Motocross/Pit bike/kids motorbikes

[Kawasicki]

I’m looking for some advice or just to hear the experiences of others.

I have three kids (8, 11 & 13) & I’ve discovered a local motocross track, with a kids track!

Last year I bought an electric kids motorbike.

A Kuberg Cross...
the 8 year old loves riding it, the 11 & 13 year olds are not as keen. We haven’t been to the motocross track yet, it has only been ridden on rough gravel trails.



My best friend has just bought a new (super cheap) Chinese 50cc two stroke pit bike for his 10 year old kid. I’m amazed how light it is, but it feels like it will just fold at the first high loading.

So, now I’m thinking of buying something for the motocross track. I want to spend less than 2k, and second hand is fine. My thoughts were.

KTM SX 50 (or 65 or 85??)
Something Japanese

The SX50 would be ok for the two youngest kids, but probably too small for the oldest. I’m not even sure that I should be considering the two older kids as they aren’t exactly chomping at the bit about riding what we already have. I am way more excited about the motocross track than they are!

Any thoughts?

[RazerSauber]

Facebook Marketplace, search for pit bike. Should come up with a plethora of cheap bikes you can practically throw away if they get binned.

[smifffymoto]

Have you thought of a YCF.

[Kawasicki]

RazerSauber said:

Facebook Marketplace, search for pit bike. Should come up with a plethora of cheap bikes you can practically throw away if they get binned.

Thanks for the advice.
I can’t tell what will ride ok without buying it first. Getting something that rides badly or is unreliable is pointless. The front forks on my friends bike were so incredibly flexible/bendy that it put my right off cheap pit bikes. The engine on the other hand was really good, it started instantly and responded cleanly.

I think I will just get a used KTM 65.

[podman]

Go to your local MX track and ask some of the owners...The ones with the chinese pit bikes will have a fed up kid next to them while a sweaty and stressed Dad tries to start it...

PW50s/80s and Honda CRFs hold the money for a good reason..

The kids on KTM50s/65s appear to have been launched from a rocket launcher! They really are a competition bike (but can re gated of course)

[Steve Bass]

As above, the ktm sx's are a full on competition bike with all that that entails.
PW 50 will be too small and the PW 80 might be. They're not that big. Also look at the Yamaha TTR range. I know there's a TTR 50 so maybe bigger models are available.
Another option is to find a small wheel 80, either YZ or KX. Not sure if Honda & Suzuki offered them.
They're a full on mx bike again though so you need to be careful not to give the kids a peaky 80 2T screamer that's going to terrify them.. Once they're up on the pipe they really do rip and might frighten them off of bikes forever.
Other than that, there's not much else for kids over 8 years old.

[Cheeses of Nazareth]

Pit bikes are st, slow, noisy and heavy.

Proper MX bike is the way to go, 65cc KTM/ Husky etc, loads of them about, kids can ride them properly , and they don't fall to bits like the Chinese stuff does.

[Kawasicki]

Thanks for the advice all!

KTM 65 it is. I might restrict it if it freaks them out.

[NAS]

You should perhaps be more worried that it doesn't freak them out....

[take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey]

What about an Oset 24R. Bridges the gap between trials and MX fun without the noise and thus the need to take it to a track (or own a house with a paddock). You can ride it too then.

I know a few folks who have drifted from MX to Trials after a collar bone or wrist getting snapped.

e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhAtQ0Dwb3E

[black-k1]

I bought my boys a second hand PW80 and never regretted it. After about 5 years of abuse at my house the bike is still going strong with my brother-in-law as his two boys rip it around his field.

[Kawasicki]

take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey said:

What about an Oset 24R. Bridges the gap between trials and MX fun without the noise and thus the need to take it to a track (or own a house with a paddock). You can ride it too then.

I know a few folks who have drifted from MX to Trials after a collar bone or wrist getting snapped.

e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhAtQ0Dwb3E

Will have a look... the budget is under 2k though.

That is some impressive riding in the video!

[Timbo_S2]

We tried out a few before buying one, Washbrook Farm in Cambridgshire hire the bike (selection to chose from), kit and instruction. We did this with the eldest when he was about 7.

Then I bought him a new Honda CFF50. Bulletrpoof. when he outgrew it, I bought a KTM 50SX Pro. Big step up, in both speed and maintenance! The honda is now used by my middle boy, and the youngest has inherrited his Oset 12.5R.

I'd always go for the newest you can, nothing more frustrating then being at the track with something that doesn;t work. 2 Storke KTM's etc. are fine if your competitive, otherwise something slower and reliable is far better...

[take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey]

Kawasicki said:

take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey said:

What about an Oset 24R. Bridges the gap between trials and MX fun without the noise and thus the need to take it to a track (or own a house with a paddock). You can ride it too then.

I know a few folks who have drifted from MX to Trials after a collar bone or wrist getting snapped.

e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhAtQ0Dwb3E

Will have a look... the budget is under 2k though.

That is some impressive riding in the video!

You can get them SH for under that occasionally. The beauty of them is the majority of the bits are simple MTB parts so you can fix them yourself with the most basic of tools. Even a full motor strip down is 30 mins total - contrast that with a top end rebuild on a stroker.

Not as fast as the KTM mind - but more accessible with respect to riding spots. And restriction is simply 3 dials under a cover. Top speed, power, delivery curve.

Pat is an amazing rider on anything with two or even one wheel. Anything from full on MX to a unicycle...a very very talented chap. Worth watching some of his other vids.

[V8RX7]

When I asked on here for my 12yr old I was recommended a CRF100 - and I think they were right.

It's nothing like a proper dirt bike but far better quality than a typical pit bike - decent ones circa £1k and you'll get your money back when you sell it.

[Prof Prolapse]

I was looking at an electric bike for the kids.

Anyone have an experience of an OSET MX-10?

Adjustable speed/throttle response, riders up to 90kg, no hot parts, no engine meaning I can use it in more places....

Steep outlay at £2,500 though, no idea of used values either.

[Kawasicki]

Prof Prolapse said:

I was looking at an electric bike for the kids.

Anyone have an experience of an OSET MX-10?

Adjustable speed/throttle response, riders up to 90kg, no hot parts, no engine meaning I can use it in more places....

Steep outlay at £2,500 though, no idea of used values either.

No experience with the OSET, but can recommend you buying an electric motorbike for a kid... for all the reasons you mentioned.

[V8RX7]

Prof Prolapse said:

no engine meaning I can use it in more places....

.

Can you ?

I thought legally there wasn't any difference ie in parks, pavements etc

[Kawasicki]

V8RX7 said:

Prof Prolapse said:

no engine meaning I can use it in more places....

.

Can you ?

I thought legally there wasn't any difference ie in parks, pavements etc

I (my son) uses our electric bike illegally. I supervise him all the time (either running or cycling alongside him). I also accept the consequences if I get caught. If the local motocross track situation works out (riding there tomorrow) then I will probably decide to exclusively ride it there.

[Pat H]

Go classic!

I had a 1973 KM90 when I was a young lad back in the late 1970s.

That bike was indestructable.

In fact, here's a picture of me sporting contemporary protective gear consisting of no helmet, no gloves, canvas trainers and rolled up sleeves.

How not to do a wheelie: