Any of you guys into dirtbikes? I’m looking at getting my 12yr old son his first bike. He was on a friends farm last week and picked it up pretty quick on a small pit bike. I could use some guidance though and have a a lot of questions.
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Create a channel Learn moreLots of riders here, what are your questions?Any of you guys into dirtbikes? I’m looking at getting my 12yr old son his first bike. He was on a friends farm last week and picked it up pretty quick on a small pit bike. I could use some guidance though and have a a lot of questions.
If you want a Kawasaki, older KDX 220 would be better for trails or the KLX 300. Motocross suspension is valved way different than a trail/woods bike.I’m looking for a bike for him, and one for me. I have years of streetbike experience and had a number of motorcycles.
For him I’m leaning towards a 110 trail bike 4 stroke with a semi auto clutch. Specifically the Kawasaki KLX110R. I think for a first bike it will be easier for him to learn shifting without having to manipulate the clutch. He’s 12yrs old and a smaller framed kid. I think it will have plenty of power for him for atleast a year or two. But I’m not sure if my thinking is correct here.
My understanding is the 4 strokes have a wider power band and will allow him to ride with less shifting compared to a 2 stroke which needs to be run at higher rpm’s to be in the power zone.
For me im thinking the Kawasaki KLX 300R or possibly the KX250. But I think the KX250 may be a little overkill for cruising trails around the farms.
Right. And at this time there’s no intention of doing any actually motocross. The farms we ride on are expansive. We can ride for 20 miles and never touch a road. I think getting a “trail bike” is in order to handle the terrain comfortably. The suspension needs to match how / where we plan on riding.If you want a Kawasaki, older KDX 220 would be better for trails or the KLX 300. Motocross suspension is valved way different than a trail/woods bike.
Avoid the Chinese knock offs if you can afford it. Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki , KTM will all be much better built, longer lasting, better resale when the time comes. I've owned more of both than I care to admit so avoid my mistakes and buy once cry once.Another kid there was riding an SSR 110 pit bike. I was suprised how well it did given its price point. But I have to imagine a Kawasaki or Yamaha 110 would be much better quality and be a lot easier to get parts for?
couple of basic comments...He’s 12yrs old and a smaller framed kid.
Many other posters in this thread said the same thing but not "why" like you did. I learned to ride on a manual clutch Trials bike (Yamaha TY80) when I was 8, and had no difficulty with it whatsoever. It is a skill that can be useful in understanding how to drive other manual clutches in tractors, cars, trucks, etc. It is also a skill that is becoming less and less common. I don't see any disadvantages in learning on a manual clutch, but a lot of advantage. OP - get him a manual clutch, teach him how to use it and he will learn quickly if he's really interested in learning to ride to begin with.Depending upon what style of riding but I would tell you start him on a manual clutch, it is one of the most important skills a rider can have and kids pick things up fast.
XR is the best way to go.I started on an old XR 100, they aren’t crazy power wise. It was a little thumper but it wasn’t crazy like a 2 stroke on the pipe if you whiskey throttled it and I’ve Supermaned into a bush or 10, and trees.
