How old to start riding a dirt bike

[Baldyman]

Hi all,

I have an almost 5 year old boy (late March) and a 6 year old girl. Both are very competent bicycle riders (Can get around the local BMX track and have been doing so for a while now) Therefore very confident on two wheels.
What is a good safe age to start riding a dirt bike?
What is a recommended first bike?
Are they places to let them have a go on a bike before I buy one in and around auckland or franklin?

Any advice and help would be appreciated.

cheers

[B0000M]

before they can walk is the ultimate age. yours sound like they're past that stage.

for kids of that age, the pw50 / qr50 / jr50 sort of bikes are quite appropriate.

theres always the suzuki LT50, but the last thing we need in 5-10 years time is more quads out on the trails, so id definately push for the 2 wheel option.

as they progress with confidence / skill, bikes like the ktm50s and the huskyboy 50s pack a bit more punch while still remaining auto clutch auto trans.

[TimeOut]

My son started on a PW50 around 5 no problems at all

[FROSTY:Me]

Mate in all honesty there is no exact answer to your question.
Ive seen 10 year olds that couldnt handle 2 wheels and Ive seen 4 year olds just duck to water it.
every kid is different.
That said if you wanna have a go with your kids gimme a yeodle --come try my girls 50 ive got a lil park nexxt door and if its all looking good try the KB kids day park just down the road

[theblacksmith]

A friend I ride with has a 5yr old that attacks jumps to the full capability of the bike which is a Suzuki JR70(semi auto 3 spd) Make sure they have the protective gear on always.Start off on a nice flat open paddock with them.Thundercross Valley bike Park in Naike has a fairly flat paddock track specially for kids.You can also park your vehicle in this paddock.Contact- James Fowlie on 09 233 3117 or mob 027 417 2327 email fowlie@xtra.co.nz

[Starky307]

Get a JR50/70 depending on their physical size and then hit the local rugby park or cricket ground, they are so quiet that you will not bother anyone as long as they aren't ripping up the grass.

[DELLORTO]

definatly a good age to start if they ride bmx bikes then dont bother with jr50,pw50 ect bikes......if i was you id get them a husky 50 or polini 50 or even a ktm 50.....good bikes and nice and light

[Ktmboy]

First things first.

Yes the pee wee 50 range is ideal. The misconception is that a big flat paddock is the way to teach them first up.

What generally happens is they grab a handful and just keep going and going and ...kaboom!!!

Put them on a little track that way they can see where they should be heading and they aim to stay on said track. At least mark a track out with cones etc if you have some.
Frosty's idea is perfect.

Number one thing you should teach they repetitively is where the brake is. Stand in front and make them come toward you and then stop.

[LittleJohn]

We have 2 kids, one is 5 other is 3. Both started riding when they had just turned 3 on LT50 quads. Our boy (5 year old) is just about to start on a JR50 which we just got.

Both kids are confident on the bikes and our boy also races them at North Harbour Mini Motocross.

As for a bike it depends on the size of the kids, ours are small so have the JR. But you don't want to get a bike that is to big when they first learn, but they may out grow there first reasonable soon.

[BM-GS]

Much like LittleJohn, 2 boys started on LT50s, then big bro got a CRF50 after trying Botany Honda's demo at a Power ride in Woodhill (now moved to Maramarua).

Concur that a track is better than a paddock as the first thing they learn is to go - stopping comes a while after and it's best if they're good with that before they hit top speed or a fence. Most trail rides have a kids loop or easier, Woodhill/Kimmies/Thunder have tracks for that purpose.

With 2 you'll have ready-made competition to hone passing skills on... Also 2 directions to look, 2 schedules to keep and the rest. Take 1 adult per kid unless they're equal in ability. Both mine are happy to go out into odd bits of Woodhill, but the sand is a bugger for #1 son (6) on 2 wheels, where #2 (3yr+8mo) on the quad is fine.

Enjoy!

[telliman]

First things first.

Yes the pee wee 50 range is ideal. The misconception is that a big flat paddock is the way to teach them first up.

What generally happens is they grab a handful and just keep going and going and ...kaboom!!!

Put them on a little track that way they can see where they should be heading and they aim to stay on said track. At least mark a track out with cones etc if you have some.
Frosty's idea is perfect.

Number one thing you should teach they repetitively is where the brake is. Stand in front and make them come toward you and then stop.

haha, thats wat my little fella did on the weekend on his quad, gave it a handfull and just looked at his hand for 50 mtrs, just missed the goal post, classic,last time he was coming towards me so was able to grab his arm off the throttle as he came past, this time he was heading away so could only sit and watch! kids and bikes,nearly as bad as us.

[Oper8r]

I have a 3 yr old, he will get a PW50 or similar when he can control is bicycle down hill and brake to a controlled stop. I don't agree with trainer wheels on a motorbike, in fact i think the fact they can fall off and the bike stops is one really good thing (vs a quad, which will go until they hit something). Thats my 2 cents

[tonyg26]

just buy them a cr500 thell grow into it

[LittleJohn]

I have a 3 yr old, he will get a PW50 or similar when he can control is bicycle down hill and brake to a controlled stop. I don't agree with trainer wheels on a motorbike, in fact i think the fact they can fall off and the bike stops is one really good thing (vs a quad, which will go until they hit something). Thats my 2 cents

The quads have a tether strap so when they come off the bike cuts out and stops....

Do think that quads are only good for the first few years, once they get to around 5 they normally want to go to 2 wheels anyway.

[mfordy]

My boys started at 5 and 7 respectively on a QR50. 4 months later, both were on PW80's. They started on a paddock which had a few bumps and dips which initially they avoided but after only a few short weeks, they were lining them up and clearing!..
Really concentrated on getting the boys standing up and shifting body weight early on so now its second nature.
The oldest boy (now 9) has just moved onto a KX65 and while he still hasn't mastered changing gears, he loves the power band and corners with the best of them.
Checkout my listing if you're interested in a PW80 but won't be available until after Honda Kids Camp at Raglan (12~15th Mar)
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh....php?p=1939450
PS Hay OldGuy, the KX is awesome. Thanks

Just noticed Baldyman that you live in Waiuku too. If you want somewhere safe for your kids to try riding, PM me.