Best dirt bike for kids starting out?

[sstanfie]

Hi. I'd like to get a dirt bike for my boys who are 6 and 8 yrs old who have never ridden before (only quads). What bike would you recommend? I was thinking of getting the Honda CRF50F.

Thank you.

[Honda0001]

65cc (KTM 65SX) for the 8 year old. 50cc for the 6 year old (KTM 50SX Junior)

[450X22]

If you are thinking crf50, get the Yamaha instead, electric start is really nice for people starting off.

[Border Patrol]

Yamaha PW80

[bamafutbal]

when my kid was 5 (now he is 7 1/2) he went from a pw50 for 3 months- honda crf50 for 1 year then to a crf70 for a couple of months, then to a rm60 for a couple of months then to a one time ride on a ktm 65 then settled back on a more tame rm65.

my just turned 5 year old has a crf50 and will stay there until he is 7 and then he will get the rm65 and at that point my older kid (when he is 9) will go with an rm/yz85

*if you can find a rm/kx60 that is a perfect bike, seat height 1.5" lower than a 65 with same suspension (almost) and weights about 115#, very easy to learn to use the clutch and has 6 gears

[kbrighamxr400]

Started my 9 year old (girl) on a PW80. I like the fact that it is a 3 speed (that she has to shift) w/automatic clutch, front and rear breaks are where they are supposed to be. Being a two stroke it is easy to work on and cheap to repair. (no mixing of the gas) Oil reservoir under the seat. Suspension is not the greatest but she has not needed much more - yet. Finally it is surprisingly quick. She wants to start racing so we will see how that goes. Oh did I mention that ours is a 94 that I picked up for next to nothing. One draw back is that there are not many aftermarket parts avail. Not like the Honda 50. Hope that helps.

Kevin

[SlowRideXT]

I had a Honda 50 for a while when I was a kid, it was fun except in sand.

[ktm_man]

i agree with the first reply

[justin24]

get a 65 more to train on

[Just_a_trail_rider]

If you are thinking crf50, get the Yamaha instead, electric start is really nice for people starting off.

I would go without the kickstart. Teach the kids how to do it. It will only take two or three trips out and they will have it down.

Just make sure that they are in neutral when they kick start. I think that this is one of the basic tenants of off road riding. I took this exact approach with my 9 and 11 yr old daughters. Its perfect now.

no batteries to charge. They even know how to drain a little gas out of the float bowl after the bike have been sitting for a few weeks.

Get the bike that fits them, obviously a tamer 4 stroke would be better. Have them sit on all bikes (honda and yamaha) and look for the one where both their feet will touch the ground, but not necessarily flat footed.

that would be the perfect bike.

Be really smart and buy used. The second bike is the one you will want to make a big investment on.

[sstanfie]

Thank you very much everyone.

I would go without the kickstart. Teach the kids how to do it. It will only take two or three trips out and they will have it down.

Just make sure that they are in neutral when they kick start. I think that this is one of the basic tenants of off road riding. I took this exact approach with my 9 and 11 yr old daughters. Its perfect now.

no batteries to charge. They even know how to drain a little gas out of the float bowl after the bike have been sitting for a few weeks.

Get the bike that fits them, obviously a tamer 4 stroke would be better. Have them sit on all bikes (honda and yamaha) and look for the one where both their feet will touch the ground, but not necessarily flat footed.

that would be the perfect bike.

Be really smart and buy used. The second bike is the one you will want to make a big investment on.

[mowtown]

I love the ktm 50'S but I wouldn't start out the 6 year old on one...they are a race bike and not very trail friendly (not to mention the constant clutch maintenence). It's better to leave your kids wanting more power than being scared of a bike and not wanting to ride.

Start the 6 year old on a TTR 50 because of the e-start. Since you're teaching 2 kids to ride at the same time (my exact situation for the past 6 month--7 yr old girl and 4 year old boy), having the youngest with an e-start is a blessing.

Good luck.

[thumper_guy]

depends on how quickly they r growin if u dont want to buy another bike too quickly i would go for a dr-z125 little wheel but if not a jr 50 or 80

[cardiffdrz]

65cc (KTM 65SX) for the 8 year old. 50cc for the 6 year old (KTM 50SX Junior)

which part of "starting out" didn't you see then The KTM's are race bikes and not starting out bikes. If he wanted to know the best way to scare the living daylights out of his kids on a bike then i think the bikes you mention would be about the best.

The best starter bikes are without doubt the XR/CRF's 50/70 or the Yamaha PW 50/80's They are very tame bikes that your kids can get used to without being scared to death. Remember these bikes are for children, don't let excessive levels of testosterone blind your judgement

[ExcitableTom]

I vote strongly for the Kawasaki KLX110. It's a three speed with automatic clutch, has an oil filter and my buddies and I all put our kids on these and love them. They last a long time with only basic maintenance, have a throttle control screw and are pretty fast without the limiter screw. Great bikes!!!

[MMotohead]

Borrow a XR 50 for the first ride, buy a KLX 110 to keep. The KLX has the throttle limiter and can be made bigger with bars and a taller seat. Huge aftermarket parts and big demand as a pit bike- resale. CRF 100 or TTR 125 next, followed by a YZ 85 if he turns into a racer. Above progression with lessons made my 12 year old into a fast kid that can almost leave me. When he moves to a 250R he will be gone.

[Honda0001]

which part of "starting out" didn't you see then The KTM's are race bikes and not starting out bikes. If he wanted to know the best way to scare the living daylights out of his kids on a bike then i think the bikes you mention would be about the best.

The best starter bikes are without doubt the XR/CRF's 50/70 or the Yamaha PW 50/80's They are very tame bikes that your kids can get used to without being scared to death. Remember these bikes are for children, don't let excessive levels of testosterone blind your judgement

Yeah for retard like you there the "scarey bikes"

I think there two of the best bikes out there for young beginnners.

There just the bikes that kids of that age race.

Get over it...

Why doesn't the guy get them bicycles then they'd be even better