Kids are sponges, they will have that shit figured out way faster than you and I. Buy the bike using the same principle you use when buying guns. Don't buy for today, buy for tomorrow. If he can get both feet on the ground, you bought the wrong bike! At 12, I would get him something that will fit him just right at 14. 125cc....I’m really back and forth about the clutch vs automatic. I think the automatic will let him focus more on balance, anticipating turns, dips, and hills. Allow him to focus more on the riding because shifting will be much easier. But I also get the point of teaching him how to use the clutch from day one. Unfurtunately their isn’t a manual clutch bike his size at the moment where we are riding for him to try out
I got my son a Honda crf 125 big wheel he was 10. He learned pretty quick on it he’s 12 now and thinks he’s a racer. They will learn the clutch no problem, I had him ride a day or so from 1st to 2nd as he got used to it. then had him go to next gear and so on till now he’s hell on wheels. but definitely don’t get automatic if the big wheel is to tall the same bike with out big wheel is I believe 2inches shorter.I’m really back and forth about the clutch vs automatic. I think the automatic will let him focus more on balance, anticipating turns, dips, and hills. Allow him to focus more on the riding because shifting will be much easier. But I also get the point of teaching him how to use the clutch from day one. Unfurtunately their isn’t a manual clutch bike his size at the moment where we are riding for him to try out
Thats the trouble with kids. You’ll get him the perfect bike, then three rides later he’s way beyond it and needs something else. Fortunately everyone goes through this with their kids, which produces a steady stream of available small bikes that are gathering dust in the garage. Ask around, you might be surprised what you find. I dont have a ton of opinions on kids bikes. Try to get him some rides on a clutch-less bike if you want, but like mentioned above, he’ll be able to use a clutch pretty quickly, which is important.I’m really back and forth about the clutch vs automatic. I think the automatic will let him focus more on balance, anticipating turns, dips, and hills. Allow him to focus more on the riding because shifting will be much easier. But I also get the point of teaching him how to use the clutch from day one. Unfurtunately their isn’t a manual clutch bike his size at the moment where we are riding for him to try out
I got my son a Honda crf 125 big wheel he was 10. He learned pretty quick on it he’s 12 now and thinks he’s a racer. They will learn the clutch no problem, I had him ride a day or so from 1st to 2nd as he got used to it. then had him go to next gear and so on till now he’s hell on wheels. but definitely don’t get automatic if the big wheel is to tall the same bike with out big wheel is I believe 2inches shorter.
Thats the trouble with kids. You’ll get him the perfect bike, then three rides later he’s way beyond it and needs something else. Fortunately everyone goes through this with their kids, which produces a steady stream of available small bikes that are gathering dust in the garage. Ask around, you might be surprised what you find. I dont have a ton of opinions on kids bikes. Try to get him some rides on a clutch-less bike if you want, but like mentioned above, he’ll be able to use a clutch pretty quickly, which is important.
I rode since I was small. Dad taught me, but like lost people, I kind of crashed my way to some mediocre skill level where I stayed for a long time. Dad didn't have the technical knowledge to teach beyond using the clutch, throttle, and gears. I was fortunate to stay away from serious Injuries by sheer luck. It wasn't till i was old enough to buy and start racing a 600 super-sport road race machine that I took some classes. Holy shit, night and day progress. Fast forward to today, I can ride at 75% be very quick, and crashes are few and far between. Lots of my friends and co-workers my age(48) are still winging it, and they're slow, and they crash a lot. It didn’t have to be that way for them.
There is a proper way to ride a motorcycle, and figuring it out early through some Instruction will mean less crashes/injuries, and more enjoyment overall. This is probably more important for you than the kid. He’ll bounce like a rubber ball when he goes down, adults cant get away with that stuff so easily, and we have to go to work on Monday.
Moto schools are popping up everywhere, and they tend to travel around to get near the clientele, just like the shooting schools do.
Here’s an example. This guy was a mid-pack Pro Supercross rider who has a knack for the teaching aspect. You can watch hours of this stuff for free, but it will give you an idea of some of the technique required.
Pis and shit.
The best off road bike ever! Dont buy this @Jigstick, get a foundation first.
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This. Although, I started on a manual clutch. I started on a YZ80, and that's plenty of bike for an 11y/o. He'll enjoy it more on a lighter and easier to handle bike. The little ones have tons of torque, and he doesn't need to go that fast to have a great time.My wife, son and myself all raced.
Xr 70 so he can learn the basics then go to a bike with a manual clutch.
If you can work and maintain a bike buy a used one in decent shape in case he doesn’t like it. And like a firearm get him some basic instructions, unless you are a rider yourself. Most A class riders are good at working with youngsters. My son worked, went to college and gave 1on1 lessons at the track. Get him a decent helmet and some type of boots before popping for expensive riding gear.
Good luck!
I’m really back and forth about the clutch vs automatic.
