I have been out of the dirt bike arena for way too long, so I am hoping someone here might have some input.

My son is 9 years old now, and just under 5 feet tall, 90 lbs or so. We have a 79 Honda Z50R that I fixed up for him and he loves, but he is almost too big for it already. I really learned a lot riding dirt bikes growing up, and made a lot of friends I would not have otherwise, so I would like to encourage him to continue. Heck, if I get healed up enough and my docs don't think it is an incredibly stupid idea, I want a KDX220 of my own someday.

My question is on the models I should be watching for. I need something 5+ years old, for cost purposes, and low tech air cooled 4-stroke is the way I want him to roll. I am aware of the KLX/DR-Z 110 and up cc bikes, and the small CRFs. Are there any model lines I am not thinking of, bikes that are simple and not real expensive?

I was looking at small dirt bikes for my 10yr old last year. Went again to look at them recently and they didn't have them anymore. Something about new child laws or something with lead content, etc etc.... Couldn't even sell parts for them anymore?

Man, I hope that's not the case. Prices for used ones will go sky high.

Of course, maybe my Z50R will be commanding COPO money...

I would get anything for him made by Honda. I have ridden a CR450R and I think it would have too much power for him. So I would say get him something in the 250cc range. Can't go wrong with a Honda. Oh yea, like you said, get a 4 stroke for him. Although I love a 2 stroke and that's all I ride! I think a 250 would last him a long time. :thumbsup:

Found dozens of articles on the Youth Dirt Bike and ATV ban that went into affect on 2-10-2009.

Google it for more articles:

http://www.metropulse.com/news/2009/apr/24/yes-kids-dirt-bikeatv-ban-real/
http://blogs.dirtrider.com/6470022/news/youth-atv-and-dirt-bikes-banned-by-cpsia/index.html
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/5/2382/Motorcycle-Article/Lead-Ban-Stops-Youth-ATV-and-Motorcycle-Sales.aspx

Well, I have used and can get my hands on an XRF (used to test for lead on surfaces). Maybe I can find a dealer that can't move a small bike and offer to test and buy...

Incredible. I am an environmental engineer, and deal with contaminants, exposure, and health risk all day every day. To worry that kids are going to have significant exposure to lead on a motorcycle frame or handlebars is just plain stupid. If a kid is eating the bars, he's going to have more significant, acute health risks than some possible LBP.

They had this on the news when the ban took place there was a little girl in her riding gear with tears in her eyes because she couldn't get the bike she wanted. She said she wanted to ride it not eat it ,I had to laugh.

Eric,have you checked into the yamaha line?? Eric, tell me what you want, we have tons of dirt bikes down here!!..i can get my hands on lots of dirt bikes 50,90,150,250,450.....2 stroke -4 stroke....new, old ,used, running, not running,parts.....hollar back!!(crf-150?? is that the size your looking for??)

Take a look at a used Yamaha TTR125. They also made a TTR125L that sits a bit higher and has a front disc brake. It's a durable 4 stroke bike. My son had one when he was a 6th grader. He did outgrow the TTR and then we moved him up to a Honda CRF230. The Honda CRF150 is a nice bike too.

Im fairly sure that you can buy youth models once again, Id recommend a 2 stroke 80cc race model...YZ, RM, CR simply because they are cheap to rebuild compared to a thumper and the power will keep him happy for a few years.

WOW i cant believe i missed this... I ride all winter/spring and race enduro's. My wife and kids all ride as well, my wife and oldest daughter 18yrs old ride Honda CRF150 with electric start, my 7yr old twins boy and girl ride Honda CRF50 for my son and a Yamaha TTR50 for my daughter with electric start as well. I would think that a Honda CRF150 may be just a little to big for your 9yr old son, but it is an awesome bike and he will grow in to it. What ever you do don't get him a 2-stroke unless you plan to stick him on a track. Good luck.

