. It was |
| Honda made the CRF/XR70 and 80cc bikes for kids | | | | well talked about, but once it came out it died slowly. |
| that are just starting, but a little too big for a 50cc. The | | | | They are powerful bikes and are easier to ride than an |
| 70 has a taller seat height with a little more power than | | | | 85, but the weight and cost lost it for them. Usually |
| the 50, but the 80 has a clutch which is perfect for | | | | these CRF150R's (Big and small wheel) were bought |
| training the little ones without letting them ride on a fast | | | | by racers with money because they also needed quite |
| bike. | | | | a bit of maintenance. If you have money and your kid |
| 100/110/125/150cc | | | | loves the easy ride-ability of a four-stroke then this |
| Honda has been known for their XR/CRF100 which | | | | would be a good race bike to buy. If you don't have a |
| reaches to a variety of riders. It has a clutch and is just | | | | deep pocket, then an 85 or 100/105cc two-stroke |
| right for the older kids to learn on if they are too big | | | | stroke is a great choice. Your kid will love you for |
| for the CRF80F. The 100 is a great trail bike because it | | | | getting them one of these bikes; before they flip it at |
| has just enough power, and it's also big enough for an | | | | least once, that is. If you find someone selling a used |
| adult, so this bike should be easy to find used, and | | | | 85 that hasn't been flipped, then you're either lucky or |
| cheap I might add. Kawasaki and Suzuki decided to | | | | they're lying. 85s are pretty much race-only bikes. I've |
| make the ultimate pit bike for kids and adults. The | | | | trail-ridden with one, and it was not very fun because |
| KLX110/DRZ110 (Parts are interchangeable) has | | | | of the lack of power down low. The Honda CR85R |
| become popular because of how much power it has, | | | | and Yamaha YZ85 hit harder and are more snappy |
| or is able to put out, for its size. The 110 is an | | | | than the others because they don't have a power |
| automatic, so it's great for smaller riders that want | | | | valve. KTM's 85 SX comes with aftermarket goodies |
| more power than a 70 without going to a clutch yet. | | | | from the factory like all of their other bikes, so it's |
| Yamaha also has a bigger off-road bike for kids, the | | | | probably the fastest out of the lot. Kawasaki's KX85 |
| TTR-125. The TTR-125 is a popular model for bigger | | | | and Suzuki's RM85 are very similar and are used by |
| kids just starting out. It has a clutch with enough power | | | | many riders that are on a budget because of how |
| to haul riders around, young or old. Honda also has the | | | | cheap they can be. Honda and Suzuki both have a |
| CRF150F for riders that want more power and a taller | | | | larger wheel 85, which helps those taller kids that quite |
| ride height than the 100. Although the set-back for the | | | | aren't ready for a 125 or 250f. Kawasaki and KTM |
| 150 is that it weighs about as much as a full-size | | | | have a big-bore 85 to compete in the supermini class |
| motocross bike. These mid-sized off-road bikes are | | | | (86-112cc). Kawasaki's KX100 is a big wheel and has |
| popular for a reason, and this means that they have | | | | plenty of power for any young racer. KTM has a 105 |
| usually been ridden a lot and probably abused. So if | | | | SX which is one of the best power-to-weight ratio |
| you're looking at buying a used one then make sure it | | | | bikes you can buy, and also has larger wheels. When it |
| is clean, it has somewhat low hours, and has been well | | | | comes down to choosing an 85,100/105, or a 150cc |
| maintained. | | | | four-stroke motocross bike for your kid, it depends |
| Motocross Bikes | | | | how big your pocketbook is, what fits your kid, and |
| 50cc | | | | what color you like best. If you know what bike you |
| There are a couple different name-brand 50cc | | | | want to get, check out my article "How To Buy A Dirt |
| motocross bikes for kids, and they are both KTM | | | | Bike". Thanks for viewing, and good luck buying the |
| two-strokes. KTM has the 50 SX Mini, which is for the | | | | right bike for your kid. |