Dirt Bikes For Kids

Dirt bike riding is a great activity for people of all ages, including kids. In addition to being a ton of fun, riding dirt bikes is great exercise, an excellent stress-reliever, and a wonderful way to spend time with family. Owning a dirt bike also teaches responsibility, such as learning how to properly maintain it, and the mechanical skills you learn from working on a dirt bike can transfer over to wrenching on other motor vehicles such as cars.

When it comes to buying a dirt bike for a young rider, there are more options than ever in this day and age. We’ve compiled a list of 37 dirt bikes for kids including everything from the smallest 50cc four-stroke trailbikes up to 85cc and 100cc two-stroke motocross bikes. Read on to learn about the plethora of youth dirt bikes (in no particular order) that are on the market today.

As the smallest trailbike in Honda’s CRF lineup, the CRF50F has served as a first motorcycle for dirt bike riders far and wide. With a three-speed automatic transmission, 10-inch wheels front and rear, and a 21.6-inch seat height, the CRF50F is a user-friendly and nonintimidating option for the beginner youth rider.

Yamaha’s smallest four-stroke dirt bike is the TT-R50E. An electric starter brings the 49cc air-cooled SOHC engine to life, and it is fed by a Mikuni VM11 carburetor. The TT-R50E is equipped with a three-speed automatic transmission and a chain final drive. The 10-inch front and rear wheels are both equipped with drum brakes.

Suzuki offers a total of three dirt bikes for kids, two of which are four-strokes and the smaller of which is the DR-Z50. It is powered by a carbureted, 49cc, air-cooled engine that is equipped with electric start along with a kickstarter just as backup. It features an automatic clutch and a three-speed transmission. Other specifications include an inverted fork, 10-inch wheels front and rear, and a 0.8-gallon fuel tank.

The smallest two-stroke dirt bike in Yamaha’s lineup is the PW50. Its automatic transmission, adjustable throttle stop screw, and 18.7-inch seat height make it a very beginner-friendly motorcycle for kids. Chain maintenance is not required on the PW50 as it has a shaft final drive. Premixing fuel is not necessary either as it uses an oil injection system.

The smallest dirt bike for kids in KTM’s lineup is the 50 SX Mini. It features a two-stroke engine with a single-speed automatic transmission. It is equipped with 10-inch wheels front and rear and has a seat height of 22 inches. For suspension components, the 50 SX Mini utilizes a WP Xact 35mm inverted fork and a WP Xact shock.

Despite being the smallest dirt bike in Husqvarna’s lineup, the TC 50 Mini has many high-quality components including a WP Xact 35mm inverted fork, WP Xact shock, and 160mm disc brakes front and rear. With a seat height of just 22 inches, the TC 50 Mini appeals to the sport’s youngest riders.

If you’ve been to a Monster Energy AMA Supercross race in the past 16 years, you’ve likely seen young riders competing on KTM 50 SX bikes in the KTM Junior Racing program. The 50 SX has 8.1 inches of fork travel, 7.3 inches of shock travel, and a claimed seat height of 26.9 inches.

The Husqvarna TC 50 is equipped with a 49cc two-stroke engine with an automatic clutch. The WP Xact 35mm inverted fork offers 8.1 inches of travel, while the WP Xact shock has 7.3 inches of travel. It also features a chromoly steel frame, a 0.6-gallon fuel tank, and styling that resembles Husqvarna’s full-size motocross models.

An all-new model to KTM’s lineup for 2020 is its first production electric dirt bike for kids—the SX-E 5. Its 5-kilowatt motor has six ride modes. The seat height is adjustable with its highest setting being 27.5 inches and the lowest being 25.7 inches. The retail price of the SX-E 5 is $5,049.

Husqvarna unveiled a new electric dirt bike for kids in 2020 with its EE 5. According to the company’s press materials, the EE 5 delivers two hours of riding time for beginners and 25 minutes for serious racers. They also claim the supplied charger takes 70 minutes to fully charge the bike’s lithium-ion battery.

The Honda CRF110F was introduced in 2013. Six years later, it was given fuel injection along with a new twin-spar steel frame. Other updates for MY19 included an additional 12mm of rear suspension travel and the seat height being 0.4 inch lower than the prior generation model despite a 5mm increase in seat thickness.

