Dirt Bike for Son - Anyone Have One They Want To Sell?

[M.D. Holloway]

Our Son has been working hard and saving his money to earn enough to buy a dirt bike. He has found a few on-line that he likes but frankly I don't think they are any good.

I checked Craigslist and Ebay and haven't found anything but than again I really don't know what to look for either.

Specifics: He is 11, a big fella - 5'2" at 127lbs. He has been riding motor powered 2, 3, and 4 wheelers for the past 7 years. He rides his cousins 50cc, 80cc dirt bikes as well as Papas 500cc 4-wheeler.

Anyone wanna get rid of a dirt bike? Any ideas what would be a good bike?

[porsche4life]

Mike I have a 1971 Yamaha mini enduro 60. It hasn't been run in probably 6 yrs...


I'd gladly sell it to you. I got it when I was like 12

[porsche4life]

Whats wrong with this little yamaha motor?

Mike there is the story on my bike... Might be more than you are willing to tackle... Idk...

[LakeCleElum]

Get Sidney's if you're close......Be an ideal starter bike and make a profit when he's ready to move up...........Don't put too much in the 1st bike, he'll out grow it soon.......

[porsche4life]

Mike is about 4hrs from me.... I might could be talked into meeting him halfway too....

[Jim Bremner]

I have a xr100 for a smaller kid and a kx100 thats great for him!

we're In so-cal!

[Vonzipper]

I have a nice XR 200 that may work

[Tim Hancock]

If it is just going to be a yard play bike, look for a used XR100 (an XR200 would probably also suffice as a "play" bike, but would be a bit cumbersome for someone 5'2" just in the confines of a backyard). If you intend to have him do any sort of real MX style riding, I personally would look for a used 125cc MX bike (CR125, KX125, YZ125, RM125). My 5'2" 100 pound daughters can easily ride 125cc MX race bikes, so don't let the apparent tall height fool you. Your son will do fine on it and not out grow it.

The newer equivalent four-stroke "true MX bikes" are 250's in that size, but will be more costly to purchase than a 5-10 year old 125cc two-stroke. The four-stroke race bikes are also more costly to rebuild compared to their two strokes cousins.


If his friends have true MX bikes (whether the newer fourstrokes or slightly older two strokes), you don't want to be getting him a "playbike" as there is no comparison in the performance level for MX style riding and he will never keep up if his friends know how to ride their MX bikes.

[71T Targa]

Post the links of what he's found so far. That will give an idea of what he's thinking.

We have an XR70 that's an automatic, CRF80, and CRF100 (Honda fan for sure).

The 10 year old can ride any of them with ease, but I see him on the 70 the most.

If he's going to be running around the yard then I'd be looking at a 4 stroke play bike for sure. If he's going to be riding some place where he can open it up, then Tim's suggestion of a 125 (Or even an 85) MX bike is right on.

As for the new 4 stroke MX bikes, they are just as loud as the 2 strokes if that's a consideration.

[javadog]

I'd look to the future, as he's getting ready to start growing a bunch. I'd probably suggest a 250 four stroke. He needs to be on a full-size bike; the 80's and 100's are gutless and too small for his frame. Most manufacturers make a 250 that's more of a trail bike than a motocross bike and that's what I'd recommend. If he actually has some riding skill, a motocross bike might not be a bad choice, as he'll end up there anyway, if he rides much.

JR

[porsche4life]

I don't think I'd go that big yet JR. I have a 250 four stroke. It's a beast. I'd hate to try to put an 11yr old on it.

[javadog]

I put my kids on a 250. Neither had an issue with it. When I ride one, it seems so slow and gutless, I wonder who stole the motor. Even my 400 seems tame, at times. It's all relative...

JR

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

I don't think I'd go that big yet JR. I have a 250 four stroke. It's a beast. I'd hate to try to put an 11yr old on it.

I let my daughters ride my 125 2-stroke (equivalent to 250cc 4-stroke) quite a bit when they were about 12 & 13 year olds. They weighed under 100 pounds and were maybe 5' at the most. They were doing the small double jumps on our track in no time with it. 80 and 85 cc race bikes have tons of power too, but the heavy the kid is, the nastier/abrupt the power surge becomes once the rpms make it into the powerband. Sure his kid would be fine on an 80cc race bike at present height and weight, but he is also big enough for the bigger bike which basically is not THAT much more powerful or faster on a race track.

PS: No 250cc four stroke can wear the "beast" moniker. In fact the only MX bikes I might consider as beasts are the older 500cc two-stoke race bikes. An un- experienced play rider may get a suprise on a dirt bike when they crack the throttle in second gear and end up in an unexpected wheelie, but an experienced racer will be holding any modern race bike whether 125cc 2-stroke or 450cc 4-stroke wide open when the gate drops and will keep it pretty much pinned until letting off for the first turn...

[M.D. Holloway]

Well, this is great info but remember our last name is Holloway not McGrath! I do like the idea of an MX though.

Here are the sites he keeps looking at - I think he has fallen vic to marketing and color: Pocket Bikes and Mini Bikes at MiniPocketRockets He likes the RX1 mini but I know he doesn't know just how small it is.

He will have his dirt bike on the farm in Iowa mostly - I don't see him having it down here in Tejas for the summer (he will spend over a month on the farm so whats the sense right?).

What ever he buys I will most likely have it shipped to the farm or put it in the back of the Honda and cot it up.

The thing is, he has over $300 bucks that was hard earned. I told him that any difference could be made up in yard work this summer.

I really like the idea of 2 stroke FWIW

[javadog]

Those bikes are junk. Convince him to buy a real one. Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, etc. $300 is going to buy a project, not a bike. What he needs is something he can ride, not something for you to try to get running...

JR

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by javadog

Those bikes are junk. Convince him to buy a real one. Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, etc. $300 is going to buy a project, not a bike. What he needs is something he can ride, not something for you to try to get running...

JR

+1000 on the junk minibikes. A engineer friend of mine who was a Honda motorcycle mechanic in his earlier life started a side business a while back selling those cheap knockoff motorcycles and quads... He had to throw in the towel real quick as most of the new bikes/quads he sold came back with tons of problems.

Sounds like you are only after a playbike. Start searching Craigslist for Honda XR's and their Yamaha equivalents. They hold their value pretty good, but you might luck out and find one in the $700 range. For a "play bike"/yard bike like we are talking, you would be OK with an XR80 or XR100 as they are "fun" even for an adult to putt around the yard on.

You might find an older 80cc two stroke race bike for under $700, but your kids once a year trip to the farm to ride it means he will not likely develop the skills required to make good use of it's capabilities.

[71T Targa]

I'd keep an eye on CL in IA and have the G-Parents pick it up for you. You should be able to get a Honda XR, Yamaha TTR, or maybe a little KTM for that.

I'm in SE MN, and I see them going for $500ish from time to time.

[Dueller]

With all due respect to the great deal on Sid's bike, I'd let Sid sell it to someone who wants a restoration project for that specific Yammie...your kid wants to ride now..

Don't you live in the Dallas area? Here are a few on CL that I would recommend for him. Keep in mind by next summer he's gonna want/need a 125.

2000 Honda CR 80 $600 Firm screamin deal IMO

Honda XR 70 Motorcycle

2003 Honda XR 70

[71T Targa]

That CR80 is a great deal!

[Dueller]

Originally Posted by 71T Targa

That CR80 is a great deal!

Yup..depends ion how it was maintained how much it was raced