Off-road riders with Duck's Disease

[clmintie]

I concur with Scott, Grace is really struggling with the RM80 small wheel. The bike is the right size but the power delivery is simply too aggressive, requiring clutch work a beginner doesn't have the skills for. The CRF100 will be much better, leading on to a 150 at a later date.....Wish there was a Kawasaki equivalent of the CRF100, then I wouldn't have had to get her new, red riding gear... I am still learning about girls... Colour is much more important that horsepower...... We've been alternating motorbike and mountain biking up at Woodhill, she is fair flying on the bicycle and is fearless. Great fun to follow down steep hills, she simply bounces off or over anything in her path. The next few years are going to so much fun.....
Sorry, got a bit carried away there... Proud Dad...

[SDU]

Kawasaki has a KLX140 coming out which will be perfect. simlar to the CRF150 with an air cooled 144cc motor, but it has better suspension, (adjustable rear on the big wheel) and disc brakes front and rear, they are due in decmeber, are going to be the under $5000 new

Wish it was about when I started- more power & rear disc brakes meant I could've stayed with a bike my size for longer instead of bikes when step ladders are needed. Green....mmmm

[FROSTY:Me]

THANKS FOLKS--for all the fantastic advice.
After "trying on" a whole bunch of different bikes we decided on a Shineray 150 trail bike. Almost a spitting image of the late model Honda XR100 but with more grunt.
Its got kick and lekkie boot
The bike we settled on has had an owner who already did the fettling stuff with tubes and nuts n bolts n stuff
The great news is with the factory soft shock Jorjas feet are flat on the ground so she can gain confidence then upgrade the shocks.
The ONLY complaint from her--AWWW Itsthe same blue colour as the boys yamahas