What (dirt) bike for 7 year old?

[Pro_Marinero]

If you really want a 50 sx, look for an LEM LX-2. It uses the same Moto Morini motor as the older KTM 50 sx models. It's a nice Italian bike that gets overlooked since people think it's Chinese so resale isn't very good. Parts are readily available online.

[dirt hokie]

my son is 6, started on a pw 50 when he was 4. He is average height and weight. He rides well and quickly out grew the suspension of the pw.

We now have him on a 2006 ktm mini adventure. Its air cooled, no gears and is light and has real suspension.
The only thing i have done to it is changed the oil. The only thing i dont like is that the rear break is on the handle bar, which he was used to from the pw, but is not like a big bike. A kit is avaliable to convert it to a foot break, which i may do. I was a little afraid of getting the ktm, but it was stock and the price was good. I paid $ 800,
but as was already mentioned it has real dirt bike geometry and real suspension. Daughter who is 8 and is 45" tall rides a pw 80, great little bike to ,twice as heavy as the ktm. Has a three speed trans but no clutch and rear foot brake. Bought it for $350, put $ 80 into it and its never given me a problem either. My son rides more aggresive then the daughter and will most likely skip the pw 80 and go on to a bigger ktm or simular.

On the trails the only thing that might concern me on the ktm is fuel range and tire size, what we found out on trail rides is that little tires make everthing harder. This gives the pw 80 a advantage. I like the older xr 80's also. They have real bike geometry and are bullit proof. I had one as a kid. Also once they learn to ride it, the controls are the same as any full size bike, so they dont have to learn a clutch when they move to a more powerfull bike.

[MotorCade]

Originally Posted by Pro_Marinero

If you really want a 50 sx, look for an LEM LX-2. It uses the same Moto Morini motor as the older KTM 50 sx models. It's a nice Italian bike that gets overlooked since people think it's Chinese so resale isn't very good. Parts are readily available online.

Well, these are interesting... Hard to tell from pics if they're the right size.

[troy safari carpente]

Originally Posted by MotorCade

Well, these are interesting... Hard to tell from pics if they're the right size.

here's a link to a site with (almost) all of the 50cc kidie-cross bikes pictures and specifications all alongside each other for comparison purposes.

http://www.kindercrosser.de/bikes-50.php


The LEM's are good value for money... but the LEM 2 is gonna be too small for what you are after (I think?). It has smaller diameter wheels and chassis - it is a competitor to the KTM 50 mini-Adventure (aka junior).

Where as the LEM 3 (also 50cc automatic) has larger diameter wheels and chassis/suspension (same concept as the KTM SX 50 Adventure (aka senior) as I mentioned my son (and several of our friends kids) ride.

This list should help you make some apples and apples comparisons... even though it's in german.

[Pete-NZ]

Kawasaki KLX 110 small wheel with auto clutch..
theres the big wheel version if he on the taller side..

[MotorCade]

Originally Posted by troy safari carpente

here's a link to a site with (almost) all of the 50cc kidie-cross bikes pictures and specifications all alongside each other for comparison purposes.

http://www.kindercrosser.de/bikes-50.php


The LEM's are good value for money... but the LEM 2 is gonna be too small for what you are after (I think?). It has smaller diameter wheels and chassis - it is a competitor to the KTM 50 mini-Adventure (aka junior).

Where as the LEM 3 (also 50cc automatic) has larger diameter wheels and chassis/suspension (same concept as the KTM SX 50 Adventure (aka senior) as I mentioned my son (and several of our friends kids) ride.

This list should help you make some apples and apples comparisons... even though it's in german.

Thanks, that does help. As it happens, I know enough german to get by. I found several listings for both LX-2 and LX-3 bikes here in LA... the LX-2 is definitely too small.

I dropped in on my local motorcycle dealer yesterday for some parts, (KTM dealer) but they didn't have any of the 50 SX in stock - they said they rarely carry it due to it being more of a hardcore bike. They did have a TTR50, which seemed about the right size. I didn't have my son with me, though.

[Cjsgptx]

YZ250 2-smoker.......

All kidding aside, get him a KLX110 or a KX85.

[MotorCade]

Originally Posted by Cjsgptx

YZ250 2-smoker.......

You're a maniac!


I'm perusing craigslist on a daily basis right now - there's quite a few bikes that will work, and are in my range. I've found decent examples of the LEM LX-3, the CRF-50, a couple 50-SX (high end of my range), the TTR50 and (a little big TTR110), and these KLX-110s. My boy is coming back from being out of town this week, and I'm going to take him to the dealerships to test fit some bikes and get a real idea of what works.

