Good first dirt bike for a kid?

[DesmoLu]

Well, the time has come. My little sister will be turning 12 this year and she's wrecked our ATV enough to prove that she has a taste for adventure and can handle a few broken bones. We're looking to get her and my 13 year old little sister a dirt bike to share this year. The older sister is starting to attract boys and my plan is to keep her as badass and tomboy as possible to scare them away.

Would appreciate any advice on good first bikes (I guarantee its eventual destruction) and good gear for kids too. *Very* limited budget. My sister is really petite for her age, so she'll probably need gear made for a 10 year old boy or so. My other sister wears the same size as me so standard women's gear is fine.
Oh yes, and naturally I want to be able to tool around on the bike when I visit home too 

[DanTheMan]

The smaller yamaha TTR's (50,90,110) are automatic, along with the Honda CRF50. Electric start would be a very nice feature to have for kids. Less frustration of having to kick start = more fun = better chance they'll get hooked. Of-course E-start is more $$$. The 50's may be a little small for their size, so probably the 90 or 110. All of these are 4 stroke.

Next step up from there would be a Honda CRF100 or CRF150f, TTR 125, DRZ 125. real clutch more suspension, bigger tires. These make fine play bikes for adults. E-start also available on some of these.

See if you can get used gear with the bike, if someone is selling cause their kid is growing out of the bike, they are growing out of the gear also.

[El Matador]

The smaller yamaha TTR's (50,90,110) are automatic, along with the Honda CRF50. Electric start would be a very nice feature to have for kids. Less frustration of having to kick start = more fun = better chance they'll get hooked. Of-course E-start is more $$$. The 50's may be a little small for their size, so probably the 90 or 110. All of these are 4 stroke.

Next step up from there would be a Honda CRF100 or CRF150f, TTR 125, DRZ 125. real clutch more suspension, bigger tires. These make fine play bikes for adults. E-start also available on some of these.

See if you can get used gear with the bike, if someone is selling cause their kid is growing out of the bike, they are growing out of the gear also.

CRF150F ftw. They're really easy to rebuild 

[DesmoLu]

Thanks! Good call on getting used gear with used bike bundle.

I should note that these girls are already pretty sound with working a clutch. Shouldn't be an issue there and I'd like them to keep up that experience.

[DanTheMan]

CRF150F ftw. They're really easy to rebuild 

I have a great time on mine, and when the kids are done with it step it up the the Big Bore Kit I have a 175 BBk, cr85 front end, cams head work ect.. Its a lot of fun and all the bike you need for the smaller parks. 

[Porsche Monkey]

At first I thought you were asking for a dirtbike for Jesus.

[DesmoLu]

At first I thought you were asking for a dirtbike for Jesus.

Then the post would be titled "Good first dirtbike for a really BIG kid" 

[rgramjet]

I bought my son a Razor MX400 electric dirtbike for his 6th birthday.  Nice and quiet, tops out at 14mph and he can ride it all over the neighborhood without annoying anyone.  It will haull my 210 lb arse 1/2way up my street exactly twice before it starts to fizzle.  It will run for hours with him on it 50 lbs....

Great way to learn some skills at an early age.  Proper gear is key.

[somegirl]

At first I thought you were asking for a dirtbike for Jesus.

My first thought was, "Wait...it wasn't an April Fool's joke after all? "



And Lu, the CRF150F worked well for me and I believe I'm about your size (5'4", 28-in inseam).

Some of my gear is kid's size and it worked out fine.

[cyrus buelton]

Go squid style and get her a 450cc



just kidding.

I know jack about dirt bikes.


Is a 125cc too big for a 12yr old?

[sugarcrook]

A dirtbike at 12?  Whatever happened to putting children into forced hard labor until they somehow manage to escape? 

[DesmoLu]

My first thought was, "Wait...it wasn't an April Fool's joke after all? "



And Lu, the CRF150F worked well for me and I believe I'm about your size (5'4", 28-in inseam).

Some of my gear is kid's size and it worked out fine.

If and when that time every comes, it will most certainly have its first dirt bike before it has a cradle 

Hmmm, I hadn't thought of kids gear. That's a good idea. Might be best and cheapest option for me. I am about your size and I often buy kids clothes because they are always cheaper.

[DesmoLu]

A dirtbike at 12?  Whatever happened to putting children into forced hard labor until they somehow manage to escape? 

their not MY kids, that's what happened