One step above the TT-R50E in the bLU cRU’s trailbike lineup is the TT-R110E. For suspension, it uses a 31mm conventional fork with 4.5 inches of travel, while the shock offers 4.3 inches of travel. The 14-inch front wheel and 12-inch rear wheel are both equipped with drum brakes. The seat height of the TT-R110E is claimed to be 26.4 inches.

The Kawasaki KLX110 is the smallest dirt bike in Team Green’s lineup. It is equipped with a 112cc air-cooled four-stroke engine along with a four-speed automatic transmission and an automatic clutch. Drum brakes front and rear provide stopping power. The KLX110’s seat height is claimed to be 26.8 inches and its wet weight is said to be 168 pounds.

Kawasaki’s KLX110L has a 1.9-inch taller seat height and 1.9 more inches of ground clearance than the the smaller KLX110 model. The KLX110L is also equipped with a manual clutch, but retains the use of a four-speed transmission. Other features include a Keihin 18mm carburetor, a 1-gallon fuel tank, and its wet weight is claimed to be the same as the KLX110 at 168 pounds.

The smallest-displacement motorcycle to have a manual clutch in the CRF trailbike line is the Honda CRF125F. Like the CRF110F, it features a four-speed gearbox and a rear drum brake. Stopping power up front is provided by a 220mm disc brake. With its 17-inch front wheel and 14-inch rear wheel, the seat height of the CRF125F is said to be 29.1 inches.

If your youngster sat on a CRF125F and felt it was too small, you may want to look at the CRF125F Big Wheel. It features a 19-inch front wheel and 16-inch rear wheel, which are said to increase the seat height by 1.8 inches. With a suggested retail price of $3,499, the CRF125F Big Wheel is $400 more than the standard CRF125F model.

When a young Yamaha trailbike rider is ready to step up to a bike with a manual clutch, the TT-R125LE fits the bill. It utilizes a five-speed transmission and a Mikuni VM20 carburetor. The 19-inch front wheel features a 220mm front disc brake, while the 16-inch rear wheel utilizes a drum brake.

Suzuki’s youth-sized trailbike with a manual clutch is the DR-Z125L. Firing the 124cc, air-cooled, SOHC, four-stroke engine to life is done via a kickstarter. It uses a 19-inch front wheel and a 16-inch rear wheel with a disc brake up front and a drum brake in the back. The claimed wet weight of the DR-Z125L is 196 pounds.

The Kawasaki KLX140 features a 144cc air-cooled SOHC four-stroke engine that is equipped with electric start, a five-speed transmission, and a manual clutch. With a 17-inch front wheel and 14-inch rear wheel, the KLX140’s seat height is 30.7 inches. Also, according to Kawasaki, it weighs in at 205 pounds wet.

The Kawasaki KLX140L is slightly larger than the KLX140 with its 19-inch front wheel and 16-inch rear wheel, which raise the seat height to a claimed 31.5 inches. For suspension, the KLX140L uses a 33mm conventional fork that is nonadjustable and has 7.1 inches of travel. The shock also offers 7.1 inches of travel, but does offer adjustment in the form of preload and rebound damping.

With its full-size wheels (21-inch front and 18-inch rear) and longer-travel suspension, the KLX140G is the largest of the three KLX140 trims offered by Kawasaki. The fork is nonadjustable and the travel is 7.5 inches. The shock, on the other hand, is adjustable for preload and rebound damping with 7.9 inches of travel. At a claimed wet weight of 218 pounds, the KLX140G is the heaviest of the three KLX140 models as well.

At $4,449, the TT-R230 is the most expensive motorcycle in Yamaha’s trailbike lineup. It features electric start, a six-speed transmission, and full-size wheels with a 21-inch front and 18-inch rear. The TT-R230’s seat height is 34.3 inches and its fuel capacity is 2.1 gallons. Yamaha’s claimed wet weight of the TT-R230 is 251 pounds.

When a young KTM rider is ready to step up to a bike with a manual clutch, the 65 SX is a logical option as it is the Austrian manufacturer’s smallest-displacement bike to be equipped with one. It also has a six-speed transmission, a 0.9-gallon fuel tank, and a claimed dry weight of 117 pounds.

With a manual clutch and a six-speed transmission, the TC 65 is the smallest-displacement motocross bike in Husqvarna’s lineup to require the rider to operate a clutch lever and shift gears. A 198mm front brake disc and 160mm rear brake disc help slow the machine down when needed.