There's a KTM out here near where I work, in nice shape, for a good price. I left a message, he left a message back, and since then I can't get ahold of him. If he'd call me back, I think I'd have a bike for my son tonight.

Cade

[Pro_Marinero]

Originally Posted by troy safari carpente

here's a link to a site with (almost) all of the 50cc kidie-cross bikes pictures and specifications all alongside each other for comparison purposes.

http://www.kindercrosser.de/bikes-50.php


The LEM's are good value for money... but the LEM 2 is gonna be too small for what you are after (I think?). It has smaller diameter wheels and chassis - it is a competitor to the KTM 50 mini-Adventure (aka junior).

Where as the LEM 3 (also 50cc automatic) has larger diameter wheels and chassis/suspension (same concept as the KTM SX 50 Adventure (aka senior) as I mentioned my son (and several of our friends kids) ride.

This list should help you make some apples and apples comparisons... even though it's in german.

You're right. I couldn't remember whether it was the 2 or the 3 that I had. I had to check the pics.

I've had two LX-3's. One I picked up in a package deal with a Honda Reflex and I bought the other for my daughter. I had to replace parts on both and had zero problems getting them. She was 7 and tall so it fit her well. Unfortunately she really doesn't like loud noise and the LX has a much more strong note than the smaller 50's. If you're looking for quiet, it won't be it but neither will the other larger 50's like the KTM.

She could ride it though, but in the end preferred her OSET.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy one if it means saving a few hundred bucks over the comparable KTM. They're basically the same bike.

[MotorCade]

Well, saw the 50 SX in person today... A little on the small side, methinks.

Starting to think seriously about the TTR110, CRF70, and mebbe, just mebbe the KLX 110. If he can fit the KLX, I'll go outside my budget, because I think that bike will last him longer and can be upgraded from automatic to semi-auto or manual clutch later. It seems to have solid aftermarket support, too.

Sunday - gotta get the kid to sit on a few.

Cheers,

Cade

[RideDualSport.com]

[troy safari carpente]

Originally Posted by MotorCade

Ok - I know NOTHING about available dirt bikes for kiddos. My soon to be 7 y.o. has been riding a 50cc Chinese polini replica around the cones in our church parking lot (and can drag a peg) and I'd like to get him something to tail along with me on camping trips and dirt rides.

Here's what I'm looking for: Something reasonably easy to ride and learn on with a little room to grow (at least a year, if not two). Enough capability to keep up with a big trailie moving slowly on a fire road - up to about 35 or 40 mph. He's kind of a tall kid for his age - right at 50 inches tall right now (I know this from a trip to the amusement park). And - I'd be looking for something used and my max budget is 600 - maybe 800 if I sweeten up the wife with some home repair projects first.

I want him to be able to putt up fire roads and go camping with me and the missus. He's a pretty cautious kid, so I don't envision him going screaming down the road full tilt. It took a while before he felt comfortable with his pocketbike.

Ideas?

Originally Posted by MotorCade

Well, saw the 50 SX in person today... A little on the small side, methinks.

Starting to think seriously about the TTR110, CRF70, and mebbe, just mebbe the KLX 110. If he can fit the KLX, I'll go outside my budget, because I think that bike will last him longer and can be upgraded from automatic to semi-auto or manual clutch later. It seems to have solid aftermarket support, too.

Sunday - gotta get the kid to sit on a few.

Cheers,

Cade

Hi Cade; remembering of course that there are TWO different models of (aircooled) SX 50 Adventure...

the SX50 "Mini"

Smaller diameter wheels, smaller chassis/swingarm, lesser wheel travel/lower seat hieght.


and the SX 50 "Senior"

which has the SAME engine/transmission as the "Mini"... but larger diameter front wheel, larger chassis (steering head), lengthened swingarm, longer suspension travel and taller seat height (adjustable between 650 mm and 675mm).

Now, following on from the comments in your FIRST post, regards your sons height, and comment in your LAST post that the SX 50 might be too small (along with my own personal exeperiences with others who have advertised SX 50 "Adventures" - oblivious to the fact that there are two versions and which of them they were in posession of)... I am of the opinion that perhaps you went and looked at the "mini" version?

Vhy haz Inspecteur Clueless (yours truly) come to 'zis deductiõn...? (sorry, I watched an old Peter Sellers "Pink Panther" movie on TV last night). Well, I will telly you why... 'zis is why...



One 7 year old - (mine as pictured) on a KTM SX 50 Adventure SENIOR; my son is 53 inches tall (= 135cm)... which is TALLER than you wrote your son is 50 inches (= @127cm). As you can see - the rider/to bike size correlation for yourself.

