Our son's first dirtbike... HELP!!

[Rickster24]

We're trying to find a dirtbike for Christmas for our 13yr old son. He has very little riding experience but is quite smart and caught on to shifting gears on the quad quite well. What size bike would everyone suggest? He's 5'8 weighs around 100lbs. Would a 200 or 250 be too much bike for him? I was riding a 250 at 12 but I grew up on a bike.

Thanks for the opinions

Rick

[Clint]

Somehow I suspect today's 250 would knock your socks off. I'm no dirt expert, but you might be hearing suggestions of 125 or smaller.

Welcome!

[LCA_koolaid37]

I have always thought it would be fun to have a 2 stroke dirt bike, but I heard that they take constant maintenance to keep them up and running?

[Rockhead]

Id go with the 250 just make sure to get him all the gear you can because he’s going to fall. Don’t worry too much; the dirt’s much friendlier than the street. One of the first things I would buy for the bike is bar ends so you’re not constantly fixing the clutch and brake levers.

[the_privateer]

2 stroke- any 85-100cc motocrosser would keep him entertained for at least a year
4 stroke- a 150-230cc bikes are great beginner bikes for a kid his size
but i probably wouldn't go with a "full size" bike for learning

[old-n-slow]

Suzuki DR-Z125

The kid probably wants to be a hot shot mx-er but he has to learn to ride before he can fly. This bike is what we used to call a "plonker", it will do everything you want it to do in the dirt, can go anywhere, is built like a tank, has lots of low end and middle (for its size) and is very rider friendly, a good learner's bike. And it's inexpensive. Plus, when he's ready to move into more serious iron, it makes a great camp bike for the family. The "L" model has a disc brake, slightly longer wheelbase for larger riders (like Dad) and 19 and 16 inch wheels vs the standard's 17 and 14 inch hoops.

Merry Christmas !

[jkersh]

Honda CRF 80F or a Honda CRF100F. These Honda bikes are bulletproof.The 100f you could probably also ride.

[SVZuki]

definitely go no larger than a 125. No need weighing 100 lbs. My brother who is 10 years old and about 90 lbs has an 80 cc bike that will wheelie in the first 3 gears just twisting the throttle with ME on it...I am 6 foot 180 lbs. Just be careful what you get that it isn't too much for him like my brother's is.

[SCC Ryder]

If you want a newer big, look into the 2004-present CRF150f or the CRF230f. They are great bikes that will take a beating with low maintenace. If you want an older scooter, look into the 1990-2000 Honda XR200r. Plenty of them out there, great newb bikes, and you could should be able to find one pretty cheap. Bottom line ... RIDE RED !

[Z1000 rider]

if hes 5'8" then he needs at least a crf 230, or ttr 230, or 250. he is big enough to need a 250 sized bike, howerver the 250mx bikes two and four stroke are quite a handfull, especially for a beginer, i would say a mellow 250cc bike would be the ticket for him, do NOT get him an 80 he is WAY to big for an 80, also get on ThumperTalk it it the best place around to get info on dirtbikes. good luck

[919Hooligan]

My first dirtbike was a 125cc four stroke. Because of the bike not having a ton of power, I had to develop effective riding skills to do the same things that the bigger boys could just power through. If I were you I'd get him something like the CRF150 or DRZ125 and let him build his skills on something that's forgiving, plus he'll have a blast riding it. I would absolutely not recommend a motocross bike, unless he plans on riding exclusively on a track, which I highly doubt.

[Clint]

Yep. Power is a crutch for a new rider (or one looking to develop some skills).