Better to teach them the hard lessons early!Also @Supersubes your bike reminds me of a funny story…
We sold all our dirt bikes when we moved back to the US, and I moved to our new assignment about a month before my family; we wanted to wait for our household goods to arrive before they showed up, so I geobached it while they visited family for a few weeks.
Just before they arrived, I told my son, who was 13 years old at the time, that I’d picked up a new Husqvarna and it’d be waiting for him in the garage when he got here. I picked them up at the airport, and he was literally bouncing up and down in his seat as we pulled up to the new house and I pushed the button on the garage door opener.
He was expecting a bike similar to yours. Instead I had one of these waiting for him:
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He was so pissed when the garage door went up, but my wife and I were literally crying with laughter… Told him it was a good tool to start earning some money and buy his own bike, so it paid off in the long run!
Word of caution to the OP.
Having a ton of experience with riding street bikes doesn’t mean you can ride dirt bike.
Be careful. Thinking “this is gonna be easy” has ruined more than 1 persons life.
The whiskey throttle and superman bits gave me flashbacks lol.I started on an old XR 100, they aren’t crazy power wise. It was a little thumper but it wasn’t crazy like a 2 stroke on the pipe if you whiskey throttled it and I’ve Supermaned into a bush or 10, and trees.
KLX110's are awesome little pitbikes, that are fun for all ages, and there's a ton of aftermarket for them.I’m looking for a bike for him, and one for me. I have years of streetbike experience and had a number of motorcycles.
For him I’m leaning towards a 110 trail bike 4 stroke with a semi auto clutch. Specifically the Kawasaki KLX110R. I think for a first bike it will be easier for him to learn shifting without having to manipulate the clutch. He’s 12yrs old and a smaller framed kid. I think it will have plenty of power for him for atleast a year or two. But I’m not sure if my thinking is correct here.
My understanding is the 4 strokes have a wider power band and will allow him to ride with less shifting compared to a 2 stroke which needs to be run at higher rpm’s to be in the power zone.
For me im thinking the Kawasaki KLX 300R or possibly the KX250. But I think the KX250 may be a little overkill for cruising trails around the farms.
He didn't say dont do it, he said dont be overconfident, and he’s right. A road rider who’s never ridden a dirtbike often (not always) struggles with the loose feeling, and crashes a lot as a result. Cant tell you how many times I've seen this.You sound like you're scared of your own shadow.
I'm beginning to see why they still make air cooled ancient tech bikes. Half of the people in this thread are scared of them, much less a new bike full of tech and power.
He didn't say dont do it, he said dont be overconfident, and he’s right. A road rider who’s never ridden a dirtbike often (not always) struggles with the loose feeling, and crashes a lot as a result. Cant tell you how many times I've seen this.
The OP said his only experience was street bikes.I didn't see street bikes mentioned anywhere else. He's the only one who brought it up?
There's plenty of guys mentioning bikes that haven't had updates to the suspension or engine since the 90s. Waste of money.
You sound like you're scared of your own shadow.
I'm beginning to see why they still make air cooled ancient tech bikes. Half of the people in this thread are scared of them, much less a new bike full of tech and power.
My first bike was a 1980 CR80 Honda (I have been at this for a bit). Get a bike with a clutch start on flat ground he should figure it out in an hour or so and learn a lot more techniques like feathering the clutch to control power. 85cc dirt bikes aren't too hard to control but keep in mind they are serious machines. If you start out with something to slow, he will get bored really quick. I would recommend a riding school or lessons for both of you if you have not ridden on dirt very much. I got my first 80 I was 12 with no experience racing three months later with epic battles for last place. Moved to a 125 at 15 then 125 and 250's at 17. Few years on CR500s also talk about a beast but helped me when I got into road racing for a bit. Now looking at a new YZ250 for occasional motorcross and trail riding I am 57. I would checkout a YZ250x you can find them used they are a great trailbike and easy to maintain and more power than you will need, even the regular YZ250 is pretty controllable especially with a flywheel weight