So, doing the other measurements and assuming your boy is of similar build, that means an inseam @ 50 - 55 cm (20 - 22") and a bodyweight of 30 to 35 kilo's (60 to 75 lbs), allowing for some differences in build/BMI etc.

some other interesting specs relative for further consideration in this post;
1 inch = 2.54 cm (1 cm = 10mm)
1 kilo = 2.204 lbs

KTM 50 SX Adventure SENIOR (relevant) spec's:
Saddle height 650 - 675mm (25 - 26")
Weight - 39 kg's (86 lbs)
50cc two stroke (mild) automatic clutch.

Kawasaki KLX 110
Saddle height @ 650mm
Weight 64 kgs (141 lbs)
110cc fourstroke (mild) semi automatic/manual.
(the other TTR, CRF and DRZ 70/80/110cc fourstroke funbikes are all about the same size wreight formula in general)

As I ponted out earlier, the rider weight/size to machine weight/size ratio is something that many "new comer parents to the mini-bike madhouse" perhaps do not give too much consideration... they figure; "hey... my kids small... that's a pretty neat lookin' small(er than a full size) bike... THAT must be the bike for them...?!"

Roughly speaking bodysize/weight/ergonomics wise, a KLX 110 is comparable (to a 7 year old), what a 160 kgs* (350 lbs plus) dualsport bike would be to an adult beginner... The seat height and mellow power is about right... but size/weight wize - fairly cumbersome.

* multiply factor of approx x 2,5.

In the end, I am not advocating soley the KTM... (there are other manufacturers on that list I linked earlier, that produce similar size/weight/performance formula bikes) and for sure the price, size/longevity of wahtever type/model bike you decide to purchase are considerations that you must weigh up too...

But (like riding gear etc.) sometimes the "they will grow into it" theory isn't the best for small bodies, and i would advise against... purely from the childs enjoyment/safety aspect.

Good luch and happy trails on whatever the end purchase turns out to be.

[MotorCade]

I think you're right, the 50 I looked at was without him there, and seemed small, but not ridiculously so - and he fits very well on a TTR-50, I'd put it as a little small, not by much. (I think he's grown a little, probably at 51 inches now - I swear I can watch him get taller.)

He just flew in from visiting relatives, so we went over to the bike shop and sat on some stuff. Finally having him back in town to size the bikes up has really changed my perspective on this. Yup, the KTM 50 sx senior adventure fits.

Also, as mentioned, the TTR-50 fits.

But - and this surprised me - he can flat foot (just) a TTR-110 and a KLX-110.

I think the KTM/LEM would be the right bike if we were going to do more motocross stuff. Since we're looking for a trail bike that we can take camping, I'm leaning towards the bigger bikes that he can (ready to be flamed here) grow into and use for a few more years. If it was WAY out of his league, I'd not go this route. It was good to have the staff at the dealership around too, because they confirmed the other bikes were probably a little small.

I am leaning towards the KLX-110 for a couple reasons - one is that it's got the automatic transmission right now, but with gears, so he's got the ability to start learning to control his shifts. It's also go the ability to be upgraded - as he grows, I can start putting on parts from the KLX-110L, which means a standard transmission and manual clutch. It also means a higher ride height when he's ready for it.

The KLX has bigger wheels than most of the other stuff in the range, which I think will make for a more controllable ride when he has to keep up a little with my big bike on the fire roads. I am a little concerned about the weight, but I think he'll manage it.

Throw in good parts availability and strong dealer network, and I think we've got a winner. I've got a good quote from the dealer on a new one, and am shopping against the used ones now. I hope to have something by the time his 7th birthday rolls around this thursday.

Cheers,

Cade

[MotorCade]

Well, this was the morning of his birthday -- the advice of all on here helped make it a happy one! And I learned a lot about kid's bikes in the process.

It's a 2005 KLX 110 - 4 speed (it really is!) and kickstart (no battery to maintain). It's clutchless, but upgradeable later.

By the way, it turns out he's actually 53 inches tall. I misremembered. (forgotted. durr.)

Future inmate:


Riley birthday by MotorCade77, on Flickr

[5punksdad]

Originally Posted by MotorCade

Well, this was the morning of his birthday -- the advice of all on here helped make it a happy one! And I learned a lot about kid's bikes in the process.

It's a 2005 KLX 110 - 4 speed (it really is!) and kickstart (no battery to maintain). It's clutchless, but upgradeable later.

By the way, it turns out he's actually 53 inches tall. I misremembered. (forgotted. durr.)

Future inmate:


Riley birthday by MotorCade77, on Flickr

Interesting choice of a number.

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