First dirt bike for a 10 year old?

[BuzzbomB]

My son is turning 10 in a couple months and is keen for a bike for his birthday so we can go riding together (I have an XR400). I've spent a few days trying to extract what wisdom I can from the web to help with the choice of bike to get for him. He's physically big for his age and has a pretty good head on his shoulders. We haven't been out yet to size him up on anything but intend to do so in the near future.

I'm favouring the Suzukis. At first I thought the JR80 would be a good choice but it seems that they're targeted for the 7-10 range and he might get bored with it in a few months. So I've been thinking that perhaps something a bit more than the JR might be more fun for him once he gets some experience, something he can grow with, but at the same time I don't want it to be too much of a handful at first and put him off really enjoying the sport or just plain scare the piss out of him.

So I'm wondering, would an RM85 be too much for a first bike? Is this a crazy thought or within reason? If its too much then perhaps an RM65 or back to considering the JR80? Recommendations for any other bikes?

Your thoughts, wisdom and advice please.

Cheers,
Greg

[blackdog]

ttr 110 or 125 if he's quite big.

big enough to grow into a little, and sane enough for his first machine.

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/pr...7/0/specs.aspx

[cheese]

A MX anything he will have a bit of fun learning on. Be ok if he isn't scared if it. Throw a flywheel weight on it.

[Latte]

Started the same age on an RM80 - he'll be fine (kids bounce good).

[FlangMasterJ]

ATK Intimidator. Don't let the name fool you it's actually a great little beginners bike.

[Reckless]

Any of the CRF "F" series he fits My daughter has a crf 150f.

http://www.honda-motorcycles.co.nz/B...d-recreational then click on the kids fun tab.

Was up the farm at Xmas and one of the young lads in Ktm boys crowd was on one, Bugger me, through all the bogs and on tricky trails he was certainly keeping up with us!!

OH and Yamaha have the ttr series and Kawasaki have the KLX140.

And I can certainly tell you there's heaps of kids going bloody fast on them at trail rides!
My recommendation buy him one of these even if it might be a little agricultural. Let him learn and have fun before you stick him on a KX 85 or Rm85!
Electric start ,Heavier oil in the forks, Unrestricted airbox and Exhaust they go like hell!

Make it fun first, then competitive second works everytime!
Just my 2c as a dad??

[Latte]

Any of the CRF "F" series he fits My daughter has a crf 150f.

http://www.honda-motorcycles.co.nz/B...d-recreational then click on the kids fun tab.

OH and Yamaha have the ttr series and Kawasaki have the KLX110.

And I can certainly tell you there's heaps of kids going bloody fast on them at trail rides!
My recommendation buy him one of these even if it might be a little agricultural. Let him learn and have fun before you stick him on a KX 85 or Rm85!
Electric start ,Heavier oil in the forks, Unrestricted airbox and Exhaust they go like hell!

Make it fun first, then competitive second works everytime!
Just my 2c as a dad??

Glad you weren't mine :P - I guess every kid is different, my pop probably realised I'd get bored quick on something like that. is the 150 as light as an 85? Picking it up etc?

[Reckless]

Glad you weren't mine :P - I guess every kid is different, my pop probably realised I'd get bored quick on something like that. is the 150 as light as an 85? Picking it up etc?

Point taken LOL!! I suppose every kid is different but I've seen so many struggling to ride the 2smokers well every where. I wasn't meaning for the first 5 years but just till they get the basic's right and can get on a smoker and ride it like it has to be ridden. Some of those kids absolutely fly on their 150's they get round faster and more often and have more fun over the day on a trial ride than the ones with their fiery MX bikes.

My boy learnt on a modded (for trial riding) KX85. Still think my daughters CRF150f woulda been easier on him in the first year then go to the KX. Everyone on here knows I'm the biggest 2 stroke man on KB.

BTW: The dad did have an Xr400 so I guessed they weren't entering races at the local MX club.

Anyway as I say each to their own because I have an opinion doesn't mean I think I'm right LOL!!!!

[Ktmboy]

I'm with Reckless on this. Let them learn on an easy bike first and throughly enjoy the experience. CRF's and the likes of the KLX140 are great to learn on and you will always get very good resale back on them.

As far as instruction goes its far easier for them to learn the correct basic skills on an easy bike than on a full on MX bike.

They can easily go up to an MX bike, but if they get put off by trying one first and having a bad experience then that normally destroys their confidence.

See it happen weekly.

[Brian d marge]

Cr500

by the time hes 11 , he will.......

Cr125 , great bike and able to be set up ( using stock parts ) quite professionally

Thats if he wants to be the next Ben Townley

Stephen

[clmintie]

My girls started out on an RM80 at 11 yrs, was a disaster.... Quickly got rid of that and bought a shiny new crf100 (girls LOVE shopping) and never looked back, both got confident by riding heaps at the Sandpit every weekend and doing Waitamata and Mr Motorcycles family trail rides. Both have KX85's and one has moved to a KX125 with the other about to also. Still pinch myself often. Can't believe my luck in having such cool daughters.

My advice ......... Start with a small 4 stroke............

[meteor]

Nice post Clmintie, it's nice to hear the pride in your message about your kids.

Also absolutely agree with you. My boys started on a $400 (new) Chinese 125. Got them started when they were 11 and 13 respectively. They then went to KX85 and KDX200 and both confident riders.
In contrast a friend's son went to a RM85 first off and took months to 'get it'. Didn't put him off but I reckon a 4 stroke to start with is way more forgiving.

PS: I sold the Chinese Bike for $430 and only cost me 1 x clutch lever!

[clmintie]

Oh, and from day one, make them ride with one finger on the clutch..... Just as important as throttle control...

[green machine]

My girls started out on an RM80 at 11 yrs, was a disaster.... Quickly got rid of that and bought a shiny new crf100 (girls LOVE shopping) and never looked back, both got confident by riding heaps at the Sandpit every weekend and doing Waitamata and Mr Motorcycles family trail rides. Both have KX85's and one has moved to a KX125 with the other about to also. Still pinch myself often. Can't believe my luck in having such cool daughters.

My advice ......... Start with a small 4 stroke............

They're pretty lucky to have a cool Dad Phil,i'm sure they know it too,back to the bike,mates boy started on a KX65 but never really came to grips with it,mate sold it and got him a DRZ125,and he loves it,even got a holeshot at Mangatawhiri Paddock race,you took the photo Phil..........

[B0000M]

Cr500

by the time hes 11 , he will.......

Cr125 , great bike and able to be set up ( using stock parts ) quite professionally

Thats if he wants to be the next Ben Townley

Stephen

if he wants to be the next ben townley, and he's 10, then he had better get a couple of current year kx80's. Ben didnt move to 125's until he was about 13


when i was 10, my mates and i were riding a mix of XR100s & CR / KX / YZ 80 small wheel's, by 12 we were all on CR / KX / YZ big wheels, then by 14 everyone was on 125s.

get him something like the crf150 / KLX / TTR to begin with, wait till its getting a hammering everywhere it goes at all times, then get a mx bike for him