Now that your child is ready to start riding dirt bikes, you might be considering buying them a bike. Here are some factors to consider before you make the big decision and buy them a bike:
1. Get the Right Fit
If your child is short yet you want to buy them a dirt bike, consider getting one which you can change the height on. By lowering the suspension, you will pull the handlebar downwards so that your child reaches them comfortably until they are older. Later, you can raise the suspension. Alternatively, the motorcycle shop might cut the seat, thus lowering it so that your child reaches the ground with their feet.
2. Engine Size (cc’s)
If this is your child’s first dirt bike, they will find it easier to learn riding on a less powerful bike that is lightweight. The 50cc is the smallest engine size that you will get, and it is ideal for kids under age seven. Four-stroke dirt bikes make fantastic starters because they have relatively linear power delivery, making their throttle control easy.
3. Starter System – Electric vs. Kick Start
The essential feature of starter bikes is an electric starter engine because they are easy to ride. As your child grows older and gains experience, you can opt for kick start bikes. Older motorcycles had kick-starter technology, but newer ones use an electric starter.
4. Engine Type – Two-Stroke vs. Four-Stroke
Kid’s dirt bikes are either two or four-stroke, and you must comprehend the difference between the two engine types before you spend your money. Four-stroke engines are ideal for beginners because it delivers power for every two rotations of the crankshaft. That helps in smooth acceleration and a broad power band, which reduces the frequency of scary stop-starts that your child might experience.
On the other hand, two-stroke engines send power for every rotation of the crankshaft, thus giving them a high strength to weight ratio. Less moving parts means that the bike will have less weight so that it will keep up with large capacities. Stop starts on two-stroke bikes can be a little scarier than on four-strokes. Some two-stroke engines also require that you pre-mix oil and petrol before filling the tank.
5. Transmission
Small dirt bikes for kids have an automatic clutch. When your child doesn’t have to manage the clutch, they will have more time to learn to balance and steering the bike without worrying about changing gears manually. It is better to buy bikes with an automatic clutch for beginners and then move to the manual clutch when your child is older.
