MX bike for a 6 year old?

[Conquiztador]

OK, so my youngest has been hooning around the backyard and the beach for a week and a bit. This w/e we are going to watch the NI junior MX champs in Hastings. He has decided that he will not play soccer or rugby this year. He will focus on MX. (Just love his dedication!!)

As per earlier thread, he has a old DS80. But as it has clutch and gears he has problems changing gears. It is also a relatively heavy little thing. Spoke to some in the know and they tell me that the 6 - 8 yo's race 50cc 2 stroke centrifugal clutch bikes. There is KTM's and Hondas. Some apperently have 2 - 3 gear auto boxes.

My question is, what should I look at buying for him? He is a strong 6yo, a fraction over average height. And he is easily handling the DS80 even if he has problems reaching down on both sides. I would like something that he does not outgrow straight away. Something that he would be competetive on.

Anyone have any suggestions and resons why?

Thanks in advance.

[Mully]

MX bike for a 6 year old??

That's a great swap. Provided you get the bike of course.

[Conquiztador]

MX bike for a 6 year old??

That's a great swap. Provided you get the bike of course.

Don't give up your day job...lol

[Livvy]

Why don't you take him to a shop and get him to sit on some and see what he likes too?

Mind you, by the sound of your boy, he'd probably end up making you buy half the shop. :laugh:

[scott411]

at 6 you are looking at a CRF50/ttr50 for the 50cc jap class, or you can look at a KTM50 in either the mini adventure for the slower class, or the water cooled one for the faster 50 class,

next step is the 65 class where the main choice is KX65 or KTM65, but you are more looking 8-9 for that,

Scott

[Conquiztador]

Why don't you take him to a shop and get him to sit on some and see what he likes too?

Mind you, by the sound of your boy, he'd probably end up making you buy half the shop. :laugh:

Yep we will do that. But last time I went in to the local shop to get some bits and he was with me he got really peed off when I did not buy him a bike. His words: "Why did we come here if you are not gonna buy me a bike?"...

[Conquiztador]

at 6 you are looking at a CRF50/ttr50 for the 50cc jap class, or you can look at a KTM50 in either the mini adventure for the slower class, or the water cooled one for the faster 50 class,

next step is the 65 class where the main choice is KX65 or KTM65, but you are more looking 8-9 for that,

Scott

Thanks Scott. Did not realise that 6 - 8 yo's can race in so many classes!!!

I have decided to go to the NI Junior champs to get an idea what it is all about and talk to people there this w/e. Should have a beter idea after that.

[Edbear]

Sigh! Kids these days... When I was six, I got a wooden trolley our neighbour built just for me...:blink: It was green...

[Livvy]

Yep we will do that. But last time I went in to the local shop to get some bits and he was with me he got really peed off when I did not buy him a bike. His words: "Why did we come here if you are not gonna buy me a bike?"...
One day your son will break many hearts I think. He'll crash through life on a motorbike with a small hareem of women following him and he'll just wear this slightly bemused look - "I dunno dad, they just followed me home?"

I'm saying this because he seems to be so driven in knowing what HE wants he can't quite comprehend what others might be after! :laugh:

[Conquiztador]

One day your son will break many hearts I think. He'll crash through life on a motorbike with a small hareem of women following him and he'll just wear this slightly bemused look - "I dunno dad, they just followed me home?"

I'm saying this because he seems to be so driven in knowing what HE wants he can't quite comprehend what others might be after! :laugh:

At 6yo you have the right to only focus on your self. Sadly many ppl never get older...

[clmintie]

Yep we will do that. But last time I went in to the local shop to get some bits and he was with me he got really peed off when I did not buy him a bike. His words: "Why did we come here if you are not gonna buy me a bike?"...

Take him to lots of shops, without buying him anything. A bit of conditioning goes a long way.....

[Livvy]

At 6yo you have the right to only focus on your self. Sadly many ppl never get older...

I know - small children usually don't have the capacity to think outside their box, and I'm stating it as observation (you should see my niece, phew, she'll argue me into a corner so bad I think the world DOES revolve around her after a while and she's not even three yet!) rather than as a bite at small kids... But touche at the rest of what you said. It's a pity some people grow up to be so self centered, and at times we're all guilty of it really.


Take him to lots of shops, without buying him anything. A bit of conditioning goes a long way.....

And then he can find out which bike he likes best, too. :yes:

[crazyxr250rider]

Get him a 450:bash: ,No the water cooled KTM 50 sounds like a good
option, if he can manage a DS80.

[crazyxr250rider]

Take him to lots of shops, without buying him anything. A bit of conditioning goes a long way.....
Sounds like torture to me...........
:crybaby:"Ahaaaagh dad I want that one!":crybaby:

[Conquiztador]

Take him to lots of shops, without buying him anything. A bit of conditioning goes a long way.....

That would be horrible, painful, torture! For me. All the bikes I would see that I would want...

Oh and it would not be nice to do to him either.

Not a good plan.

[FROSTY]

at 6 years old he's at a tough size. I think you would do well to put him on a suzuki 50 or a KDX50 (same bike different color plastics)
What Ive found with my guys is yea no worries on their PW80's round an open feild with a few lil lumps n bumps.
Get em out in the bush--steepish slopes and slightly rugged terrain and a bike too big for em just aint fun during the learning process.
A bike thats the right size--both feet on the ground--or even a tiny bit too small is fantastic for learning on.
The suzuki/kawasaki still has to be put into gear and has the brakes in the right place -it seems reasonably capable out in the bush
The crashes seem less frequent and the result a heck of a lot less painfull
Im working on the theory of --hey keep it fun and hell keep coming back for more

[clmintie]

That would be horrible, painful, torture! For me. All the bikes I would see that I would want...

Oh and it would not be nice to do to him either.

Not a good plan.


Agree totally with your first sentence......

The second is a fundamental difference in philosophy. Best discussed over a beer or two after a trail ride, rather than on a motorcycles forum.... No offense intended...

[Conquiztador]

Today we spent 4 hours at the NI MX Junior champs in Hastings. We were standing on top of the hill when the 8 - 10 yo's came flying over the crest. Here we have small guys and gals airborne for 2 - 3 seconds at a good speed. Vinny looked at me and said: "When can I do that daddy??"...