The Yamaha YZ65 was introduced in 2018 and features a 65cc, liquid-cooled, reed-valve inducted engine with a Yamaha Power Valve System (YPVS). The 36mm inverted coil-spring fork and shock are both adjustable for compression and rebound damping. With a 14-inch front wheel and 12-inch rear wheel, the seat height is said to be 29.5 inches.

Kawasaki offers three youth motocross models, the smallest of which is the KX65. It is powered by a 64cc two-stroke engine with a six-speed transmission. It also features a manual clutch and a conventional fork. The 14-inch front wheel and 12-inch rear wheel both have 180mm disc brakes. Kawasaki’s claimed wet weight for the KX65 is 132 pounds.

The smallest motocross bike Honda produces is the CRF150R. Big Red is the only manufacturer to offer a four-stroke motocross bike for kids, as all of the other manufacturers stick with premix-burning MXers for the youth market. The CRF150R is spec’d with a 17-inch front wheel and a 14-inch rear wheel, which give it a claimed seat height of 32.8 inches.

Transitioning from a youth motocross bike to a full-size 250 four-stroke is not a small step. To help bridge that gap and offer a platform for taller kids competing in youth motocross races, Honda offers its CRF150R Expert model. In comparison to the standard CRF150R, the Expert model features larger wheels (a 19-inch front and 16-inch rear), which results in a 1.3-inch taller seat height.

The largest youth motocross bike in Yamaha’s lineup is the YZ85. The two-stroke engine is fed by a Keihin PWK28 carburetor. Suspension travel in the front is 10.8 inches, while the shock offers 11.1 inches of travel. The 17-inch front wheel and 14-inch rear wheel are shod with Dunlop MX3S tires. The fuel tank holds 1.3 gallons and the bike’s claimed wet weight is 161 pounds.

KTM offers its 85 SX model in two different wheel sizes, one of which is the 17/14 model. As the name implies, it has a 17-inch front wheel and 14-inch rear wheel, which gives it a seat height of 34 inches. The 85 SX is spec’d with a WP Xact 43mm air fork and WP Xact PDS shock.

One step prior to moving up to the full-size KTM dirt bikes is the 85 SX 19/16. With its 19-inch front wheel and a 16-inch rear wheel, it has a seat height of 35 inches—1 inch taller than the 85 SX 17/14. The 85 SX 19/16 retails for $6,199, which is $200 more than the 17/14 model.

If you’re in the market for a Husqvarna TC 85, you have the choice of two different wheel size combinations. The smaller of the two is a 17-inch front wheel and a 14-inch rear wheel. With those wheels fitted, the TC 85 has a claimed seat height of 33.5 inches. Husqvarna’s 85cc motocrosser is suspended by a WP Xact 43mm air fork and a WP Xact shock, while other features include a Formula hydraulic clutch and a 1.4-gallon fuel tank.

The largest Husqvarna dirt bike for kids is the TC 85 19/16. It has a 34.4-inch seat height, a 240mm front disc brake, 210mm rear disc brake, and a claimed dry weight of 150 pounds. Instead of having a subframe constructed of composite carbon fiber like Husqvarna’s full-size dirt bikes, the TC 85 19/16’s subframe is made of aluminum.

Suzuki offers one motocross bike for kids with its RM85, which has a retail price of $4,249. Some of the RM85’s features include a tubular steel frame, Keihin PE28 carburetor, and a six-speed transmission. The 37mm inverted fork offers 10.8 inches of travel, while the shock’s travel is 10.9 inches. The claimed wet weight of the RM85 is 161 pounds.

The Kawasaki KX85 is equipped with an 84cc two-stroke engine with a close-ratio six-speed transmission and a manual clutch. It features a steel perimeter frame, and 220mm disc brakes front and rear. For suspension, it uses a 36mm inverted fork that is adjustable for compression damping, while the shock is fully adjustable.

For those youth Kawasaki riders who have outgrown their KX85 but aren’t quite ready to move up to a full-size KX250, the KX100 may be the ideal bike. It is equipped with a 19-inch front wheel and 16-inch rear wheel, and has a claimed seat height of 34.3 inches, which is 1.6 inches taller than the KX85.

The 85cc youth two-stroke motocross bike segment is one of the most populated in this list, and the final competitor in that category is the TM MX 85 Junior. Manufactured in Pesaro, Italy, the MX 85 Junior features a VForce reed valve system, Keihin 28mm carburetor, and a 1.6-gallon fuel tank. The front brake has a Brembo master cylinder and a 240mm rotor, while the rear uses a 190mm disc.