Views: 129 Author: Brian Jones Publish Time: 2022-10-17 Origin: DIRTLEGAL
In my eyes, every kid should start here.
There's no question that Honda has earned a reputation for reliability. Americans trust the name with their cars and their bikes, and any home with young riders should include the Honda CRF50F if you ask me.
This 50cc dirt bike offers the right amount of control and power. Igniting a deep passion in your young rider is guaranteed with this bike. It's a great way to get their feet wet without too much power.
The four-stroke engine has three gears but no clutch interaction. That allows your kid to focus on one gear while learning how to balance and stop. There's also a throttle limiter screw so you can control how much gas your young one can grab. Neat!
The best part is, you don't have to buy a brand new model. Not too much has changed over the years, so feel free to grab one used in your area. With a 5.8-inch ground clearance and 10-inch wheels, there's plenty of control and maneuverability for younger riders. The Honda CRF50 is kick start only - no electric start available - but other than that it's perfect.
While we are talking about Honda bikes, let's touch on their 125cc model for a second.
The Honda CRF125F is a newer model the company offers and is quite impressive. This is a good dirt bike for an older kid who is ready for a little more power but still wants a low ground clearance.
Sometimes, kids find themselves overwhelmed with the clutch lever on a dirt bike, but the CRF125 has four gears combined with an efficient powerband so the clutch lever doesn't cause too many worries. There is also a kick start or electric start button so you can save the kicking and screaming for another time.
The wheels measure 17-inches in the front and 14-inches in the rear. This helps your growing kid keep their feet on the ground. If your child needs something bigger, you can upgrade to the big wheel edition instead. It's the same bike but comes with a 19-inch front tire and 16-inch rear.
Another 50cc model that is hot with kids is the Yamaha TT-R50. The low ground clearance allows your young riders to have the full experience on a smaller machine. They can sit confidently with both of their feet down considering it's only 5.3-inches off the ground.
With the throttle limiting function, parents can limit the amount of gas sent to the engine. This offers some peace of mind against crashing and lets you run next to your kiddo. Once they get comfortable, you can free the reins a little more.
This four-stroke dirt bike has three gears and no clutch. This allows you to spend time teaching your kids balance, braking and throttle control and lets you leave the clutch for later on.
You'll also find the Yamaha TT-R50 bike just about everywhere. Take a look locally and see what deal you can get off someone who bought their kid something bigger.
The one thing I like about this Yamaha over the Honda is the electric start button. Some people prefer to have kick start for riders that want to race one later, but it doesn't hurt to learn on electric start.
At first glance, you might think this bike is nothing special. Take another look because this little bike is fast. This kid-sized dirt bike is meant to inspire a new generation of racers. If your child wants to be aggressive, then this is a fantastic way to train.
The KTM 50 SX has no gears to mess with. All your kid has to do is go, go, go! The main difference with this bike versus others of its caliber is the seat height. At 27 inches, it's ideal for taller children. It also features a stiffer suspension plus superior weight distribution.
There is a 12-inch front tire and a 10-inch rear on this bike. It also comes with a limited gas tank capacity and lightweight frame to keep everything easy to manipulate. At just about 100 pounds wet, you'll be stunned at the power-to-weight ratio on this little firecracker.
For my final choice as the best dirt bike for kids, it made sense to jump up to the KTM 65 SX two-stroke. The biggest addition here is six gears and a clutch. This helps children go beyond the basics into learning how to be an amazing motocross racer.
If you're cool with that, anyway.
What many parents find is that their child is beyond a 50cc, but not quite ready for the 125cc yet. The KTM 65 SX is an excellent stepping stone for that interim. The wheels are a step up as well, with a 14-inch tire in the front and 12-inch in the rear.
This bike comes complete with a modern suspension package, transmission and engine that are all geared toward teaching your kid how to handle a powerful two-stroke. It does weigh about 122 pounds wet and is easy to manipulate around a track.
That makes this one of the best dirt bikes for kids who show promise at getting serious about the sport.