we got my wifes son / my step son ... We purchased him a 2006 KX 100 CC 2 stroke Kawasaki back in 07 .. If we would of know that a damn Xbox 360 would entertain him more we would of got him 5 of those. because that darn bike cost near 3K .

it has less than 5 riding hours on it and about 4/12 of those hours have been my self riding it. It is way faster than my 125 cc but then again mine is a beat up 96 model.

sorry I just had to rant.. some kids now a days dont give a darn ! i would of given anything for my parents to purchase me a dirt bike when I was his age. I had to wait till I was 28 yrs old to purchase my used bike then. and i still have it and i am now 34.

my cousin's 9 year old races a 65cc Kawasaki and does pretty well- consistently second place week after week in his first year on it, despite being the same size as the 6 year olds that he used to race against on his 50cc KTM. he's a small kid for his age but can really ride.
his older sister used to have an 85(???)cc 2 stroke Yamaha that was perfectly sized for her. she was probably about 5 feet tall when she had that, but she lost interest when she discovered what teenage girls are "supposed" to be into and my cousin sold it to get himself a 125 to play with.

You're never too big for a Z50.:thumbsup: Just sold mine a few months ago, it was an '80 though, can't say it brought copo $, but brought more than I expected. Good times were had while it was around.
Thought about getting a 125 about 2 years ago. Instead, bought a basketcase 1972 CT70H and did a resto on it. Now, it's no good for racing if thats the goal, but it gets used alot now. And it's just cool to look at.

I used to do the "big guy, little motorcycle" thing on the Z50, when I was fixing it up. Now the mice have eaten the lining out of my old helmet, and my knees and left ankle don't move well enough to ride it anymore. I only have about $125 in the whole thing, so once my little girl gets done with it, I may make some money there.

Thanks for the info on the Yamaha TTs, I had forgotten about those. Right now here in PA the riding season is coming to an end, so there are quite a few smaller bikes on the market. I just wanted a handle on what models to search for.

No 2-strokes here. He will not be racing, and our property is not open enough (mostly wooded) for him to safely learn how to deal with a peaky powerband. Plus, if I don't want to listen to a 2-stroke wailing in the woods, I know my neighbors won't either.

Thanks for the ideas guys! I'm still shaking my head about the sales ban though...

My boys started out on a PW50 and then moved to CRF70's (new version of XR70). Then after I was in a accident they both gave up ridding and sadly we sold all our bikes. If I was doing it again I'd look at the Kawasaki 110, the Yamaha 90 and 125 as I think all three offer electric start. Nothing more frustrating for kids than not being able to re-start a hot bike.

I used to do the "big guy, little motorcycle" thing on the Z50, when I was fixing it up. Now the mice have eaten the lining out of my old helmet, and my knees and left ankle don't move well enough to ride it anymore. I only have about $125 in the whole thing, so once my little girl gets done with it, I may make some money there.

Thanks for the info on the Yamaha TTs, I had forgotten about those. Right now here in PA the riding season is coming to an end, so there are quite a few smaller bikes on the market. I just wanted a handle on what models to search for.

No 2-strokes here. He will not be racing, and our property is not open enough (mostly wooded) for him to safely learn how to deal with a peaky powerband. Plus, if I don't want to listen to a 2-stroke wailing in the woods, I know my neighbors won't either.

Thanks for the ideas guys! I'm still shaking my head about the sales ban though...


Was the sales ban on ALL "little" bikes, or just the Chinese bikes? Our stores still have Yamahas and Hondas all over the place. We had Hondas motorcycles for years, and now have Honda Four Wheelers. I have a 400EX and my son rides an EX250. Would not trade the riding with my son for anything in the world.

the "ban" was on any toy that was to be sold to children under a certain age that didn't have all their components certified as lead free. the smaller dirt bikes and atv's fell under the umbrella of this law, since they were designed for small children.
it fell under the "we're the government and we're overreacting to the lead found in Chinese made toys like this to protect the children during an election cycle" act of 2008, or whatever the bill was called.